
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 adjustment47
15Releasing the hood198
16Opening the luggage compartment lid
*
6
Turn signals58
High beams, headlamp flasher95
Roadside parking lamps
*95
Computer70
Settings and information about the 
vehicle73
Instrument lighting96
8
Windshield wipers59
Rain sensor
*59
9Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine52
Telephone
*:
>Press: accepting and ending a 
call, starting dialing
* for a 
selected phone number and 
redialing if no phone number is 
selected
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice com-
mand system
*22
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling through phone book and 
lists with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable47 
Individually programmable47 
14
Cruise control
*60
Active cruise control
*62 

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Indicator lamps for turn signals
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Displays for active cruise control
*62
5Tachometer69
6Energy Control70
7Display for
>Clock69
>Outside temperature69
>Indicator and warning lamps798Display for
>Position of automatic transmission
*57
>Sequential manual gearbox SMG
*55
>Computer70
>Date of next scheduled service, and 
remaining distance to be driven74
>Odometer and trip odometer69
>Checking engine oil level
*199
>Settings and information73
9Fuel gauge70
10Resetting trip odometer69 

Driving
58
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral, idle
You can select this in a car wash, for example. 
The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are selected automatically.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con-
sumption is lowest when you are driving in posi-
tion D.
Kick-down
Kick-down enables you to achieve maximum 
performance. 
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Manual operation and Sport program 
M/S
Move selector lever from position D toward the 
left into the M/S shifting slot:
The sport program is activated and DS appears 
in the instrument cluster. This position is rec-
ommended for a performance-oriented driving 
style. 
When you press the selector lever forwards or 
backwards, the manual mode is activated and 
Steptronic changes gear. The instrument clus-
ter shows M1 through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only 
when they will result in a plausible combination 
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example, 
a downshift that would cause the engine to 
overrev will not be executed by the system. The gear selected appears briefly in the instrument 
cluster, followed by the gear actually in use.
To use the automatic function again, move the 
selector lever to the right into position D.
Overriding selector lever lock
Should the selector lever refuse to move out of 
position P although the button on the selector 
lever is pressed, the selector lever lock can be 
overridden:
1.Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.
2.Pull the sleeve up over the selector lever 
until the sleeve is inside out.
3.Using the screwdriver from the onboard 
tool kit, refer to page205, press the red 
lever while moving the selector lever to the 
desired position.
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals 

Controls
 59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To turn off manually, press the lever to the 
resistance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator 
lamp indicates that a turn signal indicator 
has failed. 
After switching off the ignition, make sure that 
the roadside parking lamps are not switched 
on.<
Indicating a turn briefly
Press the lever as far as the resistance point for 
as long as you wish to indicate a turn.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever as far as the resistance point.
The turn signals flash three times.
You can activate or deactivate this function.
iDrive concept, refer to page16.
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 "Triple turn signal activation" and 
press the controller.
 Triple turn signaling is activated.
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating intermittent wipe or 
rain sensor
*
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
5Setting speed for intermittent wipe, or sen-
sitivity of the rain sensor
Switching on wipers
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once.
The system switches to operation in the inter-
mittent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance 
point. 
The system switches to normal speed when the 
vehicle is stationary.
Intermittent wipe or rain sensor*
If the car is not equipped with a rain sensor, the 
intermittent-wipe time is a preset.
If the car is equipped with a rain sensor, the time 
between wipes is controlled automatically and 
depends on the intensity of the rainfall. The 
sensor is mounted on the windshield, directly in 
front of the interior rearview mirror. 

Everything under control
78 5.Turn the controller until "Time" is selected 
and press the controller.
6.Turn the controller until "Set time" is 
selected and press the controller.
Adjusting settings
7.Turn the controller to set the hours and 
press the controller.
8.Turn the controller to set the minutes and 
press the controller.
The system accepts the new time.
Switching on the hour signal*
You will hear three tones just before each full 
hour.
Select "Hour memo" and press the controller.
 The hour signal is activated.
Setting the time format
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Display settings" and press the 
controller.
4.Select "Time" and press the controller.
5.Select "Time format" and press the control-
ler.6.Select the desired format and press the 
controller.
Date
The settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use, refer also to Personal Profile on 
page29.
Setting the date
In the instrument cluster
To set the dd/mm or mm/dd date format, refer 
to Setting the date format below.
1.Lightly push button 1 in the turn indicator 
stalk up or down repeatedly until the appro-
priate symbol appears in the display, 
accompanied 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.
5.Set the month and the year in the same way.
6.Press button 2.
The system displays the new date.
7.Use button 2 to save the new date.
Via iDrive
iDrive concept, refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Display settings" and press the 
controller. 

Controls
 79Reference
At a glance
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Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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.
Explanatory text messages
Text mess ages at the lo wer edge of the Control 
Display explain the meaning of the displayed 
indicator and warning lamps.
For most Check Control messages, you can 
view more information later, e.g. regarding the 
cause of a malfunction and how to respond, 
refer to page80.
In urgent cases, this information will be shown 
immediately as soon as the corresponding lamp 
comes on.
To exit the displayed information: 
Select the   arrow and press the controller. 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
84 1.Open 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 "PDC" is selected and press the con-
troller.
5.Select "PDC display on" and press the con-
troller.
6. The PDC screen is activated.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
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 ledges, may not be detectable. 
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 page117.
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.< 

Controls
 89Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
trol Display. Initialization is then completed 
while the car is in motion.
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 page196, the stan-
dard equipment by design, do not continue 
driving. Otherwise a severe accident could 
result after a tire puncture.<
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 
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, luggage compartment full, or 
4 persons without luggage: 
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load: 
4 or more persons, luggage compart-
ment full: 
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph or 80 km/h. In the event 
of 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 to the side of the road at the 
earliest opportunity. Otherwise, parts of the tire 
could come loose and cause an accident. Do 
not continue driving. Contact your BMW Cen-
ter.<
Malfunction
The warning lamps come on in yel-
low. A message appears on the Con-
trol Display. The Flat Tire Monitor has 
a malfunction or has failed. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible.
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 page85.
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 sensi-
tively to steering wheel movements. Drive cau-