
At a glance
 17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation or onboard information
>Navigation system*
>Onboard info, e.g. for displaying of the aver-
age fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
Climate
>Vent settings
>Automatic programs
>Parked car operation
 menu
>Switching off the Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central 
locking system
>Display of maintenance intervals and dead-
lines for legally mandated inspections
>Settings for the telephone
Basic operation
From radio readiness, refer to page58, the fol-
lowing message is shown on the Control Dis-
play:
To hide the message:
Press the controller.
This displays the start menu.
The message is automatically hidden after 
approx. 10 seconds.
Start menu
You can call up all the functions of iDrive using 
five menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the   button.
To open the start menu from the   menu:
Press the   button twice. 

Controls
 75Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Engine oil temperature*
During normal operation, the engine oil temper-
ature is between approx. 1607/706 and 
approx. 3407/1706.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, a mes-
sage is shown on the Control Display.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 18.5 US gal/
70 liters, including the reserve capacity of 
approx. 2.6 US gal/10 liters. You can find infor-
mation on refueling on page208.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period, 
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for 
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
After the reserve quantity has been reached, a 
message briefly appears on the Control Display; 
the cruising range is shown in the computer. 
Below a range of approx. 30 miles/50 km, the 
message remains on the Control Display.
Refuel as soon as possible once your 
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.<
Computer
Displays in instrument cluster
Press the button on the turn signal lever.
The following information is displayed in the 
specified order:
>Cruising range
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
>No information
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cruising range available 
with the remaining fuel. The range is projected 
based on the driving style over the last 20 miles/
30 km.
Refuel as soon as possible once your 
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.<
Average speed
Periods with the vehicle parked and the engine 
switched off are not included in the calculations 
of average speed.
To reset the average speed: press the BC but-
ton in the turn signal lever for approx. 2 sec-
onds.
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for 
the time during which the engine is running.
To reset the average fuel consumption: press 
the BC button in the turn signal lever for approx. 
2 seconds. 

Everything under control
76
For different routes
You can display the average speed and average 
consumption for two different routes on the 
Control Display, refer to the following and to 
Trip computer.
Displays on Control Display
You can also call up the computer via iDrive, for 
operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the right to open 
"Navigation".
Without navigation system
*: open "Car 
Data".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4.Select "Onboard info" and press the con-
troller.
>Estimated time of arrival at destination and 
remaining distance:
>Entering a distance manually in the com-
puter, see below.
>Entering a destination in the navigation 
system
*, refer to page132.
>Cruising range>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
Resetting values
You can reset the values for average speed and 
average fuel consumption:
1.Select the desired menu item and press the 
controller.
2.Press the controller again to confirm.
Entering a distance manually
1.Select "Distance to dest." and press the 
controller.
2.Turn the controller to select the distance 
to your destination. If necessary, hold it 
against a slight resistance to enter a greater 
difference.
3.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The distance is automatically predetermined 
during the destination guidance of the naviga-
tion system
*.
Trip computer
The trip computer is suitable for a vacation trip, 
for example.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Open "Navigation".
Without navigation system
*: open "Car 
Data".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller. 

Controls
 77Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
4.Select "Trip computer" and press the con-
troller.
>Departure time
>Driving time
>Distance traveled
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
Switching trip computer on/off and resetting 
all values:
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
2.Select the desired menu item and press the 
controller.
Display options
You can display the computer or the trip com-
puter in the assistance window.
1.Move the controller to the right to change to 
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select a menu item:
>"Onboard info"
>"Trip computer".3.Press the controller.
Service requirements
The remaining driving distance and the date for 
the next maintenance are displayed briefly with 
the ignition switched on.
Your BMW Service Advisor can deter-
mine your vehicle's current service 
requirements by reading out the data stored in 
the remote control.<
Additional information
You can view more detailed information by 
using the Control Display, for operating princi-
ple refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Info sources" and press the control-
ler.
4.Select "Service" and press the controller. 

Everything under control
84 1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Display settings" and press the 
controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Brightness" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.If necessary, move the controller to the right 
to select "Display".
7.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is selected.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Units of measure
You can change the units of measure for fuel 
consumption, distances, temperature and 
pressure.
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 "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Language / Units" and press the 
controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Units" is selected and press 
the controller.6.Select the menu item to be set.
7.Press the controller.
8.Select the desired unit of measure and 
press the controller.
The settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
Language on Control Display
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 "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Language / Units" and press the 
controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Languages" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.Select "Text language" and press the con-
troller. You can select a different language 
for the text displays.
7.Select the desired language and press the 
controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use. 

Things to remember when driving
124
Things to remember when driving
Breaking-in
Moving parts need time to adjust to one 
another. To ensure that your vehicle continues 
to provide optimized economy of operation 
throughout an extended service life, we request 
that you devote careful attention to the follow-
ing section.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at changing engine and driving speeds, 
however do not exceed 4,500 rpm or 100 mph/
160 km/h.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the 
transmission's kick-down mode during these 
initial miles.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be 
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their 
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in 
period. Therefore, drive reservedly during the 
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized 
contact and wear patterns between brake pads 
and rotors. Drive in a reserved manner during 
this break-in period.
Clutch
The function of the clutch is only at its opti-
mized level after a distance driven of approx. 
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period, 
engage the clutch gently.
Following part replacement
Observe the break-in instructions again if com-
ponents mentioned above must be replaced 
after subsequent driving operation.
Saving fuel
The fuel consumption of your vehicle depends 
on various factors. Through a few simple steps, 
your driving style, and regular maintenance, you 
can have a positive influence on your fuel con-
sumption and environmental impact.
Removing unnecessary cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Removing add-on parts after use
Remove unneeded auxiliary mirrors, roof or rear 
luggage racks after use. Add-on parts attached 
to the vehicle impede the aerodynamics and 
increase the fuel consumption.
Closing windows and the glass sunroof
An open glass sunroof or open windows like-
wise increase the drag coefficient and therefore 
the fuel consumption.
Checking tire inflation pressures 
regularly
Check and correct the tire inflation pressure as 
needed at least twice a month and before long 
trips.
An insufficient tire inflation pressure increases 
the rolling resistance and thus increases the 
fuel consumption and tire wear.
Driving off immediately
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it 
running while the vehicle remains stationary. 
Instead, begin to drive at a moderate engine 
speed. This is the fastest way for the cold 
engine to reach its operating temperature. 

Driving tips
 125Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Thinking ahead when driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking. 
To do so, maintain the appropriate distance 
from the vehicle in front of you. An anticipatory 
and smooth driving style reduces fuel con-
sumption.
Avoiding high engine speeds
Use 1st gear only for starting off. Accelerate 
rapidly in 2nd gear and above. Avoid high 
engine speeds in doing so and shift into the 
next gear early.
When you have reached the desired speed, 
shift into the highest possible gear and drive 
with the lowest possible engine speed while 
maintaining a constant a vehicle speed.
In general: driving at a low engine speed 
reduces fuel consumption and minimizes wear.
Taking advantage of coasting
When approaching a red light, let off the gas 
and allow the vehicle to coast to a stop in the 
highest possible gear.
On steep roadways, let off the gas and allow the 
vehicle to roll in the appropriate gear.
The flow of fuel is interrupted when coasting.
Switching off engine during longer 
stops
Switch off the engine at longer stops such as 
traffic signals, railroad crossings, or in traffic 
jams. Even having the engine switched off for 
approx. 4 seconds results in fuel savings.
Switching off functions currently not 
required
Functions such as air conditioning, seat heat-
ing, or rear window defrosting consume a lot of 
energy and require additional fuel. Their influ-
ence is particularly pronounced in city traffic 
and stop & go operation. For this reason, it is a 
good idea to switch these functions off when 
they are not really needed.
Having maintenance done
Have the vehicle serviced regularly in order to 
achieve the optimum economy and service life 
of your vehicle. BMW recommends having the 
maintenance performed by a BMW center. Also 
please pay attention to the BMW maintenance 
system, refer to page221.
General driving notes
Closing luggage compartment lid
Only drive with the luggage compartment 
lid completely closed, otherwise exhaust 
can penetrate into the passenger compart-
ment.<
If it is absolutely necessary to drive with the lug-
gage compartment lid open:
1.Coupe: close both windows and the glass 
sunroof.
Convertible: with closed top, close all win-
dows.
2.Increase the air volume of the automatic cli-
mate control to a high level, refer to 
page110.
Hot exhaust system
As in all vehicles, extremely high temper-
atures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed 
adjacent to it, and never apply undercoating to 
them. When driving, standing at idle and while 
parking, take care to avoid possible contact 
between the hot exhaust system and any highly 
flammable materials such as hay, leaves, grass, 
etc. Such contact could lead to a fire, and with it 
the risk of serious property damage as well as 
personal injury. Do not touch hot exhaust tail 
pipes. Otherwise there is a risk of burns.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads, 
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge 
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or 
complete loss of contact between the tires and  

Reference 243
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Arrival time
– refer to Computer76
– refer to Starting destination 
guidance146
"Arrow display" for navigation 
system147
"Arrow display pop-up 
instructions"133
Ashtray118
Assist, refer to 
BMW Assist199
Assistance systems, refer to 
Driving stability control 
systems86
Assistance window20
"Assist. window off"21
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control111
"Audio"159,161,166
Audio158
– controls158
– switching on/off158
– tone control159
– volume159
Audio device, external117
Automatic
– air distribution109
– air volume109
– cruise control65,66
– headlamp control102
– recirculated-air control 
AUC111
– service notification201
– steering wheel 
adjustment49
– storing stations164
Automatic car washes127
– also refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
– also refer to Comfort 
access38
Automatic climate control108
– automatic air 
distribution109
– convertible program109
– switching on and off112
– ventilation with vehicle 
parked112Automatic closing of doors, 
refer to Automatic soft 
closing34
Automatic curb monitor54
Automatic lighting
– refer to Automatic headlamp 
control102
– refer to Daytime running 
lamps103
– refer to High-beam 
assistant104
– refer to Interior lamps106
– refer to Pathway lighting103
– refer to Welcome lamps102
"Automatic programs"109
Automatic soft closing34
Automatic station search163
"Automatic ventilation"113
AUTO program with 
automatic climate 
control109
"Autostore" on the 
radio162,164
"AUX"158,178,180
– in audio mode178
AUX-In connection117,178
Average fuel consumption75
– setting units84
Average speed75
"Avoid ferries" for navigation 
system145
"Avoid highways" for 
navigation system144
Avoiding freeways for 
navigation144
Avoiding unintentional 
alarms36
"Avoid tollroads" for 
navigation system145
Axle loads, refer to 
Weights237
"A - Z"192
B
Backrest contour, refer to 
Lumbar support48
Backrests, refer to Seats48
Backup lamps, replacing 
bulbs, refer to Tail 
lamps224
"Balance", refer to Tone 
control160
Band-aids, refer to First-aid 
kit228
Bass, refer to Tone 
control159
"Bass", tone control159
Battery
– jump starting228
– refer to Vehicle battery225
Battery replacement, remote 
control for comfort 
access38
BC button, refer to 
Computer75
Being towed230
Belts, refer to Safety belts52
Beverage holder, refer to Cup 
holders118
Blower, refer to Air 
volume110
"Bluetooth"185
"BMW Assist"200
BMW Assist199
– activating204
– concierge service202
– contacting BMW Customer 
Relations202
– displaying vehicle data205
– offered services199
– roadside assistance200
– TeleService201
– updating203
"BMW Contact"194
"BMW Contact 
Numbers"194
BMW homepage4
BMW Maintenance 
System221