
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 121
Steam jets/high-pressure washers
When using steam jets or high-pressure 
washers, ensure that you maintain suffi-
cient clearance to the vehicle and do not exceed 
a temperature of 1407/606. 
Insufficient clearance or excessive pressure or 
temperature can lead to component damage or 
water penetration. Follow the operating instruc-
tions for the steam jet or high-pressure 
washer.<
When using high-pressure washers, do 
not spray against the sensors and cam-
eras, e.g. of the Park Distance Control or Rear 
View Camera, for an extended period and main-
tain a distance of at least 1 ft/30 cm.<
Manual car wash
When washing the vehicle by hand, use large 
quantities of water and car shampoo if neces-
sary. Clean the vehicle with a sponge or wash-
ing brush, applying light pressure only.
Before cleaning the windshield, deacti-
vate the rain sensor or switch off the igni-
tion to prevent unintentional activation of the 
wipers.<
Observe local regulations pertaining to 
washing vehicles by hand.<
Headlamps
Do not rub them dry and do not use abrasive or 
corrosive cleaning agents.
Loosen dirt, e.g. insects, with shampoo or 
insect remover and wash away with copious 
quantities of water.
Thaw ice with a windshield deicer and do not 
use an ice scraper.
Windows
Clean the inside and outside surfaces of the 
windows and the mirrors with window cleaner.
Do not clean the mirrors with cleaners 
containing quartz.<
Convertible top care
The appearance and life of the convertible top 
depend on proper care and operation.Follow these instructions:
>Do not fold the convertible top into the con-
vertible top box when the top is wet or fro-
zen, as this may cause water spots, mold 
stains or chafed areas.
>If water spots occur on the inside headliner 
despite precautions, remove them using a 
microfiber cloth and interior cleaner.
>If the vehicle is parked in enclosed areas for 
extended periods, ensure that there is suffi-
cient ventilation.
>Remove bird droppings immediately, as 
their corrosive ingredients attack the con-
vertible top and damage the rubber seals.
To remove stains from the convertible 
top, do not use stain removers, paint thin-
ners, solvents, benzine or similar substances. 
These substances may damage the rubber 
parts. Improper care and cleaning may cause 
the convertible top and convertible top seams 
to become leaky.<
To remove heavy soiling, use a special convert-
ible top cleaner. 
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use.
After washing the convertible top three to five 
times, treat it with an impregnating agent.
Paintwork care
Regular care contributes to value retention and 
protects the paintwork against the long-term 
effects of damaging substances.
Region-specific environmental influences can 
damage the vehicle paintwork. Therefore, it is 
important to adapt the frequency and scope of 
car care accordingly.
Immediately remove aggressive materials such 
as spilled fuel, oil, grease, brake fluid, tree sap or 
bird droppings to prevent damage to the paint-
work.
Repairing paintwork damage
Immediately repair scratches or similar 
damage, such as that caused by stones 
hitting the vehicle, where necessary to prevent 
rusting.< 

Care
122 BMW recommends having paintwork damage 
repaired by a professional paint repair work-
shop according to BMW specifications using 
original BMW paint materials.
Preservation
A preservation treatment is necessary when 
water no longer beads off the clean paintwork 
surface. Only use products for paintwork pres-
ervation that contain carnauba or synthetic 
waxes.
Rubber seals
Treat only with water or rubber care products.
Do not use silicon-containing care prod-
ucts on rubber seals; otherwise, noise 
and damage could occur.<
Chrome parts
Carefully clean vehicle parts such as the radia-
tor grill, door handles or window frames with 
copious quantities of water and a shampoo 
additive, especially when roads are treated with 
de-icing salt. For additional treatment, use a 
chrome polish.
Light-alloy wheels
For technical reasons, dust is generated during 
braking that is deposited on the light-alloy 
wheels. Remove the dust regularly using acid-
free rim cleaner.
Do not use aggressive, acidic, strongly 
alkaline and abrasive cleaning agents or 
steam jets over 1407/606; otherwise, dam-
age may occur.<
Outside sensors/cameras
Keep the sensors and cameras on the 
outside of the vehicle, e.g. those for Park 
Distance Control, clean and free of ice to ensure 
that they remain fully functional.<
Interior care
Upholstery fabrics/cloth trims/
Alcantara fabrics
Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner to 
remove superficial dirt.
To remove severe spots such as stains from 
beverages, use a soft sponge or lint-free 
microfiber cloth and suitable interior cleaners. 
Follow the instructions on the packaging.
Clean the upholstery down to the seams 
using a sweeping motion. Avoid strong 
rubbing.<
Opened Velcro fasteners on pants or 
other articles of clothing can damage the 
seat covers. Ensure that Velcro fasteners are 
closed.<
Leather/leather trim
The leather used by BMW is a high quality 
natural product. Slight irregularities in the 
leather are a typical characteristic of natural 
leather.<
Dust and road grit in the pores and folds of the 
leather have an abrasive effect, leading to 
increased wear and causing the leather surface 
to become brittle prematurely. Therefore, fre-
quently clean the leather of dust using a cloth or 
vacuum cleaner.
Clean light-colored leather more frequently as 
dust and dirt are more noticeable.
Treat the leather at least once every two 
months using a leather lotion as dirt and grease 
will gradually attack the leather's protective 
layer.
Carpets/cargo area
You can vacuum the carpets and floor mats or 
clean them with interior cleaner if heavily soiled.
The floor mats can be removed for cleaning. 
When replacing the mats, ensure that the seat 
rails do not extend over the floor mats, as this 
may damage the mats. 

Replacing components
124
Replacing components
Onboard vehicle tool kit
The onboard vehicle tool kit is stored below the 
floor mat in the cargo area.
Wiper blades
1.Fold out the wiper arm and hold it.
2.Press together the locking spring, arrows1, 
and fold out the wiper blade, arrow2.
3.Take the wiper blade out of the catch mech-
anism, pulling the blade toward the front.
To avoid damage, make sure that the 
wiper arms are against the windshield 
before you open the engine compartment.<
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribu-
tion to vehicle safety. They should, therefore, 
be handled carefully. BMW recommends hav-
ing your BMW center perform any work that you 
do not feel competent to perform yourself or 
that is not described here.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs with 
your bare fingers, as even minute 
amounts of contamination will burn into the 
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a 
clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or hold 
the bulb by its base.<
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs 
at your BMW center.When working on electrical systems, 
always begin by switching off the con-
sumer in question; otherwise, short-circuits 
could result. To avoid possible injury or equip-
ment damage when replacing bulbs, observe 
any instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<
If the routine for changing a particular 
bulb is not described here, please contact 
your BMW center or a workshop that works 
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.<
Light-emitting diodes LED
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu-
cent lenses serve as the light source for many of 
the controls and displays in your vehicle. These 
light-emitting diodes, which operate using a 
concept similar to that applied in conventional 
lasers, are officially designated as Class 1 light-
emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers or expose the 
eyes directly to the unfiltered light source 
for several hours; otherwise, this could cause 
irritation of the retina.<
Xenon lamps*
These bulbs have a very long service life and are 
highly unlikely to fail. If a xenon lamp fails never-
theless, switch on the fog lamps and continue 
the journey with great care, provided that local 
legislation does not prohibit this.
Have any work on the xenon lamp system, 
including bulb replacements, performed 
o nl y  b y  a  BM W  c e n t er  o r a  w o r k s h o p  t h a t  w o rk s  
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. Otherwise, if 
such work is carried out improperly, the high 
voltage in the system presents the danger of 
fatal injuries.< 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 125
Removing the headlamp cover
1.Pull the wire brackets over the notches, see 
arrows, and fold to the side.
2.Fold away the headlamp cover.
Be careful when attaching the headlamp 
cover and ensure that both wire brackets 
are securely in place; otherwise, leaks could 
occur and cause damage to the headlamp sys-
tem.<
Attach the headlamp cover in reverse order.
Halogen headlamps
Halogen low beams and high beams
H7 bulb, 55 watts
Always wear gloves and eye protection; 
the atmosphere within the H7 bulb is 
pressurized. Otherwise, there is a risk of injury if 
the bulb is damaged.<
The figure shows the right-hand headlamp.
1High beams
2Low-beam headlamps
1.Remove the headlamp cover.
2.Fold down the holding bracket.
3.Remove and replace the bulb.4.Reattach the bulb holder with the notch at 
the top.
5.Fold the holding bracket back up and let it 
snap into place.
6.Attach the headlamp cover.
Parking lamps, roadside parking lamps
W5W bulb, 5 watts
1.Remove the headlamp cover.
The figure shows the right-hand headlamp.
2.Pull out the bulb holder.
3.Remove and replace the bulb.
4.Reinsert the bulb holder.
5.Attach the headlamp cover.
Xenon headlamps
Parking lamps, roadside parking 
lamps, daytime running lights
H8 bulb, 35 watts
The figure shows the right-hand headlamp.
1.Remove the headlamp cover.
2.Turn the bulb, see arrow, and remove it.
3.Pull off the connector and replace the bulb. 

Giving and receiving assistance
130
Giving and receiving assistance
Emergency Request*
Conditions for an Emergency Request:
>Full preparation package mobile phone: this 
equipment makes it possible to send an 
Emergency Request even if no mobile 
phone is paired with the vehicle.
>BMW Assist is activated. Activating 
BMW Assist, refer to separate Owner's 
Manual.
>Radio readiness is on.
>The BMW Assist system is logged on to a 
mobile phone network.
>The Emergency Request system is opera-
ble.
Once your service contract for BMW Assist 
expires, the BMW Assist system can be deacti-
vated by a BMW center without you having to 
visit a workshop. Once the BMW Assist system 
has been deactivated, Emergency Requests 
are not possible. The BMW Assist system can 
be reactivated by a BMW center after a new 
contract has been signed.
Sending an Emergency Request
1.Briefly press the cover flap to open.
2.Press the SOS button until the LED in the 
button lights up.
As soon as the voice connection to the BMW 
Assist Response Center has been established, 
the LED flashes.
Once the BMW Assist Response Center has 
received your Emergency Request, the BMW Assist Response Center contacts you 
and takes further steps to help you. Even if you 
are unable to respond, the BMW Assist 
Response Center will be able to initiate further 
steps to assist you under certain conditions.
If the circumstances allow this, remain in the 
vehicle until the connection has been estab-
lished. You will then be able to provide a 
detailed description of the situation.
Data for determining the necessary rescue 
measures are transmitted to the BMW Assist 
Response Center, e.g. the current position of 
your vehicle, if it can be determined.
If the LED is flashing but the BMW Assist 
Response Center cannot be heard over the 
hands-free system, it is possible that the 
hands-free system is malfunctioning. You may 
still be heard by the BMW Assist Response 
Center, however.
Under certain conditions, an Emergency 
Request is sent automatically immediately after 
a severe accident. This Automatic Collision 
Notification is not affected by the button being 
pressed.
For technical reasons, the Emergency 
Request service cannot be guaranteed 
for the most unfavorable conditions.<
Roadside Assistance
The BMW Roadside Assistance is there to 
assist you around the clock in the event of a 
breakdown, including on weekends and public 
holidays.
The phone numbers of Roadside Assistance in 
your home country can be found in the Contact 
brochure.
First aid pouch*
Some of the articles contained in the first aid 
pouch have a limited service life. Therefore,  

Giving and receiving assistance
132 Your BMW has a special nut as body ground or 
negative pole.
5.Attach the second terminal clamp of the 
minus/– jumper cable to the negative termi-
nal of the battery or to the engine or body 
ground of the vehicle to be started.
Starting the engine
1.Start the engine of the donor vehicle and 
allow it to run for a few minutes at slightly 
increased idle speed.
2.Start the engine on the other vehicle in the 
usual way. 
If the first start attempt is not successful, 
wait a few minutes before another attempt 
in order to allow the discharged battery to 
recharge.
3.Let the engines run for a few minutes.
4.Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing 
the above connecting sequence.
If necessary, have the battery checked and 
recharged.
Never use spray fluids to start the 
engine.<
Tow-starting, towing away
Observe the applicable laws and regula-
tions for tow-starting and towing vehi-
cles.<
Do not transport any passengers other 
than the driver in a vehicle that is being 
towed.<
Using a tow fitting
The screw-in tow fitting must always be carried 
in the car. It can be screwed in at the front or 
rear of the BMW.
It is stored with the onboard vehicle tool kit 
underneath the floor mat in the cargo area, refer 
to page124.
Use only the tow fitting provided with the 
vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the 
tow fitting for towing on paved roads only. Avoid 
lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift 
the vehicle by the tow fitting. Otherwise, the 
tow fitting and the vehicle could be damaged.<
Access to screw thread
Rectangular cover panel in bumper:
Press the arrow on the cover.
Front
Rear
Being towed
Make sure that the ignition is switched on, 
refer to page47; otherwise, the low-beam 
headlamps, tail lamps, turn signal indicators and 
windshield wipers may be unavailable. Power 
steering assistance is not available when the 
engine is not running. Thus, braking and steer-
ing will require increased effort. Active steering 
is not active and it will be necessary to turn the 
steering wheel further.<
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in neutral position. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 133
Automatic transmission
Selector lever in position N.
Changing the selector lever position, refer to 
page50.
Do not exceed a towing speed of 45 mph/
70 km/h and a towing distance of 
90 miles/150 km; otherwise, the automatic 
transmission may be damaged.<
Towing methods
Do not lift the vehicle by a tow fitting or 
body and chassis parts; otherwise, dam-
age may result.<
With a tow bar
The towing vehicle must not be lighter 
than the towed vehicle; otherwise, it may 
be impossible to maintain control.<
The tow fittings used should be on the same 
side on both vehicles. Should it prove impossi-
ble to avoid mounting the tow bar at an angle, 
please observe the following:
>Clearance and maneuvering capability will 
be sharply limited during cornering.
>The tow bar will generate lateral forces if it is 
attached offset.
Attach the tow bar to the tow fittings only, 
as attaching it to other parts of the vehicle 
could result in damage.<
With a tow rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make 
sure that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated 
stresses on vehicle components when 
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps. 
Attach the tow rope to the tow fittings only, as 
attaching it to other parts of the vehicle could 
result in damage.<
With a tow truck
Have the BMW transported with a tow truck 
with a so-called lift bar, or on a flatbed.
Do not tow the vehicle with just the rear axle 
raised as this may cause the steering to turn.
Tow-starting
Avoid tow-starting the vehicle whenever possi-
ble; instead, jump-start the engine, refer to 
page131. Vehicles with a catalytic converter 
should only be tow-started when the engine is 
cold, vehicles with an automatic transmission 
cannot be tow-started at all.
1.Switch on the hazard warning flashers, 
comply with local regulations.
2.Switch on the ignition, refer to page47.
3.Shift into 3rd gear.
4.Have the vehicle tow-started with the clutch 
depressed all the way and slowly release 
the clutch. After the engine starts, immedi-
ately depress the clutch completely again.
5.Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow 
bar or rope and switch off the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
6.Have the vehicle checked. 

Indicator and warning lamps
134
Indicator and warning lamps
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in the 
display areas 1 or 2 in a variety of combinations and colors. See the table for information on 
causes and how to react. Note whether a lamp 
comes on alone or in combination with another. 
Some lamps can light up in different colors. 
Corresponding distinctions are made in the 
text.
12Cause Special actions to be taken
Turn signals
High beams/headlamp flasher 
switched on
Fog lamps switched on
Fasten safety belts Fasten your safety belt, refer also to 
page41.
Indication in US models
Parking brake applied Release the parking brake.
Indication in Canadian models
Parking brake applied Release the parking brake.
Outside temperature warning Drive cautiously, refer also to page56.
Lights up briefly:
>Approx. 2.1 US gallons/8 liters of 
fuel remain in the tank
Remains on: 
Remaining operating range is no more 
than 30 miles/50 km, refer to page57
Engine refuses to start Depress the brake or clutch in order to 
start the engine, refer to page48.
Ignition switched on and driver's door 
openSwitch off the ignition, refer to page47, 
or close the driver's door.
Parking lamps still on