
58
Vehicle Memory, Key MemoryHow the system functionsNo doubt you have reflected at one 
time or another on how great it would 
be if you could permanently configure 
your vehicle's various features and 
adjustments to mirror your own individ-
ual preferences. In engineering your 
vehicle, BMW has provided for a num-
ber of options for personal adjustment 
that can be programmed into your vehi-
cle at your BMW center.
The available configuration data fall into 
two categories, according to whether 
their primary orientation is the vehicle – 
Vehicle Memory – or the individual – 
Key Memory. Provided that each per-
son has a separate remote-control key, 
you can have your BMW center enter 
adjustment data for as many as four dif-
ferent individuals into the system.
The system then relies on a bilateral 
data exchange to identify the individual 
user and executes the selected settings 
whenever the remote control unit is 
used to disengage the door locks.
Distinguishing between keysColor-coded decals have been pro-
vided to help you distinguish individual 
keys with different settings.What the system can doYour BMW center can provide you with 
details on the capabilities of the Vehicle 
Memory and Key Memory systems.
You will see this symbol through-
out the Owner's Manual. It is to 
remind you at appropriate places of the 
settings that are available to you.<
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Various signals as acknowledgment 
when locking or unlocking your vehi-
cle, refer to pages 29, 31
>Activates/deactivates the 'Follow me 
home' function, refer to page 85
>Activates/deactivates daytime driv-
ing lamps, refer to page 85
>Sets the units of measure for display-
ing time, outside temperature, dis-
tance traveled and fuel consumption 
in the instrument cluster
>When you shift into Reverse, an 
acoustic signal indicates that PDC 
has been activated, refer to page 80
>Switches on rear window defroster 
automatically, refer to pages 92, 97
>Activates/deactivates various alarm 
system functions, refer to page 37
>After giving an ice warning, the 
onboard computer display returns to 
the previous setting, refer to page 78.
Examples for Key Memory:
>Unlocks driver's door first, then the 
vehicle's remaining locks, refer to 
page 29
>Locks the vehicle automatically after 
you start off, refer to page 32
>Automatically adjusts the driver's 
seat to the personal programmed 
settings when the vehicle is 
unlocked, refer to page 47
>Automatic tilting of the passenger-
side mirror, refer to Automatic curb 
monitor, page 48. 

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* 

77
ClockIf you wish to have a permanent time 
display, you can make this adjustment 
in the radio display, refer to the Owner's 
Manual for Radio.
You can adjust the clock and the time 
display in the car radio as follows.
Setting
Before the clock can be set, the 
time must be showing in the 
instrument cluster display.<
With the ignition key in position 1 or 
higher.
To set ahead: turn the right button to 
the right.
To set back: turn the right button to the 
left.
The adjustment speed will increase the 
longer you continue to hold the right 
button.
To change the display mode: press the 
right button briefly.
Every time you press the button, the 
clock display alternates between the 
12-hour and 24-hour mode.
In ignition key position 0: the time is 
displayed for a few seconds after you 
press the left button, refer to Odometer 
on page 74.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

78
ComputerMode selectionWith the ignition key in position 1 or 
higher, you can use the onboard com-
puter button BC in the turn signal lever 
to retrieve information from the com-
puter for display in the instrument clus-
ter. 
Every time you tap the onboard com-
puter button BC, the display changes to 
the next function in sequence.
Order of the displays:
>Clock
>Outside temperature
>Average fuel consumption
>Range
>Average speed.
When the ignition key is in position 1 
and higher, the last active setting is dis-
played.
Outside temperatureYou can change the units of measure – 
7/6 – for the outside temperature dis-
play by pressing the right-hand reset 
button in the instrument cluster while 
the temperature display is active. The 
units of measure – 7/6 – in the tem-
perature display of the automatic cli-
mate control change automatically, 
refer to page 94.Ice warningIf the outside temperature drops to 
about 37.57/+36, then the computer 
will automatically switch to a display of 
the outside temperature. In addition, a 
signal sounds as a warning and the dis-
play flashes for a brief period. 

83
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot pro-
vide you with advance warning of 
sudden and severe tire damage caused 
by external factors and does not detect 
the balanced and very gradual pressure 
loss that takes place in all four tires 
over an extended period of time.<
On the other hand, the following situa-
tions can lead to a delayed detection of 
pressure loss and even to the system 
not functioning:
>Driving on snow-covered or slippery 
roads 
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at 
the drive wheels, high levels of lateral 
acceleration
>When driving with snow chains, false 
warnings and undetected pressure 
losses may occur
>When driving with a space-saver 
spare tire, the Flat Tire Monitor can-
not function.
Initializing the system
Each time you correct the pres-
sure in a tire, or change a wheel or 
tire, reinitialize the system immediately 
afterwards. This requires a bit of driv-
ing.<
1. Before driving off, start the engine 
but do not start driving
2. Press the button as long as you need 
to, but no more than 10 seconds, 
until the indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up in yellow for a 
few seconds
3. Drive off.
It takes a few minutes before the Flat 
Tire Monitor can detect a flat tire and 
issue a warning.
When driving with snow chains or 
a space-saver spare tire, do not 
initialize the system.<
Flat tire
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up red. This 
visual alert is accompanied by 
an acoustic warning signal.
1. Carefully reduce speed and come to 
a stop. Avoid sudden braking and 
steering maneuvers
2. Determine which wheel is damaged
If this cannot be determined, con-
tact your BMW center.<
3. Replace the damaged wheel, refer to 
Changing a wheel on page 141.
After replacing the damaged tire, initial-
ize the system.
Vehicles with Run Flat tires:
1. Carefully reduce your speed to under 
50 mph / 80 km/h. Avoid sudden 
braking and steering maneuvers. Do 
not exceed a speed of 50 mph / 
80 km/h
Flat Tire Monitor*
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

85 Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beamsParking lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle 
lighting is switched on. You can 
use the parking lamps to signal 
the position of the vehicle when it is 
parked. For lighting on one side for 
parking as an additional feature, refer to 
page 87.
Low beams
When the ignition is switched off 
while the low beams are on, the 
headlamps go out and only the 
parking lamps remain on.
Follow me home lampsWhen you activate the headlamp 
flasher after parking the vehicle with the 
lights turned off, the low-beam head-
lamps will come on for a short time. 
You can also have this function 
deactivated.
tion 0, you will hear an acoustic signal 
for a few seconds to remind you that 
the lamps have not been switched off.Daytime driving lamps*If you desire, the light switch can be left 
in the second position: when the igni-
tion is switched off, the external lighting 
is also switched off.
You can have the activation set-
tings for the daytime driving lamps 
programmed on your vehicle.<
Automatic headlamp control*
When the switch is set to this 
position, the system automati-
cally activates and cancels the 
low beams in response to changes in 
ambient light, for example in tunnels, at 
dusk, and when it is raining or snowing.
The low-beam headlamps remain 
on, regardless of the ambient 
light, when you switch on the fog 
lamps.<
Automatic headlamp control can-
not serve as a substitute for the 
driver's judgement in determining when 
the vehicle lights should be switched 
on. For example, the sensors are not 
able to detect fog. To avoid safety risks, 
you should respond to these kinds of 
low-visibility situations by switching the 
headlamps on manually.<
You can have the sensitivity of 
your vehicle's automatic head-
lamp control adjusted.<
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121
If there is a total loss of tire inflation 
pressure, 0 psi/0 kPa, or obvious tire 
damage, you can determine the dis-
tance you may continue driving based 
on the following values:
>With a light load: 
1 to 2 persons without luggage: 
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load: 
2 persons, luggage compartment full; 
or 4 persons without luggage: 
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load: 
4 persons or more, luggage compart-
ment full: 
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h. Be 
aware that vehicle handling will be 
altered when there is a loss in inflation 
pressure. Anticipate, e.g., reduced 
tracking during braking, longer braking 
distances and changed steering char-
acteristics. 
For safety reasons, BMW recommends 
not having damaged Run Flat tires 
repaired. In this case, consult your 
BMW center.<
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires 
mounted only by a skilled profes-
sional. Work that is improperly carried 
out could result in consequential dam-
age and pose safety hazards.<
Ask your BMW center for details con-
cerning the correct wheel and tire com-
bination. Have the wheels balanced 
each time a wheel or tire has been 
replaced.
The correct wheel and tire combination 
also affects different systems such as 
ABS or DSC. The function of these sys-
tems is impaired if improper wheel and 
tire combinations are used.
BMW advises against using 
retreaded tires, as driving safety 
could otherwise be impaired. This is 
due to the possible variations in casing 
structures and, in some cases, to their 
extreme age, which can lead to a 
decrease in their durability.<
The correct wheels and tires
BMW recommends using only 
wheels and tires that have been 
tested and approved by BMW for the 
particular vehicle model, as otherwise 
body contact and serious accidents can 
result despite the use of the same nom-
inal size, e.g. due to manufacturing tol-
erances. BMW cannot evaluate all tires 
and wheels on the market, and is thus 
unable to guarantee that the vehicle will 
continue to perform safely if unap-
proved tires and/or wheels are 
mounted.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle 
response, use only tires of a single 
brand and tread configuration. After a 
flat tire, have the previous wheel and 
tire combination restored as soon as 
possible.
Recommended tire sizes and 
brandsFor each tire size, certain tire brands 
have been tested, classified as road-
safe and approved by BMW. You can 
find out about these from a professional 
Run Flat tires*
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129
Adding brake fluidFor adding brake fluid or for determin-
ing and correcting the cause of brake 
fluid loss, consult your BMW center. 
Your BMW center is familiar with the 
specifications for factory-approved 
brake fluids – DOT 4.
Brake fluid loss may result in extended 
brake pedal travel.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is, 
it absorbs moisture from the air 
over time.
In order to ensure the brake system's 
safety and reliability, have the brake 
fluid changed every two years by a 
BMW center. Refer to the Service and 
Warranty Information Booklet for US 
models or the Warranty and Service 
Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
Brake fluid is toxic and damages the 
vehicle's paint. You should always store 
it in its closed original container and in 
a location which is out of reach of chil-
dren.
Do not spill the brake fluid and do not 
fill the brake fluid reservoir beyond the 
MAX mark. The brake fluid could ignite 
upon contact with hot engine parts and 
cause serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating 
the disposal of brake fluid.<
Brake fluid
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex