
Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Indicator lamps for turn signals
3Indicator and warning lamps12
4Tachometer46
with indicator and warning lamps12
5Engine coolant temperature gauge47
6Fuel gauge46
7Button for
>Displaying the clock47
>Service interval display47
>Checking the oil level88
8Position of automatic transmission
*40
9Button for
>Resetting trip odometer46
>Setting the clock47
10Display for
>Trip odometer/Odometer46
>Clock47
>Service interval47
>Computer
*48
>Checking the oil level88
Indicator and warning lamps 
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are identified 
by 
+ are tested for proper functioning whenever 
the key is turned. They each light up once for 
different periods of time.
If a malfunction occurs in one of the monitored 
systems, the corresponding lamp does not go 
out after the engine has started, or it lights up 
again while the vehicle is in motion. You can find 
more information about each system on the 
specified pages.
Turn signal indicators42
Battery charge current 
+97
Headlamp flasher/High beams42, 56
Engine oil pressure/
Engine oil level 
+87
Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving 
stability control systems 
+49 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 25
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor
>Press the   button on the remote 
control twice in a row.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then 
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and 
the interior motion sensor are deactivated until 
the vehicle is again unlocked and locked.
Windows
To prevent injuries, exercise care when 
closing the windows and keep them in 
your field of vision until they are shut.
Take the key with you when you leave the car, 
otherwise children could operate the windows 
and possibly injure themselves.<
Opening, closing
Ignition key in position 1 or higher:
>Press the switch downward to the resis-
tance point.
The window continues to open as long as 
you press the switch.
>Press the switch beyond the resistance 
point.
The window opens automatically. Press the 
switch again to stop the opening move-
ment.
You can close the window in the same manner 
by pulling the switch upward.
If you wish, you can have this special fea-
ture activated/deactivated.<
After switching off the ignition
You can still open or close the windows for 
approx. 1 minute, as long as no one opens any 
of the doors.
For convenience operation via the remote con-
trol or the door lock, refer to page19 or20, 
respectively.
Pinch protection system
If the closing force exceeds a certain value while 
a window is being raised, the system responds 
by stopping the window and then retracting it a 
short distance.
Despite the pinch protection system 
check and clear the window's travel path 
prior to closing it, otherwise the safety system 
might fail to detect certain kinds of obstruc-
tions, such as thin objects, and the window 
would continue closing. 
Do not install any accessories within the win-
dows' range of movement; otherwise the pinch 
protection system could be impaired.<
The closing force can change as a result 
of extreme temperature fluctuations. The 
window then opens slightly after closing even if 
there is no obstacle within the window's travel 
path. If this occurs, override the pinch protec-
tion system.<
Pulling the switch beyond the resistance point 
and holding it there overrides and deactivates 
the pinch protection system.
After a power supply interruption
After a power supply interruption, for instance 
after disconnecting the battery, the pinch pro-
tection system must be reinitialized.
Roadster: when the convertible top has 
been stored in the convertible top com-
partment for an extended period of time, e.g. in 
the winter months because the hardtop was 
being used, it may also be necessary to reinitial-
ize the pinch protection system.<
Ensure that the doors and the Roadster's con-
vertible top are closed before initializing. 

Adjustments
32
Tilting upward
Pull lever1 repeatedly until the desired tilt has 
been reached.
Tilting downward
Press lever2 repeatedly until the desired tilt has 
been reached.
Thigh support
Pull lever3 and move the thigh support forward 
or back.
Head restraints
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the 
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way 
that its center is at approx. ear level. Oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the 
event of an accident.<
Adjusting the height
>To move up: pull up.
>To move down: press button1 and push 
the head restraint downward.
M Sports seat*
The head restraints are integrated in the back-
rests and cannot be adjusted in height.
Removal
1.Pull up all the way.
2.Press button1 and pull out the head 
restraint completely.
M Sports seat*
The head restraints are integrated in the back-
rests and cannot be removed.
Seat memory*
You can store and recall three different driver's 
seat positions.
Storing
Ignition key in position 1 or higher
1.Adjust seat to desired position.
2.Press the M
EMORY button.
The LED in the button lights up.
3.Press memory button 1, 2 or 3.
The LED goes out.
Manual call-up
Do not select a memory position while the 
vehicle is moving. If you do, there is a risk 
of accident from an unexpected movement of 
the seat.< 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 33
Convenience function
1.Unlock and open the driver's door or turn 
the key to position 1, refer to page38.
2.Press memory button 1, 2 or 3 briefly.
Movement stops immediately when one of the 
seat adjustment or memory buttons is operated 
during the adjustment process.
You can have this feature programmed so 
that after you use the remote control from 
your personalized key to unlock your door, your 
seat will move into your own preferred posi-
tion.<
Safety function
1.Close the driver's door and turn the key to 
position 0 or 2.
2.Press the desired memory button 1, 2 or 3 
until the adjustment process is completed.
If you press the M
EMORY button accidentally: 
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
Before activating the programmed 
adjustment feature, ensure that the space 
behind the driver's seat is empty and unob-
structed. If you fail to do so, objects behind the 
seat could be damaged, should the seat move 
backward.<
Seat heating*
The seat cushion and backrest can be heated 
with the ignition key in position 2.
Press once for each temperature level.
Three LEDs indicate the highest temperature.
To switch off:
Press button longer.
Safety belts
Comply with the instructions on page30, 
or the occupants' personal safety will be 
diminished.<
Make sure every occupant fastens his or her 
safety belt. As supplemental restraint devices, 
the airbags are designed to enhance the effec-
tiveness of the safety belts, and not to replace 
them.
To fasten
Make sure you hear the lock engage in the belt 
buckle.
The upper belt anchor is suitable for adults of 
any stature as long as the seat is adjusted prop-
erly, refer to page31.
To unlock
1.Grasp the belt firmly.
2.Press the red button in the buckle.
3.Guide the belt back into its reel.
'Fasten safety belts' reminder
The indicator lamp flashes or lights up. 
A signal also sounds. Check whether 
the safety belt has been fastened cor-
rectly.
The 'Fasten safety belts' reminder is issued as 
long as the driver's safety belt has not been fas-
tened. The 'Fasten safety belts' reminder is also 
activated at road speeds above approx. 5 mph/
8 km/h if the passenger's safety belt is not fas-
tened, if heavy objects are placed on the pas-
senger seat, or if driver or passenger unfasten 
their safety belts. 

Driving
42 the transmission can cool down again. You can 
continue your journey, but moderate your 
speed and exercise due caution.
Have the system checked immediately.
Yellow warning lamp
The transmission system is malfunc-
tioning. Avoid heavy loads.
All of the selector lever positions can 
continue to be engaged; in the forward drive 
positions, however, the vehicle will be operating 
in a restricted gear range only.
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
Instructions on towing, tow-starting and jump-
starting begin on page99.
Driving Dynamic Control
At the touch of a button, Driving Dynamic Con-
trol enables you to drive your BMW in an even 
sportier style:
>The engine responds more spontaneously 
to any motion of the accelerator pedal.
>The vehicle is steered more directly and 
traction is enhanced.
>Cruise control
*:
The stored speed is achieved more quickly 
when called up.
In addition with automatic transmission:
>The Sport program is activated.
To activate the system
Press the SPORT button while the key is in 
position 2.
The LED in the button lights up.
To deactivate the system
Press the SPORT button again.
The LED in the button goes out.
Turn signal indicators/
Headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signal indicators
Unusually rapid flashing of the indica-
tor lamp indicates that a turn signal 
indicator has failed.<
To signal briefly
Press the lever as far as the resistance point for 
as long as you wish to indicate a turn.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever as far as the resistance point.
The turn signals flash three times.
If you wish, you can have this function 
activated.< 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 47
Reserve
Once the fuel level has fallen to the reserve 
zone of approx. 2.1 US gallons/8 liters, indicator 
lamp 1 lights up continuously.
Do not drive until the fuel tank is empty 
and refill it well in advance. Otherwise the 
engine may not operate properly and damage 
could result.<
When you switch on the ignition, the indicator 
lamp comes on briefly to indicate an operational 
check.
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge 
Blue
The engine is still cold. Drive at moderate 
engine and vehicle speeds.
Between the blue and red zones
Normal operating range. The needle may rise as 
far as the edge of the red sector during normal 
operation.
Red
When you switch on the ignition, warning 
lamp1 comes on briefly to indicate an opera-
tional check.
Comes on while driving:
The engine has overheated. Stop and switch 
the engine off immediately and allow it to cool 
down.
For checking the coolant level, refer to page89.
Service interval display 
The remaining driving distance in miles/km until 
the next scheduled service is displayed briefly 
immediately after you start the engine or switch 
on the ignition.
The words OILSERVICE or INSPECTION indi-
cate the type of service due next. The computer 
bases its calculations of the remaining driving 
distance on the preceding driving style.
A flashing message and a minus sign in front of 
the number mean that the service interval has 
already been exceeded by the number of miles/
kilometers shown on the display. Please sched-
ule an appointment with your BMW Center or a 
workshop that works according to BMW repair 
procedures with correspondingly trained per-
sonnel.
The extent of service work required can 
be read out from the remote control by 
your BMW Service Advisor.<
Clock 
If you wish to have a permanent time display, 
you can have it appear in the car radio display, 
refer to the Owner's Manual for Radio.
You can set the time and the time display in the 
car radio as follows. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 49
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Driving stability control 
systems 
Your BMW is equipped with a series of systems 
that help maintain driving stability even in 
adverse driving situations.
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS keeps the wheels from locking during 
braking. Steering stability is maintained even 
during full brake applications. In this way, active 
safety is enhanced.
ABS is operational each time the engine is 
started. Braking safely, refer to page71.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls brake-force application at 
the rear wheels in order to obtain increased sta-
bility in the vehicle's braking response.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system 
automatically produces the maximum braking 
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. At the same time, the benefits of the ABS 
are also exploited.
As long as you want full braking to continue, do 
not reduce pressure on the brake.
Dynamic Stability Control DSC 
DSC prevents slip at the drive wheels while 
starting off and accelerating the vehicle. DSC 
also recognizes unstable vehicle conditions, 
such as fishtailing or nose-diving. In these 
cases, and subject to physical limits, DSC helps 
to keep the vehicle on a steady course by 
reducing engine speed and by applying brakes 
at individual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed 
even with DSC. It will always be the 
driver's responsibility to drive in a manner that 
matches road conditions. Therefore, do not limit the additional safety margin by practicing 
risky driving.<
Deactivating DSC
Press the button for at least 3 seconds; the indi-
cator lamp for DSC lights up in the instrument 
cluster. Dynamic Traction Control DTC and 
DSC have been deactivated simultaneously. No 
more interventions to increase stability and for-
ward momentum are carried out.
To enhance vehicle stability, reactivate DSC as 
soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button again; the indicator lamp goes 
out in the instrument cluster.
Checking 
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive forces and 
brake forces.
The indicator lamp is lit:
DSC has been deactivated completely.
Dynamic Traction Control DTC
DTC is a variant of the DSC in which forward 
momentum is optimized for special road condi-
tions, e.g. snow-covered roads that have not 
yet been cleared. The system ensures maxi-
mum forward momentum, but driving stability is 
limited. Therefore, drive carefully in accordance 
with conditions. 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
50 In the following exceptional circumstances, it 
may be effective to activate the DTC for a short 
period:
>When driving on snow-covered grades, in 
slush or on uncleared, snow-covered roads
>When rocking the vehicle or starting off in 
deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains
Activating DTC
Press the button briefly; the DTC indicator lamp 
lights up in the instrument cluster.
Checking 
Deactivating DTC
Press the button again; the DTC indicator lamp 
in the instrument cluster goes out.
Malfunction in the driving stability 
control systems
Have the system checked as soon as possible.Drive cautiously, think well ahead and 
avoid full brake applications, otherwise 
unstable driving conditions could result.<
The vehicle remains operational. Have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible.
Drive cautiously and think well ahead, 
otherwise unstable driving conditions 
could result.<
Drive-off assistant
The drive-off assistant enables you to drive off 
smoothly on uphill gradients. It is not necessary 
to use the handbrake for this.
1.Hold the car in place by depressing the 
brake.
2.Release the brake and drive off without 
delay.
The drive-off assistant holds the car in 
place for approx. 2 seconds after the 
brake is released. Depending on vehicle load, 
the car may roll backwards a little during this 
time span. Drive off without delay after releas-
ing the brake. Otherwise, the drive-off assistant 
will no longer hold the car in place after approx. 
2 seconds and the car will start to roll back-
wards.< The indicator lamp flashes:
DTC controls the drive forces and 
brake forces.
The indicator lamp is lit:
DTC has been activated.
The warning lamp for the brake system 
lights up in red, together with the yel-
low indicator lamps for ABS and DSC:
The driving stability control systems 
have failed.
Canadian models display these warn-
ing lamps.
The DSC warning lamp lights up 
together with the yellow warning lamp 
for the brake system:
DSC, including DTC and DBC, are 
malfunctioning.
Canadian models display these warn-
ing lamps.