
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 5
Your individual vehicle
When you ordered your BMW, you chose vari-
ous items of equipment. This Owner's Manual 
describes all models and equipment that BMW 
offers within the same group.
We hope you will understand that equipment 
and features are included which you might not 
have chosen for your vehicle. Any differences 
can easily be identified since all optional acces-
sories and special equipment are marked with 
an asterisk 
*.
If your BMW features equipment not described 
in this Owner's Manual, please observe the 
enclosed supplementary Owner's Manuals.
Status at time of printing 
BMW pursues a policy of continuous, ongoing 
development that is conceived to ensure that 
our vehicles continue to embody the highest 
quality and safety standards combined with 
advanced, state-of-the-art technology. In 
exceptional cases, the features described in 
this Owner's Manual could therefore differ from 
those on your vehicle.
For your own safety
Maintenance and repair
Advanced technology, e.g. the use of 
modern materials and powerful electron-
ics, requires specially adapted maintenance 
and repair methods. You should therefore have 
the corresponding work on your vehicle per-
formed only by your BMW center or at a work-
shop that works according to BMW repair pro-
cedures with correspondingly trained 
personnel. If this work is not carried out prop-
erly, there is a danger of subsequent damage 
and related safety hazards.<
California Proposition 65 warning
California laws require us to state the following 
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of 
automobile components and parts, 
including components found in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals 
known to the State of California to cause cancer 
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In 
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and 
certain products of component wear contain or 
emit chemicals known to the State of CA to 
cause cancer and birth defects or other repro-
ductive harm. 
Battery posts, terminals and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash 
your hands after handling. 
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have 
caused cancer in laboratory animals. Always 
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with 
soap and water.< 

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Indicator lamps for turn signals
3Indicator and warning lamps12
4Tachometer48
with indicator and warning lamps12
5Engine coolant temperature gauge49
6Fuel gauge48
7Button for
>Displaying the clock49
>Service interval display49
>Checking the oil level93
8Position of automatic transmission
*42
9Button for
>Resetting trip odometer48
>Setting the clock49
10Display for
>Trip odometer/Odometer48
>Clock49
>Service interval49
>Computer
*50
>Checking the oil level93
Indicator and warning lamps 
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are identified 
by 
+ are tested for proper functioning whenever 
the key is turned. They each light up once for 
different periods of time.
If a malfunction occurs in one of the monitored 
systems, the corresponding lamp does not go 
out after the engine has started, or it lights up 
again while the vehicle is in motion. You can find 
more information about each system on the 
specified pages.
Turn signal indicators44
Battery charge current 
+102
Headlamp flasher/High beams44, 60
Engine oil pressure/
Engine oil level 
+92
Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving 
stability control systems 
+51 

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
 13
Colors
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
various colors and combinations.
>Red:
Stop the vehicle immediately
or
an important reminder
>Red and yellow:
Continue driving cautiously
>Yellow:
Have the system checked soon
or
for your information
>Green or blue:
For your information Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving 
stability control systems for Canadian 
models
Brake system 
+ 
Parking brake released95
Parking brake applied41
With other warning lamps52
Brake warning lamp for Canadian mod-
els
Brake pads 
+76
Fog lamps60
Electric Power Steering 
+56
Flat Tire Monitor
* +53
Tire Pressure Monitor
* +54
Airbags 
+56
'Fasten safety belts' reminder33
Defective bulb59
Doors or luggage compartment lid/tail-
gate open
Automatic transmission 
+43
Engine electronics 
+ 
Malfunction in the engine electronics. 
You can continue to drive with reduced 
engine output. Please have the system 
inspected by your BMW center.
Service engine soon 
+97
Service engine soon indicator lamp for 
Canadian models
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC
 +51
Dynamic Traction Control 
DTC 
+51
Add coolant94
Add washer fluid46
Check gas cap 
+82 

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
 15
1Reading lamps*61
2Interior lamps61
3Air conditioning62 
or automatic climate control
*65
5Indicator/warning lamp
passenger airbags37
6Central locking system21
7Hazard warning flashers
8Dynamic Driving Control44 Air distribution for air 
conditioning63
Air distribution for automatic cli-
mate control
*66
Automatic air distribution and flow 
rate
*66
Cooling function
*63,66
AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control
*67
Recirculated-air mode63,67
Maximum cooling
*66
Air flow rate63,66
Defrosting windows
*66
Rear window defroster63,67 
4
Seat heating
*33
Roadster: opening the convertible 
top
*27
Roadster: closing the convertible 
top
*27
Dynamic Traction Control DTC51
Flat Tire Monitor FTM
*53
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM
*54 

Opening and closing
18
Opening and closing
The key set
1Master keys with remote control
2Spare key
Master key with remote control
Each master key contains a rechargeable bat-
tery that is automatically recharged when it is in 
the ignition lock while the car is being driven. 
Use the master key at least twice a year in order 
to keep the batteries charged.
Depending on which master key is recognized 
when the vehicle is unlocked, different settings 
are called up and carried out in the vehicle, refer 
to Key Memory.
Spare key
For storage in a safe place, e.g. in your wallet. 
This key is not intended for constant use.
New keys 
You can obtain new keys, whether as additional 
keys or replacement keys, at your BMW center.
Vehicle Memory, Key Memory
How the system functions
You can have your BMW center program a vari-
ety of functions on your BMW according to your 
individual requirements.
Vehicle Memory refers to vehicle-oriented set-
tings and Key Memory refers to person-ori-ented settings. You can have up to four different 
basic settings adjusted for four different per-
sons. The only requirement is that each person 
uses his or her own master key with remote 
control.
When your vehicle is unlocked with the remote 
control, the vehicle recognizes the individual 
user by means of a data exchange with the key, 
and makes adjustments accordingly.
Colored decals were provided with the keys to 
help you distinguish between the different per-
sonal remote control keys.
What the system can do
You can learn about the entire array of features 
that Vehicle Memory and Key Memory offer you 
at your BMW center.
You will see this symbol throughout the 
Owner's Manual. It is to remind you at 
appropriate places of the settings that are avail-
able to you.<
Depending on how the memory functions 
are configured, the vehicle may be oper-
ated differently from what is described in the 
Owner's Manual. Should you decide to sell your 
BMW one day, please remember to have the 
memory functions returned to their original fac-
tory settings.<
Examples for Vehicle Memory
>Signal as acknowledgment when locking or 
unlocking your vehicle, refer to page19, 20
>Automatic opening of windows, refer to 
page25
>Acoustic warning when the key is still in the 
ignition switch after the driver's door has 
been opened, refer to page41
>Activation/deactivation of triple turn signal, 
refer to page44
>Activation/deactivation of daytime running 
lamps
*, refer to page59 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 19
>Activation/deactivation and duration of 
pathway lighting, refer to page60
>Adjustment of sensitivity of automatic 
headlamp control
*, refer to page59
>Setting unit of measure for displaying the 
time and outside temperature in the instru-
ment cluster, refer to page50
Examples for Key Memory
>Automatic call-up* of the driver's seat posi-
tion after unlocking, refer to page33
>Locking of the vehicle after starting off, refer 
to page21
Central locking system 
The concept
The central locking system is ready for opera-
tion whenever the driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid/tailgate
>Fuel filler door
>Storage compartment between the back-
rests
>Roadster: opened manual convertible top
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
The anti-theft system is operated at the same 
time. It prevents the doors from being unlocked 
with the lock buttons or release handles. The 
remote control is also used to switch the interior 
lamps on and off. In addition, the alarm system
* 
is armed or disarmed.
For further details of the alarm system
*, refer to 
page23.
Operating from inside
By means of the button for central locking, refer 
to page21.In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the 
central locking system unlocks automatically. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing:
from outside
With the remote control
Persons or animals in the vehicle could 
lock the doors from the inside. You should 
therefore take the remote control with you 
when leaving the vehicle so that the car can be 
opened from the outside.<
Unlocking
1.Press the  button once.
The driver's door and fuel filler door are 
unlocked.
2.Press the  button again.
The entire vehicle is unlocked.
Convenience opening
Hold the   button down.
Coupe: the windows are opened.
Roadster: the windows and the fully automatic 
convertible top
* are opened.
Locking
Press the   button.
The hazard warning flashers light up once.
If you wish, you can have this special fea-
ture activated/deactivated.<
Switching on interior lamps
With the vehicle locked: 
Press the   button.
With this function, you can also search for your 
vehicle when parked in an underground garage, 
for instance.
Unlocking the luggage compartment 
lid/tailgate
Press the  button for approx. 1 second. 

Opening and closing
20 The luggage compartment lid/tailgate opens a 
short distance, regardless of whether it was 
locked or unlocked.
A previously locked luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate is locked again after 
closing.
Before and after each trip, check that the lug-
gage compartment lid/tailgate has not been 
inadvertently unlocked.<
Panic mode*
You can also trigger the alarm system* if you 
find yourself in a dangerous situation:
Press the   button for at least 3 seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Malfunctions
The remote control may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. If this occurs, unlock and lock 
the car at the door lock or luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate lock with the key.
If the car can no longer be locked with a remote 
control, the battery in the remote control is dis-
charged. Use this remote control key while driv-
ing for an extended period in order to recharge 
the battery, refer to page18.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with 
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communications 
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC 
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and
>this device must accept any interference 
received, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation.Any unauthorized modifications or 
changes to these devices could void the 
user’s authority to operate this equipment.<
At the door lock
1.Turn the key.
The driver's door and fuel filler door are 
unlocked.
2.Turn the key again.
The entire vehicle is unlocked.
When the vehicle is locked, the hazard warning 
flashers light up once.
If you wish, you can have these special 
features activated/deactivated.<
Convenience operation
You can also operate the windows and the 
Roadster's fully automatic convertible top
* via 
the door lock.
Hold the key in the position for unlocking or 
locking.
Watch the closing process to ensure that 
no one is trapped. Releasing the key 
stops the operation.<
Manual operation
If there is a malfunction, you can unlock or lock 
the driver's door by turning the key in the lock all 
the way to the left or right. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 23
The handle recess in the interior trim of the lug-
gage compartment lid makes it easier to pull 
down.
Make sure that the closing path of the 
luggage compartment lid is clear, other-
wise injuries may result.<
Cargo bay
Emergency release
Pull the lever in the cargo bay. The luggage 
compartment lid/tailgate is unlocked.
Roadster: increasing cargo bay 
capacity
The cargo bay can be enlarged when the con-
vertible top is closed.
Turn the handles on both sides of the cargo bay 
outward beyond the resistance point at the 
same time, arrow 1.
The convertible top compartment panel swings 
up, arrow 2.
Before opening the convertible top:
Turn both handles inward.
The convertible top compartment panel is 
folded down.To avoid any damage when opening the 
convertible top, make sure that the con-
vertible top compartment panel in the cargo bay 
has been folded down.<
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the luggage com-
partment lid/tailgate is opened
>When attempts are made to start the vehi-
cle
>When there are movements in the vehicle 
interior: interior motion sensor, refer to 
page24
>When the car's inclination changes, for 
instance if an attempt is made to jack it up 
and steal the wheels or to raise it prior to 
towing away: Tilt alarm sensor, refer to 
page24
>When there is an interruption in the power 
supply from the battery
The alarm system signals unauthorized entry 
attempts for a short time by means of:
>An acoustic alarm
>Switching on the hazard warning flashers
>Flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming
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 hazard warning flashers light up once when 
the alarm system has been properly armed.
You can have different acknowledgment 
signals set to confirm arming and disarm-
ing.<
Even when the alarm system is armed, you can 
open the luggage compartment lid/tailgate 
using the  button on the remote control, 
refer to page19. When you subsequently close 
the luggage compartment lid/tailgate, it is 
locked again and monitored.