
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 

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. 

Driving
44 the transmission can cool down again. You can 
continue your journey, but moderate your 
speed and exercise due caution.
Have the system checked immediately.
Yellow warning lamp
The transmission system is malfunc-
tioning. Avoid heavy loads.
All of the selector lever positions can 
continue to be engaged; in the forward drive 
positions, however, the vehicle will be operating 
in a restricted gear range only.
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
Instructions on towing, tow-starting and jump-
starting begin on page104.
Dynamic Driving Control
At the touch of a button, Dynamic Driving Con-
trol enables you to drive your BMW in an even 
sportier style:
>The engine responds more spontaneously 
to any motion of the accelerator pedal.
>Power steering is adapted to further 
enhance contact with the road surface.
>Cruise control
*:
The stored speed is achieved more quickly 
when called up.
In addition with automatic transmission:
>The Sport program is activated.
To activate the system
Press the SPORT button while the key is in 
position 2.
The LED in the button lights up.
To deactivate the system
Press the SPORT button again.
The LED in the button goes out.
Turn signal indicators/
Headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signal indicators
Unusually rapid flashing of the indica-
tor lamp indicates that a turn signal 
indicator has failed.<
To signal briefly
Press the lever as far as the resistance point for 
as long as you wish to indicate a turn.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever as far as the resistance point.
The turn signals flash three times.
If you wish, you can have this function 
activated.< 

Everything under control
48
Everything under control
Odometer 
1Odometer
2Trip odometer
3Resetting trip odometer
4Outside temperature or computer dis-
plays
*
Trip odometer 
Resetting trip odometer: 
While the ignition is switched on, press button 3 
in the instrument cluster until the trip odometer 
is set to zero.
Outside temperature display, clock*
Setting the clock, refer to page50.
Outside temperature warning
If the outside temperature drops to approx. 
377/+36, the computer automatically 
switches to the outside temperature display.
A signal also sounds and the display flashes for 
a short time. There is an increased risk of black 
ice.
After an outside temperature warning has 
been issued, the computer switches back 
to its previous screen. You can have this acti-
vated/deactivated.<
Black ice can also form at temperatures 
above 377/+36. You should therefore 
drive carefully on bridges and shaded roads, for 
example, otherwise there is an increased risk of 
an accident.<
When the vehicle is parked
If you still want to view the time and odometer 
reading briefly after the ignition has been 
switched off or the key has been removed:
Press button 3 in the instrument cluster.
Tachometer 
Never allow the engine to operate with the nee-
dle in the red overspeed sector of the gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is inter-
rupted when speed reaches this sector.
Fuel gauge 
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 14.5 US gallons/
55 liters. You can find information on refueling 
on page82.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period, 
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for 
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly. 

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.