
Mobility
 245Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Protect valve stems with valve stem 
seal caps against dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source 
of gradual air loss.<
4.Initialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to 
page95, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, 
refer to page97.
5.Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire balanced.
Driving with compact wheel
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a speed of 
50 mph/80 km/h.
The driving characteristics change, for example 
reduced track stability on braking, extended 
braking distance, and altered self-steering 
characteristics in the limit range. In conjunction 
with winter tires, these characteristics are more 
pronounced.
Only one compact wheel may be 
mounted. Restore the wheels and tires to 
their original size as quickly as possible. Failure 
to do so is a safety risk.<
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, i.e., the 
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery 
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW  center will be glad to advise in 
all matters concerning the battery.
Charging battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via the 
terminals in the engine compartment with the 
engine switched off. Connections, refer to 
Jump starting on page248.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of by your 
BMW center or hand them in to a recy-
cling center. Maintain the battery in an upright 
position for transport and storage. Always 
restrain the battery to prevent it from tipping 
over during transport.<
Power failure
After a temporary power supply interruption, 
some settings are lost. Take the following 
steps:
>Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory 
Store the positions again, refer to page48.
>Time and date
Reset, refer to text starting on page86.
>Radio 
Store stations again, refer to page174.
>Navigation system 
Wait until the system starts, refer to 
page142.
Fuses
Never attempt to repair a blown fuse and 
do not replace a defective fuse with a sub-
stitute of another color or amperage rating, as 
this could lead to a circuit overload, ultimately 
resulting in a fire in the vehicle.<
Sedan
Spare fuses, plastic tweezers and fuse alloca-
tion diagram are located in the compartment for 
the onboard tool kit, refer to page237.
Sports Wagon
Spare fuses and a pair of plastic tweezers are 
contained in the onboard tool kit, refer to 
page237. A fuse allocation diagram is located 
in the cargo bay behind the right-hand side 
panel. 

Giving and receiving assistance
250 Sedan: 
It is located in the toolkit in the luggage com-
partment lid, refer to page237.
Sports Wagon: 
It is located in the toolkit behind the left side 
panel in the cargo bay, refer to page237.
Use only the tow fitting provided with the 
vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the 
tow fitting for towing only on roads. Avoid lateral 
loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift the vehi-
cle by the tow fitting. Otherwise damage to the 
tow fitting and the vehicle can occur.<
Access to screw thread
Press the arrow symbol on the cover in the 
bumper.
Front
Rear
Being towed
Make sure that the ignition is switched on, 
refer to page61, otherwise the low 
beams, tail lamps, turn signals and windshield 
wipers would not be available. Do not tow the 
vehicle with the rear axle raised, as otherwise 
the steering can turn to the left or right. When 
the engine is stopped, there is no power assist. This then requires increased effort for braking 
and steering. Active steering is deactivated and 
larger steering wheel movements are 
required.<
Switch on the hazard warning flashers depend-
ing on the local regulations. If the electrical sys-
tem fails, mark the vehicle to be towed, e.g. with 
a sign or warning triangle in the rear window.
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in neutral position.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission
Before towing, manually release the 
transmission lock, even if there is no mal-
function in the transmission. Otherwise there is 
a risk that the transmission lock will automati-
cally be engaged during towing.<
Manually unlocking and locking transmission 
lock, refer to page65.
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 vehicle by tow fitting or body 
and chassis parts, otherwise damage may 
result.<
In some countries, towing with tow bars or 
ropes in public traffic is not permitted. Familiar-
ize yourself with the regulations on towing in the 
respective country.
With tow bar
The towing vehicle may not be lighter 
than the vehicle to be towed, otherwise it 
will not be possible to reliably control vehicle 
response.<
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 offset 
angle, please observe the following:
>Clearance and maneuvering capability will 
be sharply limited during cornering. 

Reference 273
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps, 
overview13
Inflation pressure, refer to Tire 
inflation pressure220
Inflation pressure monitoring
– refer to Flat Tire Monitor95
– refer to TPM Tire Pressure 
Monitor97
Info menu17
Information
– on another location149
– on current position149
– on destination location149
"Information" for navigation 
system149
Information menu, refer to 
imenu17
"Information on 
destination"151
"Info sources"81
Initializing
– Flat Tire Monitor95
– radio, refer to Storing 
stations174
– refer to Power failure245
– refer to Setting time and 
date86
– seat, mirror and steering 
wheel memory47
"Input map"149
Installation location
– CD changer186
– drive for navigation DVD142
– mobile phone123
Instructions for navigation 
system, refer to Voice 
instructions159
Instrument cluster12
Instrument illumination, refer 
to Instrument lighting112
Instrument lighting112
Instrument panel
– refer to Cockpit10
– refer to Instrument 
cluster12
Integrated key28
Integrated universal remote 
control121Interesting destination for 
navigation149
"Interim time"86
Interior lamps112
– switching on with remote 
control31
Interior motion sensor38
– switching off38
Interior rearview mirror53
– automatic dimming 
feature54
Intermittent mode of the 
wipers68
J
Jacking points244
Joystick, refer to iDrive16
Jumpering, refer to Jump 
starting248
Jump starting248
K
Keyless-Go, refer to Comfort 
access38
Keyless opening and closing, 
refer to Comfort access38
Key Memory, refer to Personal 
Profile29
"Keypad"204
Keys28
– key-related settings, refer to 
Personal Profile29
– spare key28
Kick-down, Automatic 
transmission with 
Steptronic64
Knock control219
L
Lamps
– refer to High-beam 
assistant110
– refer to Parking lamps/low 
beams108
Lamps and bulbs238Lane limit lines, refer to 
Leaving lane warning106
"Language / Units"88
– for navigation 
system143,159
"Languages"88
– for navigation 
system143,159
Lashing eyes, refer to 
Securing cargo138
Last destinations, refer to 
Destination list150
"Last seat pos."48
LATCH child restraint fixing 
system57
Leaving lane warning106
LEDs light-emitting 
diodes238
Length, refer to 
Dimensions255
License plate lamp, replacing 
bulbs242
Light-emitting diodes 
LEDs238
Lighter125
"Lighting"67
Lighting
– instruments112
– lamps and bulbs238
– of the vehicle, refer to 
Lamps108
Light switch108
"Limit"85
Loading
– securing cargo138
– stowing cargo138
– vehicle137
Load securing equipment, 
refer to Securing cargo138
"Lock after driving"33
Lock buttons in the doors, 
refer to Locking33
Locking30
– confirmation signals31
– from inside33
– from outside30
– without key, refer to Comfort 
access38 

Everything from A to Z
276
P
Panic mode31
Panorama glass sunroof43
– moving manually44
Park Distance Control PDC90
"Parked car operation"119
"Parked car ventilation"119
Parked car ventilation118
– activating activation 
time119
– LED114
– preselecting activation 
times119
– switching on and off 
directly119
Parking, vehicle62
Parking aid, refer to PDC Park 
Distance Control90
Parking assistant, refer to 
PDC Park Distance 
Control90
Parking brake, refer to 
Handbrake63
Parking lamps108
– replacing bulbs239
Partition net, Sports 
Wagon129
Parts and accessories6
Passenger-side exterior 
mirror, tilting down53
"Pathway lighting"109
Pathway lighting109
"PDC"91
"PDC display on"91
PDC Park Distance Control90
Personal Profile29
"Perspective"158
"Phone"196,198,201
Phone book200
– changing entry202
– creating and editing voice 
phone book206
– deleting all entries203
– deleting entry203
– dialing phone number202Phone numbers
– deleting from phone 
book203
– dialing201
– most recent numbers203
– selecting in phone book203
– Top 8203
Pinch protection system
– glass sunroof, electric42
– panorama glass sunroof43
– power windows41
Plasters, refer to First-aid 
kit248
"Play" on the radio180
Plug-in unit for remote 
control, refer to Ignition 
lock61
Pollen, refer to Microfilter/
activated charcoal filter118
Position
– refer to Displaying current 
position163
– refer to Storing current 
position152
Power failure245
Power windows, refer to 
Windows40
Preselecting activation times 
of the parked car 
ventilation119
"Presets" on the 
radio172,180
Pressure, tires220
Pressure monitoring of tires, 
refer to TPM Tire Pressure 
Monitor97
"Profile"215
Programmable buttons on 
steering wheel54
Programmable memory 
buttons21
Protective function, refer to 
Pinch protection system
– glass sunroof, electric42
– panorama glass sunroof43
– windows41
R
Radio
– autostore174
– controls168
– High Definition Radio176
– sampling stations173
– satellite radio179
– selecting frequency 
manually173
– selecting 
waveband168,172
– station search173
– station selection172
– station with the best 
reception174
– storing stations174
– switching on/off168
– tone control169
– volume169
– Weather Band, refer to 
Weather news flashes176
Radio key, refer to Keys/
remote control28
Radio readiness61
– switched off62
– switched on61
– with comfort access39
Radio stations, storing174
Rain sensor68
"Random", random play 
sequence185
"Random all" in audio 
mode186
"Random directory" in audio 
mode186
"RDS"175
Reading lamps113
Rear armrest, refer to Center 
armrest, rear127
Rear lamps, refer to Tail 
lamps240
– replacing bulbs240
Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints50
– folding over backrest127
– heating52
– removing head restraints50