
 
Cockpit
 
10
 
Cockpit 
Control elements 
 
1
 
Parking lamps/Low beams46
 
2
 
>
 
Turn signal indicators43
 
>
 
Standing lamps47
 
>
 
High beams47
 
>
 
Headlamp flasher43
 
>
 
Computer50
 
3
 
Fog lamps47
 
4
 
Horn
 
5
 
Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor43
 
6
 
Hazard warning flashers
 
7
 
Central locking system18 

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
 13
Colors
The indicator and warning lamps can light 
up in various colors and combinations.
The following section explains the signifi-
cance of the individual colors as well as 
how you should respond.
>Red: 
Stop the vehicle immediately
or
an important reminder
>Red and yellow:
Continue driving cautiously
>Yellow:
Have the system checked soon
or
for your information
>Green:
For your information
>Blue:
For your information. Please fasten safety belts 
+30
Airbags 
+56
Battery charge current
+91
Engine oil pressure/Engine oil 
level/Engine oil sensor
 +83 
Parking brake/Chassis control sys-
tems/Dynamic Brake Control/
Brake fluid 
+38/ 52/ 53/ 85
Parking brake/Chassis control sys-
tems/Dynamic Brake Control/
Brake fluid for Canadian models 
+38/ 52/ 53/ 85
Antilock Brake System ABS/Chas-
sis control systems 
+54/ 52
Antilock Brake System ABS/Chas-
sis control systems for Canadian 
models 
+54/ 52
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC
 +52
Dynamic Traction Control 
DTC 
+52
Flat Tire Monitor 
+54
Automatic transmission/
Sequential manual gearbox 
SMG 
+40/ 42
Brake pads 
+70
Add coolant84
CHECK GAS CAP 
+74
Service Engine Soon +87
Service Engine Soon warning lamp 
for Canadian models 
+87
Defective bulbs46
Turn signal indicators43
Fog lamps47
Headlamp flasher/
High beams43/ 47
Electric Power Steering EPS 
+43
Engine electronics 
+ 
Engine electronics malfunction. 
You can continue to drive with 
reduced engine output or engine 
speed. Please have the system 
inspected by your BMW center. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 17
system and switch the interior lamps on/
off.
You can have a signal set to confirm 
that the vehicle's locks have engaged 
securely.<
Since persons or animals in the vehi-
cle could lock the doors from the 
inside, always take the vehicle keys with 
you so that the vehicle can be opened 
again from the outside at any time.<
If it is no longer possible to lock the 
vehicle via the remote control, the 
battery is discharged. Use this key while 
driving for an extended period in order to 
recharge the battery.
In the event of a system malfunction, 
please contact your BMW center. You can 
also obtain replacement keys there.<
1To unlock
2To lock and secure, activate interior 
lamps, disarm tilt alarm sensor and inte-
rior motion sensor
3To open the luggage compartment
To unlock 
1.Press the button to unlock the driver's 
door and the fuel filler door
2.Press the button a second time to dis-
engage all vehicle locks.
To lock and secure 
Press the button.
To switch on the interior lamps 
With the vehicle locked:
Press the button.
To deactivate the tilt alarm* and 
interior motion sensors*
Press the button a second time immedi-
ately after locking.
For additional information, refer to 
page 26.
To open the luggage compartment 
Press the button.
The luggage compartment lid will open 
slightly, regardless of whether it was 
locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure that 
the luggage compartment lid has not 
been opened unintentionally.<
Panic mode*: triggering alarm
By pressing the button for 2 to 5 seconds, 
the alarm can be sounded in the event of 
danger. The alarm is turned off by pressing 
the unlocking button 1 again.
Malfunctions 
External systems or devices may cause 
local interference in the functions of the 
remote control.
Should this occur, you can still open and 
close the vehicle using the master key in 
either the door or luggage compartment 
locks.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply 
with part 15 of the FCC, Federal Communi-
cations Commission, regulations. Opera-
tion is governed by the following: 

Opening and closing
26
Arming and disarming the alarm 
system
When the vehicle is locked or unlocked 
either via the driver's door lock or with the 
remote control, the alarm system is simul-
taneously armed or disarmed.
The hazard warning flashers blink once 
when the alarm system has been properly 
armed.
You can have different acknowledg-
ment signals set to confirm arming 
and disarming.<
You can still open the luggage compart-
ment lid when the system is armed by 
pressing the remote control button, refer to 
page 17. When it is closed, the lid is once 
again secured.
Manual operation of the luggage 
compartment lid triggers the alarm. 
Refer to page 19.<
To cancel an alarm: 
Press the button on the remote control, 
refer to page 16, or turn the ignition key to 
position 1. Refer to page 36.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp beneath the interior 
mirror flashes continuously:
The system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes when it is 
being armed: 
A door, the hood or luggage compart-
ment lid is not completely closed. Even 
if you do not close the area causing the alert, the remaining areas are secured 
and the indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously after 10 seconds. 
However, the interior motion sensor is 
not activated
>If the indicator lamp goes out as soon 
as the system is disarmed: 
No manipulation or attempted intru-
sions have been detected in the period 
since the system was armed
>If the indicator lamp flashes for 
10 seconds when the system is being 
disarmed: 
An attempted entry has been detected 
in the period since the system was 
armed.
After an alarm has been triggered, the indi-
cator lamp will flash continuously.
Interior motion sensor* 
The system monitors the footwells and the 
seating areas of the driver and passenger.
Deactivate the interior motion sensor, 
refer to Avoiding unintentional alarms, 
if children or animals are to remain in the 
vehicle.<
Avoiding unintentional alarms 
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion 
sensor can be deactivated at the same 
time. You can do this to prevent a false 
alarm from being triggered, for instance in 
garages with elevator ramps or when the 
vehicle is transported by train.
Lock the vehicle twice = arm the system:
Press the button on the remote control 
twice in succession,
or
lock the vehicle twice with the key. Refer to 
page 18.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and 
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm 
sensor and the interior motion sensor are 
deactivated as long as the system is 
armed. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 43
Deactivating the Sport program
Press the SPORT button again.
The LED in the button goes out.
Acceleration assistant with SMG
The acceleration assistant permits opti-
mum racing-style acceleration on skid-
resistant roads.
Do not use the acceleration assistant 
too often, as this could cause the 
vehicle's parts to wear prematurely.<
1.Activate the Sport program
2.Press and hold the DSC button for more 
than three seconds, refer to page 53
3.Depress the accelerator all the way 
down rapidly: kickdown. The optimum 
rpm for driving off will be adjusted.
To maintain vehicle stability, drive 
with the DSC switched on whenever 
possible.<
Electric Power Steering 
EPS
The concept
The electric power steering is a direct, 
sporting steering system that is speed-sen-
sitive. 
Power support is reduced with an increase 
in driving speed.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp stays lit:
The system has malfunctioned or is 
faulty.
Please have the system inspected by the 
nearest BMW center. 
Steering remains operational.
Turn signal indicators/
Headlamp flasher 
1High beams: blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher: blue indicator lamp
3Turn signal indicator: green indicator 
lamps accompanied by a periodic click-
ing sound from the relay
If the flashing of the indicator lamp 
and the clicking from the relay are 
both faster than normal, one of the turn 
signal indicators has failed.<
To signal briefly
Press the lever up to the detent but not 
beyond. It then returns to the center posi-
tion when released.
Washer/wiper system and 
rain sensor* 
0Wipers retracted
1Intermittent operation or rain sensor
2Normal wiper speed
3Fast wiper speed
4Brief wipe 

Driving
44 5Rotary dial for control of the wipe inter-
val or the sensitivity of the rain sensor
Intermittent operation
Not on vehicles with rain sensor.
You can set the wipe interval over four 
stages with rotary dial 5.
In addition, the wipe interval is varied auto-
matically depending on road speed.
Rain sensor 
The rain sensor is positioned on the wind-
shield, directly behind the interior rearview 
mirror. 
To activate the rain sensor:
>With the ignition key in position 1 or 
higher, move the lever to position 1. The 
wipers travel once across the wind-
shield, regardless of the weather.
You can leave the lever permanently in 
position 1, it is then only necessary to acti-
vate the rain sensor. To do this
>turn rotary dial 5 briefly.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain sensor: 
turn rotary dial 5.
To deactivate the rain sensor:
return lever to position 0.
Turn the rain sensor off in automatic 
car washes. Failure to do so could 
result in damage caused by undesired 
wiper activation.<
Normal wiper speed
When the vehicle is stationary, the wipers 
automatically switch to intermittent wipe, 
not on vehicles with rain sensor.
Fast wiper speed
When the vehicle is stationary, the wipers 
operate at normal speed, not on vehicles 
with rain sensor.
Cleaning windshield and headlamps* 
0Wipers retracted
1Cleaning windshield and headlamps
*
Do not use the washers if there is any 
danger that the fluid will freeze on the 
windshield, otherwise vision could be 
obscured. For this reason, use an anti-
freeze agent. Refer to page 83.
Do not use the washers when the reservoir 
is empty. Otherwise damage to the washer 
pump could result.<
Cleaning the windshield 
The system sprays washer fluid against the 
windshield and activates the wipers for a 
brief period.
Cleaning the headlamps 
When the vehicle's lighting system is 
switched on, the headlamps are cleaned at 
reasonable intervals.
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are heated 
automatically
* in ignition position 2. 

Lamps
46
Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beams 
Parking lamps 
The front, rear and side vehicle 
lighting is switched on. You can use 
the parking lamps to signal the 
position of the vehicle when it is parked. 
For information on lighting on one side of 
the vehicle for parking, which is available 
as an additional feature, refer to page 47.
Low beams
When you switch off the ignition 
with the low beam headlamps on, 
only the parking lamps will remain 
on.
Defective bulbs
The indicator lamp lights up:
At least one bulb of the vehicle's 
exterior lighting has failed.
For replacing bulbs refer to page 88.
Follow me home lamps 
When you activate the headlamp flasher 
after parking the vehicle and switching off 
the lights, the low beams will come on for a 
brief period.
You can also have this function acti-
vated/deactivated if you wish.<
LIGHTS ON warning 
Whenever you open the driver's door after 
having turned the ignition key to position 0, 
you will hear an acoustic signal for a few seconds to remind you that the lamps have 
not been switched off
.
Daytime driving lamps* 
If you desire, the light switch can be left in 
the second position: 
When the ignition is switched off, the exter-
nal lighting is also switched off.
You can have the activation settings 
for the daytime driving lamps pro-
grammed on your vehicle.<
Automatic headlamp control* 
When the switch is set to this posi-
tion, the system automatically acti-
vates and cancels the low beams in 
response to changes in ambient light, for 
example in tunnels, at dusk, and when it is 
raining or snowing.
The vehicle's external lights remain 
on constantly when you switch on the 
front fog lamps after the headlamps have 
come on automatically.< 
Automatic headlamp control cannot 
serve as a substitute for the driver's 
judgement in determining when the vehicle 
lights should be switched on. For example, 
the sensors are not able to detect fog. To 
avoid safety risks, you should respond to 
these kinds of low-visibility situations by 
switching the headlamps on manually.<
You can have the sensitivity of your 
vehicle's automatic headlamp control 
adjusted.<  

Refueling
74
Refueling
Fuel filler door 
1.Open fuel filler door 
2.Turn the gas cap in a counter-clockwise 
direction
3.Place the gas cap in the bracket on the 
filler door.
Releasing manually
If an electrical malfunction occurs, you can 
unlock the fuel filler door manually:
1.Remove the covers of the tail lamps by 
turning the lock to the right; refer also to 
page 90
2.Pull the luggage compartment trim 
panel slightly toward the interior.
The green button with the fuel pump 
symbol is revealed
3.Undo the adhesive strip and pull off
4.Pull the button
The fuel filler door is released.
Pull on the button slowly and 
carefully as it could otherwise be 
torn off.<
Fuel gas cap
Close the gas cap carefully after refuel-
ing until a click is heard. While closing, 
be sure not to squeeze the strap which is fas-
tened to the cap. A loose or missing cap will 
activate the CHECK GAS CAP lamp
*.<
Check Gas Cap
*
This indicator lamp comes on when 
the gas cap is loose or missing. 
Close the gas cap tightly as described 
above.
Tank capacity: approx. 14.5 gallons/
55 liters, of which approx. 2.1 gallons/
8 liters are reserve capacity.
Simple and environmentally friendly
When handling fuels, comply with all 
of the applicable safety precautions 
posted at the service station.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Lifting the nozzle 
during refueling 
>results in premature shutoff
>and will reduce the effect of the vapor 
recovery system on the pump.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle 
shuts off the first time.
Fill the fuel tank before it is com-
pletely empty. Driving to the last drop 
of fuel can prevent the engine from operat-
ing properly and result in damage.<
Fuel specifications
The engine uses lead-free gasoline only.
Required fuel: 
>Premium Unleaded Gasoline, 
min. 91 AKI. 
AKI = Anti Knock Index
Do not use leaded fuels. The use of 
leaded fuels will cause permanent 
damage to the system's oxygen sensor and 
the catalytic converter.<