
Adjustments
42
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital con-
tribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In con-
junction with the safety belts, the head 
restraints and the airbags, the seated position 
has a major influence on your safety in the event 
of an accident. To ensure that the safety sys-
tems operate with optimal efficiency, we 
strongly urge you to observe the instructions 
contained in the following section.
For additional information on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page52.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance 
between yourself and the airbags. Always 
grip the steering wheel on the rim, with your 
hands in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, 
to minimize the risk of injury to the hands or 
arms in the event of the airbag being triggered 
off. 
No one and nothing is to come between the air-
bags and the seat occupant. 
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the 
front passenger side as a storage area. Make 
sure that the front passenger is sitting correctly, 
e.g. not resting feet or legs on the dashboard, 
otherwise leg injuries can occur if the front air-
bag is triggered.
Make sure that passengers do not lean their 
heads against the side or head airbags, other-
wise serious injuries could result if the airbags 
suddenly deployed.<
Even if you follow all the instructions, injuries 
resulting from contact with airbags cannot be 
fully excluded, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may 
provoke a mild hearing loss in extremely sensi-
tive individuals. This effect is usually only tem-
porary.
For airbag locations and additional information 
on airbags, refer to page90.
Head restraint
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.<
Head restraints, refer to page44.
Safety belt
Before every drive, make sure that all occupants 
wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the 
safety belt as an additional safety device, but 
they do not represent a substitute.
Your vehicle has four seats, each of which is 
equipped with a safety belt.
Never allow more than one person to 
wear a single safety belt. Never allow 
infants or small children to ride in a passenger's 
lap. Make sure that the belt in the lap area sits 
low across the hips and does not press against 
the abdomen. 
The safety belt must not rest against the throat, 
run across sharp edges, pass over hard or frag-
ile objects or be pinched. Fasten the safety belt 
so that it sits as snugly as possible against the 
lap and shoulder without being twisted. Other-
wise the belt could slide over your hips and 
injure your abdomen in the event of a frontal 
collision. 
Avoid wearing bulky clothing and regularly pull 
the belt in the upper-body area taut, otherwise 
its restraining effect could be impaired.<
Safety belts, refer to page48.
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat while 
the vehicle is moving. The seat could 
respond with unexpected movement, and the 
ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to an  

Technology for driving comfort and safety
90
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Coupe: head airbags
3Side airbags in the seat backrests
Protective action
Observe the adjustment instructions on 
page42 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The 
head air bag supports the head.
The airbags have been designed to not be trig-
gered in every collision situation, e.g. not in 
minor accidents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Keep the dashboard and windows on the front 
passenger side clear, i.e. do not cover with 
adhesive labels or coverings, and do not attach 
holders such as for navigation instruments or 
mobile phones.
Do not attach seat covers, cushions or other 
objects not specifically approved for seats with 
integral side airbags to the front seats. Do not 
hang items of clothing such as coats or jackets 
over the backrests. Do not attempt to remove the airbag retention system from the vehicle. Do 
not modify the individual components of the 
system or its wiring in any way. This includes 
the upholstered covers on the steering wheel, 
instrument panel, seats and roof posts, as well 
as the sides of the roof lining. Do not attempt to 
remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components imme-
diately after the system has been triggered, 
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation or 
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have 
the testing, repair, removal and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW center 
or a workshop that works according to repair 
procedures of BMW with correspondingly 
trained personnel and that has the required 
explosives licenses. Unprofessional attempts to 
work on the system could lead to failure in an 
emergency or to undesired airbag activation, 
either of which could result in personal injury.<
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front 
passenger airbags
An analysis of the impression in the front pas-
senger seat cushion determines whether and 
how the seat is occupied. The front and side air-
bags for the front passenger are activated or 
deactivated by the system accordingly.
The indicator lamp above the interior 
rearview mirror shows the current status 
of the front passenger airbags, deactivated or  

Reference 245
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Confirmation signals for 
locking/unlocking the 
vehicle29
Congestion
– refer to Route, bypassing 
sections136
Connecting vacuum cleaner, 
refer to Connecting 
electrical appliances108
Consumption, refer to 
Average consumption71
Consumption display
– average consumption71
Control Center, refer to 
iDrive16
Control Display, refer to 
iDrive16
– adjusting brightness80
– switching on/off19
Controller, refer to iDrive16
Controls and displays10
Control unit, refer to iDrive16
Convenient access34
– replacing the battery35
Convenient loading in 
convertible28
Convenient operation
– glass roof28
– glass roof with convenient 
access34
– retractable hardtop28
– windows28
– windows with convenient 
access34
Convertible
– bag holder110
– convenient loading28
– enlarging cargo bay109
– folding down rear 
backrest110
– retractable hardtop38
– rollover protection 
system92
– securing cargo120
– stowing cargo119
Coolant209
– checking level210
Coolant temperature70
Cooling, maximum98Cooling fluid, refer to 
Coolant209
Cooling system, refer to 
Coolant209
Copyright2
Corner-illuminating lamps
– replacing bulbs219
Corner-illuminating lamps, 
refer to Adaptive Head 
Light94
Cornering lamps, refer to 
Adaptive Head Light94
Correct tires204
Country codes DVD154
Courtesy lamps, refer to 
Interior lamps96
Criteria for route135
Cross-hairs in navigation130
Cruise control61
– active63
– malfunction63
Cruising range70
Cup holders107
Curb weight, refer to 
Weights235
Current playback of music 
collection160
Current position
– displaying141
Customer Relations187
D
Dashboard, refer to 
Cockpit10
Dashboard, refer to 
Instrument cluster12
Dashboard lighting, refer to 
Instrument lighting95
Data, technical232
– dimensions233
– engine232
– weights235
Data transfer188
Date
– date format77
– setting76
Daytime running lamps94
– replacing bulbs219DBC Dynamic Brake 
Control83
Deactivating front passenger 
airbags90
Deadlocking, refer to 
Locking28
Defect
– door lock30
– fuel filler door192
– glass roof38
Destination, entering by town/
city name125
Destination address
– entering125,131
Destination for navigation
– entering by voice131
– entering via map130
– entry125
– home address128
– manual entry125
Destination guidance135
– bypassing a route 
section136
– changing specified 
route135
– continuing135
– starting135
– voice instructions136
– volume of voice 
instructions137
Digital clock69
Digital compass104
Digital radio, refer to High 
Definition Radio148
Dimensions233
Directional indicators, refer to 
Turn signals59
Direction instructions, refer to 
Voice instructions136
Directory for navigation, refer 
to Address book127
Displacement, refer to Engine 
data232
Display, refer to iDrive 
controls16
"Display current location"141
Display lighting, refer to 
Instrument lighting95