
Cockpit
10
Cockpit 
All around the steering wheel: controls and displays 
1Convertible: opening and closing rear 
window35
2Convertible: opening and closing 
windows together34
3Convertible: opening and closing back 
windows34
4Opening and closing front windows33
5Adjusting exterior mirrors48 6
Turn signals60
High beams, 
headlamp flasher86
Roadside parking lamps86
Check Control66
Computer69 

At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7Buttons on the steering wheel
Portable phone:
>Press briefly:
Accept call or terminate call
as well as dial if an entry has been 
selected from "A - Z", "Top  8", "Redial", 
"Received calls" or "Missed calls"
>Press longer: redial
Volume 
Voice command system
Fast forward/reverse
>Radio 
Press briefly: change radio station 
Press longer: manual tuning or auto-
matic station-search function scan
>CD 
Press briefly: select track
Press longer: fast forward/reverse
>Portable phone
Press briefly: select entry in "A - Z", 
"Top 8", "Redial", "Received calls" or 
"Missed calls"
Individually programmable49
Individually programmable498Instrument cluster12
10Ignition lock54
11Horn: the entire surface
14Releasing the engine hood170
15Opening the luggage compartment 
lid30
16Head-Up Display83 
9
Windshield wipers61
Rain sensor61
12
Steering wheel heater49
Steering wheel adjustment48
13
Cruise control63
17
Parking lamps85
Low beams85
Automatic headlamp 
control85
Adaptive Head Light86
18
Instrument lighting87
Front fog lamps86 

At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning 
lamps 
Technology that monitors itself 
The indicator and warning lamps identified 
by the 
+ symbol are subjected to an oper-
ation check each time you switch on the 
ignition or start the engine. They each light 
up once for different periods of time.
When a malfunction occurs in a monitored 
system, the corresponding lamp will either 
fail to go out when the engine is started, or 
it will come on again during normal driving, 
usually accompanied by a Check Control 
message. You will find more details on the 
specified pages.
Fixed indicator and warning lampsColors The indicator and warning lamps can light 
up in different colors and combinations.
>Red:
Stop immediately 
or 
important reminder
>Red and yellow:
Continue to drive; drive cautiously
>Yellow:
Have the system checked at the earliest 
opportunity
or
for your information
>Green or blue:
For your information.
Variable indicator and warning lamps 
On the display 5 of the instrument cluster, 
other indicator and warning lamps appear 
as necessary. Pay attention to the instruc-
tions of the accompanying Check Control 
messages, also refer to page 66. Turn signals60
Active steering 
+80
Brake system 
+
With handbrake engaged55
With handbrake released78, 173
With other warning lamps78
Brake system for Canadian models
Airbags 
+81
Service Engine Soon 
+176
If the indicator lamp comes on 
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a malfunction 
the emissions-related electronic 
systems.
Although the vehicle remains oper-
ational, you should have the sys-
tems checked by your BMW center 
at the earliest possible opportunity
Service Engine Soon indicator 
lamp for Canadian models
Front fog lamps86
ABS Antilock Brake System +78
DTC Dynamic Traction Control78
High beams/headlamp flasher86
Please fasten safety belt 
+47
DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control 
+78
Check Gas Cap162
Lamp for US models 

At a glance
 15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Coupe: glass roof, electric with raise 
function35
2Microphone for portable phone146
Convertible: microphone on steering 
column
*
3Reading lamps87
4Interior lamps87
5Microphone for voice command 
system20
Convertible: microphone on steering 
column
*
6Coupe: initiating an emergency 
call183
7Convertible: initiating an emergency 
call183
8Control Display16 
Displays for menu guidance
9Hazard warning flashers
10Central locking system29 
11Automatic climate control8812Button for
>Station scan126
>Track scan138
13Ejecting
>Navigation DVD108
>Audio CD126
14Drive for navigation DVD108
15Drive for audio CD126
16Switching sound output for Entertain-
ment on/off and adjusting the 
volume126
18Bracket for cup holder97
19Controller16 
Horizontal movement in four directions, 
turn or press
20Activating voice command system20
21Opening the start menu on the 
Control Display17
22Dynamic Driving Control59 Temperature setting, 
left/right89
Automatic air distribution and 
volume89
Cooling function89
AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control89
Maximum cooling89
Residual heat mode90
Switching off automatic climate 
control90
Air volume89
Defrosting windows89
Rear window defroster88
17
Heated seats47
PDC Park Distance Control75
DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control77
Convertible: opening the 
convertible top38
Convertible: closing the 
convertible top38 

Voice command system
20
Voice command system
The concept
The voice command system allows you to 
control operation of various vehicle sys-
tems without ever removing your hands 
from the steering wheel.
Individual menu items on the Control Dis-
play can be spoken as commands. Opera-
tion via the controller is not required.
The voice command system transforms 
your oral commands into control signals for 
the selected systems and provides support 
in the form of instructions or questions.
The voice command system includes a 
special microphone.
The microphone is located:
>On the Coupe near the interior rearview 
mirror, refer to page 14
>On the Convertible near the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to page 14, or on 
the steering column.
Precondition
The set language of the Control Center and 
of the voice command system should 
match so that the commands to be spoken 
can be identified more easily. Setting the 
language of the Control Center, refer to 
page 73.
Symbols used
Voice commands
Activating voice command system
Briefly press the   button on the steering 
wheel or in the center console.
 This symbol on the Control Display and 
an acoustic message indicate that you can 
enter voice commands.
*
Indicates voice commands in this 
Owner's Manual which are to be spo-
ken word for word. 

At a glance
 21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The text or numbers that the voice com-
mand system has registered will appear on 
the Control Display.
 This symbol appears on the Control Dis-
play when you can enter additional voice 
commands. 
If there are no other voice commands, 
operate the equipment using the Control 
Center.
Terminating or canceling voice 
command system
Press the   button on the steering wheel or 
in the center console
or 
Voice commands
To open the start menu: 
You can have a list of the respectively pos-
sible voice commands read off; this list is 
dependent on the menu item selected on 
the Control Display.
For example, if you have selected "CD", the 
possible voice commands for operating the 
CD player and the CD changer will be read 
off:
There are often a number of commands to 
run a function, e.g.: 
With short commands you can carry out 
certain functions directly, regardless of 
which menu item is selected, refer to 
page 194. 
An example: selecting a track 
1.If necessary, switch on sound output for 
Entertainment
2.Press the   button in the steering wheel 
or in the center console.
{Cancel}.
{Main menu}.
{Options} or {Help}.
{Radio on} or {Switch on radio}. 
3.{Entertainment}.
The system issues: 
{{Entertainment}}
4.{CD}.
The system issues: 
{{CD}}
5.Select a track, e.g.:
{Track 1}.
The system issues: 
{{Track 1}}. 

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. 

Adjustments
44
Seat, mirror and steering 
wheel memory 
You can store and select three different 
adjustment settings for the driver's seat, 
exterior mirrors and steering wheel.
The adjustment of the lumbar support is not 
stored in the memory.
Storing 
Ignition key as of position 1:
1.Adjust the desired seat, exterior mirror 
and steering-wheel positions
2.Press 
MEMORY button:
The indicator lamp in the button lights 
up
3.Press the desired memory button 1, 2 
or 3:
The indicator lamp goes out.
Calling up automatically 
You have two possibilities:
>Calling up on unlocking the vehicle
>Calling up on opening the driver's door.
If you want to call up the last driver's seat, 
exterior mirror and steering wheel position, 
proceed as follows:
Control Center, for principle details, refer to 
page 16:
1.Open the   menu
2.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the 
controller
3.Select "Door locks" and press the con-
troller
4.Select "Central locking" and press the 
controller5.Select "Last seat pos." and press the 
controller
6.Select "After unlocking" or "After open-
ing door"
7.Press the controller.
Depending on which key you have used to 
open the vehicle, the last adjustment is 
applied.
When using this Key Memory feature, 
always make sure that the footwell 
behind the driver's seat is empty and unob-
structed. If you fail to do so, any persons or 
objects behind the seat could be injured or 
damaged by a rearward movement of the 
seat.<
Calling up manually 
Do not call up a position from the 
memory while the vehicle is moving. 
There is a risk of accident from unexpected 
movement of the seat or steering wheel.<
Convenience mode 
1.Open the driver's door after unlocking 
or turn the ignition key to position 1
2.Briefly press the desired memory but-
ton 1, 2 or 3.
The system immediately cancels the 
adjustment procedure when you press one 
of the seat adjustment switches or use one 
of the memory buttons.
The adjusting procedure for the steering 
wheel is immediately interrupted if you 
operate the switch for the steering wheel 
adjustment in any direction, refer to 
page 48.