
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7Buttons on steering wheel
8Instrument cluster12
11Ignition lock6012Horn, entire surface
15Releasing hood228
16Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate35,34 Mobile phone
*192:
>Press: accepting and ending 
call, starting dialing
* for 
selected phone number and 
redialing if no phone number is 
selected
>Press and hold: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice 
command system
* 23
Changing radio station170
Selecting music track180
Scrolling in phone book and in lists 
with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable
*54 
Individually programmable
*54 
Leaving lane warning
*105
9
Windshield wipers67
Rain sensor67
Sports Wagon: rear window 
wiper68
10Starting/stopping engine and 
Switching ignition on/off 60
13
Steering wheel heater*54
Steering wheel adjustment54
14
Cruise control
*68
Active cruise control
*69
17
Head-Up Display
*101
BMW Night Vision
*103
18Parking lamp107
Daytime running lamps
*108
Low beams107
Welcome lamps107
Automatic headlamp control
*107 
Daytime running lamps
*108
Welcome lamps107 
Adaptive Head Light
*109 
19
Instrument lighting110
Fog lamps
*110 

At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
different combinations and colors.
Some lamps are tested for proper function by 
briefly lighting up during starting of the engine 
or when the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the bottom edge of the Con-
trol Display explain the meaning of the dis-
played indicator and warning lamps.
Additional information, e.g. on the cause of a 
malfunction and on the corresponding need to 
take action can be displayed via the Check Con-
trol, refer to page82.In urgent cases, this information will be shown 
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps indicate that the 
associated functions are activated:
Handbrake applied62
Handbrake applied for Canadian 
models
Fog lamps
*110
DTC Dynamic Traction Control92
High beams/headlamp flasher109
Lamp flashes: 
DSC or DTC controls the drive and 
braking forces for maintaining vehicle 
stability91 

Opening and closing
38 Unauthorized operations are briefly signaled by 
the alarm system:
>with an acoustic alarm
>by switching on
 the hazard warning flashers
>by flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming alarm system
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with 
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm 
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
The luggage compartment lid/tailgate can also 
be opened with the system armed with the   
button on the remote control, refer to page34. 
When the luggage compartment lid/tailgate is 
closed, it is locked and monitored again.
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote control, 
refer to page30.
>Insert the remote control all the way into the 
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the interior rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking: 
doors, hood, luggage compartment lid/tail-
gate or rear window
 are not properly closed. 
Even if you do not close the alerted area, the 
system begins to monitor the remaining 
areas, and the indicator lamp flashes con-
tinuously after approx. 10 seconds. How-
ever, the interior motion sensor is not acti-
vated.>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking: 
your vehicle has not been disturbed while 
you were away.
>The indicator lamp flashes after unlocking 
until the remote control is inserted into the 
ignition lock, however for a maximum of 
approx. 5 minutes: your vehicle has been 
disturbed while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm 
system reacts, e.g. in case of an attempted 
wheel theft or towing.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof
* 
must be completely closed.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor 
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following 
situations:
>In two-level garages
>When transporting on car-carrying trains, 
by sea or on a trailer
>When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor
Press the   button on the remote control 
again as soon as the vehicle is locked.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then 
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and 
the interior motion sensor are switched off until 
the next time the vehicle is unlocked and subse-
quently locked again. 

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
102 4.Select "Display settings" and press the 
controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Head-Up Display" is 
selected and press the controller.
6.Change into the second field from the top. 
Turn the controller until "Head-Up Display" 
is selected and press the controller.
7.Select desired information of Head-Up Dis-
play.
8.Press the controller.
 The information is shown on the Head-
Up Display.
The settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
Setting brightness
The brightness of the display is automatically 
adapted to the ambient lighting conditions. 
However, you can change the basic setting. 
With the low beams switched on, the brightness 
can also be adjusted with the knurled wheel of 
the instrument lighting.
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to 
page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Display settings" and press the 
controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Head-Up Display" is 
selected and press the controller.6.Change into the second field from the top. 
Turn the controller until "Brightness" is 
selected and press the controller.
7.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is selected.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Notes
The visibility of the displays in the Head-Up Dis-
play is influenced by:
>Sunglasses with certain polarization filters
>Certain seating positions
>Objects on the cover of the Head-Up Dis-
play
>Wet road surface and unfavorable lighting 
conditions
 If the image is distorted, please have the basic 
setting checked at a BMW center.
Special windshield
The windshield is part of the system. The shape 
of the windshield complies with the require-
ments of the Head-Up Display to enable a pre-
cise display. A film in the windshield prevents 
the double images from being displayed. 
Windshield replacement should be carried out 
by a BMW center or a workshop that works 
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.
Care instructions
You can find everything you need to know on 
this topic by consulting the separate Caring for 
your vehicle brochure. 

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
104 >in dense fog, heavy rain or snowfall
>when displaying very hot objects such as 
transformers, car exhausts etc.
>when the image briefly freezes during nor-
mal system adjustment.
BMW Night Vision's potential benefits 
can be limited by the driving style of the 
driver, the size and relative temperature of the 
detected objects, dirt or contaminations on the 
camera lens, adverse weather like snow, rain or 
fog, and other factors not mentioned here. It will 
always be the driver's responsibility to drive at a 
speed and in a manner that recognizes potential 
hazards and adjust accordingly. 
BMW Night Vision is not a substitute or replace-
ment for driver responsibility or for accommo-
dating the visibility conditions and the traffic sit-
uation. The forward view illuminated by the 
headlamps must always be the basis for making 
safe driving decisions, otherwise a safety risk 
will result.<
Activating BMW Night Vision
1.Turn the light switch to position2 or3, refer 
to page107.
2.With low beams switched on:
>Press the   button. Depending on the 
vehicle's equipment, the location of the 
button may differ somewhat.
>Press one of the programmable buttons 
on the steering wheel, refer to page54.
The image will be displayed on the Control Dis-
play after a few seconds. Depending on the last 
mode selected, either the normal or full screen 
image will be displayed.Due to the system's need to adjust periodically, 
a still image is displayed at certain intervals for 
fractions of a second. This is normal and not an 
indication of a problem.
To prevent driving without headlamps, at a 
speed of more than approx. 3 mph/5 km/h and 
when dark, the thermal image on the Control 
Display is only shown when the low beams are 
on.
Deactivating BMW Night Vision
>Press the   button.
>Press the button on the steering wheel.
>Press the   button.
>Via iDrive, refer to Selecting settings.
Selecting settings
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to 
page16.
1.Activate BMW Night Vision.
2.Press the controller to display the menu 
items. 

Controls
 107Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
0Lights off and daytime running lamps*
1Parking lamps and daytime running lamps*
2Low beams and welcome lamps
3Automatic headlamp control
*, daytime run-
ning lamps
*, welcome lamps and Adaptive 
Head Light
*
If you open the driver's door with the ignition 
switched off, the exterior lighting is automati-
cally switched off when the light switch is in 
position0, 2 or 3.
Parking lamps
In switch position1, the front, rear and side 
vehicle lighting is switched on. You can use the 
parking lamps for parking.
The parking lamps drain the battery. Do 
not leave them switched on for long peri-
ods of time, otherwise it may no longer be pos-
sible to start the engine. It is preferable to 
switch on the roadside parking lamps on one 
side, refer to page109.<
Low beams
The low beams light up when the light switch is 
in position 2 and the ignition is on.
Automatic headlamp control*
In switch position3, the system activates the 
low beams and switches them on or off in 
response to changes in ambient light condi-
tions, for instance, in a tunnel, at dawn and dusk and in case of precipitation. Adaptive Head 
Light
* is active. The LED next to the symbol 
lights up when the low beams are on. You can 
activate the daytime running lamps, refer to 
page108. In the situations named above, the 
system then automatically switches over to the 
low beams.
A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can 
cause the lights to be switched on.
The low beams remain switched on inde-
pendent of the ambient lighting condi-
tions when you switch on the fog lamps
*.<
The automatic headlamp control cannot 
serve as a substitute for your personal 
judgment in determining when the lamps 
should be switched on in response to ambient 
lighting conditions. For example, the sensors 
cannot detect fog of hazy weather. To avoid 
safety risks, you should always switch on the 
low beams manually under these conditions.<
Welcome lamps 
If, when parking the vehicle, you leave the light 
switch in position2 or3, the parking lamps and 
the interior lamp light up briefly when the vehi-
cle is unlocked.
Activating/deactivating welcome 
lamps
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to 
page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens 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. 

Lamps
108 5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Lighting" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.Select "Welcome light" and press the con-
troller.
 The welcome lamps are switched on.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Pathway lighting
When you activate the headlamp flasher after 
parking the vehicle and switching off the lamps, 
the low beams will come on for a brief period. 
You can set the duration or deactivate the func-
tion via iDrive.
iDrive, for explanation of 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.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Lighting" is selected and 
press the controller.6.Select "Pathway lighting" and press the 
controller.
7.Turn the controller to select the desired 
duration.
8.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Daytime running lamps*
The daytime running lamps light up in posi-
tion0, 1 and 3. If the light switch remains in 
position1, the parking lamps light up after the 
ignition is switched off.
Activating/deactivating daytime 
running lamps*
iDrive, for explanation of 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.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Lighting" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.Select "Daytime running lamps" and press 
the controller.
 The daytime running lamps are 
switched on.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use. 

Controls
 109Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Adaptive Head Light*
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp 
control system that enables better illumination 
of the road surface. Depending on the steering 
angle and other parameters, the light from the 
headlamp follows the course of the road.
In tight curves at speeds up to approx. 45 mph/
70 km/h, e.g. on mountainous roads or when 
turning, turning lamps are switched on that light 
up the inside area of the curve.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
With the ignition switched on, turn the light 
switch into the automatic headlamp control 
position, refer to page107.
The turning lamps are automatically switched 
on depending on the steering angle or the use 
of turn signals.
To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the Adaptive 
Head Light directs light towards the front pas-
senger side when the vehicle is at a standstill. 
When driving in reverse, only the turning lamps 
are active and illuminate the outer area of 
curves.
Malfunction
The LED next to the symbol for automatic head-
lamp control flashes. Adaptive Head Light is 
malfunctioning or has failed. Have the system 
checked as soon as possible.
High beams/
roadside parking lamps
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Roadside parking lamps
Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just one 
side of your vehicle when parking:
Switching on
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or 
down beyond the resistance point, arrow 3.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Do not leave them switched on for 
long periods of time, otherwise it may no longer 
be possible to start the engine.<
Switching off
Briefly press the lever in the opposite direction 
up to the resistance point, arrow3.