
Controls
 73Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7.Select "State inspection" and press the 
controller.
8.Select "Set service date" and press the 
controller. The month is selected.
9.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
10.Press the controller to apply the setting. 
The year is selected.
11.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
12.Press the controller to apply the setting. 
The date entry is stored.
To exit from the menu:
Select the   arrow and press the controller.
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors functions in the 
vehicle and issues a message if there is a mal-
function in the monitored systems. A Check 
Control message of this kind includes indicator 
or warning lamps in the instrument cluster, pos-
sibly an acoustic signal, and text messages at 
the bottom of the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
different combinations and colors.
 This symbol means that a Check Control 
message has been generated. The symbol 
remains visible even if the Check Control mes-
sage has been hidden after a short time. The 
combinations of warning lamps and text mes-
sages are stored and can be viewed later, also 
refer to page74.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the bottom edge of the Con-
trol Display explain the meaning of the indicator 
and warning lamps displayed. 

Everything under control
74 You can display supplementary information 
regarding most Check Control messages, e.g. 
as to the cause of a malfunction and corre-
sponding actions to be taken, see below.
In urgent cases, this information will be shown 
as soon as the corresponding lamp lights up.
To exit the displayed information:
Select the   arrow and press the controller.
Hiding Check Control messages
Press the CHECK button in the turn signal lever.
Some Check Control messages are displayed 
until the malfunctions have been rectified. They 
cannot be hidden. If a number of these malfunc-
tions occur simultaneously, they are displayed 
in succession.
Other messages are automatically hidden after 
approx. 20 seconds, but remain stored.
Displaying stored Check Control 
messages
1.Press the button longer:
The first stored message is displayed.
2.Press the button:
A new message appears each time you 
press the button.
Displaying supplementary information
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.Turn the controller until "Info sources" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Service" is 
selected and press the controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Check Control messages" 
is selected and press the controller. 

Controls
 89Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Coupe: head airbags
3Side airbags
4Knee airbag
5Knee airbag
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
please follow the adjustment instructions on 
page46.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of a side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The 
head airbag supports the head. The knee airbag 
protects the legs from colliding with the cockpit.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered in 
every impact situation, e. g. less severe acci-
dents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way. Do not attempt to 
remove the airbag restraint system from the 
vehicle. Do not modify or tamper with either the 
wiring or the individual components in the air-
bag system. This category includes the uphol-
stery in the center of the steering wheel, on the 
instrument panel, the side trim panels on the 
doors and on the Coupe, the roof pillars along with the sides of the headliner. Do not attempt 
to remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components 
directly after the system has been triggered, 
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or 
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have 
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators carried out only by a BMW cen-
ter or a workshop that works according to BMW 
repair procedures with appropriately trained 
personnel and has the required explosives 
licenses. Otherwise unprofessional attempts to 
service the system could lead to failure in an 
emergency or undesired airbag triggering, 
either of which could result in personal injury.<
Warnings and information on the airbags is also 
provided on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of front 
passenger airbags
The occupation of the seat is detected by eval-
uating the impression on the occupied seat sur-
face of the front passenger seat. The system 
correspondingly activates or deactivates the 
front, knee and side airbags on the front pas-
senger side.
The current status of the front passenger 
airbags, i.e. deactivated or activated, is 
indicated by the indicator lamp over the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to Operating state of front 
passenger airbags below.<
Before transporting a child in the front 
passenger seat, read the safety informa-
tion and follow the instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page56. 

Controls
 91Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Convertible: rollover 
protection system
The rollover protection system is automatically 
activated in the event of an accident or a critical 
driving situation, extreme inclination on the lon-
gitudinal axis, or loss of ground contact. The 
rollover bars located behind the rear head 
restraints are deployed within fractions of a sec-
ond.
As a supplement to the rollover bar integrated 
into the windshield frame, the rollover protec-
tion system ensures that all vehicle occupants 
have the necessary headroom.
Always keep the path of movement of the 
rollover protection system clear.
In less severe accidents, you are protected by 
the fastened safety belt and, depending on the 
severity of the accident, the belt tensioner and 
the multistage airbag restraint system.<
Lowering
If the rollover protection system experienced no 
impact after automatic activation, then it can be 
lowered again. No tools are necessary for this 
purpose.
1.Press the release backward and hold in that 
position.
2.Press the rollover protection unit halfway 
down from above.
3.Let go of the release.4.Press the rollover protection unit down until 
it snaps into place.
5.Use the same procedure for the second roll-
over protection unit.
Have the rollover protection system checked 
after unexpected triggering.
Never move the convertible top when the 
rollover protection system is raised.
No changes of any nature may be made to the 
individual components of the rollover protec-
tion system and wiring.
Work on the rollover protection system may 
only be performed at a BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the system 
can lead to failure or malfunction.
For a system check and to ensure long-term 
functioning, you must comply with the mainte-
nance intervals of the service requirements, 
refer to page71.<
Head-Up Display*
The concept
With the Head-Up Display, important informa-
tion is projected into the driver's field of view, 
e.g. navigation instructions. This enables you to 
absorb this information without looking away 
from the road. 

Things to remember when driving
114
Things to remember when driving
Breaking-in
Moving parts need time to adjust to one 
another. To ensure that your vehicle continues 
to provide optimized economy of operation 
throughout an extended service life, we request 
that you devote careful attention to the follow-
ing section.
Do not use the driving programs 5 and 6, refer 
to Drivelogic on page62, during break-in.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at changing engine and driving speeds, 
however do not exceed 5,500 rpm or 105 mph/
170 km/h.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the 
transmission's kick-down mode during these 
initial miles.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km to 
3,000 miles/5,000 km
The engine and driving speeds can gradually be 
increased up to a continuous vehicle speed of 
135 mph/220 km/h. Only drive at top speed 
briefly, e.g. when passing.
Transmission
The function of the transmission is only at its 
optimized level after driving a distance of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km. Do not exceed 
engine speeds of 5,500 rpm during this time.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their 
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in 
period. Therefore, drive reservedly during the 
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized 
contact and wear patterns between brake pads 
and rotors. Drive in a reserved manner during 
this break-in period.
Clutch
The function of the clutch is only at its opti-
mized level after a distance driven of approx. 
300 miles/500 km. With manual transmission: 
During this break-in period, engage the clutch 
gently.
Following part replacement
Observe the break-in instructions again if com-
ponents mentioned above must be replaced 
after subsequent driving operation.
General driving notes
Closing luggage compartment lid
Only drive with the luggage compartment 
lid completely closed, otherwise exhaust 
can penetrate into the passenger compart-
ment.<
If special circumstances should make it abso-
lutely necessary to operate the vehicle with the 
luggage compartment lid open:
1.Coupe: close both windows.
Convertible: with closed top, close all win-
dows.
2.Increase the air volume of the automatic cli-
mate control to a high level, refer to 
page101. 

Destination guidance
140
Repeating and canceling voice 
instructions
With the programmable button on the steering 
wheel you can also make the following settings, 
refer to page53:
>Repeat the voice instruction:
Press the button.
>Switch voice instructions on/off:
Press button longer.
Setting volume of voice instructions
The volume can only be adjusted during a voice 
instruction.
1.Repeat the last voice instruction, if required.
2.Turn the knob during the voice instruction 
to select the desired volume.
This volume is independent of the volume of the 
audio sources.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Bypassing route sections
During destination guidance, you can revise the 
navigation system's route recommendations to 
avoid particular stretches of road. Enter the 
number of miles/kilometers that you want to 
travel before returning to the original route.
1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the third field from the top. 
Turn the controller until "New route" is 
selected and press the controller.
3.Turn the controller to enter the desired 
number and press the controller.
The route is recalculated.
To exit from the menu without changing the 
route:
Select the   arrow and press the controller.
Traffic information*
In population centers you can display traffic 
information from radio stations that transmit 
information of the Traffic Info traffic warning 
service. This information of the traffic warning 
services is constantly updated using measuring 
data from traffic routing centers and information 
from traffic congestion indicators. 
During destination guidance the traffic informa-
tion located near you on the route is automati-
cally displayed. Regardless of whether the des-
tination guidance is active, you can display the 
traffic information in the map view or in a list. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 155Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
5.Turn the controller until the desired mem-
ory position is selected.
The number of the memory position 
appears beside the name or frequency of 
the station.
6.Press the controller.
The station is stored.
RDS Radio Data System
In the FM frequency range, additional informa-
tion is transmitted via RDS. If the reception con-
ditions are good, the station names are shown 
on the Control Display. If the reception is weak 
or disrupted, it can take some time before the 
station names are displayed.
Switching RDS on/off*
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
3.Select "RDS" and press the controller.
 RDS is activated.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Automatically sorting 
stations*
For the "All stations" selection criterion, you 
can set whether the most frequently used sta-
tions are displayed at the beginning.
1.Select "All stations" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected.
2.Select "Favorites" and press the controller.
 The most frequently used stations are 
shown at the beginning.
Weather news flashes*
Weather Radio is a service of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
of the US Department of Trade. Weather news 
flashes are repeated every 4 to 6 minutes and 
are routinely updated at intervals of 1 to 
3 hours, and more often when necessary. Most 
stations operate 24 hours a day. In case of a 
storm, the National Weather Service interrupts 
the routine weather news and transmits special 
warning messages instead. If you have a ques-
tion about NOAA Weather Radio, please con-
tact the nearest office of the National Weather 
Service. Details are also provided on the Inter-
net at www.nws.noaa.gov. 

Communications
This chapter summarizes how to operate
your mobile phone using iDrive or voice control
and how to use BMW Assist or TeleService.
Communications