
Driving
76 trips, the system can reduce fatigue and
tension, while increasing your enjoyment of
driving. Please use it safely and respon-
sibly.
In addition to holding a steady cruising
speed, if you do encounter slower vehicles
ahead, active cruise control will Ð within the
scope of given possibilities Ð adjust your
vehicle's speed automatically so that one
can flow with the traffic without frequent
intervention by the driver. If, for example,
while cruising at the selected speed, you
begin to approach a slower vehicle ahead
of you in the same lane, the system will
reduce your vehicle's speed to the same as
that of the vehicle ahead to maintain your
selected distance setting between your
vehicle and the vehicle ahead. There are
four settings for distance, which is addi-
tionally speed-dependent. Based on your
selected distance setting, the system auto-
matically decreases the throttle setting and
lightly applies the brakes if necessary. The
vehicle brake lamps will automatically illu-
minate to signal a following driver to take
action. In addition, it may be necessary for
the vehicle to downshift to maintain the dis-
tance setting selected. If the vehicle ahead
speeds up or when the lane ahead
becomes clear, your vehicle will accelerate
to the speed you have selected by
increasing the throttle setting and shifting
gears as needed.
Active cruise control is not and must
not be used as a collision avoidance/
warning system.<
Since this active cruise control
system is a new technology and oper-
ates differently from conventional cruise
control systems which you may be accus-
tomed, you are strongly urged to read all of
the pages relating to this system before
use. Pay special attention to the informa-
tion contained in the Things to know about
active cruise control section in this manual
beginning on page 79.<
Info Display screen contents
1Stored desired speed display
2Detected vehicle display. Lights up
when vehicle driving ahead is detected
3Selected distance to vehicle driving
ahead
4Digital speed display.
Appears briefly when you select your
desired speed, refer to page 77.
1, 2 and 3 are displayed when the
system is activated.<
The system is activated.
The display appears as soon as
you activate the system and no
vehicle is detected driving
ahead.
Vehicle detected.
The display lights up when a
vehicle is detected driving
ahead.

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
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Navigation
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Mobility
Reference
93
Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
PDC Park Distance Control*
The concept
The PDC assists you when you are parking.
Signal tones indicate the current distance
to an object behind or in front of your
vehicle. Four ultrasonic sensors in both the
bumpers monitor the distance to the
nearest object. The sensors at the front and
at the two rear corners have a range of
approx. 2 ft (60 cm); the rear middle sen-
sors have approx. 5 ft (1.50 m).
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate
objects when they are approached
slowly, as is usually the case when parking.
Avoid approaching an object at high speed,
as otherwise the physical circumstances
would mean that the system warning was
too late.<
Automatic function
Whenever the ignition is on the system
automatically assumes operational status
after a few seconds each time you engage
the transmission position R.
Wait this short period before
reversing.<
Switching on manually
Press the button, the indicator lamp lights
up.
Manual deactivation
Press the button again; the indicator lamp
goes out.
Automatic deactivation
The system is automatically deactivated
once the vehicle travels approx. 165 ft
(50 m) or exceeds a speed of roughly
20 mph (30 km/h); the indicator lamp goes
out. You can reactivate the system manu-
ally as needed.
Acoustic signals
The signal indicating the distance to the
nearest obstacle is directional. Thus, an
object detected to the left rear of the
vehicle will be indicated by a signal tone
from the left rear speaker, etc. As the
distance between vehicle and object
decreases, the intervals between the tones
become shorter. The signal tone becomes
continuous once the distance to the
nearest object falls to below roughly 1 ft
(30 cm).
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. 3 seconds when the distance to an
object remains constant during this time,
if you are moving parallel to a wall, for
instance.
Malfunctions
The indicator lamp within the button
flashes and a status message appears in
the Check Control.
Please take note of the supplementary
information provided in the Control Display.
Switch the system off and have the cause
of the malfunction corrected by your BMW
center.

At a glance
Controls
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Communications
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Mobility
Reference
95
difficult driving conditions, such as on
snow, etc.
Indicator lamps
The indicator lamp in the Info Dis-
play goes out soon after you start
the engine.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive and braking forces.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off via the Control
Display.
The indicator lamp and the brake
warning lamp remain on continu-
ously:
DSC, DTC and DBC have been
deactivated or a system malfunc-
tion is present.
When the system is off, the stability main-
tenance functions described above are no
longer available. The vehicle will remain
completely operational, however, without
DSC.
Please respond to any malfunctions by
referring the problem to your BMW center.
Indicator and warning lamps on
Canadian models.
Activating DTC Dynamic Traction
Control
You may find it useful to briefly activate
DTC under the following special circum-
stances: >When rocking the vehicle and starting
off in deep snow or on loose road sur-
faces
>When ascending snow-covered hills,
and when driving in deep or on hard-
packed snow
>When driving with snow chains.
Select "Settings". Select "DTC" and con-
firm your entry. DTC is now activated. The
DTC indicator lamp in the Info Display
lights up.
When DTC is active, DSC provides
only limited system response up to a
speed of approximately 45 mph (70 km/h).
Control intervention to maintain stability is
reduced.<
Deactivating DTC
Select "Settings". Select "DTC" and con-
firm your entry. DTC is now deactivated.
The DTC indicator lamp in the Info Display
goes out.
Deactivating DSC
Select "Settings". Select "DSC" and con-
firm your entry. DSC is deactivated. The
indicator lamp in the Info Display remains
on continuously.
Deactivating DSC automatically deacti-
vates DTC as well. The systems for
enhancing stability and traction are deacti-
vated, and there is no active braking inter-
vention or torque control.
A status report appears in the Check Con-
trol. Please take note of the additional
information in the Control Display.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
96 To maintain optimal stability, drive
with the system on whenever pos-
sible.<
Reactivating DSC
Select "Settings". Select "DSC" and con-
firm your entry. DSC is now activated. The
indicator lamp in the Info Display goes out.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An approp-
riate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unneces-
sary risks.
When DTC is active, DSC provides only
limited system response up to a speed of
approximately 45 mph (70 km/h). Interven-
tion for stability-enhancement is reduced.
Do not make any modifications to the DSC
system. Never allow anyone other than
authorized professional technicians to
carry out service or repairs on the DSC
system.<
DBC Dynamic Brake Control
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this
system automatically produces the max-
imum braking force boost and thus helps to
achieve the shortest possible braking dis-
tance during panic stops. This system
exploits all of the benefits provided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake
pedal for the duration of the brake applica-
tion. When the brake pedal is released, the
DBC is deactivated.
In the event of a malfunction, the
warning lamp comes on with a
yellow light. Have the system
checked and repaired at your BMW center
as soon as possible.
Check Control messages, refer to page 85.
Please note the supplementary information
provided in the Control Display.
Warning lamp on Canadian models.
Driving stability control/
ABS Antilock Braking
System
The concept
ABS enhances active safety by preventing
the wheels from locking under braking.
ABS incorporates CBC and EBV.
In case of malfunction
If the indicator lamp lights up in
yellow, this indicates that ABS has
been deactivated in response to a
system malfunction. Conventional braking
efficiency remains available without limita-
tions. Please have the system inspected at
your BMW center.
CBC Cornering Brake Control
CBC is a technical advance based on ABS.
It provides further enhancements in vehicle
stability and steering response during lane
changes and cornering at high rates of lat-
eral acceleration.
EBV Electronic brake-force
distribution
EBV controls the brake system's applica-
tion pressure at the rear wheels to ensure
stable deceleration.
In case of malfunction
If the brake system warning lamp
lights up in red, appearing together
with the yellow indicator lamps for
ABS and DSC: the stability control
is no longer operational.
If all three lamps light up in yellow:
malfunction in the stability control
systems.
While you may continue, you should
remember to proceed cautiously and drive
defensively while avoiding full brake appli-
cations.
Please have the system checked at the
nearest BMW center.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
100
Do not start the initialization
Select and confirm to return to the
"Settings" menu.
Status indicators in the Control
Display
The status of the system is indicated by the
color of the tires.
TPM takes into account that the tire pres-
sure changes during driving. A correction is
only required when the TPM requests that
the driver takes action by changing the
color.
Green
Tire inflation pressures correspond to the
initialized level.
Yellow
The inflation pressures in the tires have
fallen to below the specified level, which is
normal in every tire after a certain amount
of time.
This alerts you to have the tires inflated to
the specified pressures as soon as pos-
sible.
Red
Pressure loss in indicated tire.
If this occurs, reduce vehicle speed imme-
diately and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard
and sudden steering and braking maneu-
vers.
Black
The system is being initialized.
The system needs several minutes to com-
plete the initialization process, after which
it is ready to detect and report tire prob-
lems.
In the event of loss in tire pressure
If the indicator lamp symbol in the Check
Control lights up in yellow, and a message
also appears, this indicates that the infla-
tion pressures in the tires have fallen to
below the specified level, which is normal
in every tire after a certain amount of time. This alerts you to have the tires inflated to
the specified pressures as soon as pos-
sible.
Please take note of the additional informa-
tion in the Control Display.
If you are prompted to check the tire
pressure shortly after a correction has
been made, this indicates that the cor-
rected values were not accurate. Please
check the inflation pressure again and
make corrections according to the inflation
pressure table. Then reinitialize the
system.<
Flat tire
If you have a flat tire, the indicator lamp
symbol in the Check Control will light up in
red, and a message will appear. In addition,
a gong sounds.
>Vehicles with standard tires:
If this occurs, reduce vehicle speed
immediately and stop the vehicle. Avoid
hard and sudden steering and braking
maneuvers. Replace the defective tire
>Vehicles with run-flat tires:
If this occurs, carefully but quickly
reduce vehicle speed to below 50 mph
(80 km/h). Avoid hard and sudden
steering and braking maneuvers.
Additional information on run-flat tires
is provided on page 186.
The spare tire provided with your
vehicle is equipped with the elec-
tronics required to support TPM operation;
once the spare is installed, the pressure in
this tire will also be monitored following
system initialization.
Have the tires changed at your BMW
center.
Your BMW center has the information
needed for working with TPM and is
equipped with the necessary special
tools.<
System malfunctions
Other equipment operating on the same
radio frequency as TPM can generate inter-
ference signals that may prevent the
system from operating as intended.

Lamps
102
Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
Parking lamps/side marker lamps
With the switch in this position, the
front, rear and side vehicle lighting
is switched on. You can use the side
marker lamps for parking. For lighting on
one side for parking as an additional fea-
ture, refer to page 103.
Low beams
When you switch off the ignition
with the headlamps on, the head-
lamps go out, and only the parking
lamps remain on.
Follow-me-home lamps:
After parking the vehicle and
switching off the headlamps, you can use
the headlamp flasher control to activate
the low beams for a period of roughly
40 seconds. You also have the options of
extending this period or, as an alternative,
having this function deactivated.<
Lights on warning
If you switch off the ignition while the head-
lamps are on, when you subsequently open
the driver's door a gong will sound for sev-
eral seconds, while the Check Control will
provide you with a message
.
Daytime driving lamps*
If you wish, you can leave the light switch in
the low-beam position:
All external lamps go out when you switch
off the ignition.
Always observe all applicable laws gover-
ning the use of daytime driving lamps.
You can switch on the parking lamps when
needed using the standard procedure
described under Parking lamps.
You can have the daytime driving
lamps on your vehicle programmed to
operate as desired.<
Automatic headlamp control
When you set the switch to this
position, the system activates and
switches on and off the low beams
in response to changes in ambient light
conditions, for instance, in tunnels, at dawn
and dusk, and in rain and snow. The green
indicator lamp next to the symbol is illumi-
nated when the low beams are on.
Following automatic activation the
vehicle's external lighting remains on
when you switch on the fog lamps.<
The automatic headlamp control
cannot serve as a substitute for your
personal judgment in determining when the
lamps should be switched on in response
to ambient lighting conditions.
For example, the system cannot detect fog.
To avoid safety risks, you should always
switch on the lamps manually under these
conditions.<
You can have the sensitivity of the
headlamp control system adjusted on
your vehicle.<

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103
Instrument lighting
Turn the serrated dial to adjust the illumina-
tion intensity.
High beams/standing lamps
1High beams Ð blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher Ð blue indicator lamp
3Standing lamps
Standing lamps, left and right*
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just
one side of your vehicle when parking:
With the ignition off, press the lever in the
desired direction 3, past the pressure
point.
Front fog lamps
The parking lamps or low beams
must be switched on for the fog
lamps to operate. The green indi-
cator lamp in the Info Display lights up
whenever the fog lamps are on.
The fog lamps are switched off whenever
the high beams are switched on.
If the automatic headlamp control is
activated, the low beams will come on
automatically when you switch on the fog
lamps.<
Interior lamps
The interior lamps operate automatically.
Switching the interior lamps on and
off manually
Briefly press button 1.
If you want the interior lamps to remain off
continuously, maintain pressure on the
button for approx. 3 seconds.
To revert to normal operation, press the
button briefly.

A congenial climate
108 should switch it off while also increasing air
supply as required.<
Residual heat mode
The system uses the warmth
stored in the engine to heat the
interior when the ignition is off,
for instance, while the vehicle
is stopped at a school to pick
up a child.
You can adjust the automatic climate con-
trol's settings when the ignition lock is in
the radio mode. The system blows heated
air into the interior in accordance with the
selected distribution pattern while the igni-
tion is off.
Provided that the engine has warmed
to its normal operating temperature
and the battery is charged, you can use this
function for up to 15 minutes after
switching off the ignition. The LED within
the button lights up to confirm compliance
with both of these conditions.<
Front ventilation
You can adjust the vent outlets for the
upper body to suit your personal require-
ments.
You can use the serrated dials 1 to open
and close the outlets through an infinitely-
variable range, while the serrated dials 2
allow you to adjust the airflow direction.
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the vent outlets to direct the flow of
cool air in your direction, for instance, if the
interior has become too warm, etc.
Draft-free ventilation
Set the vent outlets so that the air flows
past you and is not directed straight at you.
The airflow temperatures for the indi-
vidual upper-body vent outlets can be
adjusted separately in the Control Display,
refer to page 110.
When the vent outlets are completely
closed, the vents at the top of the cockpit
provide indirect ventilation for the pas-
senger compartment.<
Ventilation for storage compartment
in front armrest
You can use the serrated dial in the storage
compartment to open and close the vent.
Depending upon the temperatures
selected at the rear dials, high tem-
peratures may occur in the storage com-
partment. Close the vent as required.<
Rear ventilation
The serrated dials 1 allow you to open and
close the ventilation outlets through an infi-
nitely-variable range.
You can adjust the airflow direction using
the levers 2.