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74
KickdownIn the kickdown mode, you achieve 
maximum acceleration and top speed 
in position D.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the 
increased resistance point at the full-
throttle position.
M/S manual operation and Sport 
programMove the selector lever from D to M/S 
to activate the Sport program; SD 
appears in the display panel. The M/S 
mode is recommended for perfor-
mance-oriented driving.
Once in the M/S mode, you can tap the 
selector lever to switch the automatic 
transmission from the Sport program to 
its manual mode.
This mode allows you to execute 
upshifts manually by tapping the lever 
toward +, while downshifts are selected 
by tapping in the – direction. The dis-
plays M1 through M5 appear in the dis-
play panel to indicate your current gear 
selection.
The transmission will only execute 
upshifts and downshifts that will result 
in an appropriate combination of vehi-
cle speed and engine rpm. For 
instance, downshifts that would result 
in excessive engine speed are not exe-
cuted. The desired, then the actual 
gear, briefly appear in the instrument 
cluster.
To accelerate quickly in the man-
ual mode for maneuvers such as 
passing another vehicle, shift down 
manually or employ the kickdown 
mode.<
Shifting from M/S to the selector lever 
positions P, R and N is possible only by 
going through D.
Automatic transmission with Steptronic* 
         
        
        
     
        
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75
Available displaysP R N D SD M1 M2 M3 M4 M5Electronic transmission control 
module
If the indicator lamp comes on, 
there is a malfunction in the 
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the 
transmission selector lever to P. Set the 
parking brake and turn the engine off – 
ignition key to position 0.
Wait a few seconds, then start the 
engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a 
few seconds, normal transmission per-
formance has been restored. You may 
continue to drive as usual.
If the indicator lamp does not go out, 
you can place the selector lever in all 
positions. However, the vehicle will now 
only operate in 3rd and 4th gear.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine 
loads and consult the nearest autho-
rized BMW center.
Never work in the engine com-
partment when a drive gear – for-
ward or reverse – is engaged. If you do 
this, the vehicle could move.<
For towing or jump-starting, refer to the 
information beginning on page 153.
Automatic transmission with Steptronic*
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        Page 80 of 182
80Everything under control
Odometer1Odometer
2Trip odometerOdometerYou can activate the displays shown in 
the illustration with the ignition key in 
position 0 by pressing the left button in 
the instrument cluster.Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero, 
press the left button with the ignition 
key in position 1 or higher.
TachometerDo not operate the engine with the nee-
dle in the red overspeed zone of the 
gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is 
interrupted when you approach this 
sector.
Energy controlIndicates the current fuel consumption 
in mpg – in liters/100 km on Canadian 
models. This allows you to see whether 
your current driving style is conducive 
to fuel economy with minimum exhaust 
emissions.
When the vehicle is stationary, the dis-
play goes to Maximum – zero on Cana-
dian models. 
         
        
        
     
        
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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 83 of 182
83
ClockIf you wish to have a permanent time 
display, you can make this adjustment 
in the radio display, refer to the Owner's 
Manual for Radio.
You can adjust the clock and the time 
display in the car radio as follows.
Setting
Before the clock can be set, the 
time must be showing in the 
instrument cluster display.<
With the ignition key in position 1 or 
higher
To set ahead: turn the right button to 
the right.
To set back: turn the right button to the 
left.
The adjustment speed will increase the 
longer you continue to hold the right 
button.
To change the display mode: press the 
right button briefly.
Every time you press the button, the 
clock display alternates between the 
12-hour and 24-hour mode.
In ignition key position 0: the time is 
displayed for a few seconds after you 
press the left button, refer to Odometer 
on page 80.
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84
Computer*Mode selectionWith the ignition key in position 1 or 
higher, you can use the button in the 
turn signal lever to request information 
from the computer. Each time you 
press the button briefly toward the 
steering column, a new function is 
called up in the display.
The displays appear in the following 
order:
Time of day, outside temperature, aver-
age fuel consumption, cruising range, 
average vehicle speed.
With the ignition key in position 1 or 
higher, the last active setting is dis-
played.
Outside temperatureYou can change the units of measure 
6/7 for the outside temperature dis-
play by pressing the right-hand reset 
button in the instrument cluster while 
the temperature display is active. The 
units of measure 6/7 in the tempera-
ture display of the automatic climate 
control change automatically, see 
page 102.Ice warningIf the outside temperature drops to 
about 37.57/+36, then the computer 
will automatically switch to a display of 
the outside temperature. In addition, a 
signal sounds as a warning and the dis-
play flashes for a brief period.
After giving an ice warning, the 
display returns to the previous 
setting.<
The ice warning does not alter the 
fact that surface ice can form at 
temperatures above 37.57/+36, on 
bridges or shaded road surfaces, for 
instance.< 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 85 of 182
85
Average fuel consumptionIf you continue to press and hold the 
button on the turn signal lever, the aver-
age fuel consumption last displayed is 
recalculated from that point in time.
If you wish, you can have the aver-
age fuel consumption displayed in 
a different unit of measure.
the cruising range on the operating 
conditions in the preceding period and 
on the remaining fuel in the tank.
It is important that you refuel when 
the cruising range falls below 
approx. 35 miles/50 km. Otherwise, the 
engine cannot be guaranteed to oper-
ate properly and damage may result.<
Average speedIf you continue to press and hold the 
button, the average speed being dis-
played is recalculated from that point in 
time.
Any time spent when the vehicle is sta-
tionary and the engine is shut off is 
ignored for the calculation.
Computer*
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93
When driving with snow chains or 
a space-saver spare tire, do not 
initialize the system.<
Flat tire
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up red. This 
visual alert is accompanied by 
an acoustic warning signal.
1. Carefully reduce speed and come to 
a stop. Avoid sudden braking and 
steering maneuvers
2. Determine which wheel is damaged
If this cannot be determined, con-
tact your BMW center.<
3. Replace the damaged wheel, refer to 
Changing a wheel on page 147.
After replacing the damaged tire, initial-
ize the system.
Vehicles with Run Flat tires:
1. Carefully reduce your speed to under 
50 mph  / 80 km/h. Avoid strong 
braking and steering maneuvers. Do 
not exceed a speed of 50 mph / 
80 km/h.
Because the sides of Run Flat 
tires are reinforced, a drop in infla-
tion pressure usually cannot be 
detected from the outside, refer to Run 
Flat tires, page 150.<
2. To continue driving, follow the 
instructions under Driving with a 
damaged tire on page 151.
System malfunction
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up yellow. 
The Flat Tire Monitor is malfunc-
tioning or out of order. Please refer the 
problem to your BMW center.
Brake force displayThe brake force display indicates to the 
driver of the vehicle behind you how 
hard you are braking your vehicle.
The display has two levels:
>Normal braking: the brake lamps 
among the rear lamps and the center 
brake lamp light up
>Hard braking or use of ABS: the tail 
lamps light up with the same bright-
ness as the brake lamps and thereby 
intensify the visual effect of the brake 
lamps.
Flat Tire Monitor*
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