
Controls
 47Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Seats 
Note before adjusting 
Never attempt to adjust your seat 
while operating the vehicle. The seat 
could respond with unexpected movement, 
and the ensuing loss of vehicle control 
could lead to an accident. 
Also on the passenger's side, do not incline 
the backrest too far to the rear while the 
vehicle is being driven, as otherwise there 
is a danger in the event of an accident of 
'sliding under' the safety belt, eliminating 
the protection normally provided by the 
belt.< 
Please observe the information on damage 
to safety belts provided on page51 and the 
information on the active head restraints on 
page49. 
The concept
You adjust the seat in two stages: 
1Preselect the function: the button lights 
up brightly 
2Adjustments: slide control knob to 
>front or rear or 
>upwards or downwards  
>or turn  
Power seat adjustment 
You can use the control knob to adjust var-
ious functions after first selecting them with 
the buttons. 
To ensure that the safety systems 
continue to provide optimized protec-
tion, please observe the adjustment 
instructions on page47.< 
3Longitudinal direction:  
Height:
Backrest:  
This button is normally active
4Thigh support:  
Height:  
Tilt angle:
5Lumbar support
*, refer to next column
6Height of the head restraint:  
Front comfort seat* adjustment 
In addition to the power seat functions, 
several other adjustment options are also 
available with the comfort seat:
4Thigh support:  
Tilt angle:  
5Lumbar support, see below
Backrest width: 
Increase or decrease lateral 
support
6Shoulder support, see below
Height of the head restraint:  
Backrest:  
Automatic backrest width 
adjustment
The backrest automatically moves to the 
widest possible position to ease driver 
entry and exit before then returning to the  

Things to remember when driving
122
Things to remember when driving
Break-in procedures 
To ensure that your vehicle continues to 
furnish optimized economy of operation 
throughout an extended service life, we 
request that you devote careful attention 
to the following information.
Engine and differential 
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km: 
During this initial period you should attempt 
to avoid constant, steady-state operation 
and vary both vehicle and engine speeds 
as often as possible. Until the break-in 
period has been completed you should 
also refrain from exceeding the following: 
>4,500 rpm or 105 mph/170 km/h 
Always obey all official speed limits. 
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the 
transmission's kick-down mode during 
these initial miles. 
Once  you have driven 1,200 miles/
2,000 km, the engine or vehicle speeds can 
be gradually increased. 
Tires 
Due to technical factors associated with 
their manufacture, tires do not achieve their 
full traction potential until after an initial 
break-in period. Therefore, drive reservedly 
during the first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system 
Brakes require an initial break-in period of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve opti-
mized contact and wear patterns between 
brake pads and rotors.
Following component replacements
Observe the break-in instructions again if 
previously addressed components must be 
replaced again during driving later. 
General driving notes 
Hot exhaust system 
Extreme temperatures occur at the 
catalytic converter on this and every 
catalyst-equipped vehicle. Do not remove 
the heat shields installed adjacent to vari-
ous sections of the exhaust system, and 
never apply undercoating to them. When 
driving, standing at idle and while parking 
take care to avoid possible contact 
between the hot exhaust system and any 
highly flammable materials such as hay, 
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead 
to a fire, accompanied by the risk of serious 
property damage as well as personal 
injury.< 
Air conditioning 
Condensation forms in the air conditioner 
system during operation, and then exits 
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed 
water under the vehicle are thus normal.
Before driving into a car wash 
1.Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to 
page53, as otherwise they could be 
damaged due to the width of the vehicle 
2.Leave the remote control in the ignition 
lock, as otherwise the P position of the 
automatic transmission will automati-
cally be selected when the remote con-
trol is removed. Refer to page63 
and69.
With Comfort Access, be sure to 
observe the instructions on page63
3.Release the parking brake, especially 
when you have activated Automatic 
Hold. Refer to page64 and65. 

Wheels and tires
190
Tire identification marks 
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of 
the tire makes it easier to identify and 
choose the right tires.
Tire size
Speed rating
Q  = up to 105 mph/160 km/h
T  = up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H  = up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V  = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W  = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y  = up to 186 mph/300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines 
of the U.S. Department of Transport.
DOT code:
Tire age 
The tire's date of manufacture is indicated 
on the sidewall: 
DOT ... 0904 indicates that the tire was 
manufactured in the 9th week of 2004. 
BMW recommends that you replace all 
tires – including the spare – after a maxi-mum of 6 years, even though the tires may 
have a theoretical service life of up to 10 
years. 
Uniform Tire Quality Grading 
Quality grades can be found where appli-
cable on the tire sidewall between tread 
shoulder and maximum section width. 
For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA 
Temperature A 
DOT Quality Grades 
Treadwear 
Traction AA A B C 
Temperature A B C 
All passenger car tires must conform 
to Federal Safety Requirements in 
addition to these grades.< 
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when 
tested under controlled conditions on a 
specified government test course. 
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear 
one and one-half, 1γ, times as well on the 
government course as a tire graded 100. 
The relative performance of tires depends 
upon the actual conditions of their use, 
however, and may depart significantly from 
the norm due to variations in driving habits, 
service practices and differences in road 
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, 
are AA, A, B, and C. 
Those grades represent the tire's ability to 
stop on wet pavement as measured under 
controlled conditions on specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. 
A tire marked C may have poor traction 
performance.
The traction grade assigned to this 
tire is based on straight-ahead brak-
ing traction tests, and does not include 
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or 
peak traction characteristics.<  e.g.
Nominal width 
in mm
Cross-sectional 
relationship in Ξ
Radial tire code
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not for ZR tires
Speed rating,
before R on ZR tires
245/45 R19104H
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire makes
Tire size and tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 0904 

Reference 219
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Audio"
– audio mode148
– radio152
Audio148
– adjusting tone149
– controls148
– switching on/off149
– volume149
"AUDIO" for 
DVD mode169
Audio mode148
"AUTO", automatic climate 
control107
Automatic
– air distribution104
– air supply104
– headlamp control100
– luggage compartment lid 
operation36,41
– steering wheel 
adjustment54
– windshield washer72
Automatic car wash, refer 
to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Automatic climate 
control103
– rear air conditioner109
– rear cooler114
– settings in Control 
Display107
Automatic curb monitor56
Automatic Hold
– parking65
– parking brake65
Automatic recirculated-air 
control AUC105
Automatic soft closing
– doors39
– luggage compartment 
lid40
Automatic station 
search152
Automatic station 
storage153Automatic transmission 
with Steptronic68
– ignition62
– interlock62
– selector lever interlock68
– shiftlock69
– towing210
"AUTO P"
– function button54
– vehicle65
AUTO program, refer to 
Automatic air 
distribution104
"AUTOSTOR" for radio154
Average fuel 
consumption86
– setting units89
Average speed86
– setting units89
"Avoid highway"137
Avoiding tolls137
"Avoid route"141
"Avoid sect."140
"Avoid tolls"137
Axle loads, refer to 
Weights216
"A-Z", telephone179
B
Backrests, refer to Seat 
adjustment47,48
Backrest width 
adjustment47
Backup lamps, bulb 
replacement203
"Balance" in audio 
mode150
Bandages, refer to 
First-aid kit209
Bar, towing211
"Bass" in audio mode150
Battery207
– indicator lamp207
– jump-starting209
– remote control34
– switch207
"BC", refer to Computer87
Belts, refer to Safety 
belts51
Beverage holders116Blower, automatic climate 
control103
BMW active seat53
"BMW Assist"182
BMW Assist182
BMW Maintenance 
System198
"BMW Services", 
BMW Assist182
Bottle holder, refer to 
Beverage holders116
Brake fluid197
– indicator lamp13
– level197
Brake Force Display97
Brake hydraulic 
systems197
Brake lamps
– adaptive, refer to Brake 
force display97
– bulb replacement203
– indicator lamp, defective 
lamp83
Brake pad wear indicator, 
indicator lamp13
Brake rotors
– brake system123
– break-in122
Brakes123
– ABS92
– brake fluid197
– break-in122
– indicator/warning 
lamps13,92,94
– parking brake64
Brake system197
– brake fluid level197
– brake pads82
– break-in122
– disc brakes123
– indicator lamp13
Breakdown recovery, refer 
to Roadside 
Assistance182
Breakdown service, refer to 
Roadside Assistance182
Break-in procedures122
"Brief info", Control 
Center22 

Reference 233
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
V
Valve
– screw caps206
– stem206
Vanity mirror, 
illuminated54
Vehicle
– adjustments56
– battery207
– break-in122
– care, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
– dimensions215
– identification number195
– loading124
– parking64
– storage, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
– washing, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
– weight216
Vehicle jack204
Vehicle position, refer to 
Current position143
Ventilation106
– draft-free106
– while parked110
Video, refer to 
DVD changer165
"Video", video 
mode148,163
"View" for 
navigation139,140
Viscosity196
Voice-command phone 
book179
Voice command system26
Voice instructions
– muting141
– repeating141
– switching on/off141
– volume141Volume149
– adjusting speed-
dependent150
– portable phone177
– voice command 
system27
– voice instructions141
Volume, trunk216
Volume balance
– front/rear150
– right/left150
W
Warning and indicator 
lamps13
Warnings, refer to 
Check Control83
Warning triangle209
Warranty and Service 
Guide Booklet for 
Canadian models198
Washer fluid73
– reservoir, capacity73
Washer fluid reservoir, refer 
to Windshield/headlamp 
washer system73
Washer jets, refer to 
Windshield washer 
nozzles72
Washer system73
Washing the vehicle, refer 
to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Waste container, refer to 
Ashtray117
Waveband152
"WB"
– audio mode148
– in radio mode155
WB, waveband155
Weather Band155
Weights216
Wheel/tire combination192
Wheelbase, refer to 
Dimensions215
Wheel bolt wrench204
– spare tire204
Wheel-changing set204
– run-flat tires206
– spare tire205Wheel chock204
Wheels and tires188
Wheelslip control, refer to 
DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control93
Width, refer to 
Dimensions215
Windows, convenience 
operation36,38
Windshield washer
– washer fluid73
Windshield washer fluid 
tank73
– capacity, refer to Filling 
capacities217
Windshield washer 
nozzles72
Windshield washer 
reservoir73
Windshield washing 
system, wiper system72
Windshield wiper, refer to 
Wiper system72
Windshield wiper blades
– care, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
– replacing201
Winter tires193
– changing204
– condition191
– run-flat tires193
– storage193
Wiper blade 
replacement73
Wiper system72
"With highway" for 
navigation137
"With map" for 
navigation135
Without highway137
Wood decoration, refer to 
the Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Wordmatch principle for 
navigation138
Working in the engine 
compartment194
Wrench, refer to Onboard 
tool kit201