
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. 

Mobility
 211Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
>reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor recov-
ery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks 
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 16.1 US gallons/61 liters, including the 
reserve capacity of 2.1 US gallons/8 liters.
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.<
Fuel specifications
Do not fill the tank with leaded fuel, as this 
would cause permanent damage to the 
catalytic converter.
Do not fill the tank with E85, i.e. fuel containing 
85 % ethanol, nor with FlexFuel. Otherwise the 
engine and fuel supply system will be dam-
aged.<
Required fuel
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less 
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
>328i/xi: 87
>335i: 89.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds 
when starting at high outside temperatures. 
This has no effect on the engine life.
Do not use any gasoline below the speci-
fied minimum fuel grade. Otherwise the 
engine could be damaged.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, 
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale 
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight, 
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void 
the applicable warranties with respect to 
defects in materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in 
driveability, starting and stalling problems 
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and 
high altitude. 
Should you encounter driveability problems 
which you suspect could be related to the fuel 
you are using, we recommend that you respond 
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand 
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier 
Detergent Gasoline. 
Failure to comply with these recommendations 
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.< 

Mobility
 229Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Socket for On-Board 
Diagnosis OBD
Primary components that make up exhaust 
emissions can be checked by a device via the 
OBD socket.
This socket is located on the driver's side to the 
left, on the bottom of the instrument panel 
underneath a cover.
Exhaust emission values
The warning lamp lights up:
The exhaust emission values have 
worsened. Have the car checked as 
soon as possible.
Canadian models display this warning 
lamp.
The lamp flashes under certain conditions. This 
indicates excessive misfiring in the engine. If 
this happens, you should reduce your speed 
and visit your nearest BMW center as soon as 
possible. Severe engine misfiring can quickly 
lead to serious damage of emissions-related 
components, especially the catalytic converter.
The warning lamp comes on if the gas 
cap is not properly tightened and the 
OBD system assumes that fuel vapor 
is escaping. If the gas cap is then tightened, the 
warning lamp should go out within a few days.
Event data recorders
Your vehicle may be equipped with one or sev-
eral measuring or diagnostic modules or a 
device for recording or sending certain vehicle 
data or information. In addition, if you have 
signed a service contract for BMW Assist, cer-tain vehicle data may be transmitted or 
recorded in order to facilitate the corresponding 
services.
Care
Important information on the care and mainte-
nance of your BMW is contained in the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure. 

Giving and receiving assistance
240
With a tow rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make 
sure that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated 
stresses on vehicle components when 
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps. 
Attach the tow rope to the tow fittings only, as 
attaching it to other parts of the vehicle could 
result in damage.<
With a tow truck: vehicle without xDrive
Have the BMW transported with a tow truck 
with a so-called lift bar or on a flat bed.
Do not tow the vehicle with just the rear axle 
raised as this may cause the steering to turn.
Do not lift the vehicle by a tow fitting or 
body and chassis parts, otherwise dam-
age may result.<
With a tow truck: vehicle with xDrive
Do not tow a BMW with xDrive with just 
the front or rear axle raised, otherwise the 
wheels could lock up and the transfer case 
could be damaged.<
Have the BMW transported on a flatbed surface 
only.
Tow-starting
Avoid tow-starting the vehicle whenever possi-
ble; instead, jump-start the engine, refer to 
page237. Vehicles with a catalytic converter 
should only be tow-started when the engine is 
cold, vehicles with an automatic transmission 
cannot be tow-started at all.
1.Switch on hazard warning flashers, comply 
with local regulations.
2.Switch on the ignition, refer to page59.
3.Shift into 3rd gear.
4.Have the vehicle tow-started with the clutch 
depressed and slowly release the clutch. 
After the engine starts, immediately 
depress the clutch completely again.
5.Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow 
bar or rope and switch off the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
6.Have the vehicle checked.
With xDrive: do not activate Hill Descent 
Control HDC when the vehicle is being 
tow-started, page91.< 

Everything from A - Z
254 Brakes, refer to Braking 
safely125
Brake system124
– BMW Maintenance 
System228
– breaking in124
– disc brakes125
Breakdown services, refer to 
Roadside Assistance236
Breaking in the clutch124
Breaking in the differential, 
refer to Engine and 
differential124
Break-in period124
Brightness of the Control 
Display86
"Brightness" on the control 
display86
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps 
and bulbs230
Button for starting the engine, 
refer to Start/stop button59
Buttons on the steering 
wheel11
C
California Proposition 65 
warning6
"Call"194,205
Call
– accepting192
– displaying accepted194
– ending193
– missed194
– starting193
Calling
– from phone book193
– from Top 8 list194
– redialing194
Can holders, refer to Cup 
holders115
Capacities247
Capacity of the cargo bay247
Car battery, refer to Vehicle 
battery234
Car care, refer to Caring for 
your vehicle brochureCar-care products, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
"Car Data"76
Care, refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Cargo, securing127
Cargo bay
– capacity247
– convenient access37
– folding up the floor 
panel119
– lamp, refer to Interior 
lamps103
– opening from inside33
– opening from outside33
Cargo loading
– securing cargo127
– stowing cargo126
– vehicle126
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 
brochure
Caring 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 points234
Car key, refer to Integrated 
key/remote control28
Car phone186
– installation location, refer to 
Center armrest114
– refer to Mobile phone186
– refer to separate Owner's 
Manual
Car radio, refer to Radio164Car wash126
– also refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
– with convenient access37
Catalytic converter, refer to 
Hot exhaust system124
"Categories" for satellite 
radio171
CBS Condition Based 
Service228
"CD"160,173
CD changer173
– compressed audio files173
– controls160
– fast forward/reverse177
– installation location177
– playing a track175
– random order176
– repeating a track176
– selecting a CD173
– selecting a track174
– switching on/off160
– tone control161
– volume161
CD player173
– compressed audio files173
– controls160
– fast forward/reverse177
– playing a track175
– random order176
– repeating a track176
– selecting a track174
– switching on/off160
– tone control161
– volume161
Cell phones, use inside the 
car, refer to Mobile phones 
in the vehicle124
Center armrest114
Center brake lamp
– replacing bulb233
Center console, refer to 
Around the center 
console14
"Central locking"30
Central locking
– from inside32
– from outside29