
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 

Adjustments
34
Damaged safety belts
When the belt system has absorbed an 
accident or has been damaged, have the 
system and its belt tensioners replaced and the 
b e l t  a n c h o r s  c h e c k e d .  H a v e  t h i s  w o r k  d o n e  o n l y  
by your BMW center or at a workshop that 
works according to BMW repair procedures 
with correspondingly trained personnel. Other-
wise, it is not guaranteed that the safety devices 
will function properly.<
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
The passenger's mirror is more convex 
than the driver's mirror. The objects seen 
in the mirror are closer than they appear. Do not 
gauge your distance from traffic behind you on 
the basis of what you see in the mirror; other-
wise there is an increased risk of an accident.<
1Adjustments
2To switch from one mirror to the other
3To fold the mirrors in or out
*
Manual adjustment
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually: 
press on the edges of the lens.
Folding mirrors in or out*
The mirrors can be folded in or out up to a road 
speed of approx. 6 mph/10 km/h by pressing 
button3. This can be useful on narrow roads, 
for example, or to reset the mirrors to their cor-
rect positions after they were folded in.
Automatic heating*
Both exterior mirrors are automatically heated 
when the engine is running or the ignition is 
switched on.
Interior rearview mirror
Turn the knob to reduce glare from the head-
lamps of cars behind you when driving at night.
Interior and exterior mirrors with 
automatic dimming feature* 
The automatic dimming feature of the interior 
and exterior mirrors
* is controlled by two photo 
cells in the interior rearview mirror. In the Road-
ster, one is located in the top of the mirror 
frame, see arrow. In the Coupe, it is located at 
the bottom of the mirror frame. The other photo 
cell is on the back of the mirror.
In order to ensure that the system functions 
correctly, keep the photocells clean, do not 
cover the area between the interior rearview 
mirror and windshield, and do not affix adhesive 
labels or stickers of any kind to the windshield 
directly in front of the mirror. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 51
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Driving stability control 
systems 
Your BMW is equipped with a s eries  of systems  
that help maintain driving stability even in 
adverse driving situations.
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS keeps the wheels from locking during 
braking. Steering stability is maintained even 
during full brake applications. In this way, active 
safety is enhanced.
ABS is operational each time the engine is 
started. Braking safely, refer to page75.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls brake-force application at 
the rear wheels in order to obtain increased sta-
bility in the vehicle's braking response.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system 
automatically produces the maximum braking 
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. At the same time, the benefits of the ABS 
are also exploited.
As long as you want full braking to continue, do 
not reduce pressure on the brake.
Dynamic Stability Control DSC 
DSC prevents slip at the drive wheels while 
starting off and accelerating the vehicle. DSC 
also recognizes unstable vehicle conditions, 
such as fishtailing or nose-diving. In these 
cases, and subject to physical limits, DSC helps 
to keep the vehicle on a steady course by 
reducing engine speed and by applying brakes 
at individual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed 
even with DSC. It will always be the 
driver's responsibility to drive in a manner that 
matches road conditions. Therefore, do not limit the additional safety margin by practicing 
risky driving.<
Deactivating DSC
Press the button for at least 3 seconds; the indi-
cator lamp for DSC lights up in the instrument 
cluster. Dynamic Traction Control DTC and 
DSC have been deactivated simultaneously. No 
more interventions to increase stability and for-
ward momentum are carried out.
To enhance vehicle stability, reactivate DSC as 
soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button again; the indicator lamp goes 
out in the instrument cluster.
Checking 
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive forces and 
brake forces.
The indicator lamp is lit:
DSC has been deactivated completely.
Dynamic Traction Control DTC
DTC is a variant of the DSC in which forward 
momentum is optimized for special road condi-
tions, e.g. snow-covered roads that have not 
yet been cleared. The system ensures maxi-
mum forward momentum, but driving stability is 
limited. Therefore, drive carefully in accordance 
with conditions. 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
52 In the following exceptional circumstances, it 
may be effective to activate the DTC for a short 
period:
>When driving on snow-covered grades, in 
slush or on uncleared, snow-covered roads
>When rocking the vehicle or starting off in 
deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains
Activating DTC
Press the button briefly; the DTC indicator lamp 
lights up in the instrument cluster.
Checking 
Deactivating DTC
Press the button again; the DTC indicator lamp 
in the instrument cluster goes out.
Malfunction in the driving stability 
control systems
Have the system checked as soon as possible.Drive cautiously, think well ahead and 
avoid full brake applications, otherwise 
unstable driving conditions could result.<
The vehicle remains operational. Have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible.
Drive cautiously and think well ahead, 
otherwise unstable driving conditions 
could result.<
Drive-off assistant
The drive-off assistant enables you to drive off 
smoothly on uphill gradients. It is not necessary 
to use the parking brake for this.
1.Hold the car in place by depressing the 
brake.
2.Release the brake and drive off without 
delay.
The drive-off assistant holds the car in 
place for approx. 2 seconds after the 
brake is released. Depending on vehicle load, 
the car may roll backwards a little during this 
time span. Drive off without delay after releas-
ing the brake. Otherwise, the drive-off assistant 
will no longer hold the car in place after approx. 
2 seconds and the car will start to roll back-
wards.< The indicator lamp flashes:
DTC controls the drive forces and 
brake forces.
The indicator lamp is lit:
DTC has been activated.
The warning lamp for the brake system 
lights up in red, together with the yel-
low indicator lamps for ABS and DSC:
The driving stability control systems 
have failed.
Canadian models display these warn-
ing lamps.
The DSC warning lamp lights up 
together with the yellow warning lamp 
for the brake system:
DSC, including DTC and DBC, are 
malfunctioning.
Canadian models display these warn-
ing lamps. 

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- 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 89
Correct wheels and tires
BMW recommends using only wheels 
and tires that have been approved by 
BMW for your particular vehicle model, other-
wise body contact and serious accidents can 
result despite the use of the same nominal size, 
e.g. due to manufacturing tolerances. If non-
approved wheels and tires are used, BMW can-
not evaluate their suitability, and therefore can-
not be held liable for driving safety.<
You can inquire about the correct wheel/tire 
combination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is 
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of 
various vehicle systems such as ABS and DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle 
response, only use tires of a single brand and 
tread configuration. After a tire has been dam-
aged, for instance, mount the original wheel and 
tire combination again as soon as possible.
Wheels with electronics for the Tire 
Pressure Monitor TPM
When mounting new tires or changing from 
summer to winter tires or vice versa, only use 
wheels with TPMS electronics; otherwise the 
Tire Pressure Monitor would not be able to 
detect a flat tire, refer to page54. Your BMW 
center will be glad to provide you with more 
information.
Recommended tire brands
Certain makes of tire are recommended by 
BMW for each tire size. They are marked with a 
clearly visible BMW designation on the sidewall 
of the tire.When properly used, these tires meet the high-
est standards in terms of safety and handling 
characteristics.
Run-Flat Tires
When mounting new tires or changing over 
from summer to winter tires and vice versa, 
mount Run-Flat Tires for your own safety. In the 
event of a flat, moreover, no spare wheel is 
available. Your BMW BMW center will be glad to 
provide you with more information.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends 
that damaged Run-Flat Tires be replaced 
rather than repaired.<
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends the use of winter tires for 
operation under winter road conditions. While 
all-season tires with M+S designation provide 
better winter traction than summer tires, they 
generally do not achieve the full performance of 
winter tires.
Pay attention to speed
Always comply with the speed limit for the 
winter tires mounted on your car; failure 
to do so could result in tire damage and acci-
dents.<
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that 
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the 
maximum permitted speed for the mounted 
tires must be displayed in your field of view. 
Specialist tire dealers and your BMW center 
can supply these labels.
Storage
Store tires in a cool, dry place, protecting them 
against light whenever possible. Protect the 
tires from contact with oil, grease and fuel. Do 
not exceed the maximum tire inflation pressure 
indicated on the sidewall of the tire.
Swapping wheels between the axles
BMW advises against moving the front wheels 
to the rear wheel positions and vice versa, as 
this may impair vehicle handling characteristics.