
 
6
 
Notes
 
Maintenance and repair
 
Advanced technology, e.g. the 
use of modern materials and high-
performance electronics, requires spe-
cially adapted maintenance and repair 
methods. Therefore, only have corre-
sponding work on your BMW carried 
out by a BMW center or a workshop 
that works according to BMW repair 
procedures with correspondingly 
trained personnel. If work is carried out 
improperly there is a danger of conse-
quential damage and the related safety 
risks.
 
<
 
Parts and accessories
 
Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine 
parts and accessories approved by 
BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested 
and approved by BMW and Original 
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire 
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure opti-
mum performance when installed on 
your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free 
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for 
damage resulting from installation of 
parts and accessories not approved by 
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made 
by other manufacturers to ascertain 
whether it can be used on a BMW 
safely and without risk to either the 
vehicle, its operation, or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories 
and other products approved by BMW, 
together with professional advice on 
using these items, are available from all 
BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW 
approved accessories such as alarms, 
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors, 
 
wheels, suspension components, brake 
dust shields, telephones – including 
operation of any portable cellular phone 
from within the vehicle without using an 
externally mounted antenna – or trans-
ceiver equipment such as a CB, walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar, may cause 
extensive damage to the vehicle, com-
promise its safety, interfere with the 
vehicle's electrical system or affect the 
validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. 
See your BMW center for additional 
information.
Do not use key or remote control to 
lock doors or cargo area with anyone 
inside the vehicle. Refer to the Owner's 
Manual for more details.
 
<
 
Maintenance, replacement, or 
repair of the emission control 
devices and systems may be performed 
by any automotive repair establishment 
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.
 
<
 
Symbol on vehicle parts
 
Indicates that you should consult 
the relevant section of this 
Owner's Manual for information on a 
particular part or assembly. 

 
Contents
 
Notes
 
About this Owner's Manual4
Additional sources of 
information4
Symbols used4
Your individual vehicle5
Status at time of printing5
For your own safety5
Symbol on vehicle parts6
Service and warranty7
Reporting safety defects7
 
Overview
 
Cockpit14
Instrument cluster16
Indicator and warning lamps18
Buttons in steering wheel*22
Hazard warning triangle*23
First-aid kit*23
Refueling24
Fuel specifications25
Tire inflation pressure25
 
Controls and features
 
Opening and closing:
 
Keys30
Central locking system30
Opening and closing – via the 
remote control31
Opening and closing – via the 
door lock34
Opening and closing – from the 
inside35
Tailgate35
Rear window36
Cargo area37
Alarm system*38
Electric power windows40
Glass sunroof, electric*41
 
To adjust:
 
Safe seating position44
Seats45
Manual seat adjustment45
Power seat adjustment*47
Lumbar support*47
Head restraints48
Safety belts48
Seat and mirror memory*50
Seat heating*51
Steering wheel52
Mirrors52 

 
Contents
 
Operation, maintenance
 
Special operating instructions:
 
Break-in procedures120
General driving notes121
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS)121
Brake system122
 
Wheels and tires:
 
Tire inflation pressure124
Tire condition124
Tire replacement125
Wheel and tire 
combinations127
Winter tires127
 
In the engine compartment:
 
Hood129
Engine compartment 
essentials130
Washer fluids132
Engine oil132
Coolant134
Brake fluid135
 
Maintenance:
 
The BMW Maintenance 
System136
 
Laws and regulations:
 
California Proposition 65 
warning138
OBD interface socket138
 Owner service procedures 
Replacement procedures:
 
Onboard tool kit142
Windshield wiper blades142
Lamps and bulbs143
Changing a wheel147
Run Flat tires*150
Battery151
Fuses151
 
Giving and receiving 
assistance: Receiving assistance152
Jump-starting153
Towing the vehicle154 
Technical data
 
Engine data160
Dimensions161
Weights162
Capacities163 

 
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 

 
20
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) 
and brake warning lamp
 
●
 
The indicator lamps remain on:
DSC/DTC have been switched 
off with the button or are faulty.
Please consult the nearest BMW 
center.
Additional information beginning on 
page 86
325xi:
DSC and ADB-X system malfunction. 
There is no provision for switching off 
ADB-X.
Please consult the nearest BMW cen-
ter.
DSC indicator and brake warn-
ing lamps for Canadian models.
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
 
●
 
Malfunction in DBC system. 
Conventional braking efficiency 
is available and unrestricted.
Have the system repaired at your BMW 
center as soon as possible.
Additional information beginning on 
page 121
 
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) 
warning lamp for Canadian 
models.
Add washer fluid
The washer fluid level is too low. 
Top off the fluid at the earliest 
opportunity.
For additional information: refer to 
page 132
CHECK GAS CAP*
 
●
 
This indicator lamp comes on 
when the gas cap is loose or 
missing.
Close the gas cap tightly: refer to 
page 24
SERVICE ENGINE SOON
 
●
 
If the indicator lamp comes on 
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the emis-
sions-related electronic systems. 
Although the vehicle remains opera-
tional, you should have the systems 
checked by your BMW center at the 
earliest possible opportunity.
For additional information: refer to 
page 138
Service Engine Soon
indicator lamp for Canadian 
models.
 
Engine electronics
 
●
 
There is a fault in the electronic 
engine-management system. 
You can continue to drive with reduced 
engine output or engine speed. Please 
have the system inspected at your 
BMW center.
Add coolant
The coolant level is too low. Add 
coolant at the earliest opportu-
nity.
For additional information: refer to 
page 134
 
Green: for your information
 
Turn signal indicator
Flashes when the turn signals 
are on.
Rapid flashing indicates a system mal-
function.
For additional information: refer to 
page 74
Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise con-
trol is activated: ready for oper-
ation via the buttons in the steering 
wheel.
For additional information: refer to 
page 77
 
Indicator and warning lamps 

 
22
 
Buttons in steering wheel*
 
These buttons let you operate the fol-
lowing functions quickly and without 
being distracted from traffic conditions:
 
>
 
Selected radio functions
 
>
 
The cruise control
 
>
 
Selected telephone functions
 
>The voice recognition system.
The controls are active only when 
the corresponding systems and 
accessories are switched on.<
Press briefly:
Receive a phone call, initiate dialing, 
terminate a call.
Extended pressure:
Switch voice recognition on and off.
Switch between phone, radio, cassette 
and CD.
Forward:
>Radio
Press briefly: next station in station 
memory
Extended pressure: station search
>CD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function 
in track
>Cassette
Press briefly: jump to next track or 
stop fast forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
>Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind/reverse: same functions as for-
ward.
Volume.
Cruise control: select a stored setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate + 
or decelerate and store –.
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate. 

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- 

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.