
Cockpit
12
Indicator and warning lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are identified 
with 
+ are checked for proper function each 
time you turn the ignition key. They each light 
up once for different periods of time.
When a malfunction occurs in a monitored sys-
tem, the corresponding lamp will either fail to go 
out when the engine is started, or it will come on 
again during normal driving. Detailed informa-
tion is provided on the specified pages.
Battery charge current 
+118
Headlamp flasher41
High beams60
Engine oil 
+103
Driving stability control systems/
ABS Antilock Brake System 
+51
ABS Antilock Brake System/chassis 
control system for Canadian models
Brake system 
+ 
With handbrake released53, 105
With handbrake engaged39
With other warning lamps53
Brake warning lamp for Canadian 
models
Brake pads 
+85
Please fasten safety belts 
+32
Airbags 
+57
Front fog lamps61
Automatic transmission +40 
Turn signals41
DSC Dynamic Stability Control/
xDrive
+ 51, 52
DTC Dynamic Traction Control 
+52
Service Engine Soon 
+107
Service Engine Soon warning lamp for 
Canadian models.
Check Gas Cap
* +92
Engine electronics 
+38
Topping off washer fluid43
Coolant low105
Flat Tire Monitor
* +54 
Tire Pressure Monitor
* +55
Lamp defective59
Cruise control44
Door or liftgate open 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 57
Airbags
The following airbags are located beneath the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Head airbags
3Side airbags in front and rear
*
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimum protection, 
please follow the instructions on page27.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag cushions the side upper body area. The 
respective head airbag cushions the head.
The airbags are intentionally not triggered in 
every collision situation, e.g. they are not trig-
gered not in less serious accidents, or rear-end 
collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Keep the instrument cluster and the windshield 
in the region of the passenger free of foreign 
objects, i.e. do not cover them with adhesive foil 
or coatings, and do not use these areas to 
mount brackets, e.g. for a navigation device or 
mobile phone.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag retention 
system from the vehicle. Do not modify the indi-
vidual components of the system or its wiring in 
any way. This includes the padded covers in the center of the steering wheel, on the instrument 
cluster, the doors, and the roof pillars as well as 
the sides of the headliner. Do not attempt to 
remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components 
directly after the system has been triggered, 
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or 
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have 
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle Center or a workshop that 
works according to BMW repair procedures 
with correspondingly trained personnel and 
that has the required explosives licenses. Oth-
erwise, unprofessional attempts to service the 
system could lead to failure in an emergency or 
undesired airbag activation, either of which 
could result in personal injury.<
Airbag warnings and information are also pro-
vided on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of front 
passenger airbags
By evaluating the pressure on the seat cushion 
of the front passenger seat, the system detects 
whether or not the seat is occupied. Depending 
on the detection result, the system correspond-
ingly activates or deactivates the front and side 
airbags for the passenger.
The indicator lamp located above the 
inside rearview mirror indicates whether 
the front passenger airbag system is currently 
deactivated or activated, refer to Status of pas-
senger airbags in the section below.<
Before transporting a child in the front 
passenger seat, read the safety notices 
and follow the safety instructions under Trans-
porting children safely on page35.
When teenagers or adults assume certain sit-
ting positions, the front and side airbags on the 
passenger side can deactivate; this causes the 
indicator lamp for the front passenger airbag to 
light up. If this happens, have them change their 
sitting position so that the passenger airbag is 
activated and the indicator lamp goes out. If the 
desired status cannot be achieved by changing 
their sitting position, then have the person ride  

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 99
age and related safety hazards. Make sure that 
the new wheels are balanced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend the use of 
retreaded tires; otherwise, driving safety 
may be reduced. The causes for this include the 
possibly different tire casing structures and the 
often wide variations in their age, which can 
result in a limited service life.<
Correct wheels and tires
BMW recommends that you use only 
wheel and tire combinations that BMW 
has tested and approved for your particular 
vehicle. Variations in factors such as manufac-
turing tolerances mean that even wheels and 
tires with identical official size ratings could 
actually have different dimensions than the 
approved units – these differences could lead to 
body contact and with it, the risk of severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are 
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability, 
and therefore cannot be held liable for driving 
safety.<
You can ask your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
Center for the correct wheel-and-tire combina-
tion.
The correct wheel-and-tire combination affects 
various systems whose function would other-
wise be impaired, e.g. ABS, DSC or xDrive.
To maintain good handling and vehicle 
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. After tire 
damage, always remember to have the original 
wheel and tire combination remounted on the 
vehicle as soon as possible.
Wheels equipped with electronics for 
TPM Tire Pressure Monitor
When installing new tires or when changing 
from summer tires to winter tires or vice versa, 
only use wheels equipped with TPM electron-
ics; otherwise, the Tire Pressure Monitor can-
not detect a flat tire, refer to page55. Your 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be 
happy to advise you in this regard.
Recommended tire brands
BMW recommends particular tire brands for 
each tire size. You will recognize them by the 
clearly visible BMW identification on the tire 
sidewall.
With proper use, these tires meet the highest 
standards for safety and handling characteris-
tics.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use on win-
ter road surfaces or at temperatures below 
+457/+76. Although all-season M+S tires do 
provide better winter traction than summer 
tires, they generally fail to provide the same lev-
els of cold-weather performance as winter tires.
Observing speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed for 
which the winter tires are rated.<
Storage
Store wheels or tires in a cool, dry place, pro-
tecting them from light whenever possible. Pro-
tect the tires from contact with oil, grease and 
fuel. Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation 
pressure indicated on the side wall of the tire.
Changing wheels from one axle to 
another
BMW does not recommend changing the front 
wheels to the back or vice versa as this can 
impair handling characteristics. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 103
Engine oil
Engine oil consumption depends on driving 
style and operating conditions.
Warning lamp
Engine oil pressure
The warning lamp lights up red:
The engine oil pressure is too low.
Stop the vehicle immediately and 
switch off the engine. Check the engine oil level 
and top off as needed. If the oil level is correct: 
Have the system checked immediately.
Do not continue driving. The engine could 
be damaged because of inadequate lubri-
cation.<
Engine oil level
The warning lamp lights up yellow dur-
ing driving. An acoustic signal also 
sounds and "+1.0" is displayed in the 
instrument cluster, refer to page103.
The oil level is at its absolute minimum; top off 
e n g i n e  o i l  a s  s o o n  a s  p ossible. Until then, do not 
drive more than approx. 125 miles/200 km.
The warning lamp lights up yellow after 
the engine is switched off. In addition, a 
signal sounds.
Top off engine oil at the earliest opportunity, 
e.g. with your next refueling.
The warning lamp lights up yellow 
within 30 seconds after starting the 
engine:
The oil level sensor has failed. It is not possible 
to take a current or meaningful measurement. 
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
Checking oil level
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic oil 
level control.
For the most precise possible display of the oil 
level, the engine must be at operating tempera-
ture, i.e. after at least 6.5 miles/10 km of unin-
terrupted driving. You can have the oil level dis-
played while you drive or while the vehicle is standing on a flat surface with the engine run-
ning.
You can have the current oil level displayed in 
the instrument cluster.
Press button1. The oil level is checked and dis-
played for approx. 15 seconds.
In order to cancel the display early, press but-
ton 1 again.
Possible displays
1Oil level OK
2Oil level is being detected
This process can last approx. 3 minutes 
while standing on a flat surface and approx. 
5 minutes while driving. 

Care
108
Care
Car-care products
BMW recommends that your vehicle be 
cleaned, cared for, and maintained using prod-
ucts that have been approved by BMW for this 
purpose.
Regular cleaning and care makes a significant 
contribution to maintaining the value of your 
BMW.
Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will 
be happy to advise you on products and ser-
vices for the cleaning, care, and maintenance of 
your BMW.
Genuine BMW Care Products are materi-
als tested, lab tested, and field tested and 
offer optimum care, maintenance, and protec-
tion for your vehicle.<
Do not use cleansers that contain alcohol 
or solvents; they can damage your vehi-
cle.<
Cleaning agents can contain substances 
that are dangerous or pose health risks. 
For this reason, always read and comply with 
the warnings and danger notices on the pack-
aging. Open the doors or windows on your vehi-
cle whenever cleaning the interior. Make sure 
that there is sufficient ventilation when working 
in enclosed spaces. Use only products that are 
provided for cleaning vehicles.<
Exterior care
Washing your vehicle
In the winter months, it is especially 
important to ensure that the vehicle is 
washed on a regular basis. Heavy soiling and 
road salts can result in damage to the vehicle.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the 
brakes briefly to dry them. Failure to do so 
may lead to a reduction in braking efficiency and 
also to corrosion of the brake rotors.<
Car washes
Give preference to cloth car washes.
Before driving into the car wash, check whether 
the system is suitable for your BMW. To do so, 
pay attention to the following points:
>Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to 
page127
>If necessary: fold in the exterior mirrors, 
refer to page33.
>Maximum permissible tire width.
Preparations for driving into the car wash:
>Deactivate rain sensor
* to prevent undes-
ired wiper operation.
>Deactivate rear window wiper and protect 
from damage. Ask the operator of the car 
wash about suitable protection measures 
should the need arise.
>Remove additional add-on components, 
e.g. spoilers or telephone antennas; other-
wise, they could be damaged.
Steam cleaners/high pressure cleaning 
jets
When using steam cleaners or high pres-
sure cleaning jets, be sure to maintain a 
sufficient distance and do not exceed a maxi-
mum temperature of 1407/606.
Insufficient distance or excessive pressure or 
temperature can damage parts of the vehicle or 
water can penetrate to the interior of the vehi-
cle. Follow the operating instructions for the 
high pressure cleaning jet.<
Do not aim high pressure cleaning jets at 
sensors such as those of the Park Dis-
tance Control for long periods of time and main-
tain a distance of at least 12 in/30 cm.<
Hand washes
When washing the vehicle by hand, use ample 
water and optionally Auto Shampoo. Clean the 
vehicle with gentle pressure, using a sponge or 
a washing brush. 

Everything from A to Z
136 Maximum speed, with winter 
tires99
Mechanical seats28
Memory, refer to
– Seat and mirror memory31
– Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory18
Microfilter
– air conditioner65
– automatic climate control68
Microphone, refer to Car 
phone preparation75
Microphone for telephone75
Mirrors33
– automatic curb monitor33
– mirror heating33
– mirror memory, refer to Seat 
and mirror memory31
Mobile phone, refer to 
separate operating 
instructions
Monitoring tire pressure
– refer to Flat Tire Monitor54
– refer to Tire Pressure 
Monitor55
Multi-function steering wheel, 
refer to Buttons on steering 
wheel13
Multifunction switch
– turn signals/headlamp 
flasher41
– washer/wiper system42
N
Navigation system, refer to 
separate Owner's Manual
Neck support, refer to Head 
restraints29
Nets73
New keys18
Nonsmoker's equipment 
package74
Nozzles, refer to 
Ventilation65,68
Nylon rope, refer to Tow 
starting and towing122
O
OBD socket107
Octane rating, refer to Fuel 
quality93
Odometer46
Oil
– additives, refer to Approved 
engine oils104
– approved engine oils104
– level103
– refilling, refer to Adding 
engine oil104
Oil change interval, refer to 
Service Interval Display47
Oil grades104
Oil level103
– warning lamp103
Oil pressure103
– warning lamp103
OIL SERVICE47
Old batteries, refer to 
Disposal118
Onboard computer, refer to 
separate Owner's Manual
Onboard Diagnostics OBD 
interface socket107
Onboard tool kit111
Opening and closing
– from inside21
– using the door lock21
– with the remote control19
Output, refer to Engine 
data126
Outside air
– air conditioner64
– automatic climate control68
Outside temperature display
– changing unit of measure48
– on computer48
Overheating of engine, refer to 
Coolant thermometer47
P
Package tray, refer to Cargo 
area cover77
Panic mode20Panorama glass sunroof23
– closing after electrical 
malfunction25
– convenience operation21
– initializing24
– power failure24
– remote control19
Park Distance Control PDC50
Parking aid, refer to PDC Park 
Distance Control50
Parking assistant, refer to 
PDC Park Distance 
Control50
Parking brake, refer to 
Handbrake39
Parking lamps59
Parking lamps/low beams59
Partition net78
Parts and accessories, refer to 
For your own safety5
Passenger-side mirror tilt 
function33
Pathway lighting59
PDC Park Distance Control50
Pinch protection system23
– power windows23
Pollen, refer to
– Microfilter65
– Microfilter/activated 
charcoal filter68
Power failure
– battery118
– panorama glass sunroof24
– windows23
Power seat adjustment28
Power socket
– in cargo area74
– refer to Cigarette lighter 
socket74
Power windows22
– initializing23
– safety switch23
Pressure, tires94
Pressure monitoring, 
tires54,55
Programming settings, refer 
to Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory18
Puncture, Flat Tire Monitor54