
Controls, Instruments
11 Controls, Instruments
Before driving off .......................................... 12
Break in hints for the first 
2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers ...................... 14
Keys ........................................................... 17
Security Wheel Bolts .................................... 17
Central Locking in Cars 
without Alarm System...................................  19
Doors ......................................................... 25
Alarm System, 
Passenger Compartment Monitoring  ............. 26
Power Windows  ........................................... 28
Inside mirror  ................................................ 30
Automatic Anti-Glare 
Interior Mirror and Door Mirrors  .................... 30
Door Mirrors................................................  31
Seat Adjustment ..........................................  34
Seat Memory ...............................................  36
Heated Seats ..............................................  38
Steering Wheel Adjustment ...........................  39
Multi-functional steering wheel.......................  40
Sun Visors...................................................  41
Safety Belts.................................................  42
Child Restraint Systems................................  45
Key-operated airbag deactivation device ........  46
LATCH System
Child seat bracket on the passenger’s seat  .... 47
Key-operated airbag deactivation device ........  48
Airbag Systems ...........................................  49
Clutch Pedal ................................................  51
Parking Brake ..............................................  51
Brakes ........................................................  52ABS Brake System
(Antilock Brake System) ................................  55
Sport Mode .................................................  57
Porsche Stability Management (PSM).............  58
Porsche Active Suspension Management
(PASM) ........................................................  61
Retractable Spoiler ......................................  62
Parking Aids ................................................  64
Ignition/Starter Switch with anti-theft Steering 
Lock ...........................................................  67
Starting Procedures .....................................  69
Stopping engine...........................................  70
Instrument Panel USA Models .......................  73
Automatic Speed Control Indicator light .........  76
Instrument Illumination..................................  76
Trip Odometer .............................................  77
Speedometer ..............................................  78
Changing over between
Miles / Kilometers........................................  78
Tachometer .................................................  79
Turn Signal Indicator Light ............................  79
High Beam ..................................................  79
Cooling System ...........................................  80
Tiptronic ...................................................... 81
Fuel ............................................................  82
Clock ..........................................................  83
Outside temperature ....................................  83
Check Engine Warning Light..........................  84
Central warning light ....................................  85
Brake warning light USA ............................... 85
Brake warning light Canada ..........................  85On-Board Computer (BC)...............................  86
Light Switch ..............................................  108
Welcome Home Lighting.............................  108
Automatic Headlight Beam Adjustment.........  109
Turn Signal/ Headlight Dimmer/Parking light / 
Flasher Lever.............................................  109
Windshield Wiper / Washer Lever ................  110
Automatic Speed Control ............................  112
Air conditioning ..........................................  114
Automatic air conditioning system ...............  117
Central and side vents................................  120
Fresh-air intake ..........................................  120
Emergency Flasher Switch ..........................  121
Ashtray .....................................................  122
Cigarette Lighter ........................................  123
Sockets ....................................................  124
Interior lights .............................................  125
Storage in the passenger compartment .......  126
Cupholder
(holder for drinks cans and cups) ................  128
Luggage Storage on 
Engine Compartment Lid ............................. 130
Fire extinguisher ........................................  131
Trunk Entrapment ......................................  132
Luggage compartment lids .........................  134
Luggage Compartment..............................  136
Rear luggage compartment ........................  137
Porsche Communication Management 
(PCM) ........................................................  138
Car Audio Operation/Tips ...........................  139
HomeLink ..................................................  142 

12
Controls, Instruments
Dear Porsche Owner A lot has gone into the manufacture of your 
Porsche, including advanced engineering, rigid 
quality control and demanding inspections. 
These engineering and safety features will be 
enhanced by you... the safe driver... – who knows his car and all controls, 
– who maintains the vehicle properly, 
– who uses driving skills wisely, and always 
drives within her/his own capabilities and the 
level of familiarity with the vehicle. 
You will find helpful hints in this manual on how to 
perform most of the checks listed on the following 
pages. 
If in doubt, have these checks performed by your 
authorized Porsche dealer. 
Before driving off... Check the following items first fTurn the engine off before you attempt any 
checks or repairs on the vehicle. 
fBe sure the tires are inflated correctly. 
Check tires for damage and tire wear. 
fSee that wheel bolts are properly tightened 
and not loose or missing. 
fCheck engine oil level, add if necessary. 
Make it a habit to have engine oil checked with 
every fuel filling. 
fCheck all fluid levels such as windshield was-
her and brake fluid levels. 
fBe sure the vehicle battery is well charged and 
cranks the engine properly. 
fCheck all doors and lids for proper operation 
and latch them properly. 
fCheck and if necessary replace worn or cra-
cked wiper blades. 
fSee that all windows are clear and unobstruc-
ted. 
fCheck air intake slots and area between front 
lid and windshield are free of snow and ice, so 
the heater and the windshield wipers work pro-
perly. fIf a child will be riding in the vehicle, check 
child seat/child seat restraint system to ensure 
that restraints are properly adjusted. 
fCheck all exterior and interior lights for opera-
tion and that the lenses are clean. 
fCheck the headlights for proper aim, and if ne-
cessary, have them adjusted. 
fCheck under the vehicle for leaks. 
fBe sure all luggage is stowed securely. 
Emergency equipment It is good practice to carry emergency equipment 
in your vehicle. 
Some of the items you should have are: 
window scraper, snow brush, container or bag of 
sand or salt, emergency light, small shovel, first-
aid kit, etc.  

Controls, Instruments
13
In the driver’s seat... fCheck operation of the horn. 
fPosition seat for easy reach of foot pedals and 
controls.
To reduce the possibility of injury from the air-
bag deployment, you should always sit back as 
far from the steering wheel as is practical, 
while still maintaining full vehicle control. 
fAdjust the inside and outside rear view mirrors. 
fBuckle your safety belts. 
fCheck operation of the foot and parking brake. 
fCheck all warning and indicator lights with 
ignition on and engine not running. 
fStart engine and check all warning displays for 
warning symbols. 
fNever leave an idling car unattended. 
fLock doors from inside, especially with child-
ren in the car to prevent inadvertent opening of 
doors from inside or outside.
Drive with doors locked. 
On the road... fNever drive after you have consumed alcohol 
or drugs. 
fAlways have your safety belt fastened. 
fAlways drive defensively. 
Expect the unexpected. 
fUse signals to indicate turns and lane changes. 
fTurn on headlights at dusk or when the driving 
conditions warrant it. 
fAlways keep a safe distance from the vehicle in 
front of you, depending on traffic, road and 
weather conditions. 
fReduce speed at night and during inclement 
weather.
Driving in wet weather requires caution and re-
duced speeds, particularly on roads with stan-
ding water, as the handling characteristics of 
the vehicle may be impaired due to hydropla-
ning of the tires. 
fAlways observe speed limits and obey road 
signs and traffic laws. 
fWhen tired, get well off the road, stop and take 
a rest. Turn the engine off. Do not sit in the ve-
hicle with engine idling. 
fPlease observe the chapter “ENGINE EX-
HAUST” on Page 8.fWhen parked, always set the parking brake. 
Move the Tiptronic selector lever to ”P“ or the 
gearshift lever to reverse or first gear. 
On hills also turn the front wheels toward the 
curb. 
fWhen emergency repairs become necessary, 
move the vehicle well off the road. Turn on the 
emergency flasher and use other warning de-
vices to alert other motorists. Do not park or 
operate the vehicle in areas where the hot ex-
haust system may come in contact with dry 
grass, brush, fuel spill or other flammable ma-
terial. 
fMake it a habit to have the engine oil checked 
with every fuel filling. 
 Danger!
Danger of fire in engine compartment due to 
burning cigars or cigarettes. 
fDo not throw any lit cigars or cigarettes out of 
the vehicle.
They can be blown into the air inlets by the air 
flow and cause a fire in the engine compart-
ment.
fPlease observe the chapter “ASHTRAY” on Page 122. 

16
Controls, Instruments
Never invite car theft! An unlocked car with the key in the ignition lock in-
vites car theft. 
A steering wheel lock and a gong alarm are stan-
dard equipment in your Porsche. 
The gong alarm will sound if you open the driver’s 
door while the key is still in the ignition lock. It is 
your reminder to pull the key out of the ignition 
lock and to lock the doors. 
 Warning!
Any uncontrolled movement of the vehicle 
may result in serious personal injury and pro-
perty damage.
Never leave your vehicle unattended with the 
key in the ignition lock, especially if children 
and/or pets are left unattended in the vehic-
le. They can operate power windows and 
other controls. If the engine is left running, 
they may accidentally engage the shift lever. 
fAlways remove the ignition key. 
fAlways set the parking brake. 
fLock the doors with the key or with the remote control. 
 Warning!
Risk of a serious accident. 
The steering column will lock when you re-
move the key while you are driving or as the 
car is rolling to a stop. You will not be able to 
steer the car. 
fNever remove the key from the steering lock while you are driving. To protect your vehicle and your possessions 
from theft, you should always proceed as fol-
lows when leaving your vehicle: 
fClose windows. 
fClose convertible top
(with the convertible top open, the passenger 
compartment monitoring system is always 
switched off). 
fLock glove compartment.
fRemove ignition key. 
fClose storage tray between the seats. 
fRemove valuables (e.g. car documents, tele-
phone, house keys) from the car. 
fLock doors.  

36
Controls, Instruments
M - Memory button
1 - Key button
2, 3 - Person buttonsSeat MemoryIndividual seat and door mirror settings can be 
stored and recalled for the driver’s position.
Further individual setting options are available in 
vehicles with the Sport Chrono package Plus.
Please observe the chapter “Individual Memory” in 
the separate PCM operating instructions.
 Warning!
Risk of crushing due to uncontrolled recall of 
a seat setting.
fCancel automatic adjustment by pressing any 
of the seat adjustment buttons.
fDo not leave children in the vehicle unattended.Operation with person buttons 2, 3Storing seat position
1. Switch on ignition.
Reverse gear must not be engaged.
2. Set the desired seat and door-mirror positions.
3. Keep memory button M depressed and 
additionally press person button 2 or 3.
The individual setting is now stored under the 
desired person button.Recalling seat position
The seat position can only be called up when the 
vehicle is stationary.
1. Switch on the ignition or
open the driver’s door.
2. Press person button until the seat has reached 
its final position.
The door mirror and the lumbar support 
setting will be completed even if the person 
button is not kept depressed.
Note
Automatic seat adjustment can be interrupted 
immediately by releasing the button. 

44
Controls, Instruments
Automatic locking retractor The safety belt for the passengers seat is equip-
ped with an automatic locking retractor for secu-
ring a child restraint system. 
When activated, this retractor allows you to secu-
rely fasten the child restraint system in place so 
that inadvertent movements will not occur. Activating the automatic locking retractor 
1. Pull the safety belt retractor completely out.
At this point the locking mechanism is activa-
ted. 
2. Insert the safety belt tongue into the buckle 
and make certain that it is properly latched. 
3. Allow the safety belt to retract until it is tight on 
the child restraint system. You may further tigh-
ten the belt by pulling on it to allow more of it 
to retract. Releasing the safety belt 
1. Unbuckle the safety belt latch. 
2. Then make certain that the belt has fully retrac-
ted. 
At this point the automatic locking feature will 
be disengaged.  

Controls, Instruments
45
Child Restraint Systems Porsche recommends that all infants and children 
be restrained in child restraint systems at all times 
while the vehicle is in motion in accordance with 
applicable laws. 
The use of infant or child restraints is required by 
law in all 50 states and the Canadian provinces. 
The child restraint system should be one that com-
plies with U.S. Federal/Canadian Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standards 213 and should be secured by a 
lap belt or lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt or 
for child seats equipped with the LATCH system 
(Lower Anchorage and Tether for Children, also 
known as ISOFIX) to the LATCH anchorages. 
A statement by the seat manufacturer of compli-
ance with this standard can be found on the in-
struction label on the restraint and in the instruc-
tion manual provided with the restraint. 
Note
The key switch for switching off the passenger’s 
airbag and the LATCH attachment bracket are not 
installed at the factory. This can be retrofitted.
fPlease see your authorized Porsche dealer.
 Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death to the 
child. 
fFollow all child restraint instructions and war-nings in this manual. 
– When using an infant or child restraint system, 
be sure to follow all manufacturer’s instruc-
tions on installation and use. 
– Infants and small children should never be held 
on the lap, nor should they share a safety belt 
with another occupant while the vehicle is in 
motion. 
– Children too big for child restraint systems 
should use regular safety belts. A shoulder belt 
can be used providing it does not cross the 
face or the neck of the child.
– The airbag deactivation device installation re-
quires special programming available only 
from your authorized Porsche dealer. 
– Your authorized Porsche dealer will be glad to 
advise you about the installation possibility for 
a Porsche child restraint system which allows 
deactivation of the passenger’s airbags. 
 Danger!
The use of a child restraint system in the pas-
senger seat without airbag deactivation can 
result in serious personal injury or death to 
the child from an airbag deployment.
To reduce risk of injury from an inflating air-
bag in an accident, Porsche strongly recom-
mends: 
fFor children up to a weight of 59 lbs. (27 kg), 
the passenger’s airbag must be switched off if 
a child retraint system is used on the passen-
ger’s seat.
The passenger’s airbag must be switched on for children weighing over 59 lbs. (27 kg).
fPlease observe the chapter “KEY-OPERATED 
AIRBAG DEACTIVATION DEVICE” on Page 48. 

46
Controls, Instruments
Key-operated airbag deactivation 
deviceIf you decide to put a child seat in the passenger's 
seat, then you must order the key-operated airbag 
deactivation device as an After Sales option. It is 
not standard equipment on this vehicle. This de-
vice is the only way to deactivate the airbag.
fPlease observe the chapter “KEY-OPERATED 
AIRBAG DEACTIVATION DEVICE” on Page 48.Children up to 9 months oldChildren of this age must be held in a restraint 
system which is installed on the passenger’s seat 
facing backwards.
fThe passenger’s airbag must be switched off.Children aged between 9 months and 
3yearsChildren of this age are held in child restraint 
systems facing forwards. 
fThe passenger’s airbag must be switched off 
when these systems are used on the 
passenger’s seat.
Children aged between 3 and 6  yearsChildren of this age are held in child restraint 
systems facing forwards. 
fThe passenger’s airbag must be switched off 
when these systems are used on the 
passenger’s seat.
Children aged between 6 and 12 yearsChildren of this age are held in child restraint 
systems facing forwards. 
fThe passenger’s airbag must be switched off 
when these systems are used on the passen-
ger’s seat.
The passenger’s airbag must be switched on 
for children weighing over 59 lbs. (27 kg).