
Opening and closing
42 In order to avoid damage, do not operate
the convertible top at temperatures
below + 147/–106.
Do not leave the convertible top in its storage
compartment for longer than one day when wet;
otherwise, damage from moisture can occur.
Do not place any objects on the convertible top;
otherwise, if the top were to be operated, these
objects could fall off and lead to damage or
injury.
Never move the convertible top when the roll-
over protection system is raised.
Driving without having completed the opening
or closing action can lead to damage or injury.
Do not place hands in the top mechanism dur-
ing the opening and closing action. Keep chil-
dren away from the travel path of the convert-
ible top.
For safety reasons, do not operate the convert-
ible top unless the vehicle is stationary.<
If you have initiated top operation with the
vehicle at a stop and then start to drive,
e.g. at a traffic light, you can continue the
initiated operation up to a speed of 20 mph/
30 km/h:
To do so, press and hold the corresponding
button.<
Partial vacuums that occur at higher
speeds in the passenger compartment
can make the convertible top flap. Use the auto-
matic climate control to increase the air supply
so that a partial vacuum in the vehicle does not
occur.<
Prior to opening and closing
>Read the safety precautions above carefully
and comply with them fully.
>Make sure that the convertible top com-
partment floor in the luggage compartment
is in the lowered position, refer to page35;
otherwise, the convertible top cannot be
opened.
>Make sure that the luggage compartment
lid is closed.
Opening and closing
Ignition key in radio ready position or higher,
refer to page58, with the vehicle stationary:
To avoid putting excessive strain on the
battery, operate the convertible top only
when the engine is running, if possible.
Before closing the convertible top, remove for-
eign objects from the windshield frame, as
these might inhibit closing of the convertible
top.<
1Closing
2LED
3Opening
When the button for operating the con-
vertible top is pressed, the side windows
move downward slightly and the rear window is
lowered completely.
If you hold down the button after the LED2
goes out, then the windows travel upward
again.
If the convertible top is not completely open or
closed, then the luggage compartment lid can-
not be opened.<
LED
In the following situations, in addition to the
LED, a message is displayed on the Control
Display and an acoustic signal may sound:
>During convertible top operation, the LED
lights up green. It goes out as soon as the
opening or closing action is finished.
>If the LED flashes red when you release the
button, the opening or closing action has
not yet finished.

Adjustments
48
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat could
respond with unexpected movement and the
ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to an
accident.
On the front passenger side as well, do not tilt
the backrest too far toward the rear. Failure to
observe this precaution can prevent the belt
from providing effective protection against
injury, as the passenger could slide under the
belt in an accident.<
Also follow the instructions regarding damage
to the safety belt on page52.
Convertible: with the wind deflector fitted,
do not incline the front seat backrests too
far backward if the seat is to be moved back to
the end position; otherwise, the wind deflector
will be damaged.<
Seat adjustment
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
please follow the adjustment instructions on
page47.<
1Inclination
2Longitudinal direction
3Height
4Backrest
5Convertible: head restraints, refer to
page50With the sports seat
*, you can also adjust the
thigh support manually:
Pull the lever and move the thigh support in the
longitudinal direction.
Lumbar support* adjustment
You can also adjust the contours of the backrest
to obtain additional support in the lumbar
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a
relaxed, upright sitting position.
>Increase or decrease curvature:
Press front or rear of switch.
>Move curvature up or down:
Press top or bottom of switch.

Adjustments
54
Steering wheel heater*
Press the button with the ignition switched on.
The indicator lamp in the button lights up when
the steering wheel heater is switched on.
Programmable buttons* on steering
wheel
You can program the buttons individually.
iDrive, for principle details, 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.Select "Steering wheel buttons" and press
the controller.A list of various functions is displayed:
>"Navigation voice instructions"
Voice instructions of the navigation sys-
tem
*
>"Air recirculation on / off"
Permanently shutting off outside air,
refer to AUC Automatic recirculated air
control on page103
>"Mute on / off"
Mutes the audio sources
>"Monitor on / off"
Switches the Control Display on/off
>"Telephone list"
Display/hide phone book or last list of
stored phone numbers displayed
>"Next entertainment source"
Changes audio source
5.Select the desired function and press the
controller.
6.Select the button if necessary and press the
controller.
You can now activate the selected function
using the corresponding button.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.

Controls
55Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Activating selected function
Press the corresponding button on the steering
wheel.
If you have programmed "Navigation voice
instructions" for one of the buttons:
>To switch voice instructions on/off:
Maintain pressure on the button for several
seconds.
>To repeat the last voice instruction:
Press the button.

Transporting children safely
56
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger
themselves and other persons, e.g. by opening
the doors.<
In principle, all seats in your BMW are suitable,
with the exception of the driver's seat, for
mounting universal child restraint systems for
all age classes approved for the respective age
group.
Children always in back
Accident research shows that the safest place
for children is in the back.
Children younger than 13 years of age or
under 5 ft/150 cm in height must be trans-
ported in back, seated in child restraint systems
which correspond to the age, weight and height
of the child. Otherwise there is an increased
danger of injury in an accident.<
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint
system can no longer be used due to their age,
size and weight.
All rear seat positions in your vehicle comply
with the recommendations of the standard
SAE J1819 for the safe securing of child
restraint systems in motor vehicles.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child-
restraint system on the front passenger
seat, the front, knee and side airbag on the pas-
senger side must be deactivated. Otherwise,
there is an increased risk of injury for the child
if the airbags are triggered, even with a child-
restraint system. Your BMW center will be glad
to advise you.<
For more information on automatic deactivation
of the front passenger airbags, refer to page91.
Installing child-restraint
systems
Follow child-restraint system manufac-
turer's instructions for the selection,
installation and use of child restraint systems.
Otherwise the degree of protection they offer
may be reduced.<
Commercially available child restraint systems
are designed to be secured with a lap belt or
with the lap belt section of a three-point belt.
Incorrectly or improperly installed child restraint
systems can increase the risk of injury for chil-
dren. Always follow the instructions for install-
ing the system exactly.
On front passenger seat
Before installing a child restraint system
in the front passenger seat, make sure
that the front, knee and side airbag on the front
passenger side are deactivated. Otherwise
there is an increased risk of injury if the airbags
are triggered.<
Seat height
Before mounting a universal child-restraint sys-
tem, move the front passenger seat into the
highest position to achieve the best possible
belt routing. Do not change this seat height.
Child seat security
All rear safety belts and the safety belt for the
front passenger can be locked against pulling
out to secure child restraint systems.

Controls
59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Starting 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, as such a vehicle represents a
potential safety hazard.
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, always
engage the handbrake and move the selector-
lever into position P or shift into neutral before
leaving the vehicle with the engine running.<
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 immediately at a moder-
ate engine speed.
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.Depress the clutch pedal and select the
idling position.
3.Briefly press Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-
ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Briefly press Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox*
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Move the selector lever into position N and
make sure that this position is also indi-
cated in the instrument cluster.
3.Briefly press Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-
ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
If the engine fails to start, depress the
brake pedal and press the selector lever
to the right and then back into position N.
Watch the display in the instrument cluster
while doing so.<
Special starting conditions
Depress the accelerator pedal halfway when
starting the engine in the following situations:
>The engine fails to start on the first attempt,
e.g. if it is very hot or cold.
>The engine is started at very low tempera-
tures below approx. + 57/– 156 and at
high altitudes over 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 at all or is burned inadequately and
there is a danger of overheating and damage to
the catalytic converter.<
Switching engine off
Do not remove the remote control from
the ignition lock while the vehicle is roll-
ing; otherwise, the steering wheel lock would
engage while steering.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
remote control with you.
When parking on a downhill slope, apply the
handbrake; otherwise, the vehicle could roll.<

Driving
64 3.Using the screwdriver from the onboard
toolkit, refer to page197, press the lever at
the point marked in red and move the selec-
tor lever into the desired position.
Dynamic Driving Control
The Dynamic Driving Control makes it possible
for your BMW to react in an even more perfor-
mance-oriented manner at the push of a button:
>The engine responds more spontaneously
to accelerator pedal movements.
>Cruise control:
The stored speed is reached more quickly
when requested.
Additionally with SMG:
>Gearshifts are faster.
>The engine speed range is used optimally in
the Drive mode.
With automatic transmission:
>The Sport program is activated.
Activating system
With the ignition switched on, press the SPORT
button.The LED in the button lights up and SPORT is
displayed in the instrument cluster.
Deactivating system
>Press the SPORT button again or
>shift into reverse or
>switch off the engine.
The LED in the button and SPORT in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Acceleration assistant with SMG
The acceleration assistant enables optimized
vehicle acceleration at race car level on road
surfaces with good adhesion when starting off.
Do not use the acceleration assistant too
often; otherwise, components will wear
prematurely.<
1.Activate the Dynamic Driving Control.
2.Deactivate DSC, refer to page87.
3.Press the accelerator pedal down fully:
Kick-down. The ideal starting-off engine
speed is set.
To maintain the vehicle stability, reacti-
vate DSC afterward.<
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals

Driving
68 fares. Especially on longer trips, the system can
reduce fatigue and tension, while increasing
your enjoyment of driving. Please use it safely
and responsibly.
In addition to maintaining a steady cruising
speed, active cruise control will, within the
scope of given possibilities, adjust your vehi-
cle's speed automatically if you encounter
slower vehicles ahead, thus allowing you to flow
with the traffic without having to make frequent
interventions. For example, if, while cruising at
the selected speed, you begin to approach a
slower vehicle ahead of you in the same lane,
the system will reduce your vehicle's speed to
the same as that of the vehicle ahead to main-
tain your selected distance setting between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead. You can
vary the distance, which is also speed-depen-
dent. Based on your selected distance setting,
the system automatically decreases the throttle
setting and lightly applies the brakes if neces-
sary. The vehicle brake lamps will automatically
illuminate to signal a following driver to take
action. In addition, it may be necessary for the
vehicle or the driver to downshift, depending on
the kind of transmission your vehicle is
equipped with, to maintain the distance setting
selected. If the vehicle ahead speeds up or
when the lane ahead becomes clear, your vehi-
cle will accelerate to the speed you have
selected by increasing the throttle setting and
shifting gears automatically or with the aid of
the driver as needed. Your selected speed will
be maintained when driving downhill, too.
Active cruise control is not and must not
be used as a collision avoidance/warning
system.<
Since this active cruise control system is
a new technology and operates differ-
ently from conventional cruise control systems
which you may be accustomed to, you are
strongly urged to read all of the pages relating
to this system before use. Pay special attention
to the information contained in the Things to
know about active cruise control section begin-
ning on page71.<
Professional* navigation system
If there is a navigation DVD in the player, refer to
page120, then the system adapts the acceler-
ation and deceleration behavior of the vehicle to
the road on which you are currently driving.
The influence exerted by the navigation system
is canceled when the vehicle position is
unknown, e.g. when it has left the mapped
region.
Manual transmission
You can shift gears with the cruise control acti-
vated. If you drive for extended periods at very
high or very low engine speeds, then a shifting
command is issued or the system is deacti-
vated.
SMG
If you drive for extended periods at very high
engine speeds in Sequential mode, then a shift-
ing command is issued or the system is deacti-
vated.
In the Drive mode, the SMG acts similarly to an
automatic transmission in the D position.
Operating active cruise control
1Store and increase desired speed
2Store and decrease desired speed
3Deactivate system, refer to page70
4Resume stored desired speed and dis-
tance, refer to page70
5Select following distance to vehicle ahead,
refer to page69