
 
5
 
Notes
 
Your individual vehicle
 
On purchasing your BMW, you have 
decided in favor of a model with individ-
ualized equipment and features. This 
Owner's Manual describes all models 
and equipment that BMW offers within 
the same group.
We hope you will understand that 
equipment and features are included 
that you might not have chosen for your 
vehicle. You can easily identify any dif-
ferences with the aid of the asterisk   
used to identify all optional equipment 
and accessories.
If your BMW features equipment such 
as a car radio or telephone, which is not 
described in this Owner's Manual, Sup-
plementary Owner's Manuals are 
enclosed. We ask you to read these 
manuals as well.
 
Status at time of printing
 
BMW pursues a policy of continuous, 
ongoing development that is conceived 
to ensure that our vehicles continue to 
embody the highest quality and safety 
standards combined with advanced, 
state-of-the-art technology. For this 
reason, the features described in this 
Owner's Manual could differ from those 
in your vehicle. Nor can errors and 
omissions be entirely ruled out. You are 
therefore asked to appreciate that no 
claims can be recognized on the basis 
of the data, illustrations or descriptions 
in this Owner's Manual.
 
For your own safety
Maintenance and repair
 
Advanced technology, e.g. the 
use of modern materials and high-
performance electronics, requires spe-
cially adapted maintenance and repair 
methods. Therefore, only have corre-
sponding work on your BMW carried 
out by a BMW center or a workshop 
that works according to BMW repair 
procedures with correspondingly 
trained personnel. If work is carried out 
improperly there is a danger of conse-
quential damage and the related safety 
risks.
 
< 

 
6
 
Notes
 
Parts and accessories
 
Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine 
parts and accessories approved by 
BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested 
and approved by BMW and Original 
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire 
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure opti-
mum performance when installed on 
your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free 
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for 
damage resulting from installation of 
parts and accessories not approved by 
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made 
by other manufacturers to ascertain 
whether it can be used on a BMW 
safely and without risk to either the 
vehicle, its operation, or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories 
and other products approved by BMW, 
together with professional advice on 
using these items, are available from all 
BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW 
approved accessories such as alarms, 
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors, 
 
wheels, suspension components, brake 
dust shields, telephones – including 
operation of any portable cellular phone 
from within the vehicle without using an 
externally mounted antenna – or trans-
ceiver equipment such as a CB, walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar, may cause 
extensive damage to the vehicle, com-
promise its safety, interfere with the 
vehicle's electrical system or affect the 
validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. 
Contact your BMW center for additional 
information.
Do not use key or remote control to 
lock doors or luggage compartment 
with anyone inside the vehicle. Refer to 
the Owner's Manual for more details.
 
<
 
Maintenance, replacement, or 
repair of the emission control 
devices and systems may be performed 
by any automotive repair establishment 
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.
 
<
 
Service and warranty
 
This manual is supplemented by a Ser-
vice and Warranty Information Booklet 
for US models or a Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide Booklet for Canadian mod-
els.
We recommend that you read this pub-
lication thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following 
warranties:
 
>
 
New Vehicle Limited Warranty
 
>
 
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
 
>
 
Federal Emissions System Defect 
Warranty
 
>
 
Federal Emissions Performance War-
ranty
 
>
 
California Emission Control System 
Limited Warranty.
Detailed information about these war-
ranties is listed in the Service and War-
ranty Information Booklet for US mod-
els or in the Warranty and Service 
Guide Booklet for Canadian models. 

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 

30
Convenience opening modePress the button briefly and then keep it 
pressed. The electric power windows 
and the glass sunroof open.To lock and securePress button.To switch on the interior lampsWith the vehicle locked, press button.
With this function, you can also search 
for your vehicle when parked in an 
underground garage, for instance.To open the luggage 
compartment lidPress button briefly.
The luggage compartment lid will open 
slightly, regardless of whether it was 
previously locked or unlocked.
If the vehicle was previously 
locked, the luggage compartment 
is also locked again after it is closed.
Before and after a trip, be sure that the 
luggage compartment lid has not been 
opened unintentionally.<
Panic mode* – trigger alarmBy pressing the button for more than 
2 seconds, the alarm system* can be 
triggered in the event of danger, if the 
system is armed.
To switch off the alarm:
Press button.External systemsMalfunctions:
Local radio waves can impede the func-
tioning of the remote control.
If this occurs, open and close the vehi-
cle using a master key in the door lock.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units com-
ply with part 15 of the FCC Federal 
Communications Commission regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the fol-
lowing:
FCC ID:
>LX8EWS
>LX8FZVS
>LX8FZVE.
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the 
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the 
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful 
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference 
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to 
these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate the equip-
ment.<
Opening and closing – via the remote control 

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 

59 Driving
Ignition lockIgnition key positions0Steering locked
1Steering unlocked
2Ignition switched on
3Starting the engine
Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion:
Do not move the selector lever from 
position P until the engine is running – 
ignition key position 2.
Your vehicle is equipped with an inter-
lock. Therefore, the ignition key cannot 
be turned to position 0 or removed until 
the selector lever is in position P.<
Vehicles with manual transmis-
sion:
Step on the clutch when starting the 
vehicle. A lockout prevents the engine 
from starting if the clutch is not 
depressed.<
Steering lockedThe key can only be inserted and 
removed in this position.
After removing the key, turn the steer-
ing wheel slightly to the left or right until 
the lock engages.
If the key is not removed, an acoustic 
signal is sounded after the driver's door 
has been opened.Steering unlockedYou will find that it is often easier to turn 
the ignition key from position 0 to posi-
tion 1 when you move the steering 
wheel slightly to help disengage the 
lock.
Individual electrical accessories are 
ready for operation.
Starting the engine
Do not allow the engine to warm 
up by leaving it running while the 
vehicle remains stationary. Instead, 
drive off immediately at a moderate 
engine speed.<
Do not allow the engine to run in 
enclosed spaces. Otherwise, 
breathing the exhaust fumes can lead 
to unconsciousness and death. The 
exhaust gases contain carbon monox-
ide, an odorless and colorless, but 
highly toxic gas. Do not leave the vehi-
cle unattended with the engine running. 
An unattended vehicle with a running 
engine represents a safety hazard. 
When driving, standing at idle or park-
ing the vehicle, take care to avoid con-
tact between the hot exhaust system 
and flammable materials – grass, hay, 
leaves, etc. Such contact could lead to 
a fire, resulting in serious personal 
injury and property damage.<
Start the engine. Do not press the 
accelerator pedal.
Do not actuate the starter for too 
short a time, but do not actuate it 
for more than approx. 20 seconds. 
Release the ignition key immediately 
when the engine starts.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

61
Switching off the engine
You should never remove the igni-
tion key when the vehicle is in 
motion, as the steering lock could 
engage.
When you leave the vehicle, always 
remove the ignition key and engage the 
steering lock.
Always engage the parking brake when 
parking on slopes and inclined sur-
faces. Engaging a gear may not provide 
adequate resistance to rolling.<
Vehicles with manual 
transmissionTurn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.Automatic transmissionMove the selector lever into position P, 
and turn the ignition key to position 1 or 
0.SMG gearboxIf you turn the ignition key to position 1 
or 0 with the selector lever in position 
R, or in sequential mode, a gear auto-
matically remains engaged.
If you turn the ignition key to position 1 
or 0 with the selector lever in neutral 
position N, a warning tone and the 
flashing gear indicator in the display 
remind you that no gear is engaged to 
secure the vehicle against rolling.
The warning stops after approx. 
9 seconds.
Parking brakeThe parking brake is designed primarily 
to prevent the vehicle from rolling when 
it is parked. It operates on the rear 
wheels.To engageThe detent engages automatically, and 
the indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on when the ignition key 
is in position 2, refer to page 18.To releasePull up slightly on the lever, press the 
button and lower the lever.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

64
RReverseSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary.NNeutralAlways engage before starting the 
engine, refer to Starting the engine on 
page 60.Sequential modeEach time the engine is started, the 
sequential mode is activated as soon as 
you move the selector lever into the for-
ward driving position while the brake is 
depressed.
The gears are shifted via the shift pad-
dles or the selector lever.
It is also possible to drive off in second 
gear, e.g. on snow-covered roads.DDrive modeIn the drive mode all forward gears are 
shifted automatically. 
To switch from sequential to drive 
mode: tap the selector lever to the right 
toward D.
For rapid acceleration, e.g. during 
passing, depress the accelerator pedal 
completely: kickdown.To switch back to sequential mode: tap 
the selector lever again to the right 
toward D or change the current gear via 
the shift paddles or the selector lever.
KickdownYou can achieve maximum acceleration 
using kickdown.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the 
increased resistance point at the full-
throttle position.
Shifting gearsWith the selector lever:
>To upshift, tap the selector lever 
toward +
>To downshift, tap the lever toward —.
With the shift paddles on the steering 
wheel:
>To upshift, pull one of the shift pad-
dles
>To downshift, push the paddle.
You accelerate from higher gears, e.g. 
during passing, by manually downshift-
ing.
In the following situations, the SMG in 
the sequential mode assists you:
>Upshifts and downshifts are only exe-
cuted at appropriate combinations of 
engine rpm and vehicle speed. For 
Sequential manual gearbox SMG*