Page 9 of 178

 
Contents
 
9
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags54
Transporting children safely57
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory61
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock63
Starting the engine63
Switching off the engine65
Parking brake65
Manual transmission66
Sequential manual gearbox 
SMG*67
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*71
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher74
Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor*75
Cruise control*77
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer79
Tachometer79
Energy control79
Fuel gauge80
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge80
Service interval display81
Check Control81
Clock82
Computer*83
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)*85
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)86
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) – 
325xi88
Hill Descent Control (HDC)*90
Flat Tire Monitor*91
Brake force display92
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams93
Instrument lighting94
High beams/Standing lamps94
Fog lamps*95
Interior lamps95
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning96
Automatic climate control*100
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Premium sound system*105
Glove compartment105
Storage compartments106
Cellular phone*107
Ashtray, front*108
Ashtray, rear*108
Socket109
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Ski bag*110
Cargo area111
Cargo loading113
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack*116
 
Controls and features 
     
        
        Page 37 of 178

37
Always drive with both the tailgate 
and the rear window securely 
closed, as exhaust gases might other-
wise be drawn into the interior of the 
vehicle.<
Should it be absolutely necessary to 
operate the vehicle with the tailgate or 
the rear window open:
1. Close all windows and the glass sun-
roof
2. Greatly increase the quantity of air 
coming from the air conditioning or 
automatic climate control system, 
refer to page 96 or 100.
To open from the outsideSmall items can be loaded or unloaded 
quickly if the rear window is opened 
separately.
Press button – see arrow: the rear win-
dow opens slightly. It can now be tilted 
up.
Opening with the remote control, refer 
to page 32.
Push the window down to close it.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects 
could strike the rear window while 
driving, be sure to provide protection 
around all edges. If you do not do this, 
the heating conductors of the rear win-
dow could be damaged.<
Cargo areaLuggage strapsUse the retaining straps on the cargo 
area floor to secure smaller items of 
luggage.
Movement is reduced when objects are 
placed on the straps.
To secure your luggage, use the lug-
gage compartment nets* or flexible 
straps that you can attach to the fittings 
at the inner corners of the cargo area.
Refer also to Cargo loading on 
page 113.
For additional details in the cargo area 
and for the cargo area cover, please 
refer to Cargo area beginning on 
page 111.
Rear window
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71
Automatic transmission with Steptronic*You can drive as with a normal auto-
matic transmission. In addition, you can 
also shift manually.
When you move the selector lever from 
the D position to the left into the M/S 
range, the performance-oriented shift 
programs of the automatic transmission 
are engaged. Steptronic enters the 
manual selection mode and executes 
the desired shift whenever you tap the 
selector lever in the direction indicated 
by + or –. Whenever you want to use 
automatic again, just move the selector 
lever toward the right to position D. 
Under normal operating conditions, fuel 
consumption is lowest when driving in 
position D.
Selector lever positionsP R N D M/S + –Starting the engineThe engine can only be started in selec-
tor lever positions P – for Park – or N – 
for Neutral.Range selectionA catch prevents inadvertent movement 
of the selector lever to positions R and 
P. To deactivate the catch, press the 
button on the front of the selector lever 
knob, see arrow.
While the vehicle is stationary and 
before shifting out of Park or Neu-
tral, depress the footbrake in order to 
disengage the selector lever's lock 
mechanism – Shiftlock.<
Hold the footbrake down until 
starting off. The vehicle will other-
wise 'creep' when a drive position is 
engaged. To prevent the vehicle from 
starting off on its own, always move the 
selector lever to position P and engage 
the parking brake before leaving your 
vehicle with the engine running.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended 
with the engine running. An unattended 
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a safety hazard.<
PParkSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary. Transmission locks to prevent rear 
wheels from turning.RReverseSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary.NNeutralSelect only when stopping for an 
extended period.
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81
Service interval displayRemaining distance to serviceThe displays shown in the illustration 
appear for a few seconds when the 
ignition key is in position 1 or higher or 
after the engine is started.
The next service due appears with the 
message OIL SERVICE or 
INSPECTION, together with the dis-
tance remaining in miles – in kilometers 
in Canada – before the next scheduled 
service.
The computer bases its calculations of 
the remaining distance on the preced-
ing driving style.
A flashing message and a "–" in front of 
the number mean that the service inter-
val has already been exceeded by the 
distance shown on the display. Please 
contact your BMW center for an 
appointment.
Check ControlWhen the ignition key is in position 2, 
the following information and/or condi-
tions are indicated using symbols until 
the conditions have been corrected.
1Check the low beams and high 
beams, as well as the parking lamps
2Door open
3Tailgate open
4Check brake and tail lamps
When you open the driver's door, after 
having turned the ignition key to posi-
tion 0, you will hear an acoustic signal 
for a few seconds to remind you that 
the lamps have not been switched off.
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87
Deactivating the DSC and the 
DTCHold the DSC button down for at least 
3 seconds. The indicator lamp and the 
yellow brake warning lamp will remain 
on continuously.
The systems for enhancing stability and 
traction are deactivated, and there is no 
active braking intervention or torque 
control.
To maintain vehicle stability, 
always drive with the DSC acti-
vated whenever possible.
cator lamp or the indicator lamps will go 
out. DTC is deactivated.
The laws of physics cannot be 
repealed, even with DSC. It will 
always be the driver's responsibility to 
drive in a manner that matches road 
conditions. This is why you should not 
use the additional safety margin the 
system provides as an excuse to take 
risks.
Whenever the DTC is activated, the 
DSC is switched off and performs minor 
stabilizing intervention.
Do not make any modifications to the 
DSC system. Allow only authorized 
technicians to perform service proce-
dures on the DSC.<
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
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        Page 89 of 178
89
Reactivating the DSCPress the button again; the indicator 
lamp goes out.
The laws of physics cannot be 
repealed, even with DSC. It will 
always be the driver's responsibility to 
drive in a manner that matches road 
conditions. This is why you should not 
use the additional safety margin the 
system provides as an excuse to take 
risks.
The system does not intervene to 
enhance vehicle stability when 
switched off.
Do not make any modifications to the 
DSC system. Allow only authorized 
technicians to perform service proce-
dures on the DSC.
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        Page 96 of 178
96Controlling the climate for pleasant driving
Air conditioning 
     
        
        Page 97 of 178
97
1Air onto the windshield and the side 
windows
2Air for the upper body area99
3Air to the footwell
4Air supply/Blower98
5Temperature98
6Air distribution98
7Rear window defroster98
8Air conditioning98
9Outside air/Recirculated-air 
mode98Air conditioning
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex