
Driving
60
Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms,
otherwise the inhalation of toxic exhaust
gases can cause unconsciousness and death.
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, otherwise such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.
Before leaving the car with the engine running,
place the transmission in idle or move the
selector lever to position P and forcefully apply
the parking brake to prevent the car from mov-
ing.<
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
The engine is started when you press the
start/stop button and depress the clutch if
the car has manual transmission, or the brake if
the car has automatic transmission. Do not
depress either the clutch or the brake until you
are ready to start the engine.<
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion as well as repeated start attempts in
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the
fuel is not burned or incompletely burned and
there is a danger of overheating and damaging
the catalytic converter.<
Manual transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with con-
venient access, inside the vehicle, refer to
page36.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Depress the clutch and shift to idle position.
3.Press the start/stop button.The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the
engine has started.
Automatic transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with con-
venient access, inside the vehicle, refer to
page36.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Move the selector lever to position P.
3.Press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the
engine has started.
Switching off the engine
Always take the remote control with you
when you leave the vehicle.
When parking, apply the parking brake force-
fully, otherwise the vehicle could begin to roll.<
Manual transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, press the start/
stop button.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Forcefully apply the parking brake.
4.Removing the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page59.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2.Press the start/stop button.
3.Forcefully apply the parking brake.
4.Removing the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page59.
Parking brake
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it
brakes the rear wheels.

Driving
62
Displays in the instrument cluster
P R N D DS M1 to M6
The selector lever position is displayed, or the
current gear in the manual mode.
Changing selector lever positions
>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 this only when the vehicle is stationary.
The rear wheels are locked.
R Reverse
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral, idle
You can select this in a car wash, for example.
The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are selected automatically.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con-
sumption is lowest when you are driving in posi-
tion D.
Kick-down
Kick-down enables you to achieve maximum
performance.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Sport program and manual operation
M/S
Move selector lever from position D toward the
left into the M/S shifting slot:
The sport program is activated and DS appears
in the instrument cluster. This position is rec-
ommended for a performance-oriented driving
style.
To use the automatic mode again, move the
selector lever to the right into position D.
Shifting gears via the selector lever
When you press the selector lever forwards or
backwards, the manual mode is activated and
Steptronic changes gear. The instrument clus-
ter shows M1 through M6.

Controls
67Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Deactivating cruise control
Tap the lever upwards or downwards, arrow3.
The displays on the speedometer disappear.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
>When you brake the vehicle
>When you switch gears very slowly or shift
to idle in cars with manual transmission
>When you select the automatic transmis-
sion's neutral position N
>When you activate DTC or deactivate DSC
>When DSC or ABS is intervening
Cruise control is not deactivated by depressing
the accelerator pedal. Once the accelerator
pedal is released, the stored speed is achieved
again and maintained.
Warning lamp
The warning lamp comes on when
cruise control has been deactivated
by applying the parking brake or as a
result of DSC intervention. A message appears
on the Control Display.
Resuming a speed stored beforehand
Briefly press the button, arrow 4. the stored
speed is resumed and maintained.
In the following instances, the stored speed is
deleted and can no longer be resumed:
>When driving stability control systems are
intervening
>In ca rs with manua l transmiss ion: when you
shift gears very slowly or shift to idle posi-
tion
>In cars with automatic transmission: when
you engage selector lever position N
>When the ignition is switched off
Displays in the instrument cluster
1Stored speed
2Selected speed is displayed briefly
If --- mph or --- km/h temporarily appears
in the instrument cluster display, it is pos-
sible that the system prerequisites for operation
are currently not met.
Calling up Check Control messages, refer to
page84.<
Malfunction
The warning lamp comes on when
the system has failed. A message
appears on the Control Display. You
can find more information starting on page83.
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 is 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 high-
ways or other high-speed thoroughfares. Espe-
cially on longer trips, the system can reduce
fatigue and tension, while increasing your
enjoyment of driving. Please use it safely and
responsibly.
Within the limits of its capability, the system
automatically adapts the car's speed to that of a
slower vehicle in front of you. You can specify

Everything under control
76 Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur.<
Average speed
Periods with the vehicle parked and the engine
switched off are not included in the calculations
of average speed.
With the trip computer, refer to page77, you
can have the average speed for another trip dis-
played.
To reset average speed: press the button in the
turn indicator lever for approx. 2 seconds.
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for
the time during which the engine is running.
With the trip computer, refer to page77, you
can have the average consumption for another
trip displayed.
To reset average fuel consumption: press the
button in the turn indicator lever for approx.
2seconds.
Current fuel consumption
Displays the current fuel consumption. This
allows you to see whether your current driving
style is conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions.
Displays on the Control Display
You can also call up the computer via iDrive; for
operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the right to call up
"Navigation".
3.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller until "Car Data" is selected and press the
controller.
4.Select "Onboard info" and press the con-
troller.
>Estimated time of arrival at destination:
>Manually enter a distance in the com-
puter, refer to information further below
>Enter a destination in the navigation sys-
tem, refer to page134
>Cruising range
>Distance to destination:
>Manually enter a distance in the com-
puter, refer to information further below
>Enter a destination in the navigation sys-
tem, refer to page134
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
Resetting values
You can reset the values for average speed and
average consumption:
1.Select the respective menu item and press
the controller.
2.Press the controller again to confirm your
selection.

Everything under control
78
Settings and information
Operating principle
1Button for:
>Selecting display
>Setting values
2Button for:
>Confirming selected display or set val-
ues
>Calling up computer information753When the lights are on: instrument lighting
brightness103
4Calling up Check Control83
5Checking engine oil level224
6Setting the time81
7Setting the date83
8Viewing service requirement display79
Exiting displays
The outside-temperature reading and the time
reappear when you press button2 or if you
make no entries within approx. 15 seconds. If
required, complete the current setting first.
Units of measure
You can set units of measure.
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 "Language / Units" and press the
controller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Units" is selected and press the con-
troller.

Controls
79Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
6.Select the desired menu item and press the
controller.
7.Select the desired measurement unit and
press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Service requirements
The remaining driving distance and the date of
the next scheduled service are displayed briefly
immediately after you start the engine or switch
on the ignition.The extent of service work required can
be read out from the remote control by
your BMW Service Advisor.<
For certain maintenance operations, you can
view the respective distance remaining or due
date individually in the instrument cluster.
1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page59.
2.Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up
or down repeatedly until the appropriate
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the words "SERVICE-INFO".
3.Press button 2.
4.Use button 1 to scroll through the individual
service items.
Possible displays
1Button for selecting functions2Service requirements

Controls
81Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
6.Select "Status" and press the controller.
7.Select "State inspection" and press the
controller.
8.Select "Set service date" and press the
controller. The month is highlighted.
9.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
10.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The year is highlighted.
11.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
12.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The date entry is stored.
To exit from the menu:
Select and press the controller.
More information on the BMW Maintenance
System can be found on page228.
Clock
The settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use, refer also to Personal Profile on
page28.
Setting the time
In the instrument cluster
To set the 12h/24h mode, refer to Setting the
time format below.
1.Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up
or down repeatedly until the appropriate
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the time and the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.
3.Use button 1 to set the hours.
4.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
5.Use button 1 to set the minutes.
6.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
7.Press button 2.
The system accepts the new time.
Via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button once or twice until
the start menu appears.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.

Controls
83Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Setting the date
In the instrument cluster
To set the dd/mm or mm/dd date format, refer
to Setting the date format below.
1.Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up
or down repeatedly until the appropriate
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the date and the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.
3.Use button 1 to set the day of the month.
4.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
5.Set the month and the year in the same way.
6.Press button 2.
The system stores the new date.
Via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is
selected and press the controller.
4.Select "Date" and press the controller.
5.Select "Set date" and press the controller.
The first date display setting is selected.6.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
7.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The next setting is highlighted.
8.Make the remaining adjustments. After the
last adjustment, the date is stored.
Setting the date format
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Time / Date" is
selected and press the controller.
5.Select "Date format" and press the control-
ler.
6.Select the desired format and press the
controller.
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors vehicle functions
and alerts you to any malfunctions in the sys-
tems monitored. Such a Check Control mes-
sage includes indicator and warning lamps in
the instrument cluster and, in some circum-
stances, an acoustic signal as well as text mes-
sages at the bottom of the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in both
the indicator area 1 and the display 2 in various
combinations and colors.