Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
27
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital
contribution to relaxed driving that is as
fatigue-free as possible. The sitting posi-
tion plays an important role together with
the safety belts and airbags in providing
occupants with maximum levels of passive
safety in an accident. Therefore, observe
the following instructions, as otherwise the
protective function of the safety systems
may be impaired.
For additional information on transporting
children safely, refer to page 34.
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 cor-
rectly seated, i.e. feet or legs not resting on
the instrument panel, as otherwise leg inju-
ries can result if the knee and front airbag is
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 Ð usually tempo-
rary Ð hearing loss in extremely sensitive
individuals.
For airbag locations and additional infor-
mation on airbags, refer to page 54.
Sitting safely with safety belts
Even though there is an airbag, wear a
safety belt every time you get in the vehi-
cle. Although airbags enhance safety by
providing added protection, they are not a
substitute for safety belts.
Your vehicle has five seats that are all
equipped with a safety belt.
Occupants should sit upright and be
properly restrained at all times:
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems; larger children and
adults using the safety belts.
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.
Never allow more than one person to wear
a single safety belt. Never allow infants and
small children to ride in a passengers lap.
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 fastening safety belts, refer to page 30.
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never try to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat could
respond with unexpected movement, and
Adjustments
28 the ensuing loss of vehicle control could
lead to an accident.
Especially on the passenger's side, do not
incline the backrest too far to the rear while
the vehicle is being driven, as otherwise
there is a danger in the event of an accident
of sliding under the safety belt, eliminating
the protection normally provided by the
belt.<
Please observe the information on using
safety belts provided on page 30 and the
information on the head restraints on
page 28.
Seat adjustment
To ensure that the safety systems
continue to provide optimized protec-
tion, please observe the adjustment
instructions above.<
1Longitudinal direction
Pull the lever and slide the seat into the
desired position.
After you release the lever, move the
seat forward or backward slightly so
that it engages fully
2Height
Pull the lever and apply weight to or
remove weight from the seat as
required3Backrest angle
Pull the lever and apply weight to or
remove weight from the backrest as
requiredAdjusting the BMW sports seat*
You can also adjust the tilt and the thigh
support:
1Upward tilt:
Pull the lever as many times as required
to set the desired tilt
2Downward tilt:
Press the lever as many times as
required to set the desired tilt
3Thigh support:
Pull the lever and move the thigh sup-
port in the longitudinal direction
Head restraints
Align the head restraints so that their
center is approximately at ear level,
as otherwise the risk of spinal injuries is
increased in the event of an accident.<
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
29
Adjustments
Height adjustment: pull or press.
To reach the lowest positions, press
button 1.<
To adjust the front head restraint tilt angle:
adjust by tilting.
Removal Ð front
1.Pull the head restraint upward to the
stop
2.Press button 1 and remove the head
restraint.
Installation Ð front
1.Press button 1 and slide the head
restraint into its supports
2.Adjust the head restraint.
Power seat*
To ensure that the safety systems
continue to provide optimal protec-
tion, please observe the adjustment
instructions on page 27.<
1Angle
2Longitudinal direction
3Height
4Backrest angle Set the head restraint manually, refer to left
column.
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contours of the
backrest to obtain additional support in the
lumbar region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive
supplementary support to help you main-
tain a relaxed, upright sitting position.
>Press the front or rear of the switch:
Increase or decrease curvature
>Press the upper or lower end of the
switch:
Increase the upper or lower curvature.
Seat and mirror memory*
You can store and select three different
adjustment settings for the driver's seat
and exterior mirrors.
The adjustment of the lumbar support is not
stored in the memory.
Storing
1.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 2
2.Set the desired seat and exterior mirror
position
Adjustments
30 3.Press MEMORY button:
The indicator lamp in the button lights
up
4.Press the desired memory button 1, 2
or 3:
The indicator lamp goes out.
Selecting a stored setting
Do not call up a position from the
memory while the vehicle is moving,
as otherwise there is a risk of accident from
unexpected seat movement.<
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 buttons or
use one of the memory buttons.
Safety feature
1.Close the driver's door and turn the
ignition key to position 0 or 2
2.Press the desired memory button 1, 2
or 3 and maintain pressure until the
adjustment process has been com-
pleted.
If you press the
MEMORY button
accidentally:
Press the button a second time Ñ the indi-
cator lamp goes out.<
You can have your vehicle pro-
grammed to automatically dial in your
own individual adjustment settings for the
seat and exterior mirror position whenever
you use your personal remote control to
unlock the vehicle.<
If you make use of this adjustment, be
sure that the footwell behind the
driver's seat is unobstructed before
unlocking the vehicle. If you fail to do so,
any persons, animals or objects behind the
seat could be injured or damaged by a
rearward movement of the seat.<
Heated seats*
The seat cushion and backrest can be
heated when the ignition key is in
position 2.
To call up different temperature levels:
Press the button repeatedly.
To switch off from a higher heat setting:
Press the button and hold it slightly longer.
Safety belts
Even though there is an airbag, wear a
safety belt every time you get in the vehi-
cle. Although airbags enhance safety by
providing added protection, they are not a
substitute for safety belts.
Fastening
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage
in the belt buckle.
Please fasten safety belt warning
lamp:
Lights up for a few seconds or until
safety belts are fastened. Depending on
you vehicle version, a signal
* sounds
simultaneously.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
31
Releasing
1.Press the red button in the buckle
2.Hold the belt
3.Guide the belt back into its reel.
The upper shoulder strap's anchorage
point will be in the correct position for seat
occupants of every build if the seat is cor-
rectly adjusted, refer to page 27.
The two rear safety belt buckles integrated
in the rear seat are for passengers sitting
on the left and right. The belt buckle
embossed with the word CENTER is
intended exclusively for use by passengers
riding in the center position.<
Damage to safety belts
If the safety belts are damaged or
stretched in an accident: have the
entire belt system, including the tensioning
mechanisms, replaced at your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center. Have the belt
anchorage points inspected for damage at
the same time. Failure to observe this pre-
caution may prevent the safety belts from
effectively providing optimal protection
when needed. If a child-restraint system
was in the vehicle during an accident, con-
sult the manufacturer's instructions regard-
ing replacement.<
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving. There is a risk
of accident from unexpected movement.< 1.Fold the clamping lever downward
2.Adapt the steering wheel in the longitu-
dinal direction and height of the seat
position
3.Fold the clamping lever back up.
Steering wheel heating*
The button for steering wheel heating is
located in the steering wheel, refer to
page 14.
Steering wheel heating: switching on/off.
The steering wheel heating operates from
ignition key position 2.
Press the button to activate or deactivate
this system.
The indicator lamp within the button lights
up when the steering wheel heating is in
operation.
Mirrors
Adjusting exterior mirrors
1Mirror switch for 4-way adjustment
2Left/right selector switch
Adjustments
32 To prevent the exterior mirrors on this
vehicle from being damaged, always
fold them in by hand before entering an
automatic car wash.<
Adjusting manually
You can also adjust the mirrors manually:
Press the edges of the mirror glass.
Storing the mirror positions, refer to Seat
and mirror memory on page 29.
Convex mirror
The mirror on the passenger's side
features a lens with a more convex
surface than the mirror installed on the
driver's side. When estimating the distance
between yourself and other traffic, bear in
mind that the objects reflected in the mirror
are closer than they appear. This means
that estimations of the distance to following
traffic should not be regarded as precise.<
Electric heaters
Both mirrors are heated automatically in
ignition key position 2.
Passenger-side exterior mirror tilt
function
Automatic curb monitor*
1.Select the driver's exterior mirror with
the switch 1
2.When you engage reverse gear or
selector-lever position R, the exterior
mirror on the front passenger side tilts
downward slightly. This allows the
driver to see the area immediately adja-
cent to the vehicle Ð such as a curb Ð
when parking, etc.You can have the angle of downward
tilt set in dependence on the key
used.<
Interior rearview mirror
To reduce the dazzle effect of following
vehicles at night, turn the knob.
Interior and exterior mirrors,
automatic dimming feature*
These mirrors automatically dim through an
infinitely-variable range. They automatically
revert to their undimmed mode whenever
the transmission is placed in reverse gear
or selector lever in position R.
For trouble-free operation, keep the
photocells unobstructed and clean
and do not cover the area between the
interior rearview mirror and the windshield.
Do not attach any kind of stickers on the
windshield in front of the mirror, either.<
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
33
Vehicle Memory,
Key Memory
How the system functions
You have probably frequently wished that
you could configure individual functions of
your vehicle to reflect your own personal
requirements. In developing your vehicle,
BMW has incorporated a number of
options for personal adjustment. You can
have these programmed at your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
There are vehicle-related and person-
related adjustments: Vehicle Memory and
Key Memory. You can configure up to four
different basic adjustments for four differ-
ent persons. The only requirement is that
each person uses his or her own master
key with remote control.
When your vehicle is unlocked with the
remote control, the vehicle recognizes the
individual user by means of a data
exchange with the key, and makes adjust-
ments accordingly.
In order for you to distinguish between the
remote control master keys, colored decals
are supplied together with the keys.
What the system can do
Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center
can provide you with details on the capabil-
ities of the Vehicle Memory and Key Mem-
ory systems.
You will see this symbol throughout
the Owner's Manual. It is to remind
you at appropriate places of the settings
that are available to you.<
Examples of Vehicle Memory
functions
>Different acknowledgment signals to
confirm locking/unlocking of the vehi-
cle, refer to page 18
>Activate/deactivate function for path-
way lighting, refer to page 57
>Activate/deactivate daytime driving
lamps, refer to page 57
>Setting measurement units for displays
in the instrument cluster of the time,
outside temperature, distance driven
and fuel consumption, refer to page 47
>Active PDC is indicated by an acoustic
sound signal when reverse gear or
selector-lever position R is engaged,
refer to page 49
>The rear window defroster switches on
automatically, refer to page 61
>Different acknowledgment signals to
confirm arming/disarming the alarm
system, refer to page 25
>After an ice warning has been issued,
the display of the computer returns to
the previous adjustment, refer to
page 47
>Acoustic warning if the ignition key
remains in the ignition lock after the
driver's door has been opened, refer to
page 21.
Examples of Key Memory functions
>On unlocking, first unlock the driver's
door, then the entire vehicle, refer to
page 19
>Locking the vehicle after moving off,
refer to page 20
>Automatic adjustment of the driver's
seat and exterior mirror position for
each person when unlocking the vehi-
cle, refer to page 30
>Angle of downward tilt of mirror on pas-
senger side, refer to page 32.
Everything from A to Z
122 US models, Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control 50
Exhaust system, refer to
High temperatures 76
Exterior mirror
Ð automatic dimming
feature 32
Exterior mirrors 31
F
Fan, refer to Air
supply 61, 64
Filling the windshield
washer reservoir 94
Filter
Ð refer to Microfilter 62
Ð refer to Microfilter/
Activated charcoal
filter 65
First-aid kit 108
Fittings, tow-starting and
towing 109
Flat tire 103
Ð compact wheel 103
Ð Flat Tire Monitor 53
Flat Tire Monitor 53
Ð indicator lamp 53
Flooding, refer to Driving on
bad roads 80
Floor cover 72
Fluid level
Ð indicator lamp 94
Fog lamps 58
Ð replacing bulbs 102
Folding rear seat back 71
Folding rear seat
backrest 71
Footbrake, refer to Brake
system 77, 96
Footbrake, refer to General
driving notes 77, 96
Front/rear reading
lamps 58
Front airbags 54
Front center armrest 68Front seat adjustment 27
Fuel 85
Ð average
fuel consumption 48
Ð capacity 117
Ð gauge 45
Ð quality 85
Ð volume 48
Fuel capacity 117
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel
gauge 45
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge 45
Fuel filler cap 84
Fuel filler door 84
Ð releasing in the event of
electrical defect 84
Fuses 106
G
Garage-door opener, refer
to Integrated universal
remote control 66
Gasoline, refer to Fuel
quality 85
Gasoline consumption,
refer to Average fuel
consumption 48
Gasoline display, refer to
Fuel gauge 45
Gear changes, refer to
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic 40
Gear display 41
Gear lever
Ð automatic transmission
with Steptronic 39
Ð manual transmission 39
General driving notes 76
Glove compartment 68
Grills, refer to
Ventilation 61, 65
Ground clearance 80
H
Halogen lamps 100
Handbrake
Ð indicator lamp 38Hands-free microphone,
refer to Car phone
preparation 70
Hands-free system 70
Hazard warning flashers 10
HDC Hill Descent
Control 51
Headlamp control,
automatic 57
Headlamp flasher 41
Ð indicator lamp 41
Headlamps 100
Ð bulb replacement 99
Headlamps, care, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Headlamp washer
reservoir 94
Headlamp washer
system 94
Ð cleaning headlamps 42
Ð tank capacity, refer to
Filling capacities 117
Ð washer fluid 94
Head restraints 28
Heated mirrors 32
Heated rear window
Ð air conditioner 61
Ð automatic climate
control 65
Heated seats 30
Heated steering wheel 31
Heated windshield,
automatic climate
control 64
Heating
Ð exterior mirror 32
Ð rear window 61, 65
Ð seats 30
Ð steering wheel 31
Heating and
ventilation 60, 63
Heavy cargo, refer to Cargo
loading 78
Height, refer to
Dimensions 115
Height adjustment
Ð seats 28
Ð steering wheel 31