
70
RReverseSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary.NNeutralAlways engage before starting the 
engine, refer to Starting the engine on 
page 66.Sequential modeEach time the engine is started, the 
sequential mode is activated as soon as 
you move the selector lever into the for-
ward driving position while the brake is 
depressed.
The gears are shifted via the shift pad-
dles or the selector lever.
It is also possible to drive off in second 
gear, e.g. on snow-covered roads.DDrive modeIn the drive mode all forward gears are 
shifted automatically. 
To switch from sequential to drive 
mode: tap the selector lever to the right 
toward D.
For rapid acceleration, e.g. during 
passing, depress the accelerator pedal 
completely: kickdown.To switch back to sequential mode: tap 
the selector lever again to the right 
toward D or change the current gear via 
the shift paddles or the selector lever.
KickdownYou can achieve maximum acceleration 
using kickdown.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the 
increased resistance point at the full-
throttle position.
Shifting gearsWith selector lever:
>To upshift, tap the selector lever 
toward +
>To downshift, tap the lever toward —.
With shift paddles on steering wheel:
>To upshift, pull one of the shift pad-
dles
>To downshift, push the paddle.
You accelerate from higher gears, e.g. 
during passing, by manually downshift-
ing.
In the following situations, the SMG in 
the sequential mode assists you:
>The transmission will only execute 
upshifts and downshifts that will 
result in an appropriate combination 
of vehicle speed and engine rpm. For 
Sequential manual gearbox SMG* 

92
Flat Tire Monitor*The conceptAs you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor 
keeps track of pressure levels in all four 
tires. The system alerts you whenever 
the inflation pressure of a tire falls sig-
nificantly below the pressure of another 
tire.
The system actually detects pressure 
loss by monitoring differences in the 
relative speeds of the four wheels. It 
interprets variations outside specified 
limits as severe pressure loss, and then 
responds by generating a warning.Functional requirementsIn order for the Flat Tire Monitor to learn 
the correct tire inflation pressure, 
please do the following:
1. Check the tire inflation pressures in 
all tires
2. Compare them with the tire inflation 
pressure table on page 26 and cor-
rect them, if necessary
3. Initialize the system.
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot pro-
vide you with advance warning of 
sudden and severe tire damage caused 
by external factors and does not detect 
the balanced and very gradual pressure 
loss that takes place in all four tires 
over an extended period of time.<
On the other hand, the following situa-
tions can lead to a delayed detection of 
pressure loss and even to the system 
not functioning:
>Driving on snow-covered or slippery 
roads 
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at 
the drive wheels, high levels of lateral 
acceleration
>When driving with snow chains, false 
warnings and undetected pressure 
losses may occur
>When driving with a space-saver 
spare tire, the Flat Tire Monitor can-
not function.
Initializing the system
Each time you correct the pres-
sure in a tire, or change a wheel or 
tire, reinitialize the system immediately 
afterwards. This requires a bit of driv-
ing.<
1. Before driving off, start the engine 
but do not start driving
2. Press the button as long as you need 
to until the yellow indicator lamp in 
the instrument cluster lights up for a 
few seconds
3. Drive off.
It takes a few minutes before the Flat 
Tire Monitor can detect a flat tire and 
issue a warning. 

121
General driving notes
Brakes: do not rest your foot on 
the brake pedal while driving. 
Even light but consistent pedal pres-
sure can lead to high temperatures, 
brake wear and possibly even brake 
failure.
Hydroplaning: when driving on wet or 
slushy roads, reduce road speed. If you 
do not, a wedge of water can form 
between tires and road surface. This 
phenomenon can lead to partial or 
complete loss of contact between the 
tires and road surface, as well as loss of 
vehicle control and braking ability.
Driving through water: do not drive 
through water on the road if it is deeper 
than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at walk-
ing speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's 
engine, the electrical systems and the 
transmission may be damaged.
Rear parcel tray: never use it to store 
heavy or hard objects; otherwise, occu-
pants could be injured if the vehicle is 
braked hard.
Clothes hooks: when hanging clothing 
from the hooks, be sure that they will 
not obstruct the driver's vision. Do not 
hang heavy objects on the hooks. If you 
do so, they could cause personal injury 
during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
Antilock Brake System (ABS)The conceptABS keeps the wheels from locking 
during braking, thereby enhancing 
active driving safety.Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires full 
braking, you will exploit the full benefits 
of the ABS system if you apply maxi-
mum pedal pressure – panic stop. 
Since the vehicle maintains steering 
responsiveness, you can avoid possible 
obstacles with a minimum of steering 
effort, despite the full brake application.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combined 
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits 
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its 
active mode.Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)DBC is included in the DSC, refer to 
page 87.
The system responds to sudden, high-
intensity applications of force to the 
brake pedal by automatically braking 
the vehicle with maximum boost to 
achieve the shortest possible braking 
distances during panic stops. This sys-
tem exploits all the benefits of ABS.Do not reduce the pressure exerted 
against the brake pedal until the brak-
ing maneuver has been completed. 
DBC is deactivated when you release 
the brake pedal.
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced engineering 
design of the ABS. When braking while 
cornering at high speed or braking dur-
ing high lateral acceleration, or when 
braking during a lane change, vehicle 
stability is improved and steering 
response is enhanced.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

125
Do not drive on a flat tire unless 
your vehicle is equipped with Run 
Flat tires. A flat tire greatly impairs 
steering and braking response, and can 
lead to complete loss of control over 
the vehicle. Avoid overloading the vehi-
cle so that the permitted load on the 
tires is not exceeded. Overloading can 
lead to overheating and internal tire 
damage.
The ultimate result can assume the 
form of a sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during 
normal vehicle operation can indicate a 
flat tire or some other vehicle malfunc-
tion. This type of problem can be 
caused by contact with curbs, etc. This 
is also true for abnormalities in the vehi-
cle's handling characteristics, such as a 
pronounced tendency to pull to the left 
or right. Should this occur, respond by 
immediately reducing your speed. Pro-
ceed carefully to the nearest BMW cen-
ter or professional tire center, or have 
the vehicle towed in to have it, its 
wheels or its tires inspected.
Tire damage up to and including sud-
den and complete air loss can endan-
ger the lives of both the vehicle occu-
pants and other road users.<
Tire replacementTo maintain good handling and vehicle 
response, use only tires of a single 
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer.
Comply with the specified tire inflation 
pressures — and be sure to have the 
wheel and tire assembly balanced 
every time you change a tire or wheel.DOT quality gradesTread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test 
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would 
wear one and one-half – 1 
1/2 – times as 
well on the government course as a tire 
graded 100. The relative performance 
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may 
depart significantly from the norm due 
to variations in driving habits, service 
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.TractionThe traction grades, from highest to 
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability 
to stop on wet pavement as measured 
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of 
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C 
may have poor traction.
The traction grade assigned to 
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does 
not include acceleration, cornering, 
hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.
tire's resistance to the generation of 
heat and its ability to dissipate heat 
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory 
test wheel.
Tire condition
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

128
the tire sidewall, refer to Changing a 
wheel. In this case, use only Run Flat 
winter tires, since no spare tire is pro-
vided in the event of a flat tire.Tire condition, tire pressureAt tread depths below approx. 3/16  in / 
4 mm, winter tires display a perceptible 
decrease in their ability to cope with 
winter driving conditions, and should be 
replaced in the interest of safety.
Comply with the specified tire inflation 
pressures — and be sure to have the 
wheel and tire assembly balanced 
every time you change a tire or wheel.Snow chains*Only certain snow chains have been 
tested by BMW and determined and 
approved as roadworthy. Consult any 
BMW center for details. BMW recom-
mends using only these approved fine-
link snow chains. Use them in pairs on 
either summer or winter tires, but only 
on both rear wheels.325xi, 330xi: only in an emergency – for 
instance, with the vehicle stuck on one 
side, or when obstructions make it 
impossible to reach one tire – a chain 
may also be mounted on just one tire 
for the limited period needed to resolve 
the problem.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety 
precautions when mounting the chains. 
Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph / 
50 km/h when using snow chains.
You cannot mount snow chains on the 
following tires:
225/50 R 16
225/45 R 17
225/40 R 18
245/40 R 17
255/35 R 18
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Moni-
tor after mounting snow chains to 
the tires.
When driving with snow chains, it may 
be useful to turn off the DSC for a short 
time, refer to page 88 or 89.

147
License plate lamps5 watt bulb
1. Place a screwdriver in the slot and 
press toward the left to release the 
lens
2. Replace the bulb.
Changing a wheel
Safety precautions in the event of 
a flat tire or wheel change:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from 
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat, sur-
face. Switch on the hazard warning 
flashers. Turn the steering wheel to the 
straight-ahead position and engage the 
steering lock. Shift into 1st or Reverse, 
or if you have an automatic transmis-
sion position the selector lever in Park, 
and engage the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the 
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area, behind a guardrail, 
for example.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard 
warning lamp is available, set it up on 
the roadside at an appropriate distance 
from the rear of the vehicle. Comply 
with all safety guidelines and regula-
tions.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm 
surface which is not slippery. Avoid 
jacking the vehicle on a soft or slippery 
support surface – snow, ice, loose 
gravel, etc. – as either the vehicle or the 
jack could slip sideways.
Position the jack on a firm support sur-
face.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar 
objects under the jack. They could pre-
vent the jack from extending to its full 
height and reduce its support capacity.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the 
engine when the vehicle is supported 
by the jack. There is otherwise a risk of 
fatal injury.<
Your BMW is equipped with a spare tire 
or a space-saver spare tire designed for 
temporary use in maintaining the vehi-
cle's mobility in an emergency.
To remove the spare tire, lift the 
floor panel in the luggage com-
partment completely out, refer to 
page 40.<
Lamps and bulbs
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

148
What you will needIn order to avoid rattling noises later, 
note the position of the tools when you 
remove them and return them to their 
original position when you are done 
using them.
>Jack 1
Lift the floor panel within the luggage 
compartment, refer to page 40, and 
undo the red wing nut.
When you have completed work, 
screw the jack all the way back 
down. Fold the handle back and 
insert it in its holder
>Chock 2
Located behind the jack on the wall 
in the luggage compartment. Loosen 
the wing nut to remove it
>Spare tire or space-saver spare tire – 
located next to the jack
Loosen the wing nut by hand, remove 
the storage shelf and take the wheel 
out
>Lug wrench – in the onboard tool kit 
on the underside of the luggage com-
partment lid, refer to page 142.Procedure1. Read and comply with the safety 
precautions provided on the previ-
ous page
2. Secure the vehicle to prevent it 
from rolling:
Place the wedge against the rear 
surface of the front tire on the side 
opposite the side being raised. If 
the vehicle is parked on a down-
ward slope, place the wedge 
securely in front of the tire. If the 
wheel must be changed on a sur-
face with a more severe slope, take 
additional precautions to secure 
the vehicle from rolling
3. Wheels with full wheel covers*: 
Reach into the ventilation openings 
and pull the cover off
4. Loosen the lug bolts by rotating 
half a turn
Changing a wheel 

150
Do not attempt to install the full 
wheel cover on the space-saver 
spare tire, since this could damage the 
cover.<
The vehicle jack is designed for 
changing wheels only. Do not 
attempt to raise another vehicle model 
with it or to raise any other type of load. 
To do so could cause accidents and 
personal injury.
To ensure continued safety, have the 
tightness of the torque bolts checked 
with a calibrated lug wrench – torque 
specification: 88.5 lb ft/120 Nm – at the 
earliest opportunity.<
When storing a wheel in the spare tire 
recess, take care to avoid bending the 
threaded rod.
If light-alloy wheels other than original 
BMW light-alloy wheels have been 
mounted, it may be necessary to use 
different lug bolts for those wheels.
Replace the defective tire as soon as 
possible and have the new wheel/tire 
balanced.
Driving with the space-saver 
spare tireDrive cautiously. Do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h.
Be aware that vehicle handling may be 
altered. Anticipate, e.g., reduced track-
ing during braking, longer braking dis-
tances, and changed steering charac-
teristics when approaching limit 
conditions. These handling characteris-
tics will be even more pronounced if 
winter tires are mounted.
Only one space-saver spare tire 
may be mounted at one time. 
Mount a wheel and tire of the original 
size at the earliest possible opportu-
nity.
tions, the size of the spare tire will 
differ from that of the remaining tires. 
The spare tire is fully functional at all 
loads and speeds. However, the spare 
tire should be replaced at the earliest 
possible opportunity in order to achieve 
the original operating conditions.<
Run Flat tires*Run Flat tires are labeled on the side-
wall with a circular symbol containing 
the letters RSC. Run Flat tires consist of 
self-supporting tires and special rims. 
The tire reinforcement ensures that 
driving remains possible to a restricted 
degree in the event of pressure drop or 
even if the tire is deflated.
When mounting or replacing sum-
mer tires with winter tires, or vice 
versa, use Run Flat tires since no spare 
wheel is available in the event of a flat. 
In this event, BMW recommends con-
sulting your BMW center. Your BMW 
center has the information needed for 
working with Run Flat tires and is 
equipped with the necessary special 
tools.<
Changing a wheel