
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7Buttons on steering wheel
8Instrument cluster12
11Ignition lock58
12Horn: the entire surface15Releasing the hood190
16Opening luggage compartment lid34 Mobile phone
*162
>Press: accepting and ending 
call, starting dialing
* for 
selected phone number and 
redialing if no phone number is 
selected
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice 
command system
* 22
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling in phone book and in lists 
with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable
*54 
Individually programmable54 
9
Windshield wipers65
Rain sensor65
10Starting/stopping engine and 
switching ignition on/off 58
13
Steering wheel heater
*54
Steering wheel adjustment53
14
Cruise control66
Active cruise control
*67
17
Head-Up Display
*93
18
Parking lamps96
Low beams96
Automatic headlamp control96
Adaptive Head Light
*97
19
Instrument lighting99
Front fog lamps98 

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Display for active cruise control
*70
5Tachometer74
6Engine oil thermometer75
7Display for
>Time/date74
>Outside temperature74
>Indicator and warning lamps79
>Speed for cruise control67
>Desired speed for active cruise 
control
*708Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer74
>Computer75
>Date and remaining distance to be 
driven for service requirements77
>Automatic transmission 
with Steptronic
*62
>SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox
*61
>Dynamic Driving Control64
>High-beam assistant
*97
> Check Control message present79
9Fuel gauge75
10Resetting trip odometer74 

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
66
Activating rain sensor
Press the button, arrow3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level
Turn the knurled wheel5. 
Deactivating rain sensor
Press the button again, arrow3. The LED goes 
out.
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing 
through an automatic car wash. Failure to 
do so could result in damage caused by undes-
ired wiper activation.<
Cleaning windshield and headlamps
The system sprays washer fluid against the 
windshield and activates the wipers for a brief 
period.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched 
on, the headlamps are also cleaned at regular 
and appropriate intervals.
Do not use the washers if there is any 
danger that the fluid will freeze on the 
windshield. If you do so, your vision could be 
obscured. To avoid freezing, use a washer fluid 
antifreeze, refer to Washer fluid. Do not use 
washers when the washer fluid reservoir is 
empty, as this will damage the washer pump.<
Windshield washer nozzles
Both windshield washer nozzles are automati-
cally heated with the engine running or the igni-
tion switched on.
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable. 
Always keep it well away from sparks and 
open flames, and store it in tightly closed con-
tainers well out of the reach of children. Always 
follow the instructions for use provided on the 
containers.<
Washer fluid reservoir
Capacity approx. 5.3 US quarts/5 liters.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer 
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
In order to maintain the mixture ratio, mix 
the washer fluid before filling.<
Cruise control
The concept
Cruise control is available for use at speeds of 
approx. 20 mph/30 km/h and higher. The vehi-
cle stores and maintains the speed that you set 
using the lever mounted on the steering col-
umn.
Do not use the cruise control under driv-
ing conditions that do not permit a con-
stant speed, e.g. when driving on winding 
roads , in heavy traffic or in poor roa d co nditions 
such as snow, rain, ice, and loose road surface. 
Otherwise, you could lose control of the vehicle 
and cause an accident.< 

Controls
 67Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
One lever for all functions
1Maintaining speed, storing speed, and 
accelerating
2Maintaining speed, storing speed, and 
decelerating
3Interrupting cruise control
4Resuming stored speed
Maintaining speed, storing speed, and 
accelerating
Press lever to resistance point, arrow 1:
The system maintains and stores the current 
vehicle speed. The display1 in the speedome-
ter, see below, indicates this regulated speed. 
Every time you briefly press the lever, the vehi-
cle speed increases by approx. 1 mph/1 km/h.
Press the lever to the resistance point and hold 
it: 
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on 
the accelerator pedal. The system maintains 
and stores your current speed as soon as you 
release the lever.
Press the lever beyond the resistance point: 
The speed increases by 5 mph/10 km/h.
The vehicle may accelerate beyond the regu-
lated speed on steep downhill stretches where 
the engine's braking action alone may not be 
sufficient to slow the vehicle. Speed can drop 
on uphill grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.
Maintaining speed, storing speed, and 
decelerating
Pull the lever, arrow2:
Functions are the same as1, only the vehicle 
speed is reduced.
Interrupting cruise control
Press the lever up or down, arrow3.
Cruise control is also interrupted automatically:
>when you apply pressure to the brake pedal
>when you depress the clutch pedal or shift 
the automatic transmission/SMG into posi-
tion N
>when DSC comes on
Resuming stored speed
Press button4: 
The vehicle accelerates to and maintains the 
stored speed.
Deactivating system
When the ignition is switched off, the system is 
deactivated and the stored speed is deleted.
Displays in instrument cluster
1Stored desired speed
2Selected desired speed appears briefly
Active cruise control*
The concept
With active cruise control, you can select a 
desired speed which is not only automatically 
maintained when driving on open roadways, but 
also varied to maintain a selected distance set-
ting as slower traffic is encountered.
Active cruise control is technologically 
advanced over the familiar cruise control and is 
a welcome relief from the constant adjustment 
of speed that can accompany driving in traffic 
on freeways or other high-speed thorough- 

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 

Driving
70 The selected distance is displayed in the instru-
ment cluster.
Use good judgment to select the appro-
priate following distance given road con-
ditions, traffic, applicable laws and driving rec-
ommendations for safe following distance.<
Deactivate system
Press the lever up or down. The displays in the 
instrument cluster disappear.
You also deactivate the system when you apply 
the brakes, shift very slowly, or shift into neutral. 
In addition, the system is deactivated automati-
cally:
>when you activate the DTC Dynamic 
Traction Control
>when you deactivate the DSC Dynamic 
Stability Control>when the system does not recognize any 
objects for a longer time, e. g. on infre-
quently traveled roads without a shoulder or 
guard rails, or if the radar sensor is covered 
with dirt, refer to page71
>when the speed is reduced to below 
20 mph/30 km/h due to a traffic situation
The system deactivates automatically 
when the speed is set to below 20 mph/
30 km/h. A signal sounds and a message 
appears in the Control Display. The active inter-
vention of the driver is required, otherwise there 
is the danger of an accident.<
Resume stored desired speed and 
distance
Press button 4. 
The displays appear in the instrument cluster.
When you switch off the ignition, the stored 
desired speed is deleted.
Displays in instrument cluster
1Stored desired speed
2Lights up yellow: vehicle driving ahead is 
detected
Flashes red and a signal sounds: the system 
cannot establish the distance, you must 
apply the brakes
Flashes yellow: driving stability control sys-
tems intervene and the active cruise control 
is deactivated
3Selected distance to vehicle driving ahead: 
lights up as soon as the system is activated
4Selected desired speed appears briefly Distance 1
Distance 2
Distance 3 
This distance is set when the 
system is used for the first time 
after starting the engine.
Distance 4 

Controls
 71Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
If the display ACC --- mph/km/h briefly 
appears in the instrument cluster, it might 
be that conditions necessary for operation are 
not currently being met. To call up Check Con-
trol messages, refer to page79.<
Warning lamps
The display2 flashes red and a sig-
nal sounds. 
The system is warning you to inter-
vene by braking or executing an 
evasive maneuver. The active 
cruise control cannot automatically restore the 
distance to the vehicle driving ahead. 
This display does not, however, relieve the 
driver of the responsibility for adapting desired 
speed and driving style to traffic conditions.
The display2 flashes yellow. 
Automatic intervention by ABS or 
DSC. The active cruise control 
intervenes by braking until you 
actively take over.
Radar sensor
Heavy rain, dirt, snow, or ice can impair the 
detection of vehicles ahead. If necessary, clean 
the radar sensor under the front bumper. In 
doing so, be especially careful when removing 
layers of snow and ice.
If the sensor is incorrectly aligned, the active 
cruise control cannot be activated.
Things to know about active cruise control
As with conventional cruise control sys-
tems, active cruise control in no way 
diminishes or substitutes for the driver's own 
personal responsibility, alertness and aware-
ness in adjusting speed, braking or otherwise 
controlling the vehicle. The driver should 
decide when to use the system on the basis of 
road, traffic, visibility, and weather conditions. 
Active cruise control is intended for use on 
highway-type roadways where traffic is moving 
relatively smoothly. Do not use this system in 
city driving; heavy traffic such as during rush 
hour; on curvy, winding roads, slippery roads or roads with sharp curves such as highway off-
ramps; during inclement weather such as snow, 
heavy rain or fog; or when entering inter-
changes, service/parking areas or toll booths. 
It is also important to regulate your vehicle's 
speed and distance setting within applicable 
legal limits. Always be ready to take action or 
apply the brakes if necessary, especially when 
the system is actively following a vehicle in front 
of you.<
Always remember that the range and abil-
ity of the system do have physical limita-
tions. It will not apply the brakes or decelerate