
Notes
6
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts 
and accessories approved by BMW. 
When you purchase accessories tested and 
approved by BMW and Genuine BMW Parts, 
you simultaneously acquire the assurance that 
they have been thoroughly tested by BMW to 
ensure optimum performance when installed 
on your vehicle. 
BMW warrants these parts to be free from 
defects in material and workmanship. 
BMW will not accept any liability for damage 
resulting from installation of parts and accesso-
ries not approved by BMW. 
BMW cannot test every product made by other 
manufacturers to verify if it can be used on a 
BMW safely and without risk to either the vehi-
cle, its operation or its occupants. 
Genuine BMW Parts, BMW Accessories and 
other products approved by BMW, together 
with professional advice on using these items, 
are available from all BMW centers. 
Installation and operation of non-BMW 
approved accessories such as alarms, radios, 
amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels, suspension 
components, brake dust shields, telephones, 
including operation of any mobile phone from 
within the vehicle without using an externally 
mounted antenna, or transceiver equipment 
such as CBs, walkie-talkies, ham radios or the 
like may cause extensive damage to the vehicle, 
compromise its safety, interfere with the vehi-
cle's electrical system, or affect the validity of 
the BMW Limited Warranty. See your BMW 
center for additional information.<
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of 
the emission control devices and sys-
tems may be performed by any automotive 
repair establishment or individual using any cer-
tified automotive part.<
California Proposition 65 Warning
California law requires us to issue the following 
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of 
automobile components and parts, 
including components found in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals 
known to the State of California to cause cancer 
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In 
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and 
certain products of component wear contain or 
emit chemicals known to the State of California 
to cause cancer and birth defects or other 
reproductive harm. 
Battery posts, terminals and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash 
your hands after handling. 
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have 
caused cancer in laboratory animals. Always 
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with 
soap and water.< 

At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
different combinations and colors.
Some lamps are tested for proper function by 
briefly lighting up during starting of the engine 
or when the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the lower edge of the Control 
Display explain the meaning of the displayed 
indicator and warning lamps.
Additional information, e. g. on the cause and 
elimination of a malfunction, can be opened via 
the Check Control system, refer to page84.
In urgent cases, this information will be shown 
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps signal particular 
functions:
High beams/headlamp flasher110
Fog lamps
*112
Handbrake applied64
Handbrake applied for Canadian mod-
els
Lamp flashes: 
DSC or DTC controls the drive and 
braking forces for maintaining vehicle 
stability92
DTC Dynamic Traction Control92
Exhaust-gas values238 

Opening and closing
42 When doing so, do not depress the brake 
or clutch pedal, otherwise the engine will 
start immediately.<
Starting engine
You can start the engine or switch on the igni-
tion if a remote control is located in the interior 
of the vehicle. It is not necessary to insert a 
remote control into the ignition lock, refer to 
page62.
If you take the remote control with you when 
leaving the vehicle with the engine running, a 
warning lamp lights up. In addition, a message 
appears on the Control Display. As long as no 
remote control is detected, it is only possible to 
restart the engine within approx. 10 seconds 
after it is switched off.
Switching off engine with automatic 
and sport automatic transmission
The engine can only be switched off in trans-
mission position P, refer to page63.
To switch off the engine in transmission posi-
tion N, the remote control must be inserted in 
the ignition lock.
Before driving into a car wash with 
automatic and sport automatic 
transmission
1.Insert remote control into ignition lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Engage transmission position N.
4.Switch off the engine.
The vehicle can roll.
Malfunction
The comfort access function may malfunction 
due to local radio waves. Then open or close the 
vehicle with the buttons on the remote control 
or with a key. To start the engine following this, 
insert the remote control in the ignition lock.
When unlocking or locking/comfort closing do 
not simultaneously grasp the door handle and 
touch the surfaces, arrow2 or 3. Otherwise, you 
may limit the function.
Replacing battery
If the battery of the remote control is dead, a 
message will appear in the Control Display.
1.Remove integrated key from remote con-
trol, refer to page30.
2.Remove cover.
3.Lay in new battery with positive side facing 
upward.
4.Press cover closed.
Return used battery to a recycling collec-
tion point or to your BMW center.<
Windows
To prevent injuries, exercise care when 
closing the windows and keep them in 
your field of vision until they are shut. 
Always take along the remote control when you 
leave the vehicle, otherwise children could, for 
example, operate the windows and injure them-
selves.<
Opening, closing
>Press switch to resistance point: 
The window continues to open as long as 
you keep the switch pressed. 

Driving
62
Driving
Ignition lock
Inserting remote control into ignition 
lock
Insert the remote control all the way into the 
ignition lock.
Radio readiness switches on.
Some electronic systems/consumers are ready 
for operation.
Comfort access*
With comfort access, only insert the remote 
control into the ignition lock in exceptional 
cases, refer to page40.
Removing remote control from ignition 
lock
Do not pull the remote control out of the 
ignition lock using force, as otherwise 
damage may result.<
Before removing the remote control, first press 
it in as far as possible to release the locking 
device.
The ignition is switched off if it was still 
switched on.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission
The remote control can only be removed when 
transmission position P is selected: interlock.
Start/Stop button
Pressing the Start/Stop button switches the 
radio readiness or the ignition on and off.
The engine is started when you press the 
Start/Stop button and depress the clutch 
if the car has manual transmission or the brake if 
the car has automatic transmission.<
Radio readiness
Some electronic systems/consumers are ready 
for operation. The time and outside tempera-
ture are displayed in the instrument cluster.
Radio readiness is switched off:
>when the remote control is removed from 
the ignition lock
>with comfort access
* by touching the sur-
face on the door handle, refer to Locking on 
page41
Ignition on
All electronic systems/consumers are ready for 
operation. The odometer and the trip odometer 
are displayed in the instrument cluster, refer to 
page79.
Please switch off the ignition and the 
electronic systems/consumers which are 
not required when the engine is not running to 
save the battery.< 

Controls
 63Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Radio readiness and ignition switched 
off
All indicator and warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms, 
otherwise the inhalation of toxic exhaust 
gases can cause unconsciousness and death. 
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, 
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas. 
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the 
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a 
potential safety hazard. 
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run-
ning, select the idling position, or shift the trans-
mission into position P and firmly apply the 
handbrake, otherwise the vehicle can begin to 
roll.<
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated starting attempts in 
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the 
fuel is not burned or inadequately burned and 
there is a danger of overheating and damaging 
the catalytic converter.<
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.
Manual transmission
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort 
access in vehicle, refer to page40.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Depress the clutch pedal and shift into 
idling position.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission*
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort 
access in vehicle, refer to page40.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
Switching off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
remote control with you. 
When parking, firmly apply the handbrake, as 
otherwise the vehicle could roll.<
Manual transmission
1.Press the Start/Stop button with the vehicle 
stopped.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Firmly apply the handbrake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page62.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission*
1.Shift transmission into position P with the 
vehicle stopped.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
3.Firmly apply the handbrake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page62.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if you proceed according to 
the following steps:
1.With comfort access: insert the remote con-
trol into the ignition lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Shift into transmission position N.
4.Switch off the engine.
Transmission position P will be engaged:
>after approx. 30 seconds 

Driving
64 >if you remove the remote control from the 
ignition lock
Handbrake
The handbrake is primarily intended to prevent 
the vehicle from rolling while parked; it brakes 
the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up, and a sig-
nal also sounds when starting off. The 
handbrake is applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and 
lower the lever.
If exceptional circumstances should 
make it necessary to apply the handbrake 
while the vehicle is in motion, do not pull it too 
firmly. In doing so, continuously press the but-
ton of the handbrake lever. Otherwise, too firm 
an application of the handbrake can lock up the 
rear wheels and cause the rear of the car to 
swerve.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the hand-
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming 
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable. 
The brake lamps do not light up when the hand-
brake is applied.<
Manual transmission
While shifting in the 5th/6th gear lane, 
press the gearshift lever toward the right, 
otherwise accidental shifting into the 3rd or 4th 
gear could result in engine damage.<
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. 
When pressing the gearshift lever to the left, 
overcome some resistance.
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can 
also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer to 
page65.
Transmission positions
P R N D M/S + –
Displays in instrument cluster
P R N D DS S1* to S6* M1 to M6
The transmission position is indicated, and in 
the manual mode, the gear currently engaged. 

Controls
 65Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Engaging transmission position
>Do not leave the transmission position P 
until the engine is running: interlock.
>With the vehicle stationary, depress the 
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N; 
otherwise the shift command will not be 
executed: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping 
after you select a driving position, 
maintain pressure on the brake pedal until 
you are ready to start.<
Engaging N, D, R
Briefly press the selector lever in the desired 
direction, beyond a resistance point if neces-
sary. Press button1 simultaneously out of P or 
into R.
The engaged transmission position is also dis-
played on the selector lever.
The selector lever immediately returns to the 
center position when released.
Engaging P
Press buttonP.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The 
rear wheels are locked.
P is engaged as soon as you switch off the 
engine unless N is engaged and with 
comfort access, the remote control is inserted 
in the ignition lock, refer to Before driving into a 
car wash, page63.<
N Neutral
Can, for example, be engaged in automatic car 
washes. The vehicle can roll.
N remains engaged even after the engine 
is switched off whenever you leave the 
remote control in the ignition lock. This function 
is useful, for example, in automatic car washes, 
refer to page63<
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are available.
Kick-down
Kick-down enables you to achieve maximum 
performance. 
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the 
increased resistance at full throttle.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Press the selector lever toward the left from 
transmission position D:
The sport program is activated, and DS is dis-
played in the instrument cluster; with the sport 
automatic transmission
* also S1 to S6. This 
position is recommended for a performance-
oriented driving style. 

Driving
66 When the selector lever is pressed forward or 
back, the manual mode is activated and the 
Steptronic shifts the gear. The instrument clus-
ter shows M1 through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are only carried out at a 
suitable engine and vehicle speed, e.g. a down-
shift is not carried out at excessively high 
engine speeds. The selected gear is briefly dis-
played in the instrument cluster, followed by the 
current gear.
To resume automatic mode, press the selector 
lever to the right.
Manually unlocking and locking 
transmission lock
In case of a power failure, e.g. when the battery 
is drained or disconnected, or an electrical fault, 
manually release the transmission lock, as oth-
erwise the rear wheels are blocked and the 
vehicle cannot be towed.
Only manually release the transmission lock for 
towing and firmly apply the handbrake before-
hand so that the vehicle cannot roll. Reengage 
the transmission lock after parking the vehicle 
at its destination.
Unlocking
1.Reach into the trim-piece opening, arrow1, 
and firmly pull the trim piece upward, 
arrow2.
2.Remove the cover over the opening, refer to 
3.3.Insert a screwdriver from the onboard tool 
kit, refer to page243, into the opening, 
arrow1.
4.Pull the screwdriver toward the rear until it is 
heard to engage, arrow2, and leave it 
inserted in the opening. The transmission 
lock is released.
Releasing on sport automatic 
transmission*
1.Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.
2.Pull the sleeve over the selector lever.
3.Reach into the trim-piece opening, arrow1, 
and firmly pull the trim piece upward, 
arrow2.
4.Remove cover over the opening, refer to 5.