Notes
6 to the vehicle, compromise its safety, interfere
with the vehicle's electrical system or affect the
validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. See your
BMW center for additional information.<
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
the emission control devices and sys-
tems may be performed by any automotive
repair establishment or individual using any cer-
tified automotive part.<
California Proposition 65 warning
California law requires us to issue the following
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of
automobile components and parts,
including components found in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and
certain products of component wear contain or
emit chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash
your hands after handling.
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have
caused cancer in laboratory animals. Always
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with
soap and water.<
Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publication
thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warran-
ties:
>New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
>Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
>California Emission Control System Limited
Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is
listed in the Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models or in the Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
Reporting safety defects
For US customers
The following applies only to vehicles owned
and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause injury
or death, you should immediately inform the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
NHTSA, in addition to notifying BMW of North
America, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New
Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone 1-800-831-
1117.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order
a recall and remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved in individual
problems between you, your dealer, or BMW of
North America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to
http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: Adminis-
trator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. You can also obtain
other information about motor vehicle safety
from http://www.safercar.gov
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 6 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Indicator lamps for turn signals
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Displays for active cruise control
*60
5Tachometer66
6Engine oil temperature67
7Display for
>Clock66
>Outside temperature66
>Indicator and warning lamps758Display for
>Position of automatic transmission
*54
>Computer67
>Date of next scheduled service, and
remaining distance to be driven71
>Odometer and trip odometer66
>Checking engine oil level
*192
>Settings and information70
9Fuel gauge67
10Resetting trip odometer66
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 12 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
Controls
67Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Coolant temperature
A warning lamp will come on if the coolant, and
therefore the engine, becomes too hot. In addi-
tion, a message will appear on the Control Dis-
play.
Check coolant level, refer to page194.
Engine oil temperature
During standard operation, the engine oil tem-
perature is between approx. 1607/706 and
approx. 3407/1706. If the engine oil temper-
ature is too high, a message will appear on the
Control Display.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 15.9 US gallons/
60 liters.
You can find information on refueling on
page182.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period,
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
Once the fuel level has fallen to the reserve
zone, a message briefly appears on the Control
Display and the cruising range for the remaining
amount of fuel is displayed on the computer.
Under a cruising range of approx. 30 miles/
50 km, the message remains in the Control Dis-
play.
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur.<
Computer
Displays in the instrument cluster
Calling up information
Press the button in the turn indicator stalk.
The following items of information are dis-
played in the order listed:
>Cruising range
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
>Current fuel consumption
To set the corresponding units of measure,
refer to Units of measure on page70.
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cruising range available
with the remaining fuel. The range is calculated
on the basis of the way the car has been driven
over the last 18 miles/30 km and the amount of
fuel currently in the tank.
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 67 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
Everything under control
70
Settings and information
Operating principle
1Button for:
>Selecting display
>Setting values
2Button for:
>Confirming selected display or set val-
ues
>Calling up computer information673When the lights are switched on: instrument
lighting brightness93
4Calling up Check Control75
5Checking oil level192
6Setting the time73
7Setting the date74
8Viewing service requirement display71
Exiting displays
The outside-temperature reading and the time
reappear when you press button2 or if you
make no entries within approx. 15 seconds. If
required, complete the current setting first.
Units of measure
You can set units of measure. The settings are
stored for the remote control currently in use,
refer also to Personal Profile on page28.
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 "Units" and press the controller.
5.Select the desired menu item and press the
controller.
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 70 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
Controls
71Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
6.Select the desired measurement unit and
press the controller.
Service requirements
The remaining driving distance and the date of
the next scheduled service are displayed briefly
immediately after you start the engine or switch
on the ignition.
The extent of service work required can
be read out from the remote control by
your BMW Service Advisor.
date individually in the instrument cluster.
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 words "SERVICE-INFO".
2.Press button 2.
3.Use button 1 to scroll through the individual
service items.
Possible displays
1Button for selecting functions
2Service requirements
3Engine oil4Exhaust emissions test*
5Roadworthiness test*
6Microfilter
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 71 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
Wheels and tires
190
Recommended tire brands
Certain makes of tire are recommended by
BMW for each tire size. They are marked with a
clearly visible BMW designation on the sidewall
of the tire.
When properly used, these tires meet the high-
est standards in terms of safety and handling
characteristics.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in cold
winter driving conditions. Although all-season
M+S tires provide better winter traction than
summer tires, they generally fail to provide the
same levels of cold-weather performance as
winter tires.
Pay attention to speed
Always comply with the speed limit for the
winter tires mounted on your car; failure
to do so could result in tire damage and acci-
dents.<
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the
maximum permitted speed for the mounted
tires must be displayed in your field of view.
Specialist tire dealers and your BMW center
can supply these labels.
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as possible.
Always protect tires against all contact with oil,
grease and fuels.
Snow chains*
Only certain fine-link snow chains have been
tested by BMW, classified as safe for use and
recommended. Consult your BMW center for
more information. Attach snow chains in pairs
and only to the rear wheels. Observe the manu-
facturer's instructions when mounting snow
chains. Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph or
50 km/h.
You are not permitted to mount snow chains to
tires of the following sizes:
>255/40 R 17
>255/35 R 18
>255/30 R 19
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if
snow chains are mounted, otherwise the
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.
When driving with snow chains, you may find it
helpful to activate DTC temporarily, refer to
page81.<
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 190 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
Under the hood
192
Important parts of the engine compartment
1Expansion tank for coolant, refer to
page194
2Washer fluid reservoir for headlamp clean-
ing system and window washer system,
refer to page583Jump-starting connection, refer to
page204
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, i.e. 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.
Display in the instrument cluster
1.Push button 1 in the turn indicator stalk up
or down repeatedly until the appropriate
symbol is shown in the display, accompa-
nied by the word "OIL".
2.Press button 2 in the turn indicator stalk.
The oil level is checked and the reading dis-
played.
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 192 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
Mobility
193Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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 engine oil as soon as possible, but no
more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to
Adding engine oil on page194.
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 page196. Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
Display via iDrive
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 "Service" and press the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Service requirements" is selected and
press the controller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the second field from the top. Turn the con-
troller until "Engine oil level" is selected and
press the controller. The oil level is dis-
played.
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level O.K."
>"No measured value available: Updating
engine oil level measurement..."
The engine oil level is measured. This can
take about 3 minutes if the car is at a stand-
still on a level surface and the engine is run-
ning, and about 5 minutes while the car is on
the move.
>"Oil level at the minimum! Refill with 1 quart
of engine oil."
Add engine oil as soon as possible, but no
more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to
Adding engine oil below.
>"Engine oil level too high"
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 193 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13