
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 49
Reserve
Once the fuel level has fallen to the reserve 
zone of approx. 2.1 US gallons/8 liters, indicator 
lamp 1 lights up continuously.
Do not drive until the fuel tank is empty 
and refill it well in advance. Otherwise the 
engine may not operate properly and damage 
could result.<
When you switch on the ignition, the indicator 
lamp comes on briefly to indicate an operational 
check.
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge 
Blue
The engine is still cold. Drive at moderate 
engine and vehicle speeds.
Between the blue and red zones
Normal operating range. The needle may rise as 
far as the edge of the red sector during normal 
operation.
Red
When you switch on the ignition, warning 
lamp1 comes on briefly to indicate an opera-
tional check.
Comes on while driving:
The engine has overheated. Stop and switch 
the engine off immediately and allow it to cool 
down.
For checking the coolant level, refer to page94.
Service interval display
The remaining driving distance in miles/km until 
the next scheduled service is displayed briefly 
immediately after you start the engine or switch 
on the ignition.
The words OILSERVICE or INSPECTION indi-
cate the type of service due next. The computer 
bases its calculations of the remaining driving 
distance on the preceding driving style.
A flashing message and a minus sign in front of 
the number mean that the service interval has 
already been exceeded by the number of miles/
kilometers shown on the display. Please sched-
ule an appointment with your BMW center or a 
workshop that works according to BMW repair 
procedures with correspondingly trained per-
sonnel.
The extent of service work required can 
be read out from the remote control by 
your BMW Service Advisor.<
Clock
If you wish to have a permanent time display, 
you can have it appear in the car radio display, 
refer to the Owner's Manual for Radio.
You can set the time and the time display in the 
car radio as follows. 

Everything under control
50
Setting the clock
1.Press button 2 for several seconds until the 
hours are displayed and the colon flashes.
2.Press button1 repeatedly until the required 
hour is set.
3.Press button2 to switch to the minutes dis-
play.
4.Press button1 repeatedly until the required 
minutes are set.
5.Press button2 to confirm the time.
The set time of day is transferred to the car 
radio display or appears in the instrument clus-
ter display.
Computer*
To view the information on the instrument clus-
ter display, press the onboard computer button 
BC in the turn signal lever.
Each time you tap the onboard computer but-
ton, the following information is shown in the 
specified order:
>Time
>Outside temperature
>Average fuel consumption
>Cruising range>Average speed
With the ignition key in position 1 or higher, the 
respective last active setting is displayed.
If you wish, you can have all the following 
information displayed in another unit of 
measure.<
Setting the time format
You can have the clock displayed in 12h or 24h 
mode:
While the time display is active, press the 
onboard computer button BC in the turn signal 
lever until the display changes.
Changing unit of measure: °F/°C
While the outside temperature display is active, 
press the onboard computer button BC in the 
turn signal lever until the display changes.
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for 
the time for which the engine has been running.
To reset the average fuel consumption display:
Press the onboard computer button BC in the 
turn signal lever for approx. 2 seconds.
Cruising range
The computer bases its calculations of the 
cruising range on the preceding driving style 
and on the amount of fuel remaining in the tank.
B e  s u r e  t o  r e f u e l  a s  s o o n  a s  p o s s i b l e  o n c e  
your cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.<
Average speed
The average speed is calculated for the time for 
which the engine has been running.
To reset the average speed display:
Press the onboard computer button BC in the 
turn signal lever for approx. 2 seconds. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 55
Warning of low tire inflation pressure
The warning lamp lights up in yellow. A 
signal also sounds. There is a flat tire or 
a significant loss of tire pressure in one 
or more tires.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to 50 mph/
80 km/h or lower. Avoid strong braking and 
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a maxi-
mum speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with Run-
Flat Tires, which is the standard 
equipment by design, refer to page88, then 
do not continue driving. Doing so after a tire 
puncture may result in a severe accident.<
2.In the event of complete tire pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kilopascal, you can estimate how far 
you can continue 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 a 
suitable location at the earliest opportunity. 
Otherwise, parts of the tire could come loose 
and cause an accident. Do not continue driving. 
Contact a BMW center.<
Malfunction
The yellow warning lamp flashes and 
then lights up continuously. A flat tire 
cannot be detected.
This warning is displayed under the following 
circumstances:
>If there is a malfunction;
have the system checked.
>If a wheel without TPM electronics is 
mounted.
>If other systems or devices that use the 
same radio frequency temporarily interfere 
with the TPM.
Declaration according to NHTSA/
FMVSS 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring 
System
Each tire should be checked monthly when cold 
and inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the 
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label. If 
your vehicle has tires of a different size than the 
size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label, you should determine the 
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires. As 
an added safety feature, your vehicle has been 
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem, TPMS, that illuminates a low tire pressure 
telltale when one or more of your tires are signif-
icantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the 
low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should 
stop and check your tires as soon as possible, 
and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving 
on a significantly underinflated tire causes the 
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. 
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and 
tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s han-
dling and stopping ability. Please note that the 
TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire mainte-
nance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to 
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-
inflation has not reached the level to trigger illu-
mination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined 
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the sys-
tem detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash 
for approximately one minute and then remain  

Mobility
This section helps you maintain your car's
mobility by supplying important information
on vital topics including fuels and lubricants,
wheels and tires, service, maintenance and
breakdown assistance.
Mobility 

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. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 83
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle shuts 
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 14.5 US gallons/55 liters, including the 
reserve capacity of approx. 2.1 US gallons/
8liters.
Do not drive until the fuel tank is empty. 
Otherwise, the engine may not operate 
properly and damage could result.<
Fuel specifications
Do not fill the tank with leaded fuel, as this 
would cause permanent damage to the 
catalytic converter.
Do not fill the tank with E85, i.e. fuel that con-
tains 85 % ethanol, nor with Flex Fuel, as this 
would cause damage to the engine and fuel 
supply system.<
Required fuel
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less 
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is 87.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds 
when starting at high outside temperatures. 
This has no effect on the engine life.
Do not fill the tank with gasoline below the 
specified minimum grade; otherwise 
engine damage could result.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, 
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale 
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other 
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight, 
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void 
the applicable warranties with respect to 
defects in materials or workmanship.The use of poor-quality fuels may result in 
drivability, starting and stalling problems 
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and 
high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability problems 
which you suspect could be related to the fuel 
you are using, we recommend that you respond 
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand 
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier 
Detergent Gasoline.
Failure to comply with these recommendations 
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.< 

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. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 93
Add engine oil at the earliest opportunity, e.g. 
when you stop to refuel.
The warning lamp lights up in yellow 
within 30 seconds after the engine is 
started: the oil level sensor is defective.
It is not possible to issue a current or accurate 
measurement. Have the system checked as 
soon as possible.
Checking the oil level 
Your car is equipped with an electronic oil-level 
monitor.
For a precise measurement and display of the 
oil level, it is necessary that the engine be at 
operating temperature, i.e. after uninterrupted 
driving for at least approx. 6.5 miles/10 km. You 
can have the oil level displayed while you are 
driving, or while the vehicle is at a standstill on a 
level surface and the engine is running.
You can have the oil level reading displayed in 
the instrument cluster.
Press button1. The oil level is checked and dis-
played for approx. 15 seconds.
To exit the display sooner, press button 1 again.
Possible displays
1Oil level OK
2Oil level is being checked.
This can take about 3 minutes if the car is at 
a standstill on a level surface, or about 
5 minutes while the car is on the move.
3Oil level down to minimum:
Add 1 US quart/1 liter of engine oil as soon 
as possible, refer also to Adding engine oil.
4Oil level is too high.
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, as excessive oil can damage the 
engine.<
5The oil level sensor is defective:
it is not possible to issue a current or accu-
rate measurement.
Do not add engine oil. You can continue 
your journey. Have the system checked as 
soon as possible.