Controls
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Mobility
Cigarette lighter, rear
Refer to Cigarette lighter, front.
Rear refrigerator*
The rear refrigerator is located behind the rear
seats' center armrest.
Switching on/off
1.Switch on the ignition
2.Press button.
The LED in the button lights up.
3.Press the button again to switch off the rear
refrigerator.
When the ignition is switched off, this also
switches off the rear refrigerator.
When a low voltage is reached, it is automati-
cally switched off to protect the vehicle battery.
The LED in the button flashes.
High temperatures in the luggage com-
partment can affect the temperature in
the rear refrigerator.<
With rear air conditioner
When switched on, the rear refrigerator is con-
trolled by the rear air conditioner.
To adjust the cooling capacity and increase the
airflow volume, refer to page108.
Without rear air conditioner
When switched on, the rear refrigerator is con-
trolled by the automatic air conditioning sys-
tem.
To adjust the temperature and increase the air-
flow volume, refer to pages105, 106.
Releasing
Pull on the opener and fold the cooler forward.
Switching on/off via iDrive*
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the button to open the start
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Climate".
3.Select "Extra" and press the controller.
4.Select "Rear refrigerator" and press the
controller.
Select "Rear refrigerator" again and press the
controller to switch off.
Driving tips
123Reference
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Mobility
Interior and exterior mirrors,
automatic dimming feature*
Two photocells in the interior rearview mirror
control this function. One is integrated into the
mirror's lens, the other is located offset from
this on the rear of the mirror housing.
For trouble-free operation, keep the photocells
clean and do not cover the area between the
interior rearview mirror and the windshield. Do
not attach any kind of stickers to the windshield
in front of the mirror either.
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 tires and
road surface, ultimately undermining your abil-
ity to steer and brake the vehicle.<
Driving through water
Only drive through water with a maximum
depth of 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at walk-
ing speed at the most. Otherwise, you run the
risk of damaging the vehicle's engine, electrical
systems, and transmission.<
Safe braking
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as standard
equipment. In situations that require it, it is best
to apply the brakes fully. Since the vehicle
maintains steering responsiveness, you can
nevertheless 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.
Driving in wet conditions
When driving in wet conditions and 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 endanger other road users. The heat gener-
ated 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 reduced effi-
ciency of the brake system, drive long or
steep downhill grades in the gear that requires
the least amount of braking. Otherwise, even
light but consistent pedal pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
You can further enhance the engine's braking
action by selecting a lower gear in the automatic
transmission's manual mode, downshifting as
far as first gear on extremely steep stretches,
refer to page63. This strategy helps you avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake system.
Do not drive in idle or with the engine
switched off; otherwise, there will be no
engine braking action or support of the braking
force 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 minimal
pressure that must be exerted by the pads dur-
ing brake applications to clean the rotors is not
reached.
Wheels and tires
194
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
The condition of the tires and the maintenance
of the specified tire pressure are crucial not only
to the tire's service life, but also to driving com-
fort and most importantly, driving safety.
Checking pressure
Only check tire inflation pressure when the tires
are cold. This means after a maximum of
1,25 miles/2 km driving or when the vehicle has
been parked for at least 2 hours. When tires are
warm, the tire inflation pressure increases.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
and correct it as needed, including the
spare wheel: at least twice a month and before
starting long trips. If you fail to observe this pre-
caution, you may be driving on tires with incor-
rect tire pressures, a condition that can not only
compromise your vehicle's driving stability, but
also lead to tire damage and the risk of an acci-
dent. Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat tires,
except run-flat tires. A flat tire will seriously
impair your vehicle's handling and braking
response. Attempts to drive on a flat tire can
lead to loss of control over the vehicle.<
After correcting the tire inflation pressure,
reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page90, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page92.<
Pressure specifications
The tables below provide all the correct inflation
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient
temperature.
The inflation pressures apply to the tire
sizes and tire brands respectively
approved and recommended by BMW; a list of
these is available from your BMW center.
>Tire sizes for your vehicle
>Load conditions
>Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for driving
up to 100 mph/160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph/160 km/h
adjust pressures to the respective tire inflation
pressures listed on the following pages in the
column for traveling speeds up to a max. of
100 mph/160 km/h to achieve optimum driving
comfort.
These pressure specifications can be found on
the door post when you open the driver's door.
The permissible top speed for these tire
inflation pressures is 100 mph/160 km/h.
Do not exceed this speed; otherwise, tire dam-
age and accidents may result.<
Tire inflation pressures for driving
above 100 mph/160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds in
excess of 100 mph/160 km/h, please
observe, and, if necessary, adjust tire pressures
for speeds exceeding 100 mph/160 km/h from
the relevant table on the following pages.
Otherwise, tire damage and accidents could
occur.<
Observe all national and local maximum speed
limits; otherwise, violations of the law could
occur.
Wheels and tires
198
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, B, and C, A
being highest, and represent the tire's resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test
wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either sep-
arately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.<
RSC Run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire, refer to page199.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Indicates specially reinforced tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread depth,
signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged
in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Minimum tread depth
The tread depth should not fall below 0.12 in/
3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm.
At tread depths below 0.12 in/3 mm, there is an
increased risk of high-speed hydroplaning,
even when only small amounts of water are
present on the road surface.
Winter tires display a noticeable loss in their
ability to cope with cold-weather driving condi-
tions once the tread wears to below 0.16 in/
4 mm. To ensure continued safety, you should
always have such tires replaced.
Wear indicators at the tread-groove base, refer
to arrow, are distributed over the tire's circum-
ference and are marked on the side of the tire
with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. If the tire tread
has been driven down to the wear indicators, a
tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm has been
reached.
Wheel/tire damage
Please note that low profile tires make wheels,
tires, and suspension parts more susceptible to
road hazards and consequential damages.
Unusual vibrations encountered during normal
vehicle operation can indicate tire failure or
some other vehicle defect. This can, for exam-
ple, be caused by driving over curbs. These
kinds of problems may also be signaled by other
changes in vehicle response, such as a strong
tendency to pull to the left or right.
In these cases, reduce speed immedi-
ately and have wheels and tires thor-
oughly checked. Drive carefully to the nearest
BMW center or tire shop that works according
to BMW repair procedures with correspond-
ingly trained personnel. If necessary, have the
vehicle towed there.
Tire damage can be extremely dangerous for
vehicle occupants and other road users.<
Wheels and tires
200
Recommended tire sizes and brands
BMW recommends particular tire brands for
each tire size. You will recognize them by the
clearly visible BMW identification on the tire
sidewall.
With proper use, these tires meet the highest
standards for safety and handling characteris-
tics.
Run-flat tires
When installing new tires or when changing
from summer tires to winter tires or vice versa,
for your own safety, use run-flat tires. No spare
wheel is provided in the event of a flat. Your
BMW center will be glad to advise you.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
that you not have damaged run-flat tires
repaired; they should be replaced.<
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in cold
winter driving conditions. Although so-called
all-season M+S tires provide better winter trac-
tion than summer tires, they generally fail to
provide the same levels of cold-weather perfor-
mance as winter tires.
Observing speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed for
which the winter tires are rated.<
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as possible.
Always protect tires against all contact with oil,
grease and fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation pres-
sure indicated on the side wall of the tire.
Snow chains*
Only certain fine-link snow chains are tested,
classified as road-safe, and recommended by
BMW. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation. Use on winter tires is only permissible in
pairs on the rear wheels. Follow the manufac-
turer's instructions when installing snow
chains. Do not exceed a vehicle speed of
30 mph/50 km/h with the chains mounted.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor after
mounting snow chains. When you are
driving with snow chains, it can be beneficial to
activate DTC briefly, refer to page88.<
Mobility
203Reference
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Possible displays
>"Update of engine oil level in process".
>"Engine oil level O.K.".
>"Oil level at minimum! Add 1 quart engine
oil": Add a maximum of 1 quart/1 liter of
engine oil at the earliest opportunity, refer
to Adding engine oil.
>"Oil level under min.! Add 1 quart engine
oil": Add a maximum of 1 quart/1 liter of
engine oil at the earliest opportunity, refer
to Adding engine oil.
>"Engine oil level too high".
Have vehicle checked immediately;
otherwise, overfilled oil can lead to
engine damage.<
>"No measurement possible at this time".
Adding engine oil
Do not add oil until a Check Control message
appears.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km;
otherwise, the engine could be dam-
aged.<
Keep oil, grease, etc. out of reach of chil-
dren and heed warnings on the contain-
ers to avoid health risks.<
Oil changing
Only have an oil change carried out by a BMW
center or a repair shop that works in accordance
with BMW guidelines and uses appropriately
trained personnel.
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical
significance for the operation and service life of an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific engine oils after confirming their suitability
for use in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Use only approved BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil.
If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is
unavailable, you can add small quantities of
other synthetic oils between oil changes. Use
only oils of the specification API SH or higher.
Your BMW center will be happy to answer
detailed questions on BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil or approved synthetic
oils.<
You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit the website at
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.
Never use oil additives as they can dam-
age your engine under some circum-
stances.<
Viscosity grades
The viscosity is a measure of the thickness of
the oil and is specified in SAE grades.
The choice of the right SAE grade is based on
the climatic conditions in the region in which
you normally drive your BMW.
Approved oils belong to the SAE grades
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
These oils can be used for driving at all outside
temperatures.
Coolant
Do not open the cooling system when the
engine is hot. Escaping coolant can cause
burns.<
Coolant consists of water and supplemental
antifreeze and anticorrosion agents. Not all
commercially available additives are suitable for
your BMW. Ask your BMW center for suitable
additives.
Only use suitable additives; otherwise,
engine damage may result. The additives
present a health hazard; observe the instruc-
tions on the containers.<
Mobility
205Reference
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Maintenance
The BMW Maintenance
System
The BMW Maintenance System serves to
retain the operating and road safety of your
BMW. The service schedule also includes oper-
ations related to the vehicle's comfort and con-
venience features, such as replacement of the
filters for the inside air. The aim is to optimize
maintenance procedures with a view to reduc-
ing the cost of running the vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to sell
your BMW, you will find that a complete dealer
service history is an asset of inestimable value.
CBS Condition Based Service
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into
account. As a result, Condition Based Service
determines the current and future maintenance
requirements. By letting you define a service
and maintenance regimen that reflects your
own individual requirements, the system forms
the basis for trouble-free driving.
You can have the remaining times or distances
to selected maintenance requirements as well
as legally required deadlines displayed on the
Control Display, refer to page78:
>Engine oil
>Brakes, separate for front and rear
>Microfilter
>Brake fluid
>Spark plugs>Vehicle check
>Legally prescribed inspections depending
on national regulations
Your vehicle stores this information continu-
ously in the ignition key while the vehicle is
being driven. After accessing the data stored in
the vehicle key, your BMW Service Advisor can
suggest precisely the right array of service pro-
cedures for your own individual vehicle. This is
why it is important when you take your vehicle in
for service to give the BMW Service Advisor the
last remote control you used for driving.
Storage periods with the battery discon-
nected are not taken into account by the
CBS maintenance system. Have the time-
dependent service and maintenance opera-
tions, such as brake fluid and coolant, and if
necessary engine oil and the micro/activated
charcoal filter, updated by a BMW center.<
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models and
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
for Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service
and repair operations performed at your
BMW center.
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.<
Mobility
211Reference
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After mounting
1.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
To ensure safety, always have the
lug bolts checked with a calibrated
torque wrench as soon as possible to
ensure that they are tightened to the speci-
fied torque. The tightening torque is
100lbft/140Nm.<
2.Reverse the removal sequence when stor-
ing the wheel and tools in the vehicle.
3.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems and valve stem
seal caps from dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
4.Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page90, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page92.
5.Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire balanced.
Driving with spare tire
On certain wheel-tire combinations, the
size of the spare tire differs from that of
the rest of the tires. The spare tire is fully capa-
ble of running in all load and speed ranges.
However, to recreate the original conditions,
the tire should be replaced as soon as possi-
ble.<
Vehicle battery
Maintenance
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, i.e., the
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW center will be happy to advise
you on all questions concerning the battery.
Charging battery
Charge the battery in the vehicle only via the
terminals in the engine compartment and with
the engine off. Connections, refer to Jump
starting on page213.
Battery switch
Before storing the vehicle for an extended
period of several weeks or more, slide the bat-
tery switch located behind the trim panel on the
right side of the luggage compartment to OFF.
This reduces the current flow from the battery
for the period during which the vehicle remains
parked. A message is shown on the Info Dis-
play. Please take note of the supplementary
information provided on the Control Display.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of following
replacement at your BMW center or bring
them to a collection point. Maintain the battery
in an upright position for transport and storage.
Always secure the battery to prevent it from tip-
ping over during transport.<
Power failure
After a temporary interruption in electrical
power, the functioning of some equipment may
be limited and must be reinitialized. Individual
settings are also lost and must be updated
again:
>Seat, mirror, and steering wheel memory
The positions must be stored again, refer to
page46.
>Time and date
These must be reset, refer to page84.
>Radio
Stations must be stored again, refer to
page158.
>Navigation system
You must wait until it becomes operational
again, refer to Inserting navigation CDs/
DVDs on page130.