
112Special operating instructions
Break-in proceduresTo ensure that your vehicle provides 
maximum economy throughout a long 
service life, we request that you comply 
with the following information.Engine and differentialThe first 1,250 miles/2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and road 
speeds, but do not exceed an engine 
speed of 4,500 rpm or a road speed of 
100 mph / 160 km/h.
Always obey all official speed limits.
Do not use full throttle, and avoid 
pressing the accelerator beyond the 
kickdown point during these initial 
miles.
You can then proceed to increase 
engine or vehicle speeds once the ini-
tial 1,250 miles/2,000 km have elapsed.TiresDue to technical factors associated 
with their manufacture, tires do not 
achieve their full traction potential until 
after an initial break-in period. We thus 
ask you to drive with extra care during 
the first 200 miles/300 km.
Always obey all official speed limits.When the vehicle is operated on 
wet or slushy roads, a wedge of 
water may form between the tire and 
the road surface. This phenomenon is 
referred to as hydroplaning and can 
lead to partial or complete loss of trac-
tion, vehicle control and braking effec-
tiveness. Reduce your speed on wet 
roads.<
Brake systemApprox. 300 miles/500 km must elapse 
before the brake pads and rotors 
achieve the optimal pad-surface and 
wear patterns required for trouble-free 
operation and an extended service life 
later on.
To break in the separate parking brake 
drums, apply the parking brake lightly 
when coasting to a standstill – at a traf-
fic signal, for instance – provided that 
traffic conditions allow you to do so.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this proce-
dure from time to time.ClutchApprox. 300 miles/500 km must elapse 
before the clutch starts to operate at 
optimum efficiency. Remember to 
engage the clutch carefully during this 
initial period.
After replacing partsFollow the same break-in procedures if 
any of the components mentioned 
above have to be replaced in the future. 

113
General driving notesHot exhaust system
High temperatures occur with 
every vehicle equipped with a cat-
alytic converter. Heat shields are 
installed adjacent to some sections of 
the exhaust system. Never remove 
these shields; do not apply undercoat-
ing to their surfaces. When driving, 
standing at idle and parking the vehicle, 
take care to avoid contact between the 
hot exhaust system and flammable 
materials, e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc. 
Such contact could lead to a fire, 
resulting in serious personal injury and 
property damage.<
Parking the vehicleCondensation forms in the air condi-
tioner system during operation, which 
then exits under the vehicle. Traces of 
condensed water on the ground under-
neath the vehicle are thus normal.Before driving through a car washFold in the exterior mirrors manually 
because they could otherwise be dam-
aged due to the width of the vehicle.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy 
roads, reduce your speed. If you 
do not, a wedge of water may form 
between tire and road surface. This 
phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or com-
plete loss of traction, vehicle control 
and braking effectiveness.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as 
the tread depth of the tires decreases, 
refer also to Tire tread on page 120.
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. Other-
wise, the vehicle's engine, the electrical 
systems and the transmission may be 
damaged.<
Braking safelyYour BMW is equipped with ABS as a 
standard feature. If you are in a situa-
tion which requires full braking, it is 
best to brake using maximum brake 
pressure: panic stop. Since the vehicle 
maintains steering responsiveness, you 
can avoid possible obstacles with a 
minimum of steering effort, despite the 
full brake application.
Pulsation at the brake pedal, combined 
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits, 
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its 
active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting 
on the brake pedal. Otherwise, 
even light but consistent pedal pres-
sure can lead to high temperatures, 
brake wear and possibly even brake 
failure.<
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. Monitor traffic condi-
tions to ensure that this maneuver does 
not endanger other road users. The 
heat generated in this process helps 
dry the pads and rotors. Immediate 
braking force is then available if neces-
sary.
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114
Inclines:
To prevent overheating and, as a 
result, diminished braking effec-
tiveness, drive down long or steep 
downhill grades in a gear which 
requires the least braking. Otherwise, 
even light but consistent pedal pres-
sure can lead to high temperatures, 
brake wear and possibly even brake 
failure.<
The braking power of the engine can be 
further enhanced by downshifting the 
automatic transmission in manual 
mode, if necessary, into first gear. This 
helps avoid placing excessive loads on 
the brake system.
Do not coast with the clutch 
depressed or with the transmis-
sion or selector lever in Neutral. Do not 
coast with the engine switched off. Oth-
erwise, the engine provides no braking 
effect while the transmission is in idling 
position, 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 ped-
als.<
Corrosion on the brake rotorsLimited vehicle use, extended periods 
with the vehicle parked or in storage, 
and operating conditions in which brak-
ing is restricted to gentle, low-pressure 
applications will all increase the ten-
dency for corrosion to form on the 
rotors and contamination to accumulate 
on the brake pads. This occurs because 
the minimal pressure 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 that even extended 
brake applications will fail to cure.
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only 
brake pads that BMW has 
released for your particular vehicle 
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if 
they are suitable for use, and therefore 
cannot ensure the operating safety of 
the vehicle if they are installed.<
Portable phone in the vehicle
BMW advises against using 
mobile equipment, e.g. cellular 
phones, inside the vehicle without con-
necting them directly to an outside 
antenna. Otherwise, it cannot be ruled 
out that vehicle electronics and the 
mobile equipment interfere with one 
another. In addition, it is not ensured 
that the radio waves emitted during 
transmission are directed outside of the 
vehicle interior.<
General driving notes 

Everything from A to Z
161
Battery 145
charge 145
charge current 18
disposal 145
indicator lamp 18
jump-starting 147
remote control 28, 29
Belts, refer to Safety 
belts 46
Beverage holders 100, 101
Blower
air conditioning 92
automatic climate 
control 96
BMW High Performance 
Synthetic Oils 127
BMW Maintenance 
System 130
BMW sports seat 43
Bottle holders, see Bever-
age holders 100, 101
Brake fluid 128
indicator lamp 18, 128
level 128
Brake force display 84
Brake lamps
bulb replacement 139
indicator lamp, defective 
lamp 76
Brake lamps, refer to Brake 
force display 84Brake pads
brake fluid level 18, 129
breaking in 112
Brake rotors
breaking in 112
Brake system
brake pads, indicator 
lamp 19
Brake wear warning
indicator lamp 19
Brakes
ABS 115
brake fluid 128
brake force display 84
brake pads 114
breaking in 112
driving notes 113
indicator/warning lamp 
18, 19
parking brake 61
Break-in procedures 112
Bulb replacement, refer to 
Lamps and bulbs 137
Bulb, replacing 137
Buttons in steering wheel 21
C
California laws
event data recorders 132
Proposition 65 
warning 132Can holders, see Beverage 
holders 100, 101
Capacities 157
Car battery 145
Car care, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Car keys, refer to Keys 28
Car radio, refer to the 
Owner's Manual for Radio
Car telephone 
preparation 101
Car telephone, refer to the 
separate Owner's Manual
Car vacuum cleaner, con-
necting 102
Car wash, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Carpet care, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Cassette operation, refer to 
the Owner's Manual for 
Radio/Onboard Computer
CBC Cornering Brake Con-
trol 115
warning lamp 18
CD changer, refer to the 
Owner's Manual for 
Radio/Onboard Computer
CD operation, refer to the 
Owner's Manual for 
Radio/Onboard ComputerCenter high-mount brake 
lamp
bulb replacement 140
Central locking system 28
button 32
passenger 
compartment 32
Charge indicator lamp 18
Check Control 76
Check Gas Cap
indicator lamp 19
Child seats, refer to Child-
restraint systems 54
Child-restraint mounting 
system (LATCH) 56
Child-restraint systems 54
Chock 142
Cigarette lighter 102
Cleaning chrome parts, refer 
to the Caring for your vehi-
cle brochure
Cleaning light alloy wheels, 
refer to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Cleaning the vehicle, refer to 
the Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Cleaning windshield 72
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