
 
At a glance 
The overviews of buttons, switches and
displays presented in this chapter will help
you find your way around your vehicle.
You will also be familiarized with the con-
cepts behind the operation of the features
available to you. 

 
Cockpit
 
12
 
Instrument cluster
 
1
 
Speedometer
 
2
 
Indicator and warning lamps12
 
3
 
Tachometer48
with indicator and warning lamps12
 
4
 
Engine coolant temperature gauge48
 
5
 
Fuel gauge48
 
6
 
Button for 
 
>
 
Time49
>Service interval display49 
7Display field for selector lever and pro-
gram indicator
>Automatic transmission 39
>Sequential manual gearbox 
SMG42
8Button for
>Trip odometer, reset to zero48
>Setting time49
9Display for
>Trip odometer/Odometer48
>Clock49
>Service interval49
>Computer49
Indicator and warning 
lamps 
Technology that monitors itself 
Indicator and warning lamps that are iden-
tified by 
+ are tested for proper functioning 
whenever the ignition key is turned. They 
each light up once for different periods of 
time.
If a fault should occur in one of these sys-
tems, the corresponding lamp does not go 
out after the engine is started or it lights up 
again while the vehicle is moving. The indi-
cated pages provide information on what 
measures to take. 

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. 

Adjustments
32 that each person uses his or her own 
remote control key. 
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.
Distinguishing between keys
Colored decals were provided with the 
keys to help you distinguish between the 
different personal remote control keys.
What the system can do
You can learn about the entire array of fea-
tures that Vehicle Memory and Key Mem-
ory offer you at your BMW center. A few 
examples follow below:
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Various signals as acknowledgement 
when locking or unlocking your vehicle: 
refer to pages 17,, 18
>Windows are opened automatically, 
refer to page 20
>Reminder that the key is still in the igni-
tion switch after the driver's door has 
been opened, refer to page 37
>Activation/deactivation of the Follow-
me-home function: refer to page 46
>Activation/deactivation of daytime driv-
ing lamps: refer to page 46
>Sets the units of measure for displaying 
time, outside temperature, distance 
traveled and fuel consumption in the 
instrument cluster, refer to page 50.
Examples for Key Memory:
>Locking of the vehicle when you start 
off: refer to page 18
>Automatically adjusts the driver's seat 
to the personal programmed settings 
when the vehicle is unlocked, refer to 
page 29.
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.<
Depending on how the memory func-
tions are configured, the vehicle may 
be operated differently from what is 
described in the Owner's Manual. Should 
you decide to sell your BMW one day, 
please remember to have the memory 
functions returned to their original factory 
settings.< 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 37
the ignition key immediately when the 
engine starts.<
Extended starting attempts, charac-
terized by excessively frequent or 
long periods with the starter engaged, can 
damage the catalytic converter.<
If the engine fails to start on the first 
attempt, for instance if it is very hot or cold: 
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway 
down.
Cold starts at very low temperatures, start-
ing at approx. 57/–156:
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway 
down.
>On the first start attempt, engage the 
starter for a longer period, approx. 
10 seconds.
Manual transmission
1.Engage the parking brake
2.Gearshift lever in idling position
3.Depress clutch pedal
4.Start the engine.
Automatic transmission
1.Depress footbrake
2.Place selector lever in position P or N
3.Start the engine.
Before leaving the vehicle with the 
engine running, place the selector 
lever in position P and pull the parking 
brake.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with 
the engine running. An unattended vehicle 
with a running engine poses a safety haz-
ard.<
Sequential manual gearbox SMG
1.Depress footbrake
2.Move selector lever to neutral 
position N
3.Start the engine.
If the engine does not start, re-
engage the gear last selected, refer to 
the display in the instrument cluster, and move the selector lever to neutral position 
N again.<
Before leaving the vehicle with the 
engine running, place the selector 
lever in position N and pull the parking 
brake.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with 
the engine running. An unattended vehicle 
with a running engine poses a safety haz-
ard.<
Switching off the engine
Do not remove the ignition key while 
the vehicle is still moving. If you did 
so, the steering lock would engage when 
the steering wheel is turned. 
When you leave the vehicle, always remove 
the ignition key and engage the steering 
lock.
Always engage the parking brake when 
parking on downhill roads.<
You can have an acoustic signal set 
as a reminder that the ignition key is 
still in the ignition switch after the driver's 
door has been opened.<
Manual transmission
Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Automatic transmission
Place the selector lever in position P and 
turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Sequential manual gearbox SMG
If you turn the ignition key to position  1 or  0 
with the selector lever in position R, or in 
sequential mode, a gear automatically 
remains engaged.
If you turn the ignition key to position  1 or  0 
with the selector lever in neutral position  N, 
a warning tone and the flashing gear indi-
cator in the display remind you that the 
vehicle is not secured against rolling.
The warning stops after approx. 9  seconds.
Always engage the parking brake 
when parking on downhill roads. 
Engaging a gear may not sufficiently secure 
the vehicle against rolling.< 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 41
Forward position with one-touch functions:
Sequential mode
+:manual upshifting
—:manual downshifting
D: drive mode.
The SMG is ready for operation in ignition 
key positions 2 and 3. 
The gearbox is automatically taken 
out of gear if the driver's door is 
opened while the engine is running and the 
driver does not actuate the pedals, the shift 
paddles or the selector lever. 
This is accompanied by an acoustic signal 
and the flashing gear indicator. 
The gear indicator in the instrument cluster 
displays N. 
A driving position can only be engaged 
when the driver's door is closed. 
When the vehicle is unlocked, a buzzing 
sound in the area of the transmission indi-
cates that the system is ready to operate.<
Shiftlock
For your safety, it is only possible to 
engage a driving position from selector 
lever position N when the footbrake is 
depressed.
Please keep in mind while driving
When driving off on inclines, drive 
smoothly without pausing. Do not 
keep the vehicle in place by depressing the 
accelerator pedal; instead, apply the park-
ing brake. Otherwise, the SMG gearbox 
could overheat.<
RReverse
Select reverse only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
NNeutral
Always engage before starting the engine, 
refer to Starting the engine.
Sequential mode
Each time the engine is started, the 
sequential mode is activated as soon as you move the selector lever into the for-
ward driving position. 
The gears are shifted via the shift paddles 
or the selector lever. 
It is also possible to drive off in second 
gear, e.g. on snow-covered roads.
D Drive mode
In the drive mode all forward gears are 
shifted automatically.
To switch from sequential to drive mode: 
tap the selector lever to the right toward  D.
For rapid acceleration, e.g. during passing, 
depress the accelerator pedal completely: 
kickdown. 
Kickdown:
In the kickdown mode, you achieve maxi-
mum acceleration.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the 
increased resistance point at the full-throt-
tle position.
To switch back to sequential mode: tap the 
selector lever again to the right toward D, 
or change the current gear via the shift 
paddles or the selector lever.
Shifting gears 
With selector lever
>To upshift, tap the selector lever 
toward +
>To downshift, tap the lever toward —.
With shift paddles on steering wheel
>To upshift, pull one of the shift paddles
>To downshift, push the paddle. 

Driving
42 You accelerate from higher gears, e.g. dur-
ing passing, by downshifting manually.
In the following situations, the SMG in the 
sequential mode assists you:
>The transmission will only execute 
upshifts and downshifts that will result 
in an appropriate combination of vehi-
cle speed and engine rpm. For 
instance, downshifts that would result 
in excessive engine speed cannot be 
executed
>During a stop the gearbox is automati-
cally downshifted into first gear
>Shortly before a gear-dependent mini-
mum speed is reached, the gearbox 
shifts down automatically without you 
taking any action.
Display in the instrument cluster
Gear indicator
R N 1 2 3 4 5 6 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
The currently engaged gear, the selected 
mode, and any possible malfunctions are 
displayed in the instrument cluster.
Malfunctions
Indicator lamp
If the indicator lamp comes on, 
there is a malfunction in the trans-
mission system.
All of the selector lever positions can con-
tinue to be engaged; however, in the for-
ward drive positions the range of available 
gears is restricted.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine loads 
and consult the nearest BMW center.
Warning tone
An acoustic signal sounds if the SMG gear-
box overheats; if possible you should either 
stop or increase your pullaway speed so 
that the system can cool down. 
For jump-starting and towing, refer to the 
information on page 94.
Driving Dynamic Control
The Driving Dynamic Control feature lets 
you select between a standard and a sport 
program. 
Sport program 
>The engine responds more spontane-
ously to any motion of the accelerator 
pedal
>The vehicle is steered more directly and 
traction is enhanced
Additionally with SMG and automatic 
transmission:
>The shifting times are reduced 
>The engine speed range is optimally uti-
lized in the drive mode.
Activating the Sport program
In ignition key position 2
Press the SPORT button.
The LED in the button lights up.
With automatic transmission:
The sport program of the automatic 
transmission is enabled by activating the 
Driving Dynamic Control system. Thus, the 
selector lever does not have to be shifted 
from D to M/S; refer also to page 39.< 

Everything under control
48
Everything under control
Odometer 
1Odometer
2Trip odometer
Odometer 
With the ignition key in position 0, you can 
activate the displays shown in the illustra-
tion by pressing the button – see arrow – in 
the instrument cluster.
Trip odometer 
To set to zero
Ignition key position 1
Keep the button pressed until the trip 
odometer counter is set to zero.
Tachometer 
Never allow the engine to operate with the 
needle in the red overspeed sector of the 
gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is 
interrupted when you approach this sector.
Fuel gauge 
When indicator lamp 1 begins to stay on 
continuously, there are still approx. 
2.1 gallons / 8 liters of fuel in the fuel tank.
Tank capacity: approx. 14.5 gallons/
55 liters.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies, for example 
when you are driving in mountainous areas, 
the needle may fluctuate slightly.
Fill the fuel tank well before it is 
empty. Driving to the last drop of fuel 
can prevent the engine from operating 
properly and result in damage.<
When you switch on the ignition, the indi-
cator lamp comes on briefly to indicate an 
operational check.
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge 
Blue
The engine is still cold. Drive at moderate 
engine and vehicle speeds.