
 
Contents
 
9
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags59
Transporting children safely62
Rollover protection system66
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory68
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock69
Starting the engine69
Switching off the engine71
Parking brake71
Manual transmission72
Sequential manual gearbox 
SMG*73
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*77
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher80
Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor*81
Cruise control*82
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer84
Tachometer84
Energy control84
Fuel gauge85
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge85
Service interval display86
Check Control86
Clock87
Computer88
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)*90
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)91
Flat Tire Monitor*92
Brake force display94
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams95
Adaptive headlights*96
Instrument lighting96
High beams/Standing lamps97
Front fog lamps97
Interior lamps98
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning100
Automatic climate control*104
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Glove compartment109
Integrated universal remote 
control*110
Storage compartments112
Microphone*113
Ashtray, front*113
Ashtray, rear*114
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Ski bag*115
Cargo loading117
Roof-mounted luggage rack for 
the hardtop*120
 
Controls and features 

 
15
1Parking lamps/Low beams95
2
 
>
 
Turn signal indicators80
 
>
 
Standing lamps97
 
>
 
High beams97
 
>
 
Headlamp flasher80
 
>
 
Computer88
3Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor81
4Hazard warning flashers
5Central locking system28
6
 
>
 
Initiating an emergency call162
 
>
 
Mobile Service163
7Rear window defroster102, 107
8Horn: the entire surface
9Adjusting the steering wheel58
10 Fog lamps97
 
Cockpit
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

29
Opening and closing – via the remote controlThe conceptThe remote control also provides two 
additional functions beyond the central 
locking feature:
>To switch on interior lamps, refer to 
page 30.
With this function you can also 
search for the vehicle when parked in 
an underground garage, for instance
>To open the luggage compartment 
lid, refer to page 30.
The luggage compartment lid will 
open slightly, regardless of whether it 
was previously locked or unlocked.
Whenever you unlock or lock the vehi-
cle, you simultaneously deactivate/acti-
vate the anti-theft system, disarm/arm 
the alarm system and switch the interior 
lamps on/off.
You can have a signal set to con-
firm that the vehicle's locks have 
engaged securely.<
Master keys with remote control
Persons or animals inside the 
vehicle may be able to lock the 
doors from the inside. For this reason, 
you should always take the vehicle keys 
with you so that the vehicle can be 
opened again from the outside at any 
time.<
If it is no longer possible to lock 
the vehicle via the remote control, 
the battery is discharged. Use this key 
while driving for an extended period in 
order to recharge the battery.
To prevent unauthorized use of the 
remote control, surrender only the 
spare key when leaving the vehicle for 
valet parking, for example.
In the event of a system malfunction, 
please contact your BMW center. You 
can also obtain replacement keys 
there.<
1Unlock, convenience opening mode, 
and disarm alarm system
2Lock and secure, arm alarm system, 
activate interior lamps, disarm tilt 
alarm sensor and interior motion sen-
sor
3Open the luggage compartment lid, 
Panic mode – trigger alarmTo releasePress the button once to unlock the 
driver's door.
Press the button a second time to 
disengage all vehicle locks.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

36
Before lowering the convertible 
top, refer to page 39 or 44, always 
check to ensure that the luggage com-
partment panel is folded down. Other-
wise damage could occur.<
Alarm system*The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the lug-
gage compartment lid is opened
>To movements inside the vehicle – 
interior motion sensor
>To variations in the vehicle's tilt angle 
such as those occurring during 
attempts to steal the wheels or tow 
the vehicle – tilt alarm sensor
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized 
vehicle entry and attempted theft by 
simultaneously activating the following:
>The acoustic alarm sounds for 
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>The high beams flash on and off in 
rhythm with the hazard warning flash-
ers.To arm and disarm the alarm 
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked 
via the remote control or the driver's 
door lock, the alarm system is also 
simultaneously armed or disarmed.You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm 
arming and disarming.<
You can open the luggage compart-
ment lid when the system is armed by 
pressing the remote control button, 
refer to page 30. The lid is once again 
secured when it is closed.
Extended pressure on the button sets 
off the alarm – Panic mode, refer to 
page 30.
Luggage compartment 

37
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior 
rearview mirror flashes continuously: 
The system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes immedi-
ately after the vehicle is locked: doors 
or luggage compartment lid are not 
completely closed. Even if you do not 
close the alerted area(s), the remain-
ing areas are secured, and the indi-
cator lamp will flash continuously 
after 10 seconds. However, the inte-
rior motion sensor is not activated
>The indicator lamp goes out immedi-
ately after the vehicle is unlocked: no 
manipulation or attempted intrusions 
have been detected in the period 
since the system was armed
>The indicator lamp flashes for 
10 seconds immediately after the 
vehicle is unlocked: an attempted 
entry has been detected in the period 
since the system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the 
indicator lamp will flash continuously.Tilt alarm sensor and interior 
motion sensorTilt alarm sensor:
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The 
alarm system reacts, for example, to 
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the 
vehicle.
Interior motion sensor:
The vehicle interior is monitored up to 
the height of the seat cushions. Even 
when the convertible top is open, the 
alarm system including the interior 
motion sensor is armed. Objects falling 
into the vehicle, e.g. leaves, can trigger 
unintentional alarms, refer to Avoiding 
unintentional alarms.Avoiding unintentional alarmsThe tilt alarm sensor and interior motion 
sensor may be switched off at the same 
time. You can do this to prevent a false 
alarm, e.g. in the following situations:
>In garages with elevator ramps>When the vehicle is being trans-
ported by train
>When animals are to remain in the 
vehicle.
To deactivate the tilt alarm and 
interior motion sensors>Press the button on the remote con-
trol twice.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and 
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm 
sensor and the interior motion sensor 
are deactivated until the vehicle is 
unlocked and locked again.
You can have the tilt alarm sensor 
and the interior motion sensor 
permanently deactivated.<
The system inadvertently deacti-
vates the tilt alarm sensor and the 
interior motion sensor if the conve-
nience closing of windows and glass 
sunroof is interrupted within the first 
10 seconds and then restarted. The 
vehicle must then be unlocked and 
relocked before the sensors will resume 
operation.<
Alarm system*
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

81
Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor*0Wipers retracted
1Intermittent mode or rain sensor
2Normal wipe
3Fast wipe
4Brief wipe
5Rotary dial for control of the wipe 
interval or the sensitivity of the rain 
sensorIntermittent modeNot on vehicles with rain sensor.
You can select any of four sweep inter-
vals with rotary dial 5.
In addition, the wipe interval varies 
automatically depending on road 
speed.
Rain sensor*The rain sensor is located on the wind-
shield directly behind the rearview mir-
ror.
To activate the rain sensor:
>With the ignition key in position 1 
or higher, move the lever to position 
1. The wipers will make at least one 
sweep across the windshield.
You can leave the lever in position 1 
at all times. With the ignition key in 
position  1 or higher, all you then need 
to do to activate the rain sensor is
>turn rotary dial 5 upward or
>clean windshield 1, refer to page 82.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain sen-
sor: turn rotary dial 5.
To switch off the rain sensor:
Return lever to position 0.
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. Failure to do so 
could result in damage caused by 
undesired wiper activation.
wipe – not on vehicles with rain sensor.
Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the wip-
ers operate at normal speed – not on 
vehicles with rain sensor.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 

82
0Wipers retracted
1Clean windshield and headlampsCleaning windshield and 
headlamps*
Do not use the washers if there is 
any danger that the fluid will 
freeze on the windshield, as your vision 
could be obscured. Always use a wind-
shield washer antifreeze in cold 
weather. Refer to page 142.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. This could cause damage 
to the washer pump.<
The system sprays washer fluid against 
the windshield and activates the wipers 
for a brief period.
When the vehicle's lighting system is 
switched on, the headlamps will also be 
cleaned at reasonable intervals.Windshield washer nozzlesThe windshield washer nozzles are 
heated automatically* when the ignition 
key is in position 2.
Cruise control*You can store and automatically main-
tain any desired vehicle speed above 
approx. 20 mph / 30 km/h.
The cruise control is available whenever 
the engine is running and the system 
has been activated.To activate the systemIn ignition key position 2:
Press the button in the steering wheel. 
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on, refer to page 20. You 
can now use the cruise control.
Do not use cruise control on twist-
ing roads, when high traffic den-
sity prevents driving at a constant 
speed, or when the road surface is slick 
– snow, rain, ice – or loose – rocks or 
gravel, sand.
ment cluster goes out.
Cruise control is also deactivated when 
the ignition key is in position 0.
Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor* 

90Technology for safety and driving convenience
Park Distance Control (PDC)*The conceptPDC assists you when you back into a 
parking space. Acoustic signals alert 
you to the momentary distance to an 
object behind your vehicle. The system 
features four ultrasonic sensors 
mounted in your rear bumper. The mon-
itoring range for the two corner sensors 
extends outward roughly 2 ft/60 cm, 
while two centrally located sensors 
detect objects at distances of up to 
approx. 5 ft/1.50 m.
PDC is a parking aid that can 
identify objects if they are 
approached slowly, as is generally the 
case when parking. Avoid driving 
towards objects rapidly; due to underly-
ing physical principles, the system may 
otherwise alert you too late for you to 
take evasive steps.<
The system starts to operate automati-
cally approx. one second after you shift 
into Reverse or move the selector lever 
into the R position with the ignition key 
in position 2. 
Let this short period elapse before 
driving backwards.<
PDC is deactivated when you shift back 
out of Reverse.
You can have a signal set to con-
firm that the PDC has been acti-
vated. The signal then sounds when 
you shift into Reverse or move the 
selector lever into the R position.
intervals. As the distance between vehi-
cle and object decreases, the intervals 
between the tones become shorter. A 
continuous tone indicates the pres-
ence of an object less than 1 ft/30 cm 
away.
The warning signal is canceled after 
approx. three seconds if the distance to 
the object remains constant during this 
time – if you are moving parallel to 
a wall, for instance.
System malfunctions will be indicated 
by a continuous high-pitched tone 
when the system is activated the first 
time. Please have the problem fixed by 
your BMW center.
PDC does not replace the driver's 
personal responsibility for evaluat-
ing the distance between the vehicle 
and any objects. Always remember that 
the sensors can neither detect nor pro-
vide warnings of obstacles located 
within their blind angles. This applies 
especially in those cases where the 
system approaches the physical limits 
of ultrasonic measurement, as occurs 
with tow bars and trailer couplings, and 
in the vicinity of thin or wedge-shaped 
objects. Moreover, low objects that 
have already been detected – such as a 
curb edge – can disappear out of the 
detection range of the sensors before a 
continuous tone sounds.
Loud sources of sound from outside or 
inside the vehicle could drown out the 
PDC signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free 
of ice or snow in order to ensure 
that they will continue to operate effec-
tively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the 
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Always maintain a distance of more 
than 4 in/10 cm.<