
 
5n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
 
Hill Descent Control (HDC) 77
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)78
Flat Tire Monitor80
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams82
Instrument lighting83
High beams/Standing lamps83
Fog lamps83
Interior lamps84
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning85
Automatic climate control88
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Sound system91
Glove compartment92
Storage compartments92
Cellular phone94
Ashtray, front94
Ashtray, rear95
Electrical power socket95
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Ski bag96
Cargo area97
Cargo loading99
Roof-mounted luggage rack100
 
Special operating instructions:
 
Break-in procedure104
Driving notes105
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS)105
Brake system106
 
Wheels and tires:
 
Tire inflation pressure107
Tire condition107
Tire replacement108
Wheel and tire 
combinations110
Winter tires111
 
In the engine compartment:
 
Hood112
Engine compartment 
essentials113
Washer fluids114
Engine oil115
Coolant117
Brake fluid118
 
Maintenance:
 
The BMW Maintenance 
System119
 
Laws and regulations:
 
Technical modifications120
California Proposition 
65 Warning120
OBD interface socket121 

 
14n
1 Parking lamps/Low beams82
2
 
>
 
Turn signal indicators60
 
>
 
Standing lamps83
 
>
 
High beams83
 
>
 
Headlamp flasher60
 
>
 
Computer683 Washer/Wiper system/Rain 
sensor61
4 Hazard warning flashers
5 Central locking system286 Rear window defroster86, 90
7 Horn: the entire surface
8 Adjusting the steering wheel46
9 Fog lamps83
 
Cockpit 

 
20n
 
Indicator and warning lamps
 
Add washer fluid
The washer fluid level is too low. 
Top off the fluid at the earliest 
opportunity. For additional information 
refer to page 114
SERVICE ENGINE SOON 
 
l
 
If the indicator lamp comes on 
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the emis-
sions-related electronic systems. 
Although the vehicle remains opera-
tional, you should have the systems 
checked by your BMW center at the 
earliest possible opportunity. 
For additional information refer to 
page 12 1.
SERVICE ENGINE SOON 
warning lamp for Canadian 
models.
Engine electronics 
 
l
 
 
There is a fault in the electronic 
engine-management system. 
You can continue to drive with reduced 
engine output or engine speed. Please 
have the system inspected at your 
BMW center.
Add coolant
The coolant level is too low. Add 
coolant at the earliest opportu-
nity. For additional information refer to 
page 117
 
Green: for your information
 
Turn signal indicator
Flashes when the turn signals 
are on. 
Rapid flashing indicates a system 
malfunction.
For additional information refer to 
page 60
Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise 
control is activated: available for 
operation via the multifunction steering 
wheel.
For additional information refer to 
page 63
Fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch 
on the fog lamps.
For additional information refer to 
page 83
 
Blue: for your information
 
High beams
Comes on when the high beams 
are on or the headlamp flasher 
is actuated.
For additional information refer to 
pages 60, 83 

35n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cargo area Alarm system
*
Luggage strapsUse the retaining straps on the cargo 
area floor to secure smaller items of 
luggage.
Movement is reduced when objects are 
placed on the straps.
To secure your luggage, use the 
luggage nets
* or flexible straps that you 
can attach to the fittings at the inner 
corners of the cargo area.
Refer also to Cargo loading on page 99.
For additional details in the cargo area 
and for the cargo area cover, please 
refer to Cargo area beginning on 
page 97.
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, the tailgate 
or the rear window is opened
>To movement inside the vehicle (inte-
rior motion sensor)
>To variations in the vehicle's tilt angle 
such as those occurring during 
attempts to steal the wheels or tow 
the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized 
vehicle entry and attempted theft by 
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustic alarm for 
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>Flashing the high beams on and off 
in rhythm with the hazard warning 
flashers.
To arm and disarm the alarm 
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked 
via the driver's door lock or with the 
remote control, the alarm system is also 
simultaneously armed or disarmed.
You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm 
arming and disarming.<
You can use the button on the remote 
control to open the rear window even 
when the alarm is armed, refer to 
page 30. The alarm will start monitoring 
the window again as soon as it is 
reclosed. 

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.< 

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. 

83n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Instrument lighting
High beams/Standing lamps
Fog lamps
Turn the rotary dial to adjust the illumi-
nation intensity.
1 High beams 
(blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher 
(blue indicator lamp)
3 Standing lampsStanding lamps, left or rightAs an additional feature, you can illumi-
nate your vehicle on either side for 
parking:
With the ignition key in position 0, 
engage the lever in the appropriate 
turn-signal position.
Front fog lamps
The green indicator lamp in the 
instrument cluster lights up to 
indicate that the front fog lamps 
are on.
If the automatic headlight control 
is on, the low beams will come on 
automatically whenever you switch on 
the front fog lamps.<  

125n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Lamps and bulbsThe lamps and bulbs make essential 
contributions to the safety of your 
vehicle. Therefore, comply fully with the 
following instructions during bulb 
replacement. If you are not familiar with 
any of the procedures, consult your 
BMW center.
Do not touch the glass portion of 
a new bulb with your bare hands 
since even small amounts of impurities 
burn in to the surface and reduce the 
service life of the bulb. Use a clean 
cloth, paper napkin, or a similar mate-
rial, or hold the bulb by its metallic 
base.<
A replacement bulb set is available from 
your BMW center.
Before working on the electrical 
system, switch off the electrical 
accessory you are working on or 
disconnect the cable from the negative 
terminal of the battery. Failure to 
observe this precaution could result in 
short circuits.
To prevent injuries and damage, 
comply with any instructions provided 
by the bulb manufacturer.<
Low and high beamsEngine compartment, left side:
1 Low beams
2 High beams
H7 bulb, 55 watts
The H7 bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and 
protective gloves. Failure to comply 
with this precaution could lead to injury 
if the bulb is accidentally damaged 
during replacement.<
1. Press the two release catches at the 
front while simultaneously turning 
them to the left to remove the bulb 
holder
2. Remove and replace the bulb.
When cleaning the headlamps, 
please observe the following:
>Do not clean by wiping with a dry 
cloth (scratches). Never use abra-
sives or strong solvents to clean the 
covers
>Remove dirt and contamination (such 
as insects) by soaking with BMW Car 
Shampoo and then rinsing with plenty 
of water
>Always use a deicer spray to remove 
accumulated ice and snow Ð never 
use a scraper.< 
Xenon lampsThe service life of these bulbs is very 
long and the probability of a failure is 
very low, provided that they are not 
switched on and off an unusual number 
of times. If one of these bulbs should 
nevertheless fail, it is possible to 
continue driving with great caution 
using the fog lamps, provided local 
traffic laws do not prohibit this.
Because of the extremely high 
voltages involved, any work on the 
xenon lighting system should be carried 
out by technically-qualified personnel 
only. Otherwise, there is a risk of fatal 
injury.<