
At a glance
 15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Microphone for voice command system* 
and for telephone in hands-free mode*
2SOS: initiating an Emergency Request 
call
*229
3Reading lamps100
4Glass roof/panorama glass roof
*41
5Interior lamps100
6Passenger airbag status lamp
*96
7Control Display16
8Hazard warning flashers
9DTC Dynamic Traction Control88
10Central locking system32
11Automatic climate control
12Ejecting
>Audio CD156
>Navigation DVD13013Changing
>Radio station160
>Track167
15Controller16 
Can be turned, pressed, or moved horizon-
tally in four directions
16Activating voice command system
*22
17Opening start menu on Control Display17
18Drive for navigation DVD130
19Switching audio sources on/off and adjust-
ing volume156
20Drive for audio CDs156 Air distribution to the 
windshield102
Air distribution to the upper body 
area102
Air distribution to the footwell102
Automatic air distribution and flow 
rate103
Cooling function104
AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control103
Recirculated-air mode103
Maximum cooling103
Residual heat mode104
Air flow rate103
Defrosting windows104
Rear window defroster104
14
Heated seats*48
PDC Park Distance Control
*86
Sedan:
Roller sun blind
*110
Hill Descent Control HDC
*88
ProCarManuals.com 

Adjustments
44
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital con-
tribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In con-
junction with the safety belts, the head 
restraints and the airbags, the seated position 
has a major influence on your safety in the event 
of an accident. To ensure that the safety sys-
tems operate with optimal efficiency, we 
strongly urge you to observe the instructions 
contained in the following section.
For additional information on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page53.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance 
between yourself and the airbags. Always 
grip the steering wheel on the rim, with your 
hands in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, 
to minimize the risk of injury to the hands or 
arms in the event of the airbag being triggered 
off. 
No one and nothing is to come between the air-
bags and the seat occupant. 
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the 
front passenger side as a storage area. Make 
sure that the front passenger is sitting correctly, 
e.g. not resting feet or legs on the dashboard, 
otherwise leg injuries can occur if the front air-
bag is triggered.
Make sure that passengers do not lean their 
heads against the side or head airbags, other-
wise serious injuries could result if the airbags 
suddenly deployed.<
Even if you follow all the instructions, injuries 
resulting from contact with airbags cannot be 
fully excluded, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may 
provoke a mild hearing loss in extremely sensi-
tive individuals. This effect is usually only tem-
porary.
For airbag locations and additional information 
on airbags, refer to page95.
Head restraint
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.<
Head restraints, refer to page46.
Safety belt
Before every drive, make sure that all occupants 
wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the 
safety belt as an additional safety device, but 
they do not represent a substitute.
Your vehicle has five seats, each of which is 
equipped with a safety belt.
Never allow more than one person to 
wear a single safety belt. Never allow 
infants or small children to ride in a passenger's 
lap. Make sure that the belt in the lap area sits 
low across the hips and does not press against 
the abdomen. 
The safety belt must not rest against the throat, 
run across sharp edges, pass over hard or frag-
ile objects or be pinched. Fasten the safety belt 
so that it sits as snugly as possible against the 
lap and shoulder without being twisted. Other-
wise the belt could slide over your hips and 
injure your abdomen in the event of a frontal 
collision. 
Avoid wearing bulky clothing and regularly pull 
the belt in the upper-body area taut, otherwise 
its restraining effect could be impaired.
Sports Wagon: if the rear center safety belt is 
used, the wider backrest must be locked in 
place, refer to page115. Otherwise the safety 
belt will have no restraining effect.<
Safety belts, refer to page49.
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Controls
 49Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Selecting automatic call-up
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "Door locks" is selected and press the 
controller.
6.Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select "Last seat pos." and press the con-
troller.
8.Select "After unlocking" or "After door 
opened".
9.Press the controller.
Switching off automatic call-up
Select "Deactivated" and press the controller.
Safety belts
Observe the adjustment instructions on 
page45 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection.<
Before every drive, make sure that all occupants 
wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the 
safety belt as an additional safety device, but 
they do not represent a substitute.
O n  t h e  r e a r  s e a t s ,  t h e  c e n t e r  b e l t  b u c k l e  m a r k e d  
with the letters CENTER is solely intended for 
the center passenger.
Closing
Make sure you hear the latch plate 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 page45.
Opening
1.Grasp the belt firmly.
2.Press the red button in the buckle.
3.Guide the belt into its reel.
'Fasten safety belts' reminder for front 
seats
The indicator lamp comes on and an 
acoustic signal sounds. In addition, a 
message will appear on the Control 
Display. Check whether the safety 
belt has been fastened correctly.
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 
or 8 km/h if the front passenger's safety belt is 
ProCarManuals.com 

Controls
 53Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger 
themselves and/or other persons by opening 
the doors, for example.<
The rear center seat is not suitable for installing 
universal child-restraint systems for all age 
groups, approved for the age group in question.
Children always in the rear
Accident research has shown that the safest 
place for children is on the rear seat.
Children under the age of 13 or smaller 
than 5 ft/150 cm may be transported only 
in the rear in suitable child-restraint systems 
appropriate for their age, weight and size. Oth-
erwise there is an increased risk of injury in the 
event of an accident.<
Children 13 years of age or older must be buck-
led in with a safety belt as soon as there no 
longer is any child-restraint system that is 
appropriate for their age, size and weight.
The rear seats in your vehicle meet the recom-
mendations of the SAE J1819 standard for 
safely mounting child-restraint systems in 
motor vehicles.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child-
restraint system on the front passenger 
seat, the front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger must be deactivated. Otherwise, a child 
traveling on that seat will face a significant risk 
of injury if the airbags are triggered off, even 
with a child-restraint system. Your BMW center 
will be glad to advise you.<
For more information on automatic deactivation 
of the front passenger airbags refer to page95.
Installing child-restraint 
systems
Observe the child-restraint system man-
ufacturer's instructions when selecting, 
installing and using child-restraint systems. 
Otherwise the protective effect may be dimin-
ished.<
Standard child-restraint systems are designed 
to be secured with a lap belt or with the lap-belt 
section of a lap-and-shoulder belt. Incorrectly 
or improperly installed child-restraint systems 
can increase the risk of injury to children. 
Always follow the installation instructions for 
the system with the greatest care.
On the front passenger's seat
Before installing a child-restraint system 
on the front passenger's seat, make sure 
that the front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are deactivated, otherwise there is an 
increased risk of injury if the airbags deploy.<
Backrest width*
The backrest width of the front passen-
ger's seat must be at its widest possible 
setting. Do not change the setting after install-
ing the child seat. Otherwise the child seat's 
stability on the front passenger's seat is lim-
ited.<
1.Adjust the backrest width to its widest set-
ting, refer to page46.
2.Install the child seat.
ProCarManuals.com 

Controls
 95Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags for driver and front passenger
2Head airbags, front and rear
3Side airbags in the seat backrests
Protective action
Observe the adjustment instructions on 
page44 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The 
head air bag supports the head.
The airbags have been designed to not be trig-
gered in every collision situation, e.g. not in 
minor accidents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way. Do not attach 
seat covers, cushions or other objects not spe-
cifically approved for seats with integral side air-
bags to the front seats. Do not hang items of 
clothing such as coats or jackets over the back-
rests. Do not attempt to remove the airbag 
retention system from the vehicle. Do not mod-
ify the individual components of the system or 
its wiring in any way. This includes the uphol-
stered covers on the steering wheel, instrument 
panel, seats and roof posts, as well as the sides of the roof lining. Do not attempt to remove or 
dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components imme-
diately after the system has been triggered, 
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or 
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have 
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW center 
or a workshop that works according to BMW 
repair procedures with correspondingly trained 
personnel and has the required explosives 
licenses. Unprofessional attempts to service 
the system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation, either of 
which could result in personal injury.<
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front 
passenger airbags
An analysis of the impression in the front pas-
senger seat cushion determines whether and 
how the seat is occupied. The front and side air-
bags for the front passenger are activated or 
deactivated by the system accordingly.
The indicator lamp above the interior 
rearview mirror shows the current status 
of the front passenger airbags, deactivated or 
activated, refer to Status of front passenger air-
bags below.
Before transporting a child on the front 
passenger seat, read the safety precau-
tions and handling instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page53.
ProCarManuals.com 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
96 The front and side airbags can also be deacti-
vated by adolescents and adults sitting in cer-
tain positions; the indicator lamp for the front 
passenger airbags comes on. In such cases, the 
passenger should change his or her sitting 
position so that the front passenger airbags are 
activated and the indicator lamp goes out. If the 
desired airbag status cannot be achieved by 
changing the sitting position, transport the rele-
vant passenger on a rear seat. Do not attach 
seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball mats or 
other items to the front passenger seat unless 
they are specifically recommended by BMW. 
Do not place any items under the seat which 
could press against the seat from below. Other-
wise a correct analysis of the seat cushion is not 
ensured.<
Status of front passenger airbags
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags shows the functional status of the front 
passenger's front and side airbags in accor-
dance with whether and how the front passen-
ger seat is occupied. The indicator lamp shows 
whether the front passenger airbags are acti-
vated or deactivated.
>The indicator lamp comes on as intended 
when a child in a specially designated child-
restraint system is detected on the seat.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated.
>The indicator lamp does not come on as 
long as a person of sufficient size and in a 
correct sitting position is detected on the 
seat.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are activated.>The indicator lamp does not come on if the 
seat is empty.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
As of radio readiness, refer to page57, the 
warning lamp comes on briefly to indicate that 
the entire airbag system and the belt tensioners 
are operational.
Airbag system malfunction
>Warning lamp does not come on with the 
key in radio-ready position or higher
>Warning lamp remains permanently on
In the event of a fault in the airbag system, 
have it checked without delay, otherwise 
there is the risk that the system will not function 
as intended even if a sufficiently severe acci-
dent occurs.<
ProCarManuals.com 

Everything from A - Z
246
Everything from A - Z
Index
"..." Identifies Control Display 
texts used to select 
individual functions and 
refers you to the page where 
these texts can be found.
A
ABS Antilock Brake 
System87
ACC, refer to Active cruise 
control66
Accident, refer to Initiating an 
Emergency Request 
call229
Activated-charcoal filter for 
automatic climate 
control105
"Activation time"105
Active cruise control66
– indicator lamps68
– malfunction69
– selecting distance67
– sensor69
Active steering94
– warning lamp94
Adaptive Head Light99
"Add digits" on the mobile 
phone183
Additives
– coolant217
"Address book" in 
navigation139
Address for navigation
– deleting140
– entering131,134,139
– selecting139
– storing139
– storing current position139
"Add to destination 
list"134,136Adjusting temperature inside 
the car, refer to Automatic 
climate control102
Adjusting the thigh support45
Adjusting the tone during 
audio operation, refer to 
Tone control157
Adjustment in audio mode
– front-to-rear157
– right/left balance157
Airbags95
– indicator/warning lamp96
– sitting safely44
Air conditioning mode
– automatic climate 
control102
– ventilation104
Air distribution
– automatic103
– individual102
Air flow rate103
Airing, refer to Ventilation104
Air pressure, refer to Tire 
inflation pressure202
Air recirculation, refer to 
Recirculated-air mode
103
"Air recirculation on / off"52
Air supply
– automatic climate 
control102
– ventilation104
Air vents101
AKI, refer to Fuel 
specifications201
Alarm system35
– avoiding unintentional 
alarms36
– interior motion sensor36
– switching off an alarm36
– tilt alarm sensor36
"All channels" for satellite 
radio164All-season tires, refer to 
Winter tires213
"All stations", displaying with 
the radio160
All-wheel drive, refer to 
xDrive88
"AM", waveband156,160
Ambient air, refer to 
Recirculated-air mode103
Antenna for mobile phone176
Antifreeze
– coolant217
– washer fluid63
Anti-theft alarm system, refer 
to Alarm system35
Anti-theft system29
Approved axle loads, refer to 
Weights239
Approved gross vehicle 
weight, refer to Weights239
Armrest, refer to Center 
armrest110
Arrival time, refer to 
Computer74
Arrival time, refer to Starting 
destination guidance143
"Arrow display" in 
navigation144
Arrow view for navigation144
Ashtray
– front112
– rear112
Assistance systems, refer to 
Driving stability control 
systems87
Assistance window20
– refer to iDrive20
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control103
"Audio"159
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Everything from A - Z
250 Courtesy lamps, refer to 
Interior lamps100
Cross-hairs in navigation136
Cruise control64
– active66
– malfunction65
Cruising range74
Cup holders111
Curb weight, refer to 
Weights239
Current fuel consumption, 
refer to Energy Control73
"Current position"150
Current position
– displaying150
– entering139
– storing139
"Customer 
Relations"184,193
D
Dashboard, refer to 
Cockpit10
Dashboard, refer to 
Instrument cluster12
Dashboard lighting, refer to 
Instrument lighting100
Data, technical236
– dimensions237
– engine236
– weights239
"Date"82
Date
– setting81
– setting format82
"Date format"82
"Daytime running lamps"98
Daytime running lamps98
DBC Dynamic Brake 
Control87
DCC, refer to Cruise 
control64
"Deactivated"49
Deactivating front passenger 
airbags95
Deadlocking, refer to 
Locking30Decommissioning the vehicle
– refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Defect
– door lock31
– fuel filler door200
– glass sunroof40
– panorama glass roof42
Defogging windows104
Defrost, windows104
Defrosting windows104
Defrosting windows and 
removing condensation
– automatic climate 
control104
Defrosting windshield, refer to 
Defrosting windows104
Defrost position, refer to 
Defrosting windows104
"Delete address book" in 
navigation140
"Delete all numbers" on the 
mobile phone184
"Delete data" in 
navigation140
"Delete" for mobile 
phone183
Destination address
– deleting140
– entering131,134
Destination for navigation
– entry131
– navigation list138
– selecting from address 
book139
– selecting using 
information137
– storing139Destination guidance143
– canceling voice 
instructions52
– changing specified 
route141
– displaying route144
– displaying routes144
– distance and arrival143
– starting143
– terminating/continuing143
– voice instructions146
– volume of voice 
instructions147
Destination list for navigation 
system138
Destinations recently driven 
to138
Detour, refer to Driving around 
a traffic jam150
Detour during navigation150
"Detour" in navigation150
"Dial" for mobile phone181
"Dial number"182
Digital clock72
Digital compass108
Dimensions237
Directional indicators, refer to 
Turn signals61
Direction instructions, refer to 
Voice instructions146
Directory for navigation, refer 
to Address book138
Displacement, refer to Engine 
data236
Display, refer to iDrive 
controls16
Display lighting, refer to 
Instrument lighting100
"Display off"21
Displays
– on the Control Display16
Displays, refer to Instrument 
cluster12
Displays and controls10
Disposal
– coolant217
– remote control battery38
– vehicle battery227
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