
Things to remember when driving
134
Things to remember when driving
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to 
each other. To ensure that your vehicle contin-
ues 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 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. 

Under the hood
234
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on 
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking engine oil level
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic oil 
level check.
The condition for the most accurate indication 
of the oil level possible is measurement with the 
engine at operating temperature, i.e. following 
an uninterrupted drive of at least 6 miles/10 km. 
You can display the oil level on the Control Dis-
play while driving or when stopped on a level 
surface with the engine running.
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.Turn the controller until "Info sources" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Service Info" is 
selected and press the controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Service requirements" is 
selected and press the controller.6.Change to the second field from the top if 
necessary. Turn the controller until "Engine 
oil level" is selected and press the control-
ler. The oil level is displayed.
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level O.K."
>"No measurement available: Updating 
engine oil level measurement...":
The engine oil level is measured. This pro-
cess can take approx. 1 minute when 
stopped on a level surface with the engine 
running and approx. 5 minutes while driv-
ing.
If the engine oil has been topped off, the 
measurement of the oil level can take up to 
30 minutes.
>"Oil level at the minimum! Refill with 1 quart 
of engine oil.": 
Add a maximum of 1 US quart/liter of 
engine oil at the next opportunity, refer also 
to Adding engine oil below. Add at least 
0.5 US quart/liter of oil; otherwise, the oil 
level check cannot reliably display the new 
oil level.
If the oil level displayed is below minimum, 
add engine oil immediately. Failure to do so 
may lead to engine damage.
>"Engine oil level too high"
*:
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise engine damage may 
result if too much oil has been added.<
>"Please observe recalculated service inter-
val for engine oil":
Do not add engine oil. Before continuing to 
drive, note the recalculated remaining mile-
age until the next oil change service, refer to 
Service requirements on page82. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible. 

Mobility
 235Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Adding engine oil
Do not add 1 US quart/liter of oil until a corre-
sponding message is shown on the Control Dis-
play.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km, 
otherwise the engine could be dam-
aged.<
Continuous exposure to used oil has 
caused cancer in laboratory testing. 
For this reason, any skin areas that come into 
contact with oil should be thoroughly washed 
with soap and water.
K e e p  o i l ,  g r e a s e  e t c .  o u t  o f  r e a c h  o f  c h i l d r e n  a n d  
observe the warnings on the containers to pre-
vent health risks.<
Oil change
Have oil changed only at your BMW center or 
at a workshop that works according to BMW 
repair procedures with correspondingly trained 
personnel.
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical 
significance for the operation and service life of 
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after confirming their suitability for use 
in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Do not use oil additives, as these may 
result in engine damage.<
Only use approved BMW High Performance 
Synthetic Oil.
If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is 
unavailable, you can add small quantities of 
other synthetic oils between oil changes. Only 
use oils of the specification API SM or higher.Your BMW center will be happy to answer 
detailed questions on BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil or approved synthetic 
oils.<
You can also call BMW of North America at 
1-800-831-1117 or visit the website at 
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.
Viscosity grades
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and 
is specified in SAE grades.
The choice of the right SAE grade is based on 
the climatic conditions in the region in which 
you normally drive your BMW.
Approved oils belong to the 0W-40, 0W-
30, 5W-40 and 5W-30 SAE grades.<
These oils can be used for driving at all outside 
temperatures.
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling system 
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant 
can cause burns.<
Coolant is composed of equal parts water and a 
coolant additive. Not all commercially available 
additives are suitable for your BMW. Ask your 
BMW center for suitable additives.
Only use suitable additives, otherwise 
engine damage may result. The additives 
present a health hazard; observe the instruc-
tions on the containers.<
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when dis-
posing of coolant additives.<
Checking coolant level
1.Do not open the hood until the engine has 
cooled down.
2.Turn the cap of the expansion tank counter-
clockwise to allow any accumulated pres-
sure to escape, then continue turning to 
open. 

Mobility
 237Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Maintenance
BMW maintenance system
The BMW maintenance system supports the 
preservation of the traffic and operating safety 
of your BMW. The ultimate objective is to 
ensure economical maintenance by providing 
the ideal service for your vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to sell 
your BMW, a complete dealer service history 
will prove to be an asset of inestimable value.
CBS Condition Based Service
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into 
account. Condition Based Service uses this to 
determine the current and future service 
requirements. By letting you define a service 
and maintenance regimen that reflects your 
own individual requirements, the system builds 
the basis for trouble-free driving.
You can set the Control Display to show 
remaining distances and times of selected 
maintenance intervals and legally mandated 
deadlines, refer to page82:
>Engine oil
>Brake pads, separate for the front and rear
>Brake fluid
>Vehicle check
>Legally mandated inspections depending 
on local regulations
Service data in remote control
Your vehicle stores the information required 
maintenance continuously in the remote con-
trol during driving. After accessing the data 
stored in the remote control, your BMW Service 
Advisor can suggest precisely the right array of 
service procedures for your own individual vehi-
cle. You should therefore hand over the remote 
control you last used to drive to the BMW Ser-
vice Advisor when you take your vehicle in for 
service.
Make sure the date is set correctly, refer 
to page88, otherwise the effectiveness 
of CBS Condition Based Service is not 
ensured.<
Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models and 
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet 
for Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models 
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service 
and repair operations performed at your 
BMW center. 
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet 
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries 
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.< 

Maintenance
238
Socket for OBD Onboard 
Diagnostics interface
Components which are decisive for the 
exhaust-gas composition can be checked via 
the OBD socket with a device.
This socket is located to the left on the driver's 
side, on the underside of the instrument panel 
under a cover.
Exhaust-gas values
The warning lamp lights up. The 
exhaust-gas values worsen. Have the 
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Display of the previously described 
malfunction in Canadian models.
The lamp flashes under certain condi-
tions. This is a sign of excessive misfiring of the 
engine. In this case you should reduce speed 
and drive to the nearest BMW center as soon as 
possible. Heavy engine misfiring causes seri-
ous damage to the emission-relevant compo-
nents, especially the catalytic converter, within 
a short time.
If the fuel filler cap is not properly tight-
ened, the OBD system will assume that 
fuel vapor escapes. Then a display lights up. If 
the cap is then tightened, the display will go out 
within a few days.<
Event Data Recorders
Your vehicle may be equipped with one or sev-
eral measuring and diagnosis modules, or with 
a device for recording or transmitting certain 
v e hi c l e  d a t a  o r  i n f o r m a t i o n .  I f  y o u h a v e  a l s o  s u b -
scribed to BMW Assist, certain vehicle data can be transmitted or recorded to enable corre-
sponding services. 

Replacing components
244 Never touch the glass of new bulbs with 
your bare fingers, as even minute 
amounts of contamination will burn into the 
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a 
clean cloth, napkin, etc., or hold the bulb by its 
metal socket.<
A selection of replacement bulbs is available at 
your BMW center.
Only replace bulbs when cool, as other-
wise you may be burned.<
Whenever you perform any work on the 
electrical system, turn off the systems/
consumers involved to prevent short circuits 
from occurring. To avoid possible injury or 
equipment damage when replacing bulbs, 
observe any instructions provided by the bulb 
manufacturer.<
For information on how to care for the head-
lamps, please follow the instructions on 
page239.
For bulbs for which changing is not 
described, and for checking and adjusting 
headlamp aim, please contact your BMW cen-
ter.<
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu-
cent lenses serve as the light source for many of 
the controls and displays in your vehicle. These 
light-emitting diodes, which operate using a 
concept similar to that applied in conventional 
lasers, are officially designated as Class 1 light-
emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers, and never 
stare into the unfiltered light for several 
hours, as irritation of the retina could result.<
Halogen headlamps
The illustration shows the left-hand side of the 
engine compartment.
1Cover cap for low beams
2Cover cap for high beams
To remove the cover caps:
>Low beams: press the detent, arrow, and 
remove the cover from the guide.
>High beams: turn the cover cap to the left 
and remove.
Always wear gloves and eye protection – 
the atmosphere within the H7 bulb is 
pressurized. Otherwise there is a danger of inju-
ries if the bulb is accidentally damaged during 
replacement.< 

Mobility
 251Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
3.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure 
at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems with valve stem 
seal caps against dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source 
of gradual air loss.<
4.Initialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to 
page95, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, 
refer to page97.
5.Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire balanced.
Driving with compact wheel
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a speed of 
50 mph/80 km/h.
The driving characteristics change, for example 
reduced track stability on braking, extended 
braking distance, and altered self-steering 
characteristics in the limit range. In conjunction 
with winter tires, these characteristics are more 
pronounced.
Only one compact wheel may be 
mounted. Restore the wheels and tires to 
their original size as quickly as possible. Failure 
to do so is a safety risk.<
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, i.e., the 
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery 
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW center will be glad to advise in 
all matters concerning the battery.
Charging battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via the 
terminals in the engine compartment with the 
engine switched off. Connections, refer to 
Jump starting on page254.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of by your 
BMW center or hand them in to a recy-
cling center. Maintain the battery in an upright position for transport and storage. Always 
restrain the battery to prevent it from tipping 
over during transport.<
Power failure
Following a temporary power failure, e.g. due to 
a discharged battery, the use of some equip-
ment will be restricted, requiring its reinitializa-
tion. In the same way, individual settings are lost 
and must be updated again:
>Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory 
The positions must be stored again, refer to 
page50.
>Time and date
Must be updated again, refer to page87.
>Radio 
Radio stations must be stored again, refer 
to page174.
>Navigation system 
You must wait until the system becomes 
functional again, refer to page142.
>Glass roof, electric
It may only be possible to raise the glass 
roof. The system must be initialized, refer to 
page44.
>Panorama glass roof
It may only be possible to raise the glass 
roof. The system must be reinitialized, refer 
to page46.
>Active steering
The system is deactivated and must be 
reinitialized, refer to page99. Until then, 
larger steering wheel movements are 
required.
>Power windows 
The pinch prevention system for the power 
windows must be reinitialized, refer to 
page42.
Talk to your BMW center before placing 
the stored vehicle back in service.<
Fuses
Never attempt to repair a blown fuse and 
do not replace a defective fuse with a sub- 

Giving and receiving assistance
254
Sedan
Loosen the wing nut to open.
Sports Wagon
Release the two quick-release fasteners and 
fold down the trim piece.
First-aid kit*
Some of the articles contained in the first-aid kit 
have a limited service life. Therefore, check the 
expiration dates of the contents regularly and 
replace the contents concerned in good time if 
necessary.
Sedan
The first-aid kit is located in the luggage com-
partment lid.Loosen the wing nut to open.
Sports Wagon
The first-aid kit is located in the right side panel 
of the cargo bay. Before opening the side panel, 
pull the retaining strap
* toward the rear by its 
rear end and unhook it.
Roadside Assistance*
The Roadside Assistance of the BMW Group 
offers you assistance in the event of a break-
down around the clock, including on weekends 
and public holidays.
The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-
tance in your home country can be found in the 
Contact brochure.
With BMW Assist you can contact the Roadside 
Assistance of the BMW Group for assistance in 
the event of a breakdown directly via iDrive, 
refer to page210.
Jump starting
When your battery is discharged, you can use 
two jumper cables to start your BMW with 
power from the battery in a second vehicle. You 
can also use the same method to help start 
another vehicle. Use only jumper cables with 
fully-insulated clamp handles.
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal injury, 
always avoid all contact with electrical 
components while the engine is running. Care-
fully adhere to the following sequence, both to 
prevent damage to one or both vehicles, and to 
guard against possible personal injuries.<