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>when you press the clutch or engage 
position N of the automatic transmis-
sion 
>when the DSC system is in active oper-
ation. 
4 Recalling stored speed 
Press button 4 briefly: the vehicle acceler-
ates to and maintains the last speed stored. 
Deactivating system 
When the ignition is switched off, the sys-
tem is deactivated and the stored speed is 
deleted. 
Displays in the instrument cluster 
1Stored desired speed display 
2Digital speed display. 
Appears briefly when you select your 
desired speed. 
Active cruise control*
The concept 
With active cruise control you can select a 
desired speed which is not only automati-
cally maintained when driving on open 
roadways, but also varied to maintain a 
selected distance setting as slower traffic 
is encountered. 
Active cruise control is a technological 
advance over the familiar cruise control 
and is a welcome relief from the constant 
adjustment of speed that can accompany 
driving in traffic on freeways or other high-
speed thoroughfares. Especially on longer 
trips, the system can reduce fatigue and 
tension, while increasing your enjoyment of driving. Please use it safely and responsi-
bly. 
In addition to holding a steady cruising 
speed, if you do encounter slower vehicles 
ahead, active cruise control will, within the 
scope of given possibilities, adjust your 
vehicleÕs speed automatically so that you 
can flow with the traffic without frequent 
intervention by the driver. If, for example, 
while cruising at the selected speed, you 
begin to approach a slower vehicle ahead 
of you in the same lane, the system will 
reduce your vehicle's speed to the same as 
that of the vehicle ahead to maintain your 
selected distance setting between your 
vehicle and the vehicle ahead. There are 
four settings for distance, which is addi-
tionally speed-dependent. Based on your 
selected distance setting, the system auto-
matically decreases the throttle setting and 
lightly applies the brakes if necessary. The 
vehicle brake lamps will automatically illu-
minate to signal a following driver to take 
action. In addition, it may be necessary for 
the vehicle to downshift to maintain the dis-
tance setting selected. If the vehicle ahead 
speeds up or when the lane ahead 
becomes clear, your vehicle will accelerate 
to the speed you have selected by increas-
ing the throttle setting and shifting gears as 
needed. 
Active cruise control is not and must 
not be used as a collision avoidance/
warning system.< 
Since this active cruise control sys-
tem is a new technology and operates 
differently from conventional cruise control 
systems which you may be accustomed, 
you are strongly urged to read all of the 
pages relating to this system before use. 
Pay special attention to the information 
contained in the Things to know about 
active cruise control section in this manual 
beginning on page 62.< 

Driving
60
Displays in the instrument cluster 
1Stored desired speed display 
2Detected vehicle display. Lights up 
when vehicle driving ahead is detected 
3Selected distance to vehicle driving 
ahead 
4Digital speed display. 
Appears briefly when you select your 
desired speed. 
The system is activated. 
The display appears as soon as 
you activate the system and no 
vehicle is detected driving 
ahead. 
Vehicle detected. 
The display 2 lights up yellow 
when a vehicle is detected driv-
ing ahead. 
The system requests you to 
intervene by braking or with an 
evasive maneuver. The dis-
play 2 flashes red and a signal 
sounds. The active cruise con-
trol cannot automatically restore the dis-
tance to the vehicle driving ahead. You will 
find more detailed information on page 64. 
Automatic intervention by ABS 
or DSC, or you actuate the 
handbrake while driving. The 
display 2 flashes yellow. The 
active cruise control now only 
intervenes by braking.
Operating the active cruise control 
1Activate system, 
store and increase desired speed 
2Activate system, 
store and decrease desired speed 
3Deactivate system 
4With system deactivated: 
Briefly press the button to recall the 
stored speed and distance 
With system activated: 
Increase desired speed by 5 mph/ 
10 km/h with each press of the button
5Select distance to vehicle driving 
ahead. You can choose from four avail-
able distance settings. You will find 
more detailed information on page 62. 
Adjust your desired speed to the traf-
fic conditions and remain ready to 
brake at all times. Great differences in 
speed to the vehicles driving ahead, e. g. 
when quickly approaching a truck or when 
another vehicle swerves into your lane, 
cannot be compensated for by the sys-
tem.<
Activate system 
From approx. 20 mph/30 km/h you can 
activate the system by pressing the lever 
forward or pulling it back:  

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The current driving speed is stored as a 
desired speed and briefly displayed in the 
instrument cluster, see below. 
1 Desired speed store and increase 
Press the lever forward: 
The system adopts and stores your current 
speed as a desired speed. The speedome-
ter indicates this speed. 
Subsequently pressing forward increases 
the desired speed to the next 5-mile place/ 
10 km/h. 
Each time the lever is pressed forward 
again, the desired speed is increased by 
another 5  mph/10  km/h until a maximum of 
110 mph/180 km/h is reached. The speed 
then displayed is stored and reached on a 
clear road. 
If the system cannot be activated, the 
display ACC --- mph/km/h briefly 
appears in the instrument cluster. The sys-
tem may have been automatically deacti-
vated, refer to Deactivate system, or a mal-
function has occurred.
To call up Check Control messages, refer 
to page 68.<
2 Desired speed store and decrease 
Pull back the lever: 
The current driving speed is rounded off to 
the next 5-mile place/10 km/h, displayed 
and stored. 
Each time the lever is pulled back again, 
the desired speed is decreased by another 
5  mph/10  km/h until the minimum speed of 
20 mph/30 km/h is reached. The speed 
then displayed is stored and reached on a 
clear road. 
3 Deactivate system 
Press the lever up or down while the sys-
tem is active. The displays in the instrument 
cluster disappear. You can use the system 
again as required. 
In addition, the system is deactivated auto-
matically: 
>When you apply pressure to the brake 
pedal 
>When you select the automatic trans-
mission's/SMG's neutral range N 
>With the manual transmission idling
>When you deactivate the DSC Dynamic 
Stability Control 
>When you actuate the parking brake 
during driving 
>When the system reduces the speed to 
below 20 mph/30 km/h due to a traffic 
situation. 
The system deactivates automatically 
when the speed is set to below 
20 mph/30 km/h. A gong sounds and a 
message appears on the Control Display. 
The active intervention of the driver is 
required.<
When you switch off the ignition, the stored 
desired speed is deleted. 
4 Resume to stored desired speed 
and distance setting 
Press button 4: 
The displays appear in the instrument clus-
ter. The system is reactivated and uses the 
last stored desired speed and distance set-
ting. 
4 Fine adjustment of desired speed 
In the activated state, the desired speed 
increases by 1 mph/1 km/h each time 
button 4 is pressed briefly.  

Driving
62
5 Select distance 
You can choose from four distance steps. 
>Rotary switch downward: 
Decrease distance. 
>Rotary switch upward: 
Increase distance. 
The selected distance is displayed in the 
instrument cluster. Distance 1 
Distance 2 
Distance 3 
This distance is always set 
when the system is used for the 
first time after starting the 
engine.
Distance 4 
Use good judgment to select the 
appropriate following distance given 
road conditions, traffic, applicable laws 
and driving recommendations for safe fol-
lowing distance.<
Things to know about active cruise control
As with conventional cruise control 
systems, active cruise control in no 
way diminishes or substitutes for the 
driverÕs own personal responsibility, alert-
ness and awareness in adjusting speed, 
braking or otherwise controlling the vehi-
cle. The driver should decide when to use 
the system on the basis of road, traffic, vis-
ibility, and weather conditions. Active 
cruise control is intended for use on high-
way-type roadways where traffic is moving 
relatively smoothly. Do not use this system 
in city driving; heavy traffic such as during rush hour; on curvy, winding roads, slip-
pery roads or roads with sharp curves such 
as highway off-ramps; during inclement 
weather such as snow, strong rain or fog; 
or when entering interchanges, service/
parking areas or toll booths. It is also 
important to regulate your vehicle's speed 
and distance setting within applicable legal 
limits. Always be ready to take action or 
apply the brakes if necessary, especially 
when the system is actively following a 
vehicle in front of you.<  

Driving
64 choose to overcome the deceleration by 
briefly pressing the accelerator pedal.
Driver interventions 
Anytime the driver presses down on 
the accelerator pedal, any automatic 
braking action by the system is interrupted 
until the pedal is fully released. After doing 
this, release the accelerator and the system 
again controls your cruising speed and dis-
tance setting. While driving with activated 
system, resting your foot on the accelerator 
pedal will cause the system not to brake 
even if necessary. Be certain that floormats 
or other objects on the vehicle floor do not 
interfere with movement of the accelerator 
pedal.<
While active cruise control is capable 
of braking your vehicle automatically 
when you approach a slower vehicle 
ahead, it is important to be aware that the 
ability of the system to apply the brakes is 
also limited, if you are driving down a steep 
grade or when you reduce your desired 
speed sharply. The system cannot stop 
your vehicle. It uses only a portion of brak-
ing system capacity and does not utilize the 
full capacity of the vehicle braking system. 
Therefore, the system cannot decrease 
your speed for large differences in speed 
between your vehicle and the vehicle 
ahead. Examples: during emergency brak-
ing, when you approach a vehicle traveling 
at a much lower speed than your own 
speed such as approaching a toll booth or 
when a much slower vehicle cuts in front of 
you at close range.< 
Whenever active cruise control 
recognizes a situation that 
requires driver braking because 
the system capacity has been 
reached or has been exceeded, 
the system alerts the driver by flashing this 
symbol in the instrument cluster and 
sounding a signal. 
Swerving vehicles 
When a vehicle moves from an adjacent 
lane into your lane, active cruise control will 
not recognize this vehicle until it is fully in 
your lane ahead of your vehicle. 
Malfunctions 
If there is a malfunction, the indica-
tor lamp symbol is displayed in the 
instrument cluster. Please note any 
supplementary information that appears on 
the Control Display.
The build-up of foreign material, e.g., 
snow, ice, dirt, road debris, etc., can lead 
to reduced detection performance of active 
cruise control. You should check the sen-
sor under the front bumper and clean it as 
necessary prior to driving your vehicle. If 
the sensor becomes covered by foreign 
material or has a malfunction, it is possible 
that the sensor will no longer be able to 
detect vehicles in front of you. After the 
system recognizes that the sensor is no 
longer functional, a message is displayed 
on the Control Display and an acoustic sig-
nal is emitted. 

Controls
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Everything under control 
Odometer, outside 
temperature display, clock 
When the ignition is switched off you can 
briefly activate the time, outside tempera-
ture and odometer displays by pressing the 
button at the lower left of the instrument 
cluster. 
1 Outside temperature display, 
clock, date 
The outside temperature and the time are 
display as of ignition key position 1. 
You can change the measurement unit 
6/7 in the   menu, refer to Measurement 
units on page 74. 
To call up the date: 
Briefly press the Check button on the turn 
indicator lever, refer to page 69. 
Setting the time and date, refer to page 74. 
Ice warning 
A warning signal sounds when the outside 
temperature falls to roughly +37.57/+36; 
this is accompanied by a message. 
Please bear in mind that the ice warn-
ing does nothing to alter the fact that 
black ice may be present on roads at tem-
peratures higher than +37.57/+36, e.g. 
on bridges and shaded roads.<
2 Odometer and trip odometer 
To set the trip odometer to zero: 
Press the button at the lower left of the 
instrument cluster. 
Tachometer 
The white-striped advance warning field, 
arrow 1, changes depending on the engine 
temperature. The segments disappear in 
sequence as the engine warms to its nor-
mal operating temperature. 
Avoid allowing the engine speed to rise as 
far as the advance warning field whenever 
possible.
Engine speeds in the red warning field, 
arrow 2, must be avoided. 
In this range, the fuel supply is interrupted 
to protect the engine. 

Everything under control
66
Energy Control/Current fuel 
consumption 
Displays the current fuel consumption. This 
allows you to see whether your current 
driving style is conducive to fuel economy 
with minimum exhaust emissions. 
Fuel gauge 
After the reserve quantity has been 
reached, a message appears for a short 
time on the Control Display; the range is 
shown in the computer. Below a range of 
approx. 30 miles/50 km, the message 
remains on the Control Display, and the 
range is displayed. 
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 18.5 gallons/
70 liters, of which approx. 2.1 gallons/
8  liters reserve. You can find information on 
Refueling on page 168. 
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer 
period, when you are driving in mountain-
ous areas, for example, the indicator may 
fluctuate slightly.
Refuel well before the tank is empty, 
as otherwise engine functions will not 
be ensured and damage can occur if you 
drive down to the last drop.<
Service requirement display 
and display of legally 
prescribed inspections 
In the instrument cluster
The remaining distance to be driven, the 
date for the next maintenance as well as 
the date entered for the state emission or 
vehicle inspection are displayed briefly as 
of ignition key position 2, if the date is 
imminent. 
Your Service Advisor will determine 
your vehicle's current service require-
ments by reading out the data stored in the 
vehicle key.<
On the Control Display 
You can view additional information on ser-
vice and maintenance procedures using 
the Control Center. 
Control Center, for principle details, refer to 
page 16: 
1.Open the    menu
2.Select "Service" and press the control-
ler 
3.Select "Service requirements" and 
press the controller 
4.Select "Status" and press the control-
ler.  

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The display shows a list of selected service 
and maintenance procedures, as well as 
legally prescribed official inspections.
Symbols 
The service deadline has already 
passed. 
The deadline for service or an official 
inspection is approaching. Please 
contact your BMW center for an appoint-
ment. 
No service is currently required. If you 
desire, certain maintenance opera-
tions can be carried out at the next service. 
You can request more detailed information 
on every entry. 
Select the entry and press the controller. 
To exit the menu:
Select   and press the controller 
Entering dates for state emission and 
vehicle inspections 
Make sure the date in the Control 
Center is always set correctly, refer to 
page 74, as otherwise the effectiveness of 
Condition Based Service CBS is not 
ensured.
1.Open the    menu
2.Select "Service" and press the control-
ler 
3.Select "Service requirements" and 
press the controller 
4."Select Status" and press the controller 
5.Select "Emission inspect." or "State 
inspection" and press the controller 
6.Select "Set service date" and press the 
controller. The month is highlighted 
7.Turn the controller to make the adjust-
ment 
8.Press the controller to accept the set-
ting. The year is highlighted 
9.Turn the controller to make the adjust-
ment 
10.Press the controller to apply the setting. 
The date entry is stored. 
To exit the menu:
Select   and press the controller