
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. 

Controls
 87Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
If the automatic headlamp control is 
activated, the low beams will come on 
automatically when you switch on the fog 
lamps.<
Instrument lighting 
Turn the serrated dial to adjust the illumina-
tion intensity.
Interior lamps 
Control of the interior lamps, footwell 
lamps, door entry lighting, courtesy lamps
* 
and sill panel lighting
* is automatic.
Switching 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, briefly press 
the button.
Reading lamps 
The reading lamps are beside the interior 
lamp.
You can turn 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 extinguished approx. 15 minutes 
after the ignition is switched off.< 

A congenial climate
92 climate control is optimized for driving with 
the convertible top open. In addition, the air 
supply is increased as the speed increases.
If the convertible program has been 
selected, it is automatically active every 
time the top is opened.
The effect of the convertible program 
can be greatly enhanced if the wind 
deflector is fitted.<
Ventilation 
You can use the serrated dials 1 to open 
and close the vent outlets through an infi-
nitely-variable range, while the levers 2 
allow you to adjust the airflow direction.
Do not drop any foreign bodies into 
the vent outlets, as otherwise these 
could be catapulted outwards and lead to 
injuries.<
Ventilation for cooling 
Adjust the vent outlets to direct the flow of 
cool air in your direction, for instance, if the 
interior has become too warm, etc.
Draft-free ventilation 
Set the vent outlets so that the air flows 
past you and is not directed straight at you.
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter 
The microfilter removes dust and pollen 
from the incoming air. The activated-char-
coal filter provides additional protection by 
filtering gaseous pollutants from the out-
side air. Your BMW center replaces this 
combined filter as a standard part of your 
scheduled maintenance.You can select a display of more detailed 
information in the service requirement dis-
play, refer to page 65.
Independent ventilation 
The independent ventilation blows air into 
the passenger compartment to lower inte-
rior temperatures.
The independent ventilation is controlled 
using the Control Center. You can set two 
different times for the system to start.
The independent ventilation remains on for 
30 minutes. It can also be switched on and 
off directly. Since the system uses a sub-
stantial amount of electrical current, you 
should refrain from activating it twice in 
succession without allowing the battery to 
be recharged in normal operation between 
use.
The independent ventilation is ready for 
use at any outside temperature up to igni-
tion key position 1.
The air emerges through the upper body 
region vent outlets in the instrument panel. 
These vent outlets must be open for the 
system to operate.
Switching on and off directly 
Control Center, for principle details, refer to 
page 16:
1.Open "Climate"
2.Select "Ventilation" and press the con-
troller
3.Select "Automatic ventilation" and 
press the controller
4.Select "Parked car ventilation" and 
press the controller. 

Under the hood
170
Under the hood 
Never attempt to perform any service 
or repair operations on your vehicle 
without the required, professional technical 
training. If you are unfamiliar with the ser-
vice procedures and precautions, always 
have any required work on your vehicle 
carried out at your BMW center. If this work 
is performed inexpertly, there is a danger of 
damage and associated safety risks.<
Hood 
Releasing 
Pull the lever located under the left side of 
the instrument panel.
Opening 
Press the release handle and open the 
engine hood.
Closing 
Close the hood from a height of approx. 
16 in/40 cm with momentum. It must be 
clearly heard to engage.
Make sure that the closing path of the 
engine hood is clear, as otherwise 
injuries may result.
If you see any signs that the hood is not 
completely closed while you are driving 
your vehicle, you should stop at once and 
close it securely.< 

Rules and regulations
176
Rules and regulations
California laws
Proposition 65 Warning 
California laws require us to issue the fol-
lowing warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of 
automobile components and parts, 
including components found in the interior 
furnishings in a vehicle, contain or emit 
chemicals known to the State of California 
to cause cancer and birth defects and 
reproductive harm. In addition, certain flu-
ids contained in vehicles and certain prod-
ucts of component wear contain or emit 
chemicals known to the State of California 
to cause cancer and birth defects or other 
reproductive harm. 
Battery posts, terminals and related acces-
sories contain lead and lead compounds. 
Wash your hands after handling. 
Used engine oil contains chemicals that 
have caused cancer in laboratory animals. 
Always protect your skin by washing thor-
oughly with soap and water.<
Event Data Recorders 
Your vehicle may be equipped with one or 
more sensing and diagnostic modules or a 
recording device capable of recording or 
transmitting certain vehicle data or infor-
mation. In addition, if you have a Subscrip-
tion Service Agreement for the BMW Assist 
system, certain vehicle information may be 
transmitted or recorded in order to provide 
such services.
OBD connector 
The Onboard Diagnostic OBD interface 
socket is located on the left of the driver's 
side under the instrument panel and under 
a cover.
The cover has the letters OBD on it.
The purpose of the OBD system is to 
ensure proper operation of the emission 
control system for the vehicle's lifetime. 
The system monitors emission-related 
components and systems for deterioration 
and malfunction.
An illuminated indicator lamp 
informs you of the need for service, 
not of the need to stop the vehicle. 
However, the systems should be checked 
by your BMW center at the earliest possible 
opportunity.
Display of the previously described 
malfunction on Canadian models.
Under certain conditions, the indicator 
lamp will blink or flash. This indicates a 
rather severe level of engine misfire. When 
this occurs, you should reduce speed and 
consult the nearest BMW center as soon as 
possible. Severe engine misfire over only a 
short period of time can seriously damage 
emissions control components, especially 
the catalytic converter. 

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