
Controls
 93Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8.Select "Yes" and press the controller.
9.Start to drive.
Initialization is completed while the car is on 
the move, without any feedback.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamps come on in yellow 
and red. A message appears on the 
Control Display. In addition, an 
acoustic signal sounds. There is a flat 
tire or substantial loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph 
or 80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and 
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed 
of 50 mph or 80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with Run-
Flat Tires, refer to page221, the stan-
dard equipment by design, do not continue 
driving. Otherwise a severe accident could 
result after a tire puncture if you continue 
driving.<
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If all four tires are inflated to the cor-
rect pressures, the Flat Tire Monitor 
might not have been initialized. The system 
must then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible 
distance for continued driving on the basis 
of the following guidelines:
>With a light load: 
1 to 2 persons without luggage: 
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load: 
2 persons, cargo bay full, or 4 persons without luggage: 
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load or when towing a trailer: 
4 persons, cargo bay full: 
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph or 80 km/h. In the event 
of pressure loss, vehicle handling changes. This 
includes reduced tracking stability in braking, 
extended braking distance and altered natural 
steering characteristics. 
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during 
the journey, this may be an indication that the 
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce your 
speed and pull over as soon as possible at a 
suitable location. Otherwise parts of the tire 
could come loose, resulting in an accident. Do 
not continue driving. Instead, contact your 
BMW center.<
Malfunction
The warning lamps come on in yel-
low. A message appears on the Con-
trol Display. The Flat Tire Monitor has 
a malfunction or has failed. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible.
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM*
The concept
TPM checks the inflation pressures of the four 
mounted tires. The system notifies you if there 
is a significant loss of pressure in one or more 
tires.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat 
tire, the system must be reset while all tire infla-
tion pressures are correct.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics. Oth-
erwise, the system may malfunction.
Each time a tire inflation pressure has 
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been 
changed, reset the system.< 

Controls
 95Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8.Select "Yes" and press the controller.
9.Start to drive.
The tires are shown in gray and "Resetting 
TPM..." is displayed.
After driving a few minutes, the set inflation 
pressures in the tires are accepted as the target 
values to be monitored. The system reset is 
completed during your drive, and can be inter-
rupted at any time. When driving resumes, the 
reset is continued automatically. On the Control 
Display, the tires are shown in green and "Sta-
tus: TPM active" is displayed again.
If a flat tire is detected while the system is 
resetting and determining the inflation 
pressures, all tires on the Control Display are 
displayed in yellow. The message "Tire low!" is 
shown.<
Message for low tire inflation pressure
The warning lamps come on in yellow 
and red. A message appears on the 
Control Display. In addition, a signal 
sounds. There is a flat tire or substan-
tial loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph/
80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and steer-
ing maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed of 
50 mph/80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with Run-
Flat Tires, refer to page221, the stan-
dard equipment by design, do not continue 
driving. Otherwise a severe accident could 
result after a tire puncture if you continue 
driving.<
2.In the event of complete pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible distance for continued driving on the basis 
of the following guidelines:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, cargo bay full, or 4 persons 
without luggage:
approx. 95 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 persons, cargo bay full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. In the event of 
pressure loss, vehicle handling changes. This 
includes reduced tracking stability in braking, 
extended braking distance and altered natural 
steering characteristics.
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during 
the journey, this may be an indication that the 
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce your 
speed and pull over as soon as possible at a 
suitable location. Otherwise parts of the tire 
could come loose, resulting in an accident. Do 
not continue driving. Instead, contact your 
BMW center.<
Malfunction
The small warning lamp flashes in 
yellow and then lights up continu-
ously; the larger warning lamp comes 
on in yellow. On the Control Display, 
the tires are shown in gray and a message 
appears. No punctures can be detected.
This type of message is shown in the following 
situations:
>If there is a malfunction
Have the system checked.
>If a wheel without TPM electronics has 
been mounted
>If TPM is temporarily malfunctioning due to 
other systems or devices using the same 
radio frequency.
will be adapted 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
96
Message for unsuccessful system 
reset
Both warning lamps come on in yel-
low. A message will appear on the 
Control Display. The system is not 
reset after a tire has been changed, 
for example.
Check the tire inflation pressure and reset the 
system, refer to page94.
Declaration according to NHTSA/
FMVSS 138
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Each tire should be checked monthly when cold 
and inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the 
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label. If 
your vehicle has tires of a different size than the 
size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label, you should determine the 
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires. As 
an added safety feature, your vehicle has been 
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem, TPMS, that illuminates a low tire pressure 
telltale when one or more of your tires are signif-
icantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the 
low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should 
stop and check your tires as soon as possible, 
and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving 
on a significantly underinflated tire causes the 
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. 
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and 
tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s han-
dling and stopping ability. Please note that the 
TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire mainte-
nance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to 
maintain correct tire pressure, even if underin-
flation has not reached the level at which the 
TPMS low tire pressure telltale illuminates.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined 
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the sys-
tem detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash 
for approximately one minute and then remain 
continuously lit. This sequence will continue 
upon subsequent vehicle startups as long as 
the malfunction exists. When the malfunction 
indicator is illuminated, the system may not be 
able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a 
variety of reasons, including the installation of 
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the 
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning 
properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction 
telltale after replacing one or more tires or 
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the 
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow 
the TPMS to continue to function properly.
Active steering*
The concept
Active steering varies the turning angle of the 
front wheels in relation to steering wheel move-
ments. It also varies the steering force required 
to turn the wheels depending on the speed at 
which you are driving.
When you are driving in the low road-speed 
range, e.g. in a town or when parking, the steer-
ing angle increases, i.e. the steering becomes 
very direct, and less effort is required to turn the 
wheels. In the higher speed range, on the other 
hand, the steering angle is reduced more and 
more. This improves the handling capability of 
your BMW over the entire speed range.
In critical situations, the system can make tar-
geted corrections to the steering angle pro-
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the vehicle 
before the driver intervenes. This stabilizing 
intervention is simultaneously deactivated 
when DSC is switched off, refer to page90.
Malfunction
The warning lamps come on. Active 
steering is no longer operational. At 
low speeds, greater steering wheel 
movements are required, whereas at 
higher speeds the vehicle reacts more sensi-
tively to steering wheel movements. The stabil-
ity-enhancing feature may also be deactivated. 
Drive cautiously and think well ahead. Have the 
system checked. 

Controls
 103Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Instrument lighting
You can adjust the brightness of the instrument 
lighting only when the parking lamps or the low 
beams are switched on.
1.Push button 1 up or down repeatedly until 
the appropriate symbol appears in the dis-
play, accompanied by the brightness set-
ting and scale the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.
3.Push button 1 up or down to select the 
desired brightness level.
4.Press button 2 in the turn indicator lever.
The display again shows the outside tem-
perature and the time.
Interior lamps
The interior lamps, footwell lamps*, entry 
lamps
*, cargo bay lamp and courtesy lamps* 
are controlled automatically.
The LEDs for the courtesy lamps
 are set in the 
door handles and illuminate the ground in front 
of the doors.
To avoid draining the battery, all lamps 
inside the car are switched off about 8 minutes after the ignition is switched off, refer 
to Start/stop button on page59.<
Switching interior lamps on/off 
manually
Interior lamps, front and rear*:
To switch on and off, press the button.
To switch off the interior lamps, footwell 
lamps
*, entry lamps* and courtesy lamps* per-
manently, press the button for the front interior 
lamps for about 3 seconds.
Reading lamps
There are reading lamps at the front and rear*, 
next to the interior lamps. To switch on and off, 
press the button. 

Climate
108
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the vent outlets to direct the flow of cool 
air in your direction, for instance if it has become 
too hot in the car.
Draft-free ventilation
Set the vent outlets so that the air flows past 
you and not straight at you.
Ventilation in the rear
1Use the knurled wheel to adjust the temper-
ature
>Turn toward blue: colder
>Turn toward red: warmer
2Use the knurled wheel to smoothly open 
and close the air vents
3Use the lever to change the direction of the 
airflow
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The microfilter traps dust and pollen in the 
incoming air. The activated-charcoal filter pro-
vides additional protection by filtering gaseous 
pollutants from the outside air. Your BMW cen-
ter replaces this combined filter during routine 
maintenance.
Parked car ventilation
The concept
The parked car ventilation provides ventilation 
to the passenger compartment and lowers its 
temperature, if necessary. It is ready for use at 
any outside temperature, as of radio readiness.The parked car ventilation remains switched on 
for 30 minutes. Two different switch-on times 
can be preselected. The system can also be 
switched on and off directly. 
Due to its high power consumption, it should 
not be switched on twice in a row without driv-
ing in between to allow the battery to recharge.
The air emerges from the air vents for the upper 
body area in the instrument panel. The air vents 
must therefore be open.
The parked car ventilation system is operated 
via iDrive.
Switching on/off directly
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3.Select "Parked car operation" and press the 
controller.
4.Select "Automatic ventilation" and press 
the controller.
5.Select "Parked car ventilation" and press 
the controller.
 The parked car ventilation is switched on.
 The symbol on the automatic climate control 
display flashes.
Preselecting switch-on times
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3.Select "Parked car operation" and press the 
controller. 

Practical interior accessories
114
Rechargeable flashlight
It is on the left-hand side of the glove compart-
ment. The flashlight can remain plugged in. 
Whenever required, pull the flashlight out of its 
socket.
Only insert the flashlight back into the 
socket when it is switched off, otherwise 
there is a risk of damage.<
Center armrest
Storage compartment
The center armrest between the front seats 
contains either a compartment or the cover for 
the snap-in adapter
*, depending on the equip-
ment version. For more information about this 
mobile phone base plate refer to the separate 
Owner's Manual.
Convertible: when you lock the vehicle from the 
outside, the center armrest is locked as well.
Opening
Press the button, see arrow.
Ventilated storage compartment
The storage compartment in the center armrest 
can be ventilated: slide the switch backwards.
The temperature is controlled via the knurled 
wheel for adjusting the temperature of air venti-
lating the rear of the passenger compartment, 
refer to page108.
Connection for external audio device
You can connect an external audio device such 
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks 
over the car's loudspeaker system.
>AUX-In port, refer to page180
>USB/audio interface
*, refer to page181
Storage compartments inside 
the vehicle
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you 
will find compartments beside the steering col-
umn
*, in the front doors and in the center con-
sole
*. 
There are netson the front-seat backrests.
Storage compartments in the rear 
console
Depending on your vehicle's equipment ver-
sion, the following storage compartments can 
be found in the rear console: 

Destination guidance
154 displayed on white with a black or gray bor-
der
Traffic information during destination 
guidance
System response varies depending on whether 
or not "Dynamic route" is selected, refer to 
page145.
Displaying traffic obstructions
When the navigation system receives a traffic 
obstruction message and "Dynamic route" is 
not selected, you receive certain information, 
such as the length of the traffic congestion, 
when you are approx. 25 miles/40 km away 
from the traffic obstruction.
The last possible detour exit is indicated just 
before you reach it.
Select "Detour" and press the controller.
The navigation system calculates a new route 
to avoid the congestion.
This information is displayed even if you have 
called up another application on the Control 
Display.
Hiding the display of traffic 
obstructions
If "Dynamic route" is selected, the route is auto-
matically changed in the event of a traffic 
obstruction. The system does not point out 
traffic obstructions on the original route.
Depending on road type and the kind and extent 
of the traffic obstruction, the guided route may 
lead through the traffic obstruction.
Traffic information icons
Traffic light failure
Roadworks
General traffic obstruction
Transport of hazardous load
Vehicle on wrong carriageway
Danger
Low clearance
No parking
Fog
Heavy rain
Slippery road
Cross winds
Smog
Road closed
Slow traffic
Traffic backup
Stopped traffic
Icy roads
Uneven surface
Accident
Lane closure
Delay
Police checkpoint 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 173Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
CD player and CD changer
Listening to CDs
Compressed audio files*
CDs with compressed audio files, MP3s, can be 
played by the CD player and CD changer.
Starting the CD player
The upper drive is for audio CDs.
Insert the CD into the drive with the labeled side 
up. 
The CD is pulled in automatically. Playback 
starts automatically if the sound output is on. 
When playing CDs with compressed audio files, 
it can take the CD player approx. 1 minute to 
read in the data, depending on the directory 
structure.
To start playback when there is already a CD in 
the drive:
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up 
"Entertainment".3.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Select "CD" and press 
the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the second field from the top. On cars with a 
CD changer, select "CD" and press the 
controller to start the CD player.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is switched on.
Via programmable memory keys
You can store the CD player function on the 
programmable memory keys to start the CD 
player, refer to page21.
Starting the CD changer
Fill and insert the CD magazine, refer to 
page177.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up 
"Entertainment".
*