
Controls
 89Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
until "PDC" is selected and press the con-
troller.
6.Select "PDC display on" and press the con-
troller.
 The PDC screen is activated.
The display is shown on the Control Display as 
soon as PDC is activated.
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for 
estimating the distance between the 
vehicle and any obstructions always remains 
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind spot in which objects can 
no longer be detected. The system is also sub-
ject to the physical limits that apply to all forms 
of ultrasonic measurement, such as those 
encountered with trailer towbars and hitches, 
thin or wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low objects 
that have already been displayed, e. g. curbs, 
can disappear again from the detection area of 
the sensors before or after a continuous tone 
sounds. Higher, protruding objects, e.g. ledges, 
cannot be detected. Therefore, always drive 
cautiously, otherwise there is a risk of personal 
injury or property damage.
Loud sound sources outside or inside the car 
can drown out the PDC signal.<
Driving stability control 
systems
Your BMW has a number of systems that help 
to maintain the vehicle's stability even in 
adverse driving conditions.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during 
braking. Safe steering response is maintained 
even during full braking. Active safety is thus 
increased.
The ABS is operational every time you start the 
engine. Braking safely, refer to page126.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the 
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
DBC Dynamic Brake Control
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system 
automatically produces the maximum braking 
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. This system exploits all of the benefits pro-
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake for the 
duration of the full braking application.
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
DSC prevents the driving wheels from losing 
traction when you pull away from rest or accel-
erate. The system also recognizes unstable 
driving conditions, for example if the rear of the 
car is about to swerve or if momentum is acting 
at an angle past the front wheels. In these 
cases, DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe 
course within physical limits by reducing engine 
output and through braking actions at the indi-
vidual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, 
even with DSC. An appropriate driving 
style always remains the responsibility of the 
driver. Therefore, do not reduce the additional 
safety margin again by taking risks, as this could 
result in an accident.< 

Climate
104
Climate
1Airflow directed toward the windshield and 
side windows
2Air to the upper body area 
Draft-free ventilation107
3Air to the footwell
4Air distribution, manual
5Temperature adjustment, left-hand side of 
passenger compartment
6Maximum cooling
7AUTO program
8Air flow rate, manual
9AUC Automatic recirculated-air control/
Recirculated-air mode10Temperature adjustment, right-hand side 
of passenger compartment
11Residual heat
12Defrosting windows and removing conden-
sation
13Switching cooling function on/off manually
14Rear window defroster
15Air grill for interior temperature sensor – 
please keep clear and unobstructed
The current setting for the air distribution is dis-
played on the Control Display, refer to 
page105. 

Controls
 107Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Left-hand LED on, AUC mode: a sensor 
detects pollutants in the outside air. If nec-
essary, the system blocks the supply of out-
side air and recirculates the inside air. As 
soon as the concentration of pollutants in 
the outside air has decreased sufficiently, 
the system automatically switches back to 
outside air supply.
>Right-hand LED on, recirculated-air mode: 
the supply of outside air is permanently 
shut off. The system then recirculates the 
air currently within the vehicle.
If condensation starts to form on the 
inside window surfaces during operation 
in the recirculated-air mode, you should switch 
it off while also increasing the air flow rate as 
required. 
The recirculated-air mode should not be used 
over an extended period of time, otherwise the 
air quality inside the car will deteriorate contin-
uously.<
Via the button* on the steering wheel
You can switch quickly between the recircu-
lated-air mode and the previous mode using an 
individually programmable button
 on the steer-
ing wheel, refer to page11.
Residual heat
The heat stored in the engine is 
used to heat the passenger com-
partment, e.g. while stopped at a 
school to pick up a child.
The function can be switched on when the fol-
lowing conditions are met:
>Up to 15 minutes after the engine has been 
switched off
>While the engine is at operating tempera-
ture
>As long as battery voltage is sufficient
>At an outside temperature below 777/
256
The LED is lit when the function is on.
As of radio readiness, you can set the interior 
temperature, the air flow rate and the air distri-
bution.
Defrosting windows and removing 
condensation
Quickly removes ice and conden-
sation from the windshield and 
front side windows.
Switch on the cooling function as well.
Switching cooling function on/off
The cooling function cools and 
dehumidifies the incoming air 
before reheating it as required, 
according to the temperature setting. This 
function is only available while the engine is 
running.
The cooling function helps prevent condensa-
tion on the windows or removes it quickly.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may 
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
The cooling function is automatically switched 
on along with the AUTO program.
Rear window defroster
The defroster is switched off auto-
matically after a certain time. 
Depending on your vehicle's 
equipment, the upper wires serve as an antenna 
and are not part of the rear window defroster.
Ventilation
1Use the knurled wheels to smoothly open 
and close the air vents
2Use the lever to change the direction of the 
airflow
3Knurled wheel for more or less cool air from 
the vents for the upper body area 

Under the hood
226
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 engine oil as soon as possible, but no 
more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to 
Adding engine oil on page227.
4Oil level is too high.
Too much oil will harm the engine. 
Have the vehicle checked without 
delay.<
5The oil level sensor is defective.
Do not add engine oil. You can continue 
your journey. Note the newly calculated dis-
tance remaining to the next oil service, refer 
to page79. Have the system checked as 
soon as possible.
Display via iDrive
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 "Info sources" and press the control-
ler.
4.Select "Service Info" and press the control-
ler.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "Service requirements" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the second field from the top. Turn the con-
troller until "Engine oil level" is selected and 
press the controller. The oil level is dis-
played.
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level O.K."
>"No measurement available: Updating 
engine oil level measurement..."
The engine oil level is measured. This can 
take about 3 minutes if the car is at a stand-
still on a level surface and the engine is run-
ning, and about 5 minutes while the car is on 
the move.
>"Oil level at the minimum! Refill with 1 quart 
of engine oil."
Add engine oil as soon as possible, but no  

Mobility
 229Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Maintenance
BMW Maintenance System
The BMW Maintenance System supports the 
preservation of the traffic and operating safety 
of your BMW. The objective is to optimize 
efforts with respect to minimal vehicle mainte-
nance costs.
If and when you come to sell your BMW, a com-
prehensive record of servicing will prove a sig-
nificant benefit.
CBS Condition Based Service
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into 
account. Condition Based Service uses this to 
determine the current and future service 
requirements. By letting you define a service 
and maintenance regimen that reflects your 
own individual requirements, the system builds 
the basis for trouble-free driving.
On the Control Display, you can have the 
remaining times or distances for selected main-
tenance tasks and any legally prescribed dates 
displayed, refer to page79:
>Engine oil
>Brake pads: separately for front and rear
>Brake fluid
>Vehicle check
>Legally mandated inspections depending 
on local regulations
Service data in the remote control
Your vehicle continuously stores service-
requirement information in the remote control 
while you are driving. Your BMW Service Advi-
sor can read out this data from the remote con-
trol unit, and propose an optimized mainte-
nance approach. Whenever you take your car in 
for servicing you should therefore hand your 
BMW Service Advisor the remote control unit 
that you last used.
Make sure that the date is always set cor-
rectly, refer to page82; otherwise the 
effectiveness of Condition Based Service CBS 
is not assured.<
Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models and Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet for 
Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models 
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service 
and repair operations performed at your 
BMW center. 
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet 
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries 
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.< 

Everything from A - Z
252
Everything from A - Z
Index
"..." Identifies Control Display 
texts used to select 
individual functions and 
refers you to the page where 
these texts can be found.
A
ABS Antilock Brake 
System89
ACC, refer to Active cruise 
control67
Accident, refer to Sending an 
Emergency Request236
Activated-charcoal filter for 
automatic climate 
control108
"Activation time"109
Active cruise control67
– indicator lamps70
– malfunction71
– selecting distance69
– sensor71
Active steering96
– warning lamp96
Adaptive Head Light101
"Add digits" for mobile 
phone194
Additives
– coolant227
"Address book" in 
navigation142
Address for navigation
– deleting144
– entering134,142
– selecting143
– storing142
– storing current position143
"Add to destination 
list"137,139
Adjusting temperature inside 
the car, refer to Automatic 
climate control105Adjusting the thigh support46
Adjusting the tone during 
audio operation, refer to 
Tone control161
Airbags97
– indicator/warning lamp98
– sitting safely45
Air conditioning mode
– automatic climate 
control105
– ventilation107
Air distribution
– automatic106
– individual105
Air flow rate106
Airing, refer to Ventilation107
Air pressure, refer to Tire 
inflation pressure212
Air recirculation, refer to 
Recirculated-air mode106
"Air recirculation on / off"54
Air supply
– automatic climate 
control105
– ventilation107
Air vents104
AKI, refer to Fuel 
specifications211
Alarm system35
– avoiding unintentional 
alarms36
– interior motion sensor36
– switching off an alarm35
– tilt alarm sensor36
"All channels" for satellite 
radio171
All-season tires, refer to 
Winter tires223
"All stations", displaying with 
the radio164
All-wheel drive, refer to 
xDrive90
"AM", waveband160,164Ambient air, refer to 
Recirculated-air mode106
Antenna for mobile phone186
Antifreeze
– coolant227
– washer fluid65
Anti-theft alarm system, refer 
to Alarm system35
Anti-theft system29
Approved axle loads, refer to 
Weights247
Approved gross vehicle 
weight, refer to Weights247
Armrest, refer to Center 
armrest114
Arrival time, refer to 
Computer76
Arrival time, refer to Starting 
destination guidance147
Arrow display for 
navigation148
"Arrow display" in 
navigation148
Ashtray
– front116
– rear116
Assistance systems, refer to 
Driving stability control 
systems89
Assistance window20
– refer to iDrive20
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control106
"Audio"163,167
Audio160
– controls160
– switching on/off160
– tone control161
– volume161
"Audio", refer to Tone 
control161
Audio device, external114 

Reference 259
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Heating
– mirrors53
– rear window107
– residual heat107
– seats49
Heating and ventilation, refer 
to Climate104
Heating while at a standstill, 
refer to Using residual 
heat107
Heavy loads, refer to Stowing 
cargo127
Height, refer to 
Dimensions245
Height adjustment
– seats46
– steering wheel53
High beams102
– headlamp flasher102
– indicator lamp13
High Definition Radio167
High water, refer to Driving 
through water126
Highways, refer to Route 
criteria145
Hill Descent Control HDC90
Hills126
Holders for cups115
Home address144
"Home address" in 
navigation145
Homepage BMW4
Hood224
Hooks for shopping bags118
Horn10,11
Hotel function, refer to 
Locking or unlocking 
separately34
Hot exhaust system125
"Hour memo"82
"House number" in 
destination entry137
Hydraulic brake assist, refer to 
Dynamic Brake Control 
DBC89
Hydroplaning125I
IBOC, refer to High Definition 
Radio167
Ice warning, refer to Outside 
temperature
warning74
ID3 tag, refer to Information 
about the track175
Identification marks
– Run-Flat Tires222
– tire coding220
iDrive16
– adjusting brightness86
– assistance window20
– automatic climate 
control105
– changing language86
– changing units of measure 
and display format78
– confirming selection or 
entry19
– controls16
– displays, menus17
– menu guidance17
– operating principle16
– overview16
– selecting a menu item19
– setting the date and time81
– start menu17
– status information20
– switching menu pages19
– symbols18
iDrive operating principle16
Ignition59
– switched off59
– switched on59
Ignition key, refer to Remote 
control with integrated 
key28
Ignition key position 1, refer to 
Radio readiness59
Ignition key position 2, refer to 
Ignition on59
Ignition lock59
i menu18
Imprint2Indicator and warning 
lamps13
– Tire Pressure Monitor 
TPM95
Individual air distribution105
Inflation pressure, refer to Tire 
inflation pressure212
Inflation pressure monitoring, 
refer to Tire Pressure 
Monitor TPM93
Information
– on another location140
– on country140
– on current position140
– on destination location140
Information menu, refer to 
i menu18
"Information on 
destination"142
"Info sources"80
Initializing
– active steering96
– after power failure235
– compass, refer to 
Calibrating112
– Flat Tire Monitor FTM92
– glass roof40
"Input map"139
Installation location
– CD changer177
– navigation DVD drive132
– telephone114
Instructions for navigation 
system, refer to Voice 
instructions150
Instrument cluster12
Instrument lighting103
Instrument panel, refer to 
Cockpit10
Integrated key28
Integrated universal remote 
control110
Interesting destination for 
navigation140
"Interim time"86
Interior lamps103
– remote control31
Interior motion sensor36 

Reference 263
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
R
Radio
– autostore165
– controls160
– High Definition Radio167
– listening to stations164
– regional programs167
– sampling stations165
– satellite radio170
– selecting a 
waveband160,164
– selecting the frequency 
manually165
– station search165
– stations with best 
reception165
– storing stations166
– switching on/off160
– tone control161
– volume161
Radio position, refer to Radio 
readiness59
Radio readiness59
– switched off59
– switched on59
Radio-remote key, refer to 
Remote control with 
integrated key28
Rain sensor64
"Random", refer to Random 
play176
"Random all" for audio 
mode177
"Random directory" for audio 
mode177
Random play176
"RDS" Radio Data 
System167
Reading lamps103
Rear lamps, refer to Tail 
lamps233
– replacing bulb233
Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints48
– folding down backrests117
Rear turn signals
– replacing bulb233
Rear ventilation108Rearview mirror, refer to 
Mirrors52
Rear window defroster107
Rear window roller blind, refer 
to Roller sun blinds113
"Received calls"194
Receiving level of mobile 
phone, refer to Status 
information20
Recirculated-air mode106
Recirculation of air, refer to 
Recirculated-air mode106
Reclining seat, refer to 
Backrest46
Recording times, refer to 
Stopwatch86
"Redial" for mobile phone194
Refueling210
Releasing
– hood224
Remaining distance, refer to 
Cruising range75
Remote control28
– battery renewal38
– convenient access36
– garage door opener110
– luggage compartment lid31
– malfunction31,37
– removing from the ignition 
lock59
– service data229
"Repeat directory" for audio 
mode176
"Repeat" for audio mode176
"Repeat track" for audio 
mode176
Replacement remote 
control28
Replacing bulbs, refer to 
Lamps and bulbs231
Replacing tires222
Replacing tires, refer to New 
wheels and tires222
Reporting safety defects6
Reserve warning, refer to Fuel 
gauge75
"Reset"92,94
Reset, refer to Resetting tone 
settings163"Reset" for stopwatch86
"Reset" for tone settings163
Residual heat107
Restraint systems
– for children56
– refer to Safety belts51
Retractable hardtop41
– care, refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
– convenient operation30
– opening and closing42
– remote control30
Reverse
– CD changer177
– CD player177
Reverse gear
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic62
– manual transmission61
Road map149
"Roadside Assistance"202
Roadside 
Assistance
202,236
Roadside parking lamps102
Roadworthiness test, refer to 
Service requirements79
Roller sun blinds113
Rollover protection system, 
convertible98
– resetting99
Roof load capacity247
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack129
"Roomsound", refer to Tone 
control162
Rope, refer to Tow-starting, 
towing away240
Rotary/pushbutton, refer to 
iDrive16