
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 tips
 125Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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 page220.
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 page91.
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 page62.
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. 

Reference 257
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Driving stability control 
systems89
Driving through water125
Driving tips, refer to Driving 
notes124
Dry air, refer to Cooling 
function107
DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control89
DTC Dynamic Traction 
Control90
– indicator/warning lamp90
DVD for navigation132
Dynamic Brake Control 
DBC89
"Dynamic route" in 
navigation145
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC
– indicator/warning lamp90
Dynamic Traction Control 
DTC
– indicator/warning lamp90
E
EBV Electronic brake-force 
distribution89
Eject button, refer to Buttons 
on the CD player160
Electric
– seat adjustment46
Electrical malfunction
– door lock32
– driver's door32
– fuel filler door210
– glass roof40
– luggage compartment lid33
Electric seat adjustment46
Electric steering wheel lock
– with convenient access37
Electronic brake-force 
distribution EBV89
Electronic oil level check224
Emergency actuation, 
automatic transmission, 
refer to Overriding selector 
lever lock63
Emergency call236Emergency operation
– fuel filler door, manual 
release210
Emergency operation, refer to 
Closing manually
– glass roof40
Emergency operation, refer to 
Manual operation
– door lock32
Emergency release
– luggage compartment lid 
from inside34
Emergency services, refer to 
Roadside Assistance236
"Enable services"207
"End call"193
Engine
– breaking in124
– data244
– overheated, refer to Coolant 
temperature75
– speed244
– starting60
– starting, convenient 
access36
– switching off60
Engine compartment224
Engine coolant, refer to 
Coolant226
Engine oil
– adding226
– BMW Maintenance 
System228
– capacity247
– checking level224
– intervals between changes, 
refer to Service 
requirements79
"Engine oil level"225
Engine output, refer to Engine 
data244
Engine speed, refer to Engine 
data
244
Engine starting, refer to 
Starting the engine60
"Enter address"135
Entering a destination135
Entering a destination 
country135Entering a house number or 
intersection137
Entering an intersection136
Entering a street136
"Entertainment"160
Entry lamps, refer to Interior 
lamps103
"Equalizer", refer to Tone 
control162
Equalizer, refer to Tone 
control162
Error messages, refer to 
Check Control83
"ESN"170
ESP Electronic Stability 
Program, refer to DSC 
Dynamic Stability 
Control89
Event data recorders229
Exhaust system, refer to Hot 
exhaust system124
Exterior mirrors52
– adjusting52
– automatic dimming 
feature53
– automatic heating52
– folding in and out52
External audio device114
External audio device, refer to 
AUX-In port180
Eyes
– for tow-starting and towing 
away239
– for tying down loads127
F
Fader, tone control161
Failure messages, refer to 
Check Control83
Failure of an electrical 
consumer234
False alarm
– avoiding unintentional 
alarm36
– switching off an alarm35
Fastening safety belts, refer to 
Safety belts51 

Everything from A - Z
262 "New route"151
New tires221
"Next entertainment 
source"54
North-facing map149
Nozzles104
Number of cylinders, refer to 
Engine data244
Nylon rope, refer to Tow 
rope240
O
OBD socket, refer to Socket 
for On-Board Diagnosis229
Octane ratings, refer to Fuel 
specifications211
Odometer74
Oil, refer to Engine oil224
Oil consumption224
Oil level224
Old batteries, refer to 
Disposal234
"On a new destination" in 
navigation141
"Onboard info"76
Onboard tool kit230
"On destination"141
"On location"141
Opening and closing
– convenient access36
– from inside32
– from outside29
– using the door lock32
– via the remote control29
Operation by voice for mobile 
phone197
– adjusting volume198
– canceling197
– correcting phone 
number198
– dialing phone number198
– placing a call198
– redialing198
– voice commands197
– voice phone book198
"Options"205
Orientation menu, refer to 
Start menu17Outlets
– refer to Ventilation107
Output, refer to Engine 
data244
Outside-air mode
– automatic climate 
control106
Outside-temperature 
display74
– changing units of 
measure78
– in computer78
Outside temperature 
warning74
Overheated engine, refer to 
Coolant temperature75
Overriding selector lever 
lock63
P
Park assistant, refer to Park 
Distance Control88
"Parked car operation"108
"Parked car ventilation"108
Parked car ventilation108
– activating switch-on 
times109
– preselecting switch-on 
times108
– switching on and off 
directly108
Parking
– vehicle60
Parking aid, refer to PDC Park 
Distance Control88
Parking brake60
– indicator lamp61
Parking lamps100
Parking lamps/low beams100
Passenger-side mirror tilt 
function53
"Pathway lighting"101
Pathway lighting101
"PDC"88
PDC Park Distance Control88
Personal Profile28
"Perspective"149
Phone book192Phone numbers
– deleting from phone 
book195
– dialing193
– most recent numbers194
– selecting in phone book194
– Top 8194
Pinch protection system
– glass roof, electric40
– windows39
Placing a call, refer to 
telephone owner's manual
"Play" for satellite radio171
Pollen
– refer to Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter for automatic 
climate control108
Position
– displaying155
– saving, refer to Storing 
current position143
Power failure234
Power seats46
Power windows38
Power windows, refer to 
Windows38
"Presets" displaying with the 
radio164
"Presets" for satellite 
radio171
Pressure, tires212
Pressure monitoring, tires92
– Flat Tire Monitor92
Pressure monitoring of tires, 
refer to Tire Pressure 
Monitor TPM93
"Profile"207
Programmable buttons on the 
steering wheel11
Programmable memory 
keys21
Protection function, refer to 
Pinch protection system
– glass roof, electric40
– windows39
Providing medical assistance, 
refer to First add pouch237
Puncture
– Flat Tire Monitor92