
Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
96
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
please observe the adjustment instructions on
page49.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the
head and side airbags help provide protection in
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The
head air bag supports the head. The knee air-
bag protects the legs from colliding with the
cockpit.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered in
every impact situation, e. g. less severe acci-
dents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way. Do not attempt to
remove the airbag restraint system from the
vehicle. Do not modify or tamper with either the
wiring or the individual components in the air-
bag system. This category includes the uphol-
stery in the center of the steering wheel, on the
instrument panel, the side trim panels on the
doors and on the Coupe, 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
directly after the system has been triggered,
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 system
correspondingly activates or deactivates the
front, knee and side airbags on the front pas-
senger side.
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 in the front
passenger seat, read the safety informa-
tion and follow the instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page58.
The front, knee and side airbags on the front
passenger side can be deactivated for teenag-
ers and adults in certain sitting positions; the
indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags
lights up when this occurs. In these cases,
change the sitting position so that the front pas-
senger airbags are activated and the indicator
lamp goes out. If the desired status cannot be
produced by changing the sitting position,
transport the corresponding person in the rear
seat.
Do not fit seat covers, seat cushion padding,
ball mats or other items onto the front passen-
ger seat unless they are specifically recom-
mended by BMW. Do not lay objects under the
seat which could press against the seat from
below. Otherwise a correct evaluation of the
occupied seat surface cannot be ensured.<

Controls
97Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Operating state of front passenger
airbags
The illustration here shows a possible arrange-
ment in the Coupe. With some vehicle equip-
ment packages or in the Convertible, 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,
knee and side airbags on the front passenger
side depending on whether the seat is occu-
pied. The indicator lamp shows whether the
front passenger airbags are activated or deacti-
vated.
>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, knee and side airbags on the front
passenger side are deactivated.
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, knee and side airbags on the front
passenger side are activated.
>The indicator lamp does not light up when
the seat is empty.
But the front, knee and side airbags on the
front passenger side are still deactivated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
From radio readiness, refer to page60, 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.<
Convertible: rollover
protection system
The rollover protection system is automatically
activated in the event of an accident or a critical
driving situation, extreme inclination on the lon-
gitudinal axis, or loss of ground contact. The
rollover bars located behind the rear head
restraints are deployed within fractions of a sec-
ond.
As a supplement to the rollover bar integrated
into the windshield frame, the rollover protec-
tion system ensures that all vehicle occupants
have the necessary headroom.
Always keep the path of movement of the
rollover protection system clear.
In minor accidents, you are protected by the
fastened safety belt and, depending on acci-
dent severity, by the safety belt tensioner and
multi-phase airbag retention system.<

Wheels and tires
216
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire
makes it easier to identify and choose the right
tires.
Tire size
Speed letter
T = up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of
the US Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire age
The tire's date of manufacture is indicated on
the sidewall:
DOT ... 1008 indicates that the tire was manu-
factured in week 10 of 2008.
BMW recommends replacing all tires at least
every 6 years, even if some tires may last for
10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades.<
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half, 1γ, times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due to varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and dif-
ferences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C.
These grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test sur-
faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating
(not on ZR tires)
Speed code letter
(in front of the R on ZR tires)
245/45 R 18 96 W
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 1008

Care
230 trude over the floor mats; otherwise floor mats
can be damaged.
Fluff on new floor mats is a result of the produc-
tion process and can be removed by repeated
vacuuming.
Plastic components inside
Clean the glass cover of the instrument panel,
imitation leather surfaces, lamp lenses, and
matte components with water and, if necessary,
a solvent-free plastic cleaner.
Fine wooden components
Use a damp cloth to clean fine wooden trim
panels and components. Follow up by drying
with a soft cloth.
Safety belts
Do not use cleansers to clean the safety
belts since this can destroy the web-
bing.<
Inside sensors
Clean inside sensors such as those of the high-
beam assistant using a lint-free cloth moist-
ened with glass cleaner.
Displays
Clean displays like the radio or the Control Dis-
play using a display-cleaning cloth or a soft,
nonabrasive lint-free cloth.
Avoid using excessive pressure when
cleaning displays; otherwise, you could
damage them.<
Never use chemical-based cleansers or
household scouring products. Keep all
liquids away from the equipment. Otherwise
corrosion or damage to surfaces or electrical
components can occur.<
CD/DVD player
Do not use cleaning CDs; they can dam-
age parts of the player.<
Storing your vehicle
When storing your vehicle for longer than three
months, please seek the advice of your BMW
center or a workshop that works in accordance
with BMW guidelines.

Reference 251
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Arrow display" in
navigation149
"Arrow display pop-up
instructions"135
Ashtray121
Assist, refer to
BMW Assist201
Assistance systems, refer to
Driving stability control
systems88
Assistance window21
"Assist. window off"22
AUC
– Automatic recirculated-air
control113
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control113
"Audio"161,163,168
Audio160
– controls160
– switching on/off160
– tone control161
– volume161
Audio device, external119
Automatic
– air distribution111
– air volume111
– cruise control67,68
– headlamp control104
– service notification203
– steering wheel
adjustment51
– storing stations166
Automatic car washes128
– also refer to Comfort
access40
Automatic climate control110
– automatic air
distribution111
– convertible program111
– switching on and off114
– ventilation with vehicle
parked114
Automatic closing of doors,
refer to Automatic soft
closing35
Automatic curb monitor56Automatic lighting
– refer to Automatic headlamp
control104
– refer to Daytime running
lamps105
– refer to High-beam
assistant106
– refer to Interior lamps108
– refer to Pathway lighting105
– refer to Welcome lamps104
"Automatic programs"
111
Automatic soft closing35
Automatic station search165
"Automatic ventilation"115
AUTO program for automatic
climate control111
"Auto Request"203
"Autostore" on the
radio164,166
"AUX"160,180,182
AUX-IN connection119,180
"AUX IN" in audio mode180
Average fuel consumption77
– setting units86
Average speed77
"Avoid ferries" in
navigation147
"Avoid highways" in
navigation147
Avoiding freeways for
navigation146
Avoiding unintentional
alarms38
"Avoid tollroads" in
navigation147
Axle loads, refer to
Weights245
"A - Z"194
B
Backrest contour, refer to
Lumbar support50
Backrests, refer to Seats49
Backup lamps, replacing
bulbs, refer to Tail
lamps232
"Balance", tone control162Band-aids, refer to First-aid
kit236
Bass, refer to Tone
control161
"Bass", tone control161
Battery
– jump starting236
– refer to Vehicle battery233
Battery replacement, remote
control for comfort
access40
BC button, refer to
Computer77
Being towed238
Belts, refer to Safety belts54
Beverage holder, refer to Cup
holders120
Blower, refer to Air
volume112
"Bluetooth"187
BMW
– Car Shampoo230
"BMW Assist"202,203
BMW Assist201
– activating206
– BMW TeleServices203
– concierge service204
– contacting BMW Customer
Relations204
– displaying vehicle data207
– offered services201
– roadside assistance202
– updating205
"BMW Contact"196
"BMW Contact
Numbers"196
BMW homepage4
BMW maintenance
system225
BMW Night Vision100
– activating101
– cleaning camera102
– cleaning camera, refer to
Wiper system67
– deactivating101
– making settings102
"BMW Service settings"206
BMW TeleServices203

Everything from A to Z
252 BMW TeleServices services
– displaying204
– updating204
BMW website4
Bottle holder, refer to Cup
holders120
Bracket for telephone or
mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter199
Brake assistant88
– adaptive89
Brake force display95
Brake lamps
– replacing bulbs, refer to Tail
lamps232
– two-stage95
Brake rotors
– breaking-in126
– refer to Braking safely128
Brakes
– ABS Antilock Brake
System88
– brake force display95
– breaking-in126
– CBC Cornering Brake
Control88
– handbrake62
– refer to Braking safely128
Brake system126
– brake pads126
– brake rotors128
– breaking-in126
– warning lamp13,90
Braking
– electronic brake-force
distribution88
Braking safely128
Breakdown services, refer to
Roadside Assistance236
Breaking-in brake pads126
Breaking-in the clutch126
Breaking-in the differential,
refer to Engine and
differential126
Break-in period126
"Brightness"86,99
Brightness of Control
Display85"Brightness" with BMW Night
Vision102
Button for starting engine,
refer to Start/Stop button60
Buttons on steering wheel11
C
California Proposition 65
Warning6
Call194,205
– accepting192
– displaying accepted195
– ending193
– in absence195
– rejecting193
– starting193
Calling
– by entering phone
number193
– from phone book194
– from Top 8 list195
– redialing195
Can holder, refer to Cup
holders120
Capacities245
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery233
"Car Data"78Care227
– car-care products227
– carpets229
– car washes227
– CD/DVD player230
– chrome components229
– convertible top228
– displays230
– exterior227
– fine wooden
components230
– hand washing228
– headlamps228
– high-pressure cleaning
jets227
– interior229
– leather229
– light-alloy wheels229
– paint228
– plastic components230
– rubber gaskets229
– safety belts230
– sensors and cameras230
– upholstery and cloth-
covered paneling229
– windows228
– wiper blades228
Cargo bay
– capacity245
– emergency release37
– opening/closing, refer to
Luggage compartment
lid36
– opening from inside36
– opening from outside
36
– opening with remote
control33
Caring for the vehicle
finish228
Car key, refer to Keys/remote
control30
Car phone186
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest119
– refer to Mobile phone186
– refer to separate operating
instructions
Car radio, refer to Radio164
Car Shampoo230

Everything from A to Z
256 Engine
– breaking-in126
– data242
– overheated, refer to Coolant
temperature76
– speed242
– starting61
– starting, comfort access38
– switching off61
– switching off when equipped
with Automatic
transmission, with comfort
access40
Engine compartment221
Engine coolant223
Engine oil
– adding223
– additives, refer to Approved
engine oils223
– approved oils223
– electronic oil level check222
– interval between changes,
refer to Service
requirements79
– oil change223
– oil grades, refer to Approved
engine oils223
– recommended oils223
– temperature77
– temperature gauge77
"Engine oil level"222
Engine output, refer to Engine
data242
Engine speed, refer to Engine
data242
Engine starting, refer to
Starting engine61
"Enter address"136,144
Entering destination via town/
city name137
Entering intersection,
navigation138
Entering rear53
Entering the
address136,139
Entering town/city for
navigation137
Entering zip code for
navigation138"Entertainment"160
Entertainment sound output
on/off161
Entry map for destination141
Equalizer, refer to Tone
control163
"Equalizer", tone control163
"ESN"171
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control89
Event Data Recorders226
Exhaust system, refer to Hot
exhaust system127
Exterior mirrors55
– adjusting55
– automatic dimming
feature56
– automatic heating55
– folding in and out55
– tilting down passenger-side
exterior mirror56
External audio device119
Eye for tow-starting and
towing, refer to Tow
fitting237
F
Fader, refer to Tone
control162
"Fader", tone control162
Failure messages, refer to
Check Control81
False alarm
– refer to Avoiding
unintentional alarms38
– refer to Switching off
alarm37
Fastening safety belts, refer to
Safety belts54
Fastest route for
navigation146
"Fast route" in navigation147
Filler neck for washer fluid67
Filter, refer to Microfilter/
activated-charcoal filter114First aid, refer to First-aid
kit236
First-aid kit236
Flashing
– during locking/unlocking,
refer to Setting confirmation
signals33
– triple turn signal
activation66
Flat tire
– Flat Tire Monitor90
– run-flat tires92,93,218
– Tire Pressure Monitor92
– TPM Tire Pressure
Monitor92
– warning lamp92,93
Flat tire, refer to Run-flat
tires218
Flat Tire Monitor90
– false alarms91
– initializing system91
– snow chains219
– system limits91
– warning lamp92
Fluid reservoir, refer to Filler
neck for washer fluid67
FM, waveband164
"FM" waveband160,164
Fog lamps108
– indicator lamp13,108
Folding into raised position
convertible top
compartment floor,
Convertible37
Footbrake, refer to Braking
safely128
Footwell lamps, refer to
Interior lamps108
Forward, fast
– CD changer178
– CD player178
For your own safety
6
Freeway, refer to Route
criteria146
Front airbags95
Front passenger airbags
– deactivating96
"FTM"91

Everything from A to Z
258
I
IBOC, refer to High Definition
Radio168
Ice on roads, refer to Outside
temperature warning76
ID3 tag, refer to Information on
track176
Identification mark
– recommended tire
brands219
– run-flat tires218
– tire coding216
iDrive16
– assistance window21
– changing date and time84
– changing language86
– changing menu page20
– changing settings84
– changing units of measure
and display type86
– confirming selection or
entry20
– controller16
– controls16
– displays, menus18
– operating principle18
– selecting menu item20
– setting brightness85
– start menu18
– status information21
– symbols19
Ignition60
– switched off61
– switched on60
Ignition key, refer to Keys/
remote control30
Ignition key position 1, refer to
Radio readiness60
Ignition key position 2, refer to
Ignition on60
Ignition lock60
– starting engine with comfort
access39
i menu18
Imprint2Indicator/warning lamps
– ABS Antilock Brake
System90
– active steering95
– airbags97
– brake system90
– DSC13,89
– DTC13,90
– Flat Tire Monitor92
– fog lamps13,108
– handbrake13,62
– safety belt warning54
– TPM Tire Pressure
Monitor93
Indicator and warning lamps
– overview13
Indicator lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting108
Inflation pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure214
Inflation pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor90
Inflation pressure monitoring,
refer to Tire Pressure
Monitor92
Info menu18
Information
– on another location142
– on current position142
– on destination location142
"Information" in
navigation142
Information menu, refer to
imenu18
"Information on
destination"144
"Info sources"79
Initializing
– Flat Tire Monitor91
– radio, refer to Storing
stations166
– refer to Power failure233
– seat, mirror and steering
wheel memory51
– time and date84
"Input map"141
Installation location
– CD changer178
– drive for navigation DVD134Instructions for navigation
system, refer to Voice
instructions151
Instrument cluster12
Instrument lighting108
Instrument panel, refer to
Cockpit10
Integrated key30
Integrated universal remote
control117
Interesting destination for
navigation142
"Interim time"84
Interior lamps108
– switching on with remote
control33
Interior motion sensor38
– switching off38
Interior rearview mirror,
automatic dimming
feature56
Intermittent mode of the
wipers66
J
Jacking points233
Joystick, refer to iDrive16
Jumpering, refer to Jump
starting236
Jump starting236
K
Keyless-Go, refer to Comfort
access38
Keyless opening and closing,
refer to Comfort access38
Key Memory, refer to Personal
Profile30
"Keypad"196
Keys30
– key-related settings, refer to
Personal Profile30
– spare key30
Kick-down, Sport automatic
transmission63
Knee airbags95
Knock control213