
Adjustments
44 The positions of the exterior mirrors are stored
for the remote control currently used
*, refer to
Personal Profile, page29.
Manual adjustment
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually, if
necessary: press the edge of the glass.
To prevent the exterior mirrors on this
vehicle from being damaged, always fold
them in by hand before entering an automatic
car wash.<
Automatic heating*
At outside temperatures below a certain limit,
both exterior mirrors are automatically heated
while the engine is running or the ignition
switched on.
Passenger-side mirror tilt function* –
automatic curb monitor
Activating
1.Push the mirror selector switch to the posi-
tion for the driver's-side mirror 1.
2.Engage reverse gear or move the selector
lever to position R.
The glass of the mirror on the passenger
side tilts slightly down. This allows the
driver to see the area immediately adjacent
to the vehicle – such as a curb – when park-
ing, etc.
Deactivating
Push the mirror selector switch to the position
for the passenger-side mirror 2.
Interior rearview mirror
Turn the knob underneath the mirror to reduce
glare from the headlamps of cars behind you
when driving at night.
Automatically dimming mirrors, refer to
page107.
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust the steering wheel position
while the car is in motion, or an accident
may result from any unexpected movement.<
1.Fold the lever down.
2.Move the steering wheel to the preferred
height and angle to suit your seated posi-
tion.
3.Swing the lever back up.
Electric steering wheel lock
The steering wheel locks or unlocks automati-
cally when the remote control is removed or
inserted, refer to page49.

Transporting children safely
46
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, as they could otherwise endan-
ger themselves and/or other persons by open-
ing the doors, for example.<
As a general rule, the front passenger's seat
and outer rear seats are suitable for installing
universal child-restraint systems for all age
groups, provided that they have been approved
for the age group in question.
Children always in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest place
for children in a vehicle is in the rear seat.
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.
If your BMW is equipped with rear side
airbags, do not allow children to lean
towards the door trim, as serious injuries could
occur if the side airbags are deployed and chil-
dren are too close to the airbags.<
Deactivating rear seat side airbags
Labels in the rear door opening should indicate
the status of your rear seat side airbags. If you
are uncertain of their status, or wish to have the
airbags activated or deactivated, please contact
your BMW center.
Child-restraint system in the rear
Children under the age of 13 or smaller
than 5 ft/150 cm may only be transported
in suitable child-restraint systems on one of the
outer rear seats; otherwise, there is an
increased risk of injury in the event of an acci-
dent.<
Younger children should be secured in an
appropriate child-restraint system that has
been first properly secured to the vehicle.All rear seating positions in your vehicle meet
the recommendations of SAE J1819, an indus-
try-recommended practice for securing child-
restraint systems in motor vehicles.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child-
restraint system on the front passenger
seat, the front passenger airbags must be deac-
tivated. Otherwise, a child traveling on that seat
will be at considerable risk of injury if the airbags
are triggered off, even with a child-restraint sys-
tem. Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the front pas-
senger. Because the backrest on any rearward-
facing child-restraint system – of the kind
designed for infants under 1 year and 20 Ibs./
9 kg – would be within the airbag's deployment
range, you should never mount such a system
in the front passenger seat, since the impact of
the airbag against the child restraint's backrest
could lead to serious or fatal injuries.<
For more information on automatic deactivation
of the front passenger airbags refer to page83.
Seat height
Before installing a universal child-restraint sys-
tem, move the front passenger's seat up as far
as it will go to ensure that the safety belt will be
ideally positioned. Do not change the seat
height afterward.
Backrest width
The backrest width of the front passen-
ger's seat must be adjusted to its widest
setting.<
1.After unlocking the vehicle, sit down on the
front passenger seat and close the door.
2.Adjust the backrest width to its widest set-
ting, refer to page40.
3.Install the child seat.

Controls
47Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Installing child-restraint
systems
Before installing any child-restraint system or
child seat, read the following:
Observe the child-restraint system man-
ufacturer's instructions for installation
and use. Otherwise the degree of protection
may be reduced. After an accident, have all
parts of the child-restraint system and of the
relevant vehicle safety belt system checked and
replaced if necessary. Have this work done only
at your BMW center or at a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.<
Commercially-available child-restraint systems
are designed to be secured with a lap belt or
with the lap belt portion 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.
Child seat security
All of the rear belt retractors and the front pas-
senger safety belt can be locked for mounting
and securing child-restraint systems.
Information regarding this is located near the
buckle latch of each safety belt.
To lock the safety belt
Pull the entire length of the belt from the belt
retractor. 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.
To unlock the safety belt
Release the buckle, remove the child-restraint
system and allow the belt retractor to reel the
belt completely in.
Child-restraint system with tether
strap
If you use a child-restraint system with a tether
strap, three additional tether anchorage points
have been provided, refer to the arrows in the
illustration. Depending on the location selected
for seating in the rear passenger area, attach
the tether strap to the corresponding anchor-
age point to secure the child-restraint system,
as shown in the illustration below.
Placement of the tether strap
Outer sitting positions:
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
into the lowest possible position.
Center sitting position:
Push the center head restraint upward. Guide
the tether strap between the head restraint and
the rear seat back. The tether strap must be
between the anchorages of the head restraint.

Transporting children safely
48 Then push the center head restraint into the
lowest position again.
Adjust the tether strap according to the
child-restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.<
LATCH child-restraint fixing system
LATCH: Lower Anchor and Tethers for CHil-
dren.
The rear outer sitting positions are provided
with anchors for a LATCH child-restraint fixing
system.
To attach a child-restraint system with
the LATCH system, follow the operating
and safety instructions of the child-restraint
system manufacturer.<
Rear seat anchorages, with through-
loading system equipment
The anchorage points for the LATCH child-
restraint fixing system are located behind the
indicated protective caps. Flip up the corre-
sponding caps.
Before attaching the LATCH child-restraint fix-
ing system, pull the belt out of the area of the
child-restraint fixing system.
Rear seat anchorages, without
through-loading system
The anchorage points for the LATCH child-
restraint fixing system are located underneath
the identifying symbols.
Before attaching the LATCH child-restraint fix-
ing system, pull the belt out of the area of the
child-restraint fixing system.
On journeys
Child-safety locks for rear doors
Slide down the safety lever on the rear doors:
The door can now be opened from the outside
only.
Safety switch for power windows
Press the safety switch for the power windows,
refer to page36, if children are traveling on the
rear seat.

Controls
49Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Driving
Ignition lock
Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
>Radio readiness switches on.
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
>The electric steering wheel lock disen-
gages audibly.
Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock before you move the vehicle, as oth-
erwise the electric steering wheel lock will not
disengage and you will not be able to steer the
car.<
Removing the remote control from the
ignition lock
Press the remote control in briefly; it is ejected a
short way.
At the same time:
>The ignition switches off if it was on before-
hand.
>The electric steering wheel lock engages
audibly.
Automatic transmission
You cannot take out the remote control unless
the selector lever is in the P position: interlock.
Start/stop button
7
Each time the start/stop button is pressed,
radio readiness or the ignition is switched on or
off.
Do not depress the brake pedal or the
clutch pedal, otherwise the engine will
start.<
Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
The time and the outside temperature are dis-
played in the instrument cluster.
Radio readiness is switched off automatically:
>Immediately when the remote control is
removed from the ignition lock
Ignition on
Most of the indicator and warning lamps in the
indicator area1 of the instrument cluster, refer
to page13, light up and remain on for different
lengths of time.
Radio readiness and ignition switched
off
All indicator and warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms, as
otherwise the inhaling of toxic exhaust
gases can cause unconsciousness and death.

Driving
50 The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a
potential safety hazard.
Before leaving the car with the engine running,
place the transmission in idle or move the
selector lever to position P and apply the hand-
brake to prevent the car from moving.<
When starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it
running while the vehicle remains stationary.
Instead, begin to drive immediately at a moder-
ate engine speed.
Do not press either the brake pedal or the
clutch pedal until you are ready to start
the engine. The engine is started immediately
when you briefly touch the start/stop button
and depress the brake pedal if the car has auto-
matic transmission, or the clutch pedal if the car
has manual transmission.<
7
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.Press the clutch pedal.
If the clutch pedal is not depressed,
the engine will not start.<
3.Briefly press the start/stop button.
The starter is operated automatically for a cer-
tain time, and operation ceases automatically as
soon as the engine has started.
Automatic transmission
1.Press the brake pedal.
2.Move the selector lever to position P or, if
the ignition is switched on, to position N.3.Briefly press the start/stop button.
The starter is operated automatically for a cer-
tain time, and operation ceases automatically as
soon as the engine has started.
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the accelerator
pedal halfway down when starting the engine:
>If the engine does not start on the first
attempt, for instance when it is extremely
hot or cold.
>The engine is started at very low tempera-
tures, below approx. + 57/–156, at high
altitudes, above approx. 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated start attempts in which
the engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is
not burned or inadequately burned and there is
a danger of overheating and damaging the cat-
alytic converter.<
Switching off the engine
Do not take the remote control out of the
ignition lock while the vehicle is rolling, as
otherwise the steering wheel lock will engage
when you turn the steering wheel.
Always take the remote control with you when
you leave the vehicle.
When parking on a downhill incline, apply the
handbrake, as otherwise the vehicle could roll
away.<
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.With the car at a standstill, briefly press the
start/stop button.
3.Shift into first gear or reverse.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2.Briefly press the start/stop button.
3.Apply the handbrake.

Controls
51Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Handbrake
The handbrake is primarily intended to prevent
the vehicle from rolling while parked; it brakes
the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp is lit, and when you
drive off an acoustic signal sounds in
addition. The handbrake is still applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and
lower the lever.
In exceptional cases, if the handbrake has
to be used to slow or stop the car, do not
pull the lever up too hard. In doing so, continu-
ously press the button of the handbrake lever.
Too violent an application of the handbrake
could lock the rear wheels and cause the rear of
the car to swerve.
The brake lamps do not light up when the hand-
brake is applied.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the hand-
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.<
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, press
the gearshift lever to the right. Otherwise
the engine could be damaged if you inadvert-
ently shift into 3rd or 4th gear.<
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, a
slight resistance has to be overcome.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can
also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer to
page52.
Vehicle parking
To prevent the vehicle from rolling,
always select position P and apply the
handbrake before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running.<
Disengaging the remote control
In order to remove the remote control from the
ignition lock, you must first move the selector
lever to position P and switch off the engine:
interlock.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –

Driving
52
Displays in the instrument cluster
P R N D DS M1 to M6
The selector lever position is displayed, or the
current gear in the manual mode.
Changing selector lever positions
>With the ignition switched on or the engine
running, the selector lever can be moved
out of position P: interlock.
>Before moving the lever away from P or N
with the vehicle stationary, first depress the
brake pedal, otherwise the selector lever
will refuse to move: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping
after you select a driving position,
maintain pressure on the brake pedal until
you are ready to start.<
A lock prevents you from inadvertently engag-
ing selector lever positions R and P. To cancel
the lock, press the button on the front of the
selector lever knob, refer to arrow.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
rear wheels are locked.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
You can select this in a car wash, for example.
The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are selected automatically.
Kick-down
Kick-down enables you to achieve maximum
performance.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Manual operation and Sport program
M/S
Move selector lever from position D toward the
left into the M/S shifting slot:
The sport program is activated and DS appears
in the instrument cluster. This position is rec-
ommended for a performance-oriented driving
style.
When you briefly press the selector lever in the
+ or – direction, the manual mode is activated
and Steptronic changes gear. The instrument
cluster shows M1 through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combination
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example,
a downshift that would cause the engine to
overrev will not be executed by the system. The
gear selected appears briefly in the instrument
cluster, followed by the gear actually in use.