
 
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 

 
15
1Parking lamps/Low beams93
2
 
>
 
Turn signal indicators74
 
>
 
Standing lamps94
 
>
 
High beams94
 
>
 
Headlamp flasher74
 
>
 
Computer83
3Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor75
4Hazard warning flashers
5Central locking system30
6
 
>
 
Initiating an emergency call152
 
>
 
Mobile Service152
7Rear window defroster98, 103
8Horn: the entire surface
9Adjusting the steering wheel52
10 Fog lamps95
 
Cockpit
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

38
Alarm system*The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, the tailgate 
or the rear window is opened
>To movement inside the vehicle – 
interior motion sensor
>To variations in the vehicle's tilt angle 
such as those occurring during 
attempts to steal the wheels or tow 
the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized 
vehicle entry and attempted theft by 
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustic alarm for 
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>Flashing the high beams on and off in 
rhythm with the hazard warning flash-
ers.To arm and disarm the alarm 
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked 
via the driver's door lock or with the 
remote control, the alarm system is also 
simultaneously armed or disarmed.You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm 
arming and disarming.<
You can also open the rear window 
when the system is armed by pressing 
the remote control button, refer to 
page 32. The window is once again 
secured when it is closed.
Extended pressure on the button sets 
off the alarm – Panic mode, refer to 
page 32.
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior 
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
The system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes while the 
system is armed: a door, the hood, 
the tailgate or rear window is not 
completely closed. Even if you do not 
close the alerted area(s), the remain-
ing areas are secured, and the indi-
cator lamp will flash continuously 
after 10 seconds. However, the inte-
rior motion sensor is not activated
>The indicator lamp goes out when the 
system is disarmed: no manipulation 
or attempted intrusions have been 
detected in the period since the sys-
tem was armed
>The indicator lamp flashes for 
10 seconds when the system is dis- 

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.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

93 Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beamsParking 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 lighting on one side for 
parking as an additional feature, refer to 
page 94.
Low beams
When the ignition is switched off 
while the low beams are on, the 
headlamps go out and only the 
parking lamps remain on.
Follow me home lampsWhen you activate the headlamp 
flasher after parking the vehicle with the 
lamps turned off, the low-beam head-
lamps will come on for a short time. 
You can also have this function 
deactivated.
tion 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 lamp switch can be 
left in the second position: when the 
ignition is switched off, the external 
lighting is also switched off.
You can have the activation set-
tings for the daytime driving lamps 
programmed on your vehicle.<
Automatic headlight control*
When the switch is set to this 
position the system automati-
cally activates and cancels the 
low beams in response to changes in 
ambient light – in tunnels, at dusk, etc. – 
and in the event of rain and snow.
The vehicle's external lights 
remain on constantly when you 
switch on the front fog lamps after the 
headlights have come on automati-
cally.<
Automatic headlight control can-
not 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 
headlights on manually.<
You can have the sensitivity of 
your vehicle's automatic head-
light control adjusted.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

95
Fog lamps*Front fog lamps
The green indicator lamp in the 
instrument cluster lights up to 
indicate that the front fog lamps 
are on.
If the automatic headlight control 
is on, the low beams will come on 
automatically whenever you activate 
the front fog lamps.<
Interior lampsThe interior lamps operate automati-
cally.To switch the interior lamps on 
and off manuallyPress button 1 briefly:
If you want the interior lamps to remain 
off all the times, press and hold the but-
ton for approx. 3 seconds.
Press the button briefly to revert to nor-
mal operation.Front reading lamps*Switch on and off with the button 2 
adjacent to each lamp.
Rear reading lampsSwitch on and off with the button adja-
cent to each lamp.
In order to prevent battery dis-
charge, all of the lamps in the 
vehicle are automatically switched off 
approx. 15 minutes after you turn the 
ignition key to position 0.
light sources for many of the controls 
and displays in your vehicle. These 
light-emitting diodes are related to con-
ventional lasers, and legislation defines 
them as light-emitting diodes, Class 1.
Do not remove the protective lens 
and avoid staring directly at the 
unfiltered beam for several hours, as 
inflammation of the retina could 
result.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

143
Lamps and bulbsThe lamps and bulbs make essential 
contributions to the safety of your vehi-
cle. Therefore, proceed carefully when 
handling bulbs. BMW recommends that 
you have such work performed by your 
BMW center if you are not familiar with 
the procedures.
Do not touch the glass portion of 
a new bulb with your bare hands 
since even small amounts of impurities 
burn in to the surface and reduce the 
service life of the bulb. Use a clean 
cloth, paper napkin, or a similar mate-
rial, or hold the bulb by its metallic 
base.<
A replacement bulb set is available from 
your BMW center.
Before working on the electrical 
system, switch off the electrical 
accessory you are working on or dis-
connect the cable from the negative 
terminal of the battery. Failure to 
observe this precaution could result in 
short circuits.
To prevent injuries and damage, com-
ply with any instructions provided by 
the bulb manufacturer.<
Low beams and high beamsEngine compartment, left side:
1Low beams
2High beams
H7 bulb, 55 watts
The H7 bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and pro-
tective gloves. Failure to comply with 
this precaution could lead to injury if the 
bulb is damaged.<
1. Turn the two release catches at the 
front to the left – see arrow – to 
remove the bulb holder
2. Remove and replace the bulb.
Insert the new bulb as shown in 
the inset.
When attaching the bulb holder, ensure 
that the lock snaps in place properly.<
When cleaning the headlamps, 
please follow the instructions in 
the Caring for your vehicle brochure.<
Xenon lampsThe service life of these bulbs is very 
long and the probability of a failure is 
very low, provided that they are not 
switched on and off an unusual number 
of times. If one of these bulbs should 
nevertheless fail, it is possible to con-
tinue driving with great caution using 
the fog lamps, provided local traffic 
laws do not prohibit this.
Because of the extremely high 
voltages involved, any work on the 
xenon lighting system, including bulb-
changing, should be carried out by 
technically-qualified personnel only. 
Otherwise, there is a risk of fatal 
injury.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

Everything from A to Z
169
Disposal
oil 133
vehicle battery 151
Distance warning, refer to 
Park Distance Control 
(PDC) 85
Door key 30
Door lock 34
Doors
emergency operation 34
Draft-free ventilation 99, 103
Driving light, refer to Parking 
lamps/Low beams 93
Driving notes 121
Dry air, refer to Air condi-
tioning mode 98, 102
DSC Dynamic Stability Con-
trol 86
indicator lamp 19, 86
DTC Dynamic Traction Con-
trol 86
indicator lamp 19, 86
Dynamic Brake Control 
(DBC) 19, 121
indicator lamp 19
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC) 19, 86
Dynamic Traction Control 
(DTC) 86
indicator lamp 19, 86E
Electric glass sunroof 41
Electric power windows 40
Electrical accessories, fail-
ure 151
Electrical malfunction
automatic transmission 
with Steptronic 73
door lock 34
driver's door 34
fuel filler door 24
glass sunroof 43
tailgate 36
Electronic Stability Program 
(ESP), refer to Dynamic 
Stability Control (DSC) 86
Emergency call 152
Emergency operation
doors 34
driver's door 34
fuel filler door 24
glass sunroof 43
Emergency release
tailgate 36
Emissions, minimum, refer 
to Energy control 79
Energy control 79Engine
breaking in 120
data 160
electronics 19
indicator lamp 19
speed 79, 160
starting 63
switching off 65
Engine compartment 130
Engine coolant 134
adding 134
Engine oil
adding 133
additives, refer to Adding 
engine oil 133
capacity 163
indicator/warning lamp 19
quality 133
viscosity 134
Engine oil consumption 132
Engine oil level 19
check 132
indicator/warning lamp 18
Engine oil pressure
indicator/warning lamp 18
Engine oil types 133
Engine output, refer to 
Engine data 160
Engine speed 79, 160
Environmentally-friendly 
driving, refer to Energy 
control 79ESP Electronic Stability Pro-
gram, refer to Dynamic 
Stability Control DSC 86
Exterior mirrors 52
Eyeglasses 
compartment 107
Eyelet, towing 155
F
False alarm, refer to 
Avoiding unintentional 
alarms 39
Fastening the safety belts 48
Fault displays 81
First aid, refer to First-aid
kit 23
First-aid kit 23
Flashlight 106
Flashlight, refer to 
Rechargeable 
flashlight 106
Flat tire 147
Flat Tire Monitor 91
space-saver spare tire 147
Flat Tire Monitor 91
indicator lamp 18, 19, 92
Flat tire, refer to Tire condi-
tion 124
Floor panel, lifting 113
Fluid reservoir for washer 
systems 132
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex