
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 

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
 21
Opening and closing:
from inside
This button serves to unlock or lock doors and 
the luggage compartment lid/tailgate when the 
doors are closed, but does not activate the anti-
theft system. The fuel filler door remains 
unlocked.
If only the driver's door was unlocked from the 
outside and you press the button, then, with the 
driver's door still open, the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate and the fuel filler door will 
unlock, too. If the driver's door is closed, it will 
be locked.
If you prefer, the central locking system is 
activated automatically as soon as you 
begin to drive. You can have the corresponding 
adjustment made for each key specifically.<
Unlocking and opening
>Either unlock the doors together using the 
button for the central locking system and 
then pull the door handle above the armrest 
or
>pull the release handle for each door twice: 
the initial pull unlocks the door, and the sec-
ond one opens it.
Locking
>Either use the central locking button to lock 
both doors simultaneously, or
>press down the safety lock button of a door. 
To prevent you from being locked out, the 
open driver's door cannot be locked using 
the lock button.
Persons or animals in the vehicle could 
lock the doors from the inside. You should therefore take the key with you when leaving 
the vehicle so that the car can be opened from 
the outside.<
Coupe: tailgate
The tailgate swings upward and towards 
the rear when it is opened. Make sure that 
it has enough clearance.<
Opening from inside the vehicle
If the tailgate has not been locked separately, 
you can open it with this button in the footwell 
on the driver's side when the vehicle is station-
ary.
Opening from the outside
Press the top half of the BMW emblem or press 
the  button on the remote control for approx. 
1 second:
The tailgate will open. 

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. 

Opening and closing
24 Manual operation of the tailgate triggers 
the alarm. Refer to page21.<
Switching off an alarm
>Unlock the car with the remote control, refer 
to page19.
>Turn the master key in the ignition lock to 
position 1, refer to page40.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp beneath the interior mir-
ror flashes continuously:
The system is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes immediately 
after the vehicle is locked: 
Doors, hood or luggage compartment lid/
tailgate are not properly closed. Even if you 
do not close the alerted area, the system 
begins to monitor the remaining areas, and 
the indicator lamp flashes continuously 
after approx. 10 seconds. However, the 
interior motion sensor is not activated.
>If the indicator lamp goes out immediately 
after the vehicle is unlocked:
Your vehicle has not been disturbed while 
you were away.
>If the indicator lamp flashes for 10 seconds 
immediately after the vehicle is unlocked: 
Your vehicle has been disturbed while you 
were away.
After an alarm has been triggered, the indicator 
lamp will flash continuously.
Tilt alarm sensor
The inclination of the vehicle is monitored. The 
alarm system reacts e.g. to attempts to steal a 
wheel or tow the vehicle.
Interior motion sensor*
Coupe
All windows must be closed in order for the inte-
rior motion sensor to function optimally.
Roadster
The system monitors the footwells and the 
seating areas of the driver and passenger. Even 
when the convertible top is open, the alarm sys-
tem including the interior motion sensor is 
armed. Objects falling into the vehicle, e.g. 
leaves, can trigger unintentional alarms, refer to 
Avoiding unintentional alarms.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor 
can be deactivated at the same time. In this way 
you can avoid unintentional alarms, e.g. in the 
following situations:
>In duplex garages
>When transporting the vehicle on car-carry-
ing trains, by ship or on a trailer
>When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor
>Press the   button on the remote 
control twice in a row.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then 
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and 
the interior motion sensor are deactivated until 
the vehicle is again unlocked and locked.
Windows
To prevent injuries, exercise care when 
closing the windows and keep them in 
your field of vision until they are shut.
Take the key with you when you leave the car, 
otherwise children could operate the windows 
and possibly injure themselves.< 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 25
Opening, closing
Ignition key in position 1 or higher:
>Press the switch downward to the resis-
tance point.
The window continues to open as long as 
you press the switch.
>Press the switch beyond the resistance 
point.
The window opens automatically. Press the 
switch again to stop the opening move-
ment.
You can close the window in the same manner 
by pulling the switch upward.
If you wish, you can have this special fea-
ture activated/deactivated.<
After switching off the ignition
You can still open or close the windows for 
approx. 1 minute, as long as no one opens any 
of the doors.
For convenience operation via the remote con-
trol or the door lock, refer to page19 or20, 
respectively.
Pinch protection system
If the closing force exceeds a certain value while 
a window is being raised, the system responds 
by stopping the window and then retracting it a 
short distance.
Despite the pinch protection system 
check and clear the window's travel path 
prior to closing it, otherwise the safety system 
might fail to detect certain kinds of obstruc-
tions, such as thin objects, and the window 
would continue closing. 
Do not install any accessories within the win-dows' range of movement; otherwise the pinch 
protection system could be impaired.<
The closing force can change as a result 
of extreme temperature fluctuations. The 
window then opens slightly after closing even if 
there is no obstacle within the window's travel 
path. If this occurs, override the pinch protec-
tion system.<
Pulling the switch beyond the resistance point 
and holding it there overrides and deactivates 
the pinch protection system.
After a power supply interruption
After a power supply interruption, for instance 
after disconnecting the battery, the pinch pro-
tection system must be reinitialized.
Roadster: when the convertible top has 
been stored in the convertible top com-
partment for an extended period of time, e.g. in 
the winter months because the hardtop was 
being used, it may also be necessary to reinitial-
ize the pinch protection system.<
Ensure that the doors and the Roadster's con-
vertible top are closed before initializing.
1.Open the window completely.
2.Press the switch 4 times within approx. 
10 seconds.
Afterward, perform the following procedure 
twice for each window:
1.Close the window completely by pulling the 
switch.
2.After the window is closed, keep pulling the 
switch for approx. 2 seconds.
3.Open the window completely by pressing 
the switch.
Roadster: manual convertible 
top
The fabric top offers perfect protection against 
the weather and can be opened easily and 
quickly by one person alone.
Here are a few tips so that you get the most out 
of your BMW: