
Practical interior accessories
114
Ski bag*
Designed for safe, convenient transport of
up to 4 pairs of standard skis or up to 2
snowboards.
The ski bag itself plus the additional
capacity provided by the luggage compart-
ment make it possible to transport skis with
a length of up to 6.9 ft (2.1 0 m). When skis
of 6.9 ft (2.1 0 m) in length are loaded the
ski bag will tend to contract, reducing its
overall capacity. Loading 1.Fold down the center armrest, open the
cover and lay it down on the armrest
2.To open the hatch in the luggage
compartment:
Press the handle and slide it to the right
3.Extend the ski bag between the front
seats. The zipper allows more convenient
access to stored objects and can also be
left open to allow the ski bag to dry.
Please ensure that the skis are clean before
loading them into the bag. Take care to
avoid damage from sharp edges.
Securing the load
Secure the bag's contents by tight-
ening down the strap at the buckle.<
To store the ski bag 1.To close the hatch in the luggage
compartment:
Press the handle and slide to the left
2.Fold up the ski bag, place it in the
storage compartment and close the cover.

Things to remember when driving
120
Cargo loadingStowing cargo >Load heavy cargo as far forward and as
low as possible, placing it directly behind
the bulkhead behind the rear seats
>Cover sharp edges and corners
>For very heavy loads when the rear seat
is not occupied, secure each safety belt in
the opposite buckle. Securing the load >Use the luggage net
* or securing straps
to hold down small and light-weight
luggage and cargo, refer to page 40
>Heavy-duty cargo straps for securing
larger and heavier objects are available at
your BMW center
*. Anchorages for
attaching these heavy-duty straps have
been provided in your vehicle's luggage
compartment, refer to the illustration
>Please observe the special instructions
supplied with the cargo straps.
Always position and secure the load
correctly. If you do not, it can
endanger the passengers during braking or
evasive maneuvers.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle weight or either of the approved
axle loads, refer to page 194, as excessive
loads can pose a safety hazard, and may
also place you in violation of highway
safety laws.
You should never transport heavy or hard
objects unsecured in the passenger
compartment, as they could fly around and
pose a safety hazard to the vehicle's occu-
pants during abrupt braking or evasive
maneuvers .<
Roof-mounted luggage
rack* Anchorage pointsThe anchorage points are located within
the door openings.
A special rack system is available as an
option for your BMW. Please comply with
the precautions included with the installa-
tion instructions.
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's
center of gravity when loaded, they have a
major effect on its handling and steering
response. You should therefore always
remember not to exceed the approved roof
weight, the approved gross vehicle weight
or the axle loads when loading the rack.
You can find the specified weights in the
Technical data section on page 194.
Make sure that the load is not too heavy,
and that it does not extend outward to
beyond the limits of the loading surface.
Always load the heaviest pieces first (on
the bottom). Be sure that adequate clear-
ance is maintained for raising the sliding/tilt
sunroof, and that objects do not project

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
121
into the opening path of the luggage
compartment lid.
Secure roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or being
lost during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration
and braking maneuvers. Take corners
gently.

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
173
Wheel and tire
combinationsThe right choice
Use only wheel and tire combinations
that BMW has approved for your
particular vehicle. Variations in factors such
as manufacturing tolerances mean that
even wheels and tires with identical official
size ratings could actually have different
dimensions than the approved units. These
differences could lead to body contact, and
with it the risk of severe accidents . If non-
approved wheels and tires are used, BMW
cannot evaluate their suitability, and there-
fore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire
size, classifies them as road-safe and
approves them. Consult your BMW center
for more information. Observe any country-
specific regulations, e.g. on making a
corresponding entry in the vehicle
documents.
The correct combination of wheels
and tires is a vital factor in ensuring
reliable operation of various vehicle
systems such as ABS and DSC.
It is therefore important to ensure that tires
from a single manufacturer with a single
tread configuration are always mounted on
all vehicle wheels. After a flat tire, always
remember to have the specified wheel and
tire combination remounted on the vehicle
as soon as possible.<
Storage Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Always protect tires against all
contact with oil, grease and fuels.
Special characteristics of
winter tires Choosing the right tire BMW recommends winter tires Ð M+S
radial tires for use in cold winter driving
conditions. Although all-season M+S tires
provide better winter traction than standard
summer tires with H, V, W and ZR speed
ratings, they generally fail to provide the
same levels of cold-weather performance
as winter tires.
When mounting, always install winter tires
of a single tread configuration and from a
single manufacturer on all four wheels to
ensure safe tracking and secure steering
response. Observe speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed for
which the tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. The technicians at your
BMW center will be glad to assist you with
the required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment.<
Tire condition, tire pressure Because winter tires display a noticeable
loss in their ability to cope with cold-
weather driving conditions once the tread
wears to below 0.16 in (4 mm), to ensure
continued safety you should always have
such tires replaced.
Always maintain the specified inflation
pressures in all tires, and remember to
have the wheel and tire assemblies
balanced every time either a wheel or a tire
is replaced. Snow chains*
BMW narrow-link snow chains
are
approved exclusively for use in pairs on
the rear wheels, and should only be

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
175
Under the hood Hood To release Pull the lever located under the left side of
the instrument panel.
Never attempt to perform any service
or repair operations on your vehicle
without the required, professional technical
training. When you are unfamiliar with the
service procedures and precautions,
always have any required work carried out
at your BMW center. Unprofessional
attempts at service and repair, and the
incorrect handling of parts and materials
that can occur during such attempts,
constitute a potential safety hazard, both
for the vehicle's occupants and for other
road users.< To open Pull the release handle and open the hood.
To close Allow the hood to fall from a height of
approx. 12 in (30 cm), ensuring that you
hear the detent engage securely.
Observe the same precautions that
apply to all closing operations by
ensuring that the hood's travel range is
clear and unobstructed before allowing the
hood to fall into position.
If you see any signs that the hood is not
completely closed while driving your
vehicle, you should stop at once and close
it securely.<

Replacing components
184 the jack could slip to the side if you attempt
to raise the vehicle on a soft or slippery
surface such as snow, ice, tiles, etc.
Position the jack on a firm support surface.
Do not use a wooden block or similar
object as a support base for the jack, as
this would prevent it from extending to its
full support height and reduce its load-
carrying capacity .
To avoid serious or fatal injury: never lie
under the vehicle, and never start the
engine while it is supported by the jack.<
What you will need To avoid rattling noises, note the positions
of the tools before removing them, then
return them to their initial positions after
completing work.
>Lug wrench
It is stored within the spare tire area
>Wheel chock
The chock is located next to the spare tire,
or behind the trim panel on the left side of
the luggage compartment on vehicles
equipped with a trailer coupling.
Remove the floor mat and the cover above
the spare tire.
Unscrew the wingnut and remove the
wheel chock >Vehicle jack
The jack is located behind the side trim
panel on the right side of the luggage
compartment. Grasp the handle in the
upper panel and fold it down.
Undo the wingnut, see arrow, and remove
the jack.
After use, screw the jack all the way back
down and snap the handle back into place.
Spare tire 1.Undo the wingnut 1
2.Remove the disk 2 to the side
3.Unscrew the threaded rod 3 to remove it
4.Remove the wheel. Procedure 1.Read carefully and comply with the
safety precautions on page 183.
2.Secure the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling: place the wheel chock against the
rear surface of the front tire on the side
opposite the side being raised. If the
vehicle is parked on a downward slope,
place the wheel chock securely in front of
the tire. If the wheel must be changed on a
surface with a more severe slope, take

OverviewControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
185
additional precautions to secure the
vehicle from rolling.
3.Loosen the lug bolts 1/2 a turn
4.Set up the jack beneath the jacking
point closest to the flat tire. Ensure that the
entire surface of the jack's base is in firm
contact with the ground and that the jack
itself is standing completely vertical (not
tilted), and that the fitting on the top of the
jack will align with the rectangular recess
on the vehicle when you raise it, refer to
illustration
5.Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you
are changing is raised from the ground
6.Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel
7.Remove accumulations of mud or dirt
from the mounting surfaces of the wheel
and hub. Clean the lug bolts
8.Position the spare wheel. Secure the
wheel by turning at least two lug bolts into
opposite bolt holes
9.Screw in the remaining lug bolts.
Tighten all the bolts securely in a diagonal
pattern
10.Lower the jack and remove it from
beneath the vehicle.
11.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal
pattern
12.Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems and valve stem
seal caps against dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.
Vehicles with RDC Tire Pressure Monitor:
After mounting a spare tire or correcting the inflation pressure(s) always remember
to reinitialize the system, refer to page 92.
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not attempt
to raise another vehicle model with it or to
raise any load of any kind. To do so could
cause accidents and personal injury.
To ensure safety, always have the lug bolts
checked with a calibrated torque wrench to
ensure that they are tightened to the spec-
ified torque of 140 Nm as soon as
possible.<
Reverse the removal sequence to store the
wheel and tools in the vehicle.
When you mount wheels other than Orig-
inal BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug
bolts may also be required.
Always have damaged tires replaced and
the wheel and tire assembly rebalanced at
the earliest possible opportunity.
Battery Battery care The battery is 100% maintenance-free, i. e.,
the electrolyte will last for the life of the
battery when the vehicle is operated in a
temperate climate.
For all questions that regard the
battery, please consult your BMW
center. Since the battery is maintenance-
free, the following is for your information
only.< Charging the battery Only charge the battery in the vehicle via
the terminals in the engine compartment
with the engine off. Connections, refer to
Jump starting on page 187.
To avoid short circuits, as well as
possible fires and personal injury,
always disconnect the cable from the
battery's negative terminal before working
on the vehicle's electrical system.<

Everything from A to Z
196 Backup lamp, bulb
replacement 183
Bass 141
Battery 185
Ð discharged 187
Battery switch 185, 186
"BC," refer to Computer 83
Belts 50
Beverage holders 112
Blinds 109
Blower 101
BMW active seat 52
"BMW ASSIST" 19, 22
BMW comfort seat 46
"Booktape" 153
Brake, malfunctions 178
Brake lamp, adaptive 94
Brake lamps, bulb
replacement 183
"Brake pads" 179
Brake pads 119
Brakes 119
Brake system
Ð brake fluid 178
Break-in procedures 118
Brief commands for voice
command system 29
"Brief info" 23
Bulb changes 181
Buttons in steering
wheel 18
CCalifornia Proposition
65 Warning 180
Call
Ð terminating 162
Calling 162
Ð from telephone
directory 163
Ð from the redial list 164
Ð from the Top 8 list 163
Ð redialing 164
Can holders, refer to Bever-
age holders 112
Capacities 194
Car care, refer to Car care
manual
Cargo, securing 120Cargo area
Ð capacity 194
Ð opening from the
inside 39
Car Memory 59
"Car parked" 103, 106
Car radio, see Radio 140
Car wash, refer to separate
Car care manual
Cassette 153
Cassette deck 153
Ð booktape 153
Ð fast-forward mode 154
Ð music search 154
Ð reverse 154
Ð selecting tape side 153
Ð skipping pauses 154
Ð switching on 153
CBC (Cornering Brake
Control) 91
CBS (Condition Based
Service) 179
"CD" 140, 146
CD changer 148
Ð fast forward 150
Ð humidity 148
Ð operating
temperatures 148
Ð random play 150
Ð reverse 150
Ð safety 148
Ð scan function 149
Ð skipping tracks 150
Ð switching on 149
Ð temperature range 148
CD player 146
Ð activation 146
Ð fast forward 146
Ð random selection 147
Ð reverse 146
Ð sampling 147
Ð scan 147
Ð skip track 146
Cell phone, refer to sepa-
rate Mobile phone
manual 158
Center (high-mount) brake
lamp 183
Center armrest 113
Center console, refer to
Comfort features 16Central locking
system 35, 38
"CHANGE" for
navigation 130
Changing bulbs 181
Changing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs 181
Changing language 86
Changing settings in Con-
trol Display 86
Changing units of measure
in Control Display 86
Check Control 80
Ð "Check" 81
Checking engine oil
level 176, 176
Checking tire
pressures 170
Child-restraint systems 57
Ð refer also to LATCH child-
restraint system 58
Child-safety locks 59
Child seats 57
Cigarette lighter 113
Cleaning, refer to Car care
manual
"Climate" 19, 22
"Clock" 86
Clock 77
Ð setting time and date 86
Closing
Ð from the inside 37
Closing assist
Ð doors 38
Ð luggage compartment
lid 39
Cockpit 12, 16
Coin box, see
Compartments 111
Cold start 62
Combination switch 71
"Comfort"
Ð "EDC" 92
Comfort features 16
Comfort seat 46
Ð in rear 47
"Communication" 19, 22
Compact Disc, see CD 146
Compartments 111