
Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Indicator lamps for turn signals
3Indicator and warning lamps12
4Tachometer48
with indicator and warning lamps12
5Engine coolant temperature gauge49
6Fuel gauge48
7Button for
>Displaying the clock49
>Service interval display49
>Checking the oil level93
8Position of automatic transmission
*42
9Button for
>Resetting trip odometer48
>Setting the clock49
10Display for
>Trip odometer/Odometer48
>Clock49
>Service interval49
>Computer
*50
>Checking the oil level93
Indicator and warning lamps 
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are identified 
by 
+ are tested for proper functioning whenever 
the key is turned. They each light up once for 
different periods of time.
If a malfunction occurs in one of the monitored 
systems, the corresponding lamp does not go 
out after the engine has started, or it lights up 
again while the vehicle is in motion. You can find 
more information about each system on the 
specified pages.
Turn signal indicators44
Battery charge current 
+102
Headlamp flasher/High beams44, 60
Engine oil pressure/
Engine oil level 
+92
Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving 
stability control systems 
+51 

Adjustments
34
Damaged safety belts
When the belt system has absorbed an 
accident or has been damaged, have the 
system and its belt tensioners replaced and the 
b e l t  a n c h o r s  c h e c k e d .  H a v e  t h i s  w o r k  d o n e  o n l y  
by your BMW center or at a workshop that 
works according to BMW repair procedures 
with correspondingly trained personnel. Other-
wise, it is not guaranteed that the safety devices 
will function properly.<
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
The passenger's mirror is more convex 
than the driver's mirror. The objects seen 
in the mirror are closer than they appear. Do not 
gauge your distance from traffic behind you on 
the basis of what you see in the mirror; other-
wise there is an increased risk of an accident.<
1Adjustments
2To switch from one mirror to the other
3To fold the mirrors in or out
*
Manual adjustment
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually: 
press on the edges of the lens.
Folding mirrors in or out*
The mirrors can be folded in or out up to a road 
speed of approx. 6 mph/10 km/h by pressing 
button3. This can be useful on narrow roads, 
for example, or to reset the mirrors to their cor-
rect positions after they were folded in.
Automatic heating*
Both exterior mirrors are automatically heated 
when the engine is running or the ignition is 
switched on.
Interior rearview mirror
Turn the knob to reduce glare from the head-
lamps of cars behind you when driving at night.
Interior and exterior mirrors with 
automatic dimming feature* 
The automatic dimming feature of the interior 
and exterior mirrors
* is controlled by two photo 
cells in the interior rearview mirror. In the Road-
ster, one is located in the top of the mirror 
frame, see arrow. In the Coupe, it is located at 
the bottom of the mirror frame. The other photo 
cell is on the back of the mirror.
In order to ensure that the system functions 
correctly, keep the photocells clean, do not 
cover the area between the interior rearview 
mirror and windshield, and do not affix adhesive 
labels or stickers of any kind to the windshield 
directly in front of the mirror. 

Everything under control
48
Everything under control
Odometer 
1Odometer
2Trip odometer
3Resetting trip odometer
4Outside temperature or computer dis-
plays
*
Trip odometer 
Resetting trip odometer: 
While the ignition is switched on, press button 3 
in the instrument cluster until the trip odometer 
is set to zero.
Outside temperature display, clock*
Setting the clock, refer to page50.
Outside temperature warning
If the outside temperature drops to approx. 
377/+36, the computer automatically 
switches to the outside temperature display.
A signal also sounds and the display flashes for 
a short time. There is an increased risk of black 
ice.
After an outside temperature warning has 
been issued, the computer switches back 
to its previous screen. You can have this acti-
vated/deactivated.<
Black ice can also form at temperatures 
above 377/+36. You should therefore 
drive carefully on bridges and shaded roads, for 
example, otherwise there is an increased risk of 
an accident.<
When the vehicle is parked
If you still want to view the time and odometer 
reading briefly after the ignition has been 
switched off or the key has been removed:
Press button 3 in the instrument cluster.
Tachometer 
Never allow the engine to operate with the nee-
dle in the red overspeed sector of the gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is inter-
rupted when speed reaches this sector.
Fuel gauge 
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 14.5 US gallons/
55 liters. You can find information on refueling 
on page82.
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. 

Everything under control
50
Setting the clock
1.Press button 2 for several seconds until the 
hours are displayed and the colon flashes.
2.Press button1 repeatedly until the required 
hour is set.
3.Press button2 to switch to the minutes dis-
play.
4.Press button1 repeatedly until the required 
minutes are set.
5.Press button2 to confirm the time.
The set time of day is transferred to the car 
radio display or appears in the instrument clus-
ter display.
Computer*
To view the information on the instrument clus-
ter display, press the onboard computer button 
BC in the turn signal lever.
Each time you tap the onboard computer but-
ton, the following information is shown in the 
specified order:
>Time
>Outside temperature
>Average fuel consumption
>Cruising range>Average speed
With the ignition key in position 1 or higher, the 
respective last active setting is displayed.
If you wish, you can have all the following 
information displayed in another unit of 
measure.<
Setting the time format
You can have the clock displayed in 12h or 24h 
mode:
While the time display is active, press the 
onboard computer button BC in the turn signal 
lever until the display changes.
Changing unit of measure: °F/°C
While the outside temperature display is active, 
press the onboard computer button BC in the 
turn signal lever until the display changes.
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for 
the time for which the engine has been running.
To reset the average fuel consumption display:
Press the onboard computer button BC in the 
turn signal lever for approx. 2 seconds.
Cruising range
The computer bases its calculations of the 
cruising range on the preceding driving style 
and on the amount of fuel remaining in the tank.
B e  s u r e  t o  r e f u e l  a s  s o o n  a s  p o s s i b l e  o n c e  
your cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.<
Average speed
The average speed is calculated for the time for 
which the engine has been running.
To reset the average speed display:
Press the onboard computer button BC in the 
turn signal lever for approx. 2 seconds. 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
54 3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kilopascal, you can estimate the 
possible distance for continued driving on 
the basis of the following guidelines:
>With a light load:
1 person without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
1 person, cargo bay full,
or
2 persons without luggage:
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
2 persons, cargo bay full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a speed 
of 50 mph/80 km/h. Driving characteris-
tics change if there is a loss of tire pressure. 
This includes reduced tracking stability in brak-
ing, extended braking distance and altered nat-
ural 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 to the side of the road at the 
earliest opportunity. Otherwise, parts of the tire 
could come loose and cause an accident. Do 
not continue driving. Contact a BMW center.<
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM*
The concept
TPM monitors the tire inflation pressure in all 
four mounted tires. The system reports if infla-
tion pressure has dropped significantly in one 
or more of the tires.
System requirements
To ensure a reliable flat tire warning, the system 
must have been reset while tire inflation pres-
sures were correct.
Always use tires with TPM electronics to 
ensure that the system operates properly.The system must be reset each time a tire 
inflation pressure has been corrected or a 
wheel or tire has been changed.<
System limitations
TPM cannot report sudden serious tire 
damage due to external causes.<
The system will not operate correctly if it was 
not reset, e.g. it may report a flat tire even if the 
tire inflation pressures are correct.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat 
tire if a wheel without TPM electronics is 
mounted or if other systems or devices that use 
the same radio frequency temporarily interfere 
with the TPM system.
Resetting the system
The system must be reset each time a tire 
inflation pressure has been corrected or a 
wheel or tire has been changed.<
1.Start the engine but do not drive off yet.
2.Press the button until the yellow warning 
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up for a 
few seconds.
3.Drive off.
After several minutes of driving, the current 
inflation pressures in the tires are adopted 
as the target values to be monitored. The 
resetting procedure is completed automat-
ically without further notice during the trip, 
which can be interrupted at any time. 
Resetting is continued automatically when 
you continue driving. 

Wheels and tires
84
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure 
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tire's service life, but also 
driving safety and driving comfort that largely 
depend on the condition of the tires and the 
maintenance of the specified tire pressure.
Check tire inflation pressures regularly 
and correct them if necessary: at least 
every two weeks and before every extended 
journey. If you fail to observe this precaution 
you may be driving on tires with incorrect tire 
pressures, a condition that can not only com-
promise your vehicle's driving stability, but also 
lead to tire damage and the risk of an accident. 
Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat tires, except 
when using Run-Flat Tires. A flat tire will seri-
ously impair your vehicle's handling and braking 
response. Attempts to drive on a flat tire can 
lead to loss of control over the vehicle.<
Checking pressure
Check the tire inflation pressures only when the 
tires are cold. This means after a maximum of 
1.25 miles/2 km driving or when the vehicle has 
been parked for at least 2 hours. Warm tires 
have higher inflation pressures.
Inflation pressure specifications
The specified inflation pressures for your stan-
dard tires are provided on the placard on the 
B-pillar and are visible when the driver's door is 
open.After the tire inflation pressure is cor-
rected, initialize the Flat Tire Monitor
*, 
refer to page53, or reset the Tire Pressure 
Monitor
*, refer to page54.<
The following tire inflation pressure tables show 
the inflation pressures for the specified tire 
sizes at ambient temperature.
The inflation pressures in the table apply 
to BMW-approved tire sizes and recom-
mended tire brands. Your BMW center will be 
glad to supply this information.<
To determine the correct tire inflation pressure 
for your tires, refer to the following tables.
Tire size
The inflation pressures in the table apply to 
BMW-approved tire sizes and recommended 
tire brands. Your BMW center will be glad to 
supply this information. 

Replacing components
102
Jacking points
The jacking points are located at the positions 
indicated in the illustration.
Vehicle battery
Maintenance
The battery is completely maintenance-free. 
This means that the original electrolyte will nor-
mally last for the service life of the battery under 
moderate climatic conditions. Your BMW cen-
ter will be happy to advise you if you have any 
questions concerning the battery.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up:
The battery is no longer being charged. 
The alternator drive belt is defective or 
there is a malfunction in the charging circuit of 
the alternator. Have the system checked as 
soon as possible.
If the drive belt is defective, pull over and 
switch off the engine immediately to pre-
vent overheating and serious engine damage.
If the onboard supply voltage drops to a very 
low level, increased steering effort may also be 
necessary.<
Charging the battery
Charge the battery in the vehicle only when the 
engine has been switched off. Connections, 
refer to Jump-starting on page104.
Battery disposal
After changing a battery, have the used 
battery disposed of by your BMW center or bring it to a recycling point. Maintain the bat-
tery in an upright position for transport and stor-
age. Secure the battery against tilting when 
transporting.<
Power loss
After a temporary power loss, the functioning of 
some equipment may be limited and require ini-
tialization. Individual settings are also lost and 
must be reset:
>Seat memory
The positions must be stored again, refer to 
page32.
>Clock must be reset, refer to page49.
Fuses
Do not attempt to repair a burned fuse or 
replace it with a fuse having a different 
color or amperage rating. To do this could 
cause a fire in the vehicle as a result of circuit 
overload.<
You will find the fuses and information on their 
respective allocation behind the glove compart-
ment.
1.Open the glove compartment.
2.Press the lock on the left, arrow1.
3.Press the lock on the right, arrow2.
4.Swing the glove compartment down.
Spare fuses and plastic tweezers for grasping 
the fuses are found in the onboard tool kit; refer 
to page98. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 125
Steering wheel10
– adjusting35
– buttons on steering 
wheel11
– lock40
Steptronic, refer to Sport 
program and Manual 
operation43
Storage compartments68
– 
eyeglasses 
compartment69
– glove compartment68
Storage nets69
Storage space
– refer to Cargo bay23
– refer to Storage 
compartments68
Storing seat position, refer to 
Seat memory32
Stowage, refer to Storage 
compartments68
Summer tires, refer to Wheels 
and tires84
Supply reservoir, refer to 
Washer fluid reservoir46
Switches, refer to Cockpit10
Switch for passenger 
airbags36
Switching cooling function on/
off manually63,66
Symbols4
T
Table of contents3
Tachometer48
Tailgate21
– emergency operation22
– indicator lamp13
– opening from inside the 
vehicle21
– opening from the outside21
– opening manually22
– remote control20
– roller-blind cover70
Tail lamps, refer to Rear 
lamps101Tail lights, refer to Rear 
lamps101
Tank contents
– refer to Capacities114
Tank indicator, refer to Fuel 
gauge48
Technical data110
Technical modifications, refer 
to For your own safety5
Telephone, refer to the 
separate Owner's Manual
Telephone preparation 
package71
Temperature
– air conditioning63
– automatic climate control66
– coolant, refer to Coolant 
thermometer49
– engine49
Temperature display
– outside temperature48
– outside temperature 
warning48
– setting unit of measure50
Tempomat, refer to Cruise 
control46
Third brake lamp, refer to 
Center high-mount brake 
lamp101
Three-point safety belt, refer 
to Safety belts33
Tilt alarm sensor24
Tilt function, passenger-side 
mirror34
Tire, flat53,55
– Flat Tire Monitor53
– indicator/warning lamp13
– Run-Flat Tires88
– Tire Pressure Monitor54
Tire inflation pressure84
– checking84
– loss53,54
– restoring84
Tire pressure monitoring, 
refer to
– Flat Tire Monitor53
– Tire Pressure Monitor
54Tire Pressure Monitor 
TPM54
– indicator/warning lamp55
– resetting the system54
– system limits54
Tire Quality Grading86
Tire renewal88
Tires
– age86,88
– break-in procedures74
– changing88
– coding86
– condition87
– damage88
– DOT quality grades86
– flat53,55
– inflation pressure84
– pressure monitoring, refer to 
Flat Tire Monitor53
– replacement88
– size84
– storage89
– temperature87
– traction87
– tread87
– tread wear87
– Uniform Tire Quality 
Grading86
– wear indicators, refer to 
Minimum tread depth87
– wheel and tire 
replacement88
– winter tires89
– with emergency features, 
refer to Run-Flat Tires88
Tire storage89
Tool kit, refer to Onboard tool 
kit98
Torque, refer to Engine 
data110
Tow bar106
Tow fitting
– screw thread106
Towing eyelet105
Towing the vehicle105
– methods106
– with automatic 
transmission106
Tow rope106