
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Roller sun blind for rear window*113
2Rear window safety switch44 
3Power windows43
4Exterior mirrors53
5Parking brake64
6Parking lamps and low beams100
9Steering wheel16
10Info Display12
11Automatic transmission lever6812Ignition lock62
16Horn: the entire surface
20Fog lamps101
21Unlocking the engine hood194 7Instrument lighting101
8Turn signals71
High-beams, 
headlamp flasher101
Computer85
Check Control83
Computer85
Standing lamps101
13Switching ignition on/off62 
and starting engine63
14Windshield wipers72
Rain sensor72
15PDC Park Distance 
Control
*91
17Steering wheel heater
*54
Steering wheel adjustment54
18Unlocking luggage 
compartment40
19Programmable cruise 
control73
Active cruise control
*75
Front fog lamps 

At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning 
lamps 
Technology that monitors itself 
The indicator and warning lamps identified 
by the 
+ symbol are subjected to an oper-
ation check each time you switch on the 
ignition or start the engine. They each light 
up once for different periods of time. 
When a malfunction occurs in a monitored 
system, the corresponding lamp will either 
fail to go out when the engine is started, or 
it will come on again during normal driving. 
Detailed information is provided on the 
specified pages. 
Fixed indicator and warning lamps
Colors
The indicator and warning lamps can light 
up in different colors and combinations. 
>Red:
Stop the vehicle immediately 
or 
an important reminder
>Red and yellow:
Continue to drive; drive cautiously
>Yellow:
Have the system inspected at the earli-
est opportunity
or
for your information
>Green:
For your information
>Blue:
For your information.
Variable indicator and warning lamps 
In the display 8 of the Info Display, addi-
tional indicator and warning lamps appear 
when necessary. Observe the instructions 
for action of the accompanying Check Con-
trol messages, also refer to page83. Please fasten safety belts 
+51
DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control
+93 
DTC Dynamic Traction Control93 
ABS Antilock Brake System 
+92 
Brake system
+
With other warning lamps94,197
Warning lamp on Canadian models
With parking brake released66
With parking brake set64 
Warning lamp on Canadian models
Automatic parking brake, 
Automatic Hold 
+65,66 
Service Engine Soon +200
Indicator lamp on Canadian 
models
Airbags 
+98 
Turn signals71
High beams/
headlamp flasher101 
Front fog lamps101  

Opening and closing
42
Luggage compartment 
Net* 
You can use the net to store smaller objects 
on the bulkhead separating the luggage 
compartment from the rear seats.
Do not stow objects behind the side 
trim panels on the left and right in the 
luggage compartment, as otherwise the 
electrical parts could overheat and be dam-
aged.<
Alarm system 
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds: 
>When a door, the hood, or the luggage 
compartment lid is opened 
>To movement in the vehicle interior: 
interior motion sensor 
>To changing the vehicle's tilt if someone 
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the 
vehicle 
>To interruption of battery voltage. 
The system responds to unauthorized vehi-
cle entry and attempted theft by simulta-
neously activating: 
>An acoustic alarm, which lasts for a 
period of approx. 30 seconds 
>The hazard warning flashers for approx. 
five minutes 
>The high beams, which flash on and off 
in the same rhythm.
Arming and disarming alarm system 
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either 
with the remote control or at the door lock, 
the alarm system is armed or disarmed at 
the same time. 
The system indicates that it has been cor-
rectly armed by switching on the hazard 
warning flashers for a single cycle and by 
emitting an acoustic signal.You can have different acknowledg-
ment signals set to confirm arming 
and disarming.< 
You can also open the luggage compart-
ment lid with the system armed using 
button3on the remote control, refer 
to page36. When you close the lid, the sys-
tem is rearmed. 
Unlocking vie the door lock will trigger 
the alarm on some national-market 
versions.
Pressing the 'Panic mode' button for a 
longer period also triggers the alarm, refer 
to page36.< 
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote 
control, refer to page36
>or insert the remote control all the way 
into the ignition lock, engaging the 
detent. 
Indicator lamp displays 
>The indicator lamp below the interior 
rearview mirror flashes continuously: 
the system is armed 
>The indicator lamp flashes when the 
system is vehicle is locked: door(s) or 
tailgate are not completely closed. Even 
if you do not close the alerted area, the 
system begins to monitor the remaining 
areas, and the indicator lamp flashes 
continuously after 10 seconds. How-
ever, the interior motion sensor is not 
activated 
>The indicator lamp goes out when the 
vehicle is unlocked: no manipulation or 
attempted intrusions have been  

Controls
 71Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Releasing 
1.Use the vehicle key to release the cover 
panel beneath the instrument panel by 
turning the lock counterclockwise, then 
fold down the cover
2.Pull out the release lever with the loop1 
until it locks into place: the transmission 
lockout is unlocked.
Re-engage the transmission lockout 
after parking the vehicle at its destina-
tion. Otherwise there is a danger that the 
vehicle could start to roll if parked on a 
steep slope.< 
Locking again 
1.Disengage the release lever by pressing 
it together with the red detent lever, 
arrow 2.Guide the release lever all the way back 
into its original position – the transmis-
sion lockout is again engaged 
3.Fold up and lock the cover panel again. 
Now – and not before – the key may be 
removed.
Once the transmission lockout has 
been re-engaged, the warning in the 
Check Control should disappear, and the 
symbol in the Info Display should change 
from N to P. Should this fail to happen, 
there is a danger that the vehicle could start 
to roll.< 
Information on jump-starting and towing 
begins on page209. 
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher 
1High beams 
2Headlamp flasher 
3Turn signals 
Using turn signals
Move the lever beyond the resistance 
point. It then returns to the center position 
when released. Press the lever up to the 
resistance point to switch off the turn sig-
nals. 
Signaling briefly
Press the lever up to but not beyond the 
resistance point. It then returns to the cen-
ter position when released. 
If the flashing of the indicator lamp and the 
ticking from the relay are both faster than 
usual, this indicates that one of the bulbs is  

Controls
 101Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Adaptive Head Light* 
The concept 
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp 
control system that enables dynamic illumi-
nation of the road surface. Depending on 
the steering angle and other assumptions, 
the light from the headlamp follows the 
course of the road.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
With the ignition on, refer to 
page62, turn the light switch to the 
position 'Automatic headlamp con-
trol', refer to page100.
To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the 
Adaptive Head Light:
>Is not active when driving in reverse
>Is only active toward the passenger's 
side with the vehicle stationary.
Malfunction 
The LED above the symbol for automatic 
headlamp control flashes. Adaptive Head 
Light is faulty or has failed. Have the system 
checked as soon as possible.
High beams/standing lamps 
1High beams 
2Headlamp flasher 
3Standing lamps 
Standing lamps, left and right* 
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just 
one side of your vehicle when parking: 
With the ignition off, press the lever in the 
desired direction3, beyond the resistance 
point. 
Front fog lamps 
Briefly press the button once again to 
switch on/off.
The parking lamps or low beams 
must be switched on for the fog 
lamps to operate. The green indica-
tor lamp in the Info Display lights up when-
ever the fog lamps are on. 
If the automatic headlamp control is 
activated, the low beams will come on 
automatically when you switch on the fog 
lamps.< 
Instrument lighting 
Turn the serrated dial to adjust the illumina-
tion intensity.  

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 159Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Fast forward/reverse 
1.Select the direction.
Press and hold the button. The tracks 
can be heard, but the sound is distorted 
2.To interrupt the fast forward/reverse 
function, release the button.
The CD will start play at the point 
selected.
Malfunctions
The CD player is a 'Class 1' laser 
product. Never remove the cover from 
the housing. Do not operate the unit if the 
cover is damaged. Operation without the 
cover can lead to serious eye injury from 
invisible laser beams.
Always refer all repair and maintenance 
operations to qualified technicians.
With self-recorded CDs, labels applied 
later can become detached during play-
back due to the development of heat, caus-
ing irreparable damage to the device.<
To prevent CDs from being copied 
illegally, they are often provided with 
copy protection by the manufacturer. 
Under certain circumstances this can pre-
vent or restrict the playing of CDs on your 
CD player. In this case please contact the 
CD dealer or manufacturer.<
If you play self-recorded audio CDs, faults, 
e.g. drop-outs, can occur, or the CD is not 
played at all.
High levels of humidity inside the 
player can condense on the laser's 
scan lens and prevent it from reading the 
CD.
Only use round CDs with a standard diam-
eter of 4.7 in/12 cm and do not play CDs 
with an adapter, e.g. maxi CDs, as other-
wise the CDs or the adapter can jam and 
may no longer be ejected. 
Do not use combined CD/DVD, e.g. DVD+, 
as otherwise the CD/DVD can jam, prevent-
ing it from being ejected.< 

CD changer
162
Fast forward/reverse 
1.Select the direction.
Press and hold the button. The tracks 
can be heard, but the sound is distorted
2.To interrupt the fast forward/reverse 
function, release the button.
The system will continue play at the 
point on the CD at which the button was 
released.
Selecting music track 
Malfunctions
The BMW CD changer is a 'Class 1' 
laser product. Never remove the 
cover from the housing. Do not operate the 
unit if the cover is damaged. Operation 
without the cover can lead to serious eye 
injury from invisible laser beams.
Always refer all repair and maintenance 
operations to qualified technicians.
With self-recorded CDs, labels applied 
later can become detached during play-
back due to the development of heat, caus-
ing irreparable damage to the device.<
To prevent CDs from being copied 
illegally, they are often provided with 
copy protection by the manufacturer. 
Under certain circumstances, this can pre-
vent or restrict the playing of CDs on your 
CD changer. In this case please contact the 
CD dealer or manufacturer.<
If you play self-recorded audio CDs, faults, 
e.g. drop-outs, can occur, or the CD is not 
played at all.
High levels of humidity inside the 
player can condense on the laser's 
scan lens and temporarily prevent it from 
reading the CD.
Do not use combined CD/DVD, e.g. DVD+, 
as otherwise the CD/DVD can jam, prevent-
ing it from being ejected.< 1.{CD changer}
2.{Track 1 ..30}. 

DVD changer
170
Malfunctions/notes
The BMW DVD changer is a 'Class 1' 
laser product. Never remove the 
cover from the housing. Do not operate the 
unit if the cover is damaged. Operation 
without the cover can lead to serious eye 
injury from invisible laser beams.
Always refer all repair and maintenance 
operations to qualified technicians.
With self-recorded CDs or DVDs, labels 
applied later can become detached during 
playback due to the development of heat, 
causing irreparable damage to the 
device.<
Macrovision copy protection:
This product incorporates copyright 
protection technology that is protected by 
method claims of certain U.S. patents and 
other intellectual property rights owned by 
Macrovision Corporation and other rights 
owners. Use of this copyright protection 
technology must be authorized by Macrovi-
sion Corporation, and is intended for home 
and other limited viewing uses only unless 
otherwise authorized by Macrovision Cor-
poration. Reverse engineering or disas-
sembly is prohibited.<
To prevent CDs from being copied 
illegally, they are often provided with 
copy protection by the manufacturer. 
Under certain circumstances this can pre-
vent or restrict the playing of CDs on the 
DVD changer. In this case please contact 
the CD dealer or manufacturer.<
If you play self-recorded audio CDs, faults, 
e.g. drop-outs, can occur, or the CD is not 
played at all.
The DVD changer can play the following 
formats:
>Video DVD
>CD-DA, Audio CD
>CD-R.The DVD Audio format is not sup-
ported by the DVD changer. However, 
many audio DVDs available in stores also 
contain a video track in the DVD Video for-
mat in addition to the audio track. These 
DVDs can be played back by the DVD 
changer. Please refer to the information on 
your DVD to determine whether your audio 
DVD contains an additional video track.
DVDs are usually divided into tracks and 
chapters and can contain different subti-
tles, camera angles or sound tracks, lan-
guages and sound formats. Depending on 
the version of the DVD, these functions can 
be selected either directly with the DVD 
control system or only via the DVD-specific 
menu. Refer to the information on your DVD 
for possible selections.
High levels of humidity inside the player 
can condense on the laser's scan lens and 
prevent it from reading the DVD.
Do not use combined CD/DVD, e.g. DVD+, 
as otherwise the CD/DVD can jam, prevent-
ing it from being ejected.<