
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. 

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  

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