
Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
102 >The indicator lamp does not light up when 
the seat is empty.
However, the front and side airbags on the 
front passenger side are not activated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
From radio readiness, refer to page62, the 
warning lamp lights up briefly, indicating the 
operational readiness of the entire airbag sys-
tem and the safety belt tensioners.
Airbag system malfunction
>Warning lamp does not light up from radio 
readiness.
>Warning lamp lights up continuously.
Have the airbag system checked immedi-
ately in case of a malfunction, otherwise 
there is a danger that the airbag system may not 
respond in the expected manner in an accident 
despite an impact of corresponding intensity.<
Head-Up Display*
The concept
With the Head-Up Display important informa-
tion is projected into the driver's field of view, 
e.g. navigation instructions. This enables you to 
take in this information without looking away 
from the road.
Switching on/off
Press the button.
1Navigation instructions
2Display
>Cruise control
>Active cruise control
>Leaving lane warning
3Speed
Selecting displays
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.Select "Settings" and press the controller. 

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
106 3.Select the menu item and press the control-
ler:
>"Night Vision off":
Deactivate BMW Night Vision.
>"Zoom": 
At higher speeds, the image is zoomed 
in.
>"Curve mode": 
Depending on the steering angle and 
other parameters, the image section fol-
lows the course of the road to some 
degree.
>"Full screen": 
The image is shown on the entire Con-
trol Display.
>"Contrast": 
The contrast of the screen can be 
adjusted.
>"Brightness": 
The brightness of the screen can be 
adjusted.
"Curve mode" can only be activated with 
the "Zoom" function switched on. With 
"Full screen" activated, "Curve mode" and 
"Zoom" cannot be selected.<
The settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
To exit the menu: 
The image automatically disappears after 
approx. 5 seconds.
Cleaning camera
The function of the camera may be affected by 
heavy rain and fog, dirt, snow or ice on the lens. 
When this occurs, the displayed image on the 
Control Display may become gray.To minimize icing, the camera lens is automati-
cally heated. However, it may be necessary to 
clean the camera lens manually under severe 
weather conditions. When doing so, cautiously 
remove any debris, ice or snow. To avoid dam-
age to the lens, do not use sharp or abrasive 
instruments to clean ice, snow, or dirt off the 
lens.
When the windshield is cleaned with the head-
lamps on, the camera lens area is automatically 
sprayed as well. Refer to page69.
Leaving lane warning*
The concept
This system warns you from a speed of approx. 
40 mph/70 km/h when the vehicle is leaving the 
lane you are currently in on roads with lane limit 
lines. You feel this due to a slight vibration of the 
steering wheel. 
The system does not warn you if you signal 
before leaving the lane. 
It is best to use the system on well-developed 
roads and freeways.
Switching on/off
Press the button on the steering wheel.
>The two lines1 indicate that the system is 
activated.
>The two arrows2 mean that the system has 
detected one or two lane limit lines from a 
speed of approx. 40 mph/70 km/h and 
warns accordingly.
If you activate the system below a speed of 
approx. 40 mph/70 km/h, a message will appear  

Controls
 107Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
stating that the system is not active until this 
speed is reached.
A warning will be canceled:
>after approx. 3 seconds
>if you return to your lane
>if you brake heavily
>if you signal
System limits
The leaving lane warning cannot serve as 
a substitute for your personal judgment in 
determining the course of the road. 
If the system issues a warning, do not move the 
steering wheel with unnecessary severity, as 
otherwise you could loose control of the vehi-
cle.<
The function of the system may be limited in the 
following example situations:
>in heavy fog, rain or snowfall
>with worn-away, poorly visible limit lines, or 
lines that run together or apart or are 
unclear, e.g. in road construction areas
>when limit lines are covered by snow, ice, 
dirt or a great deal of water
>in tight curves or on narrow roads
>when limit lines are not white
>when limit lines are covered by objects
>when driving up close behind a vehicle driv-
ing ahead
>with bright counter light
>when the windshield is fogged up, dirty or 
covered with stickers, vignettes etc. in the 
area of the inside rearview mirror 

Practical interior accessories
128 ing braking or evasive maneuvers and endanger 
the vehicle occupants.<
2.Release the latch plate from the bracket on 
the rear window shelf and insert it into the 
buckle of the center safety belt. Make sure 
the latch plate audibly engages.
The lashing eyes in the cargo bay provide you 
with a way to attach cargo-bay nets
* or luggage 
straps for securing suitcases and luggage, refer 
to page138.
Sports Wagon: cargo bay
Roll-up cover
Pull out the roll-up cover and hook it into the 
brackets.
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the 
roll-up cover. If you do so, they may pose 
a danger to vehicle occupants during braking or 
evasive maneuvers. 
Do not allow the roll-up cover to snap back, oth-
erwise it can be damaged.<
Manual roll-up cover
When opening the tailgate or rear window, the 
roll-up cover is raised. Before closing the tail-
gate and rear window, press down the roll-up 
cover until it engages.
Automatic roll-up cover*
When the tailgate or rear window are opened, 
the roll-up cover is raised, and when the tailgate 
and rear window are closed, it is lowered.
Make sure that the closing area of the roll-
up cover is clear of obstructions, other-wise the payload or the roll-up cover may be 
damaged.<
Expanding cargo bay
The rear backrest is divided. You can fold down 
both sides separately in order to expand the 
cargo bay.
Reach into the recess and pull toward the front.
When you fold back the backrest, be sure 
that the catch engages securely. The red 
warning indicator disappears in the recess 
when the catch is engaged. If it is not properly 
engaged, transported cargo could enter the 
passenger compartment during braking or eva-
sive maneuvers and endanger the vehicle occu-
pants.<
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
please observe the safety belt information on 
page47.<
Partition net
Do not allow the partition net to snap 
back, otherwise there is a risk of injury 
and the partition net may be damaged.< 

Controls
 129Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
With normal cargo bay
Pull the partition net out of the case by the loop. 
Grasp the rod on both sides and insert it in the 
brackets, arrow1. This is best carried out from 
the rear seat.
When you no longer require the partition net, 
grasp the rod on both sides and remove it from 
the brackets, arrow2. Then slowly allow the 
partition net to glide into the case.
With an expanded cargo bay
1.Fold down both rear backrests, refer to 
Expanding cargo bay.
2.Unlock the case on both sides with the but-
tons, arrow1.
3.Pull out the case downward, arrow2; avoid 
tilting when doing so.
4.Push the case into the guides on the backs 
of the backrests.
5.Carefully pull out the partition net and insert 
it in the front brackets as described in With 
normal cargo bay. This is best carried out 
from the front seat.
To restore the original state, proceed in the 
reverse order. Finally, lay the case in the two 
side brackets and then press forward until it 
engages. The red warning indicator disappears in the recess when the catch is engaged. Check 
whether the case is properly locked in place by 
pulling it with a sudden movement.
Compartment in floor
Automatic roll-up cover: the opened floor panel 
strikes against the roll-up cover in the end posi-
tion. If necessary, unhook the roll-up cover at 
the rear before opening the floor panel.
To open, reach into the recess and swing up the 
handle.
The floor panel flap can be locked.
The partitions in the compartment can be rear-
ranged.
Folding up spare tire cover
1.Swing up the cover.
2.Detach the hook from the bracket and hook 
into the floor panel flap.
Before swinging down, return the hook to its 
original position.
Storage area package*
Retaining straps
You can unhook the right-hand retaining strap, 
e.g. to open the side panel. To unhook at the  

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. 

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. 

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.