Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
67
reduced driving stability. It is therefore neces-
sary to drive with appropriate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC
under the following special circumstances:
>When driving uphill on snow-covered roads,
in slush or on unplowed, snow-covered
roads
>When rocking a stuck vehicle free or start-
ing off in deep snow or on loose ground
>When driving with snow chains
Activating DTC
Briefly press the button; the DTC indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster come on.
To control
If the indicator lamp flashes:
DTC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
If the indicator lamps are on:
DTC has been activated.
Deactivating DTC
Press the button again; the DTC indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.
xDrive 325xi
xDrive is your BMW's four-wheel-drive system.
The combined efforts of xDrive and DSC help to
further optimize traction and driving dynamics.
The xDrive four-wheel-drive system distributes
driving power variably to the front and rear axles
depending on the driving situation and road
conditions.
Malfunction
In case of any of the malfunctions
described below, drive cautiously and
think well ahead. Avoid driving on rough tracks
and pressing the accelerator pedal down to full
throttle or kick-down position, otherwise the
drive system could be damaged or accidents
could result.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
The warning lamps come on. xDrive
and DSC have failed.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
Hill Descent Control HDC 325xi
HDC is a downhill driving assistant that reduces
your speed on steep downhill gradients and
makes it even easier to control your BMW's
handling under these conditions. The vehicle
then moves slightly faster than double walking
speed without the driver needing to intervene.
HDC can be activated as long as you are driving
under approx. 20 mph or 35 km/h. When driving
downhill at a speed of under approx. 20 mph or
35 km/h, the vehicle's speed is automatically
reduced to slightly more than double walking
speed and maintained.
Increasing or decreasing speed
By accelerating or braking you can change the
speed within a range from approx. 3 to 15 mph,
approx. 5 to 25 km/h.
You can specify a target speed within the same
range using the cruise control stalk.
1To increase speed
2To decrease speed
Technology for driving comfort and safety
68
Activating HDC
Press the button; the indicator lamp lights up.
The indicator lamp flashes when the vehicle is
being braked automatically.
Deactivating HDC
Press the button again; the indicator lamp goes
out.
HDC is deactivated instantly above a speed of
approx. 35 mph or 60 km/h, or approx.
10 seconds after the ignition is switched off.
Using HDC
In cars with manual transmission:
Use HDC in lower gears and in reverse gear.
With automatic transmission:
You can use HDC in any drive position.
Displays in the instrument cluster
1Display for target speed
2HDC display
Malfunction
The HDC display disappears during HDC oper-
ation, or does not appear:
HDC is temporarily unavailable due to exces-
sive brake temperature, or DSC has failed.
Malfunction in driving stability control
systems
The warning lamps come on. DSC
including DTC and DBC is malfunc-
tioning.
The vehicle remains operational.
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
Drive cautiously and think well ahead,
otherwise unstable driving conditions
could result.<
With xDrive 325xi
If one of the malfunctions described
below occurs, drive cautiously and think
well ahead. Also avoid situations that require full
braking, otherwise accidents could result.
Avoid driving on rough tracks and pressing the
accelerator pedal down to full throttle or kick-
down position, otherwise the drive system
could be damaged.<
The warning lamps for the brake sys-
tem come on in red, together with the
yellow indicator lamps for driving sta-
bility control systems and FTM:
The driving stability control systems
and the Flat Tire Monitor have failed.
All warning lamps come on in yellow:
The driving stability control systems and the
Flat Tire Monitor have failed. The electronic
brake-force distribution is still active.
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
Display
* of this malfunction on Cana-
dian models.
Display
* of this malfunction on Cana-
dian models.
Lamps
76 of the road surface. Depending on the steering
angle and other parameters, the light from the
headlamp follows the course of the road.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
With the ignition on, turn the light switch to the
automatic headlamp control position, refer to
page74.
To avoid dazzling the drivers of oncoming vehi-
cles, Adaptive Head Light is not active when the
car is driven in reverse, and directs the light to
the front passenger's side when the vehicle is at
a standstill.
Malfunction
The LED next to the symbol for automatic head-
lamp control flashes. Adaptive Head Light is
malfunctioning or has failed. Have the system
checked as soon as possible.
High beams/roadside parking
lamps
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Roadside parking lamps
*
Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
There is an additional option of switching on the
lamps on the side of the car facing the road
when parked, if permitted in the country of use.
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or
down beyond the pressure point, arrow 3.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Therefore, do not leave them on for
unduly long periods of time, otherwise the bat-tery might not have enough power to start the
engine.<
Fog lamps*
The parking lamps or low beams must
be switched on for the fog lamps to
operate. The green indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up whenever the
fog lamps are on.
Depending on your vehicle's equipment ver-
sion, the fog lamps are switched off when you
activate the headlamp flasher or switch on the
high beams
*.
If the automatic headlamp control is acti-
vated, the low beams will come on auto-
matically when you switch on the fog lamps.<
Instrument lighting
You can adjust the brightness of the instrument
lighting only when the parking lamps or the low
beams are switched on.
1.Lightly push button 1 up or down repeat-
edly until the appropriate symbol appears in
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
113
Important parts of the engine compartment
1Expansion tank for coolant, refer to
page115
2Washer fluid reservoir for headlamp clean-
ing system and window washer system,
refer to page483Jump-starting connection, refer to
page126
4Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding
engine oil
5Reservoir for brake fluid, under the cover of
the microfilter
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking oil level
Your car is equipped with an electronic oil-level
monitor.
For a precise measurement and display of the
oil level, it is necessary that the engine be at
operating temperature, e.g. after uninterrupted
driving for at least approx. 6.5 miles/10 km. You
can have the oil level displayed while you are
driving, or while the vehicle is at a standstill on a
level surface and the engine is running.
You can have the oil level reading displayed in
the instrument cluster.1.Lightly push button 1 in the turn indicator
stalk up or down repeatedly until the appro-
priate symbol is shown in the display,
accompanied by the word "OIL".
2.Press button 2 in the turn indicator stalk.
The oil level is checked and the reading dis-
played.
Under the hood
114
Possible displays
1Oil level OK
2Oil level is being checked.
This can take about 3 minutes if the car is at
a standstill on a level surface, or about
5 minutes while the car is on the move.
3Oil level down to minimum:
Add 1 US quart/1 liter of engine oil as soon
as possible, refer also to Adding engine oil.
4Oil level is too high.
Too much oil will harm the engine.
Have the vehicle checked without
delay.<
5The oil level sensor is defective.
Do not add engine oil. You can continue
your journey. Note the newly calculated dis-
tance remaining to the next oil service, refer
to page117. Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
Do not add the maximum amount of 1 US quart/
1 liter of engine oil until the following warning
lamp lights up in the instrument cluster, or in
cars with gasoline engines until the oil level
monitor shows "+1qts" or "+1l".
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km,
otherwise the engine could be dam-
aged.<
Keep oils, greases, etc. out of the reach of
children and comply with the warnings on
the containers. Otherwise, health hazards may
result.<
Oil change
Have oil changed only at your BMW Center or at
a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel.
Specified engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical
significance for the operation and service life of
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after confirming their suitability for use
in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Only use approved BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
117
Maintenance
BMW Maintenance System
The BMW Maintenance System supports the
preservation of the traffic and operating safety
of your BMW. The service schedule also
includes operations related to the vehicle's
comfort and convenience features, such as
replacement of the filters for the inside air. The
objective is to optimize efforts with respect to
minimal vehicle maintenance costs.
If and when you come to sell your BMW, a com-
prehensive record of servicing will prove a sig-
nificant benefit.
CBS Condition Based Service
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into
account. Condition Based Service uses this to
determine the current and future service
requirements. By letting you define a service
and maintenance regimen that reflects your
own individual requirements, the system builds
the basis for trouble-free driving.
In the instrument cluster, you can have the
remaining times or distances for selected main-
tenance tasks and any legally prescribed dates
displayed, refer to page61:
>Engine oil
>Brakes: separately for front and rear
>Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
for auto-
matic climate control
>Microfilter
for air conditioner
>Brake fluid>Spark plugs
>Vehicle check
>Legally mandated inspections depending
on local regulations
Service data in the remote control
Your vehicle continuously stores service-
requirement information in the remote control
while you are driving. Your BMW Service Advi-
sor can read out this data from the remote con-
trol unit, and propose an optimized mainte-
nance approach. Whenever you take your car in
for servicing you should therefore hand your
BMW Service Advisor the remote control unit
that you last used.
Make sure that the date in the instrument
cluster is always set correctly, refer to
page63; otherwise the effectiveness of Condi-
tion Based Service CBS is not assured.<
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service
and repair operations performed at your
BMW Center.
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.<
Everything from A to Z
148 Center brake lamp
– replacing bulbs123
Center console, refer to
Around the center
console14
Central locking
– from inside22
– from outside19
Central locking system19
– convenient access26
Changing bulbs119
Changing wheels123
Chassis number, refer to
Engine compartment113
Check Control63
Check Gas Cap104
Checking the air pressure,
refer to Tire inflation
pressure106
Child-restraint fixing system
LATCH40
Child-restraint systems39
Child-safety lock41
Child seats39
Chrome parts, care, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Cigarette lighter89
– socket89
Cleaning, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Cleaning headlamps48
– washer fluid48
Clock57
– 12h/24h mode60
– setting time62
Closing
– from inside22
– from outside20
Clothes hooks88
Cockpit10
Cold start, refer to Starting the
engine43
Combined instrument, refer to
Instrument cluster12
Comfort Access, refer to
Convenient access26
Comfort area, refer to Around
the center console14Compartment for remote
control, refer to Ignition
lock42
Compass85
Computer58
Condensation, refer to When
the vehicle is parked98
Configuring settings, refer to
Personal Profile19
Confirmation signals for
locking/unlocking of the
vehicle21
Connecting vacuum cleaner,
refer to Connecting
electrical appliances
89
Consumption display
– average consumption58
Consumption indicator
– Energy Control58
Control Display
– settings59
Controls and displays10
Convenience operation
– windows20
Convenience start, refer to
Starting the engine43
Convenient access26
– replacing the battery27
– what to observe before
entering a car wash27
Convenient operation
– windows with convenient
access26
– with convenient access26
Coolant115
– adding115
– checking level115
Coolant temperature57
Cooling, maximum81
Cooling fluid, refer to
Coolant115
Cornering lamps, refer to
Adaptive Head Light75
Courtesy lamps77
Cruise control48
– active50
– malfunction50
Cruising range58
Cup holders88Curb weight, refer to
Weights144
Current consumption, refer to
Energy Control58
D
Dashboard, refer to
Cockpit10
Dashboard, refer to
Instrument cluster12
Dashboard lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting76
Data142
– capacities145
– dimensions143
– engine142
– weights144
Date
– setting63
Daytime driving lamps75
DBC Dynamic Brake
Control66
DCC, refer to Cruise
control48
Deactivating front passenger
airbags72
Deadlocking, refer to
Locking20
Decommissioning the vehicle
– refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Defect
– door lock22
– fuel filler door104
– panorama glass roof30
Defogging windows80,83
Defrosting windows80,83
Defrosting windows and
removing condensation
– air conditioner80
– automatic climate control83
Defrosting windshield, refer to
Defrosting windows80,83
Defrost position, refer to
Defrosting windows80,83
Digital clock57
Digital compass85
Dimensions143
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
149
Directional indicators, refer to
Turn signals46
Displacement, refer to Engine
data142
Display lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting76
Displays
– instrument cluster12
Displays and controls10
Disposal
– coolant115
– remote control battery27
– vehicle battery123
Distance control, refer to
Active cruise control50
Distance remaining to service,
refer to Service
requirements61
Distance warning, refer to
PDC Park Distance
Control65
Door key, refer to Integrated
key/remote control18
Door lock22
Door locking, confirmation
signals21
Doors, emergency
operation22
DOT Quality Grades108
Draft-free ventilation80,83
Drinks holders, refer to Cup
holders88
Drive-off assistant69
Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams74
Driving notes96
Driving stability control
systems66
Driving through water97
Driving tips, refer to Driving
notes96
Dry air, refer to Cooling
function83
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control66
DTC Dynamic Traction
Control66
– indicator lamps66Dynamic Traction Control
DTC
– indicator lamps67
E
EBV Electronic brake-force
distribution66
Electrical malfunction
– door lock22
– fuel filler door104
– glass sunroof30
– panorama glass roof30
Electric seat adjustment32
Electronic brake-force
distribution66
Electronic oil level check113
Emergency call125
Emergency operation, refer to
Closing manually
– glass sunroof30
– panorama glass roof30
Emergency operation, refer to
Manual operation
– door lock22
– fuel filler door104
– transmission lock, automatic
transmission46
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside Assistance125
Emissions test, refer to
Service requirements61
Energy-conscious driving,
refer to Energy Control58
Energy Control58
Engine
– breaking in96
– data142
– overheated, refer to Coolant
temperature57
– speed142
– starting43
– starting, convenient
access26
– switching off43
Engine compartment113
Engine coolant, refer to
Coolant115Engine oil
– adding114
– BMW Maintenance
System117
– checking level113
– intervals between changes,
refer to Service
requirements61
Engine output, refer to Engine
data142
Engine speed142
Engine starting, refer to
Starting the engine43
Environmentally friendly
driving, refer to Energy
Control58
Error messages, refer to
Check Control63
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control66
Event data recorders118
Exhaust system, refer to Hot
exhaust system
96
Expanding the cargo area90
Exterior mirrors36
– adjusting36
– automatic dimming
feature97
– automatic heating37
External audio device87
Eyes
– for tow-starting and towing
away127
– for tying down loads99
F
Failure messages, refer to
Check Control63
Failure of an electrical
consumer124
False alarm, refer to Avoiding
unintentional alarms25
Fastening safety belts, refer to
Safety belts36