
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* 

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*
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115
Antilock Brake System (ABS)The conceptABS keeps the wheels from locking 
during braking, thereby enhancing 
active driving safety.Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires full 
braking, you will exploit the full benefits 
of the ABS system if you apply maxi-
mum pedal pressure: panic stop. Since 
the vehicle maintains steering respon-
siveness, you can avoid possible obsta-
cles 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.Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)DBC is included in the DSC, refer to 
page 81.
The system responds to sudden, high-
intensity applications of force to the 
brake pedal by automatically braking 
the vehicle with maximum boost to 
achieve the shortest-possible braking 
distances during 'panic stops'. This 
system exploits all the benefits of ABS.Do not reduce the pressure exerted 
against the brake pedal until the brak-
ing maneuver has been completed. 
DBC is deactivated when you release 
the brake pedal.
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced engineering devel-
opment of ABS. When braking during 
cornering with high lateral accelera-
tion, or when braking during a lane 
change, vehicle stability is improved 
and the steering response is enhanced.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

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*
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

141
License plate lamps5 watt bulb
1. Place a screwdriver in the slot and 
press toward the left to release the 
lens
2. Replace the bulb.Light-emitting diodesLight-emitting diodes (LEDs) installed 
behind translucent lenses serve as the 
light sources for many of the controls 
and displays in your vehicle. These 
light-emitting diodes are related to con-
ventional lasers, and legislation defines 
them as light-emitting diodes, Class 1.
Do not remove the protective lens, 
and avoid staring directly at the 
unfiltered beam for several hours, as 
inflammation of the retina could 
result.<
Changing a wheel
Safety precautions in the event of 
a flat tire or wheel change:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from 
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat sur-
face. Switch on the hazard warning 
flashers. Turn the steering wheel to the 
straight-ahead position and engage the 
steering lock. Shift into 1st or Reverse, 
or if you have an automatic transmis-
sion position the selector lever in Park, 
and engage the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the 
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area, behind a guardrail, 
for example.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard 
warning lamp is available, set it up on 
the roadside at an appropriate distance 
from the rear of the vehicle. Comply 
with all local safety guidelines and reg-
ulations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm 
surface which is not slippery. Avoid 
jacking the vehicle on a soft or slippery 
support surface – snow, ice, loose 
gravel, etc. – as either the vehicle or the 
jack could slip sideways.
Position the jack on a firm support sur-
face.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar 
objects under the jack. They could pre-
vent the jack from extending to its full 
Lamps and bulbs
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

143
wheel must be changed on a sur-
face with a more severe slope, take 
additional precautions to secure 
the vehicle from rolling
3. Wheels with full wheel covers*: 
reach into the ventilation openings 
and pull the cover off
4. If your vehicle is equipped with 
Individual light-alloy wheels*: insert 
the wheel puller supplied with the 
vehicle into the designated recess 
of the cover, and pull the cover off
5. Loosen the lug bolts by rotating 
half a turn6. Position the jack at the jacking 
point closest to the flat tire with the 
jack base vertically below the jack-
ing point and the entire surface of 
the head of the jack moves into the 
square recess of the jacking point – 
refer to the detail in the next illus-
tration – when the jack is cranked 
7. Jack the vehicle up until the wheel 
you are changing is raised from the 
ground
8. Unscrew the lug bolts and remove 
the wheel
9. Remove accumulations of mud or 
dirt from the mounting surfaces of 
the wheel and hub. Clean the lug 
bolts
10. Position the new wheel or the 
space-saver spare tire on the hub 
and screw at least two lug bolts fin-
ger-tight into opposite bolt holes
11. Screw in the remaining lug bolts. 
Screw in all the bolts in diagonal 
pattern
12. Lower the jack and remove it from 
beneath the vehicle
13. Tighten the lug bolts securely in a 
diagonal pattern
Changing a wheel
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

144
14. Wheels with full wheel covers*: 
place the wheel cover with the 
valve opening over the valve. Use 
both hands to press the cover 
securely onto the rim
15. Check and correct the tire inflation 
pressure at the earliest opportunity.
Vehicles with Flat Tire Monitor: 
after mounting the spare tire or 
correcting the tire inflation pres-
sure, reinitialize the system, refer to 
page 82.
Protect valve stems and valves from dirt 
using screw-on valve stem caps. Dirty 
valve stems frequently lead to slow 
pressure loss.
Do not attempt to install the full 
wheel cover on the space-saver 
spare tire, since this could damage the 
cover.<
The vehicle jack is designed for 
changing wheels only. Do not 
attempt to raise another vehicle model 
with it or to raise any load of any kind. 
To do so could cause accidents and 
personal injury.
To ensure continued safety, have the 
tightness of the torque bolts checked 
with a calibrated lug wrench – torque 
specification: 88.5 lb ft/120 Nm – at the 
earliest opportunity.<
When storing a wheel in the spare tire 
recess, take care to avoid bending the 
threaded rod.
If the original BMW light-alloy wheels 
have been replaced with other light-
alloy wheels, different lug bolts may be 
required.
Replace the defective tire as soon as 
possible and have the new wheel/tire 
balanced.
Driving with the space-saver 
spare tireDrive cautiously. Do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h.
Be aware that vehicle handling may be 
altered. Anticipate, e.g., reduced track-
ing during braking, longer braking dis-
tances and changed steering charac-
teristics when approaching limit 
conditions. These handling characteris-
tics will be even more pronounced if 
winter tires are mounted.
Only one space-saver spare tire 
may be mounted at one time. 
Mount a wheel and tire of the original 
size at the earliest possible opportu-
nity.
tions, the size of the spare tire will 
differ from that of the remaining tires. 
The spare tire is fully functional at all 
loads and speeds. However, the spare 
tire should be replaced at the earliest 
possible opportunity in order to achieve 
the original operating conditions.<
Changing a wheel 

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
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex