
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 25
Depending on the market-specific version, the 
alarm system briefly signals unauthorized entry 
attempts by:
>An acoustic alarm
>Switching on
* the hazard warning flashers
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 trunk lid using the   button 
of the remote control even if the alarm system is 
armed, refer to page20. 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 page19, or
>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 trunk lid 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 continuously after approx. 
10 seconds. The interior motion sensor and 
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 convertible top is 
open. An alarm can be triggered unintentionally 
by falling objects such as leaves, refer to Avoid-
ing unintentional 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 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
64
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Park Distance Control PDC*
The concept
The PDC assists you with maneuvering in tight 
parking spaces. Acoustic signals warn you of 
the presence of an object behind your vehicle. 
Four ultrasonic sensors in the bumper measure 
the distance.
An acoustic warning does not sound until an 
object is closer than approx. 2 ft/60 cm to the 
corner sensors, or closer than approx. 5 ft/
1.50 m to the center sensors.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate 
objects when they are approached 
slowly, as is usually the case when parking. 
Avoid approaching an object at high speed; oth-
erwise, physical circumstances may lead to the 
system warning being issued too late.<
Switching on automatically
With the engine running or the ignition switched 
on, the system is activated after approx. 1 sec-
ond when you engage reverse gear or move the 
automatic transmission selector lever to 
position R. Wait this short period before driving.
Switching off automatically
After approx. 55 yd/50 m of driving or above 
approx. 20 mph/30 km/h, the system switches 
off and the LED goes out.
Signal tones
When nearing an object, its position is indicated 
correspondingly by an interval tone. As the dis-
tance between vehicle and object decreases, 
the intervals between the tones become 
shorter. If the distance to the nearest object 
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm, then a contin-
uous tone sounds.
An interval tone is interrupted after approx. 
3seconds:
>If you stop in front of an object that has been 
detected by only one of the corner sensors>If you are driving parallel to a wall
Malfunction
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on. PDC is malfunc-
tioning. Have the system checked.
To avoid this problem, keep the sensors clean 
and free of ice or snow in order to ensure that 
they will continue to operate effectively. When 
using a high-pressure cleaner, do not spray the 
sensors for extended periods of time and only 
from a distance of at least 1 ft/30 cm.
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for 
estimating the distance between the 
vehicle and any obstructions always remains 
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind spot in which objects can 
no longer be detected. The system is also sub-
ject to the physical limits that apply to all forms 
of ultrasonic measurement, such as those 
encountered with trailer towbars and hitches, 
thin or wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low objects 
that have already been displayed, e.g. curbs, 
can disappear again from the detection area of 
the sensors before or after a continuous tone 
sounds. Higher, protruding objects, e.g. ledges, 
cannot be detected. Loud sound sources out-
side or inside the car can drown out the PDC 
signal. Therefore, always drive cautiously; oth-
erwise, there is a risk of personal injury or prop-
erty damage.<
Driving stability control 
systems
Your BMW has a number of systems that help 
to maintain the vehicle's stability even in 
adverse driving conditions. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 99
area, as this could result in damage to the vehi-
cle.<
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your 
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants 
and cargo should never exceed 
XXX kg or YYY lbs. Otherwise, overloading 
can result in damage to the vehicle and 
unstable driving conditions.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers that will be riding in 
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver 
and passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY 
pounds.
4.The resulting figure equals the available 
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. 
For example, if the YYY amount equals 
1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is 
650 lbs: 
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage 
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That 
weight may not safely exceed the available 
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated 
in step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of 
the load from your trailer will be transferred 
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for 
transporting a trailer to determine how this 
may reduce the available cargo and luggage 
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permissible load is the total of the weight of 
occupants and cargo/luggage. The greater the 
weight of the occupants, the less cargo/lug-
gage can be transported.
Stowing cargo
Coupe
Convertible
>Position heavy objects as low and as far for-
ward as possible, ideally directly behind the 
respective seat backrests.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
>For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is 
not occupied, secure each safety belt in the 
opposite buckle. 

Indicator and warning lamps
138Indication in US models:
Parking brake applied
Indication in Canadian models:
Parking brake applied
Indication in US models
Lights up in red:
Brake fluid level too low Reduced braking effect, stop the car 
carefully. Contact your BMW center.
Lights up in yellow:
Drive-off assistant has failed. The car 
will not be held in place after the brake 
is releasedHave the system checked as soon as 
possible.
Indication in Canadian models
Lights up in red:
Brake fluid level too low Reduced braking effect, stop the car 
carefully. Contact your BMW center.
Lights up in yellow:
Drive-off assistant has failed. The car 
will not be held in place after the brake 
is releasedHave the system checked as soon as 
possible.
Indication in US models:
Brake pads wornHave the condition of the brake pads 
checked without delay.
Indication in Canadian models:
Brake pads wornHave the condition of the brake pads 
checked without delay.
Lights up in red:  Have the system in question checked 
without delay.
>Starter failed or The engine cannot be restarted.
>Ignition malfunctioning. Engine 
restart only possible when brake is 
depressed or
>lighting system failed. Low beams/
tail lamps and brake lamps still 
operational. All other lamps failedDepress the brake to restart the engine.
Lights up in yellow:
>Control of the brake lamps failed or
>fuel supply malfunctioning, or
>electrical system of trailer hitch
* 
failedYou can continue your journey, but 
moderate your speed and exercise due 
caution. Have the system in question 
checked without delay.
12Cause Special actions to be taken