1
Dear Owner,We would like to thank you for your purchase of a
Porsche Panamera. Judging by the car you have
chosen, you are a motorist of a special breed, and
you are probably no novice when it comes to
automobiles.
Remember however, as with any vehicle, you
should take time to familiarize yourself with your
Porsche and its performance characteristics.
Always drive within your own unique capabilities as
a driver and your level of experience with your
Porsche. Ensure that anyone else driving your
Porsche does the same. To prevent or minimize
injury, always use your safety belts. Never
consume alcohol or drugs before or during the
operation of your vehicle.
This Owner’s Manual contains a host of useful
information. Please take the time to read this
manual before you drive your new Porsche.
Become familiar with the operation of your
Porsche car for maximum safety and operating
pleasure. The better you know your Porsche, the
more pleasure you will experience driving your
new car.
Always keep your Owner’s Manual in the car, and
give it to the new owner if you ever sell your
Porsche. A separate Maintenance Booklet
explains how
you can keep your Porsche in top driving condition
by having it serviced regularly.
A separate Warranty and Customer Informa-
tion Booklet contains detailed information about
the warranties covering your Porsche.
For U.S. only:
If you believe that your vehicle has a fault which
could cause a crash, injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to
notifying Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
(Porsche Cars N.A.).
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open
an investigation, and if it finds that a safety
problem exists in a group of vehicles, it may order
a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA
cannot become involved in individual problems
between you and your dealer, or Porsche Cars
N.A..
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1–888–327–4236 (TTY:
1–800–424–9153); go to
http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: Adminis-
trator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590.
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov.
Your car has thousands of parts and components
which have been designed and manufactured in
accordance with Porsche’s high standards of
engineering quality and safety.
Warning!
Any alteration or misuse of the vehicle can
lead to accidents and serious or fatal
personal injuries.
Any alteration of the vehicle may negate or
interfere with those safety features built into
the vehicle. Modifications may be carried out
on your vehicle only if approved by Porsche.
Your Porsche is intended to be used in a safe
manner obeying the local laws and in the
light of driving conditions faced by you, and
in accordance with the instructions provided
in this Owner’s Manual.
f Do not misuse your Porsche by ignoring those
laws and driving conditions, or by ignoring the instructions in this manual.
Regularly check your vehicle for signs of
damage.
Damaged or missing aerodynamic compon-
ents such as spoilers or underside panels
affect the driving behavior and therefore
must be replaced immediately.
Your car may have all or some of the components
described in this manual.
Should you have difficulty understanding any of
the explanations of features or equipment installed
in your vehicle, contact your authorized Porsche
dealer. They will be glad to assist you. Also check
with your dealer on other available options or
equipment.
4Dear Porsche Owner,A lot has gone into the manufacture of your
Porsche, including advanced engineering, rigid
quality control and demanding inspections. These
engineering and safety features will be enhanced
by you…the safe driver…– who knows her/his car and all controls,
– who maintains the vehicle properly,
– who uses driving skills wisely and always drives within her/his own capabilities and the
level of familiarity with the vehicle.
You will find helpful hints in this manual on how to
perform most of the checks listed on the following
pages. If in doubt, have these checks performed
by your authorized Porsche dealer.
Before driving off…Check the following items firstf Turn the engine off before you attempt any
checks or repairs on the vehicle.
f Be sure the tires are inflated correctly.
Check tires for damage and tire wear.
f See that wheel bolts are properly tightened
and not loose or missing.
f Check engine oil level, add if necessary. Make
it a habit to have engine oil checked with every
refueling.
f Check all fluid levels such as windshield
washer and brake fluid levels.
f Be sure the vehicle battery is well charged and
cranks the engine properly.
f Check all doors and lids for proper operation
and latch them properly.
f Check and if necessary replace worn or
cracked wiper blades.
f See that all windows are clear and unobst-
ructed.
f Check air intake slots and area between
engine compartment lid and windshield.
Ensure that these areas are free of snow and
ice, so the heater and the windshield wipers
work properly. f
If a child will be riding in the vehicle, check
child seat/child seat restraint system to ensure
that restraints are properly adjusted.
f Check all exterior and interior lights for opera-
tion and that the lenses are clean.
f Check the headlights for proper aim, and if
necessary, have them adjusted.
f Check under the vehicle for leaks.
f Be sure all luggage is stowed securely.
Emergency equipmentIt is good practice to carry emergency equipment
in your vehicle.
Some of the items you should have are: window
scraper, snow brush, container or bag of sand or
salt, emergency light, small shovel, first-aid kit,
etc.
5
In the driver’s seat…fCheck operation of the horn.
f Position seat for easy reach of foot pedals and
controls.To reduce the po ssibility of injury from
the air bag deployment, you should always sit
back as far from the steering wheel as is
practical, while still maintaining full vehicle
control.
f Adjust the inside and outside rear view mirrors.
f Buckle your safety belts.
f Check operation of the foot and electric
parking brake.
f Check all warning and indicator lights with
ignition on and engine not running.
f Start engine and check all warning displays for
warning symbols.
f Never leave an idling car unattended.
f Lock doors from inside, especially with
children in the car to prevent inadvertent
opening of doors from inside or outside. Drive
with doors locked.
On the road…fNever drive after you have consumed alcohol
or drugs.
f Always have your safety belt fastened.
f Always drive defensively.
Expect the unexpected.
f Use signals to indicate turns and lane changes.
f Turn on headlights at dusk or when the driving
conditions warrant it.
f Always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in
front of you, depending on traffic, road and
weather conditions.
f Reduce speed at night and during inclement
weather.
Driving in wet weather requires caution and
reduced speeds, particularly on roads with
standing water, as the handling characteristics
of the vehicle may be impaired due to hydro-
planing of the tires.
f Always observe speed limits and obey road
signs and traffic laws.
f When tired, get well off the road, stop and take
a rest. Turn the engine off. Do not sit in the
vehicle with engine idling.
Please see the chapter “ENGINE EXHAUST” on
Page 2. f
When parked, always put the electric parking
brake on and put the PDK selector lever in
position P.
On hills also turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
f When emergency repairs become necessary,
move the vehicle well off the road. Turn on the
emergency flasher and use other warning
devices to alert other motorists. Do not park
or operate the vehicle in areas where the hot
exhaust system may come in contact with dry
grass, brush, spilled fuel or other flammable
material.
f Make it a habit to have the engine oil checked
with every refueling.
6Break in hints for the first
2,000 miles (3,000 kilometers)The following tips will be helpful in obtaining
optimum performance from your new Porsche.
Despite the most modern, high-precision manufac-
turing methods, the moving parts must still wear
in with each other. This we aring-in occurs mainly in
the first 2,000 miles (3,000 km).Therefore:f Preferably take longer trips.
f Avoid frequent cold starts with short-distance
driving whenever possible.
f Avoid full throttle starts and abrupt stops.
f Do not exceed maximum engine speed of
4,200 rpm (revolutions per minute).
f Do not run a cold engine at high rpm either in
Neutral or in gear.
f Do not let the engine labor, especially when
driving uphill. Shift to the next lower gear in
time (use the most favorable rpm range).
f Never lug the engine in high gear at low
speeds. This rule applies at all times, not just
during the break-in period. f
Do not participate in motor racing events,
sports driving schools, etc. during the first
2,000 miles (3,000 kilometers).
There may be a slight stiffness in the steering or
other controls during the br eak-in period which will
gradually disappear.
Break in brake pads and brake discsNew brake pads and discs ha ve to be ”broken in“,
and therefore only attain optimal friction when the
car has covered several hundred miles or km.
The slightly reduced braking ability must be
compensated for by pressing the brake pedal
harder. This also applies whenever the brake pads
and brake discs are replaced.New tiresNew tires do not have maximum traction. They
tend to be slippery.
f Break in new tires by driving at moderate
speeds during the first 60 to 120 miles (100
to 200 km). Longer braking distances must be
anticipated.
Engine oil and fuel consumptionDuring the break-in peri od oil and fuel consump-
tion may be higher than normal.
f Please see the chapter “ENGINE DATA” on
Page 324.
As always, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of oil, the speed at which
the engine is operated, the climate and road
conditions, as well as the amount of dilution and
oxidation of the lubricant.
f Make a habit of checking engine oil with every
refueling, add if necessary.
8
Contents
Check Engine (Emission
Control) .................. 114
Acoustic Signals ......... ................................ 114
Operating the Multi-Function Display in the
Instrument Panel ......... ................................ 115
Vehicle Settings on the Multi-Function
Display........................................... ............ 138
Overview of Warning Messages.................... 152
Driving and Driving Safety ................ 163Ignition Lock, Steering Lock ........................ 164
Starting and Stopping the Engine ................. 167
Auto Start Stop Functi on ............................. 169
Electric Parking Brak e ................................. 171
Brakes .............. ......................... ................ 172
Cruise Control ................................ ............ 176
Adaptive Cruise Contr ol ............................... 178
Car Audio Operation/Ti ps ............................ 189
Porsche Communication Management
(PCM) ............................ ............................ 191
iPod
®, USB and AUX ....... ............................ 192
Voice Control.............. ................................ 192
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) .................... 193
Selector-Lever Positions .................. ............ 195
Porsche Traction Management (PTM) ........... 202
Porsche Stability Management (PSM)............ 202
ABS Brake System (Anti-Lock Brake
System) ......................... ............................ 207
Porsche Active Suspension Management
(PASM)....................................................... 208
Porsche Active Suspension Management
(PASM) with Air Suspension and Level
Control ............. ......................... ................ 209
Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) .... 211
“Sport” and “Sport Plus ” Mode .................... 212 Sports Exhaust System
............................... 214
Retractable Rear Spoi ler .............................. 214
Storage, Luggage Compartment
and Roof Transport System .............. 217Storage........................ .............................. 218
Drinks Holder/Cuphold er ............................. 221
Front Ashtray ................ .............................. 224
Rear Ashtray...................................... ......... 224
Cigarette Lighter....... .................................. 225
Refrigerated box in the re ar of the vehicle..... 226
Folding Rear Seats Forward and Returning
to Upright Position ......................... ............. 226
Luggage Compartment. ............................... 227
Stowing Loads .............. .............................. 228
Luggage Compartment Cover ...................... 229
Fixed Luggage Compartm ent Cover ............. 231
Ski Bag ........................ .............................. 231
Roof Transport System ............................... 232
Loading Information .. .................................. 236Parking .................... ....................... 238ParkAssist ......................................... ......... 239
Rearview Camera ...... .................................. 241
Swivelling Down Mirror Glass as
Parking Aid ............... .................................. 242
Garage Door Opener . .................................. 243Alarm System and Theft
Protection ....................................... 246Alarm System and Passenger
Compartment Monitori ng ............................. 247
Immobilizer............... .................................. 250 Locking the Steering Column .......................250
Theft Protection ..........
................................250
Maintenance and Car Care ............... 251Exercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your vehicle ....... ....................................252
Engine Oil ........................................ ...........254
Checking Engine-Oil Le vel ............................254
Topping Up Engine Oi l ................................ 255
Checking Coolant Level and Adding
Coolant ........................... ...........................257
Brake Fluid ................. ................................258
Washer Fluid .............. ................................259
Power Steering .......... ................................260
Changing Air Cleaner ...................................261
Changing Particle Filt er ................................261
Wiper Blades .............. ................................261
Emission Control Syst em .............................262
How Emission Control Works .......................263
Fuel Economy ............. ................................264
Operating Your Porsche in other Countries ....264
Fuel ............................................ ...............265
Fuel Can ..................... ................................267
Fuel Recommendations ................................268
Fuel Evaporation Control .................. ...........269
Car Care Instructions ...................................269Minor Repairs .................................. 277Exercise Extreme Caution when Working
on your Vehicle ....... ....................................278
Tires and Wheels......... ................................280
Wheel Bolts ............... ................................293
Flat Tire...................... ................................293
Electrical System ........ ................................296
34
Opening and Locking
1. Open the driver’s door.
2. Pull the release lever (
arrow).
The engine compartment lid is now unlocked. 3. Pull the unlocking handle (
arrow).
4. Open the engine compartment fully.
Closing1. Lower lid and let it fa ll into the lock. If
necessary, push the lid closed with the palm
of your hand in the area of the lock.
2. Check that the lid is en gaged correctly in the
lock and that the release lever is back in its
initial position.
When the vehicle is in motion, a message will
appear on the multi-function display in the
instrument panel if the lid is not closed properly.
Seats, Mirrors and Steering Wheel
51
Note
fAfter switching on the ignition, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF warning light lights
up for a few seconds as a check.
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
lights up
The passenger’s air bags are switched off.
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
does not light up
The passenger’s air bags are active and ready for
operation.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death due
to the passenger air bag triggering
unintentionally.
When the ignition is on and the up to one-
year old child is seated in the child restraint
system on the passenger seat the indicator
lamp “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF“ must be
on.
If the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicator
lamp does not light up, it could indicate a
fault in the system, and the air bag could
inflate in a collision, placing the child at risk
of death or severe injury from the inflating air
bag.
In this case:
f Fasten the child restraint system on one of the
rear seats immediately.
f Have the fault remedied at your nearest authorized Porsche dealer. Faults are indicated by a warning light in the
instrument panel.
The air bag warning light illuminates when the
electronic monitoring of the air bag system
detects a malfunction of the
sensors, safety belt
system, occupant detection system, PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp, related wiring, air bag
modules and control units.
f In the following cases you should
immediately consult an authorized
Porsche dealer in order to assure the air
bag system is functioning properly:
– If the warning light does not light up when the ignition is switched on or
– If the warning light does not go out once the engine is running or
– If the warning light appears while driving.
Warning light
Instrument Panel and Multi-Function Display
105
Instrument Panel and Multi-Function Display
Instrument Panel USA
Models...................... 107
Instrument Panel Canada Models ................. 109
Tachometer ................. .............................. 110
Speedometer ............... .............................. 110
Multi-Function Displa y ................................. 110
Engine Oil Temperatur e Gauge .................... 110
Coolant Temperature Gauge ....................... 110
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge.......................... 111
Fuel Gauge .................. .............................. 111
Digital Speedometer ................................... 112
Upshift Prompt Indica tor ............................. 112
Odometer .................... .............................. 112
Reset Button for Trip Counter Display/
Brightness Setting for Instrument Lighting ... 112
PDK Display for Selector-Lever Position/
Engaged Gear.............. .............................. 112
Battery/Alternator ... ................................... 113
Check Engine (Emission Control) ................. 114
Acoustic Signals ..... ................................... 114
Operating the Multi-Function Display in the
Instrument Panel .......... .............................. 115
Vehicle Settings on the Multi-Function
Display ............................................ .......... 138
Overview of Warning Messages ................... 152