
Controls
 97Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Coupe: head airbags, front and rear
3Side airbags in the seat backrests
Protective action
Observe the adjustment instructions on 
page45 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The 
head air bag supports the head.
The airbags have been designed to not be trig-
gered in every collision situation, e.g. not in 
minor accidents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way. Do not attach 
seat covers, cushions or other objects not spe-
cifically approved for seats with integral side air-
bags to the front seats. Do not hang items of 
clothing such as coats or jackets over the back-
rests. Do not attempt to remove the airbag 
retention system from the vehicle. Do not mod-
ify the individual components of the system or 
its wiring in any way. This includes the uphol-
stered covers on the steering wheel, instrument 
panel, seats and roof posts, as well as the sides of the roof lining. Do not attempt to remove or 
dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components imme-
diately after the system has been triggered, 
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation or 
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have 
the testing, repair, removal and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW center 
or a workshop that works according to repair 
procedures of BMW with correspondingly 
trained personnel and that has the required 
explosives licenses. Unprofessional attempts to 
work on the system could lead to failure in an 
emergency or to undesired airbag activation, 
either of which could result in personal injury.<
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front 
passenger airbags
An analysis of the impression in the front pas-
senger seat cushion determines whether and 
how the seat is occupied. The front and side air-
bags for the front passenger are activated or 
deactivated by the system accordingly.
The indicator lamp above the interior 
rearview mirror shows the current status 
of the front passenger airbags, deactivated or 
activated, refer to Status of front passenger air-
bags below.
Before transporting a child on the front 
passenger seat, read the safety precau-
tions and handling instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page56. 

Climate
108
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the vent outlets to direct the flow of cool 
air in your direction, for instance if it has become 
too hot in the car.
Draft-free ventilation
Set the vent outlets so that the air flows past 
you and not straight at you.
Ventilation in the rear
1Use the knurled wheel to adjust the temper-
ature
>Turn toward blue: colder
>Turn toward red: warmer
2Use the knurled wheel to smoothly open 
and close the air vents
3Use the lever to change the direction of the 
airflow
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The microfilter traps dust and pollen in the 
incoming air. The activated-charcoal filter pro-
vides additional protection by filtering gaseous 
pollutants from the outside air. Your BMW cen-
ter replaces this combined filter during routine 
maintenance.
Parked car ventilation
The concept
The parked car ventilation provides ventilation 
to the passenger compartment and lowers its 
temperature, if necessary. It is ready for use at 
any outside temperature, as of radio readiness.The parked car ventilation remains switched on 
for 30 minutes. Two different switch-on times 
can be preselected. The system can also be 
switched on and off directly. 
Due to its high power consumption, it should 
not be switched on twice in a row without driv-
ing in between to allow the battery to recharge.
The air emerges from the air vents for the upper 
body area in the instrument panel. The air vents 
must therefore be open.
The parked car ventilation system is operated 
via iDrive.
Switching on/off directly
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3.Select "Parked car operation" and press the 
controller.
4.Select "Automatic ventilation" and press 
the controller.
5.Select "Parked car ventilation" and press 
the controller.
 The parked car ventilation is switched on.
 The symbol on the automatic climate control 
display flashes.
Preselecting switch-on times
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3.Select "Parked car operation" and press the 
controller. 

Maintenance
230
Socket for On-Board 
Diagnosis OBD
Primary components that make up exhaust 
emissions can be checked by a device via the 
OBD socket.
This socket is located on the driver's side to the 
left, on the bottom of the instrument panel 
underneath a cover.
Exhaust emission values
The warning lamp lights up:
The exhaust emission values have 
worsened. Have the car checked as 
soon as possible.
Canadian models display this warning 
lamp.
The lamp flashes under certain conditions. This 
indicates excessive misfiring in the engine. If 
this happens, you should reduce your speed 
and visit your nearest BMW center as soon as 
possible. Severe engine misfiring can quickly 
lead to serious damage of emissions-related 
components, especially the catalytic converter.
The warning lamp comes on if the gas 
cap is not properly tightened and the 
OBD system assumes that fuel vapor 
is escaping. If the gas cap is then tightened, the 
warning lamp should go out within a few days.
Event data recorders
Your vehicle may be equipped with one or sev-
eral measuring or diagnostic modules or a 
device for recording or sending certain vehicle 
data or information. In addition, if you have 
signed a service contract for BMW Assist, cer-tain vehicle data may be transmitted or 
recorded in order to facilitate the corresponding 
services.
Care
Important information on the care and mainte-
nance of your BMW is contained in the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure. 

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