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 15 of 178
 
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 
     
        
        Page 21 of 178
 
21
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch 
on the fog lamps.
For additional information: refer to 
page 95
 
Blue: for your information
 
High beams
Comes on when the high beams 
are on or the headlamp flasher 
is actuated.
For additional information: refer to 
pages 74, 94
 
Indicator and warning lamps
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
     
        
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53
Interior rearview mirrorTo reduce glare from vehicles behind 
you when you are driving at night, tilt 
the mirror by turning the knob.
Vehicles not equipped with an alarm 
system:
Fold the small lever forward.
Interior rearview mirror with 
automatic dimming feature*This mirror automatically responds to 
ambient light and headlamp glare from 
following vehicles by dimming through 
an infinitely variable range and auto-
matically reverts to its clear, undimmed 
setting whenever you shift into Reverse 
or move the selector lever into 
position R.
To ensure that the mirror continues to 
operate efficiently, ensure that the area 
adjacent to the photocells remains 
clean and unobstructed. One photocell 
is integrated within the mirror's lens – 
see arrow – while the other is located at 
an offset position on the rear of the mir-
ror. Refrain from attaching stickers or 
other objects to the windshield in the 
area immediately behind the rearview 
mirror.
Mirrors
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
     
        
        Page 74 of 178
74
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp flasher1High beams – blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher – blue indicator 
lamp
3Turn signal indicator – green indicator 
lamps accompanied by a periodic 
clicking sound from the relayTo signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond 
the resistance point. It then returns to 
the center position when released.
If the flashing indicator lamp and 
the clicking from the relay are 
both faster than normal, one of the turn 
signal indicators has failed.< 
     
        
        Page 76 of 178

76
Cleaning windshield and 
headlamps*0Wipers retracted
1Clean windshield and headlamps
2Rear window wiper intermittent mode
3Clean the rear window
Do not use the washers if there is 
any danger that the fluid will 
freeze on the windshield, as your vision 
could be obscured. Always use a wind-
shield washer antifreeze in cold 
weather. Refer to page 132.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. This could cause damage 
to the washer pump.<
The system sprays washer fluid against 
the windshield and activates the wipers 
for a brief period. When the vehicle's 
lighting system is switched on, the 
headlamps will also be cleaned at rea-
sonable intervals.Rear window wiperRear window wiper in intermittent 
mode. When reverse gear is engaged, 
continuous operation is switched on 
automatically.
You can also program the interval:
>Briefly move the wiper lever from 
position 0 to position 2
>The period that elapses until the wip-
ers again start to move – from 
position 0 to 2 – is the programmed 
interval for intermittent operation – 
max. 30 seconds.Cleaning the rear windowThe system sprays washer fluid onto 
the rear window.
To change the wiper blades refer to 
page 142.
Windshield washer nozzlesThe windshield washer nozzles are 
heated automatically* when the ignition 
key is in position 2.
Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor* 
     
        
        Page 93 of 178

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.
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.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 
     
        
        Page 94 of 178
94
Instrument lightingTurn the rotary dial to adjust the illumi-
nation intensity.
High beams/Standing lamps1High beams – blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher – blue indicator 
lamp
3Standing lampsStanding lamps, left or rightAs an additional feature, you can illumi-
nate your vehicle on either side for 
parking:
In ignition key position 0, engage the 
lever in the appropriate turn-signal 
position.