
Adjusting
52
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
The mirror on the passenger's side is 
more curved than the driver's mirror. 
Objects reflected in the mirror are closer than 
they appear. Do not estimate the distance of 
following traffic based on what you see in the 
mirrors; otherwise, there is an increased acci-
dent risk.<
1Adjusting
2Switching to the other mirror or to the auto-
matic curb monitor
3Folding mirrors in and out
*
Storing the mirror positions, refer to Seat, mir-
ror and steering wheel memory on page48.
Adjusting manually
You can also adjust the mirrors manually by 
pressing against the outer edges of their mirror 
glass.
Folding exterior mirrors in and out
Pressing button3 allows you to fold mirrors 
in and out up to a speed of approx. 20 mph/
30 km/h. This is advantageous, for example, in 
car washes, narrow streets or for bringing mir-
r o r s  t h a t  h a v e  b e e n  m a n u a l l y  f o l d e d - i n  b a c k  i n t o  
the correct position. Mirrors that were folded in 
are folded out automatically at a speed of 
approx. 25 mph/40 km/h.
Automatic heating
Below a certain outdoor temperature, both 
exterior mirrors are automatically heated when 
the motor is running or the ignition is switched 
on.
Tilting down passenger-side mirror – 
automatic curb monitor
Activating
1.Slide switch into the driver's side mirror 
position, arrow 1.
2.Engage reverse gear or selector lever posi-
tion R. 
The mirror glass tilts downward somewhat 
on the passenger's side. This allows the 
driver to see the area immediately adjacent 
to the vehicle – such as a curb – when park-
ing, etc.
Deactivating
Slide switch into the passenger side mirror 
position, arrow 2.
Interior and exterior mirrors, automatic 
dimming feature
This feature is controlled by two photocells in 
the inside rearview mirror. One is integrated 
within the mirror's lens, while the other is 
located at an offset position on the rear of the 
mirror housing.
For trouble-free operation, keep the photocells 
clean and do not cover the area between the 
interior rearview mirror and the windshield.  

Controls
 59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Starting 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, as such a vehicle represents a 
potential safety hazard.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run-
ning, shift into neutral
* or move the selector 
lever into position N and firmly apply the hand-
brake, otherwise the vehicle can begin to roll.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it 
running while the vehicle remains stationary. 
Instead, drive off at a moderate engine speed.
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated starting attempts in 
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the 
fuel is not burned at all or is burned inade-
quately and there is a danger of overheating and 
damage to the catalytic converter.<
Manual transmission*
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort 
access in vehicle, refer to page37.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Depress the clutch pedal and select the 
idling position.
3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Sequential Manual Transmission with 
Drivelogic
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort 
access in vehicle, refer to page37.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Place selector lever in position N.
3.Press the Start/Stop button.
If the engine does not start, shift back to 
the last selector lever position selected, 
refer to the instrument cluster display or the 
selector lever. Then select position N.
You cannot start off with the hood open.
When the engine is cold, the exhaust system 
has a slightly metallic undertone due to the sys-
tem design.<
Switching engine off
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
remote control with you.
When parking, firmly apply the handbrake, as 
otherwise the vehicle could roll.<
Manual transmission*
1.Press the Start/Stop button with the vehicle 
stopped.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Firmly apply the handbrake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page58.
Sequential Manual Transmission with 
Drivelogic
1.Firmly apply the handbrake.
2.Move selector lever into a drive position.
3.Press the Start/Stop button.
If N is engaged when switching off the 
engine, this will be pointed out to you opti-
cally and acoustically.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page58. 

Climate
100 The current setting for air distribution is dis-
played on the Control Display.
A congenial climate
The AUTO program offers the optimum air dis-
tribution and air volume for virtually all condi-
tions, refer to AUTO program below. Now you 
only need to select an interior temperature that 
you find pleasant.
The following sections contain more detailed 
information on the available setting options.
Most settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use, also refer to Personal Profile 
settings on page29.
AUTO program
The AUTO program handles the 
adjustment of air volume and air 
distribution to the windshield and 
side windows, in the direction of the upper body 
and in the footwell. It also adapts your instruc-
tions for the temperature to outside influences 
throughout the year.
The cooling is switched on automatically with 
the AUTO program. At the same time, a con-
densation sensor controls the program in such 
a way that window condensation is prevented 
as much as possible.
Intensity of AUTO program
To meet your individual needs, you can 
increase or decrease the intensity of the auto-
matic climate control.
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to 
page16.
1.Press the   button. 
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3.Select "Automatic programs" and press the 
controller.4.Select the desired intensity and press the 
controller.
 The marked intensity of the automatic 
program is switched on.
Convertible program*
When the convertible top is opened, the con-
vertible program can also be selected. In the 
convertible program, the automatic climate 
control is optimized for driving with the convert-
ible top open. In addition, the air volume is 
increased as the speed increases.
If the convertible program has been selected, 
it is automatically active every time the top is 
opened.
The effect of the convertible program can 
be greatly enhanced if the wind deflector 
is installed.<
Temperature
Set the desired temperature indi-
vidually on the driver's and front 
passenger side.
The automatic climate control 
achieves this temperature as quickly as possi-
ble at any time of year, if necessary with the 
maximum cooling or heating capacity, and then 
keeps it constant.
When switching between different tem-
perature settings in rapid succession, the 
automatic climate control does not have suffi-
cient time to achieve the set temperature.<
In the highest setting you activate the maximum 
heating output, regardless of the outside tem-
perature. 

Controls
 101Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Adapting temperature in upper body 
region
1.Open the start menu.
2.Open "Climate".
3.Select "Vent settings" and press the con-
troller.
4.Select the field by moving the controller and 
adjust the temperature by turning the con-
troller.
Defrosting windows and removing 
condensation
Quickly remove ice and condensa-
tion from the windshield and front 
side windows.
To do this, also switch on the cooling function.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster 
switches off automatically after a 
certain amount of time.
Convertible: the rear window defroster is only 
activated when the rear window is closed.
Depending on the vehicle equipment, upper 
wires are used as an antenna and are not part of 
the rear window defroster.
Air volume, manual
You can adjust the air volume by 
turning. You can reactivate the 
automatic mode for the air volume 
with the AUTO button.
Manual air distribution
1.Open the start menu.
2.Open "Climate".3.Select "Vent settings" and press the con-
troller.
The driver's and front passenger side can 
be adjusted separately with the fields on the 
right or left side.
4.Select the driver's or front passenger side if 
necessary.
Move the controller to the right or left 
repeatedly until the driver's side or front 
passenger side is selected.
5.Select the desired field by moving the con-
troller.
6.Turn the controller to adjust the air distribu-
tion.
Driver's side:
1Air directed toward the windshield and side 
windows
2Air for the upper body
3Air to footwell
Front passenger side:
4Air for the upper body
5Air to footwell
Pressing the AUTO button cancels the air 
distribution settings via iDrive and vice 
versa.<
Switching cooling function on and off
The cooling function cools and 
dehumidifies the incoming air 
before reheating it as needed 
according to the temperature setting. Depend-
ing on the weather, the windshield may fog over 
briefly when the engine is started.
The cooling function is switched on automati-
cally with the AUTO program. The passenger  

Driving tips
 115Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Hot exhaust system
As in all vehicles, extremely high temper-
atures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed 
adjacent to it, and never apply undercoating to 
them. When driving, standing at idle and while 
parking, take care to avoid possible contact 
between the hot exhaust system and any highly 
flammable materials such as hay, leaves, grass, 
etc. Such contact could lead to a fire, and with it 
the risk of serious property damage as well as 
personal injury. Do not touch hot exhaust tail 
pipes. Otherwise there is a risk of burns.<
Mobile communications devices in 
vehicle
BMW advises against using mobile com-
munications devices, e.g. mobile phones, 
inside the vehicle without a direct connection to 
an external antenna. Otherwise, the vehicle 
electronics and mobile communications device 
can interfere with each other. In addition, there 
is no assurance that the radiation emitted dur-
ing transmission will be conveyed out of 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 phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or 
complete loss of contact between the tires and 
the road surface, ultimately undermining your 
ability to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread 
depth of the tires decreases, also refer to Mini-
mum tire tread on page199.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if it 
is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at 
walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the vehi-
cle's engine, the electrical systems and the 
transmission may be damaged.<
Starting off
On slopes
The starting assistant enables starting off on 
slopes virtually without rolling back.
1.Hold the vehicle with the footbrake.
2.Make sure that the handbrake is released.
3.Release the footbrake and drive off quickly.
The starting assistant holds the vehicle 
for approx. 1 second after releasing the 
footbrake. Depending on the load, the vehicle 
may also roll back slightly during this time. 
After releasing the footbrake, drive off quickly, 
otherwise the starting assistant no longer holds 
the vehicle after approx. 1 second and it begins 
to roll back.<
Start off quickly on slopes. Do not hold 
the vehicle on a hill by pressing the accel-
erator, but apply the footbrake or handbrake 
instead. Otherwise, overheating and heavy 
wear can result in the area of the Sequential 
Manual Transmission.<
To protect the clutch of the Sequential Manual 
Transmission from overheating, the starting-off 
behavior is changed under heavy loading, e.g. a 
rapid succession of starts on slopes. This can 
be noticed from shaking during starting off.
On a slippery surface
1.Select "P 400" program of M Engine 
Dynamic Control, refer to page64.
2.Gently press accelerator pedal to prevent 
wheels from spinning when starting off.
Clutch protection with manual 
transmission
Be sure to avoid riding the clutch for longer peri-
ods.
Your BMW M6 is equipped with an overload 
protection for the clutch. Riding the clutch for 
longer periods is detected and the engine man-
agement system limits the engine speed to pro-
tect the clutch. This can result in the vehicle fail-
ing to accelerate when the clutch pedal is 
partially depressed. 

Things to remember when driving
116
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard 
feature. In situations that require it, it is best to 
brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains 
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid 
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering 
effort.
The pulsing of he brake pedal indicates that the 
ABS is controlling braking.
In certain braking situations the perforated 
brake rotors can cause operating noises which, 
however, have not effect on the performance 
and operating safety of the brake system.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the 
brake pedal. Even light but consistent 
pedal pressure can lead to high temperatures, 
brake wear and possibly even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
When driving on wet roads or 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 endan-
ger 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 thus reduced 
efficiency of the brake system, downshift 
to a gear in which only minimal brake applica-
tions are needed when descending long or 
steep downhill stretches. Even light but consis-
tent pressure on the brake pedal can lead to 
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly 
even brake failure.<
Sequential Manual Transmission: do not 
drive in idle or with the engine switched 
off, otherwise there will be no engine braking 
action or support of the braking force and steer-
ing. 
Manual transmission: do not drive with the 
clutch depressed, in idle or with the engine 
switched off, otherwise there will be no engine 
braking action or support of the braking force 
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 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.
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
Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to page52, 
otherwise they could be damaged due to the 
width of the vehicle.
General information on the care and mainte-
nance of your BMW is contained in the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure.
Ground clearance
Ensure that sufficient ground clearance 
is available. To drive down curbs, select 
the "Sport" program of the EDC Electronic 
Damping Control, refer to page84, to keep the 
ground clearance as uniform as possible. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle may be damaged.< 

Driving tips
 117Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their 
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage 
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result 
can assume the form of a sudden blow-out.<
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your 
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants 
and cargo should never exceed 
YYY lbs. or XXX kg, as otherwise the vehicle 
may be damaged and unstable driving con-
ditions may result.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers that will be riding in 
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver 
and passengers from XXX lbs. or YYY kg.
4.The resulting figure equals the available 
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals 
800 lbs. and there will be four 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is 
200 lbs.:
800lbs. minus 600lbs. = 200lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage 
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That 
weight may not safely exceed the available 
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated 
in step 4.6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of 
the load from your trailer will be transferred 
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for 
transporting a trailer to determine how this 
may reduce the available cargo and luggage 
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permissible load is the total of the weight of 
occupants and cargo/luggage. The greater the 
weight of occupants, the less cargo/luggage 
can be transported.
Stowing cargo
>Place heavy cargo as far forward and as low 
as possible, placing it directly behind the 
bulkhead behind the rear seats.
>Cover sharp edges and corners. 

Reference 239
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Driving lamps, refer to Parking 
lamps/low beams95
Driving programs, refer to 
Drivelogic62
Driving route, refer to 
Displaying route137
Driving stability control 
systems81
Driving through water115
Driving tips, refer to General 
driving notes114
Drying the air, refer to Cooling 
function101
"DSC"54,82
DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control82
– indicator lamp13,82
– malfunction83
DVD for navigation122
"Dynamic route" for 
navigation135
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC82
– M Dynamic Mode MDM82
E
Easy entry, refer to Entering 
rear50
Easy entry/exit53
"EDC"54
EDC Electronic Damping 
Control84
– "Comfort"84
– "Normal"84
– "Sport"84
Eject button, refer to Buttons 
on CD player148
Electrical malfunction
– convertible top42
– door lock32
– driver's door32
– fuel filler door194
– luggage compartment lid34
– storage compartment, hotel 
function34Electric convertible top40
Electric steering wheel 
adjustment53
Electronic brake-force 
distribution81
Electronic Damping Control 
EDC84
Emergency assistance, refer 
to Roadside Assistance220
Emergency call219
Emergency operation, refer to 
Manual operation
– convertible top42
– door lock32
– driver's door32
– fuel filler door194
– hotel function34
– luggage compartment lid34
Emergency release for 
luggage compartment lid in 
luggage compartment35
Emergency services, refer to 
Roadside Assistance220
"Enable services"191
"End call"178
Engaging forward position, 
refer to Selector lever 
positions61
Engine
– breaking-in114
– M Engine Dynamic 
Control64
– overheated, refer to Coolant 
temperature68
– starting59
– starting, comfort access37
– switching off59
Engine compartment203
Engine coolant205Engine oil
– adding204
– additives, refer to Approved 
engine oils205
– approved oils205
– checking oil level203
– exact measurement204
– fast measurement204
– interval between changes, 
refer to Service 
requirements71
– oil change205
– oil grades, refer to Approved 
engine oils205
– possible displays204
– recommended oils205
– temperature69
– temperature gauge69
Engine overheating, refer to 
Coolant temperature68
Engine starting, refer to 
Starting engine59
"Enter address"124,132
Entering address124,127
Entering intersection, 
navigation126
Entering rear50
Entering town/city for 
navigation125
Entering town/city of 
destination name125
Entering zip code for 
navigation125
"Entertainment"148
Entertainment sound output 
on/off149
Entry map for destination129
Equalizer, refer to Tone 
control151
"Equalizer", tone control151
"ESN"158
ESP Electronic Stability 
Program, refer to DSC 
Dynamic Stability 
Control82
Event data recorders208