
44To adjust
Safe seating positionFor driving that is relaxed and less likely 
to cause fatigue, you should select a 
sitting position that reflects your per-
sonal requirements. In combination 
with the safety belts and airbags, the 
correct seating position also plays an 
important role in enhancing occupant 
safety in the event of an accident. To 
ensure that the vehicle's safety systems 
provide you with optimal protection, we 
request that you direct your careful 
attention to the following section.
For additional information on transport-
ing children refer to page 57.Sitting safely with airbags
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between yourself and the 
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel 
by the rim to keep any chance of injury 
to hands or arms to an absolute mini-
mum should the airbag be deployed. 
Never allow any objects, individuals or 
animals to obstruct the areas between 
passengers and airbags. Never use the 
front airbag's cover as a storage tray or 
support for objects of any kind. Never 
allow front passengers to rest their feet 
or legs on the airbag cover.<
For airbag locations and additional 
information on airbags, refer to 
page 54.Sitting safely with safety beltsYour vehicle offers five sitting positions, 
each of which is provided with a safety 
belt.Never allow more than one person 
to wear a single safety belt. Never 
allow infants or small children to ride in 
a passenger's lap. Avoid twisting the 
belt while routing it firmly across the 
hips and shoulder, wear it as snugly 
against your body as possible. Do not 
allow the belt to rest against hard or 
fragile objects. 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 
wearing loose or bulky clothing. You 
should remember to retension the lap 
belt periodically by pulling the shoulder 
strap to take up any slack in the mecha-
nism. In the event of a frontal impact, a 
loose lap belt could slide over your 
hips, leading to abdominal injury. In 
addition, the safety belt's restraint 
effectiveness is reduced if the belt is 
worn loosely. 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 abdominal 
area.<
For information on using the safety 
belts, refer to page 48. 

49
The rear belt buckle with the word 
CENTER is intended exclusively 
for the passenger sitting in the mid-
dle.<
Adjusting safety belt heightUse the height adjustment mechanism 
to adapt the shoulder strap to the ideal 
level for your own body:
>Slide the button up or down.
Please refer to the seat adjustment 
instructions on page 44.
If the safety belt system has been 
subjected to the stresses involved 
in an accident or otherwise damaged: 
have the entire safety belt mechanism 
replaced by your BMW center, includ-
ing the safety belt tensioner. In addi-
tion, have your BMW center inspect the 
safety belt anchors. If a child-restraint 
system was in the vehicle during an 
accident, consult the manufacturer's 
instructions regarding replacement.<
Safety belts
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

55
At all times, occupants should sit 
upright and be properly restrained 
– infants and small children in appropri-
ate child-restraint systems; larger chil-
dren and adults using the safety belts. 
Never let an occupant's head rest near 
or on a side airbag because the inflating 
airbag could cause a serious or fatal 
injury. Please note that the word Airbag 
imprinted on the door trim panel indi-
cates the airbag's location.
Accident research shows that the saf-
est place for children in an automobile 
is in the rear seat. However, a child sit-
ting in the rear seat and not properly 
restrained may place his or her head on 
or near the airbag, if so equipped. For 
example, a child — even though belted 
in — may fall asleep with his or her head 
against the side airbag. It may be diffi-
cult for a driver to ensure that children 
in the rear seat will remain properly 
positioned at all times and not place 
their heads on or near the side airbag. 
Therefore, we recommend that the rear 
seat side airbags, if installed in the 
vehicle, be deactivated if children will 
travel in the rear seat.
The rear seat side airbags may already 
have been deactivated by a BMW cen-
ter. If you are uncertain of their status, 
or wish to have the airbags activated or 
deactivated, please contact your BMW 
center.<
Even when all these guidelines are fol-
lowed, there is still a small residual risk 
of injuries to the face, hands and arms 
occurring from airbag deployment in 
isolated instances. 
In sensitive individuals, the ignition and 
inflation noise may induce a mild hear-
ing loss that is temporary in most 
cases.
Corresponding airbag warning labels 
are found on both sun visors.This is the right way a child should sit in 
a child-restraint when rear side airbags 
are provided.
Airbags
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

57
Transporting children safelyCommercially available child-restraint 
systems are designed to be secured 
with a lap belt or with the lap belt por-
tion of a combination lap/shoulder belt. 
Improperly or inadequately installed 
restraint systems can increase the risk 
of injury to children. Always read and 
follow the instructions that come with 
the system.Correct location for installingIn your BMW, all seats equipped with a 
three-point safety belt – except for the 
driver's seat – are suitable for installing 
universal child-restraint systems of all 
age classes and which have been 
approved for the age group in question. 
Child-restraint system with 
tether strapIf you use a child-restraint system with 
a tether strap, three additional tether 
anchorage points have been provided.
To gain access to this anchor fitting lift 
the plastic plug with the help of a 
screwdriver.
Depending on the location selected for 
seating in the rear passenger area, 
attach the tether strap to the corre-
sponding anchorage point to secure the 
child-restraint system, as shown in the 
illustration.
If the respective seating position is fit-
ted with a head restraint lift the head 
restraint and pass the tether strap 
between the head restraint and the seat 
back.
It is recommended to readjust the head 
restraint in the lowest possible position.
Adjust the tether strap according to the 
child-restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

58
Before installing any child-
restraint device or child seat, 
please read the following:
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger 
seat of this vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag 
supplemental restraint system for the 
front passenger. Because the backrest 
on any rearward-facing child-restraint 
system – of the kind designed for 
infants under 1 year and 20 lbs/9 kg – 
would be within the airbag's deploy-
ment range, you should never mount 
such a device in the front passenger 
seat, since the impact of the airbag 
against the child-restraint's backrest 
could lead to serious or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child – not an 
infant – to ride in the front seat, certain 
precautions should be taken. First, 
move the passenger seat as far away 
from the instrument panel as possible. 
This important precaution is intended to 
maximize the distance between the air-
bag and the child. Older children 
should be tightly secured with a safety 
belt after they have outgrown a booster 
seat that is appropriate for their age, 
height, and weight. Younger children 
should be secured in an appropriate 
forward-facing child-restraint system 
that has first been properly secured 
with a safety belt.
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger 
seat.
We strongly urge you to carefully read 
and comply with the instructions for 
installation and use provided by the 
child-restraint's manufacturer whenever 
you use such a device. Do not attempt 
to modify child-restraint systems. If you 
do this, the protection provided by 
these systems could be impaired.
Be sure that all occupants – of all ages – 
remain properly and securely restrained 
at all times.<
All rear seating positions in your vehicle 
meet the recommendations of 
SAEJ1819, an industry-recommended 
practice for securing child-restraint sys-
tems in motor vehicles.
Securing child-restraint systemAll of the rear belt retractors and the 
front passenger's safety belt can be 
locked for mounting and securing child-
restraint systems.
A label with the appropriate instructions 
for this is located in the immediate 
vicinity of the buckle latch of each 
safety belt.To lock the safety beltExtract the entire length of the belt from 
the inertia reel mechanism. Allow the 
reel to retract the belt somewhat and 
engage the buckle, then tighten the belt 
against the child-restraint system. The 
retraction mechanism is now locked. 
Transporting children safely 

59
The belt cannot be extracted further. 
Always observe the installation instruc-
tions provided by the manufacturer of 
the child-restraint system.To unlock the safety beltRelease the safety belt, remove the 
child seat and retract the safety belt to 
its end position on the belt retractor.
LATCH child-restraint mounting 
systemLATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for 
CHildren
The left and right rear seats are both 
equipped with a LATCH child-restraint 
mounting system.
Canadian models only:
The LATCH anchorage points are iden-
tified by buttons.
The illustration is an example showing 
the anchorages for a LATCH child seat 
system on the right rear seat.
The anchorages for the LATCH child 
seat system are concealed behind plas-
tic covers that reclose when the LATCH 
child seat is removed.
Always follow all manufacturer's 
instructions and observe all safety 
precautions when installing the LATCH 
child-restraint mounting system.<
Transporting children safely
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

Everything from A to Z
167
Belts, refer to Safety 
belts 48
Beverage holders 106, 107
Blower
air conditioning 98
automatic climate 
control 102
BMW High Performance 
Synthetic Oils 133
BMW Maintenance 
System 136
BMW sports seat 46
Bore, refer to Engine 
data 160
Bottle holders, see Bever-
age holders 106, 107
Brake fluid 135
indicator lamp 18, 135
level 135
Brake force display 92
Brake hydraulic system 122
Brake lamps
bulb replacement 145
indicator lamp, defective 
lamp 81
Brake lights
brake force display 92
Brake pads
brake fluid level 
18, 122, 135
breaking in 120
disc brakes 122Brake rotors
brake system 122
breaking in 120
Brake system
brake pads, indicator 
lamp 19
Brake wear warning
indicator lamp 19
Brakes
ABS 121
brake fluid 135
breaking in 120
indicator/warning lamp
18, 19
parking brake 65
Break-in procedures 120
Bulb replacement, refer to 
Lamps and bulbs 143
Bulb, replacing 143
Buttons in steering wheel 22
C
California Proposition 65 
warning 138
Can holders, see Beverage 
holders 106, 107
Capacities 163
Car battery 151
Car care, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Car keys, refer to Keys 30Car radio, refer to Owner's 
Manual for Radio/Onboard 
Computer
Car telephone 
preparation 107
Car telephone, refer to the 
separate Owner's Manual
Car vacuum cleaner, con-
necting 108
Car wash, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Cargo area 37, 111
cover 111
emergency release, refer 
to Manual operation 36
floor panel 113
lamps 35
lid, refer to Tailgate 35
opening, remote 
control 32
volume 162
Cargo, securing 115
Carpet care, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Cassette operation, refer to 
the Owner's Manual for 
Radio/Onboard Computer
CBC Cornering Brake Con-
trol 121
warning lamp 18CD changer, refer to the 
Owner's Manual for 
Radio/Onboard Computer
CD operation, refer to the 
Owner's Manual for 
Radio/Onboard Computer
Cellular phone 107
Center high-mount brake 
lamp
bulb replacement 146
Central locking system 30
button 35
passenger 
compartment 35
Charge indicator lamp 18
Check Control 81
Check Gas Cap
indicator lamp 19
Child safety locks 60
Child seats 57
Child-restraint mounting 
system (LATCH) 59
Child-restraint systems 57
Chock 148
Cigarette lighter 108
Cigarette lighter socket 108
Clean rear window 76
Cleaning chrome parts, refer 
to the Caring for your vehi-
cle brochure
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

Everything from A to Z
171
Ignition lock 63
Imprint 4
Indicator lamps 18
Indicator/warning lamp
airbags 18
alarm system 38
brakes 18, 19
Check Gas Cap 19
coolant 19, 80
DSC 19
Flat Tire Monitor 
18, 19, 92
fog lamps 20
Please fasten safety 
belts 18
reserve 80
Service Engine Soon 19
Individual air distribution 102
Individual settings, refer to 
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory 61
Inflation pressure 124
Inflation pressure monitor-
ing, refer to Flat Tire Moni-
tor 91
Inflation pressure, tires 25
INSPECTION 81
Instrument cluster 16
Instrument lighting 94
Instrument panel 14
Interface socket for onboard 
diagnostics (OBD) 138Interior lamps 95
remote control 32
Interior motion sensor 38
switching off 39
Interior rearview mirror 53
automatic dimming 
feature 53
Interior temperature
adjusting 98, 102
Interlock, refer to Steering 
wheel lock 63
Intermittent
mode, wipers 75
Interval
display, service 81
J
Jack 147
Jacking points 148
Jump-starting 153
K
Key Memory 61
Keys 30
with remote control 30
Kickdown 68, 72
L
Lamp defect 143
Lamps and bulbs 143
Lashing down loads, refer to 
Cargo loading 113Lashing eyelets, refer to 
Securing cargo 115
Lashing fittings, refer to 
Securing cargo 115
LATCH child-restraint 
mounting system 59
Leather care, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
LEDs light-emitting 
diodes 95
Length, refer to 
Dimensions 161
License plate lamp
bulb replacement 146
Light switch 93
Light-emitting diodes 
LEDs 95
Lighter 108
LIGHTS ON warning 93
Lights, refer to Parking 
lamps/Low beams 93
Litter bag holder 107
Load, refer to Cargo
loading 113
Loading
vehicle 113
Lock buttons on doors, refer 
to Locking 35
Lock, steering wheel 63Locking
from inside 35
from outside 31, 34
Locking and unlocking 
doors
from inside 35
from outside 31, 34
Low beams 93
automatic 93
bulb replacement 143
indicator lamp, defective 
lamp 81
Lug bolts 148
key 148
torque 148
Luggage area cover, see 
Cargo area cover 111
Luggage compartment, refer 
to Cargo area 37
Luggage net, refer to Parti-
tion net 111
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack 116
Luggage straps 37
Lumbar support 47
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter 
tires 127
Maintenance 81, 136
Maintenance system 136
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex