
 
Contents
 
9
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags51
Transporting children safely54
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory58
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock59
Starting the engine59
Switching off the engine61
Parking brake61
Manual transmission62
Sequential manual gearbox 
SMG*63
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*67
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher70
Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor*71
Cruise control*72
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer74
Tachometer74
Energy control74
Fuel gauge75
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge75
Service interval display76
Check Control76
Clock77
Computer78
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)*80
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)81
Flat Tire Monitor*82
Brake force display84
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams85
Adaptive headlights*86
Instrument lighting86
High beams/Standing lamps87
Front fog lamps87
Interior lamps88
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning90
Automatic climate control*94
Roller sun blind*98
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Premium sound system*99
Glove compartment99
Storage compartments100
Microphone*101
Ashtray, front*102
Ashtray, rear*102
Clothes hooks103
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Through-loading system104
Ski bag*105
Cargo loading106
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack*109
 
Controls and features 

 
15
1Parking lamps/Low beams85
2
 
>
 
Turn signal indicators70
 
>
 
Standing lamps87
 
>
 
High beams87
 
>
 
Headlamp flasher70
 
>
 
Computer78
3Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor71
4Hazard warning flashers
5Central locking system28
6
 
>
 
Initiating an emergency call146
 
>
 
Mobile Service147
7Rear window defroster92, 97
8Horn: the entire surface
9Adjusting the steering wheel50
10 Fog lamps87
 
Cockpit
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

29
Opening and closing – via the remote controlThe conceptThe remote control also provides two 
additional functions beyond the central 
locking feature:
>To switch on interior lamps, refer to 
page 30.
With this function you can also 
search for your vehicle when parked 
in an underground garage, for 
instance
>To open the luggage compartment 
lid, refer to page 30.
The luggage compartment lid will 
open slightly, regardless of whether it 
was previously locked or unlocked.
Whenever you unlock or lock the vehi-
cle, you simultaneously deactivate/acti-
vate the anti-theft system, disarm/arm 
the alarm system and switch the interior 
lamps on/off.
You can have a signal set to con-
firm that the vehicle's locks have 
engaged securely.<
Master keys with remote control
Persons or animals inside the 
vehicle may be able to lock the 
doors from the inside. For this reason, 
always take the vehicle keys with you 
so that the vehicle can be opened again 
from the outside at any time.<
If it is no longer possible to lock 
the vehicle via the remote control, 
the battery is discharged. Use this key 
while driving for an extended period in 
order to recharge the battery.
To prevent unauthorized use of the 
remote control, surrender only the 
spare key when leaving the vehicle for 
valet parking, for example.
In the event of a system malfunction, 
please contact your BMW center. You 
can also obtain replacement keys 
there.<
1Unlock, convenience opening mode, 
and disarm alarm system
2Lock and secure, arm alarm system, 
activate interior lamps, disarm tilt 
alarm sensor and interior motion sen-
sor
3Open the luggage compartment lid, 
Panic mode – trigger alarmTo releasePress the button once to unlock the 
driver's door.
Press the button a second time to dis-
engage all vehicle locks.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

36
Floor matYou can turn the floor mat over to trans-
port soiled objects, etc. The rubber-
coated side is suitable for washing and 
is also designed to inhibit sliding.
The fittings at the corners of the lug-
gage compartment provide you with a 
convenient means of attaching luggage 
compartment nets* and flexible straps 
for securing luggage.
Refer also to Cargo loading on 
page 106.
Alarm system*The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the lug-
gage compartment lid is opened
>To movement inside the vehicle – 
interior motion sensor
>To variations in the vehicle's tilt angle 
such as those occurring during 
attempts to steal the wheels or tow 
the vehicle – tilt alarm sensor.
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized 
vehicle entry and attempted theft by 
simultaneously activating the following:
>The acoustic alarm sounds for 
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>The high beams flash on and off in 
rhythm with the hazard warning flash-
ers.To arm and disarm the alarm 
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked 
via the remote control or the driver's 
door lock, the alarm system is also 
simultaneously armed or disarmed.You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm 
arming and disarming.<
You can also open the luggage com-
partment lid when the system is armed 
by pressing the remote control button, 
refer to page 30. The lid is once again 
secured when it is closed.
Extended pressure on the button sets 
off the alarm – Panic mode, refer to 
page 30.
Luggage compartment 

37
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior 
rearview mirror flashes continuously: 
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes immedi-
ately after the vehicle is locked: doors 
or luggage compartment lid are not 
completely closed. Even if you do not 
close the alerted area(s), the remain-
ing areas are secured, and the indi-
cator lamp will flash continuously 
after 10 seconds. However, the inte-
rior motion sensor is not activated
>The indicator lamp goes out immedi-
ately after the vehicle is unlocked: no 
manipulation or attempted intrusions 
have been detected in the period 
since the system was armed
>The indicator lamp flashes for 
10 seconds immediately after the 
system is armed: an attempted entry 
has been detected in the period since 
the system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the 
indicator lamp will flash continuously.Tilt alarm sensor and interior 
motion sensorTilt alarm sensor:
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The 
alarm system reacts, for example, to 
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the 
vehicle
Interior motion sensor:
In order for the interior motion sensor to 
function properly, the windows and the 
glass sunroof must be completely 
closed.Avoiding unintentional alarmsThe tilt alarm sensor and interior motion 
sensor may be switched off at the same 
time. You can do this to prevent a false 
alarm, e.g. in the following situations:
>In garages with elevator ramps
>When the vehicle is being trans-
ported by train
>When animals are to remain in the 
vehicle.
To deactivate the tilt alarm and 
interior motion sensors>Press the button on the remote con-
trol twice.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and 
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm 
sensor and the interior motion sensor 
are deactivated until the vehicle is 
unlocked and locked again.
You can have the tilt alarm sensor 
and the interior motion sensor 
permanently deactivated.<
The system inadvertently deacti-
vates the tilt alarm sensor and the 
interior motion sensor if the conve-
nience closing of windows and glass 
sunroof is interrupted within the first 
10 seconds and then restarted. The 
vehicle must then be unlocked and 
relocked before the sensors will resume 
operation.<
Alarm system*
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

71
Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor*0Wipers retracted
1Intermittent mode or rain sensor
2Normal wiper speed
3Fast wiper speed
4Brief wipe
5Rotary dial for control of the wipe 
interval or the sensitivity of the rain 
sensorIntermittent modeNot on vehicles with rain sensor.
You can select any of four sweep inter-
vals with rotary dial 5.
In addition, the wipe interval varies 
automatically depending on road 
speed.
Rain sensorThe rain sensor is positioned on the 
windshield, directly behind the interior 
rearview mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
>With the ignition key in position 1 
or 2, move the lever to position 1. 
The wipers will make at least one 
sweep across the windshield.
You can leave the lever in position 1 
at all times. With the ignition key in 
position 1 or 2, all you then need to 
do to activate the rain sensor is to
>turn rotary dial 5 upward or
>clean windshield 1, refer to page 72.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain sen-
sor: turn rotary dial 5.
To switch off the rain sensor:
Return lever to position 0.
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. Failure to do so 
could result in damage caused by 
undesired wiper activation.
wipe – not on vehicles with rain sensor.
Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the wip-
ers revert to operate at normal speed – 
not on vehicles with rain sensor.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

72
Cleaning windshield and 
headlamps*0Wipers retracted
1Clean windshield and headlamps*
Do not use the washers if there is 
any danger that the fluid will 
freeze on the windshield, as your vision 
could be obscured. Always use a wind-
shield washer antifreeze in cold 
weather. Refer to page 126.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty, as this could cause dam-
age to the washer pump.<
The system sprays washer fluid against 
the windshield and activates the wipers 
for a brief period.
When the vehicle's lighting system is 
switched on, the headlamps will also be 
cleaned at reasonable intervals.Windshield washer nozzlesThe windshield washer nozzles are 
heated automatically* when the ignition 
key is in position 2.
Cruise control*You can store and automatically main-
tain any desired vehicle speed above 
approx. 20 mph / 30 km/h.
The cruise control is available whenever 
the engine is running and the system 
has been activated.To activate the systemIn ignition key position 2:
Press the button in the steering wheel. 
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on, refer to page 20. You 
can now use the cruise control.
Do not use cruise control on twist-
ing roads, when high traffic den-
sity prevents driving at a constant 
speed, or when the road surface is slick 
– snow, rain, ice – or loose – rocks or 
gravel, sand.
cluster goes out.
Cruise control is also deactivated when 
the ignition key is in position 0.
Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor* 

80Technology for safety and driving convenience
Park Distance Control (PDC)*The conceptPDC assists you when you back into a 
parking space. Acoustic signals alert 
you to the momentary distance to an 
object behind your vehicle. For this pur-
pose, four ultrasonic sensors in the rear 
bumper measure the distance to the 
next object. The monitoring range for 
the rear bumper's two corner sensors 
extends outward roughly 2 ft/60 cm, 
while the two centrally located sensors 
detect objects at distances of up to 
approx. 5 ft/1.50 meters.
PDC is a parking aid that can 
identify objects if they are 
approached slowly, as is generally the 
case when parking. Avoid driving 
towards objects rapidly; due to underly-
ing physical principles, the system may 
otherwise alert you too late for you to 
take evasive steps.<
The system starts to operate automati-
cally approx. one second after you shift 
into Reverse or move the selector lever 
into the R position with the ignition key 
in position 2. 
Let this short period elapse before 
driving backwards.<
PDC is deactivated when you shift back 
out of Reverse.
You can have a signal set to con-
firm that the PDC has been acti-
vated. The signal then sounds when 
you shift into Reverse or move the 
selector lever into the R position.
intervals. As the distance between vehi-
cle and object decreases, the intervals 
between the tones become shorter. A 
continuous tone indicates the pres-
ence of an object less than 1 ft/30 cm 
away.
The warning signal is canceled after 
approx. three seconds if the distance to 
the object remains constant during this 
time – if you are moving parallel to 
a wall, for instance.
System malfunctions will be indicated 
by a continuous high-pitched tone 
when the system is activated the first 
time. Please have the problem fixed by 
your BMW center.
PDC does not replace the driver's 
personal responsibility for evaluat-
ing the distance between the vehicle 
and any objects. Even when sensors 
are involved, there is a blind spot in 
which objects cannot be detected. This 
applies especially in those cases where 
the system approaches the physical 
limits of ultrasonic measurement, as 
occurs with tow bars and trailer cou-
plings, and in the vicinity of thin or 
wedge-shaped objects. Moreover, low 
objects that have already been 
detected – such as a curb edge – can 
disappear out of the detection range of 
the sensors before a continuous tone 
sounds.
Loud sources of sound from outside or 
inside the vehicle could drown out the 
PDC signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free 
of ice or snow in order to ensure 
that they will continue to operate effec-
tively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the 
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Always maintain a distance of more 
than 4 in/10 cm.<