Technology for safety and driving convenience
54 For information on the correct seating position,
refer to page27.
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 air-
bag system. This category includes the uphol-
stery in the center of the steering wheel, on the
instrument panel, and the side trim panels on
the doors. Do not attempt to remove or disman-
tle 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 desire 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 to
undesired airbag activation, either of which
could result in personal injury.
To ensure compliance with official safety regu-
lations, please also entrust disposal of airbag
generators to a BMW center.<
Airbag warning information is also provided on
the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the
passenger airbags
Before transporting a child on the pas-
senger seat be sure to observe the infor-
mation/instructions under Transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page33.<
Your BMW has a seat occupation detection
system. By evaluating the weight on the pas-
senger's seat, the system detects whether or
not the seat is occupied by a child in the child-
restraint system or an adult.
>When a child is seated in the child-restraint
system or in an empty seat, the front, side
and knee airbags are automatically deacti-
vated on the passenger's side>When an adult is traveling in the passen-
ger's seat, the front, side and knee airbags
remain active on the passenger's side.
Although not desired, it can occur in the
case of heavier children that the passen-
ger airbags remain active or, in the case of very
light adults or young persons, that the passen-
ger airbags are deactivated. The condition of
the passenger airbag system will be shown by
the indicator lamp in the central console, refer
to Passenger airbag status lamp below. If the
indicator lamp indicates that the passenger air-
bags are active and you want them to be deac-
tivated, the airbags have to be deactivated with
the vehicle ignition key and the key switch on
the outer passenger's side of the instrument
panel. Apart from passengers, do not place any
additional objects on the passenger seat. Do
not fit seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball
mats or other items to the passenger seat
unless they are specifically recommended by
BMW. Do not place any items under the seat.
Otherwise, the function of the seat occupation
detection could be impaired.<
Operational readiness of the airbag
system
The airbag indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster indicates the operational readiness of
the entire airbag system and the safety belt ten-
sioners as of ignition key position 1.
The indicator lamp goes out after a few sec-
onds.
Airbag system malfunction
>The indicator lamp does not light up as of
ignition key position 1
>The warning lamp lights up continuously.
Lamps
56
Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beams
Parking lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle lighting
is switched on. You can use the parking
lamps to signal the position of the vehi-
cle when it is parked. For information on lighting
on one side of the vehicle for parking, which is
available as an additional feature, refer to
page57.
Low beams
When you switch off the ignition with
the low beam headlamps on, only the
parking lamps will remain on.
Defective bulb
The indicator lamp lights up:
At least one bulb of the vehicle's exte-
rior lighting has failed.
For replacing bulbs refer to page91.
Follow me home lamps
When you activate the headlamp flasher after
parking the vehicle and switching off the lights,
the low beams will come on for a brief period.
You can also have this function activated/
deactivated if you wish.<
LIGHTS ON warning
Whenever you open the driver's door after hav-
ing turned the ignition key to position 0, you will
hear an acoustic signal for a few seconds to remind you that the lamps have not been
switched off.
Daytime driving lamps*
If you desire, the light switch can be left in the
second position:
When the ignition is switched off, the external
lighting is also switched off.
You can have the activation settings for
the daytime driving lamps programmed
on your vehicle.<
Automatic headlamp control*
When the switch is set to this position,
the system automatically activates and
cancels the low beams in response to
changes in ambient light, for example in tun-
nels, at dusk, and when it is raining or snowing.
The low-beam headlamps remain on
regardless of the ambient light when you
switch on the fog lamps.<
Automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for the driver's jud-
gement in determining when the vehicle lights
should be switched on. For example, the sen-
sors are not able to detect fog. To avoid safety
risks, you should respond to these kinds of low-
visibility situations by switching the headlamps
on manually.<
You can have the sensitivity of your vehi-
cle's automatic headlamp control
adjusted.<
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
57
High beams/Standing lamps
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Standing lamps
Left or right standing lamps*
As an additional feature, you can illuminate your
vehicle on either side for parking:
1.Turn the ignition key to position 0 or
remove it
2.Turn off the low beams
3.Push the lever in the appropriate turn-signal
direction, until it engages.
The standing lamps discharge the bat-
tery. Avoid using the standing lamps for
longer periods of time; otherwise, you may no
longer be able to start the engine.<
Fog lamps*
Tap the button to switch them on or off.
The parking lamps or low-beam head-
lamps must be switched on. A green indi-
cator lamp comes on in the instrument
cluster to indicate that the front fog lamps are on.If the automatic headlamp control is on,
the low beams will automatically come on
whenever you activate the front fog lamps.<
Instrument lighting
Turn the rotary dial to adjust the illumination
intensity.
Interior lamps
The interior lamps operate automatically.
To switch the interior lamps on and off
manually
Press button1 briefly.
If you would like the interior lamps to remain off
all the time, press and hold the button for
approx. 3 seconds.
Press the button briefly to revert to normal
operation.
Reading lamps*
Switch on and off with button2 adjacent to
each lamp.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
59
Air distribution
You can direct airflow onto the win-
dows , toward the upper body
and into the footwell . All interme-
diate settings are possible.
Air supply/blower
Turn the rotary control to adjust the
air supply. Both heating and ventila-
tion become more effective as the air
supply rate is increased.
Turn the rotary control toward zero:
The blower and the heating are turned off, and
the air supply is stopped.
Temperature
In order to increase the temperature
of the passenger compartment, turn
to the right toward the red zone.
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and dehumidified
and, depending on the temperature
setting, rewarmed.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the engine is
started.
Condensation forms during operation of
the air conditioning system, which then
exits under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water on the ground underneath the vehicle are
thus normal.<
Outside air/recirculated air mode
If there are unpleasant odors in the
outside air, you can temporarily block
the supply of incoming air. The sys-
tem then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
If the windows fog over in the recirculated
air mode, switch this mode off and
increase the air supply as required. Do not use
the recirculated-air mode continuously over a
long period of time as this would otherwise
reduce the air quality in the interior of the vehi-
cle.<
Rear window defroster
The indicator lamp lights up when
the rear window defroster is active.
The rear window defroster switches
off automatically.
Ventilation
You can adjust the blower controls for the upper
body area to obtain the optimum airflow rates
and directions for your personal requirements:
1Rotary dials for opening and closing the
vents at any setting desired
2Slide for adjusting airflow direction
Microfilter
The built-in microfilter removes dust and pollen
from the incoming air and in the recirculated air
mode. Your BMW center will replace this filter
during the regularly scheduled maintenance. A
substantial reduction in airflow indicates that
the filter needs to be replaced earlier.
Controlling the climate for pleasant driving
62
Tips for pleasant driving
Use the automatic system – switch on with
AUTO button 6. Select the desired interior tem-
perature.
Detailed setting options are described for you
below.
Automatic air distribution and supply
The AUTO program assumes the
adjustment of the air distribution and
air supply for you and in addition
adapts the temperature to external
influences, summer or winter, to meet prefer-
ences you can specify.
In the AUTO program, the air conditioning
mode is also turned on at the same time.
The AUTO program functions only to a
limited extent when the convertible top is
open.<
Individual air distribution
You yourself can direct airflow onto
the windows , toward the upper
body and into the footwell . The
arrow lights up. The automatic air
supply remains unchanged. All intermediate
settings are possible. By pressing the AUTO
button, you can reactivate the air distribution.
Temperature
The interior temperature that
appears on the display panel is a gen-
eral figure intended for reference
purposes. When you start the vehi-
cle, the system ensures that the selected tem-
perature is reached as quickly as possible,
regardless of the season. It then maintains this
temperature.
Air supply/blower
Turn the rotary control to adjust the
air supply. This shuts off the auto-
matic air supply. The arrow lights up.
The automatic air distribution
remains unchanged. You can reactivate the
automatic air supply by pressing the AUTO but-
ton.When you turn the rotary control toward zero:
the blower, heating and air conditioner are
switched off, and the air supply is stopped. You
can reactivate the system by turning the control
toward the right again.
To defrost windows and remove
condensation
This program quickly removes ice
and condensation from the wind-
shield and the side windows.
Maximum cooling
Above an outside temperature of
327/06 and with the engine run-
ning, you achieve a maximum cooling
effect as quickly as possible. At the
same time, the air conditioning is turned on.
The temperature is set to the lowest possible
value. The system switches to the recirculated
air mode, and air flows at maximum blower
speed from the ventilation grills in the upper
body area only. Therefore, the air outlets must
always be open when you select this program.
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and dehumidified
and, depending on the temperature
setting, rewarmed.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the engine is
started.
The air conditioning system is automatically
switched on when you use the AUTO program.
Condensation forms during operation of
the air conditioning system, which then
exits under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water on the ground underneath the vehicle are
thus normal.<
Outside air/Automatic recirculated air
control AUC/recirculated air mode
You can respond to unpleasant
external odors or pollutants by tem-
porarily stopping the flow of outside
air. The system then recirculates the
air currently within the vehicle.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
63
By repeatedly pressing the button, you can
select one of three different operating modes.
>Indicator lamps off: outside air flows into the
vehicle
>Left-hand indicator lamp on, AUC mode:
the system detects pollutants in the outside
air and responds by deactivating the out-
side airflow as required. The system then
recirculates the air currently within the vehi-
cle. Depending on air quality requirements,
the system automatically switches between
outside air supply and recirculation of the air
already within the vehicle
>Right-hand indicator lamp on: the flow of
outside air is permanently blocked. The
system recirculates the air already within
the vehicle.
If the windows fog over in the recirculated
air mode, switch this mode off and
increase the air supply as required. Do not use
the recirculated-air mode continuously over a
long period of time as this would otherwise
reduce the air quality in the interior of the vehi-
cle.<
Rear window defroster
The indicator lamp lights up when
the rear window defroster is active.
The rear window defroster switches
off automatically.
Ventilation
You can adjust the blower controls for the upper
body area to obtain the optimum airflow rates
and directions for your personal requirements:1Rotary dials for opening and closing the
vents at any setting desired
2Slide for adjusting airflow direction
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The built-in microfilter removes dust and pollen
from the incoming air. The activated-charcoal
filter provides additional protection by filtering
gaseous pollutants from the outside air. Your
BMW center replaces this combined filter as a
standard part of your scheduled maintenance.
A substantial reduction in airflow indicates that
the filter needs to be replaced earlier.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
65
1.Press the trim piece beneath the air outlets;
see arrow1
2.Place the beverage into the holder
3.Adjust the holder to fit the size of the bever-
age container; see arrow2.
Do not place glass containers into the
beverage holders, as this increases the
risk of injury in the event of an accident.<
Preparations for the cellular
phone*
Hands-free system
In vehicles with a telephone preparation, the
cover for the hands-free microphone is located
on the trim of the steering column.
For further information on the cellular phone,
refer to the Owner's Manual for the telephone.
Ashtray*
To empty
1.Open cover
2.Pull out ashtray1.
Cigarette lighter
Press in lighter2. As soon as the lighter springs
back out, it can be removed.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette lighter by
the knob only. Holding or touching it in
other areas could result in burns.
The cigarette lighter remains operational even
when the ignition key has been removed. For
this reason, children should never be left in the
vehicle unattended.<
Power socket
The cigarette lighter socket can be used as a
power socket for a flashlight, car vacuum
cleaner, etc. up to a rating of approx. 200 watts
at 12 volts.
Do not damage the socket by inserting plugs of
a different shape or size.
Special operating instructions
68
Special operating instructions
Break-in procedures
Moving parts need to be given some time until
they can interact smoothly with one another. To
ensure that your vehicle provides maximum
economy throughout a long service life, we
request that you observe the following:
Engine and differential
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do
not exceed the following engine or road speed:
4,500 rpm / 4,500/min or 100 mph / 160 km/h.
Obey your local and state maximum speed lim-
its.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid press-
ing the accelerator beyond the kickdown point.
After you have driven 1,200 miles/2,000 km,
you can gradually increase the engine or road
speeds.
Sequential manual gearbox SMG
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
Do not use the acceleration assistant during the
break-in period.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until an initial break-in period has
elapsed. You should therefore drive with extra
caution during the first 200 miles/300 km.
Obey your local and state maximum speed lim-
its.
When the vehicle is operated on wet or
slushy roads, a wedge of water may form
between the tire and the road surface. This phe-
nomenon is referred to as hydroplaning and can
lead to partial or complete loss of traction, vehi-
cle control and braking effectiveness. Reduce
your speed on wet roads.<
Brake system
Approx. 300 miles/500 km must elapse before
the brake pads and rotors achieve their optimal
surface and wear pattern.
To break in the separate parking brake drums,
apply the parking brake lightly when coasting to
a standstill – at a traffic signal, for instance; use
caution to avoid posing a danger to other road
users.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this procedure from
time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on when the
parking brake is set.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the car with
the engine off, e.g. by towing, substantially
higher levels of pedal force will be required to
brake the vehicle.<
Clutch
The clutch will achieve its optimal functionality
after approx. 300 miles/500 km. Shift gears
carefully during the break-in period.
After replacing components
Follow the same break-in procedure again if any
of the components mentioned above have to be
replaced in the future.
Driving notes
Close the luggage compartment lid
Operate the vehicle only when the lug-
gage compartment lid is completely
closed, otherwise exhaust fumes could pene-
trate into the interior of the vehicle.<
Should it be absolutely necessary to operate
the vehicle with the luggage compartment lid
open and with the convertible top closed: