
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 5
Your individual vehicle
When you ordered your BMW, you chose vari-
ous items of equipment. This Owner's Manual 
describes all models and equipment that BMW 
offers within the same group.
We hope you will understand that equipment 
and features are included which you might not 
have chosen for your vehicle. Any differences 
can easily be identified since all optional acces-
sories and special equipment are marked with 
an asterisk 
*.
If your BMW features equipment not described 
in this Owner's Manual, please observe the 
enclosed supplementary Owner's Manuals.
Status at time of printing 
BMW pursues a policy of continuous, ongoing 
development that is conceived to ensure that 
our vehicles continue to embody the highest 
quality and safety standards combined with 
advanced, state-of-the-art technology. In 
exceptional cases, the features described in 
this Owner's Manual could therefore differ from 
those on your vehicle.
For your own safety
Maintenance and repair
Advanced technology, e.g. the use of 
modern materials and powerful electron-
ics, requires specially adapted maintenance 
and repair methods. You should therefore have 
the corresponding work on your vehicle per-
formed only by your BMW Center or at a work-
shop that works according to BMW repair pro-
cedures with correspondingly trained 
personnel. If this work is not carried out prop-
erly, there is a danger of subsequent damage 
and related safety hazards.<
California Proposition 65 warning
California laws require us to state the following 
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of 
automobile components and parts, 
including components found in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals 
known to the State of California to cause cancer 
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In 
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and 
certain products of component wear contain or 
emit chemicals known to the State of CA to 
cause cancer and birth defects or other repro-
ductive harm. 
Battery posts, terminals and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash 
your hands after handling. 
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have 
caused cancer in laboratory animals. Always 
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with 
soap and water.< 

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 

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
 13
Colors
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
various colors and combinations.
>Red:
Stop the vehicle immediately
or
an important reminder
>Red and yellow:
Continue driving cautiously
>Yellow:
Have the system checked soon
or
for your information
>Green or blue:
For your information Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving 
stability control systems for Canadian 
models
Brake system 
+ 
Parking brake released90
Parking brake applied39
With other warning lamps50
Brake warning lamp for Canadian mod-
els
Brake pads 
+90
Fog lamps56
Electric Power Steering 
+52
Flat Tire Monitor 
+51
Airbags 
+52
'Fasten safety belts' reminder33
Defective bulb55
Doors or luggage compartment lid/tail-
gate open
Automatic transmission 
+41
Engine electronics 
+ 
Malfunction in the engine electronics. 
You can continue to drive with reduced 
engine output. Please have the system 
inspected by your BMW Center.
Service engine soon 
+92
Service engine soon indicator lamp for 
Canadian models
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC
 +49
Dynamic Traction Control 
DTC 
+49
Add coolant89
Check gas cap 
+78 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 27
Closing
1.Press button1.
The convertible top is released and moves 
up slightly.
2.Using the handle, pull the convertible top 
forward onto the windshield frame.
3.Turn the handle until it engages audibly. 
The convertible top is locked.
At higher speeds, a vacuum effect in the 
passenger compartment can cause the 
convertible top to begin fluttering. Increase the 
air flow from the air conditioning or automatic 
climate control to prevent a partial vacuum in 
the vehicle.<
Roadster: fully automatic 
convertible top*
The fully automatic convertible top combines 
assured protection against the elements with 
simple and easy handling.
Here are a few tips so that you get the most out 
of your BMW:
>It is advisable to close the convertible top 
when the vehicle is parked. When closed, 
the top not only guards the passenger com-
partment from unforeseeable damage from 
the weather, but also affords a degree of 
protection against theft. Valuables, how-
ever, should only be kept in the locked 
cargo bay, even when the convertible top is 
closed.
>Never mount a roof-mounted luggage rack 
system on the convertible top.
Do not operate the convertible top at tem-
peratures below 147/–106, otherwise damage could result.
Never keep a wet convertible top in the convert-
ible top compartment for longer than one day, 
otherwise the moisture could cause damage.
Do not lay objects on the convertible top, other-
wise they could fall off when the convertible top 
is operated and cause damage or injuries.
Driving while the convertible top is not com-
pletely open or closed can cause vehicle dam-
age or personal injury.
Do not reach into the convertible top mecha-
nism during opening and closing. Keep children 
away from the convertible top's range of move-
ment.
For safety reasons, whenever possible operate 
the convertible top when the vehicle is station-
ary.<
If a convertible top operation has not yet 
been completed as you start to drive off, 
at a traffic light for example, you can continue 
the procedure at moderate speed:
To do so, press and hold the corresponding 
button again.
At higher speeds, a vacuum effect in the pas-
senger compartment can cause the convertible 
top to begin fluttering. Use the air conditioning 
or automatic climate control to increase the air 
flow rate and thus prevent a partial vacuum in 
the vehicle.
precautions.
>Make sure that the convertible top com-
partment panel in the cargo bay has been 
folded down; refer to page23. Otherwise 
the convertible top cannot be opened.
>Ensure that the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate is closed.
Opening and closing
With the key in ignition position 1 or higher, 
refer to page38, and while the vehicle is sta-
tionary:
If at all possible, operate the convertible 
top only with the engine running. This 
saves unnecessary battery wear. 

Adjustments
34
Damaged safety belts
If the safety belts are damaged or 
stressed in an accident: have the belt sys-
tem, including any belt tensioners, replaced and 
the belt anchors checked. Have this work done 
o nly by your BMW Center o r at a  workshop that 
works according to BMW repair procedures 
with correspondingly trained personnel. Other-
wise, it is not guaranteed that the safety devices 
will function properly.<
Mirrors 
Exterior mirrors
The passenger's mirror is more convex 
than the driver's mirror. The objects seen 
in the mirror are closer than they appear. Do not 
gauge your distance from traffic behind you on 
the basis of what you see in the mirror; other-
wise there is an increased risk of an accident.<
1Adjustments
2To switch from one mirror to the other
3To fold the mirrors in or out
*
Manual adjustment
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually: 
press on the edges of the lens.
Folding mirrors in or out*
The mirrors can be folded in or out up to a road 
speed of approx. 6 mph/10 km/h by pressing 
button3. This can be useful on narrow roads, 
for example, or to reset the mirrors to their cor-
rect positions after they were folded in.
Automatic heating*
Both exterior mirrors are automatically heated 
when the engine is running or the ignition is 
switched on.
Interior rearview mirror
Turn the knob to reduce glare from the head-
lamps of cars behind you when driving at night.
Automatically dimming mirrors, refer to 
page71.
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Never attempt to adjust the steering 
wheel while driving the vehicle. It could 
respond with unexpected movement, posing a 
potential accident hazard.<
1.Fold the lever down.
2.Move the steering wheel to the preferred 
height and angle to suit your seated posi-
tion.
3.Swing the lever back up. 

Driving
38
Driving
Ignition lock 
0Steering locked
1Steering unlocked
2Ignition switched on
3Starting the engine
Steering locked
This is the only position in which the ignition key 
can be inserted or removed.
After removing the key, turn the steering wheel 
slightly to the left or right until the lock engages.
Interlock with automatic transmission
The key can only be turned back to position 0 or 
removed if the selector lever is in position P: 
interlock.
Steering unlocked
You will find that it is often easier to turn the 
ignition key from position0 to 1 if yo u m ove the 
steering wheel slightly to help disengage the 
detent.
Individual electrical equipment and accessories 
are available for use.
Ignition switched on
All systems are operational.
Starting the engine
Engine idle speed is controlled by the engine 
computer system. Increased speeds at start-up 
are normal and should decrease as the engine 
warms up. If engine speed does not decrease, 
service is required.
To prevent the battery from discharging, always 
deactivate electrical devices that are not in use. 
Switch the ignition off when the vehicle is not 
being driven.
Do not leave the engine running in 
enclosed spaces. Otherwise, inhaling the 
hazardous exhaust gases could lead to uncon-
sciousness and death. The exhaust gases con-
tain carbon monoxide, an odorless and color-
less, but highly toxic gas. Do not leave the 
vehicle unattended with the engine running. An 
unattended vehicle with a running engine poses 
a safety hazard.
Before leaving the car with the engine running, 
place the transmission in idle or move the 
selector lever to position P and apply the hand-
brake to prevent the car from moving.<
When starting the engine, do not press the 
accelerator pedal.
Do not end the starting procedure too early, but 
do not continue it for more than 20 seconds.
Release the key immediately when the engine 
starts.
Do not let the engine warm up in idling position. 
Instead, begin to drive immediately at moderate 
engine speeds.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Step on the clutch when starting the vehi-
cle. A lockout prevents the engine from starting 
if the clutch is not depressed.<
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.Depress the clutch and shift to idle position.
3.Start the engine. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 39
Automatic transmission
1.Depress the brake.
2.Start the engine.
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the accelerator 
pedal halfway down when starting the engine:
>If the engine does not start on the first 
attempt, for instance when it is extremely 
hot or cold.
>If the engine is started at very low tempera-
tures, below approx. +57/–156, at high 
altitudes above approx. 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting attempts in quick 
succession or repeated starting attempts 
during which the engine does not start. Other-
wise, the fuel is not burned or inadequately 
burned; there is a danger of overheating and 
damaging the catalytic converter.<
Switching off the engine
Do not remove the key while the vehicle is 
still moving. Otherwise, the steering lock 
would engage when the steering wheel is 
turned. 
When you leave the vehicle, always remove the 
key and engage the steering lock.
Apply the parking brake when parking on steep 
gradients, otherwise the vehicle could start to 
roll.<
You can have an acoustic signal set as a 
reminder that the key is still in the ignition 
switch after the driver's door has been 
opened.<
Manual transmission
1.Turn the key to position 1 or 0.
2.Engage first gear or reverse gear.
3.Apply the handbrake.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2.Turn the key to position 1 or 0.
Parking brake
The parking brake is designed primarily to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling when parked. It 
operates against the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp is lit, and when you 
drive off a signal sounds in addition. 
The handbrake is still applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and 
lower the lever.
If, in exceptional circumstances, it should 
be necessary to engage the parking brake 
while the vehicle is in motion, do not pull it with 
excessive pressure. In doing so, continuously 
press the button of the handbrake lever. Other-
wise, too violent an application of the hand-
brake can overbrake the rear axle and cause the 
rear of the car to swerve.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the hand-
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming 
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.
The brake lamps do not light up when the hand-
brake is applied.< 

Driving
40
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, press 
the gearshift lever to the right. Otherwise, 
the engine could be damaged by accidentally 
engaging 3rd or 4th gear.<
Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. 
When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, a 
slight resistance has to be overcome.
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*
In addition to operating the Steptronic as a fully 
automatic transmission, you can also shift 
gears manually with it, refer to page41.
Vehicle parking
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, 
always select position P before leaving 
the vehicle with the engine running.<
Removing the key
To turn the key in the ignition lock back to posi-
tion 0 or to remove it, first engage selector lever 
position P and switch off the engine: interlock.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Displays in the instrument cluster
P R N D SD M1 to M6
The selector lever position is displayed; in the 
manual mode, the gear currently engaged is 
shown.
Range selection
>With the ignition switched on or the engine 
running, the selector lever can be moved 
out of position P: interlock.
>Before moving the lever away from P or N 
with the vehicle stationary, first depress the 
brake; otherwise the selector lever will 
refuse to move: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping 
after you select a driving position, 
depress the brake until you are ready to 
start.<
A lock prevents you from inadvertently engag-
ing selector lever positions R and P. To cancel 
the lock, press the button on the front of the 
selector lever, see arrow.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The 
transmission locks to prevent the drive wheels 
from turning.