
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7
Fog lamps*95
8
Turn signals62
High beams, headlamp flasher94
Roadside parking lamps
*94
Computer68
Settings and information about the 
vehicle71
Settings and information about the 
vehicle71
Instrument lighting95
9Instrument cluster12
10
Windshield wipers63
Rain sensor
*63
11Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine58
12Ignition lock58
13Buttons on the steering wheel
Telephone
*:
>Press: accepting and ending a 
call; starting dialing
* of 
selected phone number; redi-
aling if no phone number is 
selected.
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice com-
mand system
*
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling through phone book and 
lists with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable53 
Individually programmable53 
14Horn: the entire surface
15Adjusting the steering wheel53
16
Cruise control
*65
17Releasing the hood212
18Opening the luggage compartment lid33 

Controls
 63Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator 
lamp and the turn signals indicates that 
one of the turn signal bulbs has failed.<
Indicating a turn 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.
You can activate or deactivate this function.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "Lighting" is selected and press the 
controller.
6.Select "Triple turn signal" and press the 
controller.
 Triple turn signaling is activated.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating intermittent wipe or 
rain sensor
*
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
5Setting speed for intermittent wipe, or sen-
sitivity of the rain sensor
Switching on wipers
Press the lever upward, arrow 1.
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once.
The system switches to operation in the inter-
mittent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance 
point. 
The system switches to normal speed when the 
vehicle is stationary.
Intermittent wipe or rain sensor*
If the car is not equipped with a rain sensor, the 
intermittent-wipe time is a preset.
If the car is equipped with a rain sensor, the time 
between wipes is controlled automatically and 
depends on the intensity of the rainfall. The rain 
sensor is mounted on the windshield, directly in 
front of the interior rearview mirror. 

Driving
64
Activating intermittent wipe or rain 
sensor
Press the button, arrow3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Setting speed for intermittent wipe or 
sensitivity of the rain sensor
Turn the thumb wheel5.
Deactivating intermittent wipe or rain 
sensor
Press the button again, arrow3. 
The LED goes out.
Deactivate the rain sensor before enter-
ing an automatic car wash. Failure to do 
so could result in damage caused by undesired 
wiper activation.<
Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
Pull the lever, arrow 4.
Washer fluid is sprayed onto the windshield and 
the wipers are operated for a short time.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched 
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and 
appropriate intervals.
Do not use the washers if there is any 
danger that the fluid will freeze on the 
windshield. If you do, your vision could be 
obscured. Antifreeze should therefore be 
added to the fluid, refer to Washer fluid. 
Do not use the washers when the washer fluid 
reservoir is empty, otherwise you will damage 
the washer pump.<
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are heated 
automatically
* while the engine is running or 
the ignition is switched on.
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable. 
Therefore, keep it away from ignition 
sources and only store it in the closed original 
container that is kept out of reach of children, 
otherwise there is a risk of personal injury. 
Comply with the instructions on the con-
tainer.<
Washer fluid filler neck
O nly refill was her fluid when the engine is 
cool to avoid contact with hot engine 
parts. Otherwise, fluid spills constitute a fire 
hazard and a risk to personal safety.<
All washer nozzles are supplied with washer 
fluid by the same reservoir.
Fill with water and, if required, with a washer 
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
Mix the water and antifreeze before filling 
the washer fluid reservoir to make sure 
the correct concentration is maintained.<
Capacity
Approx. 6.3USquarts/6liters. 

Care
220 temperature can lead to component damage or 
water penetration. Follow the operating instruc-
tions of the high-pressure washer.<
When using high-pressure washers, do 
not spray against the sensors and cam-
eras, e.g. of the Park Distance Control or Rear 
View Camera, for an extended period and main-
tain a distance of at least 12 in/30 cm.<
Manual car wash
When washing the vehicle by hand, use large 
quantities of water and car shampoo if neces-
sary. Clean the vehicle with a sponge or wash-
ing brush, applying light pressure only.
Before cleaning the windshield, deacti-
vate the rain sensor or switch off the igni-
tion to prevent unintentional activation of the 
wipers.<
Observe local regulations pertaining to 
washing vehicles by hand.<
Headlamps
Do not rub them dry and do not use abrasive or 
corrosive cleaning agents.
Remove contamination, such as insects, by 
soaking with shampoo or insect remover and 
then rinsing with plenty of water.
Thaw ice with a windshield de-icer and do not 
use an ice scraper.
Windows
Clean the inside and outside surfaces of the 
windows and the mirrors with window cleaner.
Do not clean the mirrors with cleaners 
containing quartz.<
Wiper blades
Clean with soapy water and replace regularly to 
avoid streaking.
Wax and preservative residue and con-
tamination on the window can lead to 
streaking when operating the windshield wip-
ers, leading to premature wear of the wiper 
blades and causing the rain sensor to malfunc-
tion.<
Convertible top care
The appearance and life of the convertible top 
depend on proper care and operation.
Follow these instructions:
>Do not fold the convertible top into the con-
vertible top box when the top is wet or fro-
zen, as this may cause water spots, mold 
stains or chafed areas.
>If water spots occur on the inside headliner 
despite precautions, remove them using a 
microfiber cloth and interior cleaner.
>If the vehicle is parked in enclosed areas for 
extended periods, ensure that there is suffi-
cient ventilation.
>Remove bird droppings immediately, as 
their corrosive ingredients attack the con-
vertible top and damage the rubber seals.
To remove stains from the convertible 
top, do not use stain removers, paint thin-
ners, solvents, benzine or similar substances. 
These substances may damage the rubber 
parts. Improper care and cleaning may cause 
the convertible top and convertible top seams 
to become leaky.<
To remove heavy soiling, use a special convert-
ible top cleaner. 
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use.
After washing the convertible top three to five 
times, treat it with an impregnating agent.
Paintwork care
Regular care contributes to value retention and 
protects the paintwork against the long-term 
effects of damaging substances.
Region-specific environmental influences can 
damage the vehicle paintwork. Therefore, it is 
important to adapt the frequency and scope of 
car care accordingly.
Immediately remove very aggressive sub-
stances, e.g. spilled fuel, oil, grease, tree resin 
or bird droppings, to prevent damage to the 
paintwork. 

Giving and receiving assistance
232 windshield wipers may be unavailable. Power 
steering assistance is not available when the 
engine is not running. Thus, braking and steer-
ing will require increased effort. Active steering 
is not active and it will be necessary to turn the 
steering wheel further.<
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in neutral position.
Automatic transmission
Selector lever in position N.
Changing the selector lever position, refer to 
page61.
Do not exceed a towing speed of 45 mph/
70 km/h and a towing distance of 
90 miles/150 km, otherwise the automatic 
transmission may be damaged.<
Towing methods
Do not lift the vehicle by a tow fitting or 
body and chassis parts, otherwise dam-
age may result.<
With a tow bar
The towing vehicle must not be lighter 
than the towed vehicle, otherwise it may 
be impossible to maintain control.<
The tow fittings used should be on the same 
side on both vehicles. Should it prove impossi-
ble to avoid mounting the tow bar at an angle, 
please observe the following:
>Clearance and maneuvering capability will 
be sharply limited during cornering.
>The tow bar will generate lateral forces if it is 
attached offset.
Attach the tow bar to the tow fittings only, 
as attaching it to other parts of the vehicle 
could result in damage.<
With a tow rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make 
sure that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated 
stresses on vehicle components when 
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps. Attach the tow rope to the tow fittings only, as 
attaching it to other parts of the vehicle could 
result in damage.<
With a tow truck
Have the BMW transported with a tow truck 
with a so-called lift bar or on a flat bed.
Do not tow the vehicle with just the rear axle 
raised as this may cause the steering to turn.
Tow-starting
Avoid tow-starting the vehicle whenever possi-
ble; instead, jump-start the engine, refer to 
page230. Vehicles with a catalytic converter 
should only be tow-started when the engine is 
cold, vehicles with an automatic transmission 
cannot be tow-started at all.
1.Switch on the hazard warning flashers, 
comply with local regulations.
2.Switch on the ignition, refer to page58.
3.Shift into 3rd gear.
4.Have the vehicle tow-started with the clutch 
depressed all the way and slowly release 
the clutch. After the engine starts, immedi-
ately depress the clutch completely again.
5.Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow 
bar or rope and switch off the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
6.Have the vehicle checked. 

Reference 259
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Windshield wipers, refer to 
Wiper system63
Winter tires211
– setting speed limit79
– storage211
Wiper blade replacement223
Wiper system63
"With highways" in 
navigation134
Word-matching principle for 
navigation135
Wrench/screwdriver, refer to 
Onboard tool kit223
X
Xenon lamps
– replacing bulb223