Page 9 of 186

 
Contents
 
9
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags61
Transporting children safely64
Rollover protection system68
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory70
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock71
Starting the engine71
Switching off the engine73
Parking brake73
Manual transmission74
Sequential manual gearbox 
SMG*75
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*79
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher82
Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor*83
Cruise control*84
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer86
Tachometer86
Energy control86
Fuel gauge87
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge87
Service interval display88
Check Control88
Clock89
Computer90
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)*92
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)93
Flat Tire Monitor*94
Brake force display96
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams97
Adaptive headlights*98
Instrument lighting98
High beams/Standing lamps99
Fog lamps99
Interior lamps100
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning102
Automatic climate control*106
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Glove compartment111
Integrated universal remote 
control*112
Storage compartments114
Cellular phone*115
Ashtray, front*115
Ashtray, rear*116
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Ski bag*117
Cargo loading118
Roof-mounted luggage rack for 
the hardtop*121
 
Controls and features 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 15 of 186
 
15
1Parking lamps/Low beams97
2
 
>
 
Turn signal indicators82
 
>
 
Standing lamps99
 
>
 
High beams99
 
>
 
Headlamp flasher82
 
>
 
Computer90
3Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor83
4Hazard warning flashers
5Central locking system30
6
 
>
 
Initiating an emergency call158
 
>
 
Mobile Service158
7Rear window defroster104, 109
8Horn: the entire surface
9Adjusting the steering wheel59
10 Fog lamps99
 
Cockpit
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 21 of 186
 
21
 
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 82, 99
 
Indicator and warning lamps
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 60 of 186
60
Interior rearview mirrorTo reduce glare from vehicles behind 
you when you are driving at night, tilt 
the mirror 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 82 of 186
82
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 detent. 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 84 of 186

84
0Wipers retracted
1Clean windshield and headlampsCleaning 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 138.
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*You can store and automatically main-
tain any desired vehicle speed above 
approx. 20 mph / 30 km/h.
The cruise control is available whenever 
the engine is running and the system 
has been activated.To activate the systemIn ignition key position 2:
Press the button 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 97 of 186

97 Lamps
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 99.
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.
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. If the 
low-beam headlamps are on, the LED 
next to the symbol lights up.
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.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 98 of 186
98
Adaptive headlights*The conceptAdaptive headlights is a variable head-
lamp control system for dynamically 
illuminating the road. Depending on the 
steering angle and other factors the 
light from the headlamps follows the 
course of the road.Activating Adaptive headlights
With the ignition key in position 
2, turn the light switch to the 
automatic headlamp control 
position, refer to page 97.
Adaptive headlights is not active 
while reversing, and only in one 
direction while at a standstill.<
System malfunctionThe LED above the symbol for the auto-
matic headlamp control flashes, refer to 
page 97. Please have the system 
inspected at your BMW center.
Instrument lightingTurn the rotary dial with the parking/ 
low beam lamps on to adjust the illumi-
nation intensity.