
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
6Buttons on steering wheel
7Instrument cluster12
9Ignition lock5110Horn: the entire surface 
13Releasing hood176
14Opening luggage compartment lid32
 
Telephone*153: 
>Press: accept call or terminate 
call
as well as dialing if an entry has 
been selected from "A - Z", 
"Top 8", "Redial", "Received 
calls" or "Missed calls"
>press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice com-
mand system
*22
Fast forward/reverse132
>Radio 
Press: change radio station
Press longer: manual search 
or automatic search scan
>CD 
Press: select track 
Press longer: fast forward/
reverse
>Telephone
* 
Press: select entry in "A - Z", 
"Top 8", "Redial", "Received 
calls" or "Missed calls"
Individually programmable
*46 
Individually programmable46 
8
Windshield wipers57
Rain sensor57
11
Steering wheel heater*46
Steering wheel adjustment45
12
Cruise control
*:58
Active cruise control
*59
15
Head-Up Display
*84
16
Parking lamps87
Low beams87
Automatic headlamp control
*87
Adaptive Head Light88
*
17
Instrument lighting89
Fog lamps
*88 

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster 
1Indicator lamps for turn signals13
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Display for active cruise control
*60
5Tachometer65
and Energy Control66
6Display for 
>Clock/date65 
>Outside temperature65 
>Indicator and warning lamps68
>Speed of cruise control
*58 
>Desired speed for active cruise 
control
*597Display for 
>Odometer and trip odometer65
>Computer69 
>Date and remaining travel distance for 
service requirements66 
>Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic55
>SMG Sequential manual 
transmission
*53
> Check Control message present67 
8Fuel gage66 
9Resetting trip odometer65 

Driving
54
Shiftlock
Press the brake pedal before shifting out of N; 
the shift command will not be executed unless 
the brake is applied.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
Sequential mode
After every engine start, as soon as the selector 
lever is pushed to the right and the brake pedal 
is pressed, the Sequential mode is activated.
You can shift up and down using the shifting 
paddles or the selector lever. You do not need 
to remove your foot from the accelerator to do 
so. 
It is also possible to start off in second gear, e. g. 
in slippery conditions. 
D Drive mode
In the Drive mode, all forward gears are shifted 
automatically.
Shifting from Sequential mode to Drive mode: 
press selector lever to the right toward D.
Kick-down: 
For rapid acceleration, e. g. when passing, press 
the accelerator pedal as far down as it will go. 
You achieve maximum acceleration.
To switch back into the Sequential mode: press 
selector lever to the right again toward D or shift 
using the shifting paddles or the selector lever.
Start off quickly on slopes. Do not hold 
the vehicle on a hill by pressing the accel-
erator, but apply the handbrake instead. Other-
wise overheating can occur in the transmission 
region.<
Gear changes
Using selector lever
>To upshift, pull the selector lever back.
>To downshift, push the selector lever for-
ward. 
Using shift paddles on steering wheel
>To upshift, pull one of the shift paddles.
>To downshift, press.
In the following situations, the SMG in Sequen-
tial mode assists you:
>Upshifts and downshifts are executed only 
when they will result in a plausible combina-
tion of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for 
example, a downshift that would cause the 
engine to overrev will not be executed by 
the system.
>When the vehicle is stationary, the trans-
mission automatically downshifts into first 
gear.
>Shortly before dropping below a gear-
dependent minimum speed, the transmis-
sion downshifts automatically even without 
your intervention.
Dynamic Driving Control
The Dynamic Driving Control makes it possible 
for your BMW to react in an even more perfor-
mance-oriented manner at the push of a button:
>The engine responds more spontaneously 
to accelerator pedal movements.
>Gearshifts are faster.
>The engine speed range is used optimally in 
the Drive mode.
>Cruise control
*: 
The stored speed is reached more quickly 
when it is requested. 

Driving
58
Windshield washer nozzles 
The windshield washer nozzles are automati-
cally heated in ignition key position 2.
Washer fluid 
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable. 
Always keep it well away from sparks and 
open flames, and store it in tightly closed con-
tainers well out of the reach of children. Always 
observe the instructions for use provided on the 
containers.<
Washer fluid reservoir 
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer 
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
In order to maintain the mixture ratio, mix 
the washer fluid before filling.<
Capacity 
3.2USquarts/3liters, in conjunction with head-
lamp washer system
* approx. 5.3 US quarts/
5liters.
Cruise control* 
The concept 
The cruise control is available for use at speeds 
of approx. 20 mph/30 km/h and higher. The 
vehicle maintains and stores the speed that you 
set using the lever mounted on the steering col-
umn.Do not use the cruise control under driv-
ing conditions that do not permit a con-
stant speed, e.g.when driving on winding roads, 
in heavy traffic or in poor road conditions such 
as snow, rain, ice, and loose road surface.<
One lever for all functions
1Maintaining speed, storing speed, and 
accelerating
2Maintaining speed, storing speed, and 
decelerating
3Interrupting cruise control
4Resuming stored speed
Maintaining speed, storing speed, and 
accelerating
Press lever to resistance point 1: 
The speed currently being driven is maintained 
and stored. The display1 in the speedometer, 
refer to page59, indicates this regulated speed. 
Every time you press the lever, the vehicle's 
speed increases by roughly 1 mph/1 km/h. 
Press lever to resistance point for a longer time: 
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on 
the accelerator pedal. The system maintains 
and stores your current speed as soon as you 
release the lever.
Press the lever beyond the resistance point: 
increase speed by 5 mph/10 km/h.
The vehicle may accelerate beyond the regu-
lated speed on steep downhill stretches where 
the engine's braking effect alone may not be 
sufficient to slow the vehicle. Speed can drop 
on uphill grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient. 

Controls
 59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Maintaining speed, storing speed, and 
decelerating
Pull the lever 2: 
Functions are the same as1, only the vehicle 
speed is reduced.
Interrupting cruise control 
With the cruise control active, briefly press the 
lever up or down 3.
In addition, cruise control is automatically deac-
tivated: 
>When the brakes are applied
>When the clutch pedal is depressed or the 
automatic transmission/SMG is shifted into 
the N position 
>When the DSC comes on
Resuming stored speed
Press button4: 
The stored speed is resumed and maintained.
Deactivating system
When the ignition is switched off, the system is 
deactivated and the stored speed is deleted.
Displays in instrument cluster 
1Stored desired speed display 
2Digital speed display. 
Appears briefly when you select your 
desired speed
Active cruise control* 
The concept 
With active cruise control, you can select a 
desired speed which is not only automatically 
maintained when driving on open roadways, but 
also varied to maintain a selected distance set-
ting as slower traffic is encountered. 
Active cruise control is a technological advance 
over the familiar cruise control and is a welcome 
relief from the constant adjustment of speed 
that can accompany driving in traffic on free-
ways or other high-speed thoroughfares. Espe-
cially on longer trips, the system can reduce 
fatigue and tension, while increasing your 
enjoyment of driving. Please use it safely and 
responsibly. 
In addition to holding a steady cruising speed, 
if you encounter slower vehicles ahead, active 
cruise control will, within the scope of given 
possibilities, adjust your vehicle's speed auto-
matically so that you can flow with the traffic 
without having to make constant adjustments. 
If, for example, while cruising at the selected 
speed, you begin to approach a slower vehicle 
ahead of you in the same lane, the system will 
reduce your vehicle's speed to the same as that 
of the vehicle ahead to maintain your selected 
distance setting between your vehicle and the 
vehicle ahead. There are four settings for dis-
tance, which are additionally speed-dependent. 
Based on your selected distance setting, the 
system automatically decreases the throttle 
setting and lightly applies the brakes if neces-
sary. The vehicle brake lamps will automatically 
illuminate to signal a following driver to take 
action. In addition, it may be necessary for the 
vehicle or the driver to downshift, depending on 
the kind of transmission your vehicle is 
equipped with, to maintain the distance setting 
selected. If the vehicle ahead speeds up or 
when the lane ahead becomes clear, your vehi-
cle will accelerate to the speed you have 
selected by increasing the throttle setting and 
shifting gears automatically or by the driver as 
needed. 

Driving
60 Active cruise control is not and must not 
be used as a collision avoidance/warning 
system.< 
Since this active cruise control system is 
a new technology and operates differ-
ently from conventional cruise control systems 
which you may be accustomed to, you are 
strongly urged to read all of the pages relating 
to this system before use. Pay special attention 
to the information contained in the Things to 
know about active cruise control section in this 
manual beginning on page62.<
Vehicles with manual transmission
You can use the system in the 2nd to 6th gear 
within a normal engine speed range and also 
change gears. Continuous operation at very 
high or very low engine speeds is not possible. 
In this case the driver is asked to shift or the 
system deactivates itself.
Vehicles with SMG
Continuous operation at very high engine 
speeds is not possible in the Sequential mode. 
In this case the driver is asked to shift or the 
system deactivates itself.
In the Drive mode, the SMG acts similarly to the 
automatic transmission in the D position.
Operating active cruise control 
1Activate system, store and increase desired 
speed 
2Activate system, store and decrease 
desired speed 
3Deactivate system4Recall the stored speed and distance or 
increase desired speed by 1 mph/1 km/h 
with each press of the button
5Select distance to vehicle driving ahead. 
You can choose from four available distance 
settings. You will find more detailed infor-
mation on page62.
Adjust your desired speed to the traffic 
conditions and remain ready to brake at 
all times. Great differences in speed to the vehi-
cles driving ahead, e. g. when quickly approach-
ing a truck or when another vehicle swerves into 
your lane, cannot be compensated for by the 
system.<
Displays in instrument cluster 
1Stored desired speed display 
2Detected vehicle display. Lights up when 
vehicle driving ahead is detected 
3Selected distance to vehicle driving ahead 
4Digital speed display. 
Appears briefly when you select your 
desired speed
The system is activated. 
The display 3 appears as soon as 
you activate the system and no 
vehicle is detected driving ahead. 
Vehicle detected. 
The display 2 lights up yellow 
when a vehicle is detected driving 
ahead.  

Controls
 61Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The system requests that you 
intervene by braking or with an 
evasive maneuver. The display 2 
flashes red and a signal sounds. 
The active cruise control cannot 
automatically restore the distance to the vehicle 
driving ahead. You will find more detailed infor-
mation on page. You will find more detailed 
information on page64. 
Automatic intervention by ABS or 
DSC, or you actuate the handbrake 
while driving. The display 2 flashes 
yellow. The active cruise control 
now only intervenes by braking. 
Desired speed, store and increase 
Press the lever forward 1 at a driving speed of 
more than approx. 20 mph/30 km/h: 
The system applies and stores your current 
speed as a desired speed. This speed is indi-
cated on the speedometer and displayed briefly 
in the instrument cluster. 
Subsequently pressing forward increases the 
desired speed to the next multiple of 5 mph/ 
10 km/h. Each time the lever is pressed forward 
again, the desired speed is increased by 
another 5 mph/10 km/h until a maximum of 
110 mph/180 km/h is reached. The speed then 
displayed is stored and achieved, provided that 
the road is clear. 
If the display ACC --- mph/km/h briefly 
appears in the instrument cluster, it might 
be that conditions necessary for operation are 
not currently being met. 
To call up Check Control messages, refer to 
page67.<
Desired speed, store and decrease 
Pull back the lever 2: 
The current driving speed is rounded off to the 
next multiple of 5 mph/10 km/h, displayed and 
stored. 
Each time the lever is pulled back again, the 
desired speed is decreased by another 5 mph/
10 km/h until the minimum speed of 20 mph/
30 km/h is reached. The speed then displayed 
is stored and achieved, provided that the road is 
clear. 
Deactivate system 
Press the lever up or down while the system is 
active 3. The displays in the instrument cluster 
disappear. You can use the system again as 
required. 
In addition, the system is deactivated automati-
cally: 
>When you apply pressure to the brake pedal 
>When you select the automatic transmis-
sion's/SMG's neutral position N 
>When the manual transmission is shifted 
into neutral
>When you deactivate the DSC Dynamic 
Stability Control 
>When you actuate the handbrake during 
driving 
>When the system reduces the speed to 
below 20 mph/30 km/h due to a traffic situ-
ation
The system deactivates automatically 
when the speed is set to below 20 mph/
30 km/h. An acoustic signal sounds and a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display. The active 
intervention of the driver is required.<
When you switch off the ignition, the stored 
desired speed is deleted. 
Resume stored desired speed and 
distance setting 
Press button 4 when the system is deactivated. 
The displays appear in the instrument cluster. 
The system is reactivated and uses the last 
stored desired speed and distance setting.  

Driving
62
Fine adjustment of desired speed 
In the activated state, the desired speed 
increases by 1 mph/1 km/h each time button4 
is pressed briefly. 
Select distance 
You can choose from four distance steps. 
>Rotary switch downward: 
Increase distance
>Rotary switch upward: 
Decrease distance
The selected distance is displayed in the instru-
ment cluster. Distance 1 
Distance 2 
Distance 3 
This distance is always set when 
the system is used for the first time 
after starting the engine.
Distance 4 
Use good judgment to select the appro-
priate following distance given road con-
ditions, traffic, applicable laws and driving rec-
ommendations for safe following distance.<
Things to know about active cruise control
As with conventional cruise control sys-
tems, active cruise control in no way 
diminishes or substitutes for the driver's own 
personal responsibility, alertness and aware-
ness in adjusting speed, braking or otherwise 
controlling the vehicle. The driver should 
decide when to use the system on the basis of 
road, traffic, visibility, and weather conditions. 
Active cruise control is intended for use on 
highway-type roadways where traffic is moving 
relatively smoothly. Do not use this system in 
city driving; heavy traffic such as during rush hour; on curvy, winding roads, slippery roads or 
roads with sharp curves such as highway off-
ramps; during inclement weather such as snow, 
strong rain or fog; or when entering inter-
changes, service/parking areas or toll booths. 
It is also important to regulate your vehicle's 
speed and distance setting within applicable 
legal limits. Always be ready to take action or 
apply the brakes if necessary, especially when 
the system is actively following a vehicle in front 
of you.<