
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
 13
Colors
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
various colors and combinations.
>Red:
Stop the vehicle immediately
or
an important reminder
>Red and yellow:
Continue driving cautiously
>Yellow:
Have the system checked soon
or
for your information
>Green or blue:
For your information. Engine oil pressure/Engine oil level/
Engine oil sensor 
+86
Brake system 
+ 
Parking brake released88
Parking brake applied37
With other warning lamps51
Brake warning lamp for Canadian 
models
Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving 
stability control systems 
+50
Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving 
stability control systems for Canadian 
models
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC
 +50
Dynamic Traction Control 
DTC 
+50
Flat Tire Monitor 
+52
Automatic transmission/Sequential 
manual gearbox SMG 
+39, 41
Brake pads 
+88
Add coolant87
Check gas cap 
+76
Service engine soon 
+90
Service engine soon indicator lamp for 
Canadian models
Defective bulb56
Turn signal indicators42
Fog lamps57
Headlamp flasher/High beams42, 57
Electric Power Steering 
+42
Doors or luggage compartment lid 
open
Engine electronics 
+ 
Malfunction in the engine electronics. 
You can continue to drive with 
reduced engine output or engine 
speed. Please have the system 
inspected by your BMW center. 

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: 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 69
1.Close all windows
2.Increase the air supply from the air condi-
tioner or automatic climate control to a high 
level. Refer to page58 or61.
Hot exhaust system 
High temperatures occur with every vehi-
cle equipped with a catalytic converter. 
Heat shields are installed adjacent to some sec-
tions of the exhaust system. Never remove 
these shields; do not apply undercoating to 
their surfaces. When driving, standing at idle 
and parking the vehicle, take care to avoid con-
tact between the hot exhaust system and flam-
mable materials, e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc. 
Such contact could lead to a fire, resulting in 
serious personal injury and property damage.<
Hydroplaning 
When driving on wet or slushy roads, 
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not, a 
wedge of water may form between the tires and 
the road surface. This phenomenon can lead to 
partial or complete loss of traction, vehicle con-
trol and braking effectiveness.<
Driving through water 
Do not drive through water on the road if it 
is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at 
walking speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's engine, 
the electrical systems and the transmission 
may be damaged.<
Use the parking brake on inclines
On inclines, keep the vehicle from rolling 
by using the parking brake rather than by 
slipping the clutch, which would lead to a high 
degree of clutch wear.<
Braking safely 
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard 
feature. If you are in a situation which requires 
full braking, it is best to brake using maximum 
brake pressure: panic stop. Since the vehicle 
maintains steering responsiveness, you can still 
avoid possible obstacles with a minimum of 
steering effort.Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with 
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to 
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Wet roads
If the roads are wet or if there is heavy rain, it is 
advisable to gently press the brakes for a brief 
moment every few miles/kilometers. Watch 
traffic conditions to ensure that this maneuver 
does not endanger other road users. The 
resulting heat dries the brake rotors and brake 
pads. Immediate braking force is then available 
if necessary.
Inclines
To prevent overheating and, as a result, 
diminished braking effectiveness, drive 
down long or steep downhill grades in a gear 
which requires the least braking. Otherwise, 
even light but consistent pedal pressure can 
lead to high temperatures, brake wear and pos-
sibly even brake failure.<
The braking power of the engine can be further 
enhanced by downshifting the automatic trans-
mission in manual mode, if necessary, into first 
gear; refer to pages39 and41. This prevents an 
excessive load on the brakes.
Do not coast with the clutch depressed or 
with the transmission or selector lever in 
Neutral. Do not coast with the engine switched 
off. Otherwise, the engine provides no braking 
effect while the transmission is in idling posi-
tion, and there is no power-assist for braking or 
steering when the engine is off.
Floor mats, floor carpets or other objects must 
not be in the area near the brake or accelerator 
pedal, as this could impair the movement of the 
pedals.<
Corrosion on the brake rotors 
Limited vehicle use, extended periods with the 
vehicle parked or in storage, and operating con-
ditions in which braking is restricted to gentle, 
low-pressure applications will all increase the 
tendency for corrosion to form on the rotors and 
contamination to accumulate on the brake 
pads. This occurs because the minimal pres- 

Special operating instructions
70 sure which must be exerted by the pads to 
clean the rotors by brake applications is not 
reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they will tend to 
respond to braking with a pulsating effect which 
even extended application will fail to cure.
Interior and exterior mirrors with 
automatic dimming feature* 
Two photocells in the interior rearview mirror 
serve to control the interior and exterior mirrors
 
with automatic dimming feature. One photocell 
is positioned in the mirror's lens, see arrow, 
while the other is on the opposite side of the 
mirror.
To ensure perfect functioning, keep the photo-
cells clean and the area between the interior 
rearview mirror and the windshield free of any 
obstruction like stickers, etc.
When the vehicle is parked 
Condensation formed in the air conditioning 
system during operation exits under the vehi-
cle. Traces of condensed water on the ground 
underneath the vehicle are thus normal.
Mobile equipment in the vehicle
BMW advises against using mobile 
equipment, e.g. cellular phones, inside 
the vehicle without connecting them directly to 
an outside antenna. Otherwise, it cannot be 
ruled out that vehicle electronics and the mobile 
equipment interfere with one another. In addi-
tion, it is not ensured that the radio waves emit-
ted during transmission are directed outside of 
the vehicle interior.<
Cargo loading 
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that the 
permissible carrying capacity of the tires 
is not exceeded. Otherwise, overheating and 
inner damage to the tires may result. The ulti-
mate result can assume the form of a sudden air 
loss.<
Determining the maximum load
1.Locate the following statement on your 
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants 
and cargo should never exceed 
XXX kg or YYY lbs; otherwise damage to the 
vehicle and unstable driving conditions 
could result.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the 
driver and passenger that will be riding in 
your vehicle
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver 
and passenger from XXX kilograms or YYY 
pounds
4.The resulting figure equals the available 
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals 
551 lbs. and there will be two 150 lbs. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is 
251 lbs.
551 lbs. minus 300 lbs. = 251 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage 
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That 
weight may not safely exceed the available 
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated 
in Step 4. 

In the engine compartment
88
Checking the coolant level 
1.The engine must be at ambient tempera-
ture
2.Open the cap of the expansion tank by turn-
ing it slightly counterclockwise to allow 
accumulated pressure to escape, then 
open completely
3.The coolant level is correct when the upper 
end of the red float is at least even with the 
upper edge of the filler neck but no more 
than 3/4 in/2 cm above it, that is up to the 
second mark on the float. Refer also to the 
schematic diagram next to the filler neck
4.Slowly add coolant, if necessary, until the 
correct level is reached; do not overfill
5.Turn the cap clockwise until it is tightly 
closed
6.Have the cause for the coolant loss 
removed as soon as possible.
Brake system
Malfunction 
Brake fluid
The warning lamp lights up although 
the parking brake is not engaged: 
Stop the vehicle immediately. 
The brake fluid level in the reservoir is too low. 
At the same time, you may notice that brake 
pedal travel is longer. Have the system checked 
as soon as possible.
If you continue driving, extended pedal 
travel may be necessary and braking dis-
tances may be significantly longer. Be sure to 
adapt your driving style accordingly.
Brake pads 
The warning lamp lights up. The brake 
pads have worn down to the minimum 
safe limit. Have the brake pads 
replaced as soon as possible.
For your own safety: use only brake pads 
which BMW has approved for your spe-
cific vehicle model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if they are 
suitable for use, and therefore cannot guaran-
tee the operating safety of the vehicle in the 
event of their use.< 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 107
Bandages, refer to First-aid 
kit97
Bar, towing99
Battery94
– charging95
– disposal95
– indicator lamp12,94
– jump-starting97
– power supply interruption95
– remote control16
Belts, refer to Safety belts30
Belt tensioner, refer to Safety 
belts30
Beverage holders64
Blower
– air conditioning59
– automatic climate control62
Blower, refer to Air 
supply59,62
BMW5
BMW Maintenance 
System89
Bottle holders, refer to 
Beverage holders64
Brake fluid88
– filling88
– indicator/warning 
lamp13,88
– level88
Brake force display52
Brake hydraulic system88
– indicator/warning 
lamp13,88
Brake lamps
– brake force display52
– bulb replacement93
– indicator lamp, defective 
lamp13
Brake pads88
– break-in procedures68
– warning lamp88
Brake pad wear indicator
– brake pads88
– warning lamp13
Brake rotors
– brake system69
– break-in procedures68Brakes
– ABS50
– brake fluid88
– brake pads88
– break-in procedures68
– indicator/warning 
lamps13,51
– parking brake37
Brake system
– brake fluid88
– brake pads88
– break-in procedures68
– disc brakes69
– indicator lamp13
Breakdown
– Flat Tire Monitor52
Breakdown service, refer to 
Mobile Service96
Breaking in the differential, 
refer to Engine and 
differential68
Break-in procedures68
Bridging, refer to Jump-
starting97
Bulb replacement, refer to 
Lamps and bulbs91
Buttons in the multifunction 
steering wheel10
C
California laws
– Event Data Recorders90
– Proposition 65 warning6
Can holders, refer to Beverage 
holders64
Capacities105
Capacity
– luggage compartment, refer 
to Weights103
Car battery94
Car care, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Care, refer to the Caring for 
your vehicle brochure
Car keys, refer to Keys16Carpet care, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Car radio, refer to the separate 
Owner's Manual
Car telephone, refer to the 
separate Owner's Manual
Car wash, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Catalytic converter, refer to 
Hot exhaust system69
CD changer, refer to Owner's 
Manual for Radio/Onboard 
Computer
CD operation, refer to Owner's 
Manual for Radio/Onboard 
Computer
Center high-mount brake 
lamp, bulb replacement93
Central locking system16
– interior18
Changes, technical, refer to 
For your own safety6
Changing a wheel94
– Run Flat tires94
Charge indicator lamp12,94
Check gas cap, indicator 
lamp13
Child-restraint mounting 
system, LATCH35
Child-restraint systems33
Child seat, refer to 
Installing child-restraint 
systems34
Chrome parts, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Cigarette lighter65
Cigarette lighter socket65
Cleaning the rear window, 
refer to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Cleaning the vehicle, refer to 
the Caring for your vehicle 
brochure