
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 37
1Longitudinal direction
2Height
3Angle
4Backrest
The head restraints are adjusted manually, refer 
to Head restraints on page37.
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest 
to obtain additional support in the lumbar 
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a 
relaxed, upright sitting position.
>Increase or decrease curvature: press the 
switch at the front or rear, respectively.>Shift curvature up or down: press the switch 
at the top or bottom, respectively.
Backrest width*
You can change the width of the backrest to suit 
your individual preferences by adjusting the lat-
eral-support pads.
Press the front or rear end of the switch.
Backrest width decreases or increases accord-
ingly.
To move the front seats forward or backward 
from outside or from one of the rear seats: with 
the door open, press the front end 1 or rear end 
2 of the switch.
Head restraints
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the 
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way 
that its center is at approx. ear level. Oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the 
event of an accident. Only remove a head 
restraint if no one will be sitting on the seat in 
question. Reinstall the head restraint before 
transporting anyone on that seat. Otherwise,  

Adjustments
40 Settings for the backrest width and lumbar sup-
port are not stored in memory.
Storing
1.Switch on radio readiness or the ignition, 
refer to page47.
2.Adjust the seat and exterior mirrors to the 
desired positions.
3.Press the   button.
The LED in the button lights up.
4.Press the desired memory button 1 or 2: the 
LED goes out.
Call-up
Do not call up memory while you are driv-
ing, otherwise unexpected seat move-
ment could result in an accident.<
Convenience mode
1.Unlock and open the driver's door or switch 
on radio readiness, refer to page47.
2.Lightly push the desired memory button1 
or 2.
The adjusting procedure is halted when you 
touch a seat adjustment switch or one of 
the memory buttons.
Safety feature
1.Close the driver's door and switch the igni-
tion on or off, refer to page47.
2.Press the desired memory button1 or2 
and keep it pressed until the adjustment 
process has been completed.
If the   button was pressed accidentally:
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
Call-up with the remote control
The driver's seat position last stored is stored 
for the remote control currently in use.
You can select the occasion on which the seat is 
reset to that position.
>Call-up when the vehicle is unlocked.
>Call-up when the driver's door is opened.
When this Personal Profile function is 
used, first make sure that the footwell 
behind the driver's seat is free of obstacles. 
Failure to do so could cause injury to persons or 
damage to objects as a result of a rearward 
movement of the seat.<
The adjusting procedure is halted when you 
touch a seat adjustment switch or one of the 
memory buttons.
Activating/deactivating automatic call-
up
1.Lightly push button1 in the turn indicator 
lever up or down repeatedly until the sym-
bol appears in the display accompanied by 
the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.
3.Lightly push button1 in the turn indicator 
lever down repeatedly until the symbol 
appears in the display. 

Transporting children safely
44
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger 
themselves and/or other persons by opening 
the doors, for example.<
Children always in the rear
Accident research has shown that the safest 
place for children is on the rear seat.
Children under the age of 13 or smaller 
than 5 ft/150 cm may be transported only 
in the rear in suitable child-restraint systems 
appropriate for their age, weight and size. Oth-
erwise there is an increased risk of injury in the 
event of an accident.<
Children 13 years of age or older must be buck-
led in with a safety belt as soon as there no 
longer is any child-restraint system that is 
appropriate for their age, size and weight.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child-
restraint system on the front passenger 
seat, the front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger must be deactivated. Otherwise, a child 
traveling on that seat will face a significant risk 
of injury if the airbags are triggered off, even 
with a child-restraint system.<
For more information on automatic deactivation 
of the front passenger airbags refer to page71.
Installing child-restraint 
systems
Observe the child-restraint system man-
ufacturer's instructions when selecting, 
installing and using child-restraint systems. 
Otherwise the protective effect may be dimin-
ished. <
Standard child-restraint systems are designed 
to be secured with a lap belt or with the lap-belt 
section of a lap-and-shoulder belt. Incorrectly or improperly installed child-restraint systems 
can increase the risk of injury to children. 
Always follow the installation instructions for 
the system with the greatest care.
On the front passenger seat
After installing a child-restraint system on 
the front passenger seat, make sure that 
the front and side airbags for the front passen-
ger are deactivated, otherwise there is an 
increased risk of injury if the airbags deploy.<
Backrest width*
The backrest width of the front passen-
ger's seat must be at its widest possible 
setting. Do not change the setting after install-
ing the child seat. Otherwise the child seat's 
stability on the front passenger's seat is lim-
ited.<
1.Adjust the backrest width to its widest set-
ting, refer to page37.
2.Install the child seat.
Child seat security
The rear safety belts and the front passenger's 
safety belt can be prevented from being pulled 
out in order to fasten child-restraint systems.
To lock the safety belt
1.Secure the child-restraint system with the 
belt.
2.Pull the belt strap all the way out. 

Wheels and tires
110
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire 
makes it easier to identify and choose the right 
tires.
Tire size
Speed code letter
Q = up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph or 190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph or 210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph or 240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph or 270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph or 300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of 
the US Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in 
the tire coding: DOT … 3408 means that the 
tire was manufactured in week 34 of 2008.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires 
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last 
for 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable 
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and 
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA 
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear 
Traction AA A B C 
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to 
Federal Safety Requirements in addition 
to these grades.<
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating 
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested 
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded 
150 would wear one and one-half (1γ) times as 
well on the government course as a tire graded 
100. The relative performance of tires depends 
upon the actual conditions of their use, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the 
norm due to variations in driving habits, service 
practices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are 
AA, A, B, and C. 
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop 
on wet pavement as measured under controlled 
conditions on specified government test sur-
faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C 
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is 
based on straight-ahead braking traction 
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B, 
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the 
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate 
e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ 
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter, in
front of the R on ZR tires225/45 R1791 V
e.g.
Manufacturer's 
code for tire make
Tire size and 
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 3408 

Care
120
Care
Care products
Regular cleaning and care contributes signifi-
cantly to the value retention of your BMW.
BMW recommends cleaning and caring for your 
vehicle with products that are approved by 
BMW for this purpose.
Your BMW center will be happy to advise you on 
the products and services available for cleaning 
and caring for your BMW.
Original BMW CareProducts have been 
material tested, laboratory checked and 
proven in the field, and offer optimal care and 
protection for your vehicle.<
Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol 
or solvents as these may result in dam-
age.<
Cleaning agents can contain substances 
that are dangerous or hazardous to your 
health. Therefore, follow the warning and safety 
instructions on the packaging. When cleaning 
inside the vehicle, always open the doors or 
windows of the vehicle. In enclosed areas, pro-
vide for sufficient ventilation. Only use products 
designed for cleaning vehicles.<
Exterior care
Washing the vehicle
Especially during the winter months, 
ensure that the vehicle is washed more 
frequently. Heavy soiling and road salt can lead 
to vehicle damage.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the 
brakes briefly to dry them, otherwise 
water can reduce braking efficiency over the 
short term and brake discs can corrode.<
Automatic car washes
Preference should be given to cloth car washes.Do not use high-pressure car washes, 
otherwise water may drip into the vehicle 
around the windows.<
Before driving into a car wash, ensure that it is 
suitable for your BMW. Check the following:
>Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to 
page147.
>If necessary: fold in the exterior mirrors, 
refer to page42
>Maximum permissible tire width
>In convertibles, do not treat the convertible 
top with wax. Ensure that a program is avail-
able that does not apply wax or is designed 
specifically for convertibles.
Preparations before driving into an automatic 
car wash:
>Unscrew the rod antenna
*.
>Deactivate the rain sensor
* to prevent unin-
tentional wiping.
>Remove additional attachments, e.g. 
spoiler or telephone antennas, if there is a 
possibility that they could be damaged.
Automatic transmission
Before driving into an automatic car wash, per-
form the following steps to ensure that the vehi-
cle can roll:
1.Insert the remote control, even with conve-
nient access, into the ignition lock.
2.Engage transmission position N.
3.Release the parking brake.
4.Switch off the engine.
5.Leave the remote control in the ignition lock 
so that the vehicle can roll.
Steam jets / high-pressure washers
When using steam jets or high-pressure 
washers, ensure that you maintain suffi-
cient clearance to the vehicle and do not exceed 
a temperature of 1407/606. 
Insufficient clearance or excessive pressure or  

Everything from A to Z
152
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS Antilock Brake 
System64
Accessories, refer to The 
individual vehicle5
Accident, reporting, refer to 
Emergency Request130
Activated-charcoal filter84
Active steering70
Adaptive Head Light76
Additives
– coolant117
– engine oil116
Airbags71
– sitting safely35
– warning lamp72
Air conditioner79
Air distribution
– automatic83
– individual80
Air flow rate80,83
Airing, refer to 
Ventilation81,84
Air outlets, refer to Air 
vents79
Air pressure, checking, refer 
to Tire inflation 
pressure106
Air recirculation, refer to 
Recirculated-air 
mode80,83
Air vents79
AKI, refer to Fuel 
specifications104
Alarm system24
– avoiding unintentional 
alarms25
– interior motion sensor25
– switching off an alarm25
– tilt alarm sensor25
All-season tires, refer to 
Winter tires113Ambient air, refer to 
Recirculated-air 
mode80,83
Antifreeze
– coolant117
– washer fluid53
Antilock Brake System 
ABS64
Anti-theft alarm system, refer 
to Alarm system24
Anti-theft system19
Approved axle loads, refer to 
Weights149
Approved gross vehicle 
weight, refer to Weights149
Armrest, refer to Center 
armrest
88
Ashtray90
Assistance systems, refer to 
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC65
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control83
Automatic
– air distribution83
– air flow rate83
– cruise control54
– headlamp control74
Automatic car wash, refer to 
Car wash98
Automatic car washes120
Automatic climate control79
– automatic air distribution83
Automatic curb monitor42
Automatic lamps
– refer to Welcome lamps74
Automatic recirculated-air 
control AUC83Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic49
– interlock50
– selector lever lock50
– shiftlock50
– towing132
– tow-starting132
AUTO program for automatic 
climate control83
Average fuel consumption58
– setting the units60
Average speed58
Avoiding unintentional 
alarms25
Axle loads, refer to 
Weights149
B
Backrests, refer to Seats36
Backrest width adjustment37
Back seats, refer to Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints38
Backup lamp, replacing 
bulb127
Bag for skis, refer to Ski 
bag92
Band-aids, refer to First-aid 
pouch130
Bar, refer to Tow-starting, 
towing away133
Battery128
– charging128
– disposal27,128
– jump starting131
– temporary power failure128
Battery renewal
– remote control for vehicle27
Being towed132
Belts, refer to Safety belts41
Belt tensioner, refer to Safety 
belts41 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 161
TPM, refer to Tire Pressure 
Monitor68
Traction control, refer to 
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC65
Transmission
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic49
– manual transmission49
Transporting children 
safely44
Transport securing devices, 
refer to Securing cargo100
Tread depth, refer to Minimum 
tire tread111
Trip-distance counter, refer to 
Trip odometer56
Triple turn signal activation52
Trip odometer56
Trunk, refer to Cargo bay
Trunk lid, refer to Luggage 
compartment lid23
Turn, indicating
– triple turn signal52
Turning circle, refer to 
Dimensions147
Turn signals51
– indicator lamp12
– replacing bulbs126
Tying down loads, refer to 
Cargo loading100
U
Underbody protection, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle
Uniform Tire Quality Grading/
UTQR110
Units of measure
– average fuel 
consumption60
– temperature60
Universal garage door opener, 
refer to Integrated universal 
remote control85
Universal remote control85
Unlatching, refer to 
Unlocking19Unlocking
– from inside23
– from outside19
– luggage compartment lid27
– without remote control, refer 
to Convenient access26
Unlocking without a key, refer 
to Convenient access26
V
Vehicle
– battery128
– breaking in96
– cargo loading99
– decommissioning, refer to 
Vehicle storage
– dimensions147
– Identification Number, refer 
to Engine compartment115
– parking48
– weight149
Vehicle jack128
Vehicle storage123
Ventilation81,84
– draft-free81,84
Vents, refer to Air vents79
Vents, refer to 
Ventilation81,84
Volume
– fuel tank, refer to 
Capacities150
W
Warm
– steering wheel43
Warning and indicator 
lamps13,134
Warning messages, refer to 
Check Control62
Warning triangle131
Washer fluid53
– content of the reservoir53
Washer fluid filler neck53
Waste tray, refer to Ashtray90
Water on roads, refer to 
Driving through water98
Water penetration120,121Wear indicators in tires, refer 
to Minimum tread depth111
Weights149
Welcome lamps74
Wheelbase, refer to 
Dimensions147
Wheels, new112
Wheels and tires106
Width, refer to 
Dimensions147
Windows27
– convenient operation20
– convenient operation with 
convenient access26
– opening, closing27
– pinch protection system28
Windows, defrosting and 
removing 
condensation81,84
Windshield
– cleaning53
– defrosting and removing 
condensation81,84
Windshield wash
– filling capacity, reservoir150
Windshield washer reservoir, 
refer to Washer fluid filler 
neck53
Windshield washer system52
– washer fluid53
– washer nozzles53
Windshield wiper blades, 
changing124
Windshield wipers, refer to 
Wiper system52
Winter tires113
– storage113
Wiper blade replacement124
Wiper system52
Wrench/screwdriver, refer to 
Onboard tool kit124
X
Xenon lamps
– replacing bulb124