
At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in a 
variety of combinations and colors.
Several of the lamps are checked for proper 
functioning and light up temporarily when the 
engine is started or the ignition is switched on.
Text messages
Text messages at the upper edge of the Control 
Display explain the meaning of the displayed 
indicator and warning lamps.
Supplementary text messages
You can call up more information on the Control 
Display, e.g. on the cause of a malfunction and 
on how to respond, via Check Control, refer to 
page71.In urgent cases, this information will be shown 
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps notify you that 
certain functions are active:
High beams/headlamp flasher88
Fog lamps
*89
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC is regulating the propul-
sive forces in order to maintain driving 
stability77
Canada: parking brake applied57
Parking brake applied57
Canada: engine malfunction with 
adverse effect on emissions204
Engine malfunction with adverse 
effect on emissions204 

Controls
 33Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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
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 
the interior motion sensor are switched off until 
the next time the vehicle is unlocked and subse-
quently locked again.
Comfort Access*
Comfort Access enables you to enter your vehi-
cle without needing to hold the remote control 
in your hand. All you need to do is wear the 
remote control close to your body, e.g. in your 
jacket pocket. The vehicle detects the corre-
sponding remote control within the immediate 
vicinity or in the passenger compartment.
Comfort Access supports the following func-
tions:
>Unlocking/locking the vehicle
>Unlocking the trunk lid separately
>Engine starting
>Convenient closing
Functional requirement
>The vehicle or the trunk lid can only be 
locked when the vehicle detects that the remote control currently in use is outside of 
the vehicle.
>The vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked 
again until after approx. 2 seconds.
>The engine can only be started when the 
vehicle detects that the remote control cur-
rently in use is inside the vehicle.
Comparison to the standard remote 
control
In general, there is no difference between using 
Comfort Access or pressing the buttons on the 
remote control to carry out the functions men-
tioned above. You should therefore first famil-
iarize yourself with the instructions on opening 
and closing starting on page26.
Special features regarding the use of Comfort 
Access are described below.
If you notice a brief delay while opening or 
closing windows, the glass roof or the 
convertible top, the system is checking whether 
a remote control is inside the vehicle. Please 
repeat the opening or closing procedure, if nec-
essary.<
Unlocking
Grasp the handle on the driver's or front pas-
senger door completely, arrow 1. This corre-
sponds to pressing the  button.
Locking
Touch the surface, arrow 2, with your finger for 
approx. 1 second. This corresponds to pressing 
the button.
To preserve the battery, please make 
sure that the ignition and all electrical  

Opening and closing
34 consumers are switched off before locking the 
vehicle.<
Coupe: Convenient closing
For Convenient closing, keep your finger on the 
surface, arrow 2.
Convertible: window and convertible 
top operation
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond, 
you can open and close the windows and the 
convertible top when a remote control is 
located inside the vehicle.
Unlocking the trunk lid separately
Press the button on the outside of the trunk lid. 
This corresponds to pressing the  button.
If the vehicle detects that a remote con-
trol has been accidentally left inside the 
locked vehicle after the trunk lid is closed, the 
lid will reopen. The hazard warning flashers 
flash and a signal
* sounds.<
Switching on radio readiness
Radio readiness is switched on by pressing the 
start/stop button, refer to page55.
Do not depress the brake or the clutch; 
otherwise, the engine will start immedi-
ately.<
Starting the engine
You can start the engine or switch on the igni-
tion when a remote control is inside the vehicle. 
It is not necessary to insert a remote control into 
the ignition lock, refer to page55.
Switching off the engine in cars with 
automatic transmission
The engine can only be switched off when the 
selector lever is in position P, refer to page56.
To switch the engine off when the selector lever 
is in position N, the remote control must be in 
the ignition lock.
Malfunctions
Comfort Access may malfunction due to local 
radio waves. If this happens, open and close the 
vehicle via the buttons on the remote control or 
using the integrated key. To start the engine 
afterward, insert the remote control into the 
ignition lock.
Warning lamps
The warning lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up when you attempt to 
start the engine: the engine cannot 
be started. The remote control is not inside the 
vehicle or is malfunctioning. Take the remote 
control with you inside the vehicle or have it 
checked. If necessary, insert another remote 
control into the ignition lock.
The warning lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up while the engine is 
running: the remote control is no 
longer inside the vehicle. After the engine is 
switched off, the engine can only be restarted 
within approx. 10 seconds.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on and a message 
appears on the Control Display: 
replace the battery in the remote control.
Replacing the battery
The remote control for Comfort Access con-
tains a battery that will need to be replaced from 
time to time.
1.Take the integrated key out of the remote 
control, refer to page26.
2.Remove the cover.
3.Insert the new battery with the plus side fac-
ing up. 

Controls overview
64
Coolant temperature
A warning lamp will come on if the coolant, and 
therefore the engine, becomes too hot.
In addition, a message will appear on the Con-
trol Display.
Check coolant level, refer to page202.
Engine oil temperature*
When the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature, the engine oil temperature is between 
approx. 2107/1006 and approx. 3007/
1506.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 14 US gallons/
53 liters.
You can find information on refueling on 
page188.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period, 
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for 
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Fuel display 135i: in speedometer.
Reserve
Once the fuel level has fallen to the reserve 
zone, a message briefly appears on the Control 
Display and the cruising range for the remaining 
amount of fuel is displayed on the computer. 
Under a cruising range of approx. 30 miles/
50 km, the message remains in the Control Dis-
play.
Refuel as soon as possible once your 
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km; otherwise, engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.<
Computer
Displays in the instrument cluster
Calling up information
Press the button in the turn indicator lever.
The following items of information are dis-
played in the order listed:
>Cruising range
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
>Current fuel consumption
>No information 

Controls
 71Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1.Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up 
or down repeatedly until the appropriate 
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the date and the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.
3.Use button 1 to set the day of the month.
4.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
5.Set the month and the year in the same way.
6.Press button 2.
The system stores the new date.
Via iDrive
1."Settings"
2."Time/Date"
3."Date:"
4.Turn the controller until the desired day is 
displayed, and press the controller.
5.Create the necessary settings for the 
month and year.
The date is stored.
Setting the date format
1."Settings"
2."Time/Date"
3."Format:"4.Select the desired format.
The date format is stored.
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors vehicle functions 
and alerts you to any malfunctions in the sys-
tems monitored. Such a Check Control mes-
sage includes indicator and warning lamps in 
the instrument cluster and, in some circum-
stances, an acoustic signal as well as text mes-
sages at the top of the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in a 
variety of combinations and colors.
Several of the lamps are checked for proper 
functioning and light up temporarily when the 
engine is started or the ignition is switched on.
 indicates that Check Control messages have 
been stored. These Check Control messages 
can be viewed again later, refer to page72. 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
78 1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Reset"
4.Start the engine – do not drive away.
5.Start the initialization using "Reset".
6.Start driving.
The initialization is completed during the trip. 
"Status: Flat Tire Monitor active" is displayed 
again on the Control Display.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamps come on in yellow 
and red. A message appears on the 
Control Display. In addition, a signal 
sounds. There is a flat tire or substan-
tial loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph/
80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and steer-
ing maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed of 
50 mph/80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with run-flat 
tires, refer to page196, the standard 
equipment by design, do not continue driv-
ing. A severe accident could result if you 
continue driving after a tire puncture.<
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If all four tires are inflated to the cor-
rect pressures, the Flat Tire Monitor 
might not have been initialized. The system 
must then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the distance for which you can continue driving on the 
basis of the following guidelines:
>With a light load: 
1 to 2 persons without luggage: 
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load: 
2 persons, cargo area full, or 4 persons 
without luggage: 
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load: 
4 persons, cargo area full: 
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h; otherwise, 
there is a risk of an accident. In the event of 
pressure loss, vehicle handling changes. This 
includes reduced tracking stability in braking, 
extended braking distance and altered natural 
steering characteristics.
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during 
the journey, this may be an indication that the 
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce your 
speed and pull over as soon as possible at a 
suitable location. Otherwise, parts of the tire 
could come loose, resulting in an accident. Do 
not continue driving. Instead, contact your 
BMW center.<
Status display
The current status of the Flat Tire Monitor can 
be displayed on the Control Display, e.g. 
whether or not the FTM is active.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Flat Tire Monitor"
The status is displayed. 

Lamps
88
Malfunction
The LED next to the symbol for automatic head-
lamp control flashes. Adaptive light control is 
malfunctioning or has failed. Have the system 
checked as soon as possible.
High beams/roadside parking 
lamps*
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Roadside parking lamps
*
Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
There is an additional option of switching on the 
lamps on the side of the car facing the road 
when parked.
Switching on
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or 
down beyond the pressure point for approx. 
1second, arrow 3.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Therefore, do not leave them on for 
unduly long periods of time; otherwise, the bat-
tery might not have enough power to start the 
engine.<
Switching off
Press the lever in the opposite direction to the 
pressure point, arrow 3.
High-beam assistant*
The concept
This system automatically switches the high 
beams on and off. The procedure is controlled 
by a sensor on the front of the interior rearview 
mirror. The assistant ensures that the high 
beams are switched on whenever the traffic sit-
uation allows. It handles this task for you and 
gives you the benefit of the best possible view. 
You can intervene at any time and switch the 
high beams on and off as usual.
Activating the system
1.Turn the light switch to position3, refer to 
page86.
2.With the low beams switched on, briefly 
push the turn indicator lever in the direction 
of the high beam.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up when the high beams 
are activated. The system automati-
cally switches from high beams to low beams 
and vice versa in response to oncoming traffic, 
traffic ahead of you, and adequate ambient 
lighting, e.g. on city streets.
Switching the high beams on and off 
manually
Whenever you wish, or when the situation 
requires, you can intervene:
>If the high-beam assistant switches on the 
high beams, but you would like to drive with 
the low beams, simply switch off the high 
beams using the turn indicator lever. This 
deactivates the high-beam assistant. 
To reactivate the system, briefly push the 
turn indicator lever toward the high beams 
again.
>If the high-beam assistant switches on the 
low beams, but you would like to drive with 
the high beams, switch on the high beams 
as usual. This deactivates the system and 
the high beams need to be switched off 
manually, if necessary.
To reactivate the system, briefly push the  

Maintenance
204
Socket for Onboard 
Diagnosis OBD
On the driver's side is an OBD socket for check-
ing components relevant to the composition of 
the vehicle's emissions.
Emissions
The warning lamp lights up:
The vehicle is producing higher emis-
sions. The trip can be continued. Have 
the car checked as soon as possible.
Canadian models display this warning 
lamp.
The lamp flashes under certain condi-
tions. This indicates excessive misfiring in the 
engine. If this happens, you should reduce your 
speed and visit your nearest BMW center as 
soon as possible. Severe engine misfiring can 
quickly lead to serious damage of emissions-
related components, especially the catalytic 
converter.
The warning lamp comes on if the gas 
cap is not properly tightened and the 
OBD system assumes that fuel vapor 
is escaping. Make sure that the gas cap is cor-
rectly positioned and close it until it audibly 
clicks.
Data recorders
Your vehicle may be equipped with one or sev-
eral measuring or diagnostic modules or a 
device for recording or sending certain vehicle 
data or information. In addition, if you have 
signed a service contract for BMW Assist, cer-
tain vehicle data may be transmitted or recorded in order to facilitate the corresponding 
services.