
Cockpit
10
Cockpit
All around the steering wheel: controls and displays
1Roller sun blind for rear window*112
2Rear window safety switch40
3Power windows40
4Exterior mirrors505Parking brake58
6Parking lamps99
Low beams99
Automatic headlamp control99
Adaptive Head Light
*100
High-beam assistant
*100 

At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
When the engine is started or the ignition is 
switched on, some lamps are checked for 
proper operation and light up briefly in the pro-
cess.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages on Info Display explain the 
meaning of the indicating and warning lamps 
shown.
You can view additional information, e.g. 
regarding the cause of a malfunction and the 
corresponding action to take, in the Check Con-
trol, refer to page80.
When the situation is urgent, this information is 
displayed immediately when the associated 
lamps light up.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps in the display 
area1 indicate that certain functions are active:
Turn signals65
With parking brake released59
With parking brake set59
Warning lamp on Canadian models
Front fog lamps101 
DTC Dynamic Traction Control88 
High beams/headlamp flasher100 
High-beam assistant
* 
DSC Dynamic Stability Control, 
flashes88  

Driving
58
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the gas pedal 
halfway down when starting:
>The engine fails to start on the first attempt, 
for instance if it is very hot or cold.
>The engine is being started at extremely low 
temperatures below + 57/– 156, or at 
high altitudes above 3,281 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starts in rapid succession 
or repeated starting attempts in which the 
engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is 
either left unspent or is insufficiently burned 
and there is a risk of overheating and damaging 
the catalytic converter.<
Switching off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
remote control with you.<
With the vehicle stationary, briefly press the 
Start/Stop button. Radio ready state is switched 
on.
The transmission automatically shifts to 
position P: interlock.
Before driving into a car wash
The transmission remains in position N and the 
vehicle can roll when you perform the following 
sequence:
1.With Comfort Access: insert remote control 
into ignition lock.
2.With the engine running, shift transmission 
into position N.
3.Switch engine off.
4.Leave the remote control in the ignition 
lock.
The transmission will shift into position P:
>automatically after approx. 30 minutes
>if you remove the remote control from the 
ignition lock
Observe the messages on the Info Display.
Removing remote control from ignition 
lock
Press in the remote control briefly; it pops part-
way out. This procedure will also switch off the 
ignition if it is on.
Comfort function
To switch off the engine when the vehicle is sta-
tionary, press the Start/Stop button for longer 
than approx. 2 seconds. The remote control 
pops partway out.
Parking brake
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with an electromechan-
ical parking brake.
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked.
You can use the parking brake in two ways:
>Manually, by briefly pressing the button
>Automatically, by activating the Automatic 
Hold mode, refer to page59.
An electrohydraulic mechanism then engages 
the parking brake to prevent the rear wheels 
from turning whenever you switch off the 
engine. 
When the engine is running, parking brake 
engagement is controlled by the brake sys-
tem's hydraulic circuits, which act on the disc 
brakes in the front and rear wheels.
Brake pedal feel
The hydraulic brake system can produce a 
slightly different braking feel. Engagement may 
also be accompanied by activation noise – this 
is normal. 

Controls
 59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Manual engagement
Briefly press the button, the word PARK 
appears on the Info Display.
When the parking brake is engaged, the indica-
tor lamp   on the Info Display lights up red, 
refer to page12.
The remote control does not have to be 
inserted into the ignition lock for the parking 
brake to be set.
It is only possible to disengage the parking 
brake with the ignition on.
If exceptional circumstances should make it 
necessary to engage the parking brake while 
the vehicle is in motion, maintain pressure on 
the button. 
The indicator lamp on the Info Display lights up 
in red and a chime sounds, the brake lamps light 
up. 
The vehicle continues to brake forcefully for as 
long as you maintain pressure on the button. 
When you brake the vehicle almost to a stop, 
i.e., down to a speed of approximately 2 mph/
3 km/h or below, the parking brake remains 
engaged.
Manual release
Briefly press the button with the ignition 
switched on.
The indicator lamp  on the Info Display goes 
out.
As long as the remote control is inserted 
into the ignition lock, you can also release 
the parking brake after the engine has been 
switched off. This function is useful, for exam-
ple, in automatic car washes, refer to 124<
When leaving the vehicle, always bring 
the remote control with you; this precau-tion prevents children from disengaging the 
parking brake, etc.<
Automatic Hold
You can activate the system after starting the 
engine; it then remains operational until the 
next time the engine is switched off.
This feature provides additional assistance dur-
ing vehicle operation by automatically engaging 
and releasing the parking brake during stops at 
traffic lights, in stop-and-go traffic, etc. The 
vehicle is automatically held in place so as to 
suppress the tendency to creep when the 
transmission is in drive.
It also prevents the vehicle from rolling back-
ward during uphill starts. 
The parking brake engages automatically when 
you stop the vehicle and switch off the engine.
You can activate or deactivate Automatic Hold 
via the "Settings" menu in iDrive.
Activation/deactivation
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the   button to open the start 
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Settings".
3.Select "Vehicle" and press the controller.
4.Select "AUTO P". Press the controller to 
activate/deactivate the desired function.
>Automatic Hold is activated. 
The green AUTO P status message on the 
Info Display indicates that the system is 
ready for operation.
>Automatic Hold is deactivated. 
The green AUTO P status message disap-
pears from the Info Display. 

Driving
60 You can program the programmable but-
ton on the steering wheel with the Auto-
matic Hold function, refer to page52. This gives 
you the option of being able to quickly activate 
or deactivate Automatic Hold without distract-
ing your attention from the road.<
Driving
The parking brake engages automatically when 
the vehicle comes to a stop. 
The indicator lamp  on Info Display lights up 
green.
To start off again, simply press the accelerator 
pedal. The parking brake is released automati-
cally; the indicator lamp goes out.
Do not drive through an automatic car 
wash with the Automatic Hold on and the 
engine running. Otherwise, the system will 
engage the parking brake the moment the vehi-
cle comes to a stop.<
Parking
The parking brake engages automatically when 
you stop the vehicle and switch off the engine. 
The indicator lamp  changes from green to 
red.
You can also release the parking brake 
manually after the engine is switched off, 
as long as the remote control is in the ignition 
lock, refer to page59. You can use this function, 
for example, in a car wash. 
Automatic Hold is deactivated.<
When leaving the vehicle, release the 
remote control from the detent in the igni-
tion lock; this precaution prevents children from 
disengaging the parking brake etc.<
For your safety
Automatic Hold is automatically deactivated 
when:
>the engine is switched off
>the system detects that the driver's seat is 
not occupied while the engine is running
>the hood is opened while the engine is run-
ning>the luggage compartment is opened with 
the transmission in position R while the 
engine is running
>and when the parking brake is used to brake 
the vehicle to a stop during driving
The indicator lamp   changes from green to 
red, and the indication AUTO P on the Info Dis-
play disappears.
Before starting off again, briefly press the but-
ton to disengage the parking brake manually, 
refer to page59, or reactivate Automatic Hold, 
refer to page59.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine 
running, always move the automatic 
transmission's selector lever to position P and 
ensure that the parking brake is engaged. The 
vehicle could start to roll if you fail to observe 
these precautions.<
Automatic Hold is automatically deacti-
vated whenever the system detects any 
tendency for the wheels to spin in response to 
slippery road surfaces. 
Observe the messages on the Info Display. For 
additional information, refer to Check Control 
on page80.<
Releasing parking brake manually
In the event of an electrical power loss or elec-
trical malfunction, you can release the parking 
brake manually.
Before manually releasing the parking 
brake and each time you park the vehicle 
without engaging the parking brake, make sure 
that the automatic transmission is in position P, 
refer to page62. Be sure to pay attention to the 
information on the Info Display. 
If circumstances should force you to park on a 
steeply inclined road surface, it is essential to 
take additional precautions against inadvertent 
rolling, e.g. by using the chock, refer to 
page209. Otherwise, there is the danger of the 
vehicle rolling, depending on the incline.<
If it becomes necessary to also unlock the 
transmission lock of the automatic transmis-
sion, follow this sequence: 

Driving
62 The indicator lamp  on Info Display lights 
up green.
>Releasing: the parking brake is ready for 
operation. 
The indicator lamp  on the Info Display 
goes out.
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can 
also shift manually using the buttons on the 
steering wheel, refer to page63.
Transmission range selection
P R N D
Displays on Info Display
P R N D S or M1 to M6
The transmission range is indicated, and in the 
manual mode, the gear currently engaged.
Selecting transmission range
>Only engage transmission positions D, R, 
or N when the engine is running: interlock.
>With the vehicle stationary, depress the 
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N; 
otherwise, the shift command will not be 
executed: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping 
after you select a driving position, 
maintain pressure on the brake pedal until 
you are ready to start off. Activate Auto-
matic Hold to suppress the tendency to 
creep, refer to page59.
Selecting D, R or N
Lightly pull selector lever and engage desired 
position:
>N Neutral: 
Up to resistance point, arrowN.
>D Drive: 
Downward past resistance point, arrowD.
>R Reverse: 
Upward past resistance point, arrowR.
The selector lever immediately returns to the 
center position when released.
Selecting P
Press button P.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. 
The rear wheels are locked.
Transmission automatically shifts into P 
as soon as you switch off the engine 
unless N is selected and the remote control is 
inserted into the ignition lock, refer to 
page58.< 

Controls
 69Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
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Mobility
Deactivating system
>Press the lever up or down, arrow3 for 
approx. 3 seconds
>or switch off the ignition.
The stored speed5 is deleted, however the 
stored marks6 are retained.
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 represents a technological 
advance over the familiar cruise control and is a 
welcome relief from the constant adjustment of 
speed that can accompany driving in traffic on 
highways or other high-speed thoroughfares. 
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 holding a steady cruising speed, 
if you encounter slower vehicles ahead, active 
cruise control will, within the scope of given 
possibilities, adjust your vehicle's speed auto-
matically so that you can flow with the traffic 
without having to make constant adjustments. 
If, for example, 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 maintain your selected 
distance setting between your vehicle and the 
vehicle ahead. You can vary the distance, which 
is additionally speed-dependent. Based on 
your selected distance setting, the system 
automatically decreases the throttle setting and 
lightly applies the brakes if necessary. The vehi-
cle brake lamps will automatically illuminate to 
signal a following driver to take action. In addi-
tion, it may be necessary for the vehicle to 
downshift 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 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 
to which you may be accustomed, 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 page73.<
Brake pedal feel
>When the system brakes and you also 
depress the brake pedal, a somewhat differ-
ent braking feeling results.
>Any noises produced during automatic 
braking are normal.
Applications
As with conventional cruise control systems, 
active cruise control in no way diminishes or 
substitutes for the driver's own personal 
responsibility, alertness and awareness in 
adjusting speed, braking or otherwise control-
ling 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, strong rain or 
fog; or when entering interchanges, 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 nec-
essary, especially when the system is actively  

Controls
 71Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Selecting distance
>Knurled wheel up: 
To increase distance
>Knurled wheel down: 
To decrease distance
The selected distance is displayed in the 
speedometer.
Distance 1
Distance 2
Distance 3 
This distance is always set when 
the system is used for the first time 
after starting the engine.
Distance 4
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. 
Otherwise, a violation of the law or the danger of 
an accident could result.<
Deactivating cruise control
Press the lever up or down. The displays in the 
speedometer go out.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
>when the speed is reduced to below 20 mph 
or 30 km/h due to a traffic situation
>when DTC is activated or DSC is deacti-
vated
>when the system does not recognize any 
objects for an extended period of time, e.g. 
on infrequently traveled roads without a 
shoulder or guard rails, or if the radar sensor 
is covered with dirt, refer to page72
>when you actuate the parking brake during 
driving
>when you shift the transmission into the 
Nposition
If the system is deactivated, then it is nec-
essary for the driver to actively intervene 
by braking and possibly swerving. Otherwise, 
there is the danger of an accident.<
Background lighting
You can switch off the backlighting of the 
speedometer and tachometer when the system 
is deactivated if no other functions are being 
displayed, e.g. the pre-warning field in the 
tachometer, refer to page75, or the route guid-
ance of the navigation system.
To do so, press the lever up or down for approx. 
1second.