
 
5n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
 
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)81
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)83
Flat Tire Monitor85
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams87
Instrument lighting88
High beams/Standing lamps88
Fog lamps88
Interior lamps89
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning90
Automatic climate control93
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Glove compartment96
BMW Universal Transmitter97
Storage compartments99
Cellular phone100
Ashtray, front100
Ashtray, rear101
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Ski bag102
Cargo loading103
Roof-mounted luggage rack for 
the hardtop105
 
Special operating instructions:
 
Break-in procedures108
Driving notes109
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS)109
Brake system109
Hardtop110
 
Wheels and tires:
 
Tire inflation pressure113
Tire condition113
Tire replacement114
Wheel and tire 
combinations116
Winter tires116
 
In the engine compartment:
 
Hood118
Engine compartment 
essentials119
Washer fluids120
Engine oil121
Coolant123
Brake fluid124
 
Maintenance:
 
The BMW Maintenance 
System125
 
Laws and regulations:
 
Technical modifications126
California Proposition 
65 Warning126
OBD interface socket127 

 8n 
Notes
Symbols
Your individual vehicle
 
Notes on the Owner's Manual
 
We have made every effort to ensure 
that you are able to find what you need 
in this Owner's Manual as quickly as 
possible. The fastest way to find 
specific topics is by using the detailed 
index at the end. If you wish to gain 
only an initial overview of your vehicle, 
you will find this in the first chapter.
The detailed table of contents is 
intended to stimulate your interest and 
encourage you to read the remainder of 
the manual.
Should you wish to sell your BMW at 
some time in the future, please 
remember to hand over this Owner's 
Manual to the new owner; it is legal part 
of the vehicle.
If you have any additional questions, 
your BMW center will be glad to advise 
you. 
Symbols used
 
Indicates precautions that must 
be followed precisely in order to 
avoid the possibility of personal injury 
and serious damage to the vehicle.
 
<
 
Contains information that will 
assist you in gaining the optimum 
benefit from your vehicle and enable 
you to care more effectively for your 
vehicle.
 
<
 
 
Refers to measures that can 
be taken to help protect the 
environment.
 
<
<
 
 Marks the end of a specific item of 
information.
 
* 
 Indicates special equipment, country-
specific equipment and optional 
extras.
Identifies systems or components, 
which can either be activated or 
adapted to suit an individual driver's 
requirements (Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory), refer to page 62.
Remember that activation and adjust-
ments on some of these systems can 
only be performed at your BMW 
center.
 
<
 
 
 
Your individual vehicle
 
On purchasing your BMW, you have 
decided in favor of a model with individ-
ualized equipment and features. This 
Owner's Manual describes all models 
and equipment that BMW offers within 
the same group.
We hope you will understand that 
equipment and features are included 
that you might not have chosen for your 
vehicle. You can easily identify any 
differences with the aid of the asterisk 
 
*  
 
 
 
used to identify all optional equipment 
and accessories.
If your BMW features equipment which 
is not described in this Owner's Manual 
(car radio or telephone, for instance), 
supplementary Owner's Manuals are 
enclosed. We ask you to read these 
manuals as well. 

 
10n
 
For your own safety
 
Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels  
containing up to and including 
10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with 
up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight (i.e. 
15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of co-solvent) will 
not void the applicable warranties 
covering defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel 
quality (volatility, composition, addi-
tives, for example) among gasolines 
offered for sale in the United States and 
Canada. The use of poor-quality fuels 
may result in driveability, starting and 
stalling problems, especially under 
certain environmental conditions, such 
as high ambient temperature and high 
altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be 
related to the fuel you are using, we 
recommend that you respond by 
switching to a recognized high-quality 
brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled 
maintenance.
Obey all applicable safety rules when 
handling gasoline.
 
<
 
Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine parts  
and accessories approved by BMW. 
When you purchase accessories tested  
and approved by BMW and Original 
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire 
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure 
optimum performance when installed 
on your vehicle. 
BMW warrants these parts to be free  
from defects in material and workman-
ship. 
BMW will not accept any liability for  
damage resulting from installation of 
parts and accessories not approved by 
BMW. 
BMW cannot test every product on the  
market to determine whether it can be 
used on a BMW safely and without risk 
to either the vehicle, its operation, or its 
occupants. 
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories  
and other products approved by BMW, 
together with professional advice on 
using these items, are available from all 
BMW centers. 
Installation and operation of non-BMW  
approved accessories such as alarms, 
 
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,  
wheels, suspension components, brake 
dust shields, telephones (including 
operation of any portable cellular phone 
from within the vehicle without using an 
externally mounted antenna) or trans-
ceiver equipment (such as CB, walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar) may cause 
extensive damage to the vehicle, 
compromise its safety, interfere with 
the vehicle's electrical system or affect 
the validity of the BMW Limited 
Warranty. Contact your BMW center for 
additional information. 
Do not use key or remote control to  
lock doors or luggage compartment 
with anyone inside the vehicle. Refer to 
pages  29 and  31 for more details.
 
<
 
Maintenance, replacement, or 
repair of the emission control 
devices and systems may be performed 
by any automotive repair establishment 
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.
 
<
 
Symbol on vehicle parts 
 
Indicates that you should consult 
the relevant section of this 
Owner's Manual for information on a 
particular part or assembly.  

 
11n
 
Overview
Controls
Maintenance
Repairs
Data
Index
 
The following applies only to vehicles owned and operated in the US.
 
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
 
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash \
or could cause injury or death, you should  
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (\
NHTSA) in addition to notifying BMW of 
North America, LLC., P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, Tel\
ephone (201) 307-4000.  
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and \
if it finds that a safety defect exists in a  
group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, N\
HTSA cannot become involved in indi-
vidual problems between you, your dealer, or BMW of North America, LLC. 
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free \
at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in 
Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transport\
ation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can 
also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotlin\
e.  

 
21n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Multifunction steering wheel (MFL)
 
* 
The buttons integrated in the multifunc-
tion steering wheel (MFL) are provided 
so that you can operate a number of 
accessories quickly and without being 
distracted from traffic conditions. You 
may operate:
 
>
 
Selected radio functions
 
>
 
The cruise control
 
>
 
Selected cellular phone functions.
The controls are active only when 
the corresponding systems and 
accessories are switched on.
 
< 
 
Press briefly:
Receive a phone call, initiate dialing, 
terminate a call.
 
Switch between phone, radio, cassette 
and CD.
Forward:
 
>
 
Radio
Press briefly: station scan in FM band
Extended pressure: search function
 
>
 
CD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function 
in track
 
>
 
Cassette
Press briefly: stop track scan or fast 
forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
 
>
 
Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind/reverse: functions as fast 
forward.
 
Volume
Cruise control: select a stored setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate (+) 
or decelerate and store (Ð).
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate. 

100n
Storage compartments Cellular phone
*
Ashtray, front
*
Beverage holder, coin boxA coin box and two beverage holders 
are provided in the center console.
Hands-free systemOn vehicles with telephone prepara-
tion
* or a communications package
*, 
the cover for the hands-free micro-
phone is located on the headliner, near 
the interior lamp. 
For further information on using your 
cellular phone, refer to the separate 
Owner's Manual.
To emptyPress on the edge of the open cover 
(arrow): the ashtray moves up and can 
be removed. 

Everything from A to Z
151n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Brake system108, 109 
brake pads110 
brake rotors, 
corrosion110 
defect in hydraulic 
circuits109 
disc brakes110 
Break-in procedure108 
Bulbs and lamps, 
replacement131 C 
California Proposition 
65 Warning126 
Canned beverage 
holder100 
Capacities147 
Car care, refer to the "Caring 
for your vehicle" manual 
Car phone100 
Car wash systems, refer to 
the "Caring for your 
vehicle" manual 
Care of upholstery materials, 
refer to the "Caring for your 
vehicle" manual Cargo loading103 
CBC (Cornering Brake 
Control)18, 81 
Cellular phone 
refer also to the 
"Telephone Owner's 
Manual" 
Center (high-mount) brake 
lamp134 
Center armrest99 
Central locking system28 
inside control button32 
Changing a wheel135 
Charging the battery139 
Check Control76 
Check engine oil level121 
Checking coolant level123 
Checking tire pressures24 
Child-restraint systems59 
Cigarette lighter101 
Cleaning headlamps71 
Cleaning windshield71 Clock76 
refer also to the 
"Telephone Owner's 
Manual" 
Clutch108 
Cockpit14 
Coin box100 
Compartments99 
Compression ratio144 
Computer76 
refer also to the "Owner's 
Manual for Onboard 
Computer" 
Configuring individual 
settings via Vehicle and 
Key Memory63 
Consumption78 
display75 
Convenience operation via 
driver's door lock 
fully-automatic convertible 
top31 
power windows31 
Convertible top 
compartment panel35 
Convertible top, fully 
automatic operation42 Coolant123 
capacity147 
Coolant temperature 
gauge75 
Cooling system, 
capacity147 
Copyright4 
Cornering Brake Control 
(CBC)18, 81 
Correct sitting posture48 
Cruise control72 
Cruising range78 
Cup holder, refer to 
beverage holder100 
Curb weight146 
D 
Data 
dimensions145 
engine144 
weights146 
Daytime driving lamps87 
DBC (Dynamic Brake 
Control)82 
Defrost windows92, 94 
Digital clock76 
Dimensions145 
Dipstick, engine oil121 
Displacement144  

Everything from A to Z
153n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
G 
Garage-door opener97 
Gasoline gauge75 
Glove compartment97 
Gross vehicle weight146 H 
Handbrake66 
Hands-free system100 
microphone100 
Hardtop110 
Hazard warning triangle22 
Head restraints50 
Headlamp cover, care131 
Headlamp flasher88 
Headlamp washer 
system120 
capacity147 
Headlight control87 
Heated seats54 
Heavy cargo103 
Height145 
High beams20, 69, 88 
bulb replacement131 
High Performance Synthetic 
Oil122 
Holder for canned 
beverages100 
Hood118 
Horn14 
I 
Ice warning77 
Icy roads77 
Ignition keys28 
Ignition lock64 
Imprint4 
Indicator lamps17 
Inflation pressures, 
tires24, 113 
INSPECTION75 
Instrument cluster15 
Instrument lighting88 
Instrument panel15 
Interface socket for onboard 
diagnostics (OBD)127 
Interior lamps30, 89 
remote control30 
Interior motion sensor36 
operating via remote 
control30 
switching off37 
Interior rearview mirror55 
with automatic 
dimming56 
Interlock64 
J 
Jack135 
Jump-starting140 K 
Key Memory63 
Key set28 
Keys28 L 
Lamps and bulbs, 
replacement131 
Lashing eyes104 
LATCH child-restraint 
system59 
Length145 
License plate lamps, bulb 
replacement134 
LIGHTS ON warning87 
Load-securing devices104 
Lock buttons32 
Low beams87 
bulb replacement131 
Lug wrench135 
Luggage compartment35 
capacity146 
enlarging35 
floor panel35 
secure separately33 Luggage compartment lid 
electrical malfunction33 
manual operation33 
operate via remote 
control30 
Luggage compartment 
lighting33 
Luggage compartment's 
interior, emergency 
release34 
Luggage rack105 
Lumbar support50 
M 
M+S tires117 
Maintenance125 
Malfunction displays76 
Manual closing 
fully-automatic convertible 
top44 
Manual convertible top39 
close41 
open39 
Manual operation 
doors31 
fuel filler door22 
luggage compartment 
lid33