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87Reference
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Mobility
Active steering*
The concept
Active steering varies the turning angle of the
front wheels in relation to steering wheel move-
ments. It also varies the steering force required
to turn the wheels depending on the speed at
which you are driving.
When you are driving in the low road-speed
range, e.g. in a town or when parking, the steer-
ing angle increases, i.e. the steering becomes
very direct, and less effort is required to turn the
wheels. In the higher speed range, on the other
hand, the steering angle is reduced more and
more. This improves the handling capability of
your BMW over the entire speed range.
In critical situations, the system can make tar-
geted corrections to the steering angle pro-
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the vehicle
before the driver intervenes. This stabilizing
intervention is simultaneously deactivated
when DSC is switched off, refer to page81.
Malfunction
The warning lamps come on. Active
steering is no longer operational. At
low speeds, greater steering wheel movements are required, whereas at higher
speeds the vehicle reacts more sensitively to
steering wheel movements. The stability-
enhancing feature may also be deactivated.
Drive cautiously and think well ahead. Have the
system checked.
If the warning lamp lights up during the first
engine starting following a power supply inter-
ruption, the system must be activated by being
initialized.
Brake Force Display
On the left: normal braking
On the right: sharp braking
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
1Front airbags for driver and front passenger
2Head airbags, front and rear3Side airbags in the seat backrests
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Technology for driving comfort and safety
88
Protective action
Observe the adjustment instructions on
page40 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the
head and side airbags help provide protection in
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The
head air bag supports the head.
The airbags will purposely not be activated by
every collision, e.g. not by more minor acci-
dents, certain roll-over situations and rear-end
collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way. Do not attach
seat covers, cushions or other objects not spe-
cifically approved for seats with integral side air-
bags to the front seats. Do not hang items of
clothing such as coats or jackets over the back-
rests. Do not attempt to remove the airbag
retention system from the vehicle. Do not mod-
ify the individual components of the system or
its wiring in any way. This includes the uphol-
stered covers on the steering wheel, instrument
panel, seats and roof posts, as well as the sides
of the roof lining. Do not attempt to remove or
dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components imme-
diately after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW center
or a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel and has the required explosives
licenses. Unprofessional attempts to service
the system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation, either of
which could result in personal injury.<
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger airbags
An analysis of the impression in the front pas-
senger seat cushion determines whether and
how the seat is occupied. The front and side air-
bags for the front passenger are activated or
deactivated by the system accordingly.
The indicator lamp above the interior
rearview mirror shows the current status
of the front passenger airbags, deactivated or
activated, refer to Status of front passenger air-
bags below.
Before transporting a child on the front
passenger seat, read the safety precau-
tions and handling instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page50.
The front and side airbags can also be deacti-
vated by adolescents and adults sitting in cer-
tain positions; the indicator lamp for the front
passenger airbags comes on. In such cases, the
passenger should change his or her sitting
position so that the front passenger airbags are
activated and the indicator lamp goes out. If the
desired airbag status cannot be achieved by
changing the sitting position, transport the rele-
vant passenger on a rear seat. Do not attach
seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball mats or
other items to the front passenger seat unless
they are specifically recommended by BMW.
Do not place any items under the seat which
could press against the seat from below. Other-
wise a correct analysis of the seat cushion is not
ensured.<
Status of front passenger airbags
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags shows the functional status of the front
passenger's front and side airbags in accor-
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Controls
89Reference
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Communications
Navigation
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Mobility
dance with whether and how the front passen-
ger seat is occupied. The indicator lamp shows
whether the front passenger airbags are acti-
vated or deactivated.
>The indicator lamp comes on as intended
when a child in a specially designated child-
restraint system is detected on the seat.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated.
>The indicator lamp does not come on as
long as a person of sufficient size and in a
correct sitting position is detected on the
seat.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are activated.
>The indicator lamp does not come on if the
seat is empty.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
After the remote control is inserted in the igni-
tion lock, or turned to radio-ready position, refer
to page52, the warning lamp lights up for a brief
time, indicating the operational readiness of the
entire airbag system and safety belt tensioners.
Airbag system malfunction
>Warning lamp does not come on after the
remote control is inserted in the ignition
lock or, in cars with convenient access
*,
after radio-readiness is switched on
>Warning lamp remains permanently on
In the event of a fault in the airbag system,
have it checked without delay, otherwise
there is the risk that the system will not function as intended even if a sufficiently severe acci-
dent occurs.<
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Lamps
90
Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
0Lamps off and daytime running light
1Parking lamps and daytime running light
2Low-beam headlamps and welcome lamps
3Automatic headlamp control
*, daytime run-
ning light, welcome lamps and Adaptive
Head Light
*
Parking lamps
In switch position1, the front, rear and side
vehicle lighting is switched on. You can use the
parking lamps for parking.
The parking lamps will discharge 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. It is preferable to switch on the left-
hand or right-hand roadside parking lamps,
refer to page92.<
Low beams
The low beams light up when the light switch is
in position 2 and the ignition is on.
If the light switch remains in position 2, the
exterior lamps are switched off automatically
when the driver's door is opened while the igni-
tion is off.
If necessary, switch on the parking lamps as
described in the section about parking lamps.
Automatic headlamp control*
If the daytime running light is activated, refer to
page91, it is switched on when the light switch
is in position 3 and the ignition is on. Depending
on ambient light conditions, the low beams are
switched on automatically, e.g. in a tunnel, in
twilight, or if there is precipitation. The LED next
to the symbol is illuminated when the low
beams are on.
When driving into tunnels with bright overhead
lights, there may be a delay before the head-
lamps come on.
The headlamps may also come on when the
sun is sitting low on a blue sky.
The low beams remain switched on inde-
pendent of the ambient lighting condi-
tions when you switch on the fog lamps.<
If desired, the light switch can remain in position
3. The exterior lamps are automatically
switched off after the vehicle is parked.
The automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for your personal
judgment in determining when the lamps
should be switched on in response to ambient
lighting conditions. For example, the system
cannot detect fog or hazy weather. To avoid
safety risks, you should always switch on the
low-beam headlamps manually under these
conditions.<
Adjusting sensitivity
You can program how sensitively the system
reacts to ambient light.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
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Controls
91Reference
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4.Select "Lighting" and press the controller.
5.Select "Auto. headlamps" and press the
controller.
6.Select a menu item:
>"Sensitive"
>"Normal"
>"Slower"
7.Press the controller to apply the setting.
Welcome lamps
If you leave the light switch in the position for
the low-beam headlamps or automatic head-
lamp control when you switch off the ignition,
the parking lamps and interior lamps come on
for a certain time as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked.
Pathway lighting
If you activate the headlamp flasher after park-
ing the car, with the lights switched off, the low
beams come on and remain on for a certain
time.
You can adjust the operating period or deacti-
vate the function.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
4.Select "Lighting" and press the controller.
5.Select "Pathway lighting" and press the
controller.
6.Turn the controller to select the corre-
sponding duration.
7.Press the controller to apply the setting.
Daytime running light
The daytime running light comes on in the
switch positions for lamps off, parking lamps or
automatic headlamp control. The light output is
lower than with the low-beam headlamps.
If desired, the light switch can remain in the
automatic headlamp control position. The exte-
rior lamps are automatically switched off after
the vehicle is parked.
If the light switch remains in the parking lamps
position, the parking lamps are lit after the igni-
tion is switched off.
If necessary, switch on the parking lamps as
described in the section about parking lamps.
Activating/deactivating daytime
running light*
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
4.Select "Lighting" and press the controller.
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Lamps
92 5.Select "Daytime running light" and press
the controller.
The daytime running light is switched
on.
Adaptive Head Light*
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp
control system that enables better illumination
of the road surface. Depending on the steering
angle and other parameters, the light from the
headlamp follows the course of the road.
In tight curves at speeds up to 40 mph/70 km/h,
e.g. on mountainous roads or when turning, an
additional, corner-illuminating lamp is switched
on that lights up the inside area of the curve.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
With the ignition switched on, turn the light
switch to the automatic headlamp control posi-
tion, refer to page90.
The corner-illuminating lamp is switched on
automatically, depending on the steering wheel
angle or turn signal indicator.
To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the Adaptive
Head Light directs light towards the front pas-
senger side when the vehicle is at a standstill.
When you are reversing, only the corner-illumi-
nating lamps are active and switched on on
both sides.
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.
Switching on
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.<
Switching off
Briefly press the lever in the opposite direction
to the pressure point, arrow 3.
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Controls
93Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
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Mobility
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.Push button 1 up or down repeatedly until
the appropriate symbol appears in the dis-
play, accompanied by the brightness scale
and the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.3.Push button 1 up or down to select the
desired brightness level.
4.Press button 2 in the turn indicator stalk.
The display again shows the outside tem-
perature and the time.
Interior lamps
The interior lamps, including the footwell
lamps
*, the cargo-bay lamp and the courtesy
lamps
* are controlled automatically.
The LEDs for the courtesy lamps
are set in the
door handles and illuminate the ground in front
of the doors.
To avoid draining the battery, all lamps
inside the car are switched off about
15 minutes after the ignition is switched off,
refer to Start/stop button on page52.<
Switching interior lamps on/off
manually
Interior lamps, front and rear*:
To switch on and off, press the button.
To switch off the lamp permanently, press the
button for the front interior lamp for about
3seconds.
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Lamps
94
Reading lamps
There are reading lamps at the front and rear*,
next to the interior lamps. To switch on and off,
press the button.
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