
57n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Parking brake  Manual transmission The parking brake is primarily designed 
to prevent the vehicle from rolling while 
parked. It operates on the rear wheels.To engageThe detent engages automatically, the 
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster 
comes on when the ignition key is in 
position 2, refer to page 18.To releasePull up slightly on the lever, press the 
button (arrow) and lower the lever.
If exceptional circumstances 
make it necessary to engage the 
parking brake while the vehicle is in 
motion, do not pull it with excessive 
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed 
against the release button while care-
fully pulling the lever up to apply 
moderate pressure.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction (fishtailing) 
at the rear.
The brake lamps do not come on when 
the parking brake is engaged.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when 
parking on hills and slopes, as first gear 
or reverse may not provide adequate 
resistance to rolling. 
Vehicles with automatic transmission: 
Place the selector lever in "Park".<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided 
braking, apply the parking brake lightly 
from time to time when coasting to a 
standstill (at a traffic signal, for 
instance), provided that it is safe to do 
so.
Reverse Select only when the vehicle is 
stationary. Press the shift lever to the 
left to overcome the slight resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamps will 
turn on automatically when the ignition 
key is in position 2.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on 
slopes by slipping or "riding" the 
clutch. Use the parking brake instead. 
Riding the clutch leads to severe and 
premature clutch wear.< 

58n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
You can drive as with a normal auto-
matic transmission. In addition, you can 
also shift manually.
When you move the selector lever from 
the "D" position to the left into the M/S 
range, the performance-oriented shift 
programs of the automatic transmission 
are engaged. Steptronic enters the 
manual selection mode and executes 
the desired shift whenever you tap the 
selector lever in the direction indicated 
by "+" or "Ð". Whenever you want to use 
automatic again, just move the selector 
lever toward the right to position D.
Range selection
P R N D M/S + Ð
Starting the engineThe engine can only be started in 
selector lever positions P ("Park") or N 
("Neutral").Range selectionA detent prevents inadvertent shifts to 
the "Reverse" or "Park" selector lever 
positions. To disengage the detent, 
press the button on the front side of 
the selector lever button (arrow).
While the vehicle is stationary and 
before shifting out of "Park" or 
"Neutral", depress the footbrake in 
order to disengage the selector lever's 
lock mechanism (Shiftlock).
Hold the footbrake down until starting 
off. The vehicle will otherwise "creep" 
when a drive position is engaged.< 
To prevent the vehicle from 
starting off on its own, always 
move the selector lever to position P 
or N and engage the parking brake 
before leaving your vehicle with the 
engine running.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended 
with the engine running. An unattended 
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
P  ParkSelect only when the vehicle is 
stationary. Transmission locks to 
prevent rear wheels from turning.R  ReverseSelect only when the vehicle is 
stationary. 

60n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
Indicator/Headlamp flasher 
Possible displays 
P R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5
Electronic transmission control 
module
If the indicator lamp comes on, 
there is a malfunction in the 
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop, select trans-
mission position "P", engage the 
parking brake  and switch the engine off 
(ignition key to position 0). 
Wait a few seconds, then start the 
engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a 
few seconds, normal transmission 
performance has been restored. Drive 
off normally.
If the indicator lamp does not go out, all 
selector lever positions can still be 
selected; however in the forward posi-
tions the vehicle has limited perfor-
mance as it drives only in 3
rd and 4
th 
gear.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine 
loads and consult the nearest BMW 
center.
Never work in the engine 
compartment when a drive gear 
(forward or reverse) is engaged. If you 
do this, the vehicle could move.<
For towing or jump-starting, refer to the 
information beginning on page 134.
1 High beams (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator 
lamp)
3 Turn signal indicator (green indicator 
lamps accompanied by a periodic 
clicking sound from the relay).To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond 
the detent. It then returns to the center 
position when released.
If the flashing of the turn signal 
indicators and the clicking from 
the relay are both faster than normal, 
one of the turn signal indicators has 
failed.< 

64n
Cruise control
* 
To deceleratePress button (Ð) briefly:
If you are already driving with active 
cruise control, the speed is decreased 
by approx. 0.6 mph (1 km/h) every time 
you tap the button.
Press and hold button (Ð):
With the cruise control active, the 
system automatically reduces the 
throttle opening to slow the vehicle. 
When you release the button, the 
system maintains and stores the 
current speed.
To interrupt the cruise controlWhen the system is activated, press the 
button. The indicator lamp stays on. 
You can use the cruise control again 
whenever you want by calling up the 
speed that was stored last.
In addition, cruise control is interrupted 
automatically:
>When the brakes are applied 
>When you apply pressure to the 
clutch pedal, or when you move the 
automatic transmission selector lever 
from D to N 
>If you exceed or fall below the preset 
speed for an extended period (by 
depressing the accelerator, for 
example).
To call up the stored speedPress button:
The vehicle accelerates to and main-
tains the last speed stored. 

67n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Check Control ClockThe following information and/or condi-
tions are indicated using symbols, 
starting with the ignition key in 
position 2, until the condition has been 
corrected.
1 Check the low beams and high 
beams, as well as the parking lamps
2 Door open
3 Tailgate open
4 Check brake and tail lamps
When you open the driver's door after 
parking, a signal sounds to remind you 
if the headlamps have not been 
switched off.
If you wish to have a permanent time 
display, you can make this setting in the 
radio display (refer to the Radio 
Owner's Manual).
You can set the clock and the time 
display in the car radio as follows.
SettingWith ignition key position 1 or 2 and 
time displayed in the instrument cluster.
To set ahead: turn the button to the 
right.
To set back: turn the button to the left.
The adjustment speed will increase the 
longer you continue to hold the button.
To change the display mode: press the 
button briefly.
Every time you press the button, the 
clock display alternates between the 
12-hour or 24-hour mode.
In ignition key position 0: the time is 
displayed for a few seconds after you 
press the left button, refer to 
Odometer on page 65. 

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic Stability Control plus Traction (ASC+T)
 
The conceptThis system optimizes vehicle stability 
and traction, especially when just 
starting off, when accelerating or when 
going through curves.
ASC+T recognizes the danger present 
in traction loss and will increase driving 
stability and traction by reducing the 
engine's output, and if necessary, by 
applying the brakes to the rear wheels.
ASC+T is ready each time you start the 
engine.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly 
after the ignition has been 
switched on, refer to pages 18, 19.
The indicator lamp flashes:
ASC+T controls the drive and braking 
forces.
The indicator lamp fails to go out 
after the engine is started, or it 
comes on during normal driving and 
stays on:
There is a system malfunction or the 
system was switched off with the 
button. Consequently, interventions to 
increase driving stability (as described 
in the preceding column) are no longer 
available. You can still drive the vehicle 
perfectly well without ASC+T.
In the event of a fault, please consult 
your BMW center, refer to 
pages 18, 19.<
To switch off ASC+TPress the button; the indicator lamp 
comes on and stays on.
The illustration depicts the arrangement 
of the buttons if the vehicle is fully 
equipped. This may vary, depending on 
the equipment actually installed.
In the following rare situations, it may 
be effective to switch off the ASC+T for 
a brief period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting 
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains.
To maintain vehicle stability, 
always drive with the ASC+T acti-
vated whenever possible.< 

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
* Ð BMW 325i
The conceptThe Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) 
maintains vehicle stability, even in crit-
ical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability 
during acceleration and when starting 
from a full stop, as well as optimizing 
traction. In addition, it recognizes 
unstable vehicle conditions, such as 
under- or oversteering, and, as far as is 
possible within the laws of physics, 
helps keeping the vehicle on a steady 
course by reducing engine speed and 
brake applications to the individual 
wheels.
DSC is operational every time you start 
the engine. DSC incorporates the func-
tionality of the Automatic Differential 
Brake (ADB) and the Cornering Brake 
Control (CBC).
ADB (Automatic Differential Brake) 
relies on selective braking applications 
at the drive wheels to furnish the func-
tionality of a conventional limited-slip 
differential for enhanced traction in crit-
ical driving conditions such as those 
encountered on snow-covered road 
surfaces, etc.
The ADB is in standby mode when DSC 
is switched off.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly 
after the ignition has been 
switched on, refer to pages 18, 19.
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive and braking 
forces. 
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off via the 
button; ADB is operational.
ADB control intervention is not indi-
cated.
The indicator lamp and the 
brake warning lamps remain on 
continuously:
The DSC, ADB and DBC have 
been switched off via the button 
or are defective.
The vehicle will remain completely 
operational, however, without DSC. In 
the event of a fault, please see your 
BMW center, refer to pages 18, 19.
Indicator and warning lamps for 
Canadian models.
To switch DSC off/activate ADBPress the DSC button briefly; the indi-
cator lamp comes on and stays on.
DSC is switched off; ADB is opera-
tional.
In the following rare situations, it may 
be effective to activate the ADB for a 
brief period:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting 
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving on snow-covered 
grades, in deep snow, or on a snow-
covered surface that has been 
packed down from being driven on
>When driving with snow chains.
Traction is increased by deactivating 
the control systems that enhance trac-
tion under normal conditions. 

74n
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
* Ð BMW 325i
Switch the DSC and ADB offHold the DSC button down for at least 
3  seconds. The indicator and the yellow 
brake warning lamps will remain on 
continuously.
The systems for enhancing stability and 
traction are deactivated, and there is no 
active braking intervention or torque 
control.
To maintain vehicle stability, 
always drive with the DSC 
switched on whenever possible.<
Switch DSC and ADB back onPress the button again; the indicator 
lamps will go out
The laws of physics cannot be 
repealed, even with DSC. It will 
always be the driver's responsibility to 
drive in a manner that matches road 
conditions. This is why you should not 
use the additional safety margin the 
system provides as an excuse to take 
risks.
When ADB is in its standby mode, DSC 
is deactivated; DSC does not intervene 
to enhance vehicle stability under these 
conditions.
Do not make any modifications to the 
DSC system. Allow only authorized 
technicians to perform service proce-
dures on the DSC.<
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)DBC is an integral component of the 
DSC system.
The system responds to sudden, high-
intensity applications of force to the 
brake pedal by automatically braking 
the vehicle with maximum boost to 
achieve the shortest-possible braking 
distances during "panic stops". This 
system exploits all the benefits of ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure exerted 
against the brake pedal until the 
braking maneuver has been completed. 
DBC is deactivated when you release 
the brake pedal.