
48n
For relaxed and fatigue-free driving you 
should select a sitting position that 
reflects your personal requirements. 
Correct posture combines with safety 
belts and airbags to enhance occupant 
safety in the event of an accident. To 
ensure that the vehicle's safety systems 
provide you with optimal protection, we 
request that you direct your careful 
attention to the following section.
For additional information on trans-
porting children, refer to page 61.
Sitting correctly with airbags
Always maintain an adequate 
distance between yourself and the 
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel 
by the rim to keep any chance of injury 
to hands or arms to an absolute 
minimum should the airbag be 
deployed. Never allow any objects, 
individuals or animals to obstruct the 
areas between passengers and airbags.
Never use the front airbag's cover as a 
storage tray or support for objects of 
any kind. Never allow front passengers 
to rest their feet or legs on the airbag 
cover.<
For airbag locations and additional 
information on airbags refer to page 58.
Safe with safety belts
Never allow more than one person 
to wear a single safety belt. Never 
allow infants or small children to ride in 
a passenger's lap. Avoid twisting the 
belt while routing it firmly across the 
pelvis and shoulder, wear it as snugly 
against your body as possible. Do not 
allow the belt to rest against hard or 
fragile objects in your pockets. Do not 
route the belt across your neck, or run it 
across sharp edges. Avoid wearing 
bulky clothing and pull on the lap belt 
periodically to retention it over your 
shoulders. In the event of a frontal 
impact, a loose lap belt could slide over 
the hips, leading to abdominal injury. In 
addition, the safety belt's restraint 
effectiveness is reduced if it is worn 
loosely. Expectant mothers should 
always wear their safety belts, taking 
care to position the lap belt against the 
lower hips, where it will not exert pres-
sure against the abdominal area.<
For information on using the safety 
belts refer to page 53.
When adjusting your seat, always 
observe the following precautions
Never try to adjust your seat while 
operating the vehicle. The seat 
could respond with an unexpected 
movement, and the ensuing loss of 
vehicle control could lead to an acci-
dent. Never ride with the backrest 
reclined to an extreme horizontal angle 
(important for front passengers to 
remember), otherwise, there is a risk 
that you will slide under the safety belt 
in an accident, thus negating the 
protection the safety belt provides.
Do not move the seats to the rear when 
the vehicle is at an extreme angle (on 
garage ramps or steep slopes, for 
example). If you do so, the automatic 
safety belt height adjustment can be 
disengaged.<
Seat adjustment>Manually-adjusted seat, refer to 
page 49
>Electric power seats, refer to page 50
>Head restraints, refer to page 52
>BMW active seat, refer to page 52
Correct sitting posture Seats 

49n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Manually-adjusted seatSeat adjustment1 Backward/Forward adjustment
Pull the lever and slide the seat to the 
desired position.
After you release the lever, move the 
seat forward or backward slightly to 
engage the detent
2 Cushion height
Pull the lever and apply weight to 
or remove weight from the seat as 
required390us731
3 Backrest angle
Pull the lever and apply weight to or 
remove weight from the backrest as 
required.
Comply with the adjustment 
instructions on page 48. Failure to 
do so could result in diminished 
personal safety.< 390us732 

50n
Electric power seats
*
1 Tilt angle (driver's seat only)
2 Backward/Forward adjustment
3 Cushion height
4 Backrest angle
5 Head restraint height
Adjust the tilt angle of the head restraint 
manually by rotating it. 
Read and comply with the adjust-
ment instructions on page 48. 
Failure to do so could result in dimin-
ished personal safety.< 380de023
Adjusting BMW sports seat
*
With this seat, you can also adjust the 
thigh support: 
Press the front/rear of the switch to 
adjust the thigh support for your 
maximum personal comfort.390de696
Adjusting BMW comfort seat
*
This seat allows you to make additional 
adjustments for
1 Lumbar support
2 Shoulder support
Lumbar support:
You can adjust the backrest's contour 
for additional support in the curvature 
of your spine's lumbar region.
The upper hips and spinal column 
receive supplementary support to help 
you maintain a relaxed, upright posture.380de024 

52n
Head restraints BMW active seat*AdjustingTo adjust the height of the front or rear 
head restraints, pull up or push down.
For electric height adjustment, refer to 
page 50. 
To adjust the angle of the front head 
restraints, tilt to the desired angle.390de715
Head restraints reduce the risk 
of spinal injury in the event of an 
accident.
Adjust the head restraint so that its 
center is approximately level with your 
ears.
Leave the center-rear head restraint in 
the fully-lowered position at all times. 
Extending it limits its function.<
Active changes in the seat's surface 
help to avoid muscle cramps, pain in 
the spine's lumbar region and fatigue.
To activate, press the button.390us725 

137n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
HoodTo unlockPull the lever located under the left-
hand side of the instrument panel.
Do not work on your vehicle 
without appropriate skills. Failure 
to work in an informed, professional 
manner when servicing components 
and materials constitutes a safety 
hazard for vehicle occupants and other 
road users. If you are not familiar with 
the guidelines, please have the opera-
tions performed by your BMW center.<390de759
To openPull the release handle and open the 
hood.390de760
To closeAllow the hood to fall from a height 
of about 12 in (30 cm) so that it audibly 
engages.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the 
travel path of the hood is clear 
when it is closed, as with all closing 
procedures.
If you notice that the hood is not 
completely closed while driving, stop 
immediately and close it securely.< 390de761 

156n
Lamps and bulbs Changing a wheelLicense plate lamps5 watt bulb
1. Insert a screwdriver into the slot and 
press to the left (arrow); this disen-
gages the lamp
2. Remove the lamp and replace the 
bulb.394de772
Safety measures in the event of a 
flat tire or wheel change:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from 
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat, 
surface. Switch on the hazard warning 
flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position, remove the key and 
engage the steering lock. Shift into 1st 
or reverse (selector lever in Park with 
automatic transmission) and engage 
the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the 
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area (behind a guardrail, 
for instance).
If necessary, set up your warning 
triangle or portable hazard warning 
lamp on the roadside at an appropriate 
distance from the rear of the vehicle. 
Comply with all safety guidelines and 
regulations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm 
surface which is not slippery. Avoid 
jacking the vehicle up on a soft or slip-
pery surface (snow, ice, very smooth 
surfaces, etc.), since it could slide side-
ways.
Position the jack on a firm support 
surface.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar 
objects under the jack. If this is done, 
the jack might not be able to reach its 
full support capacity because of the 
limited height.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the 
engine when the vehicle is supported 
by the jack Ð risk of fatal injury.<  

170n
Dimensions Ð sport wagon
392us724
All dimensions are given in inches (mm). Height with roof-mouted luggage rack
*: 57.4 (1,459)
Min. turning circle dia.: BMW 525i: 37.1 ft (11.3 m); BMW 540i: 37.4 ft (11.4 m) 

Everything from A to ZDistance from 
destination92 
Distance warning96 
Divided rear-seat 
backrest119 
Doors 
manual operation33 
opening and closing34 
opening/closing from the 
inside34 
operation via remote 
control34 
DOT Quality Grades134 
Driving notes131 
DSC (Dynamic Stability 
Control)21, 97 
Dynamic Brake Control 
(DBC)20 
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)21, 97 E 
Electric power seat50 
Electric power windows44 
Electrical malfunction 
doors33 
fuel filler door24 
luggage compartment 
lid38 
sliding/tilt sunroof47 
tailgate39 Elements of operation14 
Emergency release of 
luggage compartment lid 
from luggage 
compartment's interior41 
Energy control81 
Engine compartment138 
Engine coolant82, 142 
Engine oil140 
consumption140 
disposal141t 
level20 
pressure19 
specifications141t 
viscosity ratings141 
Engine specifications168 
Estimated time of arrival93 
Exterior mirrors57 
F 
Failure messages83t 
Filling the washer 
reservoir139t 
First-aid kit23 
Fittings, tow-starting and 
towing163t 
Flashlight116 Flat tire133, 157t 
Fog lamps102 
bulb replacement153t 
Follow me home101 
Front ashtray117 
Front fog lamps102 
Front seat adjustment48 
Fuel25 
gauge81 
quality25 
specifications25 
tank capacity173 
Fuel consumption86, 93 
average86, 93 
indicator81 
Fuel filler door24 
electrical malfunction24 
manual release24 
Fuses160 
G 
Gasoline25 
gauge81 
quality25 
Glass moonroof47 
Glove compartment116 
Grilles107 
Gross vehicle weight171 
H 
Handbrake68 
Hands-free system117 
Hazard warning triangle23 
Head restraints50 
Headlamp covers, 
care151t 
Headlamp flasher76 
Headlight washer 
system139 
Heated steering wheel56 
Heating and 
ventilation104, 107 
Heating while stopped111 
Heavy cargo126 
Height adjustment 
seats50 
steering wheel56 
Height of vehicle169 
High beams21, 102 
bulb replacement151t 
High Performance Synthetic 
Oils141 
High-mount brake lamp155 
Holder for canned 
beverages117 
Hood137 
release137t 
Horn14 
Hydraulic Braking Assistant, 
refer to DBC20