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 33Reference
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Mobility
Indicator lamp displays 
>The indicator lamp below the interior 
rearview mirror flashes continuously: 
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes on locking: 
door(s) or luggage compartment lid are 
not completely closed. Even if you do 
not close the alerted area, the system 
begins to monitor the remaining areas, 
and the indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously after approx.10 seconds. How-
ever, the interior motion sensor is not 
activated
>The indicator lamp goes out on unlock-
ing: no manipulation or attempted intru-
sions have been detected in the period 
since the system was armed
>The indicator lamp flashes on unlocking 
before the remote control is inserted in 
the ignition lock, but for no more than 
roughly 5 minutes: an attempted entry 
has been detected in the period since 
the system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the indica-
tor lamp will flash continuously.
Tilt alarm sensor and interior motion 
sensor 
Tilt alarm sensor
Monitors the inclination of the vehicle. The 
alarm system reacts, for example, if some-
one attempts to steal the wheels or tow the 
vehicle.
Interior motion sensor 
Coupe:
In order for the interior motion sensor to 
function properly, the windows and glass 
roof must be completely closed.
Convertible:
Monitors the interior up to the height of the 
seat cushions. This means that the alarm 
system, including the interior motion sen-
sor, is armed even if the convertible top is 
open. Falling objects, e.g. leaves, can trig-
ger false alarms, refer to Avoiding uninten-
tional alarms.
Avoiding unintentional alarms 
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion 
sensor may be switched off at the same 
time. This is how you prevent unintentional 
alarms, e.g. in the following situations:
>In garages with elevator ramps
>During transport on automobile trans-
port trains
>If animals are to remain in the vehicle.
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor 
Press the   button on the remote con-
trol once again directly after locking.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and 
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm 
sensor and the interior motion sensor are 
switched off until the vehicle is unlocked 
and locked again.
Windows 
To prevent injuries, exercise care 
when closing the windows and keep 
them in your field of vision until they are 
shut.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove 
the ignition key and close the doors to pre-
vent children from operating the windows 
and injuring themselves etc.< 

Adjustments
42
Adjustments 
Sitting safely 
The ideal sitting position can make a vital 
contribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. 
The sitting position also plays an important 
role together with the safety belts and air-
bags in providing occupants with maximum 
levels of passive safety in an accident. To 
ensure that the safety systems operate with 
optimal efficiency, we strongly urge you to 
observe the instructions contained in the 
following section.
For additional information on transporting 
children safely, refer to page 51.
Sitting safely with airbags 
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between yourself and the air-
bags. Always hold the steering wheel by 
its rim with hands at the 9 o'clock and 
3 o'clock positions, to minimize the risk of 
injuries to your hands and arms in the event 
of airbag deployment.
No one and nothing is to come between the 
airbags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on 
the front passenger side as a storage area. 
Make sure that the front passenger is sit-
ting correctly and does not rest feet or legs 
on the instrument panel, otherwise leg inju-
ries can occur if the knee and front airbags 
are triggered.
Never let an occupant's head rest near or 
on a side airbag because the inflating air-
bag could cause a serious or fatal injury.<
Even if you adhere to all the instructions 
injuries resulting from contact with airbags 
cannot be fully excluded, depending on the 
circumstances. The ignition and inflation 
noise may provoke a mild – usually tempo-
rary – hearing loss in extremely sensitive 
individuals.
For airbag locations and additional infor-
mation on airbags, refer to page 81.
Sitting safely with safety belts 
Fasten your safety belt before starting any 
trip. Airbags complement the safety belt as 
an additional safety device, but they do not 
represent a substitute.
Your vehicle has four seats that are all 
equipped with a safety belt.
At all times, occupants should sit 
upright and be properly restrained: 
infants and small children in appropriate 
child-restraint systems; larger children and 
adults using the safety belts.
Never allow more than one person to wear 
a single safety belt. Never allow infants or 
small children to ride in a passenger's lap.
Expectant mothers should always wear 
their safety belts, taking care to position 
the lap belt against the lower hips, where it 
will not exert pressure against the abdomi-
nal area.
Do not route the belt across your neck, or 
run it across sharp edges. Be sure that the 
belt does not become caught or jammed. 
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it firmly 
across the hips and shoulder. Do not allow 
the belt to rest against hard or fragile 
objects. Otherwise, in the event of a frontal 
impact, a loose lap belt could slide over 
your hips, leading to abdominal injury. 
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the 
belt from fitting properly and pull the lap 
belt periodically to readjust the tension 
across your shoulder in order to avoid a 
reduction in the retention effect of the 
safety belt.<
For instructions on operating safety belts, 
refer to page 47. 

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Transporting children safely 
The right place for children
Children always in the rear 
Accident research shows that the safest 
place for children in a vehicle is in the rear 
seat.
Older children should be tightly secured 
with a safety belt, after they have outgrown 
a booster seat that is appropriate for their 
age, height and weight. 
Child-restraint system in the rear 
Children under 13 years of age and 
children less than 5 ft/150 cm tall 
should always ride in the rear and the 
restraint systems should be secured with 
the vehicle's safety belts.<
Younger children should be secured in an 
appropriate forward-facing child-restraint 
system that has first been properly 
secured. We strongly urge you to carefully 
read and comply with the instructions for 
installation and use provided by the child-
restraint's manufacturer whenever you use 
such a device.
All rear sitting positions in your vehicle 
meet the recommendations of SAE J1819, 
an industry-recommended practice for 
securing child-restraint systems in motor 
vehicles.
Exception for front passenger seat 
Should it become necessary to use 
a child-restraint system on the front 
passenger seat, the airbags on the passen-
ger's side must be deactivated. Deactivat-
ing the passenger airbags is only possible 
on the Coupe. Your BMW center will be 
glad to advise you.
ger seat of this vehicle if the passenger air-
bag is not deactivated. If you do so, the 
child could be severely injured when the 
airbag is triggered.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag 
supplemental restraint system for the front 
passenger. Because the backrest on any 
rearward-facing child-restraint system – of 
the kind designed for infants under 1 year 
and 20 Ibs./9 kg – would be within the air-
bag's deployment range, you should never 
mount such a system in the front passenger 
seat, since the impact of the airbag against 
the child restraint's backrest could lead to 
serious or fatal injuries.<
Installing child-restraint 
systems
Before installing any child-restraint system 
or child seat, read the following:
Observe the child-restraint system 
manufacturer's instructions for instal-
lation and use. Otherwise the degree of 
protection can be reduced.
After an accident, have all parts of the 
child-restraint system and of the relevant 
vehicle safety belt system checked by a 
BMW center and replaced if necessary.<
Commercially-available child-restraint sys-
tems are designed to be secured with a lap 
belt or with the lap belt portion of a combi-
nation lap/shoulder belt. Improperly or 
inadequately installed restraint systems 
can increase the risk of injury to children. 
Always read and follow the instructions that 
come with the system. 

Transporting children safely
52
Child seat security 
All of the rear belt retractors and the front 
passenger's safety belt can be locked for 
mounting and securing child-restraint sys-
tems.
Information regarding this is located near 
the buckle latch of each safety belt.
To lock safety belt 
Pull the entire length of the belt from the 
belt retractor. Allow the reel to retract the 
belt somewhat and engage the buckle, 
then tighten the belt against the child-
restraint system. The retraction mechanism 
is now locked.
To unlock safety belt 
Release the buckle, remove the child-
restraint system and allow the belt retractor 
to reel the belt completely in.
Coupe: child-restraint system with 
tether strap 
If you use a child-restraint system with a 
tether strap, two additional tether anchor-
age points have been provided – refer to 
the arrows in the illustration. Depending on 
the location selected for sitting in the rear 
passenger area, attach the tether strap to the corresponding anchorage point to 
secure the child-restraint system, as 
shown in the illustration below.
Each sitting position is fitted with a head 
restraint. 
The head restraint must be adjusted into 
the lowest possible position. Pass the 
tether strap over the head restraint.
Adjust the tether strap according to 
the child-restraint manufacturer's 
instructions.<
LATCH child-restraint fixing
LATCH: Lower Anchor and Tethers for 
CHildren.
The rear outer sitting positions are pro-
vided with anchors for a LATCH child-
restraint fixing.
To fit the LATCH child-restraint fixing, 
follow the operating and safety 
instructions of the system manufacturer.<
Access to anchorage points 
The illustrations show the right rear seat as 
an example. The outer anchorage points 
for the LATCH child-restraint fixing are 
identified by flags. 

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Mobility
Canadian models only: 
The anchorage points for the LATCH child-
restraint fixing are identified by buttons.
Installation guide
The installation guide makes it easier to fit 
the LATCH child-restraint fixing and at the 
same time protects the surface of the 
seats.
The installation guide is available at 
your BMW center. Always observe 
the related operating instructions and 
safety precautions.<
1.Pull the belt away from the area of the 
child-restraint fixing
2.Firmly press the installation guide into 
the gap between the upholstery on seat 
and backrest, continuing until the two 
funnel-shaped guides snap into place in 
the LATCH support braces in the seat.
Pull the installation guide to remove. 

Reference 199
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
C
California laws
– Event Data 
Recorders 176
– Proposition 65 
Warning 176
"Call" 148
Call
– accepting 147
– display accepted 149
– ending 148
– in absence 149
– starting 147
Calling
– from phone book 148
– from the Top 8 list 149
– redialing 149
– refer to telephone 
Owner's Manual 96
"Call sender" 151
Can holder, refer to 
Cup holders 97
Capacities 193
Car battery, refer to 
Battery 181
Car care, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to 
the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
"Car data" 69
Care 175
Cargo, securing 105
Caring for artificial leather, 
refer to the Caring for 
your vehicle brochure
Caring for leather, refer to 
the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Caring for light-alloy 
wheels, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure'
Caring for plastic, refer to 
the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Caring for the carpet, refer 
to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochureCaring for the vehicle finish, 
refer to the Caring for 
your vehicle brochure'
Car jacking points 181
Car keys, refer to 
Key set 26
Car phone 145
– location, refer to 
Center armrest 96
– refer to 
Portable phone 144
– refer to separate 
Owner's Manual
Car radio, refer to 
Radio 130
Car wash 102
– also refer to the Caring for 
your vehicle brochure
Catalytic converter, refer to 
Exhaust system 102
"Categories" 135
CBC Cornering Brake 
Control 76
CBS Condition Based 
Service 174
"CD" 127, 137
CD changer 137
– adjusting the tone 127
– controls 126
– fast forward/reverse 140
– installation location 140
– playing a track 139
– random play 
sequence 140
– repeating a track 139
– selecting a CD 137
– selecting a track 138
– switching on/off 126
– volume 127
CD player 137
– adjusting the tone 127
– controls 126
– fast forward/reverse 140
– playing a track 139
– random play 
sequence 140
– repeating a track 139
– selecting a track 138
– switching on/off 126
– volume 127Center armrest
– adjusting the height 96
– front 96
Center console 14
"Central locking" 27
Central locking system 26
– from inside vehicle 29
Changes, technical, refer to 
For your own safety 6
Changing a wheel 181
Changing the language on 
Control Display 73
Changing the 
measurement units on the 
Control Display 72
Changing wheels 181
CHECK button 68
Check Control 66
"Check Control 
messages" 68
Check Gas Cap 162
Checking the air pressure, 
refer to Tire inflation 
pressure 164
Child's seats, refer to 
Child-restraint 
systems 52
Child-restraint system 51
Chrome parts, care, refer 
to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Cigarette lighter 97
Cleaning, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Cleaning windshield, refer 
to Wiper system 61
"Climate" 90
"Climate control" 91
Clock 64
– 12/24 hour mode 73
– setting time and date 73
Closing
– from inside 29
– from outside 27
Clothes hooks, Coupe 96
Cockpit 10
Cold start, refer to 
Starting the engine 54
"Communication" 146 

Everything from A to Z
204 Instructions for navigation 
system, refer to 
Voice instructions 119
Instrument cluster 12
Instrument illumination, 
refer to Instrument 
lighting 87
Instrument lighting 87
Instrument panel, refer to 
Instrument cluster 12
Instrument panel lighting, 
refer to Instrument 
lighting 87
Integrated universal remote 
control 94
Interesting destination 113
"Interim time" 72
Interior lamps 87
– remote control 28
Interior mirror, automatic 
dimming feature 48
Interior rearview mirror 48
Interlock, refer to 
Steering locked 54
Interlock on automatic 
transmission 54
Intermittent mode of the 
wipers 61
J
Jacking points 181
Joystick, refer to 
Control Center 16
Jump-starting 184
K
Key Memory 26
"Keypad" 150
Keys 26
Kickdown
– automatic transmission 
with Steptronic 59
– SMG Sequential manual 
transmission 57
Knock control 163
L
Lamps, refer to Parking 
lamps/low beams 85
Lamps and bulbs 178
"Languages" 73
– for navigation 119
Lashing down loads, refer 
to Securing the load 105
Lashing eyes, refer to 
Securing the load 105
Last destinations, refer to 
Destination list 113
"Last seat pos." 44
LATCH child-restraint 
fixing 52
LEDs light-emitting 
diodes 181
Length, refer to 
Dimensions 191
Letter symbol with portable 
phone 150
License plate lamps, 
replacing bulbs 180
Light-emitting diodes 
LEDs 181
Lighter 97
Lighter socket 97
"Lighting" 60, 85
Lighting
– instruments 87
– vehicle, refer to Lamps 85
Lights on warning 85
Light switch 85
"Limit" 71
Loading
– securing the load 105
– stowing cargo 105
– vehicle 104
Location, navigation 
drive 108
"Lock after driving" 29
Lock buttons in the doors, 
refer to Locking 30
Locking
– from inside 30
– from outside 28
Locking and unlocking 
doors
– from inside 29
– from outside 27"LOGIC7", refer to 
Adjusting the tone 128
Low beams 85
– automatic 85
– replacing the bulbs 178
Lower back support, refer 
to Lumbar support 43
Luggage compartment
– capacity 190
– emergency release 31
– hotel function 30
– increasing the capacity, 
Convertible 32
– opening/closing, refer to 
Luggage compartment 
lid 31
– opening from inside 31
– opening from outside 31
– opening with remote 
control 28
Luggage compartment 
lid 30
– emergency operation 31
– emergency release 31
– opening from inside 31
– opening from outside 31
– opening with remote 
control 28
– unlocking manually 31
Lumbar support 43
LW, waveband 130
M
M+S tires, refer to 
Winter tires 169
Maintenance, refer to the 
Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet for 
US models or to the 
Warranty and Service 
Guide Booklet for 
Canadian models 174
Maintenance system 174
Malfunction warnings, refer 
to Check Control 66
Manual air distribution 90
Manual mode with 
automatic transmission 
with Steptronic 59
"Manual" on the radio 131 

Reference 207
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Random play
– CD changer 140
– CD player 140
Reading lamps 87
Rear lamps, refer to 
Tail lamps 180
Rearview mirror 48
Rear window defroster 89
"Received calls" 149
Receiving level of portable 
phone, refer to Status 
information 19
Reception
– quality 133
– radio stations 133
– regional station 132
Rechargeable flashlight 95
Recirculated-air mode, 
refer to AUC Automatic 
recirculated-air 
control 89
Recirculation of air, refer to 
AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control 89
Reclining seat, refer to 
Backrest 43
Recording times, refer to 
Stopwatch 72
"Redial" for portable 
phone 149
Redialing with portable 
phone 149
Refueling 162
Releasing, engine 
hood 170
"Relock door if not 
opened" 29
Remaining distance
– refer to Computer 70
– refer to Cruising range 69
Remote control 26
– garage-door opener 94
– luggage compartment 
lid 28
– malfunctions 28
"Repeat" in audio 
mode 139
"repeat track" in audio 
mode 139
Replacement fuses 182Replacement of tires, 
changing a wheel 181
Replacing bulbs, refer to 
Lamps and bulbs 178
Replacing wheels/tires 168
Reporting an accident, 
refer to Initiating an 
emergency call 183
Reporting safety defects 7
Reserve warning, refer to 
Fuel gauge 65
"Reset"
– for stopwatch 72
– in audio mode 129
Residual heat mode 90
Restraint systems
– for children 51
– refer to Safety belts 47
Retreaded tires 168
Reverse, fast
– CD changer 140
– CD player 140
Reverse gear
– automatic transmission 
with Steptronic 59
– manual transmission 56
– SMG Sequential manual 
transmission 57
Road map 120
"Roadside Assistance" 157
Roadside Assistance 184
Roadside parking lamps 86
"Roaming" 158
Rollover protection system 
on Convertible 82
– lowering 82
Rope, refer to Towing and 
tow-starting 185
Rotary pushbutton, refer to 
Control Center 16
Route
– bypassing sections 120
– changing 116, 120
– display 120
– displaying map 120
– displaying the arrow 
view 119
– list 120
– selecting 116
– selecting criteria 116"Route list" for 
navigation 120
Route map 119
"Route preference" 116
Route selection 116
Run-flat tires 168
– continuing driving with a 
damaged tire 168
– flat tire 80
– tire inflation 
pressure 164, 168
– tire replacement 168, 169
– winter tires 169
S
Safety belts 47
– damage 47
– sitting safely 42
– warning lamp 47
Safety belt tensioners, refer 
to Safety belts 47
Safety systems
– ABS Antilock Brake 
System 76
– airbags 81
– DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control 77
– rollover protection 
system, convertible 82
– safety belts 47
Satellite radio 133
– activating 134
– selecting channel 134
– storing channel 134
"SAT" on the radio 134
"Scan"
– playing stations 131
– playing tracks 139
Scan
– CD changer 139
– CD player 139
– radio 131
"scan directory" in audio 
mode 139
Screen, refer to 
Control Center 16
"Screen on / off" 49
Screw-on valve caps 181