Driving
64 Provided that the remote control is
inserted in the ignition lock, you can
also release the parking brake manually
after the engine has been switched off,
refer to page 62. This function is useful in
automatic car washes, etc.
Automatic Hold is deactivated.<
When leaving the vehicle, always
release the remote control from the
detent in the ignition lock; this precaution
prevents children from disengaging the
parking brake, etc.<
For your safety
Automatic Hold is automatically deacti-
vated when
>the engine is switched off
>the system detects that the driver's seat
is not occupied while the engine is run-
ning
>the hood is opened while the engine is
running
>the luggage compartment lid is opened
with the transmission in reverse while
the engine is running, and
>when the parking brake is used to bring
the vehicle to a stop.
The indicator lamp changes from
green to red, and the AUTO P letters in the
Info Display disappear.
Before starting off again, briefly press the
button to disengage the parking brake
manually, refer to page 62, or reactivate
Automatic Hold, refer to page 63.
Before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running, always move the
automatic transmission's selector lever to
position P and ensure that the parking
brake is engaged. The vehicle could start
to roll if you fail to observe these precau-
tions.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
Automatic Hold is automatically
deactivated whenever the system
detects any tendency for the wheels to spin
in response to slippery road surfaces. Note the status reports in the Check Control.
You can find additional information on the
Check Control on page 82.<
Malfunctions
If a malfunction occurs, the indicator
lamp lights up yellow in the Info Dis-
play and a status report will appear in the
Check Control. Please note any supple-
mentary information that appears on the
Control Display.
Releasing the parking brake
manually
You can respond to any interruptions in the
supply of electrical power, for instance, if
the battery is discharged or disconnected,
by releasing the parking brake manually.
Before proceeding to release the
parking brake manually, and each
time you park the vehicle without engaging
the parking brake, always ensure that the
automatic transmission's selector lever is
in position P, refer to page 66. Note the
range indicated in the Info Display.
If the wheel must be changed on a surface
with a more severe slope, take additional
precautions to secure the vehicle from roll-
ing e.g. with a chock, refer to page 203.
Otherwise there is a danger that the vehicle
could start to roll if parked on a steep
slope.<
Should it also be necessary to release the
automatic transmission's lockout manually,
for instance, if the battery is discharged,
always adhere to the following sequence:
1.If necessary, start by manually releasing
the parking brake
2.Then release the automatic transmis-
sion's lockout manually, refer to
page 68.
Jump-starting and towing, refer to
pages 207 and 208.
Controls
65Reference
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What you will need
1Screwdriver handle
2Emergency-release tool
30.4 in/10 mm open-end wrench
You will find the required tools in the
onboard tool kit mounted on the inside of
the luggage compartment lid, refer to
page 200.
Insert the emergency-release tool in the
screwdriver handle as shown in the illustra-
tion.
Releasing
1.Remove the floor mat and the cover on
the spare tire
2.Guide the emergency-release tool with
the screwdriver handle into the open-
ing, arrow 1
3.Apply the open-end wrench to the
hexagon on the emergency-release
tool.
Press against the resistance from the
spring to guide the emergency-release
tool all the way in, then hold it in place.
Turn the emergency-release tool in the
direction indicated by arrow 2, continu-
ing until you hear the mechanism snap
into place and feel resistance; maintain pressure on the tool after the mecha-
nism engages
4.Use the open-end wrench to turn the
emergency-release tool against the
drive unit's mechanical resistance, con-
tinuing to rotate it in arrow direction 2
until you feel a substantial increase in
turning effort
To prevent possible damage to the
rear brakes, always make sure that
the parking brake is completely released
before driving the vehicle.<
5.Return the tools to their places
6.Return the spare tire cover and the floor
mat to their original locations.
Have any defects repaired at the
nearest BMW center. The technicians
can also return the parking brake to normal
operational status after it has been
released manually in response to malfunc-
tion.<
Following manual release, the actual
status of the parking brake may vary
from that displayed by the indicator lamp.<
Operation after interruptions in
power supply
The parking brake may only be used
again, if it was released manually after
an interruption in power supply, i.e. as a
result of a discharged or disconnected bat-
tery. If this is not done, the parking brake
may fail to operate correctly. Even with the
parking brake engaged, there would be a
danger of the vehicle rolling on steep
hills.<
Once the electrical power supply has been
restored you can again use the parking
brake:
With the ignition on and the
vehicle stationary, briefly press
the button three times at inter-
vals of approx. 5 seconds. This
initializes the system as follows:
>Initializing the disengaged setting
>Engaging: the system registers the new
status and the brake setting is initial-
Driving
66 ized. The indicator lamp in the
Info Display lights up red
>Releasing: the parking brake is ready
for operation. The indicator
lamp in the Info Display goes out.
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic
While you can drive as with any conven-
tional automatic transmission, you also
enjoy the option of shifting manually at the
steering wheel, refer to page 67.
Transmission range selection
P R N D
Program display
S or M1 Ð M6
Buttons on the steering wheel
Press briefly to proceed through a selec-
tion sequence consisting of the automatic
program, the sport program, and the man-
ual mode.Steptronic:
Upshifting and downshifting, refer to Sport
program and manual operation.
Selecting transmission range
The selector lever is at the center
position. To select transmission
ranges D, R or N, always start by pulling
toward the steering wheel, arrow 1, then
press up or down. Note the information
provided in the Info Display.<
>Range D or R:
Press the selector lever up or down,
continuing to apply pressure to move it
past the resistance point
>Neutral N:
Press the selector lever as far as the
resistance point
>Park P:
Press button P, arrow 2.
The selector lever immediately returns to
the center position when released.
With the vehicle stationary, press the
brake pedal before shifting out of P
or N; the shift command will not be exe-
cuted unless the brake is applied: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after
you select a range, maintain pressure on
Controls
67Reference
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Mobility
the brake pedal until you are ready to start.
You can activate the Automatic Hold fea-
ture to suppress the vehicle's tendency to
creep, refer to page 63.<
Shift commands are transmitted electroni-
cally. To help avoid malfunctions, each
command undergoes a plausibility check
prior to execution.
Remember to observe the Check Control
for status messages.
You can find additional information on the
Check Control on page 82.
To prevent the vehicle from rolling,
always select position P and engage
the parking brake before leaving the vehi-
cle with the engine running. Note the infor-
mation provided in the Info Display.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
P Park
Select P only when the vehicle is station-
ary. The transmission lockout prevents the
rear wheels from turning. The lockout dis-
engages when you press the selector lever
toward D, N or R while the engine is run-
ning.
P is engaged automatically as soon as
you switch off the engine unless N is
engaged and the remote control is inserted
in the ignition lock, refer to page 61.<
R Reverse
Select R only when the vehicle is station-
ary.
N Neutral
Select N only if your journey is interrupted
for a long period.
>From D press the selector lever up
>From R press the selector lever down.
Note the arrows indicating direction in the
range display.
N remains engaged whenever the
remote control unit remains in the
ignition lock after the ignition is switched
off. This function is useful in automatic car washes, etc.
After approx. 30 minutes the system auto-
matically engages P. Remember to
observe the Check Control for status mes-
sages.
Switching off the engine, refer to
page 61.<
D Drive, automatic driving position
This is the range recommended for normal
vehicle operation. All forward gears are
available.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel
consumption is lowest when driving in
position D.
Kickdown
The kickdown mode provides maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the
full-throttle resistance point.
Sport program and manual operation
When you press the S/M/D button on the
steering wheel once, the system responds
by activating the transmission's Sport pro-
gram, as indicated by the letter S in the
program display of the Info Display, refer to
Driving
68 page 66. We recommend this program for
performance-oriented driving.
When you press the S/M/D button a sec-
ond time the transmission switches to its
manual mode; press again to return to the
automatic program.
You can also return to the standard auto-
matic program by reselecting D.
In the manual mode the transmission
upshifts when you briefly press the buttons
on the rear of the steering wheel. You
downshift by briefly pressing the buttons
on the front of the steering wheel. The Info
Display shows the manual ranges M1
through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combi-
nation of engine and vehicle speed; thus,
for example, a downshift that would cause
the engine to overrev will not be executed
by the system. The selected gear appears
briefly in the Info Display, followed by the
current gear.
To obtain maximum acceleration, for
passing maneuvers, etc., during
operation in the manual mode, use the
kickdown or downshift manually.<
Malfunctions
A status report will appear in the Check
Control to alert you to any malfunctions in
the transmission-control system. Please
note any supplementary information that
appears on the Control Display. The direc-
tional arrows also start to flash in the Info
Display.
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.
Some types of malfunction will make it
impossible to engage all gears.
The engine may respond with reduced out-
put when accelerating from a standing
start. If this happens, avoid extreme engine loads
and consult the nearest BMW center.
If no status messages appear in the
Info Display you should accelerate
carefully to confirm that you are driving in
the desired direction.
Never work in the engine compartment
with any of the forward or reverse gears
engaged, as the vehicle could start to
move. Engaging the parking brake, refer to
page 62.<
Manual release of transmission
lockout
You can respond to any interruptions in the
supply of electrical power, for instance, if
the battery is discharged or disconnected,
by releasing the transmission lockout man-
ually.
To prevent the drive wheels from
locking up and sliding, the transmis-
sion lockout must always be released man-
ually before the vehicle is towed.<
Press the brake pedal before releas-
ing the transmission lockout manu-
ally. If the brakes are not applied, the vehi-
cle could start to roll if parked on a steep
slope.
The transmission lockout should only be
released for towing. Remember to engage
the transmission lockout when you repark
the vehicle after moving it.
Should it also be necessary to release
the parking brake manually, owing to a dis-
charged battery, etc., always adhere to the
following sequence:
1.Start by manually releasing the parking
brake, refer to page 64
2.Then proceed to manually release the
transmission lockout.<
Jump-starting and towing, refer to
pages 207 and 208.
Controls
69Reference
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Mobility
Releasing
1.Use the vehicle key to release the cover
panel beneath the instrument panel by
turning the lock counterclockwise, then
fold down the cover
2.Pull out the release lever with the loop 1
until it locks into place: the transmission
lockout is unlocked.
Re-engage the transmission lockout
after parking the vehicle at its destina-
tion. Otherwise there is a danger that the
vehicle could start to roll if parked on a
steep slope.<
Locking again
1.Disengage the release lever by pressing
it together with the red detent lever,
arrow
2.Guide the release lever all the way back
into its original position Ð the transmis-
sion lockout is again engaged
3.Fold up and lock the cover panel again.
Now Ð and not before Ð the key may be
removed.
Once the transmission lockout has
been re-engaged, the warning in the
Check Control should disappear, and the
symbol in the Info Display should change
from N to P. Should this fail to happen,
there is a danger that the vehicle could
start to roll.<
Information on jump-starting and towing
begins on page 207.
Turn signal indicators/
headlamp flasher
1High beams: blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher: blue indicator lamp
3Turn signal indicators: green indicator
lamps, accompanied by a periodic tick-
ing from the turn signal indicator relay
Using turn signal indicators
Move the lever beyond the resistance
point. It then returns to the center position
when released. Press the lever as far as the
resistance point to switch off the turn signal
indicators.
Driving
72
One lever for all functions
1 Maintaining and storing speed,
accelerating
Press the lever as far as the resistance
point:
The system maintains and stores the cur-
rent vehicle speed. Every time you briefly
press the lever, the vehicle's speed
increases by roughly 1 mph/1 km/h.
Press the lever longer:
The vehicle accelerates without pressure
on the accelerator pedal. The system main-
tains and stores your current speed as
soon as you release the lever.
The vehicle may accelerate beyond
the preset speed on steep downhill
stretches where the engine's braking effect
alone may not be sufficient to slow the
vehicle. Speed can drop on uphill grades if
the engine output is insufficient.<
2 Maintaining and storing speed,
decelerating
Pull lever back to resistance point:
The system maintains and stores the cur-
rent vehicle speed. Every time you briefly
press the lever the vehicle's speed
decreases by roughly 1 mph/1 km/h.
Pull the lever longer:
The throttle aperture is automatically
reduced, slowing the vehicle. The system
maintains and stores your current speed as
soon as you release the lever.
3 Interrupting cruise control
With the cruise control active, briefly press
the lever up or down. In addition, cruise control is interrupted
automatically
>when you apply pressure to the brake
pedal
>when you select neutral position of the
automatic transmission
>when the DSC Dynamic Stability Con-
trol is in active operation.
4 Recalling stored speed
Briefly press button 4: the vehicle acceler-
ates to and maintains the last speed stored.
Deactivating system
When the ignition is switched off, the sys-
tem is deactivated and the stored speed is
deleted.
Displays in the Info Display
5Display of speed ready for recall
> Ð cruise control activated
> Ð cruise control deactivated
6Display of stored desired speed in the
multilevel function
5 and 6 are displayed when the sys-
tem is activated.<
Activating multilevel preset mode
Push 1 or pull 2 the lever beyond the resis-
tance point.
The current driving speed is maintained,
stored and displayed as the available
speed 5.
If no desired speeds are stored, you
can increase or reduce the speed by
5 mph/10 km/h with the multilevel preset
Controls
73Reference
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Mobility
mode activated each time you press or pull
the lever beyond the resistance point.<
Changing preset level
Push 1 or pull 2 the lever beyond the resis-
tance point. The preset speed progresses
to the next desired speed.
The available speed changes to the
minimum speed of approx. 20 mph/
30 km/h when you pull 2 the lever beyond
the resistance point at the lowest desired
speed.<
Interrupting the cruise control
With the cruise control active, briefly press
the lever up or down.
Hiding display for multilevel preset
mode
When activated, press the lever upward or
downward for approx. 3 seconds.
Showing display for multilevel preset
mode again
Press 1 or pull 2 the lever beyond the resis-
tance point.
Deactivating the multilevel preset
mode
The multilevel preset mode is also deacti-
vated when you switch off the ignition.
Storing desired speeds
With vehicle stationary
Switch on the ignition. Press 1 or pull 2 the lever beyond the resis-
tance point: The selectable speed level is
displayed with 5.
>To increase desired speed:
Press the lever forward
>To decrease desired speed:
Pull back the lever
>To store desired speed:
Press button 4 for approx. 3 seconds.
The stored desired speed appears in 6.
If 6 speeds have already been stored,
it will be necessary to delete one
before entering a new preset speed.<
While driving
Activate multilevel preset mode.
Press button 4 for approx. 3 seconds. The
respective driven speed is applied as the
desired speed and displayed with 6.
If all of the graduations flash at once,
this indicates that 6 desired speeds
have already been stored. You must then
delete at least one.<
Deleting desired speeds
Select the desired speed 5.
Press button 4 for approx. 3 seconds.
Active cruise control*
The concept
With active cruise control you can select a
desired speed which is not only automati-
cally maintained when driving on open
roadways, but also varied to maintain a
selected distance setting as slower traffic
is encountered.
Active cruise control is a technological
advance over the familiar cruise control
and is a welcome relief from the constant
adjustment of speed that can accompany
driving in traffic on freeways or other high-
speed thoroughfares. Especially on longer
trips, the system can reduce fatigue and
tension, while increasing your enjoyment
of driving. Please use it safely and respon-
sibly.