Page 9 of 178

Contents
9
Passenger safety systems:
Airbags61
Transporting children safely63
Rollover protection system67
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory69
Driving:
Ignition lock70
Starting the engine70
Switching off the engine72
Parking brake72
Manual transmission73
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*74
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher77
Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor*78
Cruise control*79
Everything under control:
Odometer81
Tachometer81
Energy control81
Fuel gauge82
Engine coolant temperature
gauge82
Service interval display83
Check Control83
Clock84
Computer85
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
Park Distance Control (PDC)*87
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)*88
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)*90
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)*92
Flat Tire Monitor*93
Lamps:
Parking lamps/Low beams96
Instrument lighting97
High beams/Standing lamps97
Fog lamps*98
Interior lamps98
Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:
Air conditioning100
Automatic climate control*104
Interior conveniences:
Glove compartment109
BMW Universal Transmitter*110
Storage compartments112
Cellular phone*113
Ashtray, front*113
Ashtray, rear*114
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag*115
Cargo loading116
Roof-mounted luggage rack for
the hardtop*118
Controls and features
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Page 36 of 178
36
To closeThe handle recesses in the interior trim
panel of the luggage compartment lid –
see arrows – make it easier to pull the
lid down.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the luggage com-
partment lid is clear when it is closed,
following the same precautions as with
all closing procedures.<
Operate the vehicle only when the
luggage compartment lid is
closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes
could penetrate the interior of the vehi-
cle. <
Should it be absolutely necessary to
operate the vehicle with the luggage
compartment lid open, with closed con-
vertible top:
1. Close all windows
2. Greatly increase the quantity of air
coming from the air conditioning or
automatic climate control system,
see page 100 or 104.
Emergency releaseThis lever releases the luggage com-
partment lid from inside the luggage
compartment.
Luggage compartment lid
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Page 100 of 178
100Controlling the climate for pleasant driving
Air conditioning
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101
1Air onto the windshield and the side
windows
2Air for the upper body area103
3Air to the footwell
4Air supply/Blower102
5Temperature102
6Air distribution102
7Rear window defroster102
8Air conditioning102
9Outside air/Recirculated-air
mode102Air conditioning
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102
Air supply/Blower
You can select blower speeds
from 1 to 4. The heating and
ventilation become more and
more effective as the air sup-
ply settings are increased. In position 0,
the blower and the heater are switched
off. The outside air supply is blocked in
position 0.
Temperature
In order to increase the tem-
perature of the passenger
compartment, turn to the right
toward the red zone. The tem-
perature of the incoming air is kept con-
stant.
Air distribution
You can direct air to flow onto
the windows , toward your
upper body or into the
footwell . All intermediate
settings are possible. In the setting ,
there is a low flow of air onto the win-
dows to keep them free of condensa-
tion.
Rear window defroster
When the rear window defroster
is activated, the indicator lamp
comes on. The rear window defroster
switches off automatically.
You can have your vehicle pro-
grammed in such a way that the
rear window defroster switches on
automatically. This occurs within 5 min-
utes after starting the engine when out-
side temperatures are below approx.
397/+46.<
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and – depending on the
temperature setting – rewarmed.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started. Air conditioning helps
prevent the windows from fogging up.
Condensation forms during opera-
tion of the air conditioning system,
which then exits under the vehicle. It is
thus not unusual for a small puddle to
form under the car while the system is
running.<
Outside air/Recirculated-air mode
You can respond to unpleasant
external odors by temporarily
blocking the supply of outside air. The
system then recirculates the air cur-
rently within the vehicle.
If the windows should fog over in
the recirculated-air mode, switch
this mode off and increase the air sup-
ply as required.<
Air conditioning
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103
Draft-free ventilationYou can adjust the blower controls for
the upper body area to obtain the opti-
mum airflow rates and directions for
your personal requirements:
1Rotary dials for infinitely variable
opening and closing of the vent out-
lets
2Levers for airflow direction
3Rotary dial 3 allows you to control the
temperature of the airflow from these
outlets as desired
MicrofilterThe built-in microfilter removes dust
and pollen from the incoming air. Your
BMW center will replace it during rou-
tine maintenance. A substantial reduc-
tion in airflow indicates that the filter
needs to be replaced before scheduled
maintenance.
To defrost windows and remove
condensation1. Set the blower speed control for the
airflow rate to position 4
2. Turn the rotary temperature control
completely to the right, toward the
red zone
3. Turn to the rotary control for air dis-
tribution to position
4. Switch on the rear window defroster
to defrost the rear window.
Air conditioning
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Page 105 of 178
105
1Air onto the windshield and the side
windows
2Air for the upper body area107
3Air to the footwell
4Outside air/Automatic recirculated-
air control (AUC)/Recirculated
air107
5Air supply/Blower106
6Temperature106
7Automatic air distribution and
supply106
8Individual air distribution106
9Air grill for interior temperature sen-
sor – please keep clear and unob-
structed
10 Temperature display106,
air supply106
11 To defrost windows and remove
condensation106
12 Air conditioning106
13 Rear window defroster107Automatic climate control*
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106
Tips for pleasant drivingUse the automatic mode – switch on
with AUTO button 7. Select the desired
interior temperature.
Detailed setting options are described
for you in the following section.
You can make the settings of your
vehicle in such a manner that,
when you unlock the vehicle with the
remote control of your personal key,
your own personalized setting for the
automatic climate control is initiated.
supply
The AUTO program adjusts the
air distribution and the air sup-
ply for you and in addition adapts the
temperature to external influences –
summer, winter – to meet preferences
you can specify.
Individual air distribution
You can cancel the AUTO pro-
gram by selecting specific dis-
tribution patterns to suit your
own individual requirements.
While the AUTO program is then deacti-
vated, the automatic airflow control
remains in operation. Air flows onto
the windows , toward the upper
body , and into the footwell . You
can reactivate the automatic air distri-
bution mode by selecting the AUTO
button.Temperature
The interior temperature that
appears in the display panel is a
general figure intended for reference
purposes. We recommend 727/
+226 as a comfortable setting, even if
the air conditioning is on. When you
start the vehicle, the system ensures
that the selected temperature is
achieved as quickly as possible. It then
maintains this temperature, regardless
of the season.
To select the units of measure 6/7 of
the display, refer to page 85.
Air supply/Blower
By pressing the left or right half
of the button, you can vary the
air supply. This deactivates the auto-
matic control of the air supply, AUTO
disappears from the display panel. Nev-
ertheless, the automatic air distribution
remains unchanged. You can reactivate
the automatic air distribution mode by
selecting the AUTO button.
When the lowest blower speed is set
and you press the left half of the button,
all of the displays are canceled: the
blower, heating and air conditioning are
switched off. The outside air supply is
blocked. You can reactivate the system
by pressing any button for the auto-
matic climate control.To defrost windows and remove
condensation
This program quickly removes
ice and condensation from the
windshield and the side windows.
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and – depending on the
temperature setting – rewarmed.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started. Air conditioning helps
prevent the windows from fogging up.
Condensation forms during opera-
tion of the air conditioning system,
which then exits under the vehicle. It is
thus not unusual for a small puddle to
form under the car while the system is
running.<
Automatic climate control*
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