Page 89 of 232

Controls
87Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
3.Turn the controller to the left or right to
select the preset speed
4.Press the controller to confirm your
entry. The speed limit function is now
active.
Switching on or off
1.Select "Limit" and confirm
2.Select "ON / OFF" and confirm. "ON /
OFF" is highlighted when the speed
limit function is activated.
Applying your current speed as the
limit
1.Select "Limit" and confirm
2.Select and confirm. The system
applies your current speed as the limit.
Limit in Info Display
If, for instance, the warning sector in the
tachometer is visible, refer to page 80, the speed limit will be indicated by a warning
sector in the speedometer, refer to arrow.
Stopwatch
Starting and stopping
1.Select and confirm
2.Select and confirm. The stopwatch
is reset to 0 and starts
3.Select and confirm. This stops the
timer.
Confirm again to reset the stopwatch to
zero.
Taking an intermediate time reading
Select "INTERM. TIME" and confirm. This
intermediate time appears below the ongo-
ing primary stopwatch count.
All of the remaining functions remain
available at all times while the stop-
watch is running. The stopwatch continues
operation in the background.<
Assistance window* for "Car data"
You can select any of the following com-
puter functions for display in the assistance
window:
>Computer >Trip computer
>Speed limit
>Stopwatch.
Page 90 of 232

Everything under control
88
Applying display
1.Select the desired function and confirm
Ð here computer "BC"
2.Select and confirm. The func-
tion appears in the assistance window.
The symbol is highlighted
if the function displayed in the
assistance window is selected on the
Control Display.<
You can also choose to view brief help
texts explaining selected menu items, refer
to page 22, or the travel route on vehicles
equipped with a GPS navigation system,
refer to page 131.
Changing settings
Units of measure and display format
You can select the units of measure used
in the displays of fuel consumption, dis-
tances, temperatures and pressures as
well as the display format for the time and
date.
1.Select and confirm
2.Select the menu item that you wish to
adjust. Press repeatedly to view a list-
ing of your selection options.
Language
You can select a different language for the
text displays.
1.Select and confirm
2.Select and activate the desired lan-
guage.
Time and date
Select "Clock" and confirm.
Setting the time
Select "Time" and confirm. The first setting
sector is highlighted.
>Turn to reset
>Press to store your entry and proceed
to the next setting.
The clock applies the last saved entry.
Switching on the memo mode
You will hear four tones just before each
full hour.
>Select "Memo" and confirm. "Memo" is
highlighted when this function is acti-
vated.
Page 91 of 232
Controls
89Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Setting the date
Select "Date" and confirm. The first section
of the date display is highlighted Ð here
day.
>Turn to reset
>Press to store and highlight the next
entry Ð here month and year.
Your date is applied by the system the
last time you store your entry.
Brightness
You can set the brightness of the screen.
1.Select and confirm.
Select "Brightness" and confirm. Press and
turn the controller to make the adjustment.
With unfavorable conditions, e.g.
bright environment, the brightness
control of the screen might not be immedi-
ately recognizable.<
Page 92 of 232

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
90
Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
PDC Park Distance Control*
The concept
The PDC assists you when you are parking.
Signal tones indicate the current distance
to an object behind or in front of your vehi-
cle. Four ultrasonic sensors in both the
bumpers monitor the distance to the near-
est object. The sensors at the front and at
the two rear corners have a range of
approx. 2 ft/60 cm; the rear middle sensors
have approx. 5 ft/1.50 m.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate
objects when they are approached
slowly, as is usually the case when parking.
Avoid approaching an object at high speed,
as otherwise the physical circumstances
would mean that the system warning was
too late.<
Automatic function
Whenever the ignition is on the system
automatically assumes operational status
after a few seconds each time you engage
the transmission position R.
Wait this short period before revers-
ing.<
Manual activation
Press the button, the indicator lamp lights
up.
Manual deactivation
Press the button again; the indicator lamp
goes out.
Automatic deactivation
The system is automatically deactivated
once the vehicle travels approx. 165 ft/
50 m or exceeds a speed of roughly
20 mph/30 km/h; the indicator lamp goes
out. You can reactivate the system manu-
ally as needed.
Signal tones
The signal indicating the distance to the
nearest obstacle is directional. Thus, an
object detected to the left rear of the vehi-
cle will be indicated by a signal tone from
the left rear speaker, etc. As the distance
between vehicle and object decreases, the
intervals between the tones become
shorter. The signal tone becomes continu-
ous once the distance to the nearest object
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. 3 seconds if you are moving paral-
lel to a wall.
Malfunctions
The indicator lamp within the button
flashes and a status message appears in
the Check Control.
Please take note of the additional informa-
tion on the Control Display.
Switch the system off and have the cause
of the malfunction corrected by your BMW
center.
Page 93 of 232

Controls
91Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
PDC with visual warning
You also enjoy the option of having the sys-
tem show distances to objects on the Con-
trol Display. The Control Display will also
indicate the presence of objects in green
before they are close enough to generate a
signal tone.
Select "PDC pic." from the "Settings" menu
and confirm. This activates the PDC dis-
play.
The display then appears on the Control
Display whenever the PDC is automatically
or manually activated.
The previous display automatically
reappears after the system is deactivated.
Confirming the menu item takes
you back to the previous display.<
Limits of the system
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always
remains with the driver. Even when sensors
are involved, there is a blind spot in which
objects cannot be detected. The system is
also subject to the physical limits that apply
to all forms of ultrasonic measurement,
such as those encountered with tow bars and trailer couplings, as well as thin and
wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low objects
already displayed, e.g. a curb, can also dis-
appear from the detection area of the sen-
sors again before a continuous tone
sounds.
Loud noises from outside and inside the
vehicle may prevent you from hearing
PDC's signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free of ice
or snow in order to ensure that they
will continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Keep the spray at least 4 in/10 cm away
from the sensors.<
Driving stability control/
ABS Antilock Brake System
The concept
ABS enhances active safety by preventing
the wheels from locking under braking.
ABS incorporates CBC and EBV.
In case of malfunction
If the indicator lamp lights up in
yellow, this indicates that ABS has
been deactivated in response to a
system malfunction. Conventional braking
efficiency remains available without limita-
tions. Please have the system inspected at
your BMW center.
CBC Cornering Brake Control
CBC is a supplement to ABS. It provides
further enhancements in vehicle stability
and steering response during lane changes
and cornering at high rates of lateral accel-
eration.
EBV Electronic brake-force
distribution
EBV controls the brake system's applica-
tion pressure at the rear wheels to ensure
stable deceleration.
Page 94 of 232

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
92
In case of malfunction
If the brake system warning lamp
lights up in red, together with the
yellow indicator lamps for ABS and
DSC: the stability control is no
longer operational.
If all three lamps light up in yellow:
malfunction in the stability control
systems. The electronic brake-
force distribution is active.
While you may continue, you should
remember to proceed cautiously and drive
defensively while avoiding full brake appli-
cations.
Please have the system checked at the
nearest BMW center.
Check Control messages, refer to page 82.
Please take note of the additional informa-
tion on the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps on
Canadian models.
Driving stability control/
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control
The concept
DSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability dur-
ing acceleration and when starting from a
full stop, as well as optimizing traction.
The system recognizes any tendency for
the vehicle to assume an unstable attitude
such as oversteer or understeer; it then
counteracts this tendency with a combina-
tion of graduated reductions in engine
torque and selective braking intervention at
individual wheels. DSC provides optimized stability within the limits defined by the
laws of physics.
The DSC is operational every time you start
the engine. DSC includes the functionality
of the DTC Dynamic Traction Control and
DBC Dynamic Brake Control.
Indicator lamps
The indicator lamp in the Info Dis-
play goes out soon after you start
the engine.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive and braking forces.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off using the Con-
trol Center.
The indicator lamp and the brake
warning lamp remain on continu-
ously:
DSC, DTC and DBC have been
deactivated or a system malfunc-
tion is present.
When the system is off, the stability main-
tenance functions described above are no
longer available. The vehicle will remain
completely operational, however, without
DSC.
Please respond to any malfunctions by
referring the problem to your BMW center.
Indicator and warning lamps on
Canadian models.
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
In particular driving situations, in deep
snow, for example, DTC ensures the maxi-
mum forward momentum. The gain in for-
ward momentum in these situations
involves a reduction in vehicle stability.
DTC is active up to 45 mph/70 km/h.
Page 95 of 232

Controls
93Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Activating DTC
You may find it useful to briefly activate
DTC under the following special circum-
stances:
>When rocking the vehicle and starting
off in deep snow or on loose road sur-
faces
>When ascending snow-covered hills,
and when driving in deep or on hard-
packed snow
>When driving with snow chains.
Select "Settings". Select "DTC" and con-
firm. DTC is now activated. The DTC indi-
cator lamp in the Info Display lights up per-
manently.
When DTC is active, DSC provides
only limited system response up to a
speed of approx. 45 mph/70 km/h. Inter-
vention for stability enhancement is
reduced.<
Deactivating DTC again
Select "Settings". Select "DTC" and con-
firm. DTC is now deactivated. The DTC
indicator lamp in the Info Display goes out.
DSC is once again available without
restriction.
Switching off DSC
Select "Settings". Select "DSC" and con-
firm. DSC is deactivated. The indicator
lamp in the Info Display remains on contin-
uously.
Deactivating DSC automatically deacti-
vates DTC as well. The systems for
enhancing stability and traction are deacti-
vated, and there is no active braking inter-
vention or torque control.
A status report appears in the Check Con-
trol. Please take note of the additional
information on the Control Display.
To maintain optimized stability, drive
with the system on whenever possi-
ble.<
Reactivating DSC
Select "Settings". Select "DSC" and con-
firm. DSC is now activated. The indicator
lamp in the Info Display goes out.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An appro-
priate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unneces-
sary risks.
When DTC is active, DSC provides only
limited system response up to a speed of
approx. 45 mph/70 km/h. Intervention for
stability-enhancement is reduced.
Do not make any modifications to the DSC
system. Never allow anyone other than
authorized professional technicians to
carry out service or repairs on the DSC sys-
tem.<
DBC Dynamic Brake Control
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this
system automatically produces the maxi-
mum braking force boost and thus helps to
achieve the shortest possible braking dis-
tance during panic stops. This system
exploits all of the benefits provided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake
pedal for the duration of the brake applica-
tion. When the brake pedal is released, the
DBC is deactivated.
Page 96 of 232

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
94 In the event of a malfunction, the
warning lamp lights up yellow.
Have the system checked and
repaired at your BMW center as soon as
possible.
Check Control messages, refer to page 82.
Please take note of the additional informa-
tion on the Control Display.
Warning lamp on Canadian models.
Dynamic Drive
The concept
Dynamic Drive minimizes body roll and
optimizes vehicle stability during cornering
and evasive maneuvers.
Active stabilizers at the front and rear axles
form the basis for Dynamic Drive. Suspen-
sion compliance adapts to suit driving con-
ditions, varying from performance-oriented
during cornering to smooth and comfort-
oriented when the vehicle is proceeding in
a straight line.
The system assumes operational status
each time you start the engine.
Driving with Dynamic Drive
During vehicle operation, the system con-
tinuously runs through closed-loop control
cycles lasting only fractions of a second.
In case of malfunction
The symbol will light up, accompa-
nied by a status message in the
Check Control. Please take note of
the additional information on the Control
Display.
You can find more information on the
Check Control starting on page 82.
If the Dynamic Drive system switches
off in response to malfunction, please
remember to adapt your speed accord-
ingly, especially in curves.
The suspension will be noticeably softer
and the vehicle will display a greater ten-dency to tilt during cornering and in cross-
winds.
If a Check Control message stating that
you should stop appears in addition to the
red symbol, stop immediately and switch
off the engine. In this case the oil level in
the reservoir may have dropped below the
minimum, possibly owing to a leak in the
hydraulic system.
Please observe the additional instructions
provided on the Control Display.<
EDC Electronic Damping
Control*
The suspension responds to changes in
factors such as road surface, or operating
conditions such as steering and braking, by
adapting to the new conditions within frac-
tions of a second.
Two programs are available; they can be
selected in the "Settings" menu.
Comfort program
The Comfort program is suitable for use
throughout the vehicle's entire speed range
and regardless of load.
Sport program
You should select the Sport program for
consistently performance-oriented
response from shock absorbers and steer-
ing.