
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7
Fog lamps*94
8
Turn signals64
High beams, headlamp flasher93
High-beam assistant
*93
Roadside parking lamps
*93
Computer69
Settings and information about the 
vehicle71
9Instrument cluster12
10
Windshield wipers65
Rain sensor
*65
11Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine55
12Ignition lock55
13Buttons
 on the steering wheel
Telephone
*:
Accepting and ending a call; dial-
ing
* the selected phone number; 
redialing if no phone number is 
selected
Volume
Activating/deactivating the voice 
activation system
*
Changing the radio station
Interrupting a traffic bulletin
Selecting a music track
Scrolling through the redial list
Next entertainment source
Recirculated-air mode98
14
Steering wheel heating
*51
15Horn, entire surface
16Adjusting the steering wheel51
17
Cruise control
*66
18Releasing the hood202
19Opening the trunk lid31 

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 
page76.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 flasher93
Fog lamps
*94
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC is regulating the propul-
sive forces in order to maintain driving 
stability82
Canada: parking brake applied57
Parking brake applied57
Canada: engine malfunction with 
adverse effect on emissions208
Engine malfunction with adverse 
effect on emissions208 

At a glance
 17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Buttons on the controller
Operating principle
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond, 
refer to page55, the following message is dis-
played on the Control Display:
To hide the message: 
Press the controller.
The main menu is displayed.
The message is automatically hidden after 
approx. 10 seconds.
Opening the main menu
Press the MENU button.
The main menu is displayed.All iDrive functions can be called up via the main 
menu.
Selecting a menu item
The menu items shown in white can be 
selected.
1.Turn the controller until the desired menu 
item is highlighted.
2.Press the controller.
A new menu is displayed or the function is exe-
cuted.
ButtonFunction
MENU Open the main menu
RADIO Open the Radio menu
CD Open the CD/Multimedia menu
NAV Open the Navigation menu
TEL Open the Telephone menu
BACK Display the previous menu
OPTION Open the Options menu 

Opening and closing
26
Opening and closing
Remote control
Each remote control contains a rechargeable 
battery that is automatically recharged when it 
is in the ignition lock while the car is being 
driven. Use each remote control at least twice a 
year for longer road trips in order to maintain the 
batteries' charge status. In cars with Comfort 
Access
*, the remote control contains a 
replaceable battery, refer to page35.
The settings called up and implemented when 
the car is unlocked depend on which remote 
control is used to unlock the car, refer to Per-
sonal Profile, next column.
In addition, information about service require-
ments is stored in the remote control, refer to 
Service data in the remote control, page207.
Integrated key
Press button1 to release the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
>Driver's door, refer to page29
>Convertible: glove compartment, refer to 
page104
New remote controls
Your BMW center can supply new remote con-
trols with integrated keys as additional units or 
as replacements in the event of loss.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set many of your BMW's functions to 
suit your personal needs and preferences. 
Without any action on your part, Personal Pro-
file ensures that most of these settings are 
stored for the remote control currently in use. 
When you unlock the car, the remote control 
used for the purpose is recognized and the set-
tings stored for it are called up and imple-
mented.
This means that your personal settings will be 
activated for you, even if in the meantime your 
car was used by someone else with another 
remote control and the corresponding settings. 
The individual settings are stored for a maxi-
mum of four remote controls. They are stored 
for two remote controls if Comfort Access
* is in 
use.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer 
to the specified pages.
>Programming the Programmable memory 
keys, refer to page20
>Response of the central locking system 
when the car is unlocked, refer to page27
>Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to 
page30
>Automatic call-up
* of the driver's seat posi-
tion, refer to page48
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page64 

Opening and closing
32
Closing
The handle recesses on the interior trim of the 
trunk lid make it easier to pull down.
Make sure that the closing path of the 
trunk lid is clear; otherwise, injuries may 
result.<
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the trunk lid is 
opened
>To movements inside the vehicle: interior 
motion sensor, refer to page33
>When the car's inclination changes, for 
instance if an attempt is made to jack it up 
and steal the wheels or to raise it prior to 
towing away: tilt alarm sensor, refer to 
page33
>When there has been an interruption of 
power supply from the battery
Depending on the market-specific version, the 
alarm system briefly signals unauthorized entry 
attempts by:
>An acoustic alarm
>Switching on
* the hazard warning flashers
Arming and disarming
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with 
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm 
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
You can open the trunk lid using the   button 
of the remote control even if the alarm system is armed, refer to page28. The lid is locked and 
monitored again as soon as it is closed.
Panic mode
You can trigger the alarm system if you find 
yourself in a dangerous situation.
Press the   button for at least three seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Switching off an alarm
>Unlock the car with the remote control, refer 
to page27, or
>insert the remote control all the way into the 
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the inside rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking: 
doors, hood or trunk lid are not properly 
closed. Even if you do not close the alerted 
area, the system begins to monitor the 
remaining areas, and the indicator lamp 
flashes continuously after approx. 
10 seconds. The interior motion sensor and 
the tilt alarm sensor are not activated.
>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking: 
your vehicle has not been disturbed while 
you were away.
>If the indicator lamp flashes after unlocking 
until the remote control is inserted in the 
ignition, but for no longer than approx. 
5 minutes: your vehicle has been disturbed 
while you were away. 

Opening and closing
34
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 
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. 

Controls
 35Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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.
4.Press the cover on to close.
Take the old battery to a battery collec-
tion point or to your BMW center.<
Windows
To prevent injuries, watch the windows 
while closing them. 
Take the remote control out of the ignition 
when you leave the car; otherwise, children 
could operate the electric windows and possi-
bly injure themselves.<
Coupe: opening, closing
>Press the switch to the resistance point:
The window opens as long as you press the 
switch.>Press the switch beyond the resistance 
point:
The window opens automatically. Press the 
switch again to stop the opening move-
ment.
You can close the windows in the same manner 
by pulling the switch.
Convertible: opening, closing
Window operation with Comfort Access, refer 
also to page28.
To close the side windows while driving, 
either close the rear windows first or all 
four windows together; otherwise, the windows 
may not close tightly at high speeds.<
Individually
>Press the switch to the resistance point:
The window opens as long as you press the 
switch.
>Press the switch beyond the resistance 
point:
The window opens automatically. Press the 
switch again to stop the opening move-
ment.
You can close the windows in the same manner 
by pulling the switch. The rear windows cannot 
be closed automatically. 

Opening and closing
36
Jointly
>Press the switch to the resistance point:
All windows open as long as you press the 
switch.
>Press the switch beyond the resistance 
point:
All windows open automatically. Press the 
switch again to stop the opening move-
ment.
>Pull the switch:
All windows close as long as you pull the 
switch.
After switching off the ignition
When the remote control is removed or the igni-
tion is switched off, you can still operate the 
windows for approx. 1 minute as long as no 
door has been opened.
Convenient operation
For information on Convenient operation via the 
remote control or the door lock, refer to page27 
or30. For information on Convenient closing 
with Comfort Access, refer to Locking on 
page34.
Pinch protection system
If the closing force exceeds a specific value as a 
power window closes, the closing action is 
interrupted and the window reopens slightly.
Despite the pinch protection system 
check and clear the window's travel path 
prior to closing it; otherwise, the safety system 
might fail to detect certain kinds of obstruc-
tions, such as thin objects, and the window 
would continue closing. 
Do not install any accessories that might inter-fere with window movement. Otherwise, the 
pinch protection system could be impaired.
Convertible: the rear windows are not equipped 
with pinch protection. Therefore, watch them 
closely when closing to avoid personal injury.<
Closing without pinch protection
If there is an external danger, or if ice on the win-
dows, etc., prevents you from closing the win-
dows normally, proceed as follows:
1.Pull the switch past the resistance point and 
hold it there. Pinch protection is limited and 
the window reopens slightly if the closing 
force exceeds a certain value.
2.Pull the switch again past the resistance 
point within approx. 4 seconds and hold it 
there. The window closes without pinch 
protection.
Coupe: glass roof*, electric
To prevent injuries, watch the glass roof 
while closing it. 
Take the remote control with you when you 
leave the car; otherwise, children could operate 
the roof and possibly injure themselves.<
Raising
Press the switch.
>The closed glass roof is raised and the slid-
ing visor opens slightly.
Do not close the sliding visor forcibly with 
the roof in the raised position, as this 
would damage the mechanism.<