
At a glance
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7Buttons on steering wheel
8Instrument cluster12
11Ignition lock5712Horn, entire surface
15Releasing hood211 Mobile phone
*178:
>Press: accepting and ending a 
call, starting dialing
* of 
selected phone number and 
redialing if no phone number is 
selected
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice acti-
vation system
* 22
Changing radio station155
Selecting music track160
Scrolling in phone book and in lists 
with stored phone numbers
Changing entertainment source
Switching recirculated-air mode 
on/off107
HDC
*86
Lane Departure Warning
*99
9
Windshield wipers63
Rain sensor64
Sports Wagon: rear window 
wiper64
10Starting/stopping engine and 
switching ignition on/off 57
13
Steering wheel heater*52
Steering wheel adjustment
*52
14
Cruise control
*65
Active cruise control66
16Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate31, 33
17
Head-up Display
*95
BMW Night Vision
*96
18Parking lamps100
Daytime running lamps
*101
Low beams100
Welcome lamps100
Automatic headlamp control
*100 
Daytime running lamps
*101
Welcome lamps100 
Adaptive Light Control
*101  
High-beam Assistant
*102
19
Instrument lighting104
Fog lamps
*104 

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Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
different combinations and colors.
Some lamps are tested for proper function by 
briefly lighting up during starting of the engine 
or when the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the upper edge of the Control 
Display explain the meaning of the displayed 
indicator and warning lamps.
Additional information, e. g. on the cause and 
elimination of a malfunction, can be opened via 
the Check Control system, refer to page79.
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 signal particular 
functions:
High beams/headlamp flasher102
Fog lamps
*104
Parking brake applied59
Parking brake applied for Canadian 
models
Lamp flashes: 
DSC or DTC controls the drive and 
braking forces for maintaining vehicle 
stability86
DTC Dynamic Traction Control86
Exhaust-gas values216
Exhaust-gas values for Canadian 
models216 

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follow this action within the given scope and 
can also accelerate from a complete stop if the 
vehicle ahead of you drives off again shortly 
thereafter. During braking, your vehicle brake 
lamps will automatically illuminate to alert a fol-
lowing driver to take action. In addition, it may 
be necessary for your vehicle to downshift the 
automatic transmission to maintain the dis-
tance setting selected. As soon as the road in 
front of you has no moving vehicles, the system 
will accelerate to your desired speed. This set 
speed is also maintained on downhill grades, 
however the vehicle speed can drop below the 
set speed when driving uphill if the engine out-
put is not sufficient.
Active cruise control cannot detect stop 
signs, red lights, or any object that is 
stopped or is blocking the road.
Active cruise control is not and must not be 
used as a collision avoidance/warning system.
Since this active cruise control system is a new 
technology and operates differently from con-
ventional cruise control systems which you may 
be accustomed to, it is necessary that you read 
all of the pages relating to this system before 
use. Carefully read and observe the information 
on the system limitations beginning on page71 
to obtain a good command of the system and its 
range of applications.<
Brake pedal feel
When the system brakes and you also depress 
the brake pedal, a somewhat different braking 
feel results.
Professional* navigation system
If a navigation DVD is in the drive, refer to 
page132, within limits the system adjusts the 
accelerating and braking behavior of the vehicle 
to the road you are driving on.
To ensure that the system is informed of 
the current course of the road, always use 
the latest navigation DVD if possible.<
When the vehicle position is unknown, e. g. 
when you leave the map area, this influence of 
the navigation system is not available.
Applications
Please try the system first during sparse traffic 
and clear road conditions so that you can get 
used to the system. After you have experience 
and understand the system, only then use it 
during normal traffic.
As with conventional cruise control systems, 
active cruise control in no way reduces or sub-
stitutes for the driver's own personal experi-
ence, responsibility, alertness and awareness in 
adjusting speed, braking or otherwise control-
ling the vehicle. The driver should decide when 
to use the system on the basis of road, traffic, 
visibility, and weather conditions. Active cruise 
control is intended for use on highway-type 
roadways where traffic is moving relatively 
smoothly as well as in slow-moving traffic. Do 
not use the system in city driving; in complex 
driving situations; heavy traffic such as during 
rush hour; on curvy, winding roads, slippery 
roads or roads with sharp curves such as high-
way off-ramps; during inclement weather such 
as snow, strong rain or fog; or when entering 
interchanges, service/parking areas or toll 
booths. It is also important to regulate your 
vehicle's speed and distance setting within 
applicable legal limits. Always be ready to take 
action or apply the brakes if necessary, espe-
cially when the system is actively following a 
vehicle in front of you. Otherwise, driving condi-
tions can result which lead to a violation of the 
law or elevated risk of an accident.
The minimum initial activation speed is 20 mph/ 
30 km/h, and the maximum speed is 110 mph/
180 km/h. However, you can also activate the 
system while stopped, refer to While stopped, 
page69. 

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Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful inter-
ference, and>this device must accept any interference 
received, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or 
changes to these devices could void the 
user’s authority to operate this equipment.<
System limitations
As with conventional cruise control sys-
tems, active cruise control in no way 
diminishes or substitutes for the driver's own 
personal responsibility, alertness and aware-
ness in adjusting speed, braking or otherwise 
controlling the vehicle. The driver should 
decide when to use the system on the basis of 
road, traffic, visibility, and weather conditions. 
Active cruise control is intended for use on 
highway-type roadways where traffic is moving 
relatively smoothly. Do not use this system in 
city driving; in complex driving situations; on 
curvy, winding roads, slippery roads or roads 
with sharp curves such as highway off-ramps; 
during inclement weather such as snow, strong 
rain or fog; or when entering interchanges, ser-
vice/parking areas or toll booths. It is also 
important to regulate your vehicle's speed and 
distance setting within applicable legal limits. 
Always be ready to take action or apply the 
brakes if necessary, especially when the sys-
tem is actively following a vehicle in front of 
you.<
Always remember that the range and abil-
ity of the system do have physical limita-
tions. For example, the system may not detect 
vehicles driving ahead if they suddenly brake 
heavily in stop-and-go traffic during accelera-
tion. The system will not apply the brakes or 
slow your vehicle when a very slow-moving vehicle, stopped vehicle or stationary object is 
in the lane ahead of you, for example when 
approaching a traffic light or parked vehicle or 
when a vehicle is stalled in your lane. Also, the 
system does not react to oncoming traffic, 
pedestrians or other types of potential traffic 
such as a rider on horseback. It is also possible 
that the system may not detect smaller moving 
objects such as motorcycles or bicycles. Be 
especially alert when encountering any of these 
situations as the system will neither automati-
cally brake, nor provide a warning to you. Also, 
be aware that every decrease in the distance 
setting allows your vehicle to come closer to a 
vehicle in front of you and requires a heightened 
amount of alertness.<
The system cannot allow the vehicle to drive off 
automatically in situations that make driving off 
considerably more difficult, e.g., on steep uphill 
grades, with a heavy trailer or before raised 
areas in the road.
Near radio astronomy stations, the system 
radar is deactivated at speeds under 20 mph/
30 km/h due to legal regulations.
Be certain to interrupt the system when 
you pull into an exit lane for a highway 
offramp.<
Also, vehicles traveling in a staggered manner 
on a highway may cause a delay in the system's  

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
98
Activating BMW Night Vision
1.Turn the light switch to position2 or3, refer 
to page100.
2.With low beams switched on:
>Press the   button. Depending on the 
vehicle's equipment, the location of the 
button may differ somewhat.
>Press one of the programmable buttons 
on the steering wheel.
The image will be displayed on the Control Dis-
play after a few seconds. Depending on the last 
mode selected, either the normal or full screen 
image will be displayed.
Due to the system's need to adjust periodically, 
a still image is displayed at certain intervals for 
fractions of a second. This is normal and not an 
indication of a problem.
To prevent driving without headlamps, at a 
speed of more than approx. 3 mph/5 km/h and 
when dark, the thermal image on the Control 
Display is only shown when the low beams are 
on.
Deactivating BMW Night Vision
>Press the   button.
>Press the button on the steering wheel.>Press the   button.
>Via iDrive, refer to Selecting settings.
Selecting settings
For iDrive details, refer to page16.
1.Activate BMW Night Vision.
2.Press the controller.
3.Open the desired menu item.
>"Brightness"
>"Contrast"
>"Zoom & Curve mode"
The settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
To exit the menu: 
The image automatically disappears after 
approx. 5 seconds.
Cleaning camera
The function of the camera may be affected by 
heavy rain and fog, dirt, snow or ice on the lens. 
When this occurs, the displayed image on the 
Control Display may become gray.
To minimize icing, the camera lens is automati-
cally heated. However, it may be necessary to 
clean the camera lens manually under severe 
weather conditions. When doing so, cautiously  

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remove any debris, ice or snow. To avoid dam-
age to the lens, do not use sharp or abrasive 
instruments to clean ice, snow, or dirt off the 
lens.
When the windshield is cleaned with the head-
lamps on, the camera lens area is automatically 
sprayed as well. Refer to page64.
Lane Departure Warning*
The concept
This system warns you from a speed of approx. 
40 mph/70 km/h when the vehicle is leaving the 
lane you are currently in on roads with lane limit 
lines. You feel this due to a slight vibration of the 
steering wheel. 
The system does not warn you if you signal 
before leaving the lane. 
It is best to use the system on well-developed 
roads and freeways.
Switching on/off
Press the button on the steering wheel.
>The two lines1 indicate that the system is 
activated.
>The two arrows2 mean that the system has 
detected one or two lane demarcation lines 
from a speed of approx. 40 mph/70 km/h 
and warns accordingly.
If you activate the system below a speed of 
approx. 40 mph/70 km/h, a message will appear 
stating that the system is not active until this 
speed is reached.
A warning will be canceled:
>after approx. 3 seconds>if you return to your lane
>if you brake heavily
>if you signal
System limits
The Lane Departure Warning cannot 
serve as a substitute for your personal 
judgment in determining the course of the road. 
If the system issues a warning, do not move the 
steering wheel with unnecessary severity, as 
otherwise you could lose control of the vehi-
cle.<
The function of the system may be limited in the 
following example situations:
>in heavy fog, rain or snowfall
>with worn-away, poorly visible demarcation 
lines, or lines that run together or apart or 
are unclear, e.g., in road construction areas
>when demarcation lines are covered by 
snow, ice, dirt or a great deal of water
>in tight curves or on narrow roads
>when demarcation lines are not white
>when demarcation lines are covered by 
objects
>when driving up close behind a vehicle driv-
ing ahead
>with bright oncoming light
>when the windshield is fogged up, dirty or 
covered with stickers, vignettes, etc., in the 
area of the inside rearview mirror 

Lamps
100
Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
0Lights off and daytime running lamps*
1Parking lamps and daytime running lamps*
2Low beams and welcome lamps
3Automatic headlamp control
*, daytime run-
ning lamps
*, welcome lamps, Adaptive 
Light Control* and High-beam Assistant
*
If you open the driver's door with the ignition 
switched off, the exterior lighting is switched off 
when the light switch is in position2 or 3. The 
daytime running lamps have already been 
switched off at the same time as the ignition.
For this reason, switch on the parking lamps as 
needed, switch position1; otherwise, the vehi-
cle is not lit.
Parking lamps
In switch position1, the front, rear and side 
vehicle lighting is switched on. You can use the 
parking lamps for parking.
The parking lamps drain the battery. Do 
not leave them switched on for long peri-
ods of time, otherwise it may no longer be pos-
sible to start the engine. It is preferable to 
switch on the roadside parking lamps on one 
side, refer to page102.<
Low beams
The low beams light up when the light switch is 
in position 2 and the ignition is on.
Automatic headlamp control*
In switch position3, the system activates the 
low beams and switches them on or off in 
response to changes in ambient light condi-
tions, for instance, in a tunnel, at dawn and dusk 
and in case of precipitation. Adaptive Light 
Control* is active. The LED next to the symbol 
lights up when the low beams are on. You can 
activate the daytime running lamps, refer to 
page101. In the above-mentioned situations, 
the system then switches to the low beams.
A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can 
cause the lights to be switched on.
The low beams remain switched on inde-
pendent of the ambient lighting condi-
tions when you switch on the fog lamps
*.<
The automatic headlamp control cannot 
serve as a substitute for your personal 
judgment in determining when the lamps 
should be switched on in response to ambient 
lighting conditions. For example, the sensors 
cannot detect fog of hazy weather. To avoid 
safety risks, you should always switch on the 
low beams manually under these conditions.<
Welcome lamps
If you leave the light switch in position2 or 3 
when parking the vehicle, then when you unlock 
the vehicle, the parking lamps and interior light-
ing remain illuminated for a brief time.
Activating/deactivating welcome 
lamps
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Settings"
2."Lighting" 

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press the turn signal lever in the high-beam 
direction.
>When the low beams are on, use the head-
lamp flasher as usual.
System limits
The High-beam Assistant is designed to 
maximize the amount of time that high 
beams can be safely used and to quickly switch 
back to low beams when traffic approaches. 
The system cannot completely replace driver 
intervention when unusual conditions are 
encountered. For this reason, switch to low 
beams when circumstances so dictate. Failure 
to do so can pose a safety risk.<
Below are a few examples of situations in which 
the system may not react or may only function 
to a limited degree, requiring personal interven-
tion:
>in extremely unfavorable weather condi-
tions such as fog or heavy precipitation
>in sensing road users with poor inherent 
illumination such as pedestrians, cyclists, 
equestrians, horse-drawn vehicles, railroad 
or shipping traffic close to the road, and at 
deer crossings
>in tight curves, on steep crests or dips, with 
cross-traffic, or with partially hidden 
oncoming traffic on divided highways
>in poorly illuminated areas and in the pres-
ence of highly reflective signs
>in the low speed range
>when the windshield is fogged up, dirty or 
covered with stickers, decals, etc., in the 
area of the inside rearview mirror
>when the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor 
on the front side of the inside rearview mir-
ror with a cloth slightly moistened with glass 
cleaner
Moreover, no system can operate without limi-
tations. High-beam Assistant operation is sub-
ject to conditions that may reduce the system's 
ability to recognize the difference between 
actual vehicle head lamps or tail lamps and, for 
example, highly reflective signs, markers, and 
streetlights. To be on the safe side, the system may periodically interpret these situations as 
conditions that require low beams. Below are 
some of the situations in which premature 
switching to low beams can occur:
>approaching large and/or highly reflective 
signs
>approaching certain lights, such as drive-
way lighting and porch lights
>approaching certain traffic signals
>approaching large reflective markers
In these situations, the system may interpret 
the above conditions as a vehicle ahead requir-
ing a switch to low beams. When the conditions 
return to normal, the system will reactivate the 
high beams.
The High-beam Assistant cannot replace the 
driver's responsibility for complying with state 
laws on high-beam switching or for adapting to 
visibility and traffic conditions.
Switching off via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Settings"
2."Lighting"
3."High beam assistant"
 High beam assistant is activated and is 
stored for the remote control currently in use.