
Controls
 85Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
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Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Report of a flat tire
The warning lamp lights up in red. A 
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. In addition, an acoustic signal 
sounds. There is a flat tire or extensive inflation 
pressure loss.
1.Cautiously reduce the vehicle speed to 
below 50 mph/80 km/h. Avoid sudden brak-
ing and steering maneuvers. Do not exceed 
a vehicle speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.
If the vehicle is not, as provided at the 
factory, equipped with run-flat tires, 
refer to page172, stop driving. Continued 
driving after a flat tire can result in serious 
accidents.<
2.Check the air pressure in all four tires at the 
next opportunity.
If the tire inflation pressure in all four 
tires is correct, the Flat Tire Monitor 
may not have been initialized. The system 
must then be initialized.<
3.In case of a complete loss of the tire inflation 
pressure or obvious tire damage, you can 
estimate the possible driving distance for 
continued driving base on the following ref-
erence values:
>With low load: 
1 to 2 persons without luggage: 
approx. 155 miles/250 km.
>With medium load: 
2 persons, luggage compartment full, or 
4 persons without luggage: 
approx. 94 miles/150 km.
>With full load: 
4 persons, luggage compartment full: 
approx. 30 miles/50 km.
Drive reservedly and do not exceed 
a speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. In the 
event of pressure loss, vehicle handling 
changes. This includes reduced tracking 
stability in braking, extended braking dis-
tance and altered natural steering charac-
teristics.
If unusual vibrations occur while the vehicle 
is being driven, this can indicate final failure 
of the damaged tire. Reduce speed and stop as soon as possible. Do not continue 
driving. Contact your BMW center.<
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up in yellow. A 
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. The Flat Tire Monitor has a mal-
function or has failed. Have the system checked 
as soon as possible.
Active steering*
The concept
The active steering is a system that actively var-
ies the steering angle of the front wheels in rela-
tion to the steering wheel movements.
A t  l o w  s p e e d ,  e . g .  i n  a  t o w n  o r  w h e n  p a r k i n g ,  t h e  
steering angle of the wheels is reinforced, i.e. 
the steering becomes very direct.
In the higher speed range, on the other hand, 
the steering angle is reduced more and more. 
This improves the handling capability of your 
BMW over the entire speed range.
In critical situations, the system can make tar-
geted corrections to the steering angle pro-
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the vehicle 
before the driver intervenes. This stability-pro-
moting intervention is deactivated when DSC is 
switched off, refer to page82.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up. The active 
steering is no longer operational. At low 
speed, larger steering wheel move-
ments are required, while the vehicle reacts 
more sensitively to steering wheel movements 
in the higher road-speed range. Have the sys-
tem checked.
If the warning lamp lights up during the first 
engine starting following a power supply inter-
ruption, the system must be activated by being 
initialized. 

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
86
Initializing system
1.Start the engine.
2.With the vehicle stationary, turn the steer-
ing wheel from the straight-ahead position 
to the left as far as it will go and then back to 
the straight-ahead position.
3.Switch off the engine.
When you start the engine again, all the func-
tions of the active steering will be available once 
again.
Brake Force Display
The Brake Force Display lights up in two stages 
depending on how strongly you brake.
>Normal braking:
The brake lamps and the third brake lamp 
go on.
>Heavy braking and braking with ABS:
In addition, the illuminated area of the rear 
brake lamps is enlarged, refer to illustration.
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags for driver and front passenger
2Coupe: Head airbags
3Front side airbags
4Knee airbag for front passenger
5Knee airbag for driver
Protective action
 To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
please observe the adjustment instructions on 
page44.
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of a side impact. The side airbag sup-
ports the side upper body area. The head air 
bag supports the head.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered in 
every impact situation, e.g. less severe acci-
dents, certain rollover conditions, or rear-end 
collisions.
For information on the correct sitting position, 
refer to page44. 

Controls
 87Reference
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Mobility
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag retention 
system from the vehicle. Never modify or 
tamper with either the wiring or the individual 
components in the airbag system. This cate-
gory includes the upholstery in the center of the 
steering wheel, on the instrument panel, the 
side trim panels on the doors and on the Coupe, 
the roof pillars along with the sides of the head-
liner. Do not attempt to remove or dismantle the 
steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components 
directly after the system has been triggered, 
because there is a danger of burns.
If you note any indication of system malfunc-
tion, if you wish to have an airbag deactivated, 
or if the airbag retention system is triggered in 
response to an accident, you should always 
entrust all inspection, repair and dismantling 
operations to your BMW center. Unprofessional 
attempts to service the system could lead to 
failure in an emergency or undesired airbag 
activation, either of which could result in per-
sonal injury.<
Airbag warning information is also provided on 
the sun visors.
Operational readiness of airbag system
From ignition key position 1 the warning lamp 
lights up briefly, indicating the operational 
readiness of the entire airbag system and the 
belt tensioners.
Airbag system malfunction
>The warning lamp does not light up as of 
ignition key position 1.>The warning lamp lights up continuously.
Have the airbag system checked immedi-
ately if a malfunction occurs, as otherwise 
there is a danger of the system not responding 
in the expected manner to an impact occurring 
within its normal response range.<
Convertible: 
Rollover protection system
The rollover protection system is automatically 
activated in the event of an accident or a critical 
driving situation, extreme inclination on the lon-
gitudinal or transverse axis, or loss of ground 
contact. The rollover bars located behind the 
rear head restraints are deployed within frac-
tions of a second.
As a supplement to the rollover bar integrated 
into the windshield frame, the rollover protec-
tion system ensures that all vehicle occupants 
have the necessary headroom.
Always keep the path of movement of the 
rollover protection system clear.
In less severe accidents, you are protected by 
the fastened safety belt and, depending on the 
severity of the accident, the belt tensioner and 
the multistage airbag restraint system.<
Lowering
If the protection function was not required after 
automatic activation, the rollover protection 
system can be lowered again. No tools are nec-
essary for this purpose.
1.Press the release backward and hold in that 
position. 

Destination guidance
126
Destination guidance 
through voice instructions
Switching voice instructions on/off
Control Center, for principle details, refer to 
page16.
1.Open start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Display settings" and press the 
controller.
4.Select "Languages" and press the control-
ler.
5.Select "Navigation voice instructions on" 
and press the controller.
 The voice instructions are switched on.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Repeating and canceling voice 
instructions
With the programmable buttons on the steering 
wheel, you can also make the following set-
tings, refer to page51:
>Repeat the voice instruction:
Press the button.
>Switch voice instructions on/off:
Maintain pressure on the button for several 
seconds.
Adjusting volume
1.Repeat the last voice instruction, if required.
2.Turn the button during the voice instruction 
to select the desired volume.
This volume is independent of the volume of the 
audio sources.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use. 

On/off and tone
132
On/off and tone
The following audio sources have shared 
controls and setting options:
>Radio Business
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons near CD player
>Control Center
>Buttons on the steering wheel, refer to 
page11
Buttons near CD player
The layout of the buttons can vary depending 
on your vehicle's equipment.
Equipment with single drive:Equipment with two drives:
1Sound output for Entertainment on/off, 
volume
>Press: to switch on/off.
When you switch on, the last set radio 
station or CD track is played.
>Turn: to adjust volume.
2Drive for audio CDs
3 Eject CD
4Station scan/track scan
>Change radio station.
>Select track for CD player and 
CD changer.
5Drive for navigation DVDs
Operation using Control Center
Control Center, for principle details, refer to 
page16.
1.Press  button.
This opens the start menu. 

Navigation
Entertainment
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 133Reference
At a glance
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Mobility
2.Move the controller backward to open 
"Entertainment".
You have the following choices:
>"FM" or "AM": select radio reception.
>"WB": call up Weather Band station.
>"SAT": select satellite radio.
>"CD": select CD player or CD changer.
>"Set": depending on each audio source, 
other settings can be made, e.g. on the 
radio: updating stations with best reception, 
storing stations, tone control, playing sta-
tions.
Switching on/off
To switch the sound output for entertainment 
on/off:
Press button1 next to the CD player.
 This symbol on the Control Display indi-
cates that sound output is switched off.
Adjusting volume
Turn button1 next to the CD player until the 
desired volume is set.
The volume can also be set on the steering 
wheel.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Tone control
You can alter various tone settings, e.g. treble 
and bass, or the speed-dependent volume 
increase.
The settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
Changing tone settings
Control Center, for principle details, refer to 
page16.
1.Press  button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Entertainment settings" and press 
the controller.
4.Select "Audio" and press the controller. 

CD player and CD changer
144
CD changer: starting CD
1.Fill the CD magazine and insert, refer to 
page145.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to 
page16.
2.Press  button.
This opens the start menu.
3.Move the controller backward to open 
"Entertainment".
4.Select "CD" and press the controller.
5.Select the desired CD and press the con-
troller.
At the end of the last track, the next CD will be 
selected.
If new CDs have been placed in the CD maga-
zine, playback starts with the lowest CD, e.g. 
CD 1, track 1.
The CD magazine's load status is indicated on 
the Control Display.
Selecting a track
Buttons next to CD player:
Press the   button for the corresponding 
direction repeatedly, continuing until you reach 
the desired track on the current CD.
The CD will start play at the start of the track. 
The track is displayed on the Control Display.
The track can also be changed on the steering 
wheel.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to 
page16.
Select a track by turning the controller.
Repeating a track
Control Center, for principle details, refer to 
page16.
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed. 

 151
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
your portable phone.
To avoid possible short circuits, after removing 
a battery you should never allow it to come into 
contact with metallic surfaces of any kind.<
Disposing of used batteries
Return used batteries to a recycling col-
lection point or to your BMW center.<
Care instructions
You can find what you need to know about car-
ing for your portable phone in the Caring for 
your vehicle brochure and in the separate porta-
ble phone Owner's Manual.
Operating options 
You can operate the portable phone* with:
>The steering wheel, refer to page11
>The Control Center, refer to page152
>Voice commands, refer to page156
Information on operating the portable phone is 
contained in the separate Owner's Manual on 
the Full Preparation Package Cellphone.
Telephoning with car phone: 
BMW Assist calls
You can use the car phone via the hands-free 
system for BMW Assist calls.
When the status information "Car Phone" is 
displayed in "Communication", only BMW 
Assist calls are possible.
Hands-free system 
The microphone is located:
>In the Coupe near the interior rearview mir-
ror, refer to page14
>In the Convertible on the steering columnThe hands-free system is activated whenever 
you establish or receive a call using:
>The button on the steering wheel
>The Control Center
>Voice commands
Volume adjustment 
Turn the button during a call to select the 
desired volume.
This volume for the hands-free system is main-
tained, even if the other audio sources are set to 
minimum volume.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Operation using Control 
Center 
The following functions can be used via the 
Control Center as soon as the portable phone is 
laid in the cradle or is connected to the vehicle 
via Bluetooth:
>Dialing phone numbers
>Phone book
>Top 8
>Redialing
>Displaying accepted calls
>Displaying missed calls
>Text messages/SMS