
At a glance
 15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Glasses compartment116
2Storage compartment116
3Switching audio and video sources on/
off and adjusting volume149
4Telephone keypad, folding176
5Automatic air distribution and supply, 
left side of passenger 
compartment104
6Outside air/AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control/Recirculated air105
7Defrosting windshield and windows and 
removing condensation105
8Control Display17
9Temperature, left side of passenger 
compartment: turn 
For maximum cooling: press105
10Glass roof, electric
*44
11Memory keys for integrated universal 
remote control
*112
12Air supply, left side of passenger com-
partment: turn 
To switch off automatic climate control: 
press105,107
13Reading lamps102
14Hazard warning flashers
15Interior lamps102
16Air supply on right side of passenger 
compartment10417Temperature, right side of passenger 
compartment: turn 
For residual heat utilization: press105
18Rear window defroster
19Air conditioning105
20Starting an emergency call177
21Opening the glove compartment
22Automatic air distribution and supply, 
right side of passenger 
compartment107
23Station/track search and CD
*, TV* 
and DVD
*148
24Central locking system38
25Controller17
26Control Center buttons17
27Seat adjustment47
Heated seats
*52
Active seat ventilation
*52
Active seat for driver
*53
Seat, mirror and steering wheel 
memory55 

Controls
 77Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Adjust your desired speed to the traf-
fic conditions and remain ready to 
brake at all times. Great differences in 
speed to the vehicles driving ahead, e.g. 
when quickly approaching a truck or when 
another vehicle swerves into your lane, 
cannot be compensated for by the sys-
tem.< 
Activate system 
From approx. 20 mph/30 km/h you can 
activate the system by pressing the lever 
forward or pulling it back: 
The current driving speed is stored as a 
desired speed and briefly displayed in the 
speedometer, refer to arrow. 
If the display ACC --- mph/km/h 
appears briefly in the speedometer, 
it might be that conditions necessary for 
operation are not currently being met. 
To call up Check Control messages, refer 
to page84.< 
1 Desired speed store and increase 
Press the lever forward: 
The system applies and stores your current 
speed as a desired speed. The speedome-
ter indicates this speed. 
Subsequently pressing forward increases 
the desired speed to the next 5-mile place/ 
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 reached on a 
clear road. 
2 Desired speed store and decrease 
Pull back the lever: 
The current driving speed is rounded off to 
the next 5-mile place/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 reached on a 
clear road. 
3 Deactivate system 
Press the lever up or down while the sys-
tem is active. The displays in the speedom-
eter disappear. You can use the system 
again as required. 
In addition, the system is deactivated auto-
matically: 
>When you apply pressure to the brake 
pedal 
>When you select the automatic trans-
mission's neutral range N 
>When you deactivate the DSC Dynamic 
Stability Control 
>When you actuate the parking brake 
during driving 
>When the system reduces the speed to 
below 20 mph/30 km/h due to a traffic 
situation.
The system deactivates automatically 
when the speed is set to below 
20 mph/30 km/h. A gong sounds and a 
message appears in the Check Control. 
The active intervention of the driver is 
required, otherwise there is an accident 
danger.< 
Background lighting 
You can switch off the background lighting 
of the speedometer and tachometer 
>when you have deactivated the system 
>when the prewarning field in the 
tachometer has gone out, refer to 
page81 
>when the destination guidance system 
of the navigation system is deactivated.  

Controls
 105Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Temperature adjustment 
You can turn to select the 
desired temperatures for the 
driver's and passenger sides. 
Your settings appear on the 
Control Display's status line. 
The figures in the display provide a general 
indication of interior temperature. When 
you start the vehicle, this system ensures 
that the selected temperature is achieved 
as quickly as possible. It then maintains this 
temperature, regardless of the season. 
Defrosting windows and removing 
condensation 
This program quickly removes 
ice and condensation from the 
windshield and door windows. 
Adjusting air supply manually 
You can adjust the air supply by 
turning. The automatic air sup-
ply control is operational when-
ever you see your selection rep-
resented by a bar on the 
Control Display's status line. The automatic 
air distribution remains in operation as 
before. You can reactivate the automatic air 
supply mode with the AUTO button. 
Switching air conditioner mode on 
and off manually
The air conditioner cools and 
dehumidifies the incoming air 
before also reheating it as 
required, according to temperature setting. 
Depending on the weather, the windshield 
may fog over briefly when the engine is 
started. 
The air conditioner comes on automatically 
when you select the AUTO program. 
Maximum cooling 
This program quickly provides 
maximum cooling. 
The temperature display reverts 
to 607/166 while the system 
switches to the recirculated-air mode and 
starts to provide maximum air supply through the vent outlets only. For this rea-
son you should ensure that these outlets 
are open before selecting this program.
Outside air/AUC Automatic 
recirculated-air control/recirculated 
air 
You can respond to unpleasant 
odors or pollutants in the imme-
diate environment by tempo-
rarily suspending the supply of outside air. 
The system then recirculates the air cur-
rently within the vehicle. AUC executes this 
function automatically. 
Press the button repeatedly to run through 
the following control sequence: 
>Indicator lamps off: outside air flows 
into the vehicle 
>Left indicator lamp on, AUC mode: the 
system detects pollutants in the outside 
air and responds by blocking the supply 
of outside air when required. The sys-
tem then recirculates the air currently 
within the vehicle. 
Depending upon air quality, in the auto-
matic mode the system may start to 
alternate between its outside-air and 
recirculated-air modes 
>Right indicator lamp on, recirculated-air 
mode: the supply of outside air into the 
vehicle is permanently blocked. The 
system then recirculates the air cur-
rently within the vehicle. 
If condensation starts to form on the 
inside window surfaces during opera-
tion in the recirculated-air mode, you 
should switch it off while also increasing air 
supply as required.< 
Residual heat mode 
The system uses the warmth 
stored in the engine to heat the 
interior when the ignition is off, 
for instance, while the vehicle 
is stopped at a school to pick 
up a child.
You can adjust the automatic climate con-
trol's settings when the ignition lock is in 
the radio mode. The system blows heated  

Driving tips
 123Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Hydroplaning 
When driving on wet or slushy roads, 
reduce road speed. If you do not, a 
wedge of water can form between tires and 
road surface. This phenomenon is referred 
to as hydroplaning, and is characterized by 
a partial or complete loss of contact 
between tires and road surface, ultimately 
undermining your ability to steer and brake 
the vehicle.< 
Driving through water 
Only drive through water with a maxi-
mum depth of 1 ft/30 cm, and then 
only at walking speed at the most. Other-
wise, the vehicle's engine, the electrical 
systems and the transmission may be dam-
aged.< 
Safe braking 
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as stan-
dard equipment. The best way to brake is 
to apply maximum pressure to the brake 
pedal during emergency: full brake applica-
tion. Since the vehicle maintains steering 
responsiveness, you can nevertheless 
avoid possible obstacles with a minimum 
of steering effort. 
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with 
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indi-
cate to the driver that ABS is in its active 
mode. 
Driving in wet conditions 
While driving in wet conditions and in heavy 
rain, it is a good idea to apply light pressure 
to the brake pedal every few miles. Monitor 
traffic conditions to ensure that this maneu-
ver does not endanger other road users. 
The heat generated in this process helps 
dry the pads and rotors to ensure that full 
braking efficiency will then be available 
when you need it. 
Hills 
To prevent overheating and reduced 
efficiency of the brake system, drive 
long or steep downhill gradients in the gear 
in which the least braking is required. Otherwise, even light but consistent pedal 
pressure can lead to high temperatures, 
brake wear and possibly even brake fail-
ure.<
You can further enhance the engine's brak-
ing effect by selecting a lower gear in the 
automatic transmission's manual mode, 
downshifting as far as first gear on 
extremely steep stretches, refer to 
page70. This strategy helps you avoid 
placing excessive loads on the brake sys-
tem. 
Never allow the vehicle to coast with 
the transmission in Neutral – or with 
the engine switched off – as there is no 
engine braking when the transmission is in 
Neutral, and no power-assist for brakes 
and steering when the engine is not run-
ning. 
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other 
objects to protrude into the area around the 
accelerator and brake pedals and obstruct 
their movement.< 
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasion-
ally, during extended periods when the 
vehicle is not used at all, and in operating 
conditions where brake applications are 
less frequent, there is an increased ten-
dency for corrosion to form on rotors, while 
contaminants accumulate on the brake 
pads. This occurs because the minimal 
pressure which must be exerted by the 
pads during brake applications to clean the 
rotors is not reached. 
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, 
the brakes will tend to respond with a pul-
sating effect that even extended applica-
tion will fail to cure.
Mobile communications devices in 
vehicle
BMW does not recommend using 
mobile communications devices, e.g. 
portable phones, in the interior of the vehi-
cle without a direct connection to an out-
side antenna. Otherwise the vehicle elec-
tronics and mobile communications device 
can affect each other. In addition, it is not  

Starting navigation system
130
Starting navigation system
GPS
Enter data only when the vehicle is 
stationary, and always obey the traffic 
regulations and road signs in the event of 
any contradiction between traffic and road 
conditions and the instructions issued by 
the navigation system. If you do not 
observe this precaution, you may be in vio-
lation of the law, and can endanger vehicle 
occupants and other road users.<
GPS stands for Global Positioning System.
This integral component within your vehi-
cle's navigation system relies on reference 
satellites to determine the precise position 
of your vehicle.
By allowing you to find your destination 
without having to consult conventional 
r oa d m aps as y ou  d r iv e, th e n av iga tion  sy s-
tem makes an important contribution to 
traffic safety.
The result: the navigation system provides 
y o u  w i t h  d e p e n d a b l e  g u i d a n c e  t o  y o u r  d e s -
tination.
Navigation CD/DVD 
Navigation CDs/DVDs are inserted in the 
navigation computer located behind the left 
side trim in the luggage compartment.
You can use navigation CDs as of 2001-1 
and navigation DVDs in your navigation 
computer.
To ensure that your vehicle's navigation 
system has access to the latest highway 
network information, always load the most 
recent CD/DVD version of the digital road 
map.
As is the case with conventional road 
maps, the navigation CDs/DVDs are sub-
ject to periodic updates to ensure that they 
reflect the latest information and surveys.
Navigation CDs/DVDs are available at 
your BMW center.<
Changing navigation CDs/DVDs 
As you drive your BMW, the computer will 
alert you when you are leaving the area 
stored on your current navigation CD/DVD; 
you should respond by changing the navi-
gation CD/DVD in the navigation computer. 
Navigation CDs contain road maps cover-
ing one or more countries or regions.
Roadmaps of Europe are stored on the 
navigation DVD.
* 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 155Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Weather Band 
Weather Radio is a service of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
NOAA, of the U.S. Department of Com-
merce. Weather messages are repeated 
every four to six minutes and are routinely 
revised every one to three hours, or more 
frequently if needed. Most of the stations 
operate 24 hours daily. During severe 
weather, National Weather Service fore-
casters can interrupt the routine weather 
broadcasts and substitute special warning 
messages. If you have a question concern-
ing NOAA Weather Radio, please contact 
your nearest National Weather Service 
Office, or write to National Weather Ser-
vice, Attn: W/OM11, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 1325 East-
West Highway Silver Spring, MD. 20910.
Selecting Weather Band 
1.Select "WB" and confirm your selection 
2.Select channels and confirm your 
selection.
With satellite radio:
1.Select "AM" and confirm your selection
2.Each time you confirm "AM", the sys-
tem alternately switches between the 
"AM" and "Weather" mode
3.Select channels and confirm your 
selection.In some regions, only one or two 
channels can be received or Weather 
Band channels are unavailable.<
Satellite radio* 
You can receive approx. 100 different 
channels with high sound quality.
You can listen to one of these channels free 
of charge at any time to obtain a first 
impression. The channel is marked 
with .
To listen to additional channels of your 
choice, you must have these channels 
enabled.
You may experience signal drops and 
muting events related to this new 
technology.<
Enabling channels
1.Select "SAT" and confirm your selec-
tion.
The channels that can be received are 
shown in the list
2.Select a channel and confirm your 
selection
3.Dial the displayed telephone number 
to have the system enabled. 

Radio
156 During enabling, leave the ignition 
switched on.
Channel selection
1.Select "SAT" and confirm your selec-
tion. 
Each time you confirm "SAT", the sys-
tem alternately changes between 
"Channels", "Category" and the "Pre-
sets".
The enabled channels are displayed 
with  
2.Select a channel and confirm your 
selection
Additional information
3.Confirm channel once again.
The name of the artiste, the title of the 
track and the name of the album are 
displayed.
Notes
As a rule, reception is guaranteed under a 
clear sky. If you are unable to receive any 
channel, the message "ACQUIRING..." 
appears in the status line. "Display ESN" 
shows the electronic serial number on the 
Control Display. The following also appear:
>"Call Sirius ( ) to Subscribe", or
>"Call Sirius ( ) to Activate"
to subscribe or activate the selected chan-
nel.
When there is a signal blockage or the 
transmission is suspended momentarily for 
more than 4 seconds.
Service may be interrupted or unavail-
able for specific reasons such as 
environmental or topographic conditions 
and other factors that satellite radio cannot 
directly control. The signal might not be 
available in tunnels, in parking garages, 
next to tall buildings, near trees with dense 
foliage, near mountains or other possible 
strong sources of radio interference.
Service should resume normally after the 
source of signal unavailability has been 
cleared.<
Selecting a category
1.Select "SAT" and keep pressing until 
"Category" appears. 
The categories are shown in the cate-
gory list
2.Select a category, e.g. "POP", and con-
firm your selection.
All the channels available in the cate-
gory "POP" are displayed 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 157Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
3.Storing channels and selecting memory 
locations, refer to next section. Addi-
tional information, refer to page156.
Storing a channel
1.Select "SAT" and confirm your selection
2.Select the desired channel
3.Select "STORE" and confirm your 
selection. After confirming, you are in 
the 'preset list'
4.Turn the controller and select a memory 
location where the channel is to be 
stored and press the controller for sev-
eral seconds.
Selecting a stored channel
Turn the  controller to select and confirm 
stored channels in the preset list. 
Up to twelve stations on which you have 
previously stored the channels can be 
selected.
Next station
Press to select the desired direction.
The next channel that appears on the Con-
trol Display is selected.
1.{Radio}
2.{Station 1 ..12}.