
Everything under control
74
Everything under control
Odometer, outside 
temperature display, clock
1Knob in the instrument cluster
2Outside temperature display and clock
3Odometer and trip odometer
Knob in the instrument cluster
>To reset the trip odometer while the ignition 
is switched on
>To display the time, outside temperature 
and odometer briefly while the ignition is 
switched off
Units of measure
To select the respective units of measure, miles 
or km for the odometer as well as 7 or 6 for 
the outside temperature, refer to page78.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Time, outside temperature display
Setting the time, refer to page81.
Outside temperature warning
When the displayed temperature sinks to 
approx. +377/+36, a signal sounds and a 
warning lamp lights up. There is an increased 
risk of black ice.
Black ice can also form at temperatures 
above +377/+36. You should there-
fore drive carefully on bridges and shaded roads, for example, otherwise there is an 
increased risk of an accident.<
Odometer and trip odometer
Resetting trip odometer: 
With the ignition switched on, press button1 in 
the instrument cluster.
When the vehicle is parked
If you still want to view the time, outside tem-
perature and odometer reading briefly after the 
remote control has been taken out of the igni-
tion lock:
Press button 1 in the instrument cluster.
Tachometer
Never force the engine speed up into the red 
warning field, see arrow. In this range, the fuel 
supply is interrupted to protect the engine. 

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Coolant temperature
A warning lamp will come on if the coolant, and 
therefore the engine, becomes too hot. In addi-
tion, a message will appear on the Control Dis-
play.
Check coolant level, refer to page227.
Engine oil temperature*
When the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature, the engine oil temperature is between 
approx. 2107/1006 and approx. 3007/
1506.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 15.9 US gallons/
60 liters.
You can find information on refueling on 
page210.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period, 
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for 
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
Once the fuel level has fallen to the reserve 
zone, a message briefly appears on the Control 
Display and the cruising range for the remaining 
amount of fuel is displayed on the computer. 
Under a cruising range of approx. 30 miles/
50 km, the message remains in the Control Dis-
play.
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.<
Computer
Displays in the instrument cluster
Calling up information
Press the button in the turn indicator lever.
The following items of information are dis-
played in the order listed:
>Cruising range
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
>Current fuel consumption
*
>No information
To set the corresponding units of measure, 
refer to Units of measure on page78.
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cruising range available 
with the remaining fuel. The range is calculated 
on the basis of the way the car has been driven 
over the last 18 miles/30 km and the amount of 
fuel currently in the tank. 

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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 

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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. 

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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. 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
88
Technology for driving comfort and safety
PDC Park Distance Control*
The concept
The PDC assists you with maneuvering in tight 
parking spaces. Acoustic signals and a visual 
indicator
 warn you of the presence of an object 
behind your vehicle. To measure the distance, 
there are four ultrasonic sensors in either 
bumper.
These sensors have a range of approx. 6.5 ft/
2 m. However, an acoustic warning does not 
sound until an object is approx. 24 in/60 cm 
from the corner sensors, or approx. 5 ft/1.50 m 
from the center sensors.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate 
objects when they are approached 
slowly, as is usually the case when parking. 
Avoid approaching an object at high speed, oth-
erwise physical circumstances may lead to the 
system warning being issued too late.<
Switching on automatically
With the engine running or the ignition switched 
on, the system is activated after approx. 1 sec-
ond when you engage reverse gear or move the 
automatic transmission selector lever to 
position R. Wait this short period before driving.
Signal tones
When nearing an object, its position is indicated 
correspondingly by an interval tone. As the dis-
tance between vehicle and object decreases, 
the intervals between the tones become 
shorter. If the distance to the nearest object 
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm, then a contin-
uous tone sounds.
An interval tone is interrupted after approx. 
3seconds
>if you remain in front of an object that has 
been detected by only one of the corner 
sensors
>if you are driving parallel to a wall.
Malfunction
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on. PDC is malfunc-
tioning. A message appears on the 
Control Display. Have the system checked.
To avoid this problem, keep the sensors clean 
and free of ice or snow in order to ensure that 
they will continue to operate effectively. When 
using a high-pressure cleaner, do not spray the 
sensors for extended periods of time and only 
from a distance of at least 4 in/10 cm.
PDC with visual warning
You can also have the system show distances 
to objects on the Control Display. The contours 
of distant objects are shown on the Control Dis-
play even before the acoustic signal sounds. 
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
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  

Technology for driving comfort and safety
90
Deactivating DSC
Press the button for at least 3 seconds; the indi-
cator lamps for DSC in the instrument cluster 
light up. Dynamic Traction Control DTC and 
DSC have been simultaneously deactivated. 
Stabilizing and drive-output promoting actions 
are no longer executed.
In the same way as with a differential interlock, 
even if DSC is deactivated, brake actions are 
still performed on the rear axle to enhance drive 
output if the drive wheels experience a signifi-
cant loss of traction.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC again 
as soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button again; the indicator lamps in 
the instrument cluster go out.
For better control
If the indicator lamp flashes: 
DSC controls the drive forces and 
brake forces.
If the indicator lamps are on: 
DSC is deactivated.
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
DTC is a version of DSC in which the drive out-
put is optimized for particular road conditions, 
e.g. unplowed snow-covered roads. The sys-
tem assures the maximal drive output, but with 
reduced driving stability. It is therefore neces-
sary to drive with appropriate caution.
In the same way as with a differential interlock, 
even if DTC is activated, brake actions are still 
performed on the rear axle to enhance drive output if the drive wheels experience a signifi-
cant loss of traction.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC 
under the following special circumstances:
>When driving uphill on snow-covered roads, 
in slush or on unplowed, snow-covered 
roads
>When rocking a stuck vehicle free or start-
ing off in deep snow or on loose ground
>When driving with snow chains
Activating DTC
Press the button; the indicator lamps for DTC in 
the instrument cluster come on.
For better control
If the indicator lamp flashes: 
DTC controls the drive forces and 
brake forces.
If the indicator lamps are on: 
DTC has been activated.
Deactivating DTC
Press the button again; the DTC indicator 
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.
xDrive*
xDrive is your BMW's four-wheel-drive system. 
The combined efforts of xDrive and DSC help to 
further optimize traction and driving dynamics. 
The xDrive four-wheel-drive system distributes 
driving power variably to the front and rear axles 
depending on the driving situation and road 
conditions. 

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HDC Hill Descent Control*
HDC is a downhill driving assistant that controls 
your speed on steep downhill gradients and 
makes it even easier to control your BMW's 
handling under these conditions. The vehicle 
then moves slightly faster than double walking 
speed without the driver needing to intervene.
HDC can be activated as long as you are driving 
under approx. 20 mph or 35 km/h. When driving 
downhill at a speed of under approx. 20 mph or 
35 km/h, the vehicle's speed is automatically 
reduced to slightly more than double walking 
speed and maintained.
Increasing or decreasing speed
By accelerating or braking you can change the 
speed within a range from approx. 3 to 15 mph, 
approx. 5 to 25 km/h.
You can specify a target speed within the same 
range using the cruise control
* lever on the 
steering column.
1To increase speed
2To decrease speed
Activating HDC
Press the button; the indicator lamp lights up.
The indicator lamp flashes when the vehicle is 
being braked automatically.
Deactivating HDC
Press the button again; the indicator lamp goes 
out.
HDC is automatically deactivated in the follow-
ing situations:
>At speeds above approx. 40 mph or 
60 km/h
>After switching off the ignition.
Using HDC
In cars with manual transmission:
Use HDC in lower gears and in reverse gear.
With automatic transmission:
You can use HDC in any drive position.
Displays in the instrument cluster*
1Display for target speed
2HDC display
Malfunction
The HDC display disappears during HDC oper-
ation, or does not appear:
HDC is temporarily unavailable due to exces-
sive brake temperature, or DSC has failed.
Drive-off assistant
The drive-off assistant enables you to drive off 
smoothly on uphill gradients. It is not necessary 
to use the parking brake for this.
1.Hold the car in place by depressing the 
brake.
2.Release the brake and drive off without 
delay.