
Opening and closing
26
Opening and closing
Keys/remote control
1Remote control with integrated key
2Spare key
3Adapter for spare key, in glove compart-
ment
Remote control with integrated key
Each remote control contains a battery which is 
charged in the ignition lock while driving. Drive a 
longer distance with each remote control at 
least twice a year to keep the battery charged. 
For Comfort Access
*, the remote control con-
tains a replaceable battery, refer to page38.
Depending on which remote control is detected 
by the vehicle during unlocking, different set-
tings are activated and executed in the vehicle, 
refer to Personal Profile, page26.
Information on the required for maintenance is 
also stored in the remote control, refer to Ser-
vice data in remote control, page215.
Integrated key
Press button1 to unlock the key.The integrated key fits the following locks:
>Glove compartment, refer to page112
>Sports Wagon: floor panel flap in cargo bay, 
refer to page118
>Driver's door, refer to page30
>Luggage compartment lid, refer to page31.
New remote controls
To obtain additional or replace lost keys, new 
remote controls with an integrated key are 
available at your BMW center.
Spare key
Store the spare key in a safe place such as your 
wallet. This key is not intended for regular use.
The spare key and integrated key fit the same 
locks.
Adapter for spare key
The adapter is required so that the vehicle can 
be started with the spare key or radio readiness 
can be switched on.
Remove the adapter from the holder in the 
glove compartment and slide the spare key into 
the adapter before use.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set a number of functions of your BMW 
individually according to your preferences. Per- 

Controls
 27Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
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Mobility
sonal Profile ensures that most of these set-
tings are stored for the remote control currently 
in use without you having to do anything. When 
the vehicle is unlocked, the corresponding 
remote control is detected and the settings 
stored for it are called up and carried out.
This means that you will always find your BMW 
set to your own personal settings even if 
another person with his/her own remote control 
and settings has used the vehicle since the last 
time you drove it. The individual settings are 
stored for a maximum of four remote controls, 
for two with Comfort Access
*.
Personal Profile settings
Details on the settings are provided on the 
specified pages.
>Behavior of the central locking system 
when unlocking vehicle, refer to page28
>Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to 
page30
>Displays on Control Display:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page83
>Measuring units for consumption, route/
distances, temperature, and pressure, 
refer to page76
>12h/24h clock format, refer to page79
>Date format, refer to page79
>Language on Control Display, refer to 
page82
>Lighting settings:
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page63
>Welcome lamps, refer to page100
>Pathway lighting, refer to page101
>Daytime running lamps
*, refer to 
page101
>High-beam Assistant
*, refer to 
page102
>PDC Park Distance Control
*: optical warn-
ing, refer to page84
>Head-up Display
*: selection and brightness 
of display, refer to page96>BMW Night Vision
*: display settings, refer 
to page98
>Automatic climate control: AUTO program 
and intensity, cooling function, and auto-
matic recirculated air control/recirculated-
air mode, temperature, air distribution, tem-
perature in the upper body region, refer to 
text starting on page106
>Navigation system
*: voice instructions for 
destination guidance, refer to page143
In addition, the following, most recently 
selected settings are recalled during unlocking:
>Programmable memory buttons: selecting 
stored functions, refer to page20
>Positions of driver's seat, outside mirrors, 
and steering wheel
*, refer to page45
>Audio sources: volume and tone settings, 
refer to page152
>Radio:
>Display of stored stations, refer to 
page157
>Switching RDS Radio Data System on/
off
*, refer to page156
>Phone: volume setting, refer to page181
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system functions when the 
driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid or tailgate and 
rear window
>Fuel filler flap
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Using door lock
>With Comfort Access
* via the door handles 

Opening and closing
30 Any unauthorized modifications or 
changes to these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate this equipment.<
Opening and closing: 
Using door lock
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
persons are inside, as unlocking from the 
inside is not possible without special knowl-
edge.<
When unlocking
1.Turning the key once unlocks the driver's 
door and the fuel filler flap.
2.Turning the key a second time unlocks the 
remaining doors and the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate.
Convenient opening and closing
You also have the option of operating the win-
dows and the glass sunroof
* from the driver's 
door lock.
Turn and hold the key in the positions for 
unlocking or locking.
Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Releasing the 
key stops the operation.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can 
turn a key all the way to the right or left in the 
door lock to lock or unlock the driver's door.
Opening and closing: from 
inside
This button serves to unlock or lock doors and 
the luggage compartment lid or tailgate and 
rear window with the front doors closed, but 
does not activate the anti-theft system. The fuel 
filler flap remains unlocked.
Automatic locking
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"
3.Select the desired function:
>"Lock if no door is opened" 
The central locking system locks again 
after a short time if no door has been 
opened.
>"Lock after start. to drive" 
The central locking system locks the 
vehicle as soon as you start to drive.
 Automatic locking is switched on and is 
stored for the remote control currently in use.
Unlocking and opening
>Either unlock the doors together with the 
button for the central locking system and  

Opening and closing
36
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm 
system reacts, e.g., in case of an attempted 
wheel theft or towing.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof
* 
must be completely closed.
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 two-level garages
>When transporting on car-carrying trains, 
by sea 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 allows you to access your vehi-
cle without having to hold the remote control in 
your hand. It is sufficient to carry the remote 
control with you, e.g., in your jacket pocket. The 
vehicle automatically detects the associated 
remote control in the immediate vicinity or in 
the interior.
Comfort Access supports the following func-
tions:
>Unlocking/locking vehicle
>Comfort closing
>Opening luggage compartment lid/tailgate 
separately>Sports Wagon: opening rear window sepa-
rately
>Starting engine
Functional requirement
>The vehicle or the luggage compartment 
lid/tailgate can only be locked if the vehicle 
detects that the remote control you are car-
rying is outside the vehicle.
>The next unlocking and locking cycle is not 
possible until after approx. 2 seconds.
>The engine can only be started if the vehicle 
detects that the remote control is located in 
the vehicle.
Comparison with ordinary remote 
control
You can control the functions mentioned previ-
ously with the Comfort Access or by pressing 
the buttons on the remote control. Therefore, 
please familiarize yourself with the information 
on opening and closing beginning on page26 
beforehand.
The special features when using Comfort 
Access are described in the following.
Should a short delay occur when opening 
or closing the windows or the glass sun-
roof, the system is checking whether a remote 
control is located in the vehicle. Please repeat 
opening or closing if necessary.<
Unlocking
Grasp a door handle fully, refer to arrow1, but 
do not touch the surfaces, arrow2 or 3 when 
doing so. This corresponds to pressing the   
button. 

Controls
 37Reference
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Mobility
Locking
>On the driver's door, touch the highlighted 
surface, arrow2, with a finger for approx. 
1 second, but do not grasp the door handle.
>On the remaining doors, touch the high-
lighted surface, arrow3, with the back of 
your hand for approx. 1 second, but do not 
grasp the door handle.
This corresponds to pressing the   but-
ton.
To preserve the battery, please make 
sure that the ignition and all electrical 
consumers are switched off before locking the 
vehicle.<
Comfort closing
Hold a finger or the back of your hand against 
the surface, arrow2 or 3, but do not grasp the 
door handle while doing so.
The windows and the glass sunroof
* are 
closed.
Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Removing the 
hand from the door handle stops the closing 
process immediately.<
Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate separately
Press the button on the luggage compartment 
lid/tailgate. This corresponds to pressing the 
 button.
If a remote control accidentally left in the 
cargo bay is detected in the locked vehi-
cle after closing the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate or the rear window, the lid or rear win-
dow opens again. The hazard warning flashers 
flash and a signal
* sounds.<
Sports Wagon: opening rear window 
separately
Press the button on the rear window, refer to 
page32.
Switching on radio readiness
By pressing the Start/Stop button, you switch 
on the radio readiness, refer to page57.When doing so, do not depress the brake 
or clutch pedal, otherwise the engine will 
start immediately.<
Starting engine
You can start the engine or switch on the igni-
tion if a remote control is located in the interior 
of the vehicle. It need not be inserted in the igni-
tion lock, refer to page57.
If you take the remote control with you when 
leaving the vehicle with the engine running, a 
warning lamp lights up. In addition, a message 
appears on the Control Display. As long as no 
remote control is detected, it is only possible to 
restart the engine within approx. 10 seconds 
after it is switched off.
Switching off engine with automatic 
and sport automatic transmission
The engine can only be switched off in trans-
mission position P, refer to page58.
To switch off the engine in transmission posi-
tion N, the remote control must be inserted in 
the ignition lock.
Before driving into a car wash with 
automatic and sport automatic 
transmission
1.Insert remote control into ignition lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Engage transmission position N.
4.Switch off the engine.
The vehicle can roll.
Malfunction
The Comfort Access function may malfunction 
due to local radio waves. Then open or close the 
vehicle with the buttons on the remote control 
or with a key. To start the engine following this, 
insert the remote control in the ignition lock.
When unlocking or locking/comfort closing do 
not simultaneously grasp the door handle and 
touch the surfaces, arrow2 or 3. Otherwise, you 
may limit the function. 

Controls
 57Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Driving
Ignition lock
Inserting remote control into ignition 
lock
Insert the remote control as far as possible into 
the ignition lock.
Radio readiness switches on.
Some electronic systems/consumers are ready 
for operation.
Comfort Access*
With Comfort Access, only insert the remote 
control into the ignition lock in exceptional 
cases, refer to page36.
Removing remote control from ignition 
lock
Do not pull the remote control out of the 
ignition lock using force, as otherwise 
damage may result.<
Before removing the remote control, first press 
it in as far as possible to release the locking 
device.
The ignition is switched off if it was still 
switched on.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission
The remote control can only be removed when 
transmission position P is selected: interlock.
Start/Stop button
Pressing the Start/Stop button switches the 
radio readiness or the ignition on and off.
The engine is started when you press the 
Start/Stop button and depress the clutch 
if the car has manual transmission or the brake if 
the car has automatic transmission.<
Radio readiness
Some electronic systems/consumers are ready 
for operation. The time and outside tempera-
ture are displayed in the instrument cluster.
Radio readiness is switched off:
>when the remote control is removed from 
the ignition lock
>with Comfort Access
* by touching the sur-
face on the door handle, refer to Locking on 
page37
Ignition on
All electronic systems/consumers are ready for 
operation. The odometer and the trip odometer 
are displayed in the instrument cluster, refer to 
page74.
Please switch off the ignition and the 
electronic systems/consumers which are 
not required when the engine is not running to 
save the battery.< 

Driving
58
Radio readiness and ignition switched 
off
All indicator and warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Starting engine
Do not run the engine in enclosed areas, 
otherwise the inhalation of toxic exhaust 
gases can cause loss of consciousness and 
death. The exhaust gases contain carbon mon-
oxide, an odorless and colorless, but highly 
toxic gas. 
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the 
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a 
potential safety hazard. 
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run-
ning, select the idling position, or shift the trans-
mission into position P and firmly apply the 
parking brake, otherwise the vehicle can begin 
to roll.<
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated starting attempts in 
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the 
fuel is not burned or inadequately burned and 
there is a danger of overheating and damaging 
the catalytic converter.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it 
running while the vehicle remains stationary. 
Instead, begin to drive at a moderate engine 
speed.
Manual transmission
Remote control in ignition lock or with Comfort 
Access in vehicle, refer to page36.1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Depress the clutch pedal and shift into 
idling position.
3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission*
Remote control in ignition lock or with Comfort 
Access in vehicle, refer to page36.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
Switching off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
remote control with you. 
When parking, firmly apply the parking brake, as 
otherwise the vehicle could roll.<
Manual transmission
1.Press the Start/Stop button with the vehicle 
stopped.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Firmly apply the parking brake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page57.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission*
1.Shift transmission into position P with the 
vehicle stopped.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
3.Firmly apply the parking brake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page57.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if you proceed according to 
the following steps:
1.With Comfort Access: insert the remote 
control into the ignition lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Shift into transmission position N. 

Controls
 59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
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Mobility
4.Switch off the engine.
Transmission position P will be engaged:
>after approx. 30 seconds
>if you remove the remote control from the 
ignition lock
Parking brake
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it 
brakes the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up, and a sig-
nal also sounds when starting off. The 
parking brake is applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and 
lower the lever.
If exceptional circumstances should 
make it necessary to apply the parking 
brake while the vehicle is in motion, do not pull it 
too firmly. In doing so, continuously press the 
button of the parking brake lever. Otherwise, 
too firm an application of the parking brake can 
lock up the rear wheels and cause the rear of the 
car to swerve.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the parking 
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable. 
The brake lamps do not light up when the park-
ing brake is applied.<
Manual transmission
While shifting in the 5th/6th gear lane, 
press the gearshift lever toward the right, 
otherwise accidental shifting into the 3rd or 4th 
gear could result in engine damage.<
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. 
When pressing the gearshift lever to the left, 
overcome some resistance.
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can 
also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer to 
page61.
Transmission positions
P R N D M/S + –