
Controls
 83Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
e.g. unplowed snow-covered roads. The sys-
tem assures the maximal drive output, but with 
reduced driving stability. It is therefore neces-
sary to drive with appropriate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC 
under the following special circumstances:
>When driving uphill on snow-covered roads, 
in slush or on unplowed, snow-covered 
roads
>When rocking a stuck vehicle free or start-
ing off in deep snow or on loose ground
>When driving with snow chains
Activating DTC
Press the button; the indicator lamps for DTC in 
the instrument cluster come on.
For better control
If the indicator lamp flashes: 
DTC is regulating the drive and brak-
ing forces.
If the indicator lamps are on: 
DTC has been activated.
Deactivating DTC
Press the button again; the DTC indicator 
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.
xDrive*
xDrive is your BMW's four-wheel-drive system. 
The combined efforts of xDrive and DSC help to 
further optimize traction and driving dynamics. 
The xDrive four-wheel-drive system distributes 
driving power variably to the front and rear axles depending on the driving situation and road 
conditions.
Hill Descent Control HDC*
HDC is a downhill driving assistant that controls 
your speed on steep downhill gradients and 
makes it even easier to control your BMW's 
handling under these conditions. The vehicle 
then moves slightly faster than double walking 
speed without the driver needing to intervene.
HDC can be activated as long as you are driving 
under approx. 20 mph or 35 km/h. When driving 
downhill at a speed of under approx. 20 mph or 
35 km/h, the vehicle's speed is automatically 
reduced to slightly more than double walking 
speed and maintained.
Increasing or decreasing speed
By accelerating or braking you can change this 
speed within a range from approx. 3 to 15 mph, 
approx. 5 to 25 km/h.
You can specify a target speed within the same 
range using the cruise control
* lever on the 
steering column.
1To increase speed
2To decrease speed 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
84
Activating HDC
Press the button; the LED lights up.
When the vehicle is being braked automatically, 
the LED flashes.
Deactivating HDC
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
HDC is automatically deactivated at speeds 
greater than approx. 35 mph/60 km/h.
Using HDC
In cars with manual transmission:
Use HDC in lower gears and in reverse gear.
With automatic transmission:
You can use HDC in any drive position.
Displays in the instrument cluster*
1Display for target speed
2HDC display
Malfunction
The HDC display disappears during HDC oper-
ation, or does not appear:
HDC is temporarily unavailable due to exces-
sive brake temperature, or DSC has failed.
Drive-off assistant
The drive-off assistant enables you to drive off 
smoothly on uphill gradients. It is not necessary 
to use the parking brake for this.
1.Hold the car in place by depressing the 
brake.
2.Release the brake and drive off without 
delay.
The drive-off assistant holds the car in 
place for approx. 2 seconds after the 
brake is released. Drive off without delay after 
releasing the brake. Otherwise, the drive-off 
assistant will no longer hold the car in place 
after approx. 2 seconds and the car will start to 
roll backwards.<
Flat Tire Monitor FTM*
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor detects pressure loss in a 
tire by comparing the rotating speeds of the 
individual tires while moving.
In the event of pressure loss, the rolling circum-
ference changes and, thus, the rotating speed 
of the affected wheel. This change is detected 
and is reported as a flat tire.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat 
tire, the system must be initialized for the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure.
The system must be reinitialized each 
time a tire inflation pressure has been cor-
rected or a wheel or tire has been changed.<
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor is unable to warn 
the driver of sudden, severe tire damage 
caused by external factors, nor can it identify 
the gradual loss of pressure that will inevitably 
occur in all four tires over a lengthy period of 
time.<
In the following situations, the system could be 
delayed or malfunction: 

Controls
 85Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Performance-oriented style of driving: slip 
in the drive wheels, high lateral acceleration
>Snow chains are attached
Initializing the system
The initialization is completed during driv-
ing, which can be interrupted at any time. 
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically. 
Do not initialize the system while snow chains 
are attached.<
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, an 
acoustic signal sounds. There is a flat 
tire or substantial loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph 
or 80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and 
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed 
of 50 mph or 80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with run-flat 
tires, refer to page216, the standard equipment by design, do not continue driv-
ing. Otherwise, a severe accident could 
result if you continue driving.<
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 possible 
distance for continued 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 or more persons, cargo area full: 
Approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph or 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" 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
86 3."Flat Tire Monitor"
The status is displayed.
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM*
The concept
RDC monitors the tire inflation pressure in the 
four mounted tires during a trip. The system 
notifies you if there is a significant loss of pres-
sure in one or more tires.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat 
tire, the system must be reset while all tire infla-
tion pressures are correct.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics. Oth-
erwise, the system may malfunction.
Each time a tire inflation pressure has 
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been 
changed, reset the system.<
System limitations
TPM cannot warn you in advance of sud-
den severe tire damage caused by out-
side influences.<
The system does not work correctly if it has not 
been reset; for example, a flat tire may be indi-
cated even though the tire inflation pressures 
are correct.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat 
tire if a wheel without TPM electronics, such as 
a compact spare wheel, has been mounted, or if 
TPM is temporarily malfunctioning due to other 
systems or devices using the same radio fre-
quency.
Status indicator on the Control Display
The color of the tires represents the status of 
the tires and the system.
TPM takes into account that tire pressures 
change while the vehicle is being driven. The 
tire pressures do not need to be corrected 
unless the TPM instructs you to do so by means 
of color indicators.
Green
The tire inflation pressure corresponds to the 
established target value.
"TPM active" appears on the Control Display.
One wheel yellow
There is a flat tire or substantial loss of tire pres-
sure in the indicated tire. A message appears on 
the Control Display.
All wheels yellow
There is a flat tire or substantial loss of tire pres-
sure in several tires. A message appears on the 
Control Display.
Gray
The system cannot detect a puncture.
Possible reasons for this:
>TPM is being reset
>Temporary malfunction caused by systems 
or devices using the same radio frequency
>Malfunction
Resetting the system
Each time a tire inflation pressure has 
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been 
changed, reset the system.<
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status" 

Telephone
174
Telephone
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with a full preparation 
package mobile phone. After pairing a suitable 
mobile phone with the vehicle once, you can 
operate the mobile phone via the iDrive, the 
buttons on the steering wheel or using voice 
commands
*.
Once a mobile phone has been paired with your 
vehicle, it is automatically recognized as soon 
as it is inside the vehicle while the engine is run-
ning or the ignition is switched on. You can 
store the pairing data for up to four mobile 
phones simultaneously. If several mobile 
phones are detected at the same time, the 
mobile phone last paired can be operated via 
the vehicle.
Using the telephone inside 
the vehicle
Using the snap-in adapter*
The so-called snap-in adapter, a holder for 
mobile phones, allows you to charge the mobile 
phone's battery and connect the mobile phone 
to your vehicle's outside antenna. This ensures 
better network reception and consistent repro-
duction quality. Please contact your 
BMW center to find out for which mobile 
phones there are snap-in adapters available.
For your safety
A car phone makes life more convenient in 
many ways, and can even save lives in an emer-
gency. While you should consult your mobile 
phone's separate operating instructions for a 
detailed description of safety precautions and 
information, we request that you direct your 
particular attention to the following:
Only make entries when the traffic situa-
tion allows you to do so. Do not hold the 
mobile phone in your hand while you are driving; 
use the hands-free system instead. If you do not observe this precaution, your being dis-
tracted can endanger vehicle occupants and 
other road users.<
Suitable mobile phones
Please ask your BMW center which mobile 
phones with Bluetooth interface are supported 
by the mobile phone preparation package and 
which mobile phones are compatible with the 
snap-in adapter. By virtue of their particular 
software versions, these mobile phones sup-
port the functions described in this Owner's 
Manual. Malfunctions may occur with other 
mobile phones.
Operating options
You can operate the mobile phone using:
>Buttons on the steering wheel, refer to 
page10
>iDrive, refer to page16
>Voice commands
*, refer to page181
>Programmable memory keys, refer to 
page20
Avoid operating a mobile phone recognized by 
the vehicle via the mobile phone's keypad; oth-
erwise, malfunctions may result.
Start-up
Pairing the mobile phone with the 
vehicle
The following prerequisites must be met:
>Compatible mobile phone: the mobile 
phone is supported by the full preparation 
package mobile phone. You can obtain 
information on the Internet at: 
www.bmw.com/bluetooth
>The mobile phone is ready to operate.
* 

Reference 259
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Entry lamps, refer to Interior 
lamps96
Entry map for destination130
Environmentally friendly 
driving, refer to Energy 
Control70
Equalizer, tone setting145
Error messages, refer to 
Check Control77
ESP Electronic Stability 
Program, refer to Dynamic 
Stability Control DSC82
Event data recorders224
Exhaust system, refer to Hot 
exhaust system117
Expanding the cargo area110
Extended connectivity of the 
music player in the mobile 
phone167
Exterior mirrors47
– adjusting47
– automatic dimming 
feature48
– automatic heating47
– folding in and out47
External audio device106
External devices
– random sequence169
Eyes
– for tow-starting and towing 
away239
– for tying down loads120
F
Failure messages, refer to 
Check Control77
Failure of an electrical 
consumer236
False alarm
– avoiding unintentional 
alarm34
– switching off an alarm33
Fastening safety belts, refer to 
Safety belts46
Fastest route for 
navigation134Fast forward
– CD changer157
– CD player157
Filter
– refer to Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter for automatic 
climate control100
First aid pouch237
Fixture for remote control, 
refer to Ignition lock54
Flash when locking/
unlocking28
Flat tire
– run-flat tires216
– Tire Pressure Monitor 
TPM86
Flat Tire Monitor FTM84
– indicating a flat tire85
– indicator/warning lamp85
– initializing the system85
– snow chains84,217
– system limits84
Flat tires, refer to Tire 
condition215
Fluid reservoir, refer to 
Washer fluid reservoir60
FM, waveband147
Fog lamps95
– indicator lamp13,95
Folding rear seat backrest110
Folding up the floor panel112
Footbrake, refer to Braking 
safely118
Footwell lamps, refer to 
Interior lamps96
For your own safety5
Four-wheel drive, refer to 
xDrive83
Free memory capacity, music 
collection165
Front airbags90
FTM, refer to Flat Tire 
Monitor84Fuel197
– additives198
– average consumption71
– gauge70
– high-quality brands197
– quality197
– specifications197
– tank contents, refer to 
Capacities248
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel 
gauge70
Fuel display, refer to Fuel 
gauge70
Fuel-efficient driving, refer to 
Energy Control70
Fuel filler flap196
– releasing in the event of 
electrical malfunction196
Fuses236
G
Garage door opener, refer to 
Integrated universal remote 
control102
Gasoline
– refer to Average 
consumption71
Gasoline, refer to Required 
fuel197
Gasoline display, refer to Fuel 
gauge70
Gas station 
recommendations135
Gear indicator, automatic 
transmission with 
Steptronic57
Gearshift lever
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic57
– manual transmission56
Gearshifts
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic57
– manual transmission56
General driving notes117