Driving tips
123Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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.
Things to remember when driving
124 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
1.Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to page50;
otherwise, they could be damaged due to
the width of the vehicle.
For the vehicle to be able to roll, follow the
instructions on page58.
2.Release the parking brake, especially when
you have activated Automatic Hold. Refer to
page59.
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 come in the form of a sudden blow-out.<
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's door pillar
*:
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 passenger 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
1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs.:
1400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded into the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of
the load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for
transporting a trailer to determine how this
may reduce the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permitted load is the total of the weight of
occupants and cargo/luggage. The greater the
weight of occupants, the less cargo/luggage
can be transported.
Mobility
205Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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.<
Everything from A to Z
226 Bottle holder, refer to Cup
holders115
Brake fluid204
– level204
– warning lamp204
Brake force display94
Brake lamp, adaptive, refer to
Brake force display94
Brake lamps
– brake force display94
– replacing bulbs208
Brake rotors, refer to
Corrosion on brake
rotors123
Brakes123
– ABS87
– brake fluid204
– brake force display94
– breaking-in122
– parking brake58
Brake system204
– BMW Maintenance
System205
– brake fluid204
– brake pads204
– breaking-in122
– refer to Braking safely123
Breakdown service, refer to
Roadside Assistance187
Breaking-in122
Breaking-in differential, refer
to Engine and
differential122
"Brightness"
– BMW Night Vision98
– DVD changer170
– on Control Display85
Brightness of Control
Display85
Bulbs, replacing207
"button", programmable
buttons52
Buttons
– on controller16
– on steering wheel11
C
"Calculate", refer to
Bypassing route
sections146
Calculating distance to
destination77
California Proposition 65
Warning5
Call
– accepting182
– missed184
– rejecting182
– touch tone dialing178
Calling
– from phone book183
– from Top 8 list184
– redialing183
– with retracting telephone
keypad177
Can holder, refer to Cup
holders115
Capacities221
Capacity, luggage
compartment220
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery211
Car care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
"Car Data"78,81
Care, refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Caring for the upholstery, refer
to Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for the vehicle finish,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Car key, refer to Remote
control/key30
Carpet care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Car radio, refer to Radio155Car wash124
– also refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– with Comfort Access39
Catalytic converter, refer to
High temperatures122
"Categories", radio160
CBC Cornering Brake
Control87
CBS Condition Based
Service205
"CD", CD player162
"CDC", CD changer165
CD changer164
– compressed audio files165
– controls152
– fast forward, reverse166
– installation location164
– random sequence166
– sampling166
– selecting a CD165
– selecting track165
– starting164
– tone control153
– volume153
CD player162
– controls152
– fast forward, reverse163
– random sequence163
– sampling162
– selecting tracks162
– starting162
– tone control153
– volume153
Center armrest
– front113
– rear114
Center console, refer to
Comfort features14
Central locking system32
– Comfort Access38
– interior34
"CHANGE", navigation138
Changes, technical, refer to
For your own safety5
Changing scale144