
Controls
 93Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamps come on in yellow 
and red. A message appears on the 
Control Display. In addition, an 
acoustic signal sounds. There is a flat 
tire or substantial loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph 
or 80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and 
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed 
of 50 mph or 80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with Run-
Flat Tires, refer to page222, the stan-
dard equipment by design, do not continue 
driving. Otherwise a severe accident could 
result if you continue driving.<
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If all four tires are inflated to the cor-
rect pressures, the Flat Tire Monitor 
might not have been initialized. The system 
must then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible 
distance for continued driving on the basis 
of the following guidelines:
>With a light load: 
1 to 2 persons without luggage: 
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load: 
2 persons, cargo bay full, or 4 persons 
without luggage: 
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load or when towing a trailer: 
4 persons, cargo bay full: 
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph or 80 km/h, otherwise 
there is a risk of an accident. In the event of 
pressure loss, vehicle handling changes. This 
includes reduced tracking stability in braking, 
extended braking distance and altered natural 
steering characteristics.
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during 
the journey, this may be an indication that the 
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce your 
speed and pull over as soon as possible at a suitable location. Otherwise parts of the tire 
could come loose, resulting in an accident. Do 
not continue driving. Instead, contact your 
BMW center.<
Malfunction
The warning lamps come on in yel-
low. A message appears on the Con-
trol Display. The Flat Tire Monitor has 
a malfunction or has failed. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible.
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM*
The concept
TPM checks the inflation pressures of the four 
mounted tires. The system notifies you if there 
is a significant loss of pressure in one or more 
tires.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat 
tire, the system must be reset while all tire infla-
tion pressures are correct.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics. Oth-
erwise, the system may malfunction.
Each time a tire inflation pressure has 
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been 
changed, reset the system.<
System limitations
TPM cannot warn you in advance of sud-
den severe tire damage caused by out-
side influences.<
The system does not work correctly if it has not 
been reset; for example, a flat tire may be indi-
cated even though the tire inflation pressures 
are correct.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat 
tire if a wheel without TPM electronics, such as 
a compact spare wheel, has been mounted, or if 
TPM is temporarily malfunctioning due to other 
systems or devices using the same radio fre-
quency. 

Wheels and tires
222 The manufacturing date of tires is contained in 
the tire coding: 
DOT ... 0705 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 07 of 2005.
Run-Flat Tires
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires is a circle 
with the letters RSC on the sidewall. 
Run-Flat Tires comprise a conditionally self-
supporting tire and a special rim. The reinforce-
ment in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can 
continue to be used subject to certain restric-
tions, even if depressurized.
For information on continuing to drive with a flat 
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page93.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires installed only 
by your BMW center or tire shop that 
works according to BMW repair procedures 
with correspondingly trained personnel. If this 
work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related safety 
h a z a r d s .  M a k e s u re  t h a t  t h e  n e w  w h ee l s  a r e  b a l-
anced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW recommends that you do not use 
retreaded tires, since driving safety may 
be impaired. The causes for this include poten-
tially different tire casing structures and often 
wide variations in tire age, which can result in a 
limited service life.<
Correct wheels and tires
When mounting new tires or changing over 
from summer to winter tires and vice versa, 
mount Run-Flat Tires for your own safety. In the 
event of a flat, no spare wheel is available. Your 
BMW center will be glad to advise you.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends 
that damaged Run-Flat Tires be replaced 
rather than repaired. Otherwise, subsequent 
damage cannot be ruled out.<
BMW recommends that you use only 
wheel and tire combinations that BMW 
has tested and approved for your particular 
vehicle. Variations in factors such as manufac-
turing tolerances mean that even wheels and 
tires with identical official size ratings could 
actually have different dimensions, which could 
lead to body contact and thus to severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are 
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability, 
and therefore cannot guarantee their driving 
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is 
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of 
various vehicle systems such as ABS, DSC or 
RPA.
To maintain good handling and vehicle 
response, use only tires of a single brand and 
tread configuration. After a tire has been dam-
aged, mount the previous wheel and tire combi-
nation again as soon as possible.
Wheels with Tire Pressure Monitor 
TPM electronics
When mounting new tires or changing over 
from summer to winter tires, or vice versa, only 
use wheels with TPM electronics; otherwise the 
Tire Pressure Monitor may not be able to detect 
a puncture, refer to page93. Your BMW center 
will be glad to advise you. 

Replacing components
234 2.Loosen the bulb holder at the clip, see 
arrow, and pull out.
3.Turn signal indicator: apply gentle pressure 
to the bulb while turning it to the left for 
removal and replacement.
Backup lamps and brake lamps: take out 
the bulbs and change them.
4.Re-engage the bulb holder so that it audibly 
clicks into place.
5.Reattach the cover in the cargo bay.
Convertible
1.Turn the screws on the corresponding side, 
see arrow, by 90° and remove the cover.
2.While applying light pressure, turn the bulb 
holder of the turn signal bulb to the left.
3.Remove and replace the bulb.4.Re-engage the bulb holder so that it audibly 
clicks into place.
5.Reattach the cover in the cargo bay.
License plate lamp and center brake 
lamp
These lamps use LED technology for operation. 
In the event of a malfunction, please contact 
your BMW center or a workshop that works 
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.
Changing wheels
Your BMW is equipped with Run-Flat Tires as 
standard. This removes the need to change a 
wheel immediately in the event of a puncture.
For information on continuing to drive with a 
damaged tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire on 
page93.
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires is a circle 
with the letters RSC on the sidewall, refer to 
Run-Flat Tires, page222.
When mounting new tires or changing over 
from summer to winter tires and vice versa, 
mount Run-Flat Tires for your own safety. In the 
event of a flat, no spare wheel is available. Your 
BMW center will be glad to advise you. Refer 
also to New wheels and tires, page222.
The tools for changing wheels are avail-
able as optional accessories from your 
BMW center.< 

Reference 265
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Service requirements79
"Set date"83
"Set time"82
"Settings"207
Settings
– changing settings on the 
Control Display86
– clock, 12h/24h mode82
– date format83
– language86
Settings and information78
"Settings" for unlocking30
Settings menu, refer to 
imenu17
Setting times, refer to 
Preselecting switch-on 
times108
Shifting gears
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic62
– manual transmission61
Shiftlock
– automatic transmission, 
refer to Changing selector 
lever positions62
Short commands for the voice 
command system248
Shortest route in navigation, 
refer to Selecting route145
"Short route" in 
navigation145
"Show current position"140
"Show destination 
position"140
Shuffled, refer to Random
– CD changer176
– CD player176
Side airbags97
Side windows, refer to 
Windows38
Signal horn, refer to 
Horn10,11
Sitting safely45
– with airbags45
– with head restraint45
– with safety belts45
Ski bag119Ski bag for convertible, refer to 
Through-loading opening 
with integrated transport 
bag120
Sliding/tilt sunroof, refer to 
Glass roof, electric39
Slot for remote control59
Smokers' package, refer to 
Ashtray116
Snap-in adapter, refer to 
Center armrest storage 
compartment114
Socket, On-Board Diagnosis 
OBD230
Socket, refer to Connecting 
electrical appliances116
Song search, refer to Playing a 
track175
SOS, refer to Sending an 
Emergency Request236
Sound output for 
entertainment on/off160
Spare fuses,235
Spare fuses, refer to 
Fuses235
Speaking, refer to Voice 
instructions from navigation 
system150
Speed
– Run-Flat Tires93
– with winter tires223
Speed-dependent volume 
control161
Speed limit85
Speed limit warning, refer to 
Speed limit85
Speedometer12
"Speed volume", refer to Tone 
control162
Spray nozzles, refer to 
Cleaning windshield and 
headlamps65
Stability control, refer to 
Driving stability control 
systems89
Start/stop button59
– starting the engine60
– switching off the engine60
"Start guidance"137Starting, refer to Starting the 
engine60
Starting assistance, refer to 
Jump starting237
Starting difficulties
– jump starting237
Starting the engine
– start/stop button59
Start menu17
"Start service"202
"Start Service" for BMW 
Assist204
"State / Province" in 
destination entry135
Station
– refer to Radio164
"Status"80
Status of this Owner's Manual 
at time of printing5
Steering wheel53
– adjustment53
– buttons on steering 
wheel11
– lock59
– locking with convenient 
access37
"Steering wheel buttons"54
Steering with variable ratio, 
refer to Active steering96
Steptronic, refer to Automatic 
transmission with 
Steptronic61
"Stopwatch"86
Stopwatch86
Storage compartments
114
Storage nets118
"Store" for satellite radio172
"Store in address book" in 
navigation143
"Store" on the radio166
Storing current position143
Storing radio stations166
Storing seat positions, refer to 
Seat and mirror memory50
Storing tires223
Stowage, refer to Storage 
compartments114
"Street" in destination 
entry137