
Opening and closing
30
Opening and closing
Keys/remote control
1Remote control with integrated key
2Spare key
3Adapter for spare key, in glove compart-
ment
Remote control with integrated key
Each remote control contains a battery which is 
charged in the ignition lock while driving. Drive a 
longer distance with each remote control at 
least twice a year to keep the battery charged. 
In cars with convenient access
*, the remote 
control contains a replaceable battery, refer to 
page42.
Depending on which remote control is detected 
by the vehicle during unlocking, different set-
tings are activated and executed in the vehicle, 
refer to Personal Profile, page31.
Information on the required for maintenance is 
also stored in the remote control, refer to Ser-
vice data in remote control, page237.
Integrated key
Press button1 to unlock the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
>Glove compartment, refer to page123
>Sports Wagon: floor panel flap in cargo bay, 
refer to page129
>Driver's door, refer to page34
>Luggage compartment lid, refer to page36.
New remote controls
To obtain additional or replace lost keys, new 
remote controls with an integrated key are 
available at your BMW center.
Spare key
Store the spare key in a safe place such as your 
wallet. This key is not intended for regular use.
The spare key and integrated key fit the same 
locks.
Adapter for spare key
The adapter is required so that the vehicle can 
be started with the spare key or radio readiness 
can be switched on. 

Opening and closing
32 >Radio:
>Display of stored stations, refer to 
page172
>Switching RDS Radio Data System on/
off
*, refer to page175
>Phone: volume setting, refer to page200
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system functions when the 
driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid or tailgate and 
rear window
>Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Using door lock
>With comfort access
* via the door handles
In addition, it the remote control is used, the 
welcome lamps, the interior lamps and the 
courtesy lamps
* are switched on or off. The 
alarm system
 is armed/disarmed at the same 
time.
You can find more detailed information on the 
alarm system
 on page39.
Operating from inside
Via the button for central locking, refer to 
page35. The fuel filler door is not locked.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the 
central locking system unlocks automatically. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing: 
Using remote control
Persons or animals left unattended in a 
parked vehicle can lock the doors from 
the inside. Always take along the remote control 
when leaving the vehicle so that the vehicle can 
then be opened from the outside.<
Unlocking
Press the   button. 
The interior lamps, the courtesy lamps
*, and 
the welcome lamps are switched on.
Setting unlocking behavior
You can set whether the first press of the button 
unlocks only the driver's door or the entire vehi-
cle.
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.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Door locks" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select "Unlock button" and press the con-
troller. 

Controls
 33Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8.Select a menu item:
>"All doors"
Pressing the   button once unlocks the 
entire vehicle.
>"Driver's door only"
Pressing the   button once unlocks the 
driver's door and the fuel filler door.
Pressing the button twice unlocks the 
entire vehicle.
9.Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Comfort opening
Press and hold the  button. The windows and 
the glass sunroof
* open.
Locking
Press the   button.
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
persons are inside, as unlocking from the 
inside is not possible without special knowl-
edge.<
Switching on interior lamps
With vehicle locked:
Press the   button.
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Panic mode*
You can trigger the alarm system in case of dan-
ger:
Press the   button for at least 3 seconds.
Switching off alarm: press any button.
Sedan: opening luggage 
compartment lid
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The luggage compartment lid opens, regard-
less of whether it was previously locked or 
unlocked.
During opening, the luggage compart-
ment lid pivots back and up. Make sure 
that adequate clearance is available before 
opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo bay. A 
previously locked luggage compartment lid is 
also locked again after closing.<
Sports Wagon: unlocking tailgate
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The tailgate will open slightly, regardless of 
whether it was previously locked or unlocked.
During opening, the tailgate pivots back 
and up. Make sure that adequate clear-
ance is available before opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo bay. A 
previously locked tailgate is also locked again 
after closing. 
When opening the tailgate, the roll-up cover is 
raised.<
If pointed or sharp-edged objects could 
strike the rear window while driving, be 
sure to provide protection around all edges. 
Failure to do so could result in damage to the 
heating conductors of the rear window.<
Confirmation signals
You can activate or deactivate the confirmation 
signals.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Door locks" is selected and 
press the controller. 

Opening and closing
34 6.Select "Confirmation" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select the desired signal.
8.Press the controller. 
 The signal is activated.
Malfunction
The remote control may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. Should the remote control fail 
to operate due to interference of this kind, 
unlock and lock the vehicle via the door lock 
using a key.
If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle 
using the remote control, then the battery is 
discharged. Use this remote control during an 
extended drive; this will recharge the battery, 
refer to page30.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with 
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communication 
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8766S 
LX8766E 
LX8CAS
LX8CAS2
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC 
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful inter-
ference, and>this device must accept any interference 
received, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or 
changes to these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate this equipment.<
Opening and closing: 
Using door lock
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
persons are inside, as unlocking from the 
inside is not possible without special knowl-
edge.<
When unlocking
1.Turning the key once unlocks the driver's 
door and the fuel filler door.
2.Turning the key a second time unlocks the 
remaining doors and the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate.
Convenient operation
You also have the option of operating the win-
dows and the glass sunroof
* from the driver's 
door lock.
Turn and hold the key in the positions for 
unlocking or locking.
Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Releasing the 
key stops the operation.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can 
turn a key all the way to the right or left in the 
door lock to lock or unlock the driver's door. 

Controls
 35Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Opening and closing: from 
inside
This button serves to unlock or lock doors and 
the luggage compartment lid or tailgate and 
rear window with the front doors closed, but 
does not activate the anti-theft system. The fuel 
filler door remains unlocked.
Automatic locking
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.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Door locks" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select a menu item:
>"Relock door if not opened" 
The central locking system locks again after a short time if no door has been 
opened.
>"Lock after driving" 
The central locking system locks the 
vehicle as soon as you start to drive.
8.Press the controller. 
 The setting is selected.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Unlocking and opening
>Either unlock the doors together with the 
button for the central locking system and 
then pull the door handle above the armrest 
or
>pull on the door handle of each door twice: 
the first time unlocks the door, the second 
time opens it.
Locking
>Use the central locking button to lock all of 
the doors simultaneously, or
>press down the lock button of a door. 
To prevent you from being locked out, the 
open driver's door cannot be locked using 
the lock button.
Persons or animals left unattended in a 
parked vehicle can lock the doors from 
the inside. Always take along the remote control 
when leaving the vehicle so that the vehicle can 
then be opened from the outside.<
Doors
Automatic soft closing*
To close the doors, merely push them gently. 
The closing process will then be carried out 
automatically.
Make sure that the closing path of the 
doors is clear; otherwise injuries may 
result.< 

Opening and closing
38 When opening the tailgate, the roll-up 
cover is raised. Before closing the tail-
gate, press down the roll-up cover until it 
engages.<
Opening manually
In case of an electrical malfunction:
1.From the cargo bay, press out the cover1 
on the tailgate with a screwdriver.
2.Press the locking bar2 in the direction of 
the arrow.
3.Open the tailgate and press in the cover 
again.
The tailgate is locked again as soon as it is 
closed.
Closing
Make sure that the closing path of the tail-
gate is clear, otherwise injuries may 
result.
To close the tailgate, merely press it down gen-
tly. The closing process will then be carried out 
automatically.
Sports Wagon: automatic tailgate 
operation*
Adjusting opening height
You can adjust how far the tailgate is to open.
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.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Door locks" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.Select "Tailgate" and press the controller.
7.Turn the controller. The adjustment is 
applied; the field can be changed. 

Controls
 39Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Opening tailgate
The tailgate opens automatically when you:
>Press the button on the outside of the tail-
gate when the vehicle is unlocked.
>Press button1 or button2
*.
>Press the   button on the remote control 
for approx. 1 second.
In some country-specific versions, the 
tailgate can only be opened using the 
remote control if the vehicle was unlocked first.
During opening, the tailgate pivots back and up. 
Make sure that adequate clearance is available 
before opening.<
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.<
Details on the roll-up cover are provided on 
page128.
Closing tailgate
Make sure that the closing path of the tail-
gate is clear, otherwise injuries may 
result.<
The tailgate closes automatically when the but-
ton on the inside of the tailgate is pressed.
To interrupt the opening or closing process:
>Press the button on the inside of the tail-
gate.
>Press the button on the outside of the tail-
gate.
Closing is not canceled when you put the 
vehicle into motion.<
Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the luggage com-
partment lid/tailgate or rear window are 
opened
>To movements in the vehicle: interior 
motion sensor, refer to page40
>To changes in the vehicle's tilt if someone 
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the 
vehicle
>To interruptions in battery voltage
Unauthorized operations are briefly signaled by 
the alarm system:
>with an acoustic alarm
>by switching on
 the hazard warning flashers
>by flashing the high beams 

Opening and closing
40
Arming and disarming alarm system
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with 
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm 
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
The luggage compartment lid/tailgate can also 
be opened with the system armed using the   
button on the remote control, refer to page36. 
When the luggage compartment lid/tailgate is 
closed, it is locked and monitored again.
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote control, 
refer to page32.
>Insert the remote control all the way into the 
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the interior rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking: 
doors, hood, luggage compartment lid/tail-
g a t e  o r  r e a r  w i n d o w
 are not properly closed. 
Even if you do not close the alerted area, the 
system begins to monitor the remaining 
areas, and the indicator lamp flashes con-
tinuously after approx. 10 seconds. How-
ever, the interior motion sensor is not acti-
vated.
>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking: 
your vehicle has not been disturbed while 
you were away.
>The indicator lamp flashes after unlocking 
until the remote control is inserted into the 
ignition lock, however for a maximum of 
approx. 5 minutes: your vehicle has been 
disturbed while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm 
system reacts, e.g. in case of an attempted 
wheel theft or towing.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof
* 
must be completely closed.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor 
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following 
situations:
>In two-level garages
>When transporting on car-carrying trains, 
by sea or on a trailer
>When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor
Press the   button on the remote control 
again as soon as the vehicle is locked.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then 
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and 
the interior motion sensor are switched off until 
the next time the vehicle is unlocked and subse-
quently locked again.
Comfort access*
Comfort access allows you to access your vehi-
cle without having to hold the remote control in 
your hand. It is sufficient to carry the remote 
control with you, e.g. in your jacket pocket. The 
vehicle automatically detects the associated 
remote control in the immediate vicinity or in 
the interior.
Comfort access supports the following func-
tions:
>Unlocking/locking vehicle
>Comfort closing
>Opening luggage compartment lid/tailgate 
separately