
Cockpit
10
Cockpit
All around the steering wheel: controls and displays
1Convertible: opening and closing rear 
window39
2Convertible: opening and closing windows 
together39
3Convertible: opening and closing back 
windows38
4Opening and closing front windows38
5Adjusting exterior mirrors52
Automatic parking function536
Turn signals64
High beams, headlamp flasher97
High-beam assistant
*97
Roadside parking lamps97
Check Control79
Computer75 

At a glance
 17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation or onboard information
>Navigation system*
>Onboard info, e.g. for displaying of the 
average fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
Climate
>Air distribution
>Automatic program
>Parked car ventilation
 menu
>Switching off the Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central 
locking system
>Display of the service requirements and 
dates for statutory emission and vehicle 
inspections
>Settings for the telephone
Basic operation
With the ignition switch at radio readiness or 
higher, refer to page58, the following message 
appears on the Control Display:
To confirm the message:
Press the controller.
This opens the start menu.
Start menu
You can call up all the functions of iDrive using 
five menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the   button.
To open the start menu from the   menu:
Press the   button twice. 

Controls
 85Reference
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Mobility
Technology for comfort, convenience and 
safety
PDC Park Distance Control*
The concept
The PDC assists you when you are parking. 
Acoustic signals and an optical display
* alert 
you to the approach of an object from behind 
your vehicle. To measure the distance, there 
are four ultrasonic sensors in each bumper. 
The range of these sensors is approx. 7 ft/2 m. 
But an acoustic warning first sounds at approx. 
24 in/60 cm for the sensors at the front and two 
rear corners and at approx. 5 ft/1,50 m for the 
center rear sensors.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate the 
presence of objects when they are being 
approached slowly, as is usually the case when 
parking. Avoid approaching an object at high 
speed; otherwise, the physical circumstances 
could cause the system warning to be activated 
too late.<
Automatically activating
With the engine running or the ignition switched 
on, the system starts to operate automatically 
approx. 1 second after you shift into reverse.
Wait this short period before driving.
Switching on manually
Press the button; the LED lights up.
Switching off manually
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
After driving approx. 165 ft/50 m or at over 
approx. 20 mph/30 km/h, the system is 
switched off and the LED goes out. You can 
reactivate the system manually as needed.
Signal tones
An intermittent signal indicates the distance of 
the vehicle from an object being approached. 
Thus, an object detected to the left rear of the 
vehicle will be indicated by a signal tone from 
the left rear speaker, etc.  As the distance 
between vehicle and object decreases, the 
intervals between the tones become shorter. 
The signal tone becomes continuous once the 
distance to the nearest object falls to below 
roughly 1 ft/30 cm.
An intermittent tone is interrupted after approx. 
3seconds:
>if you remain in front of an object that was 
only detected by one of the corner sensors
>if you drive parallel to a wall
Malfunction
The LED in the button flashes and a message 
appears on the Control Display. PDC is mal-
functioning. Have the system checked.
As a preventive measure, keep the sensors 
clean and free of ice or snow in order to ensure 
that they will continue to operate effectively. Do 
not spray the sensors with high-pressure wash-
ers for prolonged intervals and always keep the 
nozzle at least 4 in/10 cm from the sensors.
PDC with visual warning*
You can also enjoy the option of having the sys-
tem show the approach to an object on the 
Control Display. Objects that are farther away 
are already shown there before a signal tone 
sounds. 

Lamps
96
Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
1Automatic headlamp control, Adaptive 
Head Light
* and high-beam assistant*
2Parking lamps
3Low beams/daytime driving lamps
*
Parking lamps
In the switch position2, the front, rear and side 
vehicle lighting is switched on. You can use the 
parking lamps for parking. For lighting on one 
side for parking as an additional feature, refer to 
page97.
The parking lamps drain the battery. 
Avoid using for longer periods; otherwise, 
it may not be possible to start the engine.<
Low beams
The low beams light up in switch position3 only 
with the engine running. Otherwise the parking 
lamps are lit.
Pathway lighting
When you activate the headlamp flasher after 
parking the vehicle and switching off the lamps, 
the low beams will come on for a brief period. 
You can set the duration via iDrive or deactivate 
the function.
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 "Lighting" and press the controller.
5.Select "Pathway lighting" and press the 
controller.
6.Turn the controller to select the corre-
sponding duration.
7.Press the controller to apply the setting.
Daytime driving lamps*
If you wish, you can leave the light switch in 
position3.
Switch on the parking lamps if required as 
described under Parking lamps.
Automatic headlamp control
In switch position1, the low beams are auto-
matically switched on or off depending on the 
ambient light, e.g. in a tunnel, at dawn/dusk in 
the rain or snow, and the Adaptive Head Light
* 
is active. The LED next to the symbol is illumi-
nated when the low beams are on.
The low beams remain on independent of 
the ambient lighting conditions when you 
switch on the fog lamps.
With the daytime driving lamps activated, the 
low beams are always switched on whenever 
the ignition is switched on.<
The automatic headlamp control cannot 
serve as a substitute for your personal 
judgment in determining when the lamps 
should be switched on in response to ambient 
lighting conditions. For example, the system  

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cannot detect fog. To avoid safety risks, you 
should always switch on the lamps manually 
under these conditions.<
Adaptive Head Light*
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp 
control system that enables better illumination 
of the road surface. Depending on the steering 
angle and other parameters, the light from the 
headlamp follows the course of the road.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
In switch position1, the Adaptive Head Light is 
active and the automatic headlamp control is 
switched on.
To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the Adaptive 
Head Light is not active when driving in reverse 
and points toward the passenger side when the 
vehicle is stopped.
Malfunction
The LED next to the symbol for automatic head-
lamp control flashes. The Adaptive Head Light 
is malfunctioning or has failed. Have the system 
checked as soon as possible.
High beams/
roadside parking lamps
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Roadside parking lamps
Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just one 
side of your vehicle when parking. When using 
this function, comply with national regulations:
After parking the vehicle, press the lever in the 
desired direction3, past the resistance point.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Avoid using for longer periods; oth-
erwise, it may not be possible to start the 
engine.<
High-beam assistant*
The concept
This system automatically switches the high 
beams on and off again. A sensor on the front of 
the interior rearview mirror controls the pro-
cess. The assistant ensures that the high 
beams are switched on whenever the traffic sit-
uation allows. This reduces the strain on you 
while at the same time providing you with the 
best possible visibility. Of course, you can inter-
vene at any time and switch the high beams on 
and off in the accustomed manner.
Activating high-beam assistant
1.Turn the light switch to switch position1, 
refer to page96.
2.Press the turn signal lever in the high beam 
direction with the low beams switched on.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up when the high-beam 
assistant is activated. The assistant 
automatically switches between high and low 
beams, reacting to oncoming traffic and traffic  

Lamps
98 ahead and to well-lit areas such as towns and 
cities.
Manually switching between high and 
low beams
You can intervene at any time if you wish or the 
situation requires.
>If the high-beam assistant has switched on 
the high beams, but you want to use the low 
beams, simply switch to the low beams with 
the turn signal lever. This also deactivates 
the high-beam assistant. 
To reactivate the system, briefly press the 
turn signal lever in the high beam direction 
again.
>If the high-beam assistant has switched on 
the low beams, but you want to use the high 
beams, switch to the high beams in the 
accustomed manner. The system is deacti-
vated in the process and you must switch to 
the low beams manually.
To reactivate the system, briefly press the 
turn signal lever in the high beam direction 
again.
>You use the headlamp flasher in the usual 
way when the low beams are on.
System limits
The high-beam assistant cannot replace 
personal decisions about the benefits of 
using high beams. In situations that require 
them, you should switch to the low beams man-
ually to avoid a safety risk.<
In the following sample situations, the system 
either does not function or functions only in a 
limited way and a personal reaction may be 
required:
>Under extremely unfavorable weather con-
ditions, such as heavy fog or precipitation
>To make out poorly-lit road users such as 
pedestrians, cyclists, people on horseback, 
horse-drawn vehicles, train or ship traffic 
close to the road and wild animals crossing 
the road>In tight curves, on steep hilltops or in 
depressions, with cross traffic or partially 
concealed oncoming traffic on the freeway
>In poorly lit places and with highly reflective 
signs
>In the low speed range
>When the windshield is fogged up, dirty or 
covered with stickers, decals, etc. in the 
area of the interior rearview mirror
>When the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor 
on the front side of the interior rearview mir-
ror with a cloth moistened with a small 
amount of glass cleaner.
Front 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 when the fog 
lamps are switched on.
The fog lamps are switched off whenever the 
high beams are switched on.
If the automatic headlamp control is acti-
vated, the low beams will come on auto-
matically when you switch on the fog lamps.< 

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
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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