Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic-
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page238.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
6Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
21Letters and numbers
22Voice activation system
Controls
26Opening and closing
42Adjustments
53Transporting children safely
55Driving
68Everything under control
81Technology for driving comfort and
safety
92Lamps
96Climate
101Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
116Things to remember when driving
121BMW M3 engineering
Navigation
126Navigation system
127Destination entry
137Destination guidance
143What to do if …
Entertainment
146On/off and tone
149Radio
152Satellite radio
154CD player and CD changer
161Music collection
165AUX-IN port
166USB-audio interface/mobile phone audio
interface
Communications
172Telephone
183Contacts
185BMW Assist
Mobility
194Refueling
196Wheels and tires
202Under the hood
207Maintenance
209Care
213Replacing components
221Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
228Technical data
232Short commands for the voice activation
system
238Everything from A - Z
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At a glance
11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8Instrument cluster12
11Ignition lock55
12Buttons on the steering wheel13Horn: the entire surface
14Adjusting the steering wheel50
16Releasing the hood202
17Opening the luggage compartment lid31 7
Turn signals64
High beams, headlamp flasher94
Roadside parking lamps
*94
Computer69
Settings and information about the
vehicle71
Instrument lighting94
9
Windshield wipers65
Rain sensor
*65
10Switching the ignition on/off and
starting/stopping the engine55
Telephone
*:
>Press: accepting and ending a
call, starting dialing
* selected
phone numbers. Redialing if
no phone number is selected
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice acti-
vation system
*22
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling through phone book and
lists with stored phone numbers
MDrive
*, calling up individual
settings50
Recirculated-air mode98
15
Cruise control66
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Opening and closing
32
Locking separately
Push the switch in the direction of arrow 1.
The luggage compartment lid is locked and
cannot be unlocked using the central locking
system.
If you give the remote control without the inte-
grated key to someone else while the glove
compartment is locked, the luggage compart-
ment lid cannot be opened. This is an advan-
tage when valet parking, for example. Locking
the glove compartment, refer to page104.
Unlocking separately
Push the switch in the direction of arrow 2.
Emergency release
Pull the lever in the cargo bay. The luggage
compartment lid is unlocked.
Closing
The handle recesses on the interior trim of the
luggage compartment lid make it easier to pull
down.
Make sure that the closing path of the
luggage compartment lid is clear, other-
wise injuries may result.<
Coupe
Convertible
To close the luggage compartment lid,
press it down lightly. The lid is closed
automatically.<
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the luggage com-
partment lid is opened
>To movements inside the vehicle: Interior
motion sensor, refer to page33
>When the car's inclination changes, for
instance if an attempt is made to jack it up
and steal the wheels or to raise it prior to
towing away
>When there is an interruption in the power
supply from the battery
The alarm system signals unauthorized entry
attempts for a short time by means of:
>An acoustic alarm
>Switching on the hazard warning flashers
>Flashing the high beams
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Controls
33Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Arming and disarming
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.
You can open the luggage compartment lid
using the button of the remote control even
if the alarm system is armed, refer to page28.
The lid is locked and monitored again as soon
as it is closed.
Panic mode*
You can trigger the alarm system if you find
yourself in a dangerous situation:
Press the button for at least three seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Switching off an alarm
>Unlock the car with the remote control, refer
to page27.
>Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the inside rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
doors, hood or luggage compartment lid are
not properly closed. Even if you do not close
the alerted area, the system begins to mon-
itor the remaining areas, and the indicator
lamp flashes continuously after approx.
10 seconds. The interior m o t i o n s e n s o r a n d
the tilt alarm sensor are not activated.>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
your vehicle has not been disturbed while
you were away.
>If the indicator lamp flashes after unlocking
until the remote control is inserted in the
ignition, but for no longer than 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. to attempts to steal a wheel
or tow the vehicle.
Interior motion sensor
Coupe
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass roof must
be completely closed
*.
Convertible
The interior of the car is monitored up to the
height of the seat cushions. Thus the alarm sys-
tem is activated together with the interior
motion sensor even if the hardtop is open. The
alarm can be triggered unintentionally by falling
objects such as leaves, refer to Avoiding unin-
tentional alarms.
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 duplex garages
>During transport on car-carrying trains,
boats/ships 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
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Under the hood
202
Under the hood
Do not work on the car unless you pos-
sess the necessary technical knowledge.
If you are unfamiliar with the statutory guide-
lines, have any work on the vehicle performed
only by a BMW center or by a workshop that
work according to BMW repair procedures with
correspondingly trained personnel. If this work
is not carried out properly, there is a danger of
subsequent damage and related safety haz-
ards.<
Hood
Releasing
Pull the lever.
Opening
To avoid damage, make sure that the
wiper arms are against the windshield
before you open the engine compartment. Do
not open the engine hood before the engine has
cooled down, otherwise injuries may result.<
Press the release handle and open the hood.
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of approx. 10 in/
25 cm. It must be clearly heard to engage.
Make sure that the closing path of the
hood is clear, otherwise injuries may
result.
If you see any signs while driving your vehicle
that the hood is not completely closed, stop at
once and close it securely.<
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Under the hood
206
Viscosity ratings
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and
is categorized in SAE classes.
Approved oils belong to the 10W-60 SAE
class.<
Alternative oil types
If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is not
available, you can add small quantities of other
synthetic oils in between oil changes. Only use
oils with the following specifications:
>Viscosity:
preferred: SAE 10W-60;
alternative: SAE 10W-40, SAE 5W-50 or
SAE 10W-50
>Specification:
API SJ/CF, API SK/CF or higher
Low ambient temperatures
The oils used at BMW factories for your vehicle
type are suitable for virtually any ambient tem-
perature. However, if the vehicle is operated at
temperatures below –47/–206 for extended
periods, your BMW center will be glad to rec-
ommend an optimal oil.
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling system
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant
can cause burns.<
Coolant consists of half water and half additive.
Not all commercially available additives are suit-
able for your BMW. Ask your BMW center for
suitable additives.
Only use suitable additives, otherwise
engine damage may result. Because
additives are harmful to your health, it is impor-
tant to follow the instructions on the contain-
ers.<
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when dis-
posing of coolant additives.<
Checking coolant level
1.Do not open the engine hood before the
engine has cooled down.
2.Turn the cap of the expansion tank a little
counterclockwise to allow any accumulated
pressure to escape, then continue turning
to open.
3.The coolant level is correct if it is between
the maximum and minimum marks in the
filler neck, refer also to the diagram next to
the filler neck.
4.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to
the specified level; do not overfill.
5.Turn the cap until there is an audible click.
6.If the loss of coolant is substantial, have the
cause eliminated as soon as possible.
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Reference 247
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
P
Paintwork care210
Park assistant, refer to Park
Distance Control81
Park Distance Control PDC81
Parked car ventilation99
– preselecting switch-on
times100
– switching on and off
directly100
Parking
– vehicle56
Parking aid, refer to Park
Distance Control PDC81
Parking brake57
– indicator lamp57
Parking lamps92
Parking lamps/low beams92
Passenger-side mirror tilt
function49
Pathway lighting93
Personal Profile26
Phone book175
Phone numbers
– dialing176
Pinch protection system
– glass roof, electric37
– windows36
Placing a call, refer to
telephone owner's manual
Polish211
Pollen
– refer to Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter for automatic
climate control99
Position, refer to Current
position, displaying143
Postal code, entering for
navigation128
Power failure220
Power windows35
Power windows, refer to
Windows35
Pressure, tires196
Pressure monitoring, tires84
– Flat Tire Monitor84Pressure monitoring of tires,
refer to Tire Pressure
Monitor TPM85
Programmable buttons on the
steering wheel11
Protection function, refer to
Pinch protection system
– glass roof, electric37
– windows36
Providing medical assistance,
refer to First aid pouch222
Puncture
– Flat Tire Monitor84
R
Radio
– controls146
– High Definition Radio150
– satellite radio152
– selecting a waveband149
– storing stations149
– switching on/off146
– tone control146
– volume146
Radio-operated key, refer to
Remote control26
Radio position, refer to Radio
readiness55
Radio readiness55
– switched off56
– switched on55
Rain sensor65
Reading lamps95
Rear lamps, refer to Tail
lamps215
– replacing bulb215
Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints45
– folding down backrests108
Rear turn signals
– replacing bulb215
Rear ventilation99
Rearview mirror, refer to
Mirrors48
Rear window defroster99
Rear window roller blind, refer
to Roller sun blinds104Receiving level of mobile
phone, refer to Status
information19
Reception
– quality150
– radio station150
Recirculated-air mode98
Recirculation of air, refer to
Recirculated-air mode98
Reclining seat, refer to
Backrest43
Refueling194
Releasing
– hood202
Remaining distance, refer to
Cruising range70
Remote control26
– battery renewal35
– convenient access34
– garage door opener101
– luggage compartment lid28
– malfunction29,35
– removing from the ignition
lock55
– service data207
Replacement remote
control
26
Replacing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs213
Replacing tires199
Replacing tires, refer to New
wheels and tires199
Reporting safety defects6
Reserve warning, refer to Fuel
gauge69
Reset, refer to Resetting tone
settings148
Residual heat98
Restraint systems
– for children53
– refer to Safety belts47
Retractable hardtop38
– convenient operation28
– opening and closing39
– remote control28
Reverse
– CD changer156
– CD player156
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