
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7Buttons on steering wheel
8Instrument cluster12
11Ignition lock6112Horn, entire surface
15Releasing hood230 Mobile phone
*194:
>Press: accepting and ending 
call, starting dialing
* for 
selected phone number and 
redialing if no phone number is 
selected
>Press and hold: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice 
command system
* 23
Changing radio station172
Selecting music track183
Scrolling in phone book and in 
lists with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable
*54 
Individually programmable
*54 
Leaving lane warning
*106
9
Windshield wipers68
Rain sensor68
Sports Wagon: rear window 
wiper69
10Starting/stopping engine and 
Switching ignition on/off 61
13
Steering wheel heater*54
Steering wheel adjustment54
14
Cruise control
*69
Active cruise control70
16Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate33, 35
17
Head-Up Display
*102
BMW Night Vision
*104
18Parking lamp108
Daytime running lamps
*109
Low beams108
Welcome lamps108
Automatic headlamp control
*108 
Daytime running lamps
*109
Welcome lamps108 
Adaptive Head Light
*110 
High-beam assistant
*110
19
Instrument lighting112
Fog lamps
*112 

Driving
68
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating rain sensor
4Cleaning windshield, headlamps and 
BMW Night Vision camera
*
5Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level
Switching on wipers
Pull the lever upward, arrow1.
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once. 
The system reverts to operation in the intermit-
tent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance 
point. 
The system reverts to normal speed when the 
vehicle is stationary.
Rain sensor
The wiper operation is controlled automatically 
as a function of the rain intensity. The rain sen-
sor is located on the windshield, directly in front 
of the interior rearview mirror.
Activating rain sensor
Press the button, arrow3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level
Turn the knurled wheel5.
Deactivating rain sensor
Press the button again, arrow3. The LED goes 
out.
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing 
through an automatic car wash. Failure to 
do so could result in damage caused by undes-
ired wiper activation.<
Cleaning windshield, headlamps* and 
BMW Night Vision camera*
Pull the lever, arrow4.
The system sprays washer fluid against the 
windshield and activates the wipers for a brief 
period.
With the vehicle lighting switched on, the head-
lamps and the BMW Night Vision camera are 
also cleaned simultaneously at suitable inter-
vals.
Do not use the washing mechanisms if 
there is any danger that the fluid will 
freeze on the windshield. If you do so, your 
vision could be obscured. To avoid freezing, 
use a washer fluid antifreeze, refer to Washer 
fluid. Do not use washing mechanisms when 
the washer fluid reservoir is empty, otherwise 
you will damage the washer pump.< 

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 

Reference 283
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Width, refer to 
Dimensions255
Windows40
– convenient operation30
– convenient operation from 
outside32
– convenient operation with 
comfort access39
– rear window, Sports 
Wagon34
– safety switch41
Windshield
– cleaning, refer to Wiper 
system68
– defrosting, refer to 
Defrosting windows116
– displays, refer to Head-Up 
Display102
Windshield wash
– automatic, refer to Rain 
sensor68
– capacities, reservoir258
– filler neck for washer 
fluid231
– rear window69
– washer fluid69
– windshield washer 
nozzles69
– wiper system68
Windshield wipers, refer to 
Wiper system68
– care, refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
– wiper blade 
replacement237
Winter tires228
– setting speed limit85
– storage229
Wiper blades
– care, refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
– replacement237
Wiper system68
– rain sensor68
– washer fluid69
– windshield washer 
nozzles69"With highways" for 
navigation system154
Wood decoration, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Word matching principle for 
navigation155
Working in the engine 
compartment230
Wrenches/screwdrivers, refer 
to Onboard toolkit237
X
xDrive93
Xenon lamps239
– replacing bulbs239
Y
Your individual vehicle
– programmable buttons on 
steering wheel54
– settings, refer to Personal 
Profile29
Z
"Zoom" with BMW Night 
Vision106