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>The engine can only be started if the vehicle 
detects that the remote control carried is 
located in the vehicle.
Special features in contrast to ordinary 
remote control
It is basically irrelevant whether you operate the 
above-mentioned functions with the comfort 
access feature or by pressing the buttons on 
the remote control. Before doing so, please 
familiarize yourself with the information on 
opening and closing, starting on page28.
The special features when using comfort 
access are described below.
Unlocking
Completely grasp a door handle, arrow1. 
This corresponds to pressing the  button.
If a remote control is detected in the interior 
after unlocking, the electric steering-wheel lock 
disengages, refer to page58.
Locking doors
Touch the surface, arrow2 on the driver's door 
or3 on the passenger door with a finger for 
approx. 1 second. This corresponds to pressing 
the button.
For comfort closing, hold a finger on the sur-
face, arrow2 or 3.
If a remote control accidentally left in the 
luggage compartment is detected inside 
the locked vehicle after the luggage compart-
ment lid has been closed, then the luggage 
compartment lid opens again. The hazard warn-
ing flashers flash and an acoustic signal
* 
sounds.<
Switching on radio readiness
By briefly pressing the Start/Stop button, you 
switch on the radio readiness, refer to page58.
When doing so, do not depress the brake 
pedal; otherwise, the engine will start 
immediately.<
Starting engine
You can start the engine or switch on the igni-
tion if a remote control is located on the interior 
of the vehicle. It need not be inserted in the igni-
tion lock, refer to page58.
If you take the remote control with you when 
leaving the vehicle with the engine running, a 
warning lamp lights up. In addition, a message 
appears on the Control Display. As long as no 
remote control is detected in the vehicle, it is 
only possible to restart the engine within 
approx. 10 seconds after it is switched off.
Switching off engine with automatic 
transmission
The engine can only be switched off in the 
selector lever position P, refer to page60.
To switch off the engine in the selector lever 
position N, the remote control must be inserted 
in the ignition lock.
Before driving into a car wash with 
automatic transmission
1.Insert the remote control into the ignition 
lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Place selector lever in position N.
4.Switch off the engine.
The vehicle can roll.
Malfunction
The comfort access function may malfunction 
due to local radio waves. If this occurs, then 
open or close the vehicle with the buttons on 
the remote control or with a key. To start the 
engine after this, insert the remote control in the 
ignition lock. 

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Getting in back
Before starting to drive, fold backrests 
back, otherwise there is the danger of 
accident due to an unexpected movement of 
the seat.<
Coupe: releasing backrest
Pull the lever upward and fold the backrest for-
ward.
The lever is designed so that the safety belt can 
be hooked onto it. This enables you to fasten 
the safety belt more conveniently.
Convertible: releasing backrest
The belt system integrated into the seat makes 
it easier to get in back.
1.Pull lever 1 up and fold the backrest for-
ward.
2.Press and hold button 2 until the seat has 
moved into the desired position.
3.After passengers have gotten in back, fold 
the backrest back and lock it in place.
4.Press and hold button 3 until the seat has 
moved back into its previous position. If you 
release button 3 before this, the seat stops 
in its current position.You can lock the backrest in place when it 
is folded forward. This is useful, for exam-
ple, when you get into the vehicle while it is 
parked on a hill. Press the backrest until it audi-
bly locks into place. To fold it back, you do not 
have to use lever 1 to release it.<
Lock backrest warning lamp:
Lights up when the backrest is not 
locked. At the same time, an additional 
message appears on the Control Display.
Safety belts
 To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
please follow the adjustment instructions on 
page47.<
Before every drive, make sure that safety belts
are being worn at all of the occupied seats. 
Airbags complement the safety belt as an addi-
tional safety device, but they do not represent a 
substitute.
Fastening
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in 
the belt buckle. 

Everything under control
74
Everything under control
Odometer, outside 
temperature display, clock
1Time, outside temperature, and date
2Odometer and trip odometer
3Press button:
>with ignition switched on, trip odometer 
is reset
>with the ignition switched off, briefly 
display time, outside temperature, and 
odometer
With the ignition switch at radio readiness or 
higher the outside temperature and the time are 
displayed.
To request the date:
Press the CHECK button on the turn signal 
lever, refer to page79.
To set time and date, refer to page82.
You can set the unit of measure 7 or 6 on the 
Control Display, refer to Units of measure on 
page83.
Outside temperature warning
If the display drops to +377/+36, a signal 
sounds and a message appears. There is an 
increased danger of ice.
Ice can form even at temperatures above 
+377/+36. Drive carefully, especially 
on bridges and shaded roadways; otherwise, 
your risk of accident increases.<
Tachometer
The white-striped advance warning field, 
arrow1, changes depending on the engine 
temperature. The segments disappear in 
sequence as the engine warms to its normal 
operating temperature.
Avoid allowing the engine speed to rise as far as 
the advance warning field whenever possible.
It is absolutely crucial to avoid engine speeds in 
the red warning field, arrow2.
In this range, the fuel supply is interrupted to 
protect the engine.
Coolant temperature
Should the coolant and therefore the engine 
become too hot, a warning lamp lights up. In 
addition, a message appears on the Control 
Display.
Checking coolant level, refer to page193. 

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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. 

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
88
Dynamic Drive*
The concept
Dynamic Drive minimizes body roll and opti-
mizes vehicle stability during cornering and 
evasive maneuvers.
Dynamic Drive is based on active stabilizers on 
the front and rear axles. Suspension compli-
ance adapts to suit driving conditions, varying 
from performance-oriented during cornering to 
smooth and comfort-oriented when the vehicle 
is proceeding in a straight line. During vehicle 
operation, the system continuously runs 
through closed-loop control cycles lasting only 
fractions of a second.
The system assumes operational status each 
time you start the engine.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up yellow and 
a message is shown on the Control Dis-
play. There is a malfunction in the sys-
tem. Have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible.
If a malfunction occurs, please remember 
to adapt your speed accordingly, espe-
cially in curves. 
The suspension will be noticeably softer and 
the vehicle will display a greater tendency to tilt 
during cornering and in crosswinds. 
If a message stating that you should stop is 
shown on the Control Display, stop at a suitable 
location and switch off the engine as soon as 
possible. In this case the oil level in the reservoir 
may have dropped below the minimum, possi-
bly owing to a leak in the hydraulic system. Do 
not continue driving, but instead contact your 
BMW center.<
Flat Tire Monitor FTM
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the infla-
tion pressures in the tires as you drive. The sys-
tem provides an alert whenever the inflation 
pressure drops significantly in relation to the 
pressure in another tire.
In the event of a pressure loss, the rolling radius 
and therefore the rotation speed of the wheels 
change. This change is detected and signaled 
as a flat tire.
Functional requirement
To ensure the reliable signaling of a flat tire, the 
system must be initialized at the correct tire 
inflation pressure.
The initialization must be repeated after 
every correction of the tire inflation pres-
sure and after every tire or wheel change.<
System limits
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot indicate 
sudden severe tire damage caused by 
outside factors and does not detect a natural, 
even pressure drop in all four tires.<
In the following situations, the system could be 
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snow-covered or slippery roads
>Sporty driving style: slip in the drive wheels, 
high lateral acceleration
>Driving with snow chains
*
Initializing system
The initialization finishes during driving, 
which can be interrupted at any time. 
When driving resumes, the initialization is auto-
matically continued. 
Do not initialize the system when driving with 
snow chains
*.<
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16. 

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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 "FTM" and press the controller.
5.Start engine, but do not start driving.
6.Select "Set tire pressure" and press the 
controller.
7.Select "Yes" and press the controller.
8.Start driving.
The message "Initializing..." is displayed.
The initialization is completed during driving. 
Then the message "Status: FTM active" 
appears on the Control Display again.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamp lights up in red. A 
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. In addition, an acoustic signal 
sounds. There is a flat tire or extensive inflation 
pressure loss.
1.Cautiously reduce the vehicle speed to 
below 50 mph/80 km/h. Avoid sudden brak-
ing and steering maneuvers. Do not exceed 
a vehicle speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.Stop driving if the vehicle is no longer 
equipped with run-flat tires, as it was 
when it came from the factory, refer to 
page188. Continued driving after a flat tire 
can result in serious accidents.<
2.Check the air pressure in all four tires at the 
next opportunity.
If the tire inflation pressure in all four 
tires is correct, the Flat Tire Monitor 
may 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 run-flat 
tires, based on the following guide values:
>With low load: 
1 to 2 persons without luggage: 
approx. 155 miles/250 km.
>With medium load: 
2 persons, luggage compartment full, or 
4 persons without luggage: 
approx. 94 miles/150 km.
>With full load: 
4 persons, luggage compartment full: 
approx. 30 miles/50 km.
Drive reservedly and do not exceed 
a speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. In the 
event of pressure loss, vehicle handling 
changes. This includes reduced tracking 
stability in braking, extended braking dis-
tances and altered natural steering charac-
teristics.
If unusual vibrations or loud noises occur 
while the vehicle is being driven, this can 
indicate final failure of the damaged tire. 
Reduce speed and stop at a suitable loca-
tion as soon as possible; otherwise, pieces 
of the tire could become detached and 
cause an accident. Do not continue driving, 
but instead contact your BMW center.< 

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
90
Active steering*
The concept
The active steering is a system that actively var-
ies the steering angle of the front wheels in rela-
tion to the steering wheel movements.
At low speeds, e.g. in a town or when parking, 
the steering angle of the wheels is increased, 
i.e. the steering becomes very direct.
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 stability-pro-
moting intervention is deactivated when DSC is 
switched off, refer to page86.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up and a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display. The active steering is no longer operational. At 
low speed, larger steering wheel movements 
are required, while the vehicle reacts more sen-
sitively to steering wheel movements in the 
higher road speed range. The stability-promot-
ing intervention can also be deactivated. Pro-
ceed cautiously and drive defensively. Have the 
system checked.
Brake force display
>Left-hand picture: normal braking.
>Right-hand picture: heavy braking.
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Coupe: head airbags3Side airbags
4Knee airbag
5Knee airbag 

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Protective action
 To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
please follow the adjustment instructions on 
page47.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of a side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The 
head airbag supports the head. The knee airbag 
protects the legs from colliding with the cockpit.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered in 
every impact situation, e. g. less severe acci-
dents or rear-end collisions.
For details on the correct seat position, refer to 
page47.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag retention 
system from the vehicle. Do not modify or 
tamper with either the wiring or the individual 
components in the airbag system.This category 
includes the upholstery in the center of the 
steering wheel, on the instrument panel, the 
side trim panels on the doors and on the Coupe, 
the roof pillars along with the sides of the head-
liner. Do not attempt to remove or dismantle the 
steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components 
directly after the system has been triggered, 
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or 
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have 
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators carried out only by a BMW cen-
ter or a workshop that works according to BMW 
repair procedures with appropriately trained 
personnel and has the required explosives 
licenses. Unprofessional attempts to service 
the system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation, either of 
which could result in personal injury.
Automatic deactivation of front 
passenger airbags
The occupation of the seat is detected by eval-
uating the impression on the occupied seat sur-
face of the front passenger seat. The system 
correspondingly activates or deactivates the 
front, knee and side airbag on the front passen-
ger side.
The current status of the front passenger 
airbag, i.e. deactivated or activated, is 
indicated by the indicator lamp over the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to Operating state of front 
passenger airbags below.<
Before transporting a child in the front 
passenger seat, read the safety informa-
tion and follow the instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page56.
The front, knee and side airbag on the front pas-
senger side can be deactivated for teenagers 
and adults in certain seat positions; the indica-
tor lamp for the front passenger airbags lights 
up when this occurs. In these cases, change the 
seat position so that the front passenger air-
bags are activated and the indicator lamp goes 
out. If the desired status cannot be produced by 
changing the seat position, transport the corre-
sponding person in the rear seat. 
Do not fit seat covers, seat cushion padding, 
beaded mats or other items onto the front pas-
senger seat unless they are specifically recom-
mended by BMW. Do not place objects under 
the seat which could press against the seat 
from below. Otherwise a correct evaluation of 
the occupied seat surface cannot be ensured.<