
Things to remember when driving
114
Things to remember when driving
Breaking-in
Moving parts need time to adjust to one 
another. To ensure that your vehicle continues 
to provide optimized economy of operation 
throughout an extended service life, we request 
that you devote careful attention to the follow-
ing section.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at changing engine and driving speeds, 
however do not exceed 4,500 rpm or 100 mph/
160 km/h.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the 
transmission's kick-down mode during these 
initial miles.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be 
increased.
SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox
Do not use the acceleration assistant during the 
break-in period, refer to page64.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their 
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full 
traction potential until after an initial break-in 
period. It is therefore important to drive reserv-
edly during the first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized 
contact and wear patterns between brake pads 
and rotors. Drive in a reserved manner during 
this break-in period.
Clutch
The function of the clutch is only at its opti-
mized level after a distance driven of approx. 
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period, 
engage the clutch gently.
Following part replacement
Observe the break-in instructions again if com-
ponents mentioned above must be replaced 
after subsequent driving operation.
General driving notes
Closing luggage compartment lid
Only drive with the luggage compartment 
lid completely closed, otherwise exhaust 
can penetrate into the passenger compart-
ment.<
If special circumstances should make it abso-
lutely necessary to operate the vehicle with the 
luggage compartment lid open:
1.Coupe: close both windows and the glass 
sunroof.
Convertible: with closed top, close all win-
dows.
2.Increase the air volume of the automatic 
climate control to a high level, refer to 
page102.
Hot exhaust system
As in all vehicles, extremely high temper-
atures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed 
adjacent to it, and never apply undercoating to 
them. When driving, standing at idle and while 
parking, take care to avoid possible contact 
between the hot exhaust system and any highly 
flammable materials such as hay, leaves, grass, 
etc. Such contact could lead to a fire, and with it 
the risk of serious property damage as well as 
personal injury.< 

Driving tips
 115Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Mobile communications devices in 
vehicle
BMW advises against using mobile com-
munications devices, e.g. mobile phones, 
inside the vehicle without a direct connection 
to an external antenna. Otherwise, the vehicle 
electronics and mobile communications device 
can interfere with one another. In addition, there 
is no assurance that the radiation emitted dur-
ing transmission will be conveyed out of the 
vehicle interior.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads, 
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge 
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or 
complete loss of contact between the tires and 
the road surface, ultimately undermining your 
ability to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread 
depth of the tires decreases, also refer to Mini-
mum tire tread on page187.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if 
it is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only 
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the 
vehicle's engine, electrical systems and trans-
mission may be damaged.<
Using handbrake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with 
the clutch; use the handbrake. Otherwise 
greater clutch wear will result.<
SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox
Start off quickly on slopes. Do not hold 
the vehicle on a hill by applying the throt-
tle, but engage the handbrake instead. Other-
wise overheating can occur in the transmission 
region.<
Starting assistant
The starting assistant enables you to start off 
conveniently on slopes. The parking brake is 
not required for this purpose.
1.Hold the vehicle with the footbrake.
2.Release the footbrake and immediately 
drive off quickly.
The starting assistant holds the vehicle 
for approx. 2 seconds after releasing the 
footbrake. Depending on the load, the vehicle 
may also roll back slightly during this time. 
After releasing the footbrake, immediately start 
quickly; otherwise, the starting assistant no 
longer holds the vehicle after approx. 2 seconds 
and it begins to roll back.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard 
feature. In situations that require it, it is best to 
brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains 
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid 
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering 
effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with 
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to 
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the 
brake pedal. Even light but consistent 
pedal pressure can lead to high temperatures, 
brake wear and possibly even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
When driving on wet roads or in heavy rain, it is 
a good idea to apply light pressure to the brake 
pedal every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions 
to ensure that this maneuver does not endan-
ger other road users. The heat generated in this 
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure 
that full braking efficiency will then be available 
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and thus reduced 
efficiency of the brake system, downshift 
to a gear in which only minimal brake applica-
tions are needed when descending long or  

Things to remember when driving
116 steep downhill stretches. Even light but consis-
tent pedal pressure can lead to high tempera-
tures, brake wear and possibly even brake fail-
ure.<
The braking action of the engine can be further 
increased by downshifting in the manual mode 
of the automatic transmission, possibly as far as 
first gear, refer to page63. This prevents an 
excessive load on the brakes.
Do not drive with the clutch depressed, in 
idle or with the engine switched off; other-
wise, there will be no engine braking action or 
power-assisted braking and steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other 
objects to protrude into the area of movement 
of the pedals and impair their operation.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally, 
during extended periods when the vehicle is not 
used at all, and in operating conditions where 
brake applications are less frequent, there is an 
increased tendency for corrosion to form on 
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the 
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum 
pressure which must be exerted by the pads 
during brake applications to clean the rotors is 
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the 
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating 
effect that even extended application will fail to 
cure.
When vehicle is parked
Condensation forms in the automatic climate 
control during operation, and then exits under 
the vehicle. Traces of condensed water under 
the vehicle are therefore normal.
Before driving into a car wash
To prevent the exterior mirrors on this vehicle 
from being damaged, always fold them in by 
hand before entering an automatic car wash.
With comfort access and automatic 
transmission
Insert the remote control into the ignition lock.
The engine can be switched off in the selector 
lever position N. Also refer to page37.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their 
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage 
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result 
can assume the form of a sudden blow-out.<
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your 
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants 
and cargo should never exceed 
XXX lbs. or YYY kg, otherwise the vehicle 
may be damaged and unstable driving con-
ditions may result.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers that will be riding in 
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver 
and passengers from XXX lbs. or YYY kg.
4.The resulting figure equals the available 
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals 
800 lbs. and there will be four 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is 
200 lbs.:
800 lbs. minus 600 lbs. = 200 lbs. 

Under the hood
194 When you continue driving, an increased 
brake pedal path can be necessary, and 
significantly longer braking distances may be 
required. Please adapt your driving style 
accordingly.<
Brake pads
The warning lamp lights up in red 
in spite of the handbrake being 
released; a message appears on the 
Control Display. 
The brake pads have reached their minimum 
pad thickness. Have the brake pads replaced as 
soon as possible.
Warning lamp for Canadian models.
For your own safety: use only brake pads 
that BMW has approved for your particu-
lar vehicle model. As BMW cannot assess the 
suitability of other brake pads for use on your 
vehicle, BMW is unable to assume continued 
responsibility for the vehicle's operating safety 
if non-approved pads are installed.< 

Reference 219
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Brake pads194
– breaking-in114
Brakes
– ABS Antilock Brake 
System86
– brake fluid193
– brake force display90
– brake pads194
– breaking-in114
– CBC Cornering Brake 
Control86
– handbrake60
Brake system114
– brake fluid level193
– brake pads114,194
– brake rotors116
– breaking-in114
– warning lamp13,193
Brake wear warning
– brake pads194
– warning lamp194
Braking
– electronic brake-force 
distribution86
– refer to Braking safely115
Braking safely115
Breakdown assistance176
Breakdown services, refer to 
Roadside Assistance203
Breaking-in114
Breaking-in the clutch114
Breaking-in the 
differential114
"Brightness"83,94
Brightness of Control 
Display83
Button for starting engine58
Buttons on steering wheel11
Bypassing route sections136
C
California law
– Event Data Recorders196
California Proposition 
65 Warning6
"Call"168Call
– accepting166
– displaying accepted168
– ending167
– in absence168
– starting167
Calling
– from phone book167
– from Top 8 list168
– redialing168
Can holder, refer to Cup 
holders109
Capacity of luggage 
compartment210
Car battery, refer to Vehicle 
battery200
Car care, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
"Car data"76
Care196
– refer to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Cargo loading
– securing cargo117
– stowing cargo117
– vehicle116
Caring for artificial leather, 
refer to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Caring for leather, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Caring for light-alloy wheels, 
refer to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Caring for plastic, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Caring for the carpet, refer to 
the Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Caring for the vehicle finish, 
refer to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochureCar key, refer to Keys/remote 
control28
Car phone162
– installation location, refer to 
Center armrest108
– refer to Mobile phone162
– refer to separate Owner's 
Manual
Car radio, refer to Radio144
Car wash116
– refer to Before driving into a 
car wash116
– refer to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
– with comfort access37
Catalytic converter, refer to 
Hot exhaust system114
"Categories"151
CBC Cornering Brake 
Control86
CBS Condition Based 
Service195
"CD"140,153
CD changer153
– controls140
– fast forward/reverse157
– installation location157
– playing a track155
– random play sequence156
– repeating a track156
– selecting a CD153
– selecting a track154
– switching on/off140
– tone control141
– volume141
CD player153
– controls140
– fast forward/reverse157
– playing a track155
– random play sequence156
– repeating a track156
– selecting a track154
– switching on/off140
– tone control141
– volume141
Center armrest, adjusting 
height108