
Driving
58
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the gas pedal
halfway down when starting:
>The engine fails to start on the first attempt,
for instance if it is very hot or cold.
>The engine is being started at extremely low
temperatures below + 57/– 156, or at
high altitudes above 3,281 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starts in rapid succession
or repeated starting attempts in which the
engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is
either left unspent or is insufficiently burned
and there is a risk of overheating and damaging
the catalytic converter.<
Switching off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
remote control with you.<
With the vehicle stationary, briefly press the
Start/Stop button. Radio ready state is switched
on.
The transmission automatically shifts to posi-
tion P: interlock.
Before driving into a car wash
The transmission remains in position N and the
vehicle can roll when you perform the following
sequence:
1.With Comfort Access: insert remote control
into ignition lock.
2.With the engine running, shift transmission
into position N.
3.Switch engine off.
4.Leave the remote control in the ignition
lock.
The transmission will shift into position P:
>automatically after approx. 30 minutes
>if you remove the remote control from the
ignition lock
Pay attention to the messages on the Info Dis-
play.
Removing remote control from ignition
lock
Press in the remote control briefly; it pops part-
way out. This procedure will also switch off the
ignition if it is on.
Comfort function
To switch off the engine when the vehicle is sta-
tionary, press the Start/Stop button for longer
than approx. 2 seconds. The remote control
pops partway out.
Parking brake
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with an electromechan-
ical parking brake.
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked.
You can use the parking brake in two ways:
>Manually, by briefly pressing the button
>Automatically, by activating the Automatic
Hold mode, refer to page59
An electrohydraulic mechanism then engages
the parking brake to prevent the rear wheels
from turning whenever you switch off the
engine.
When the engine is running, parking brake
engagement is controlled by the brake sys-
tem's hydraulic circuits, which act on the disc
brakes in the front and rear wheels.
Brake pedal feel
The hydraulic brake system can produce a
slightly different braking feel. Engagement may
also be accompanied by activation noise – this
is normal.

Driving tips
123Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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 phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or
complete loss of contact between tires and
road surface, ultimately undermining your abil-
ity to steer and brake the vehicle.<
Driving through water
Only drive through water with a maximum
depth of 1 ft/30 cm and then, at no more
than walking speed. Otherwise, you run the risk
of damaging the vehicle's engine, electrical sys-
tems, and transmission.<
Safe braking
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as standard
equipment. In situations that require it, it is best
to apply the brakes fully. Since the vehicle
maintains steering responsiveness, you can
nevertheless avoid possible obstacles with a
minimum of steering effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Driving in wet conditions
When driving in wet conditions and in heavy
rain, it is a good idea to apply light pressure to
the brake pedal every few miles. Monitor traffic
conditions to ensure that this maneuver does
not endanger other road users. The heat gener-
ated 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 reduced effi-
ciency of the brake system, drive long or
steep downhill grades in the gear that requires
the least amount of braking. Otherwise, even
light but consistent pedal pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear, and possibly
even failure of the brake system.
transmission's manual mode, downshifting as
far as first gear on extremely steep stretches,
refer to page63. This strategy helps you avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake system.
Do not drive in idle or with the engine
switched off; otherwise, there will be no
engine braking action or power-assist for the
brakes and steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area of movement
of the pedals and impair their operation.<
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 minimal
pressure that must be exerted by the pads dur-
ing 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.
When vehicle is parked
Condensation forms in the automatic climate
control during operation, and then exits under
the vehicle. Traces of condensed water under
the vehicle are therefore normal.
Before driving into a car wash
1.Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to page50;
otherwise, they could be damaged due to
the width of the vehicle.
To permit the vehicle to roll, follow the
instructions on page58.
2.Release the parking brake, especially when
you have activated Automatic Hold. Refer to
page59.

Reference 235
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
DVD changer170
– adjusting picture172
– adjusting volume153
– controls152
– country codes171
– DVD controller171
– fast forward172
– freeze frame173
– opening specific menu174
– playing DVD171
– reverse172
– searching for chapter172
– selecting language173
– selecting picture format173
– selecting subtitles173
– starting171
– tone control153
DVD multimedia changer,
refer to DVD changer170
Dynamic Brake Control
DBC87
Dynamic Drive89
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC87
– indicator lamp13
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC88
– indicator lamp13
E
"EDC"89
EDC Electronic Damping
Control89
Eject button, refer to Buttons
on CD player152
Electrical malfunction
– door lock34
– driver's door34
– fuel filler door196
– glass sunroof, electric42
– luggage compartment lid36
– parking brake60
Electric steering wheel
adjustment52
Electronic brake-force
distribution87Electronic Damping Control
EDC89
Electronic Stability Program
ESP, refer to DSC Dynamic
Stability Control87
Electronic toll collection
device, refer to Entry/pass
tags126
Emergency actuation, refer to
Manual operation
– door lock34
– driver's door34
– fuel filler door196
– glass sunroof42
– luggage compartment lid36
– parking brake60
– transmission lock for
automatic transmission with
Steptronic64
Emergency call218
Emergency release of luggage
compartment lid from inside
the luggage
compartment37
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside
Assistance189,218
Energy-conscious driving,
refer to Energy Control/
current fuel consumption77
Energy Control77
Engine
– breaking-in122
– data224
– overheated, refer to Coolant
temperature76
– speed75,224
– starting57
– starting difficulties58
– switching off58
Engine compartment207
Engine coolant208Engine oil
– additives, refer to Approved
engine oils208
– approved oils208
– checking oil level207
– electronic oil level check207
– oil types, also refer to
Approved engine oils208
– possible displays of oil level
check208
"Engine oil level O.K."208
"Engine oil level too high"208
Engine output, refer to Engine
specifications224
Engine overheating, refer to
Coolant temperature76
Engine speed224
"Enter", navigation134
Entering activation time of
parked car ventilation109
– "Time 1"110
– "Time 2"110
Entering destination
address133
Entering destination town/
city132
Entering house number or
intersection, navigation133
Entering intersection,
navigation133
Entering name, destination in
navigation132
Entering street,
navigation133
"Entertainment", tone
control153
Entertainment sound output
on/off153
Entry/pass tags126
Entry for current position and
destination, refer to Entering
destination manually131
Environmentally friendly
driving, refer to Energy
Control77
Erasing entire list, refer to
Deleting entries in lists186