Technology for driving comfort and safety
54 3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss,
0 psi/0 kilopascal, you can estimate the
possible distance for continued driving on
the basis of the following guidelines:
>With a light load:
1 person without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
1 person, cargo bay full,
or
2 persons without luggage:
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
2 persons, cargo bay full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a speed
of 50 mph/80 km/h. Driving characteris-
tics change if there is a loss of tire pressure.
This includes reduced tracking stability in brak-
ing, extended braking distance and altered nat-
ural steering characteristics.
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during
the journey, this may be an indication that the
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce your
speed and pull over to the side of the road at the
earliest opportunity. Otherwise, parts of the tire
could come loose and cause an accident. Do
not continue driving. Contact a BMW center.<
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM*
The concept
TPM monitors the tire inflation pressure in all
four mounted tires. The system reports if infla-
tion pressure has dropped significantly in one
or more of the tires.
System requirements
To ensure a reliable flat tire warning, the system
must have been reset while tire inflation pres-
sures were correct.
Always use tires with TPM electronics to
ensure that the system operates properly.The system must be reset each time a tire
inflation pressure has been corrected or a
wheel or tire has been changed.<
System limitations
TPM cannot report sudden serious tire
damage due to external causes.<
The system will not operate correctly if it was
not reset, e.g. it may report a flat tire even if the
tire inflation pressures are correct.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat
tire if a wheel without TPM electronics is
mounted or if other systems or devices that use
the same radio frequency temporarily interfere
with the TPM system.
Resetting the system
The system must be reset each time a tire
inflation pressure has been corrected or a
wheel or tire has been changed.<
1.Start the engine but do not drive off yet.
2.Press the button until the yellow warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up for a
few seconds.
3.Drive off.
After several minutes of driving, the current
inflation pressures in the tires are adopted
as the target values to be monitored. The
resetting procedure is completed automat-
ically without further notice during the trip,
which can be interrupted at any time.
Resetting is continued automatically when
you continue driving.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
59
Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beams
0Lamps off and daytime running lamps*
1Parking lamps and daytime running lamps*
2Low beams
3Automatic headlamp control
* and daytime
running lamps
*
When you park the car, all its outside lamps are
switched off automatically if the light switch is in
position0, 2 or 3.
If you want the parking lamps to be on, turn the
switch to position1.
Parking lamps
In switch position1, the front, rear and side
vehicle lighting is switched on. You can use the
parking lamps to signal the position of the vehi-
cle when it is parked. For the additional option
of roadside parking lamps on one side of the
vehicle only, refer to page60.
The parking lamps will discharge the bat-
tery. Therefore, do not leave them on for
unduly long periods of time, otherwise the bat-
tery might not have enough power to start the
engine.<
Low beams
The low beams light up when the light switch is
in position 2 and the ignition is on.
Defective bulb
The indicator lamp lights up:
At least one bulb of the vehicle's exte-
rior lighting has failed.
For replacing bulbs refer to page98.
Automatic headlamp control*
When the switch is in position3, the low beams
are switched on and off automatically depend-
ing on ambient light conditions, e.g. in a tunnel,
in twilight, or if there is precipitation.
When driving into tunnels with bright overhead
lights, there may be a delay before the head-
lamps come on.
The headlamps may also come on when the
sun is sitting low on a blue sky.
The low beams remain switched on inde-
pendent of the ambient lighting condi-
tions when you switch on the fog lamps
*.<
If desired, the light switch can remain in
position3. The exterior lamps are automatically
switched off after the vehicle is parked.
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 system
cannot detect fog or hazy weather. To avoid
safety risks, you should always switch on the
lamps manually under these conditions.<
You can have the sensitivity of your vehi-
cle's automatic headlamp control
adjusted.<
Daytime running lamps*
If desired, the light switch can remain in the
automatic headlamp control position. The exte-
rior lamps are automatically switched off after
the vehicle is parked.
In the Parking lamps position, the parking lamps
come on after the ignition is switched off.
Lamps
60 If necessary, switch on the parking lamps as
described in the section about parking lamps.
You can have the daytime running lamps
activated/deactivated on your vehicle.<
Pathway lighting
If you activate the headlamp flasher after park-
ing the car, with the lights switched off, the low
beams come on and remain on for a certain
time.
You can have this function activated/
deactivated as well as the duration of the
pathway lighting set.<
LIGHTS ON warning
Whenever you open the driver's door after hav-
ing turned the key to position 0, you will hear an
acoustic signal for a few seconds to remind you
that the lamps have not been switched off.
High beams/Roadside
parking lamps
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Roadside parking lamps
*
Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
When parking the vehicle, you have the option
to switch on the lamps only on the side facing
the road.
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or
down, arrow 3, until it engages.
The roadside parking lamps discharge
the battery. Therefore, do not leave them
on for unduly long periods of time, otherwise the battery might not have enough power to
start the engine.<
Fog lamps*
Press the button to switch them on/off.
The parking lamps or low-beam headlamps
must be switched on. A green indicator lamp
comes on in the instrument cluster to indicate
that the front fog lamps are on.
If the automatic headlamp control is acti-
vated, the low beams will come on auto-
matically when you switch on the fog lamps.<
Instrument lighting
Turn the rotary dial to adjust brightness.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
63
Air distribution
Direct the flow of air to the windows
, to the upper body area and to
the footwell . Intermediate settings
are possible.
Switching cooling function on/off
When the cooling function is on, the
air is cooled, dehumidified, then
reheated depending on the tempera-
ture setting.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
Recirculated-air mode
If the air outside the car has an
unpleasant odor or contains pollut-
ants, temporarily shut off the supply
to the interior of the car. The system
recirculates the air within the vehicle.
If the windows fog over in the recircu-
lated-air mode, you should switch it off
and, if necessary, increase the air flow rate.
The manually controlled recirculated-air mode
should not be used continuously for lengthy
periods, otherwise the quality of the air inside
the car will gradually deteriorate.<
Temperature
For a higher temperature, turn the
rotary switch clockwise towards red.
For a lower temperature, turn the
rotary switch counterclockwise
towards blue.
Air flow rate
Adjust the air flow rate. The higher
the rate, the more effective the heat-
ing or cooling will be.
Switching the system on/off
Set the air flow rate to 0. Blower and air condi-
tioning are switched off and the air supply is cut
off.
To switch on the heater or air conditioning, set
any desired air flow rate.
Rear window defroster
The defroster switches off automati-
cally after a certain time.
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
1.Air distribution1 in position .
2.Set air flow rate 2 to position 4.
3.Temperature3 to the right, red.
4.Switch on rear window defroster 4 to
defrost the rear window.
Ventilation
1Knurled wheels to set any vent position
from fully open to closed
2Slide for adjusting air flow direction
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the vent outlets to direct the flow of cool
air toward you, for instance if it has become too
hot in the car.
Draft-free ventilation
Set the vent outlets so that the air flows past
you and not straight at you.
Climate
66
Comfortable interior climate
AUTO program 6 offers the ideal air distribution
and air flow rate for almost all conditions, refer
to AUTO program below. In addition, you can
select an interior temperature you find pleasant.
The following sections inform you in detail
about how to adjust the settings.
Air distribution, manual
Direct the flow of air to the windows
, to the upper body area and to
the footwell . Intermediate settings
are possible. The arrow lights up.
The automatic air supply remains unchanged.
You can switch the automatic air distribution
back on by pressing the AUTO button.
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
Quickly removes ice and condensa-
tion from the windshield and side
windows.
AUTO program
The AUTO program adjusts the air
distribution to the windshield and
side windows, towards the upper
body area and into the footwell for
you. The air flow rate and your temperature
specifications will be adapted to outside influ-
ences as a result of seasonal changes, e.g. sun-
light or window condensation.
The cooling is switched on automatically with
the AUTO program.
The AUTO program functions only to a
limited extent when the convertible top is
open.<
Air flow rate, manual
Adjust the air flow rate. The arrow
lights up.
The automatic air distribution
remains unchanged. You can reactivate the
automatic mode for the air flow rate with the
AUTO button.The higher the air flow rate, the more effective
the air conditioning will be.
Switching the system on/off
Turn the rotary switch to 0. The automatic cli-
mate control is switched off and the air supply is
cut off.
To switch on the automatic climate control, set
any desired air flow rate.
Switching cooling function on/off
When the cooling function is on, the
air is cooled, dehumidified, then
reheated depending on the tempera-
ture setting.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
The cooling function is automatically switched
on along with the AUTO program. The passen-
ger compartment can only be cooled while the
engine is running.
Maximum cooling
At outside temperatures above
327/06 and when the engine is
running, you obtain a maximum cool-
ing effect as soon as possible.
The automatic climate control switches to the
lowest temperature and operates in recircu-
lated-air mode. Air flows at maximum rate only
from the vents for the upper body area. You
should therefore open them for maximum cool-
ing.
Temperature
Set the desired temperature.
The values on the dial are approxima-
tions of the respective temperature
resulting in the passenger compartment.
The automatic climate control achieves this
temperature as quickly as possible regardless
of the season, using maximum cooling or heat-
ing power if necessary, and then maintains it.
If you switch between different tempera-
ture settings in quick succession, the
Special operating instructions
74
Special operating instructions
Break-in procedures
Moving parts need to be given some time until
they can interact smoothly with one another. To
ensure that your vehicle provides maximum
economy throughout a long service life, we
request that you observe the following:
Always obey all official speed limits.
Engine and differential
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do
not exceed 4,500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid press-
ing the accelerator beyond the kickdown point.
After driving 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until an initial break-in period has
elapsed. Therefore, drive cautiously 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 cautiously during this break-in
period.
Clutch
The function of the clutch reaches its optimal
level only after a distance driven of approx.
300 miles/500 km. Shift gears carefully during
the break-in period.
After replacing components
The same break-in procedures should be
observed if any of the components mentioned
above have to be renewed in the course of the
vehicle's operating life.
Driving notes
Close the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate
Operate the vehicle only when the lug-
gage compartment lid/tailgate is closed.
Otherwise, exhaust fumes could enter the inte-
rior of the vehicle.<
Should it be absolutely necessary to drive with
the luggage compartment lid/tailgate open:
1.Coupe: close both windows.
Roadster: close all windows if the convert-
ible top is closed.
2.Greatly increase the air flow from the air
conditioning or automatic climate control,
refer to page62 or65.
Hot exhaust system
In all vehicles, extremely high tempera-
tures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Never remove the heat shields installed in
this area, nor apply undercoating to their sur-
faces. When driving, standing at idle or parking
the vehicle, take care to avoid contact between
the hot exhaust system and flammable materi-
als, e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc. Such contact
could lead to a fire, resulting in serious personal
injury and property damage. Do not touch the
hot exhaust pipes to avoid the risk of injury from
burns.<
Mobile communications in the vehicle
BMW advises against using mobile com-
munications devices, e.g. mobile phones,
inside the vehicle without connecting them
directly to an outside antenna. Otherwise, it
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
75
cannot be ruled out that vehicle electronics and
the mobile communications device interfere
with one another. In addition, it is not ensured
that the radio waves emitted during transmis-
sion are directed outside of the vehicle inte-
rior.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water may form between the tires and
the road surface. This situation, known as
hydroplaning, means that the tire can com-
pletely 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 page87.
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.<
Moisture inside the vehicle
Make sure that the passenger compart-
ment does not become wet and that liq-
uids are transported in closed containers.
Otherwise, moisture could penetrate and dam-
age electronic components inside the vehicle.<
Use the parking brake on inclines
On inclines, keep the vehicle from rolling
by using the parking brake rather than by
slipping the clutch, which would lead to a high
degree of clutch wear.<
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 at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Wet roads
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal
every few miles. Watch traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The resulting heat dries the
brake rotors and brake pads. Immediate braking
force is then available if necessary.
Inclines
To prevent overheating and, as a result,
diminished braking effectiveness, drive
down long or steep downhill grades in the gear
that requires the least braking. Otherwise, even
light but consistent pedal 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 page43.
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 the brake rotors
Limited vehicle use, extended periods with the
vehicle parked or in storage, and operating con-
ditions in which braking is restricted to gentle,
low-pressure applications will all increase the
tendency for corrosion to form on the rotors and
contamination to accumulate on the brake
pads. This occurs because the minimal pres-
Refueling
82
Refueling
Always switch off the engine before refu-
eling. Otherwise the tank cannot be
refilled. The Service Engine Soon warning lamp
will come on.<
Take all precautionary measures and
observe all applicable regulations when
handling fuel. Do not carry any spare fuel con-
tainers in your vehicle. They can develop a leak
and cause an explosion or cause a fire in the
event of an accident.<
Gas cap
Opening
1.Open the fuel filler door, arrow 1.
2.Turn the gas cap counterclockwise.
3.Place the gas cap in the bracket attached to
the fuel filler door, arrow 2.
Closing
Fit the gas cap and turn it clockwise until you
clearly hear a click.
Do not jam the gas cap strap as this will
allow fuel vapors to escape.<
The warning lamp
* lights up briefly if
the gas cap is loose or missing. Close
the gas cap properly.
Manually releasing the fuel filler door
In the event of a malfunction you can unlock the
fuel filler door manually.1.Remove the cover for the right-hand rear
lamps in the cargo bay by turning the lock,
see arrow.
2.Pull the cargo bay trim panel slightly toward
the interior. The green button with the fuel
pump symbol becomes visible.
3.Undo the adhesive strip and pull off.
4.Pull the button. The fuel filler door is
released.
Pull on the button slowly and care-
fully; otherwise it could be torn off.<
Observe the following when refueling
When handling fuels, comply with all of
the applicable safety precautions posted
at the service station.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Avoid lifting the filler
nozzle while filling the tank, as it could other-
wise lead to:
>Premature pump shutoff
>A reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor
recovery system.