
Controls
 101Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Rear center armrest 
1Storage compartment: pull upwards 
2To open the beverage holder: press and 
open the cover 
With the center armrest folded down, you 
have a better view towards the rear. 
Fold down rear seat* 
1.Open the buckle of the middle safety 
belt in the rear and insert the belt 
tongue at the end of the belt in the 
mounting on the back shelf 
2.Push the corresponding head restraint 
down as far as it will go, refer to 
page 40 
3.To unlock, pull the corresponding lever 
in the luggage compartment 4.The unlocked rear seat back moves for-
ward slightly. Place your hand in the 
gap and fold downwards. 
When you fold back the backrest, 
make sure that the retainer engages 
properly. If it is not properly engaged, 
transported cargo could enter the vehicle 
during braking or evasive maneuvers and 
endanger the vehicle occupants.<
The lashing eyes in the luggage compart-
ment provide you with a means of attaching 
luggage nets
* or flexible straps for secur-
ing suitcases and luggage, refer to 
page 109. 
Ski bag*
Designed for safe, convenient transport 
of up to four pairs of standard skis or up to 
two snowboards. 
The ski bag itself plus the additional capac-
ity provided by the luggage compartment 
make it possible to transport skis with a 
length of up to 6.9 ft/2.10 m. When skis of 
6.9 ft/2.10 m in length are loaded, the ski 
bag will tend to contract, reducing its over-
all capacity.  

Things to remember when driving
108 For your own safety: use only brake 
pads that BMW has approved for your 
particular vehicle model. As BMW cannot 
assess the suitability of other brake pads 
for use on your vehicle, we are unable to 
assume continued responsibility for the 
vehicle's operating safety if non-approved 
pads are installed.<
Mobile communication in the vehicle 
BMW recommends using mobile communi-
cation devices, e.g. portable phones, in the 
interior of the vehicle with a suitable exter-
nal antenna. Otherwise, the vehicle elec-
tronics and mobile communication device 
can influence one another. 
Loading 
To avoid loading the tires beyond 
their approved carrying capacity, 
never overload the vehicle. Overloading 
can lead to overheating and increases the 
rate at which damage develops inside the 
tires. The ultimate result can assume the 
form of a sudden air loss.<
Determining loading limit 
1.Locate the following statement on the 
driver's door pillar
*: 
The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never 
exceed XXX  kg or YYY  lbs, as otherwise 
the vehicle may be damaged and unsta-
ble driving conditions may result.< 
2.Determine the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers that will be riding 
in your vehicle 3.Subtract the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers from XXX kilo-
grams or YYY pounds 
4.The resulting figure equals the available 
amount of cargo and luggage load 
capacity. 
For example, if the XXX amount equals 
1,400  lbs. and there will be five 150-lbs. 
passengers in your vehicle, the amount 
of available cargo and luggage load 
capacity is 650 lbs.: 
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs. 
5.Determine the combined weight of lug-
gage and cargo being loaded on the 
vehicle. That weight must not exceed 
the available cargo and luggage load 
capacity calculated in step 4 
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, 
part of the load from your trailer will be 
transferred to your vehicle. Consult the 
manual for transporting a trailer to 
determine how this may reduce the 
available cargo and luggage load 
capacity of your vehicle. 
Load 
The permitted load is the total of the weight 
of occupants and cargo/luggage. The 
greater the weight of occupants, the less 
cargo/luggage can be transported.  

Mobility
 187Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Changing a wheel 
Safety measures in the event of a 
breakdown or wheel change: 
Park the vehicle as far away as possible 
from moving traffic and on firm ground. 
Switch on the hazard warning flashers. 
Lock the steering wheel in straight-ahead 
setting of the wheels. Apply the handbrake 
and engage first gear, reverse gear or 
selector lever to position P.
Have all vehicle occupants get out of the 
vehicle and ensure that they remain outside 
the immediate area in a safe place, such as 
behind a guardrail.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard 
warning lamp is required, set it up on the 
roadside at an appropriate distance from 
the rear of the vehicle.
Comply with all safety guidelines and regu-
lations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm sur-
face which is not slippery.
The vehicle or the jack could slip to the side 
if you attempt to raise the vehicle on a soft 
or slippery surface such as snow, ice, tiles, 
etc. 
Position the jack on a firm support surface.
Do not use a wooden block or similar 
object as a support base for the jack, as 
this would prevent it from extending to its 
full support height and reduce its load-car-
rying capacity.
To avoid serious or fatal injury: never lie 
under the vehicle, and never start the 
engine while it is supported by the jack.<
What you will need 
To avoid rattling noises later on, note the 
positions of the tools before removing 
them, then return them to their initial posi-
tions after completing work.1Chock 
2Vehicle jack 
3Lug wrench 
are located in the tool space in the rim of 
the compact wheel. Raise the floor mat and 
the cover beneath it. Take out the required 
tool(s). After using the tools, return them to 
the storage space. 
Compact wheel* 
1.Unscrew the wing nut 1 
2.Remove the disk 2 to the side 
3.Take out the tool brackets 3 
4.Remove the compact wheel. 
Procedure 
1.Read carefully and comply with the 
safety precautions on left-hand column
2.To secure the vehicle against move-
ment: 
Place the wheel chock behind the front 
wheel on the side opposite the side 
being raised. If the vehicle is parked on 
a downward slope, place the chock in 
front of the wheel. If the wheel must be 
changed on a surface with a more 
severe slope, take additional precau-
tions to secure the vehicle from rolling 

Technical data
200
Weights 
Never exceed either the approved axle 
loads or the gross vehicle weight. 
525i530i
Curb weight 
with manual transmission
with automatic transmission lbs./kg 
3,428/1,555
3,450/1,5653,472/1,575
3,494/1,585
Approved gross weight
with manual transmission
with automatic transmissionlbs./kg 
4,530/2,055
4,552/2,0654,575/2,075
4,597/2,085
Load lbs./kg 1,102/500 1,102/500
Approved front axle load  lbs./kg  2,161/980 2,227/1,010
Approved rear axle load  lbs./kg  2,601/1,180 2,601/1,180
Approved roof load capacity  lbs./kg  220/100 220/100
Luggage compartment volume cu ft/l  18.4/520 18.4/520
545i
Curb weight 
with manual transmission
with automatic transmissionlbs./kg 
3,803/1,725
3,814/1,730
Approved gross weight
with manual transmission
with automatic transmissionlbs./kg 
4,905/2,225
4,916/2,230
Load lbs./kg 1,103/500
Approved front axle load  lbs./kg  2,403/1,090
Approved rear axle load  lbs./kg  2,679/1,215
Approved roof load capacity  lbs./kg  220/100
Luggage compartment volume cu ft/l  18.4/520 

Reference 209
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Lighting
Ð instruments 88
Ð of the vehicle, refer to 
Lamps 87
Lighting of the instruments, 
refer to Instrument 
lighting 88
Lights, refer to Parking 
lamps/low beams 87
Lights on warning 87
Light switch 87
Limit speed, refer to 
Limit 72
Loading
Ð securing the load 109
Ð stowing cargo 109
Ð vehicle 108
"Lock after driving off" 30
"Lock button" 28
Locking
Ð from inside 30
Ð from outside 28
Locking and unlocking 
doors
Ð from inside 30
Ð from outside 27
Ð setting confirmation 
signals 28
"LOGIC7", audio 
systems 132
Low beams 87
Ð automatic 87
Ð replacing the bulbs 185
Lower back support, refer 
to Lumbar support 38
Lug bolts 188
Ð wrench 187
Luggage compartment 31
Ð capacity 200
Ð locking separately 31
Ð opening/closing, refer to 
Luggage compartment 
lid 31
Ð opening from the 
inside 31
Ð opening from the 
outside 31
Ð opening with remote 
control 28
Ð socket 100
Ð volume 200Luggage compartment 
lid 31
Ð emergency release from 
inside luggage 
compartment 32
Ð locking separately 31
Ð manual operation 31
Ð opening from the 
inside 31
Ð opening from the 
outside 31
Ð opening with remote 
control 28
Ð unlocking manually 31
Luggage rack, refer to 
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack 109
Lumbar support 38
LW, waveband 134
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter 
tires 175
Maintenance, refer also to 
Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet for 
US models or Warranty 
and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian 
models
Maintenance system 181
Malfunction
Ð automatic 
transmission 56
Ð Sequential manual 
transmission SMG 53
Malfunction warnings, refer 
to Check Control 68
Manually controlled 
recirculated air 91
"Manual" on the radio 135
Manual operation
Ð door lock 29
Ð fuel filler door 168
Ð glass roof 35
Ð luggage compartment 
lid 31
Manual operation with 
automatic 
transmission 55Manual release, refer to 
Manual operation
Manual station tuning 135
Manual transmission 51
"Map, arrow display" 123
"Map, direction of 
travel" 124
"Map, facing north" 124
Maximum cooling 91
Maximum roof weight 200
Maximum speed
Ð for winter tires 175
Ð with compact wheel 188
Memory
Ð refer to Key Memory 26
Ð refer to Seat, mirror and 
steering wheel 
memory 38
Menus, refer to Control 
Center 16
Message list of traffic
information 126
Microphone for hands-free 
system 151
Mirrors 42
Ð automatic curb 
monitor 39
Ð dimming feature 43
Ð heating 43
Ð memory, refer to Seat, 
mirror and steering wheel 
memory 38
"Missed calls" 155
Missed calls 154
Mobile communications in 
the vehicle 108
Mobile Service, refer to 
Roadside Assistance 191
Monitor, refer to Control 
Center 16
"Monitor display on" 77
Monitoring inflation 
pressure, refer to Flat Tire 
Monitor 80
Multifunction switch
Ð refer to Turn signal 
indicators/headlamp 
flasher 56
Ð refer to Wiper/washer 
system 57