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
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.
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.
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
41
Automatic transmission
1.Depress the brake.
2.Start the engine.
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the accelerator
pedal halfway down when starting the engine:
>If the engine does not start on the first
attempt, for instance when it is extremely
hot or cold.
>If the engine is started at very low tempera-
tures, below approx. +57/–156, at high
altitudes above approx. 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting attempts in quick
succession or repeated starting attempts
during which the engine does not start. Other-
wise, the fuel is not burned or inadequately
burned; there is a danger of overheating and
damaging the catalytic converter.<
Switching off the engine
Do not remove the key while the vehicle is
still moving. Otherwise, the steering lock
would engage when the steering wheel is
turned.
When you leave the vehicle, always remove the
key and engage the steering lock.
Apply the parking brake when parking on steep
gradients, otherwise the vehicle could start to
roll.<
You can have an acoustic signal set as a
reminder that the key is still in the ignition
switch after the driver's door has been
opened.<
Manual transmission
1.Turn the key to position 1 or 0.
2.Engage first gear or reverse gear.
3.Apply the parking brake.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2.Turn the key to position 1 or 0.
Parking brake
The parking brake is designed primarily to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling when parked. It
operates against the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp is lit, and when you
drive off a signal sounds in addition.
The parking brake is still applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and
lower the lever.
If, in exceptional circumstances, it should
be necessary to engage the parking brake
while the vehicle is in motion, do not pull it with
excessive pressure. In doing so, continuously
press the button of the parking brake lever. Oth-
erwise, too violent an application of the parking
brake can overbrake the rear axle and cause the
rear of the car to swerve.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the parking
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.
The brake lamps do not light up when the park-
ing brake is applied.<
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
45
Washer/wiper system/
Rain sensor*
0Wipers retracted
1Intermittent or rain sensor mode
2Normal wiper speed
3Fast wiper speed
4Brief wipe
5Selecting speed for intermittent mode or
setting sensitivity of the rain sensor
Intermittent mode
Not in vehicles with a rain sensor.
Rotary dial 5 is used to set the wipe interval to
one of four levels.
In addition, the wipe interval is varied automati-
cally depending on road speed.
Rain sensor*
On vehicles with a rain sensor, the wipe interval
is automatically controlled according to rain
intensity. The sensor is mounted on the wind-
shield, directly in front of the interior rearview
mirror.
Deactivate the rain sensor before enter-
ing an automatic car wash. Failure to do
so could result in damage caused by undesired
wiper activation.<
Activating
With the ignition key in position 1 or higher,
move the lever to position 1.
In any case, the wipers will move once across
the windshield.
You can leave the lever continuously in
position1. Then, as long as the ignition key is in position 1 or higher, you only need to activate
the rain sensor.
To do so:
>Turn rotary dial 5 briefly or
>Clean the windshield, refer to Cleaning
windshield and headlamps* below
Adjusting sensitivity
Turn the rotary wheel 5.
Deactivating
Flip the lever to position 0.
Normal wiper speed
When the vehicle is stopped the wipers auto-
matically switch to intermittent wipe, except in
vehicles with a rain sensor.
Fast wiper speed
When the vehicle is stopped the wipers operate
at normal wiping speed, except in vehicles with
a rain sensor.
Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
0Wipers retracted
1Cleaning windshield and headlamps
*
Do not use the washers if there is any
danger that the fluid will freeze on the
windshield, otherwise vision could be
obscured. Antifreeze should therefore be
added to the fluid, refer to Washer fluid on
page46.
Do not operate washing mechanisms when the
washer fluid reservoir is empty, otherwise you
will damage the washer pump.<
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
47
To accelerate using the lever
Press the lever, arrow1, until the desired speed
is reached.
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on
the accelerator pedal. The system stores and
maintains the speed.
To decrease speed
Pull the lever repeatedly, arrow2, until the
desired speed is reached.
Functions are the same as with increasing
speed or accelerating, except the speed is
decreased.
Deactivating cruise control
Tap the lever upwards or downwards, arrow4.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
>When you brake the vehicle
>When you engage the clutch or shift to idle
in cars with manual transmission
>When you select the automatic transmis-
sion's neutral position N
>When you drive faster or slower than the set
speed for a longer period of time, e.g. by
pressing the accelerator pedal
>When the DSC comes on
You can recall the speed last stored.
To recall the stored speed
Briefly press the button, arrow 3. The speed last
stored is achieved again and maintained.
The stored speed is deleted as soon as the igni-
tion is switched off.