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Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and 
lower the lever. 
If exceptional circumstances should 
make it necessary to engage the 
handbrake while the vehicle is in motion, 
do not pull it too strongly. In doing so, con-
tinuously press the button of the handbrake 
lever. 
Strong application of the handbrake can 
lead to overbraking of the rear axle and 
associated 'fishtailing' of the vehicle rear 
end. 
The brake lamps do not light up when the 
handbrake is applied. 
Vehicles with manual or SMG transmission: 
When parking on inclines, apply the hand-
brake, as under certain circumstances 
even engaging the first or reverse gear 
might not secure the vehicle against mov-
ing.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: 
Place selector lever in position P.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided 
braking action, occasionally apply the 
handbrake lightly when the vehicle is 
slowly coming to a standstill if the traffic 
conditions are suitable.< 
Manual transmission 
While shifting gear in the 5th/6th gear 
level, make sure that you press the 
gearshift lever to the right to prevent inad-
vertently selecting a gear in the 3rd/4th 
gear level. On inclines, do not hold the 
vehicle with the clutch; use the handbrake. 
Holding with the clutch causes high clutch 
wear.<
Reverse gear 
Select R only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped. When pressing the gear-
shift lever to the left, overcome some resis-
tance. 
The backup lamps automatically come on 
in ignition key position 2. 
Sequential manual 
transmission SMG*
The concept 
The Sequential manual transmission SMG 
is an automated manual transmission in 
which an electro-hydraulic system handles 
the clutching and gear changes. 
You operate the SMG using the selector 
lever in the center console and two shift 
paddles on the steering wheel. 
It provides you with the following functions: 
>Sequential mode: manual mode
>Drive mode: automatic mode
>Choice between two drive programs: 
Normal, Sport, refer to page 54 
>Operating reliability with protection 
against incorrect gearshifts  

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Changing the selector-lever 
positions
An interlock prevents inadvertent gear-
shifts into selector-lever positions R and P. 
To cancel the interlock, press the button on 
the front of the selector lever knob, refer to 
arrow. 
Press the brake pedal before shifting 
out of P or N; the shift command will 
not be executed unless the brake is 
applied: Shiftlock. 
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after 
you select a driving position, maintain pres-
sure on the brake pedal until you are ready 
to start.<
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, 
always select position P and engage 
the handbrake before leaving the vehicle 
with the engine running. 
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the 
engine running, as such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
P Parking 
Select P only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped. The rear wheels are 
blocked. 
R Reverse 
Select R only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
N Neutral 
Select N only if your journey is interrupted 
for a long period.
D Drive Ð automatic driving position 
Position for normal vehicle operation. All 
forward gears are available.Under normal operating conditions, fuel 
consumption is lowest when driving in 
position D. 
Kickdown 
A kickdown provides you with maximum 
acceleration and the maximum road speed 
in position D. 
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the 
full-throttle resistance point.
M/S manual operation and Sport 
program 
Shifting from D into M/S activates the Sport 
program and this is indicated with D S in the 
gear display. This position is recom-
mended if a performance-oriented driving 
style is desired. 
The first time the selector lever is even 
slightly touched, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts from the Sport program into 
manual operation. 
If you start to move the selector lever 
towards +, the transmission shifts 
upwards; moving it towards Ð it shifts 
downwards. The gear display shows M1 
through M6. 
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only 
when they will result in a plausible combi-
nation of engine and vehicle speed; thus, 
for example, a downshift that would cause 
the engine to overrev will not be executed 
by the system.  The selected gear appears 
briefly in the instrument cluster, followed by 
the current gear. 
To obtain maximum acceleration, for 
passing maneuvers, etc., during 
operation in the manual mode, use the 
kickdown or downshift manually.< 

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Wiper system 
1Normal wiper speed: briefly press once. 
The system automatically reverts to 
operation in the intermittent mode 
whenever the vehicle stops. 
Fast wiper speed: briefly press twice or 
press beyond the resistance point. 
The system automatically reverts to 
operation in the standard wipe mode 
whenever the vehicle stops 
2To switch off wipers or for brief wipe 
3To activate/deactivate rain sensor 
4To clean windshield and headlamps 
5To adjust rain sensor sensitivity level 
The lever automatically returns to its initial 
position when released. 
Cleaning the windshield and 
headlamps* 
The system sprays washer fluid against the 
windshield and activates the wipers for a 
brief period. 
When the vehicle lighting system is 
switched on, the headlamps are also 
cleaned at regular and appropriate inter-
vals. 
Do not use the washers if there is  any 
danger that the fluid will freeze on the 
windshield. If you do so, your vision could 
be obscured. To avoid freezing, use a 
washer fluid antifreeze, refer to Washer 
fluid.
Avoid activating the washer when the 
reservoir is empty, as damage to the pump 
could result.<
Windshield washer nozzles 
The windshield washer nozzles are auto-
matically heated in ignition key position 2. 
Rain sensor 
The rain sensor controls windshield wipe 
operation depending on the amount of rain. 
The rain sensor is located on the wind-
shield, directly in front of the interior rear-
view mirror. 
Activating the rain sensor 
As of ignition key position 1, briefly press 
the button. The indicator lamp in the button 
lights up. The wipers will always respond 
by completing at least one sweep of the 
windshield. 
Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level 
Turn the serrated dial 5. 
Deactivating the rain sensor 
Briefly press the button again. The indica-
tor lamp goes out. 
The rain sensor is automatically deacti-
vated when you switch off the ignition. 
Deactivate the rain sensor when 
passing through an automatic car 
wash. Failure to do so could result in dam-
age caused by undesired wiper activa-
tion.<
Washer fluid 
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable. 
Always keep it well away from sparks 
and open flames, and store it in tightly 
closed containers well out of the reach of  

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Airbags 
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers: 
1Front airbags for driver and front pas-
senger 
2Head airbags in front and rear 
3Side airbags in front and rear 
Protective effect 
The front airbags help protect the driver 
and front passenger by responding to fron-
tal impacts in which safety belts alone can-
not provide adequate restraint. When 
needed, the head and side airbags help 
provide protection in the event of side 
impact. The relevant side airbag helps to 
restrain the side upper body area. The rel-
evant head airbag helps to support the 
head and provides protection against 
objects entering the vehicle.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered 
in every impact situation, e.g. less severe 
accidents, certain roll-over conditions, or 
rear-end collisions.
The rear seat side airbags may 
already have been deactivated by a 
BMW center. Labels in the rear door open-
ing should indicate the status of your rear 
seat side airbags. If you are uncertain of 
their status, or wish to have the airbags 
activated or deactivated, please contact 
your BMW center.<
For information on the correct sitting posi-
tion, refer to page 36.
Do not apply adhesive materials to 
the cover panels of the airbags, cover 
them or modify them in any other way. 
Do not attempt to remove the airbag reten-tion system from the vehicle. Never modify 
or tamper with either the wiring or the indi-
vidual components in the airbag system. 
This category includes the upholstery in the 
center of the steering wheel, on the instru-
ment panel, the side trim panels on the 
doors and the roof pillars along with the 
sides of the headliner. Do not attempt to 
remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components 
directly after the system has been trig-
gered, because there is a danger of burns.
If you note any indication of system mal-
function, if you desire to have an airbag 
deactivated, or if the airbag retention sys-
tem is triggered in response to an accident, 
you should always entrust all inspection, 
repair and dismantling operations to your 
BMW center. 
Unprofessional attempts to service the sys-
tem could lead to failure in an emergency 
or undesired airbag activation, either of 
which could result in personal injury. 
To ensure compliance with official safety 
regulations, please also entrust disposal of 
airbag generators to a BMW center.<
Airbag warning information is also provided 
on the sun visors. 
Automatic deactivation of the front 
passenger airbags
Your BMW has a seat occupation detection 
system. By evaluating the weight on the 
front passenger's seat, the system detects 
whether or not the seat is occupied by a 
child in the child-restraint system or an 
adult. 

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Lamps 
Parking lamps/low beams 
Parking 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  88. 
Low beams 
When you switch off the ignition 
with the headlamps on, the head-
lamps go out, and only the parking 
lamps remain on. 
Pathway lighting
After parking the vehicle and switching off 
the headlamps, operating the headlamp 
flasher activates the low beams. You can 
set the duration using the Control Center or 
deactivate the function.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to 
page 16:
1.Open the   menu
2.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the 
controller 
3.Select "Lighting" and press the control-
ler 4.Select "Pathway lighting" and press the 
controller 
5.Turn the controller to select the corre-
sponding duration
6.Press the controller to apply the setting.
Lights on warning 
If you turn the ignition key to position 0, an 
acoustic signal sounds when you open the 
driver's door for a few seconds to remind 
you that the light has not yet been switched 
off. At the same time a message appears 
on the Control Display. 
Daytime driving lamps* 
If desired, the light switch can remain in the 
low beam position: 
When you switch off the ignition, the exte-
rior lighting goes out. 
Always observe all applicable laws govern-
ing the use of daytime driving lamps. 
You can switch on the parking lamps when 
needed using the standard procedure 
described under Parking lamps. 
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 a tunnel, at 
dawn and dusk, and in rain and snow. The 
LED next to the symbol is illuminated when 
the low beams are on.  

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Fog lamps 
Always observe all applicable laws govern-
ing the use of fog lamps. 
To disconnect, briefly press the button 
again. 
The parking lamps or low beams 
must be switched on for the fog 
lamps to operate. The green indica-
tor lamp in the instrument cluster 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 but-
ton for approx. 3 seconds. To revert to normal operation, press the 
button briefly. 
Control of the footwell lamps, door entry 
lighting and courtesy lamps
* is also auto-
matic. 
Reading lamps 
Reading lamps are provided in the front 
and rear adjacent to the interior lamps. You 
can switch them on and off using the 
buttons 2 located next to the lamps. 
To avoid discharging the battery, all of 
the vehicle's interior lamps are auto-
matically switched off approx. 15 minutes 
after the ignition is switched off.<
Light-emitting diodes LEDs 
Light-emitting diodes installed behind 
translucent lenses serve as the light source 
for many of the controls and displays in 
your vehicle.These light-emitting diodes, 
which operate using a concept similar to 
that applied in conventional lasers, are offi-
cially designated as Class 1 light-emitting 
diodes. 
Do not remove the covers, and never 
stare into the unfiltered light several 
hours, as irritation of the retina could 
result.< 

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>Activation time set: 
The indicator lamp   lights up 
>Independent ventilation switched 
on: 
The indicator lamp   flashes 
15Rear window defroster 
16Air grill for interior temperature sensor, 
please keep clear and unobstructed
All other setting options for the automatic 
climate control can be found in the "Cli-
mate" menu and in the   menu on the Con-
trol Display, as of page 92. 
The current setting for air distribution is dis-
played on the Control Display. 
A congenial climate 
To use the automatic function, press the 
AUTO button. Select an interior tempera-
ture you find pleasant.
The following section contains more 
detailed information on the available set-
ting options.
The cooling function is only possible with 
the engine running. 
Automatic air distribution and supply 
The AUTO program adjusts the 
air distribution to the wind-
shield and side windows, 
towards the upper body and footwell as 
well as the air volume, while also using your 
preselected temperature setting as the 
basis for adjusting the interior climate to 
adapt to external influences: summer, win-
ter. 
The cooling function comes on automati-
cally when you select the AUTO program. 
At the same time, a condensation sensor 
controls the program in such a way that 
window condensation is prevented as far 
as possible. 
Adjusting temperature
You can turn to select the 
desired temperatures for the 
driver and passenger sides. 
The figures on the display pro-
vide a general indication of inte-rior temperature. A pleasant adjustment is 
727/226. When you start the vehicle, the 
system ensures that the selected tempera-
ture is achieved as quickly as possible. It 
then maintains this temperature, regard-
less of the season.
Defrosting windows and removing 
condensation 
This program quickly removes 
ice and condensation from the 
windshield and front side win-
dows. 
Adjusting the air volume manually 
You can adjust the air volume 
by turning. You can reactivate 
the automatic mode for the air 
volume with the AUTO button.
Switching cooling function on and off 
manually
The cooling function cools and 
dehumidifies the incoming air 
before also reheating it as 
required, according to the temperature set-
ting. Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the engine 
is started. 
The cooling function comes on automati-
cally when you select the AUTO program. 
Maximum cooling 
This program quickly provides 
maximum cooling. 
The system switches to the 
recirculated-air mode and the 
air flows at maximum air volume only from 
the vent outlets for the upper body area. 
For this reason you should ensure that 
these vent outlets are open before select-
ing this program. 
Outside air/AUC Automatic 
recirculated-air control/
Recirculated air 
You can respond to unpleasant 
odors or pollutants in the imme-
diate environment by tempo- 

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The equipment can be used as of ignition 
key position 2.
If the device cannot be used even 
after repeated programming, check 
whether the original hand-held transmitter 
is equipped with an alternating-code sys-
tem. Here, either read the instructions for 
the original hand-held transmitter or hold 
down the programmed memory button 1 of 
the integrated universal remote control. If 
the indicator lamp 2 on the integrated uni-
versal remote control flashes rapidly for a 
short time then lights up for approx. 2 sec-
onds, this indicates that the original hand-
held transmitter uses an alternating-code 
system. In the case of an alternating-code 
system, program the memory buttons 1 as 
described at Alternating-code hand-held 
transmitters.<
Alternating-code hand-held 
transmitters 
To program the integrated universal remote 
control, consult the operating instructions 
for the equipment to be set. You will find 
information there on the possibilities for 
synchronization.
When programming hand-held transmitters 
that employ an alternating code, please 
observe the following supplementary 
instructions: 
Programming will be easier with the 
aid of a second person.<
1.Park your vehicle within the range of the 
remote-controlled device 
2.Program the integrated universal 
remote control as described above at 
Fixed-code hand-held transmitters 
3.Locate the button at the receiver of the 
equipment to be set, e.g. on the drive 
4.Press the button on the receiver of the 
device you want to set up. After step 4, 
you have approx. 30 seconds for step 5
5.Press the programmed memory 
button 1 of the integrated universal 
remote control three times. The corresponding memory button 1 is now 
programmed with the signal of the original 
hand-held transmitter. 
If you have any additional questions, 
please contact your BMW center.<
Clearing the memory buttons 
Press both outer buttons 1 of the inte-
grated universal remote control for approx. 
20 seconds until the indicator lamp 2 
flashes. All memory buttons will be cleared. 
The memory of individual memory 
buttons 1 cannot be cleared. 
Roller sun blinds*
Roller sun blind for rear window
To actuate as of ignition key position 1, 
briefly press the button in the driver's door. 
Roller sun blinds for rear side 
windows 
Pull the roller sun blind at the loop and 
hook up to the bracket.