Driving tips
123Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
vehicle electronics and mobile communication
device can influence one another. In addition,
there is no assurance that the radiation which
results from transmission will be dissipated
from the vehicle interior.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This situation, known as hydroplaning,
means that the tire can completely lose contact
with the road surface, so that neither the car can
be steered nor the brake be properly applied.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases with declin-
ing tread depth on the tires, refer also to Mini-
mum tread depth on page211.
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Use the parking brake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with
the clutch; use the parking brake. Other-
wise greater clutch wear will result.<
For more information about the drive-off assis-
tant, refer to page89.
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. Applying the brakes fully is the most
effective way of braking in situations in which
this is necessary. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure
that full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mode of the automatic trans-
mission, refer to page60.
Never drive with the clutch held down,
with the transmission in idle or with the
engine switched off; otherwise, engine braking
action will not be present or there will be no
power assistance to the brakes or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals, otherwise pedal function could be
impaired.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
Replacing components
224 1.Remove the cover for the high-beam head-
lamp.
2.Pull out the bulb socket, see arrow.
3.Remove and replace the bulb.
4.Insert bulb socket.
5.Reattach the cover.
Turn signals, front
21-watt bulb, PY21W
or PY21W Silver Vision
1.Open the flap in the wheel well, refer to
Access through the wheel well on
page223.
2.Rotate turn signal bulb socket 1 to the left
and remove.
3.Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while
turning it to the left for removal and replace-
ment.
4.Insert turn signal bulb socket 1.
5.Attach the flap to the wheel well.
Tail lamps
Sedan
>Brake lamp in the luggage compartment lid:
H21W bulb, 21 watts>Other lamps:
P21W bulb, 21 watts
The tail lamps are divided into two parts. One
part is in the luggage compartment lid, the other
is in the fender.
1Brake lamp
2Roadside parking lamp/tail lamp
3Turn signal
4Backup lamp
5Tail lamp
6Brake lamp
If one of the bulbs 2, 5 or 6 malfunctions, please
contact your BMW center or a workshop that
works according to BMW repair procedures
with correspondingly trained personnel.
Sports Wagon
>Brake lamp in the tailgate:
H21W bulb, 21 watts
>Other lamps:
P21W bulb, 21 watts
The tail lamps are divided into two parts. One
part is in the tailgate, the other is in the fender.
1Brake lamp
2Roadside parking lamp/tail lamp
Everything from A - Z
248 Brakes
– ABS87
– BMW Maintenance
System219
– breaking in122
– parking brake59
– service requirements77
Brakes, refer to Braking
safely123
Brake system122
– BMW Maintenance
System219
– breaking in122
– disc brakes123
Breakdown services, refer to
Roadside Assistance229
Breaking in the clutch122
Breaking in the differential,
refer to Engine and
differential122
Break-in period122
Brightness of the Control
Display85
"Brightness"on the control
display85
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps
and bulbs222
Burned fuel
– refer to Average
consumption74
Button for starting the engine,
refer to Start/stop button57
Buttons on the steering
wheel11
C
California Proposition 65
warning6
"Call"183,194
Call
– accepting181
– displaying accepted183
– ending182
– in absence183
– starting181Calling
– from phone book182
– from Top 8 list183
– redialing183
Can holders, refer to Cup
holders111
Capacities241
Capacity of the cargo bay239
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery227
Car care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
"Car Data"74
Care, refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Cargo, securing125
Cargo bay114
– capacity239
– convenient access37
– folding up the floor
panel117
– lamp, refer to Interior
lamps100
– opening from inside33
– opening from outside33
– partition net115
– roll-up cover114
Cargo bay lid, refer to
Luggage compartment lid/
tailgate32
Cargo bay net, refer to
Partition net115
Cargo loading
– securing cargo125
– stowing cargo125
– vehicle124
Caring for artificial leather,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Caring for leather, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for plastic, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochureCaring for the carpet, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for the vehicle finish,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Car jack
– jacking points227
Car key, refer to Integrated
key/remote control28
Car phone176
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest110
– refer to Mobile phone176
– refer to separate Owner's
Manual
Car radio, refer to Radio160
Car wash124
– also refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– with convenient access38
Catalytic converter, refer to
Hot exhaust system122
"Categories" for satellite
radio164
CBS Condition Based
Service219
"CD"156,166
CD changer166
– compressed audio files166
– controls156
– fast forward/reverse170
– installation location170
– playing a track168
– random order169
– repeating a track169
– selecting a CD166
– selecting a track167
– switching on/off156
– tone control157
– volume157
Reference 251
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Distance control, refer to
Active cruise control66
Distance remaining to service,
refer to Service
requirements77
"Distance to dest."75
Distance warning, refer to
PDC Park Distance
Control86
Door key, refer to Remote
control with integrated
key28
Door lock31
"Door locks"29,31,32,78
Doors, emergency
operation31
DOT Quality Grades210
Draft-free ventilation104
Drinks holders, refer to Cup
holders111
Drive-off assistance, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC87
Drive-off assistant89
Driving around a traffic
jam150
Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams97
Driving notes122
Driving off on hills, refer to
Drive-off assistant89
Driving route, refer to
Displaying route144
Driving stability control
systems87
Driving through water123
Driving tips, refer to Driving
notes122
Dry air, refer to Cooling
function104
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control87
DTC Dynamic Traction
Control88
– indicator/warning lamp88
DVD for navigation130
Dynamic Brake Control
DBC87"Dynamic route" in
navigation142
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC
– indicator/warning lamp88
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC
– indicator/warning lamp88
E
EBV Electronic brake-force
distribution87
Eject button, refer to Buttons
on the CD player156
Electric
– seat adjustment45
Electrical malfunction
– door lock31
– driver's door31
– fuel filler door200
– glass sunroof40
– luggage compartment lid/
tailgate33
– panorama glass roof42
Electric seat adjustment45
Electric steering wheel
lock57
– with convenient access37
Electronic brake-force
distribution EBV87
Electronic oil level check215
Emergency actuation,
automatic transmission,
refer to Overriding selector
lever lock61
Emergency call229
Emergency operation
– fuel filler door, manual
release200
Emergency operation, refer to
Closing manually
– glass sunroof40
– panorama glass roof42
Emergency operation, refer to
Manual operation
– door lock31Emergency release
– luggage compartment lid
from inside34
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside Assistance229
Emissions test, refer to
Service requirements77
"Enable services"196
"End call"182
Energy-conscious driving,
refer to Energy Control73
Energy Control73
Engine
– breaking in122
– data236
– overheated, refer to Coolant
temperature73
– speed236
– starting58
– starting, convenient
access36
– switching off58
Engine compartment215
Engine coolant, refer to
Coolant217
Engine oil
– adding217
– BMW Maintenance
System219
– capacity
241
– checking level215
– intervals between changes,
refer to Service
requirements77
"Engine oil level"216
Engine output, refer to Engine
data236
Engine speed, refer to Engine
data236
Engine starting, refer to
Starting the engine58
"Enter address"132
Entering a destination
country132
Entering a house number or
intersection133
Entering a street133
Entering destination132
Entering the address134
Reference 253
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
General driving notes122
Glass sunroof, electric39
– closing after electrical
malfunction40
– convenient operation30,31
– initializing40
– opening, closing40
– operation with convenient
access37
– pinch protection system40
– power failure40
– raising39
– remote control30
Glove compartment110
– rechargeable flashlight110
GPS navigation, refer to
Navigation system130
Grills101
Gross vehicle weight, refer to
Weights239
H
Halogen lamps
– replacing bulbs222
Handbrake, refer to Parking
brake59
Hand lamp, refer to
Rechargeable flashlight110
Hands-free system14
Hazard warning flashers14
HDC Hill Descent Control88
Head airbags95
Headlamp control,
automatic97
Headlamp cover222
Headlamp flasher61
– indicator lamp11,13
Headlamps
– care, refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– replacing bulbs222
Head restraints46
– front, removing47
– rear, removing47
– sitting safely44Heated
– mirrors50
– rear window104
– seats48
Heating
– mirrors50
– rear window104
– residual heat104
– seats48
Heating and ventilation, refer
to Climate101
Heating while at a standstill,
refer to Using residual
heat104
Heavy loads, refer to Stowing
cargo125
Height, refer to
Dimensions237
Height adjustment
– seats45
– steering wheel51
High beams99
– headlamp flasher99
– indicator lamp13
– replacing bulbs222
High water, refer to Driving
through water123
Highways, refer to Route
criteria141
Hill Descent Control HDC88
Hills123
Holders for cups111
Home address140
"Home address" in
navigation141
Homepage BMW4
Hood214
Hooks for shopping bags116
Horn10,11
Hotel function34
Hot exhaust system122
"Hour memo"81
"House number" in
destination entry134
Hydraulic brake assist, refer to
Dynamic Brake Control
DBC87
Hydroplaning123
I
Ice warning, refer to Outside
temperature
warning72
ID3 tag, refer to Information
about the track168
Identification marks
– Run-Flat Tires212
– tire coding210
iDrive16
– adjusting brightness85
– assistance window20
– automatic climate
control102
– changing language85
– changing units of measure
and display format77
– confirming selection or
entry19
– controls16
– displays, menus17
– menu guidance17
– operating principle16
– overview16
– selecting a menu item19
– setting the date and time80
– start menu17
– status information20
– switching menu pages19
– symbols18
iDrive operating principle16
Ignition57
– switched off57
– switched on57
Ignition key, refer to Remote
control with integrated
key28
Ignition key position 1, refer to
Radio readiness57
Ignition key position 2, refer to
Ignition on57
Ignition lock57
i menu18
Indicator and warning
lamps13
– Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM93
Individual air distribution102
Reference 257
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Parked car ventilation"105
Parked car ventilation105
Parked car ventilation/heating
– activating switch-on
times106
– preselecting switch-on
times105
– switching on and off
directly105
Parking
– vehicle58
Parking aid, refer to PDC Park
Distance Control86
Parking brake59
– indicator lamp59
Parking lamps97
Parking lamps/low beams97
– replacing bulbs223
Partition net115
Passenger-side mirror tilt
function50
"Pathway lighting"98
Pathway lighting98
"PDC"86
PDC Park Distance Control86
Personal Profile28
"Perspective"145
Phone book181
Phone numbers
– deleting from phone
book183
– dialing181
– most recent numbers183
– selecting in phone book183
– Top 8183
Pinch protection system
– glass sunroof, electric40
– panorama glass roof42
– windows39
Placing a call, refer to
telephone owner's manual
"Play" for audio mode167
"Play" for satellite radio165
Pollen
– refer to Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter for automatic
climate control105Position
– displaying150
– saving, refer to Storing
current position139
Power failure227
Power seats45
Power windows38
– safety switch39
Power windows, refer to
Windows38
Preselecting the switch-on
times for parked car
ventilation/heating105
"Presets" displaying with the
radio160
"Presets" for satellite
radio164
Pressure, tires202
Pressure monitoring, tires90
– Flat Tire Monitor90
Pressure monitoring of tires,
refer to Tire Pressure
Monitor TPM91
"Profile"196
Programmable buttons on the
steering wheel11
Protection function, refer to
Pinch protection system
– glass sunroof, electric40
– panorama glass sunroof42
– windows39
Providing medical assistance,
refer to First add pouch229
Puncture
– Flat Tire Monitor90
R
Radio
– autostore161
– controls156
– listening to stations160
– sampling stations161
– satellite radio163
– selecting a
waveband156,160
– selecting the frequency
manually161
– station search161
– stations with best
reception161
– storing stations162
– switching on/off156
– tone control157
– volume157
Radio position, refer to Radio
readiness57
Radio readiness57
– switched off57
– switched on57
Radio-remote key, refer to
Remote control with
integrated key28
Rain sensor62
"Random", refer to Random
play169
"Random all" for audio
mode170
"Random directory" for audio
mode170
Random play169
"RDS" Radio Data
System163
Reading lamps100
Rear lamps, refer to Tail
lamps224
– replacing bulbs225,226
Rear seat backrest,
folding115
Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints47
– folding115
– folding head restraint down
and up47
– folding the backrests115