
Controls
 85Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Exit the displayed information: 
 Select the arrow and press the controller.
Hiding Check Control messages
Press the CHECK button on turn signal lever.
Some Check Control messages are displayed 
until the malfunctions have been rectified. They 
cannot be hidden. If a number of malfunctions 
occur simultaneously, they are displayed in 
succession.
Other messages are hidden after approx. 
20 seconds, but remain stored.
Displaying stored Check Control 
messages
1.Press the button longer: 
The first stored message is displayed.
2.Press the button: 
When the button is pressed again, a differ-
ent message is displayed.
Displaying additional information later
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 "Check Control messages" 
is selected and press the controller.
6.Select a text message and press the con-
troller.
To exit the display:
 Select the arrow and press the controller. 

Controls
 101Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
stery in the center of the steering wheel, on the 
instrument panel, the doors and the roof pillars 
along with the sides of the headliner. Do not 
attempt to remove or dismantle the steering 
wheel. Do not touch the individual components 
immediately after the system has been trig-
gered, 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 BMW 
repair procedures with correspondingly trained 
personnel and has the required explosives 
licenses. Otherwise unprofessional attempts to 
service the system could lead to failure in an 
emergency or undesired airbag triggering, 
either of which could result in personal injury.<
Warnings and information on the airbags is also 
provided on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of front 
passenger airbags
The occupation of the seat is detected by eval-
uating the impression on the occupied seat sur-
face of the front passenger seat. The front and 
side airbags on the front passenger side are 
activated or deactivated accordingly by the sys-
tem.
The current status of the front passenger 
airbag, i.e. deactivated or activated, is 
indicated by the indicator lamp over the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to Operating state of front 
passenger airbags in the following.<
Before transporting a child on the front 
passenger seat, observe the safety infor-
mation and handling instructions under Trans-
porting children safely refer to page58.
The front and side airbags on the front passen-
ger side can be deactivated for teenagers and 
adults in certain sitting positions; then the indi-
cator lamp for the front passenger airbags lights 
up. In these cases, change the sitting position 
so that the front passenger airbags are acti-
vated and the indicator lamp goes out. If the 
desired status cannot be produced by changing 
the sitting position, transport the correspond-
ing person on the rear seat. Do not fit seat cov-ers, seat cushion padding, ball mats or other 
items onto the front passenger seat unless they 
are specifically recommended by BMW. Do not 
lay objects under the seat which could press 
against the seat from below. Otherwise a cor-
rect evaluation of the occupied seat surface 
cannot be ensured.<
Operating state of front passenger 
airbags
Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the 
arrangement of the switches and indicator 
lamps may differ somewhat.
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags indicates the operating status of the front 
and side airbags on the front passenger side 
depending on the seat occupation. The indica-
tor lamp shows whether the front passenger 
airbags are activated or deactivated.
>The indicator lamp lights up when a child in 
a child restraint system intended for the 
purpose is properly detected on the seat.
The front and side airbags on the front pas-
senger side are not activated.
Most child's seats are detected by the 
system. Especially the child's seats 
required by the NHTSA at the time the vehicle is 
manufactured. After installing a child's seat, 
make sure that the indicator lamp for the front 
passenger airbags lights up. This indicates that 
the child's seat has been detected and the front 
passenger airbags are not activated.<
>The indicator lamp does not light up if, for 
example, the system detects a person of 
sufficient size seated correctly on the seat. 
The front and side airbags on the front pas-
senger side are activated. 

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. 

Driving tips
 135Reference
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 the 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 the cooling function of the 
automatic climate control, seat heating or rear 
window defroster draw large amounts of power 
and consume additional fuel. Their influence 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 carried out
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 page237.
General driving notes
Closing luggage compartment lid/
tailgate
Operate the vehicle only when the lug-
gage compartment lid/tailgate is com-
pletely closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes could 
enter the interior of the vehicle.<
If it is absolutely necessary to drive with the lug-
gage compartment lid open:
1.Close all windows and the glass sunroof or 
panorama glass sunroof.
2.Increase the air volume of the automatic cli-
mate control to a high level, refer to 
page116.
Hot exhaust system
As in all vehicles, extremely high temper-
atures are generated on 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  

Radio
176
Weather news flashes*
Weather Radio is a service of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
of the US Department of Trade. Weather news 
flashes are repeated every 4 to 6 minutes and 
are routinely updated at intervals of 1 to 
3 hours, and more often when necessary. Most 
stations operate 24 hours a day. In case of a 
storm, the National Weather Service interrupts 
the routine weather news and transmits special 
warning messages instead. If you have a ques-
tion about NOAA Weather Radio, please con-
tact the nearest office of the National Weather 
Service. Details are also provided on the Inter-
net at www.nws.noaa.gov.
Calling up weather news flashes
1.Select "WB" and press the controller.
2.Select a station.
The station for weather news flashes may be 
unavailable in some regions.
High Definition Radio*
Many stations transmit both analog and digital 
signals. You can receive these stations digitally 
and with improved sound quality.
A digital radio network must be available in 
order to receive digital stations.
HD Radio™ technology manufactured under 
license from iBiquity Digital Corp. U.S. and 
Foreign Patents. HD Radio™ and the HD and 
HD Radio logos are proprietary trademarks of 
iBiquity Digital Corp.
Activating/deactivating digital radio 
reception
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 "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.Select "Audio" and press the controller.
5.Change to upper field. Turn the controller 
until "HD radio" is selected and press the 
controller.
6.Select "Off" and press the controller.
 The reception of digital stations is activated.
 This symbol is displayed when a station is 
being received digitally.
With some stations the digital signals are not 
transmitted simultaneously with the analog sig-
nals. If you are in an area in which the selected 
station is not continuously received digitally, 
playback changes between analog and digital 
reception. This can result in repetitions or inter-
ruptions. In this case it may be advisable to 
deactivate digital radio reception. 

Communications
This chapter summarizes how to operate your
mobile phone using iDrive or voice control and
how to use BMW Assist or BMW TeleServices.
Communications 

Telephoning
194
Telephoning
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with a full mobile phone 
preparation package. After pairing a suitable 
mobile phone in the vehicle once, you can oper-
ate the mobile phone via iDrive, with the buttons 
on the steering wheel and by voice.
A mobile phone that has been paired once is 
automatically detected again with the engine 
running or the ignition switched on as soon as 
it is in the vehicle interior. The logon data of up 
to four mobile phones can be stored simulta-
neously. If several mobile phones are detected 
simultaneously, the respective last mobile 
phone paired can be operated via the vehicle.
Using a phone in your vehicle
Using snap-in adapter*
The so-called snap-in adapter, a mobile phone 
cradle, enables the battery to be charged and 
the mobile phone to be connected to the exter-
nal antenna of your vehicle. This ensures 
improved network reception and a consistent 
voice reproduction quality. Ask your BMW cen-
ter which mobile phones snap-in adapters are 
offered for.
For your safety
A car phone makes life more convenient in 
many ways, and can even save lives in an emer-
gency. While you should consult your mobile 
phone's separate operating instructions for a 
detailed description of safety precautions and 
information, we request that you direct your 
particular attention to the following:
Only make entries when traffic conditions 
allow you to do so. Do not hold the mobile 
phone in your hand while you are driving; use 
the hands-free system instead. If you do not 
observe this precaution, your being distracted 
can endanger vehicle occupants and other road 
users.<
Suitable mobile phones
Ask your BMW center which mobile phones 
with a Bluetooth interface are supported by the 
mobile phone preparation package or which 
mobile phones snap-in adapters are available 
for. These mobile phones support the functions 
described in this Owner's Manual with a certain 
software version. Malfunctions can occur with 
other mobile phones.
Care instructions
You can find valuable information on this topic 
under Care, starting on page239 and the oper-
ating instructions for the mobile phone.
Operating options
You can operate the mobile phone* using:
>Buttons on steering wheel, refer to page11
>iDrive, refer to page16
>Voice commands, refer to page205
>Programmable memory buttons, refer to 
page22
Avoid operating a mobile phone detected by 
the vehicle with the keypad of the mobile 
phone, otherwise malfunctions can occur.
Placing phone calls with BMW Assist 
system*: BMW Assist calls
You can use the BMW Assist system via the 
hands-free unit for BMW Assist calls.
When the status information "BMW Assist" or 
"BMW Service" is displayed in "Communica-
tion", only BMW Assist calls are possible.
It may not be possible to establish a telephone 
connection using the mobile phone while a con-
nection is being established to BMW Assist or 
while a call to BMW Assist is already in 
progress. If this happens, you must log off the 
* 

 201
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
"Accept" is selected.
Press the controller.
Rejecting a call
Select "Reject" and press the controller.
The caller is diverted to your mailbox if it has 
been activated.
Calling
Dialing phone numbers
1.Select "Phone" and press the controller.
2.Select "Dial" and press the controller.
3.Enter the desired phone number by dialing 
the individual digits and pressing the con-
troller.
Always enter the complete phone number 
consisting of national dialing code, area 
code, and phone number.
The letters correspond to the digits on the 
keypad of the mobile phone.
To delete the last digit:
Move the controller toward the right to 
select the arrow   and press the control-
ler.4.Select "Dial number" and press the control-
ler.
Alternative:
Press the   button on the steering wheel.
For your phone number to be displayed to the 
person you are calling, the display of phone 
numbers must be enabled by your service pro-
vider.
About programmable memory buttons
You can store and request phone numbers 
using the programmable memory buttons, refer 
to page22.
Ending a call
Press the   button on the steering wheel.
Alternative:
1.Select the phone number and press the 
controller.