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While active cruise control is capable of 
braking your vehicle automatically when 
you approach a slower vehicle ahead, it is 
important to be aware that the ability of the sys-
tem to apply the brakes is also limited, e.g. 
when you reduce your desired speed sharply. 
The system cannot stop your vehicle. It uses 
only a portion of braking system capacity and 
does not utilize the full capacity of the vehicle 
braking system. Therefore, the system cannot 
decrease your speed for large differences in 
speed between your vehicle and the vehicle 
ahead. Examples: when you approach a vehicle 
traveling at a much lower speed than your own 
speed such as approaching a toll booth or when 
a much slower vehicle cuts in front of you at 
close range.<
Active cruise control can only decelerate the 
vehicle to approx. 20 mph or 30 km/h.
Swerving vehicles
When a vehicle moves from an adjacent lane 
into your lane, active cruise control will not rec-
ognize this vehicle until it is fully in your lane 
ahead of your vehicle.
When a vehicle ahead suddenly swerves 
into your lane, the system may not be able 
to maintain the selected distance automatically. 
This also applies to great differences in speed 
between you and vehicles ahead, e.g. when 
quickly approaching a truck. There is a risk of 
collision. Once the system has established that 
a vehicle is indeed in front of you, it will indicate 
that you must brake and/or maneuver the vehi-
cle yourself. Take action yourself, otherwise 
there is a risk of an accident.<
Behavior in curves
Because of the limited range of the system, it is 
possible that in curves or on the peaks and val-
leys of hilly roads, a vehicle ahead may be rec-
ognized late, or not at all. Therefore, it is up to 
the driver to select a speed that is prudent in 
view of the curves and terrain of the roadway.
In approaching a curve, it is possible that active 
cruise control would react briefly to a vehicle in 
the adjacent lane. In addition, the system can 
sense if your vehicle is in a curve and may not 
accelerate. If your vehicle decelerates in either 
case, you can choose to overcome the deceler-
ation by briefly pressing the accelerator pedal.
Your responsibility
Your actions have priority at all times. When you 
press the accelerator pedal while driving with 
active cruise control, the automatic braking 
function will be temporarily interrupted. Once 
you release the accelerator pedal, the desired 
speed or the selected distance to the vehicle 
ahead is achieved again.
Do not leave your foot on the accelerator 
pedal and make sure that no objects such 
as floor mats are lying on the accelerator pedal. 
Otherwise the system may not be able to brake 
the vehicle.<
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Controls
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7.Select "Set service date" and press the 
controller. The month is highlighted.
8.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
9.Press the controller to apply the setting. 
The year is highlighted.
10.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
11.Press the controller to apply the setting. 
The date entry is stored.
To exit from the menu: 
Select   and press the controller.
More information on the BMW Maintenance 
System can be found on page196.
Clock
The settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use, refer also to Personal Profile on 
page28.
Setting the time
In the instrument cluster
To set the 12h/24h mode, refer to Setting the 
time format below.1.Push button 1 in the turn indicator stalk up 
or down repeatedly until the appropriate 
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the time and the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.
3.Use button 1 to set the hours.
4.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
5.Use button 1 to set the minutes.
6.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
7.Press button 2.
The system accepts the new time.
Via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button once or twice until 
the start menu appears.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
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Controls
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1.Push button 1 in the turn indicator stalk up 
or down repeatedly until the appropriate 
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the date and the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.
3.Use button 1 to set the day of the month.
4.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
5.Set the month and the year in the same way.
6.Press button 2.
The system stores the new date.
Via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Display settings" and press the 
controller.
4.Select "Date" and press the controller.
5.Select "Set date" and press the controller. 
The first date display setting is selected.
6.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
7.Press the controller to apply the setting. 
The next setting is highlighted.
8.Make the remaining adjustments. After the 
last adjustment, the date is stored.
Setting the date format
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Display settings" and press the 
controller.
4.Select "Date" and press the controller.
5.Select "Date format" and press the control-
ler.
6.Select the desired format and press the 
controller.
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors vehicle functions 
and alerts you to any malfunctions in the sys-
tems monitored. Such a Check Control mes-
sage includes indicator and warning lamps in 
the instrument cluster and, in some circum-
stances, an acoustic signal as well as text mes-
sages at the bottom of the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in both 
the indicator area 1 and the display 2 in various 
combinations and colors.
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Everything under control
78 4.Select "Limit" and press the controller.
Setting or changing the limit
1.Select speed value and press the controller.
2.Turn the controller to set the limit.
3.Press the controller to apply the setting.
Applying your current speed as limit
Select "Select current speed" and press the 
controller. The system adopts your current 
speed as the limit.
Activating the limit
Select "On" and press the controller.
 Limit is activated.
Stopwatch
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Call up "Navigation".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4.Select "Stopwatch" and press the control-
ler.
Starting, stopping or resetting
>Select "Start" and press the controller. 
The stopwatch starts at the displayed time.
>Select "Reset" and press the controller. 
The stopwatch is reset and restarts if it was 
running beforehand.
>Select "Stop" and press the controller. 
This stops the timer.
Taking an interim time reading
Select "Interim time" and press the controller. 
The interim time appears below the ongoing 
primary stopwatch count.
All of the remaining functions remain 
available at all times while the stopwatch 
is running. The stopwatch continues operation 
in the background.<
Altering settings
Language on the Control Display
The language of the Control Display can be set. 
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Display settings" and press the 
controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "Languages" is selected and press the 
controller.
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Controls
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5.Select "PDC display on" and press the con-
troller.
 The PDC screen is activated.
The display is shown on the Control Display as 
soon as PDC is activated.
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for 
estimating the distance between the 
vehicle and any obstructions always remains 
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind spot in which objects can 
no longer be detected. The system is also sub-
ject to the physical limits that apply to all forms 
of ultrasonic measurement, such as those 
encountered with trailer towbars and couplings, 
thin and wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low 
objects already indicated, such as a curb, may 
enter the sensors' dead areas before a continu-
ous audible signal is given. Higher, protruding 
objects, such as wall ledges, may not be detect-
able. Loud sound sources outside or inside the 
car can drown out the PDC signal.<
Driving stability control 
systems
Your BMW has a number of systems that help 
to maintain the vehicle's stability even in 
adverse driving conditions.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during 
braking. Safe steering response is maintained 
even during full braking. Active safety is thus 
increased.
The ABS is operational every time you start the 
engine. Braking safely, refer to page113.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the 
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
DBC Dynamic Brake Control
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system 
automatically produces the maximum braking force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. This system exploits all of the benefits pro-
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake for the 
duration of the brake application. If the brake is 
released, DBC will be switched off.
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
DSC prevents the driving wheels from losing 
traction when you pull away from rest or accel-
erate. DSC also recognizes unstable driving 
conditions, for example if the rear of the car is 
about to swerve or if momentum is acting at an 
angle past the front wheels. In these cases, 
DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe course 
within physical limits by reducing engine output 
and through braking actions at the individual 
wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, 
even with DSC. An appropriate driving 
style always remains the responsibility of the 
driver. Therefore, do not reduce the additional 
safety margin again by taking risks.<
Deactivating DSC
Press the button for at least 3 seconds; the indi-
cator lamps for DSC in the instrument cluster 
light up. Dynamic Traction Control DTC and 
DSC have been simultaneously deactivated. 
Stabilizing and drive-output promoting actions 
are no longer executed.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC again 
as soon as possible.
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Controls
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The system must be reinitialized each 
time a tire inflation pressure has been cor-
rected or a wheel or tire has been changed.<
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor is unable to warn 
the driver of sudden, severe tire damage 
caused by external factors, nor can it identify 
the gradual loss of pressure that will inevitably 
occur in all four tires over a lengthy period of 
time.<
In the following situations, the system could be 
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Performance-oriented style of driving: slip 
in the drive wheels, high lateral acceleration
>If snow chains are attached
Initializing the system
The initialization is completed during driv-
ing, which can be interrupted at any time. 
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically. 
Do not initialize the system while snow chains 
are attached.<
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.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "FTM" is selected and press the con-
troller.5.Start the engine, but do not start driving.
6.Select "Reset" and press the controller.
7.Select "Yes" and press the controller.
8.Start to drive.
Initialization is completed while the car is in 
motion. "Status: FTM active" reappears in 
the Control Display.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamps come on in yellow 
and red. A message appears on the 
Control Display. In addition, an 
acoustic signal sounds. There is a flat 
tire or substantial loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph 
or 80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and 
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed 
of 50 mph or 80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with Run-
Flat Tires, refer to page189, the stan-
dard equipment by design, do not continue 
driving. Otherwise a severe accident could 
result after a tire puncture if you continue 
driving.<
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If all four tires are inflated to the cor-
rect pressures, the Flat Tire Monitor 
might not have been initialized. The system 
must then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible 
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Controls
 85Reference
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Gray
The system cannot detect a puncture.
Possible reasons for this:
>TPM is being reset
>Temporary malfunction caused by systems 
or devices using the same radio frequency
>System malfunction
Resetting the system
Each time a tire inflation pressure has 
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been 
changed, reset the system.<
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button 
The start menu is called up.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the 
controller.
4.Select "TPM" and press the controller.
5.Start the engine, but do not start driving.
6.Select "Reset" and press the controller.
7.Select "Yes" and press the controller.
8.Start to drive.
The tires are shown in gray and "Resetting 
TPM..." is displayed.After driving a few minutes, the set inflation 
pressures in the tires are accepted as the target 
values to be monitored. The system reset is 
completed during your drive, and can be inter-
rupted at any time. When driving resumes, the 
reset is continued automatically. On the Control 
Display, the tires are shown in green and "Sta-
tus: TPM active" is shown again.
If a flat tire is detected while the system is 
resetting and determining the inflation 
pressures, all tires on the Control Display will 
appear in yellow. The message "Tire low!" is 
shown.<
Message for low tire inflation pressure
The warning lamps come on in yellow 
and red. A message appears on the 
Control Display. In addition, a signal 
sounds. There is a flat tire or substan-
tial loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph/
80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and steer-
ing maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed of 
50 mph/80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with Run-
Flat Tires, refer to page189, the stan-
dard equipment by design, do not continue 
driving. Otherwise a severe accident could 
result after a tire puncture if you continue 
driving.<
2.In the event of complete pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible 
distance for continued driving on the basis 
of the following guidelines:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, cargo bay full, or 4 persons 
without luggage:
approx. 95 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 persons, cargo bay full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. In the event of 
is adjusted
will be adapted
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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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