
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7Instrument cluster12
10Ignition lock52
11Buttons
* on the steering wheel12Horn: the entire surface
13Steering wheel adjustment48
15Releasing the hood191
16Opening the luggage compartment lid
*
6
Turn signals56
High beams, headlamp flasher92
Roadside parking lamps
*92
Computer67
Settings and information about the 
vehicle70
Instrument lighting93
8
Windshield wipers57
Rain sensor
*57
9Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine52
Telephone
*:
>Press: accept and end a call, 
start dialing
* selected phone 
numbers. Redial if no phone 
number is selected
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling through phone book and 
lists with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable48 
Individually programmable48 
14
Cruise control*58
Active cruise control
*60
ba8_E9293_US.book  Seite 11  Freitag, 5. Mai 2006  1:02 13 

Opening and closing
36
Locking
Touch the surface, arrow 2, with your finger for 
approx. 1 second. This corresponds to pressing 
the button.
To preserve the battery, please make 
sure that the ignition and all electrical 
consumers are switched off before locking the 
vehicle.<
Convenient closure
For convenient closure, keep your finger on the 
surface, arrow 2.
Unlocking the luggage compartment 
lid separately
Press the button on the outside of the luggage 
compartment lid. This corresponds to pressing 
the button.
If the vehicle detects that a remote con-
trol has been accidentally left inside the 
locked vehicle's cargo bay after the luggage 
compartment lid is closed, the lid will reopen. 
The hazard warning flashers flash and an 
acoustic signal
* sounds.<
Switching on radio readiness
Radio readiness is switched on by pressing the 
start/stop button, refer to page52.
Do not depress the brake or the clutch, 
otherwise the engine will start.<
Starting the engine
You can start the engine or switch on the igni-
tion when a remote control is inside the vehicle. 
It is not necessary to insert a remote control into 
the ignition switch, refer to page52.
Switching off the engine in vehicles 
with automatic transmission
The engine can only be switched off when the 
selector lever is in position P, refer to page53.
To switch the engine off when the selector lever 
is in position N, the remote control must be in 
the ignition switch.
Before driving a vehicle with automatic 
transmission into a car wash
1.Insert remote control into ignition switch.
2.Depress the brake.
3.Move the selector lever to position N.
4.Switch off the engine.
The vehicle can roll.
Malfunction
Convenient access may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. If this happens, open or close 
the vehicle via the buttons on the remote con-
trol or using the integrated key. To start the 
engine afterward, insert the remote control into 
the ignition switch.
Warning lamps
The warning lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up when you attempt to 
start the engine: the engine cannot 
be started. The remote control is not inside the 
vehicle or is malfunctioning. Take the remote 
control with you inside the vehicle or have it 
checked. If necessary, insert another remote 
control into the ignition switch.
The warning lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up while the engine is 
running: the remote control is no 
longer inside the vehicle. After the engine is 
switched off, the engine can only be restarted 
within approx. 10 seconds.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on and a message 
appears on the Control Display: 
replace the battery in the remote control.
Replacing the battery
The remote control for convenient access con-
tains a battery that will need to be replaced from 
time to time.
ba8_E9293_US.book  Seite 36  Freitag, 5. Mai 2006  1:02 13 

Driving
52
Driving
Ignition lock
Insert the remote control all the way into the 
ignition lock.
>Radio readiness switches on.
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
>The electric steering wheel lock disen-
gages audibly.
Insert the remote control into the ignition 
lock before you move the vehicle, other-
wise the electric steering wheel lock will not dis-
engage and you will not be able to steer the 
car.<
Removing the remote control from the 
ignition lock
Press the remote control in briefly; it is ejected 
part of the way.
At the same time:
>The ignition switches off if it was on before-
hand.
>The electric steering wheel lock engages 
audibly.
Automatic transmission
You cannot take out the remote control unless 
the selector lever is in the P position: interlock.
Start/stop button
Each time the start/stop button is pressed, 
radio readiness or the ignition is switched on or 
off.
Briefly pressing the start/stop button 
while the brake or clutch is depressed 
starts the engine.<
Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate. 
The time and the outside temperature are dis-
played in the instrument cluster, refer to 
page66.
Radio readiness is switched off automatically:
>When the remote control is removed from 
the ignition lock
>In cars with convenient access
*, by touch-
ing the surface above the door lock, refer to 
Locking on page36
Ignition on
All electrical consumers can operate. The 
odometer and trip odometer are displayed in 
the instrument cluster, refer to page66.
When the engine is off, please turn off the 
ignition and any unnecessary electrical 
consumers in order to preserve the battery.<
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps as well as dis-
plays in the instrument cluster go out.
ba8_E9293_US.book  Seite 52  Freitag, 5. Mai 2006  1:02 13 

Controls
 53Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms, 
otherwise the inhalation of toxic exhaust 
gases can cause unconsciousness and death. 
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, 
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas. 
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the 
engine running, otherwise such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard. 
Before leaving the car with the engine running, 
place the transmission in idle or move the 
selector lever to position P and apply the hand-
brake to prevent the car from moving.<
When starting the engine, do not press the 
accelerator pedal.
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it 
running while the vehicle remains stationary. 
Instead, begin to drive at a moderate engine 
speed.
Do not depress either the brake or the 
clutch until you are ready to start the 
engine. The engine is started when you briefly 
touch the start/stop button and depress the 
brake if the car has automatic transmission, or 
the clutch if the car has manual transmission.<
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.Depress the clutch and shift to idle position.
3.Briefly press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain 
time, and stops automatically as soon as the 
engine has started.
Automatic transmission
1.Depress the brake.
2.Move the selector lever to position P or N.
3.Briefly press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain 
time, and stops automatically as soon as the 
engine has started.
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the accelerator 
pedal halfway down when starting the engine:
>If the engine does not start on the first 
attempt, for instance when it is extremely 
hot or cold.
>If the engine is started at very low tempera-
tures, below approx. + 57/–156, at high 
altitudes above approx. 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated start attempts in which 
the engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is 
not burned or inadequately burned and there is 
a danger of overheating and damaging the cat-
alytic converter.<
Switching off the engine
Always take the remote control with you 
when you leave the vehicle. 
When parking on a downhill incline, apply the 
handbrake, otherwise the vehicle could roll 
away.<
Manual transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, briefly press the 
start/stop button.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Apply the handbrake.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2.Briefly press the start/stop button.
3.Apply the handbrake.
ba8_E9293_US.book  Seite 53  Freitag, 5. Mai 2006  1:02 13 

Driving
64 desired, by tapping or pulling the lever when 
road and traffic conditions permit. It is not pos-
sible to resume a stored speed.
Radar sensor
The sensor's ability to detect vehicles ahead 
may be restricted as a result of heavy rain, dirt, snow or ice. If necessary, clean the radar sensor 
located in the front bumper, see arrow. Be sure 
to use particular care when removing any layers 
of snow or ice from the sensor.
When the radar sensor is not properly posi-
tioned, active cruise control cannot be activated 
at all.
Malfunction
The warning lamp comes on when 
the system has failed. A message 
appears on the Control Display. You 
can find more information starting on page75. 
System limitations
Always remember that the range and abil-
ity of the system does have physical limi-
tations. It will not apply the brakes or decelerate 
your vehicle when there is a slow-moving vehi-
cle, stopped vehicle or stationary object ahead 
of you, as for example, at a traffic light or a 
parked vehicle. Also, the system does not react 
to oncoming traffic, pedestrians or other types 
of potential traffic such as a rider on horseback. 
It is also possible that the system may not 
detect smaller moving objects such as motor-
cycles or bicycles. Be especially alert when 
encountering any of these situations as the sys-
tem will neither automatically brake, nor provide 
a warning to you. Also, be aware that every 
decrease in the distance setting allows your 
vehicle to come closer to a vehicle in front of 
you and requires a heightened amount of alert-
ness.
system.<
If while your vehicle is actively following a vehi-
cle in front of you and the vehicle ahead speeds 
up or the lane ahead becomes clear, then your 
vehicle will accelerate to the speed you have 
selected. Be aware that changing to a clear, 
unobstructed lane will also result in your vehicle 
accelerating.
Be certain to deactivate the system when 
you pull into an exit lane for a highway off-
ramp.<
Also, vehicles traveling in a staggered manner 
on a highway may cause a delay in the system's 
reaction to a vehicle in front of you or may cause 
the system to react to a vehicle actually in the 
lane next to you. Always be ready to take action 
or apply the brakes if necessary.
ba8_E9293_US.book  Seite 64  Freitag, 5. Mai 2006  1:02 13 

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.
ba8_E9293_US.book  Seite 78  Freitag, 5. Mai 2006  1:02 13 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
86 pressure loss, vehicle handling changes. This 
includes reduced tracking stability in braking, 
extended braking distance and altered natural 
steering characteristics.
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during 
the journey, this may be an indication that the 
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce your 
speed and pull over as soon as possible at a 
suitable location. Otherwise parts of the tire 
could come loose, resulting in an accident. Do 
not continue driving. Instead, contact your 
BMW center.<
Malfunction
The small warning lamp flashes in 
yellow and then lights up continu-
ously; the larger warning lamp comes 
on in yellow. On the Control Display, 
the tires are shown in gray and a message 
appears. No punctures can be detected.
This type of message is shown in the following 
situations:
>If there is a malfunction
Have the system checked.
>If a wheel without TPM electronics has 
been mounted
>If TPM is temporarily malfunctioning due to 
other systems or devices using the same 
radio frequency.
Message for unsuccessful system 
reset
Both warning lamps come on in yel-
low. A message will appear on the 
Control Display. The system is not 
reset after a tire has been changed, 
for example.
Check the tire inflation pressure and reset the 
system, refer to page85.
Declaration according to 
NHTSA/FMVSS 138
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Each tire should be checked monthly when cold 
and inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the 
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label. If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the 
size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label, you should determine the 
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires. As 
an added safety feature, your vehicle has been 
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem, TPMS, that illuminates a low tire pressure 
indicator lamp when one or more of your tires 
are significantly underinflated. Accordingly, 
when the low tire pressure indicator lamp 
comes on, you should stop and check your tires 
as soon as possible, and inflate them to the 
proper pressure. Driving on a significantly 
underinflated tire causes the tire to overheat 
and can lead to tire failure. Underinflation also 
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and 
may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping 
ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a sub-
stitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the 
driver’s responsibility to maintain correct tire 
pressure, even if underinflation has not reached 
the level at which the TPMS low tire pressure 
indicator lamp comes on.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined 
with the low tire pressure indicator lamp. When 
the system detects a malfunction, the indicator 
lamp will flash for approximately one minute and 
then remain continuously lit. This sequence will 
continue upon subsequent vehicle startups as 
long as the malfunction exists. When the mal-
function indicator is illuminated, the system 
may not be able to detect or signal low tire pres-
sure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may 
occur for a variety of reasons, including the 
installation of replacement or alternate tires or 
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS 
from functioning properly. Always check the 
TPMS malfunction indicator lamp after replac-
ing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle 
to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires 
and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to func-
tion properly.
ba8_E9293_US.book  Seite 86  Freitag, 5. Mai 2006  1:02 13 

Controls
 93Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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.
ba8_E9293_US.book  Seite 93  Freitag, 5. Mai 2006  1:02 13