
Controls
 47Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Longitudinal direction
2Height
3Angle
4Backrest
5Convertible: head restraints
Coupe: the head restraints are adjusted manu-
ally, refer to Head restraints below.
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest 
to obtain additional support in the lumbar 
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a 
relaxed, upright sitting position.
>Increase or decrease curvature: press the 
switch at the front or rear, respectively.>Shift curvature up or down: press the switch 
at the top or bottom, respectively.
Backrest width*
You can change the width of the backrest to suit 
your individual preferences by adjusting the lat-
eral-support pads.
Press the front or rear end of the switch.
Backrest width decreases or increases accord-
ingly.
Longitudinal adjustment from outside/
behind*
To move the front seats forward or backward 
from outside or from one of the rear seats: with 
the door open, press the front end 1 or rear end 
2 of the switch.
Head restraints
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the 
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way 
that its center is at approx. ear level. Oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the 
event of an accident. Only remove a head 
restraint if no one will be sitting on the seat in 
question. Reinstall the head restraint before  

Adjustments
50 To switch off:
Press button longer.
If you continue driving within approx. the next 
15 minutes, the seat heating is automatically 
activated at the previously set temperature.
The temperature is lowered or the heating is 
switched off entirely to save on battery power. 
The LEDs stay lit.
Seat and mirror memory*
You can store and call up two different combi-
nations of driver's-seat and exterior-mirror 
positions.
Settings for the backrest width and lumbar sup-
port are not stored in memory.
Storing
1.Switch on radio readiness or the ignition, 
refer to page59.
2.Adjust the seat and exterior mirrors to the 
desired positions.
3.Press the   button.
The LED in the button lights up.
4.Press the desired memory button 1 or 2: the 
LED goes out.
The driver's seat and exterior mirror posi-
tions are stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Call-up
Do not call up memory while you are driv-
ing, otherwise unexpected seat move-
ment could result in an accident.<
Convenience mode
1.Unlock and open the driver's door or switch 
on radio readiness, refer to page59.
2.Briefly press the desired memory button1 
or 2.
The adjusting procedure is halted immediately 
when you touch a seat adjustment switch or 
one of the memory buttons.
Safety feature
1.Close the driver's door and switch the igni-
tion on or off, refer to page59.
2.Press the desired memory button1 or2 
and keep it pressed until the adjustment 
process has been completed.
If the   button was pressed accidentally:
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
Call-up with the remote control
The driver's seat position last stored is stored 
for the remote control currently in use.
You can select the occasion on which the seat is 
reset to that position.
>Call-up when the vehicle is unlocked.
>Call-up when the driver's door is opened.
When this Personal Profile function is 
used, first make sure that the footwell 
behind the driver's seat is free of obstacles. 
Failure to do so could cause injury to persons or 
damage to objects as a result of a rearward 
movement of the seat.<
The adjusting procedure is halted immediately 
when you touch a seat adjustment switch or 
one of the memory buttons.
Selecting automatic call-up
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open 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  

Controls
 53Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
folded out automatically at a speed of approx. 
25 mph/40 km/h.
Before entering an automatic car wash, 
fold in the exterior mirrors by hand or with 
button3, to prevent them from being damaged 
due to the width of the vehicle.<
Automatic heating
Both exterior mirrors are heated automatically 
while the engine is running or the ignition is 
switched on.
Passenger-side mirror tilt function – 
automatic curb monitor*
Activating
1.Push the switch to the position for the 
driver's-side mirror, arrow 1.
2.Engage reverse gear or move the selector 
lever to position R.
The glass of the mirror on the passenger 
side tilts slightly down. This allows the 
driver to see the area immediately adjacent 
to the vehicle, e.g. a curb, when backing into 
a parking space.
Deactivating
Push the switch to the position for the passen-
ger-side mirror, arrow 2.
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, automatic 
dimming feature*
The automatic dimming feature of the interior 
and exterior mirrors
* is controlled by two photo 
cells in the interior rearview mirror. One photo 
cell is in the mirror frame, see arrow; the other is 
on the back of the mirror.
In order to ensure that the system functions 
correctly, keep the photo cells 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.
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust the steering wheel position 
while the car is in motion, otherwise there 
i s  a  ri s k  o f  a c c id e n t  du e  t o  a n  un e x p e ct e d  m o v e -
ment.< 

Transporting children safely
56
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger 
themselves and/or other persons by opening 
the doors, for example.<
Children always in the rear
Accident research has shown that the safest 
place for children is on the rear seat.
Children under the age of 13 or smaller 
than 5 ft/150 cm may be transported only 
in the rear in suitable child-restraint systems 
appropriate for their age, weight and size. Oth-
erwise there is an increased risk of injury in the 
event of an accident.<
Children 13 years of age or older must be buck-
led in with a safety belt as soon as there no 
longer is any child-restraint system that is 
appropriate for their age, size and weight.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child-
restraint system on the front passenger 
seat, the front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger must be deactivated. Otherwise, a child 
traveling on that seat will face a significant risk 
of injury if the airbags are triggered off, even 
with a child-restraint system.<
For more information on automatic deactivation 
of the front passenger airbags refer to page97.
Installing child-restraint 
systems
Observe the child-restraint system man-
ufacturer's instructions when selecting, 
installing and using child-restraint systems. 
Otherwise the protective effect may be dimin-
ished.<
Standard child-restraint systems are designed 
to be secured with a lap belt or with the lap-belt 
section of a lap-and-shoulder belt. Incorrectly or improperly installed child-restraint systems 
can increase the risk of injury to children. 
Always follow the installation instructions for 
the system with the greatest care.
On the front passenger seat
After installing a child-restraint system on 
the front passenger seat, make sure that 
the front and side airbags for the front passen-
ger are deactivated, otherwise there is an 
increased risk of injury if the airbags deploy.<
Backrest width*
The backrest width of the front passen-
ger's seat must be at its widest possible 
setting. Do not change the setting after install-
ing the child seat. Otherwise the child seat's 
stability on the front passenger's seat is lim-
ited.<
1.Adjust the backrest width to its widest set-
ting, refer to page47.
2.Install the child seat.
Child seat security
The rear safety belts and the front passenger's 
safety belt can be prevented from being pulled 
out in order to fasten child-restraint systems.
To lock the safety belt
1.Secure the child-restraint system with the 
belt.
2.Pull the belt strap all the way out. 

Wheels and tires
220
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire 
makes it easier to identify and choose the right 
tires.
Tire size
Speed code letter
Q = up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph or 190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph or 210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph or 240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph or 270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph or 300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of 
the US Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in 
the tire coding: DOT … 3006 means that the 
tire was manufactured in week 30 of 2006.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires 
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last 
for 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable 
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and 
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA 
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear 
Traction AA A B C 
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to 
Federal Safety Requirements in addition 
to these grades.<
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating 
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested 
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded 
150 would wear one and one-half (1γ) times as 
well on the government course as a tire graded 
100. The relative performance of tires depends 
upon the actual conditions of their use, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the 
norm due to variations in driving habits, service 
practices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are 
AA, A, B, and C. 
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop 
on wet pavement as measured under controlled 
conditions on specified government test sur-
faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C 
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is 
based on straight-ahead braking traction 
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B, 
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the 
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate  e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ 
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter, in
front of the R on ZR tires
225/45 R1791 V
e.g.
Manufacturer's code 
for tire make
Tire size and 
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 0705 

Reference 253
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Automatic
– air distribution106
– air flow rate106
– cruise control66,67
– headlamp control100
– service notification203
– storing of stations165
Automatic climate control104
– automatic air 
distribution106
– settings via iDrive105
Automatic curb monitor53
"Automatic programs" with 
automatic climate 
control106
Automatic recirculated-air 
control AUC106
Automatic station search165
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic61
– interlock61,62
– overriding selector lever 
lock63
– shiftlock, refer to Changing 
selector lever position62
– sport program62
– towing238
– tow-starting238
"Automatic ventilation"108
AUTO program for automatic 
climate control106
"Auto Request"203
"Autostore"
– on the radio166
"AUX"160,179,181
– AUX-In port179
– USB-audio interface180
AUX-IN
– port114
AUX-In port179
Average fuel consumption76
– setting the units78
Average speed76
"Avoid ferries" in 
navigation145
"Avoid highways" in 
navigation145
Avoid highways in 
navigation145Avoiding unintentional 
alarms36
"Avoid tollroads" in 
navigation145
Axle loads, refer to 
Weights247
"A - Z"193
,194
B
Backrest contour, refer to 
Lumbar support47
Backrests, refer to Seat 
adjustment46
Backrest width adjustment47
Back seats
– refer to Rear seats48
Backup lamps
– replacing bulb233
Backup lamps, refer to Tail 
lamps233
Bag holder118
Balance, tone control161
Band-aids, refer to First-aid 
pouch237
Bar, refer to Towing 
methods239
Base plate for telephone or 
mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter in 
the center armrest storage 
compartment114
Bass, tone control161
Bass sounds, refer to Treble 
and bass161
Battery235
– charging235
– disposal38,235
– jump starting237
– remote control28
– temporary power failure235
Battery renewal
– remote control38
– remote control for vehicle38
Being towed239
Belt hand-over52
– pinch protection system52
Belts, refer to Safety belts51Belt tensioner, refer to Safety 
belts51
Beverage holders, refer to 
Cup holders115
Blinds, refer to Roller sun 
blinds113
Blower, refer to Air flow 
rate106
Bluetooth, refer to separate 
Owner's Manual
"BMW Assist"202,203,204
BMW Assist
– activating206
– Concierge service204
– contacting BMW Customer 
Relations204
– Roadside Assistance202
– services offered201
– TeleService203
"BMW Contact"196
"BMW Contact 
Numbers"196
BMW Homepage4
BMW Maintenance 
System229
"BMW Service settings"207
BMW webpage4
Bottle holders, refer to Cup 
holders115
Brake assist, refer to Dynamic 
Brake Control DBC89
Brake fluid, refer to Service 
requirements79
Brake Force Display96
Brake lamps
– replacing bulb233
– two-stage96
Brake pads124
– breaking in124
Brake rotors126
– brakes124
– breaking in124
Brakes
– ABS89
– BMW Maintenance 
System229
– breaking in124
– parking brake60
– service requirements79 

Reference 267
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Torque, refer to Engine 
data244
Touch tone dialing196
Tow bar239
Tow fitting239
– screw thread239
Tow fittings for tow-starting 
and towing away239
Towing238
– car with automatic 
transmission238
– methods239
Towing and tow-starting238
Town/city for destination135
"Town / City" in destination 
entry135
Tow rope240
Tow-starting238,240
"TPM"94
TPM, refer to Tire Pressure 
Monitor93
Tracks
– random play sequence176
– sampling, Scan175
– searching for175
Track width, refer to 
Dimensions245
Traction control, refer to DSC 
Dynamic Stability 
Control89
Traffic information for 
navigation
– calling up152
– display on route map153
– during destination 
guidance154
– switching on/off151
– symbols154
"Traffic Info settings"152
Traffic jam
– displaying traffic 
information151
– driving around154Transmission
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic61
– manual transmission61
– overriding selector lever lock 
for automatic transmission 
with Steptronic63
Transmission interlock
– refer to Changing selector 
lever position62
– refer to P Park62
Transporting children 
safely56
Transport securing devices, 
refer to Securing cargo128
Tread depth, refer to Minimum 
tire tread221
Treble, refer to Treble and 
bass161
Treble, tone control
161
"Trip computer"77
Trip computer77
Trip-distance counter, refer to 
Trip odometer74
"Triple turn signal"64
Triple turn signal activation64
Trip odometer74
Trunk lid, refer to Luggage 
compartment lid33
Turning circle, refer to 
Dimensions245
Turn signal indicators
– indicator/warning lamp12
– triple turn signal64
Turn signals63
Tying down loads, refer to 
Cargo loading128
U
Underbody protection, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Uniform Tire Quality Grading/
UTQR220
"Units"78
Units
– average consumption78
– temperature78Universal garage door opener, 
refer to Integrated universal 
remote control110
Universal mobile phone 
preparation package, refer 
to separate Owner's Manual
Universal remote control110
Unlatching, refer to 
Unlocking36
"Unlock button"30
Unlocking
– from inside33
– from outside29
– luggage compartment lid37
– without remote control, refer 
to Convenient access36
"Update services"205
USB-audio interface180
"USB" for audio 
mode179,181
V
Vehicle
– battery235
– breaking in124
– care, refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
– cargo loading127
– Identification Number, refer 
to Engine compartment225
– measurements, refer to 
Dimensions245
– parking60
– washing, refer to Caring for 
your vehicle brochure
– weight247
"Vehicle / Tires" for 
unlocking30
Vehicle decommissioning
– refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Vehicle jack235
Vehicle position, refer to 
Displaying current 
position155
Ventilation107
– draft-free108
– in the rear108 

Everything from A - Z
268 Ventilation, refer to 
Climate104
Ventilation while at a 
standstill108
Vents, refer to Ventilation107
"Vent settings"105
Voice commands
– overview23
– short commands248
Voice instructions from 
navigation system150
– muting55,151
– repeating55,151
– switching on/off150
– volume151
Voice phone book198
Volume160
– audio sources160
– fuel tank, refer to 
Capacities247
– mobile phone191
– speed-dependent 
control161
– voice instructions151
Volume distribution
– front/rear161
– left/right161
W
Warning and indicator 
lamps13
Warning messages, refer to 
Check Control83
Warning triangle237
Washer fluid65
– content of the reservoir65
Washer fluid reservoir65
Washing the car, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Waste tray, refer to 
Ashtray116
Water on roads, refer to 
Driving through water126
Waveband with the radio164
Wear indicators in tires, refer 
to Minimum tread depth221
Weights247Welcome lamps100
"Welcome light"101
Wheel/tire combination, refer 
to Correct wheels and 
tires222
Wheelbase, refer to 
Dimensions245
Wheels, new222
Wheels and tires212
Width, refer to 
Dimensions245
Wind deflector42
Windows38
– convenient operation30
– convenient operation with 
convenient access37
– opening, closing38
– pinch protection system39
Windows, indicator on Control 
Display16
Windshield
– cleaning65
Windshield wash64
– filling capacity, reservoir247
– nozzles65
– reservoir for washer fluid65
– washer fluid65
Windshield wiper blades, 
changing231
Windshield wipers, blades, 
care, refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Windshield wipers, refer to 
Wiper system64
Winter tires223
– setting speed limit85
– storage223
Wiper blade replacement231
Wiper system64
"With highways" in 
navigation145
Wooden trim, refer to Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Word-matching principle for 
navigation146
Work in the engine 
compartment224
Wrench/screwdriver, refer to 
Onboard tool kit231
X
xDrive90
Xenon lamps
– replacing bulb232
Y
Your individual vehicle
– settings, refer to Personal 
Profile28