Controls
57Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>One-touch function for Sequential
mode
+: manual upshifts
—: manual downshifts
>D: Drive mode.
N is automatically engaged if the
driver's door is opened with the
engine running and neither pedals, shift
paddles nor the selector lever are oper-
ated.
This is indicated by an acoustic signal and
the flashing display N in the instrument
cluster.<
Gear display
R N 1 to 6
The currently engaged gear is displayed, in
the Drive mode preceded by a D.
Shiftlock
Press the brake pedal before shifting out
of N; the shift command will not be exe-
cuted unless the brake is applied.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is completely
stationary.
Sequential mode
After every engine start, as soon as the
selector lever is pushed to the right and the
brake pedal is pressed, the Sequential
mode is activated.
The gear is changed using the shift paddles
or selector lever.
Driving off is also possible in second gear,
e.g. when the roadway is icy.
D Drive mode
In the Drive mode, all forward gears are
shifted automatically.
To switch from Sequential to Drive mode:
Briefly press the selector lever to the right
towards D.
Kickdown:
For rapid acceleration, e.g. overtaking,
press the accelerator pedal as far down as
it will go: you achieve maximum accelera-
tion.
To switch back to the Sequential mode:
briefly press the selector lever back to the
right towards D or change the current gear
using the shift paddles or selector lever.
Start off quickly on slopes. Do not
hold the vehicle on a hill by applying
the throttle, but engage the handbrake
instead. Otherwise overheating can occur
in the area of the transmission.<
Gear changes
Using selector lever
>To shift up, briefly press the selector
lever towards +
>To shift down, briefly press towards —.
Using shift paddles on steering
wheel
>To shift up, pull one of the shift paddles
>To shift down, press.
In the following situations, the SMG in the
Sequential mode assists you:
>Upshifts and downshifts are executed
only when they will result in a plausible
combination of engine and vehicle
Driving
58 speed; thus, for example, a downshift
that would cause the engine to overrev
will not be executed by the system
>When the vehicle is stationary, the
transmission automatically downshifts
into first gear
>Shortly before dropping below a gear-
dependent minimum speed, the trans-
mission downshifts automatically even
without your intervention.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up and a
message appears on the Control
Display. There is a malfunction in
the transmission system. Avoid high loads.
While it will remain still possible to move
the selector lever to any desired position,
the transmission will revert to operation in
its default mode with only a limited number
of forward gears.
Have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible.
Information on jump-starting and towing
begins on page 185.
Overheating
The warning lamp lights up and a
message appears on the Control
Display. In addition, an acoustic
signal sounds. Overheating in the area of
the transmission. If possible, stop or drive
off quickly so that the system can cool
down.
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic*
In addition to the fully automatic mode, you
can also shift manually with Steptronic,
refer to page 59.
Selector-lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Possible displays
P R N D DS M1 to M6
The selector lever position is indicated, and
in the manual mode the gear currently
engaged.
Changing selector-lever positions
An interlock prevents inadvertent gear-
shifts into selector-lever positions R and P.
To cancel the interlock, press the button on
the front of the selector lever knob, refer to
arrow.
Shiftlock
Press the brake pedal before shifting out
of P or N; the shift command will not be
executed unless the brake is applied.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after
you select a driving position, maintain pres-
sure on the brake pedal until you are ready
to start.
To prevent the vehicle from rolling,
always select selector-lever posi-
tion P and engage the handbrake before
leaving the vehicle with the engine running.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
Driving tips
103Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
road surface. This phenomenon is referred
to as hydroplaning, and is characterized
by a partial or complete loss of contact
between the tires and the road surface, ulti-
mately undermining your ability to steer
and brake the vehicle.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the
tread depth of the tires decreases, also
refer to Tire tread on page 167.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the
road if it is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm,
and then only at walking speed at the most.
Otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the electri-
cal systems and the transmission may be
damaged.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as stan-
dard. The best way to achieve optimized
braking response from the ABS is to apply
maximum pressure to the brake pedal in
situations where this is required: panic
stops. Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can nevertheless
avoid possible obstacles with a minimum
of steering effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indi-
cate to the driver that ABS is in its active
mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting on
the brake pedal. Even light but con-
sistent pedal pressure can lead to high
temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
While driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is a good idea to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few
miles. Monitor traffic conditions to ensure
that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to
ensure that full braking efficiency will then
be available when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and thus
reduced efficiency of the brake sys-
tem, downshift to a gear in which only min-
imal brake applications are needed when
descending long or steep downhill
stretches. Even light but consistent pedal
pressure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake fail-
ure.<
You can further enhance the engine's brak-
ing effect by selecting a lower gear in the
automatic transmission's manual mode,
downshifting as far as first gear on
extremely steep stretches, refer to
page 59. This strategy helps you avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake sys-
tem.
Never drive with the clutch pressed
or allow the vehicle to coast with the
transmission in Neutral – or with the engine
switched off – there is no engine braking
when the transmission is in Neutral, and no
power assist for brakes and steering when
the engine is not running.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
accelerator and brake pedals and obstruct
their movement.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasion-
ally, during extended periods when the
vehicle is not used at all, and in operating
conditions where brake applications are
less frequent, there is an increased ten-
dency for corrosion to form on rotors, while
contaminants accumulate on the brake
pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the
pads during brake applications to clean the
rotors is not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors,
the brakes will tend to respond with a pul-
sating effect that even extended applica-
tion will fail to cure.
Things to remember when driving
104
Mobile communication devices in
vehicle
BMW advises against using mobile
communication devices, e.g. portable
phones, in the inside of the vehicle without
a direct connection to an external antenna.
Otherwise, the vehicle electronics and
mobile communication device can influ-
ence one another. It is not ensured that the
waves emitted during transmission are led
out of the vehicle interior.<
Cargo 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 your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never
exceed XXX lbs. or YYY kg, as other-
wise the vehicle may be damaged and
unstable 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 lbs. or
YYY kg4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
1400 lbs. and there will be five 150-lbs.
passengers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs.:
1400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of lug-
gage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely
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.
Everything from A to Z
208 Screw thread for tow
fitting 186
Seats 43
– adjusting 43
– heating 47
– memory, refer to Seat,
mirror and steering wheel
memory 44
– sitting safely 42
– sports seat 43
– storing the setting 44
– thigh support 43
Securing load 98
"Select as destination" 113
"Select current speed" 71
Selecting audio sources,
refer to Operation using
Control Center 126
Selecting frequency
manually 131
Selecting menu items 18
Selecting new scale for
navigation system
display 120
Selecting route 116
Selection options with
navigation system 116
Selector lever
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 58
– manual transmission 56
– SMG Sequential manual
transmission 56
Selector lever interlock,
refer to Shiftlock
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 58
– SMG Sequential manual
transmission 57
Sequential manual trans-
mission, SMG 56
"Service" 65, 156
Service, refer to
Roadside Assistance 184
Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US
models 174
"Service notification" 156
"Service Request" 157Service requirement
display 65
– also refer to CBS
Condition Based
Service 174
"Service
requirements" 65, 156
"Service Status" 155
"Set date" 74
"Set" in audio mode 127
"Set service date" 66
"Set time" 73
Setting road-speed limit 71
Settings
– changing on the
Control Display 72
– configuring, refer to
Key Memory 26
Setting the time, refer to
Preselecting activation
time 93
"Set tire pressure" 79
Shifting gears with
automatic transmission
with Steptronic 58
Short commands of the
voice command
system 194
"Short cut / Telephone" 49
Shortest route for
navigation 116
"Short route" for
navigation 116
"Show current
position" 112
"Show destination
position" 112
Side airbags 81
Side marker lamps,
replacing the bulbs 180
Side turn signals, replacing
the bulbs 180
Sill panel lighting 87
Sitting safely 42
– with airbags 42
– with safety belts 42
Ski bag 98
Sliding/tilt roof, refer to
Glass roof, electric with
raise function 35SMG Sequential manual
transmission 56
– acceleration assistant 60
– convenience start 55
– Dynamic Driving
Control 59
– gear display 57
– kickdown 57
– overheating 58
– shiftlock 57
– towing 186
– tow-starting 187
– warning lamp 58
"SMS" 150
Snow chains 169
Socket
– for Onboard Diagnosis
interface 176
– in front passenger
footwell 98
– refer to Cigarette lighter
socket 97
SOS, refer to Initiating an
emergency call 183
Sound output for Enter-
tainment on/off 127
Spare fuses 182
Spare key 26
Special oils, refer to
Specified engine oils 172
Specified engine oils 172
Speed-dependent
volume 128
Speed limit warning, refer
to Speed limit 71
Speedometer 12
"Speed volume", refer to
Adjusting the tone 128
Speed with winter tires 169
Sport program
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 59
– Dynamic Driving
Control 59
Stability control, refer to
Driving stability control
systems 76
"Start" for stopwatch 72
"Start guidance" 111, 118
Starting assistance, refer to
Jump-starting 184