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9Steptronic: upshifting63
10Steptronic: downshifting63
12Buttons on steering wheel13Info Display12
14Automatic transmission62
15Ignition lock57
19Horn: the entire surface
23Fog lamps101
24Unlocking hood201 7Instrument lighting101
8BMW Night Vision
*96
11Turn signals65
High beams, 
headlamp flasher100
High-beam assistant
*100
Roadside parking lamps100
Computer76
Check Control80
Computer76
Voice command system
* 
activation/deactivation23
Volume
Mobile phone:
Press button. 
Make call, accept call, or end call.
Press briefly to proceed through 
a selection sequence consisting 
of the automatic program, the 
Sport program, and the manual 
mode63
Selecting radio station
Selecting music track
Skipping chapter
*
Programmable button52 
16Switching ignition on/off57
and Starting/stopping engine57
17Windshield wipers65
Rain sensor65
18PDC Park Distance Control
*86
20Steering wheel heater
*52
Steering wheel adjustment52
21Unlocking luggage compartment 
lid36
22Programmable cruise control67
Active cruise control
*69
Front fog lamps 

Cockpit
12
Info Display
1Resetting trip odometer to zero75
2Speedometer with display for
>Programmable cruise control67
>Active cruise control
*69
>Speed limit82
3Indicator and warning lamps12
4Tachometer75
Route guidance of navigation 
system
*143
5High-beam assistant
*
6Display for
>Flat Tire Monitor
*91
>Tire Pressure Monitor
*93
7Display for
>Voice command system
*23
>Odometer and trip odometer75
>Remaining driving distance for service 
requirements78
>Text messages in Check Control80
>Computer76
8Transmission range selection629Automatic transmission program 
display62
10Display for
>Outside temperature75
>Clock75
>Indicator and warning lamps80
11Computer with fuel gauge76
12Fog lamps101
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in dif-
ferent combinations and in different colors in 
the display area1 and in the display2. 

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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  

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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  

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Things to know about active cruise control
As with conventional cruise control sys-
tems, active cruise control in no way 
diminishes or substitutes for the driver's own 
personal responsibility, alertness and aware-
ness in adjusting speed, braking or otherwise 
controlling 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 inter-
changes, 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 necessary, especially when 
the system is actively following a vehicle in front 
of you.<
Always remember that the range and abil-
ity of the system do have physical limita-
tions. It will not apply the brakes or decelerate 
your vehicle when there is a slow-moving vehi-
cle, stopped vehicle or stationary object ahead 
of you, for example when approaching a traffic 
light or a parked vehicle. Also, the system does 
not react to oncoming traffic, pedestrians or 
other types of potential traffic such as a rider on 
horseback. It is also possible that the system 
may not detect smaller moving objects such as 
motorcycles or bicycles. Be especially alert 
when encountering any of these situations as 
the system will neither automatically brake, nor 
provide a warning to you. Also, be aware that every decrease in the distance setting allows 
your vehicle to come closer to a vehicle in front 
of you and requires a heightened amount of 
alertness.<
When your vehicle is actively following a vehicle 
in front of you, if the vehicle ahead speeds up or 
the lane ahead becomes clear, then your vehi-
cle will accelerate to the speed you have 
selected. Be aware that changing to a clear, 
unobstructed lane may also result in accelera-
tion of your vehicle.
Be certain to deactivate the system when 
you pull into an exit lane for a highway off-
ramp.<
Also, vehicles traveling in a staggered manner 
on a highway may cause a delay in the system's 
reaction to a vehicle in front of you or may cause 
the system to react to a vehicle actually in the 
lane next to you. Always be ready to take action 
or apply the brakes if necessary.
Active cruise control can only decelerate the 
vehicle to approx. 20 mph/30 km/h. If the sys-
tem reduces vehicle speed below 20 mph/
30 km/h or if DSC/ABS is engaged while driving, 
the system will automatically deactivate.
Remember, the system cannot stop your 
vehicle. In addition, the system is deacti-
vated whenever the driver applies the vehicle 
brakes, shifts the transmission from drive/D to 
neutral/N, or deactivates DSC. After any deacti-
vation, the system will no longer automatically 
activate the vehicle brakes, which means the 
driver must intervene and resume manual brak-
ing. You should then reactivate the system only 
when you are fully aware of the prior speed and 
distance settings.< 

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>in dense fog, heavy rain or snowfall
>when displaying very hot objects such as 
transformers, car exhausts etc.
>when the image briefly freezes during nor-
mal system adjustment.
BMW Night Vision's potential benefits 
can be limited by the driving style of the 
driver, the size and relative temperature of the 
detected objects, dirt or contamination on the 
camera lens, adverse weather like snow, rain or 
fog, and other factors not mentioned here. It will 
always be the driver's responsibility to drive at a 
speed and in a manner that recognizes potential 
hazards and to adjust accordingly. 
BMW Night Vision is not a substitute or replace-
ment for driver responsibility or for adapting to 
the visibility conditions and the traffic situation. 
The forward view illuminated by the headlamps 
must always be the basis for making safe driv-
ing decisions; otherwise, a safety risk will 
result.<
Activating BMW Night Vision
1.Turn the light switch to position2 or3, refer 
to page99.
2.Briefly press the button with the low beams 
switched on.
The image will be displayed on the Control Dis-
play after a few seconds. Depending on the last 
mode selected, either the normal or full screen 
image will be displayed.Due to the system's need to adjust periodically, 
a still image is displayed at certain intervals for 
fractions of a second. This is normal and not an 
indication of a problem.
To prevent driving without headlamps, at a 
speed of more than approx. 3 mph/5 km/h and 
when dark, the thermal image on the Control 
Display is only shown when the low beams are 
on.
BMW Night Vision is not available on the 
rear screen. When the system is active, 
neither the navigation system nor BMW Assist 
can be started from the rear screen.
>Press the  button.
>Make a selection with the controller, i. e.: 
change the radio station or make a phone 
call. For iDrive details, refer to page16.
Selecting settings
1.Activate BMW Night Vision.
2.Press the controller to display the menu 
items. 

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Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
1Parking lamps
2Low beams and daytime running lamps
*
3Automatic headlamp control, daytime run-
ning lamps
*, Adaptive Head Light*, and 
High-beam assistant
*
Parking lamps
In switch position1, 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 
page100.
The parking lamps drain the battery. Do 
not leave them switched on for long peri-
ods of time; otherwise, it may no longer be pos-
sible to start the engine.<
Low beams
The low beams light up in switch position2 only 
with the engine running. Otherwise, the parking 
lamps are lit.
Automatic headlamp control
In the switch position3, the system activates 
the low beams and switches them on or off in 
response to changes in ambient light condi-
tions, for example in a tunnel, at dawn and dusk, 
and in case of precipitation. The LED next to the 
symbol is illuminated when the low beams are 
on.When driving into a tunnel with bright overhead 
lighting, switching on of the lights may be 
delayed. 
A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can 
cause the lights to be switched on.
The low beams remain switched on 
regardless of the ambient light when you 
switch on the front fog lamps. 
When daytime running lamps are activated, the 
low beams are always switched into switch 
position3 whenever the ignition is switched 
on.<
If so desired, the light switch can be left in the 
position3. The exterior lighting is automatically 
switched off after switching off the vehicle.
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 sensors 
cannot detect fog of hazy weather. To avoid 
safety risks, you should always switch on the 
lamps manually under these conditions.<
Pathway lighting
After parking the vehicle and switching off the 
headlamps, you can use the headlamp flasher 
control to activate the low beams for a period of 
roughly 40 seconds. 
Pressing the  button on the remote control, 
refer to page33, also switches on the low 
beams for approx. 40 seconds. In addition, the 
door handle and interior lamps are switched on 
for approx. 10 seconds.
Daytime running lamps*
If so desired, the light switch can remain in 
position2 or 3.
The exterior lighting is automatically switched 
off after switching off the vehicle.
Switch on the parking lamps if required as 
described under Parking lamps. 

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Manually switching between high and 
low beams
You can intervene at any time 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. The high-beam assis-
tant is deactivated in the process.
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 as usual with 
low beams.
System limits
The high-beam assistant cannot replace 
personal decisions on the benefits of 
using the high beams. In situations which 
require this, you should therefore switch to the 
low beams manually to avoid a safety risk.<
In the following example situations, the system 
either does not operate or only operates to a 
limited degree and a personal reaction may be 
required:
>Under extremely unfavorable weather con-
ditions, such as heavy fog or precipitation.
>For perceiving road users with poor lighting 
of their own, e.g. pedestrians, cyclists, peo-
ple on horseback, horse-drawn vehicles, 
with train or ship traffic close to the road and 
wild animals crossing the road.
>In tight curves, on steep crowns or depres-
sions, with cross traffic or partially con-
cealed oncoming traffic on the freeway.
>In poorly lit places and with highly reflective 
signs.>In the low speed range.
>When the windshield is dirty or covered with 
stickers, decals etc. in the area of the inside 
rearview mirror.
>When the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor 
on the front side of the inside rearview mir-
ror with a cloth moistened with a small 
amount of glass cleaner.
Fog lamps
Briefly press the button to switch on/off.
Front fog lamps
The parking lamps or low beams must be 
switched on for the fog lamps to operate. The 
green indicator lamp on the Info Display lights 
up whenever the fog lamps are on.
If the automatic headlamp control is acti-
vated, the low beams will come on auto-
matically when you switch on the fog lamps.<
Instrument lighting
You can adjust the lighting intensity with the 
knurled wheel.