
Opening and closing
42
Electric power windows Open and close windowsFrom "radio" mode on:
>Press the switch until you feel resis-
tance:
The window continues to move as long as
you continue to hold the switch
>Press the switch beyond the resistance
point:
The window moves downward automati-
cally. Press the switch again to stop the
opening movement.
You can close the windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.
The power windows remain available for
use after the ignition is switched off:
>for approx. 15 minutes with the remote
control unit in the "radio" mode
>for approx. 1 minute in position 0 or with
the remote control unit disengaged.
To open, press the switch beyond the pres-
sure point.
When leaving the vehicle parked,
always remove the remote control
from the ignition lock and close the doors;
this precaution prevents children from
operating the power windows and injuring
themselves, etc.<
For information on using the convenience
operation mode at the door lock or with the
remote control unit, refer to page 37 or 36. Safety featureIf the force rises beyond a predefined
threshold during closing, the system will immediately stop moving the window prior
to lowering it slightly.
Despite this safety feature you should
always inspect the window's travel
path prior to closing it, as the safety system
might fail to detect certain kinds of obstruc-
tions, such as very thin objects, and the
window would continue closing.
Pulling the switch beyond the pressure
point and holding it limits the response of
the safety feature. Under these conditions
the window will respond to forces beyond a
defined threshold by only opening several
millimeters.
If you again pull the switch past the pres-
sure point and hold it in position within a
period of roughly 4 seconds, the safety
feature will be deactivated.<
If you desire, you can have your BMW
center reprogram the safety feature
for deactivation the first time you pull and
hold the switch. Please contact your BMW
center for assistance.<
When you close the windows they will
slow down as they approach the end
of their travel; this is to allow the safety
feature to respond more precisely to any
obstructions encountered in this critical
range.<
Safety switch With the safety switch, you can prevent the
rear windows from being opened or closed
via the switches in the rear passenger area
(by children, for example). The switch also
deactivates the rear-mounted switches
controlling the rear seats' power adjust-
ment, refer to page 47, and the rear
window sun blinds, refer to page 109. The

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43
indicator lamp lights up when this safety
feature is activated.
Press the safety switch whenever
children are riding in the rear of the
vehicle. Careless use of the power
windows can lead to injury.<
The remote control unit must be
locked in position in the ignition lock
before this safety feature can be deacti-
vated.< After installing accessories After installing any accessory Ð such as a
clamp-on antenna for a mobile phone Ð
within the window's travel range, you will
need to have the system reinitialized for
use under the new conditions . Please
contact your BMW center for assistance. Sliding/tilt sunroof*
To prevent injuries, exercise care
when closing the sliding/tilt sunroof
and keep it in your field of vision until it is
shut.
When leaving the vehicle, always disen-
gage the remote control in the ignition lock
and close the doors to prevent children
from operating the sunroof and injuring
themselves, etc.<
Raising Ð Opening Ð Closing From "radio" mode on, press the switch, or
slide in the desired direction up to the pres-
sure point.
After the ignition is switched off the sunroof
remains available for operation:>for approx. 15 minutes with the remote
control unit in the "radio" position
>for approx. 1 minute in position 0 or with
the remote control unit disengaged.
The headliner insert slides back somewhat
when you raise the sunroof. When the
sunroof is opened the headliner retracts
with it.
Do not use force to close the head-
liner insert with the sunroof in its
raised position, as damage to the mecha-
nism could result.<
For information on using the convenience
operation mode at the door lock or with the
remote control, refer to page 37 or 36.
Automatic* opening and closing Press the switch past the pressure point
and then release it.
In addition, the following response is also
automatic:
With the sunroof open, press the switch in
the "raise" direction: the sunroof rises to its
tilt-up end position.
Press the switch again in any direction to
stop the sunroof.
The automatic opening feature in the
"raise" direction can be deactivated.
Please contact your BMW center for assis-
tance.< Safety feature If the sliding/tilt sunroof encounters resis-
tance
>when it is closing from the raised posi-
tion
>when it is closing from a point roughly
past the middle of its travel,
the closing cycle is interrupted and the
sliding/tilt sunroof will open again slightly.
Despite this safety feature you should
always inspect the sunroof's travel
range prior to closing it, as the safety
feature might fail to detect certain kinds of
obstructions, such as very thin objects, and
the sunroof would continue closing.
Pressing the switch beyond the pressure

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53
Lighted vanity mirror
In rear 1.Press button 1. The vanity mirror folds
down
2.Pull the mirror down slightly before
proceeding to turn it or tilt it into the
desired position
3.Press the vanity mirror back up before
folding it back in.
The mirror is illuminated from the radio
mode on. Steering wheel adjustment The steering wheel can be adjusted in any
of four directions by pressing the appro-
priate end of the button.
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving. There is a risk
of accident from unexpected movement.<
Storing steering wheel positions, refer to
Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory on
page 54.
Automatic steering wheel
adjustment The steering wheel automatically moves as
high up and far forward as possible to ease
driver entry and exit before then returning
to the standard position or stored memory
setting.
This automatic feature is governed by the
door and the ignition switch. Heated steering wheel*
The steering wheel's heater operates when
the ignition is on.
Press the button to activate or deactivate
this system.
The indicator lamp within the button lights
up when the steering wheel heater is in
operation.Programming button function
You can assign specific individual
functions to the programmable
button. This feature then provides
you with quick access to this function,
allowing you to control it without undue
distraction from road and traffic conditions.
1.Select "Settings" menu
2.Confirm your selection

Adjustments
56
Important safety notes
Do not apply adhesive materials to
the cover panels of the airbags, cover
them or modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag
restraint system from the vehicle. If you
note any indication of system malfunction,
if you desire to have an airbag deactivated,
or if the airbags are triggered in response
to an accident, you should always entrust
all inspection, repair and dismantling oper-
ations to your BMW center.
Never modify or tamper with either the
wiring or the individual components in the
airbag system. This category includes the
upholstery in the center of the steering
wheel, on the instrument panel, the side
trim panels on the front and rear doors, and
the roof pillars along with the sides of the
headliner. Do not attempt to remove or
dismantle the steering wheel.
To ensure compliance with official safety
regulations, entrust disposal of airbag
generators to a BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation, either
of which could result in personal injury. Do
not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been trig-
gered, because there is a danger of
burns.<
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained Ð
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems; larger children and
adults using the safety belts. Never let an
occupant's head rest near or on a side
airbag because the inflating airbag could
cause a serious or fatal injury. Please note
that the word "Airbag" imprinted on the
door trim panel indicates the airbag's loca-
tion.
Never install a rear-facing child-restraint
device on the front passenger seat. If you
do so, the child could be injured when the
airbag is triggered.
Children should always ride in the rear and
the restraint systems should be secured
with the vehicle's belts.Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in an automobile is in the
rear seat. However, a child sitting in the
rear seat and not properly restrained may
place his or her head on or near the airbag,
if so equipped.
For example, a child Ñ even though belted
Ñ may fall asleep with his or her head
against the side airbag. It may be difficult
for a driver to ensure that children in the
rear seat will remain properly positioned at
all times and do not place their heads on or
near the side airbag. Therefore, we recom-
mend that the rear side airbags, if provided,
be deactivated if you plan to transport chil-
dren in the rear seat.
The rear seat side airbags may already
have been deactivated, either at the time of
manufacture or by a BMW center. Labels in
the rear door opening should indicate the
status of your rear-seat side airbags. If you
are uncertain of their status, or wish to have
the airbags activated or deactivated,
please contact your BMW center.<
Even when all these guidelines are
observed, there is still a small residual risk
of injuries to the face, hands and arms
occurring from airbag deployment in
isolated instances. The ignition and infla-
tion noise may provoke a mild temporary
hearing loss in extremely sensitive individ-
uals.
Airbag warning information is also provided
on the sun blinds.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp shows the
airbag and belt-tensioner system's
operational status as soon as you
insert the remote control unit in the ignition
(radio mode).
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to come on or
>it remains on continuously.

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61
DrivingIgnition lockInsert the remote control unit all the way
into the ignition lock. This also activates the
radio mode.
When the remote control unit is in the
ignition lock you can start the engine
without first switching on the ignition.
you are ready to start the engine. If
you press the start/stop button while the
brake pedal is depressed the engine will
start immediately .<
Continue to press the start /stop button to
switch the radio mode on and off or switch
the ignition on and off.
1Radio mode
In this mode several systems, such as the
Control Center, parked-car ventilation,
etc., are available for use. The time and outside temperature appear in the Info
Display panel.
The radio mode is automatically
deactivated:
>after approx. 30 minutes, when a door is
closed and the system does not register
the presence of any individuals in the
vehicle
>immediately, when the vehicle is locked
from the outside.<
2Ignition on:
All vehicle systems are ready for operation.
0Ignition off:
The indicator lamps in the Info Display go
out. Only the automatic transmission's
range display remains visible for a brief
period.
To remove the remote control unit
from the ignition lock Press the remote control unit in briefly; it is
ejected and now protrudes slightly from the
lock. This procedure will also switch off the
ignition if it is on.
Switch off the engine before removing
the remote control unit from the igni-
tion lock.
The transmission automatically shifts to
position P Ð Interlock.<
If the remote control is still in the ignition
lock when the driver's door is opened, a
gong will sound and a message will appear
in the Info Display panel.

Driving
62
Starting the engine
Do not allow the engine to run in
enclosed spaces. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, an odorless and
colorless, but highly toxic gas. Breathing
the exhaust gases poses an extreme health
risk, and can lead to unconsciousness and
death.
Never leave the vehicle parked with the
engine running, as it would then pose a
potential safety hazard.<
1.Insert the remote control unit all the way
into the ignition lock
2.Depress the brake pedal
3.Maintain pressure on the brake pedal
and briefly press the start / stop button.
You can release the brake pedal as soon as
the engine starts.
Your BMW is equipped with the
convenience starting feature. After
depressing the brake pedal, all you need to
do is briefly press the start / stop button.
The system responds by automatically
engaging the starter and allowing it to run
until the engine starts, after which it then
disengages automatically.
The automatic starting mode will not
operate or will be canceled if the battery
voltage is low. It is then possible to start the
engine using electrical power from an
outside source, refer to page 187.
The engine starts immediately in response
to pressure on the button at speeds of
roughly 3 mph (5 km/h) and above. It is not
necessary to depress the brake pedal.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up by
leaving it running while the vehicle remains stationary. Instead, begin to drive immedi-
ately at a moderate engine speed.
Under the following conditions you should
press the accelerator pedal halfway down
when starting:
>If the engine fails to start on the first
attempt, for instance, if it is very hot or cold
>During cold starts at high altitudes, of
roughly 3,300 ft (1000 m) and above, and in
extreme cold, at temperatures of approxi-
mately +5 7 (Ð15 6) and below.
Refrain from starting the vehicle
repeatedly at brief intervals, and
avoid an excessive number of starting
attempts if the vehicle fails to start;
repeated activation of the starter over an
extended period would allow unburned or
only partially combusted fuel to enter the
catalytic converter, where it can cause
overheating and damage to the unit.<
Switching off engineWith the vehicle stationary, briefly press the
start / stop button. This also activates the
radio mode.
Should exceptional circumstances
render it necessary for you to switch
off the engine while the vehicle is moving,
maintain pressure on the start / stop button
for approx. 1 second.
If you maintain pressure on the start / stop
button for longer than two seconds while
switching off the ignition, the remote
control unit will be ejected.<
Always remove the remote control
unit from the ignition lock before
leaving the vehicle.< Parking brake The concept Your BMW is equipped with an electro-
mechanical parking brake.
The parking brake is primarily intended to
prevent the vehicle from rolling while
parked.

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63
You have two separate options for
engaging the parking brake:
>Manually, by briefly pressing the button
>Automatically, through activation of the
Automatic Hold mode, refer to next
column.
An electrohydraulic mechanism then
engages the parking brakes to prevent the
rear wheels from turning whenever you
switch off the engine.
When the engine is running, parking brake
engagement is controlled by the brake
system's hydraulic circuits, which act on
the disc brakes at the front and rear
wheels. Brake pedal feel Because this function is activated using the
brake system's hydraulic circuits, the
response of the brake pedal may change
slightly. Engagement may also be accom-
panied by activation noise Ð this is normal. Manual engagement
Press the button briefly, the
word "PARK" appears briefly in
the Info Display.
The indicator lamp
appears in red in the Info
Display when the parking brake is
engaged, refer to page 14.
The indicator lamp goes out
soon after you switch off the igni-
tion.<
Manual release
With the ignition on, briefly
press the button: the indicator
lamp in the Info Display goes
out.
Provided that the detent holding the
remote control unit in the ignition lock
is engaged, you can also release the
parking brake after the engine has been
switched off. This function is intended for
use in automatic car washes, etc.<
When leaving the vehicle, always
release the remote control unit from
the detent in the ignition lock; this precau-
tion prevents children from disengaging the
parking brake, etc.
The parking brake can still be engaged at
any time when the remote control unit is
released from the detent. It is only possible
to disengage the parking brake with the
ignition on.<
If exceptional circumstances should
make it necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in motion,
maintain pressure on the button.
The indicator lamp appears in red in the
Info Display. A gong sounds at the same
time.
The brake lamps come on.
The vehicle continues to brake automati-
cally for as long as you maintain pressure
on the button.<
When you brake the vehicle to a
virtual stop, i.e., down to a speed of
approx. 1.9 mph (3 km/h) or below, the
parking brake remains engaged.
The indicator lamp in the Info Display
appears in red. Press the button briefly to
disengage the parking brake manually.<
Automatic Hold You can activate this feature after starting
the engine; it then remains operational until
the next time the engine is switched off.
This feature provides supplementary
support during vehicle operation by auto-
matically engaging and releasing the
parking brake during stops at traffic lights,

Driving
66
To release 1.Remove the floor mat and the cover on
the spare tire
2.Guide the emergency-release tool with
the screwdriver handle into the opening,
arrow 1
3.Apply the open-end wrench to the
hexagon on the emergency-release tool.
Press against the resistance from the
spring to guide the emergency-release tool
all the way in, then hold it in place. Turn the
emergency-release tool in the direction
indicated by the arrow 2, continuing until
you hear the mechanism snap into place
and feel resistance; maintain pressure on
the tool after the mechanism engages
4.Use the open-end wrench to turn the
emergency-release tool against the drive
unit's mechanical resistance, continuing to
rotate it in arrow direction 2 until you feel a
substantial increase in turning effort.
To prevent possible damage to the
rear brakes, always make sure that
the parking brake is completely released
before driving the vehicle.<
5.Return the tools to their places
6.Return the spare tire cover and the floor
mat to their original locations.
Have any defects repaired at the
nearest BMW center. The technicians
can also return the parking brake to normal
operational status after it has been
released manually in response to malfunc-
tion.<
Following manual release, the actual
status of the parking brake may vary
from that displayed by the indicator lamp.<
Operation after interruptions in
power supply
The parking brake may only be used
again, if it is released manually after
an interruption in power supply, i. e. as a
result of a discharged or disconnected
battery. If this is not done, the parking
brake may fail to operate correctly. Even
with the parking brake engaged, there
would be a danger of the vehicle rolling on
steep hills.<
Once the electrical power supply has been
restored you can again use the parking
brake:
With the ignition on and the
vehicle stationary, tap the
button three times at intervals
of approx. 5 seconds. This
initializes the system as follows:
>Initializing the disengaged setting
>Engage Ð the system registers the new
status and the brake setting is initialized.
The indicator lamp in the Info Display
appears in red
>Release Ð the parking brake is ready for
operation. The indicator lamp in the
Info Display goes out.
Automatic transmission
with L mode While you can drive as with a conventional
automatic transmission, you also have the
option of retaining your current gear selec-
tion with the L/D button on the steering
wheel, refer to page 68. Transmission ranges