
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.

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
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,

At a glanceControlsDriving tipsCommunicationsNavigationEntertainmentMobilityReference
65
>the hood is opened while the engine is
running
>the luggage compartment is opened
with the transmission in reverse while the
engine is running, and
>when the parking brake is used to bring
the vehicle to a stop.
The indicator lamp shifts from green
to red, and the "Auto P" message disap-
pears from the Info Display.
Before starting off again, briefly press the
button to disengage the parking brake
manually, refer to page 63, or reactivate
Automatic Hold, refer to page 64.
Before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running, always move the
automatic transmission's selector lever to
position P and ensure that the parking
brake is engaged. The vehicle could start to
roll if you fail to observe these precautions.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
Automatic Hold is automatically
deactivated whenever the system
detects any tendency for the wheels to spin
in response to slippery road surfaces. Note
the status displays in the Check Control
panel. You can find more detailed informa-
tion on Check Control on page 80.< Malfunctions In the event of malfunction, the indicator
lamp in the Info Display will light up
yellow, and a status report will appear in
the Check Control panel. Please remember
to observe the supplementary information
provided in the Control Display. To disengage the parking brake
manually You can respond to any interruptions in the
supply of electrical power, for instance, if
the battery is discharged or disconnected,
by releasing the parking brake manually.
Before proceeding to release the
parking brake manually, and each
time you park the vehicle without engaging the parking brake, always ensure that the
automatic transmission's selector lever is
in position P, refer to page 66. Note the
range indicated in the Info Display.
If it is not possible to avoid parking on an
extremely steep slope, use some supple-
mentary means, such as a wheel chock, to
make certain that the vehicle will not roll,
refer to page 184. Otherwise the danger
exists that the vehicle could roll when
parked on a very steep hill.<
Should it be necessary to release the auto-
matic transmission's lockout manually, for
instance, if the battery is discharged,
always adhere to the following sequence:
1.If necessary, start by manually releasing
the parking brake
2.Then release the automatic transmis-
sion's lockout manually, refer to page 70.
Towing and jump-starting, refer to
pages 187 and 188.
What you will need 1Screwdriver handle
2Emergency-release tool
310 mm open-end wrench
You will find the required tools in the tool kit
mounted on the inside of the luggage
compartment lid, refer to page 181.
Insert the emergency-release tool in the
screwdriver handle as shown in the illustra-
tion.

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

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69
To deactivate the L mode >Press the L/D button or
>press the selector lever into position D
once again. Automatic transmission
with Steptronic Canadian models only While you can drive as with any conven-
tional automatic transmission, you also
enjoy the option of shifting manually at the
steering wheel, refer to the next column. Transmission rangesP R N D Program displayS or M1 Ð M6Buttons on steering wheel S/M/D + Ð To select a transmission range The procedure for selecting transmission
ranges is the same as that employed in the
L mode, refer to page 67.
Sport program and manual operationWhen you press the S/M/D button on the
steering wheel once, the system responds
by activating the transmission's Sport
program, as indicated by the letter S in the
Info Display, refer to previous column. We
recommend this program for performance-
oriented driving.
When you press the S/M/D button a
second time the transmission switches to
its manual mode; press again to return to
the automatic program.
You can also return to the standard auto-
matic program by reselecting D.
In the manual mode the transmission
upshifts when you briefly tap the buttons
on the rear of the steering wheel. You
downshift by briefly pressing the buttons
on the front of the steering wheel. The Info
Display shows the manual ranges M1
through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are excecuted
only when they will result in a plausible
combination of engine and vehicle speed;
thus (for example) a downshift that would
cause the engine to overrev will not be
executed by the system. The selected gear
appears briefly in the Info Display, followed
by the current gear.

Driving
70 To obtain maximum acceleration (for
passing maneuvers, etc.) during
operation in the manual mode, use the
kickdown or downshift manually.<
Malfunctions A status message will appear in the Check
Control panel to alert you to any malfunc-
tions in the transmission-control system.
Please note any supplementary information
that appears in the Control Display. The
directional arrows also start to flash in the
Info Display.
While it will remain still possible to move
the selector lever to any desired position,
the transmission will revert to operation in
its default mode with only a limited number
of forward gears.
Some types of malfunction will make it
impossible to engage all gears.
The engine may respond with reduced
output when accelerating from a standing
start.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine loads
and consult the nearest BMW center.
If no status messages appear in the
Info Display you should accelerate
carefully to confirm that you are driving in
the desired direction.
Never work in the engine compartment
with any of the forward or reverse gears
engaged, as the vehicle could start to
move. Engage the parking brake, refer to
page 62.< Manual release of transmission
lockout You can respond to any interruptions in the
supply of electrical power, for instance, if
the battery is discharged or disconnected,
by releasing the transmission lockout
manually.
To prevent the drive wheels from
locking up and sliding, the transmis-
sion lockout must always be released
manually before the vehicle is towed.<
Press the brake pedal before
releasing the transmission lockout manually. If the brakes are not applied, the
vehicle could start to roll if parked on a
steep slope.
The transmission lockout should only be
released for towing. Remember to engage
the transmission lockout when you repark
the vehicle after moving it.
Should it also be necessary to release the
parking brake manually (owing to a
discharged battery, etc.), always adhere to
the following sequence:
1.Start by manually releasing the parking
brake, refer to page 65
2.Then proceed to manually release the
transmission lockout.<
Jump-starting and towing, refer to
pages 187 and 188.
To release 1.Use the vehicle key to release the cover
panel beneath the instrument panel by
turning the lock counterclockwise, then
fold down the cover
2.Use the strap 1 to pull out the release
lever, continuing until it snaps into place Ð
the transmission lockout is released.
Re-engage the transmission lockout
after parking the vehicle at its destina-
tion. Otherwise there is a danger that the

Driving
72
1 Standard wiper speed The system automatically reverts to opera-
tion in the intermittent mode whenever the
vehicle stops. Fast wiper speed You can also select this position by
pressing the lever upward past the detent.
The system automatically reverts to opera-
tion in the standard wipe mode whenever
the vehicle stops. 4 Clean windshield The system sprays washer fluid against the
windshield and activates the wipers for a
brief period. Cleaning headlamps >Each fifth time you press into position 4
to wash the windshield while the head-
lamps are on.
Do not use the washers if there is any
danger that the fluid will freeze on the
windshield. If you do so, your vision could
be obscured. To avoid freezing, use a
washer fluid antifreeze, refer to page 73.
Avoid activating the washer when the
reservoir is empty, as damage to the pump
could result.< Windshield washer nozzles The windshield washer nozzles and the
windshield itself in the area around the
wipers are heated automatically when the
ignition is switched on. Rain sensor
The rain sensor is located on the wind-
shield, directly in front of the interior rear-
view mirror. To activate the rain sensor Press briefly with ignition in radio mode,
refer to arrow. The indicator lamp comes
on. The wipers will always respond by
completing at least one sweep of the wind-
shield. Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level Turn the rotary knob 5. To deactivate the rain sensor Press the button again. The indicator lamp
goes out.
The rain sensor is automatically deac-
tivated when you switch off the igni-
tion.<
Deactivate the rain sensor when
passing through an automatic car
wash. Failure to do so could result in
damage caused by undesired wiper activa-
tion.< Selecting wiper fold-out position Important for changing wiper blades, when
folding away from windshield to prevent
blades from sticking when ice forms, etc.
1.Switch off the engine and remove the
remote control unit from the ignition lock
2.Press the wiper lever up and maintain
pressure for about 3 seconds, continuing
until the wipers are roughly vertical Ð this is
the fold-out position.
After folding the wipers back against the
windshield you will need to reactivate the
wiper system:
1.Insert the remote control unit to activate
the radio mode in the ignition lock
2.Apply brief upward pressure to the
wiper lever. The wipers return to their
retracted position and are ready for normal
operation.
To prevent damage to the wipers,
always fold them back against the

Everything under control
80
Check Control Info Display screen contents Messages and status reports appear in text
form accompanied by an indicator lamp
symbol. The alert is accompanied by a
gong.
Status reports warning of system malfunc-
tions are assigned one of two priority
ratings: Priority 1: These status messages and malfunction
reports are signaled by a gong. Simulta-
neous defects will be displayed consecu-
tively. These messages cannot be deleted,
and they remain in the display until the
problem is corrected. Supplementary infor-
mation also appears in the Control Display,
refer to Automatic messages in Control
Display. Priority 2: These status messages and malfunction
reports appear in the Info Display for
approx. 20 seconds.
Briefly press the CHECK button on the turn
signal indicator lever (see arrow) to cancel the message in the display (if allowed by
priority rating).
You can select stored status reports
for viewing in the Control Display,
refer to Selecting stored status reports for
viewing in the Control Display.<
Check Control symbol and messages
in the Control Display The status of the monitored system is indi-
cated by the color of the Check Control
symbol . Green No malfunctions are present in the moni-
tored systems. Yellow or red A defect or malfunction has been detected
in the monitored system. Depending upon
how serious the problem is, a supplemen-
tary message may also appear in the
Control Display.
You can access the stored status reports
through the Control Display, refer to the
next column.
The symbol also indicates the status
of the Service Interval Display, refer to
page 25.< Automatic messages in Control
Display These supplementary messages are
intended to assist you in assessing the
severity of malfunctions; they provide you
with the information you need to decide on
the best way to respond.