Page 9 of 182

 
Contents
 
9
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock65
Starting the engine65
Switching off the engine67
Parking brake67
Manual transmission68
Sequential manual gearbox 
SMG*69
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*73
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher76
Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor*77
Cruise control*78
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer80
Tachometer80
Energy control80
Fuel gauge81
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge81
Service interval display82
Check Control82
Clock83
Computer*84
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)*86
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)87
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) – 
325xi, 330xi89
Hill Descent Control (HDC)*91
Flat Tire Monitor*92
Brake force display93
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams94
Instrument lighting95
High beams/Standing lamps95
Fog lamps*96
Interior lamps96
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning98
Automatic climate control*102
Roller sun blind*106
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Premium sound system*107
Glove compartment107
Storage compartments108
Cellular phone*110
Ashtray, front*110
Ashtray, rear*111
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Through-loading system*112
Ski bag*113
Cargo loading114
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack*117
 
Controls and features 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 15 of 182
 
15
1Parking lamps/Low beams94
2
 
>
 
Turn signal indicators76
 
>
 
Standing lamps95
 
>
 
High beams95
 
>
 
Headlamp flasher76
 
>
 
Computer84
3Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor77
4Hazard warning flashers
5Central locking system32
6
 
>
 
Initiating an emergency call152
 
>
 
Mobile Service152
7Rear window defroster100, 105
8Horn: the entire surface
9Adjusting the steering wheel55
10 Fog lamps96
 
Cockpit
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 21 of 182
 
21
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch 
on the fog lamps.
For additional information: refer to 
page 96
 
Blue: for your information
 
High beams
Comes on when the high beams 
are on or the headlamp flasher 
is actuated.
For additional information: refer to 
pages 76, 95
 
Indicator and warning lamps
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 56 of 182
56
Interior rearview mirrorTo reduce glare from vehicles behind 
you when you are driving at night, tilt 
the lens by turning the button.
Vehicles without alarm system:
Tilt the small lever forward.
Interior rearview mirror with 
automatic dimming feature*This mirror automatically responds to 
ambient light and headlamp glare from 
following vehicles by dimming through 
an infinitely variable range and auto-
matically reverts to its clear, undimmed 
setting whenever you shift into Reverse 
or move the selector lever into 
position R.
To ensure that the mirror continues to 
operate efficiently, ensure that the pho-
tocells remain clear and unobstructed. 
One photocell is integrated in the mir-
ror's lens – see arrow – while the other 
is located at an offset position on the 
rear of the mirror. Refrain from attach-
ing stickers or other objects to the 
windshield in the area immediately 
behind the rearview mirror.
Mirrors 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 76 of 182
76
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp flasher1High beams – blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher – blue indicator 
lamp
3Turn signal indicator – green indicator 
lamps accompanied by a periodic 
clicking sound from the relayTo signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond 
the resistance point. It then returns to 
the center position when released.
If the flashing of the turn signal 
indicators and the clicking from 
the relay are both faster than normal, 
one of the turn signal indicators has 
failed.< 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 78 of 182

78
Cleaning windshield and 
headlamps*0Wipers retracted
1Clean windshield and headlamps*
Do not use the washers if there is 
any danger that the fluid will 
freeze on the windshield, as your vision 
could be obscured. Always use a wind-
shield washer antifreeze in cold 
weather. Refer to page 132.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. This could cause damage 
to the washer pump.<
The system sprays washer fluid against 
the windshield and activates the wipers 
for a brief period.
When the vehicle's lighting system is 
switched on, the headlamps will also be 
cleaned at reasonable intervals.Windshield washer nozzlesThe windshield washer nozzles are 
heated automatically* when the ignition 
key is in position 2.
Cruise control*Starting at about 20 mph / 30 km/h, you 
can maintain and store any vehicle 
speed that you specify.
The cruise control is operational when-
ever the engine is running and the sys-
tem has been activated.To activate the systemIn ignition key position 2: press the but-
ton in the steering wheel. The indicator 
lamp in the instrument cluster comes 
on, refer to page 20. You can now use 
the cruise control.
Do not use cruise control on twist-
ing roads, when high traffic den-
sity prevents driving at a constant 
speed, or when the road surface is slick 
– snow, rain, ice – or loose – rocks or 
gravel, sand.
until the indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Cruise control is also deactivated when 
the ignition key is in position 0.
Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor* 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 82 of 182

82
Service interval displayRemaining distance to next 
serviceThe displays shown in the illustration 
appear for a few seconds when the 
ignition key is in position 1 or higher or 
after the engine is started.
The next service due appears with the 
message OIL SERVICE or 
INSPECTION, together with the dis-
tance remaining in miles – in kilometers 
in Canada – before the next scheduled 
service.
The computer bases its calculations of 
the remaining distance on the preced-
ing driving style.
A flashing message and a '–' in front of 
the number mean that the service inter-
val has already been exceeded by the 
distance shown on the display. Please 
contact your BMW center for an 
appointment.
Check ControlWhen the ignition key is in position 2, 
the following information and/or condi-
tions are indicated using symbols until 
the conditions have been corrected.
1Check the low beam and high beam 
headlamps, as well as the parking 
lamps
2Door open
3Luggage compartment lid open
4Check brake and tail lamps
When you open the driver's door after 
having turned the ignition key to posi-
tion 0, you will hear an acoustic signal 
for a few seconds to remind you that 
the lamps have not been switched off. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 94 of 182

94Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beamsParking lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle 
lighting is switched on. You can 
use the parking lamps to signal 
the position of the vehicle when it is 
parked. For lighting on one side for 
parking as an additional feature, refer to 
page 95.
Low beams
When the ignition is switched off 
while the low beams are on, the 
headlamps go out and only the 
parking lamps remain on.
Follow me home lampsWhen you activate the headlamp 
flasher after parking the vehicle with the 
lamps turned off, the low-beam head-
lamps will come on for a short time. 
You can also have this function 
deactivated.
having turned the ignition key to posi-
tion 0, you will hear an acoustic signal 
for a few seconds to remind you that 
the lamps have not been switched off.Daytime driving lamps*If you desire, the light switch can be left 
in the second position: when the igni-
tion is switched off, the external lighting 
is also switched off.
You can have the activation set-
tings for the daytime driving lamps 
programmed on your vehicle.<
Automatic headlamp control*
When the switch is set to this 
position, the system automati-
cally activates and cancels the 
low beams in response to changes in 
ambient light – in tunnels, at dusk, etc. – 
and in the event of rain and snow.
The vehicle's external lights 
remain on constantly when you 
switch on the front fog lamps after the 
headlamps have come on automati-
cally.<
Automatic headlamp control can-
not serve as a substitute for the 
driver's judgement in determining when 
the vehicle lights should be switched 
on. For example, the sensors are not 
able to detect fog. To avoid safety risks, 
you should respond to these kinds of 
low-visibility situations by switching the 
headlamps on manually.<
You can have the sensitivity of 
your vehicle's automatic head-
lamp control adjusted.<