
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The quickest way to find special topics is to 
consult the index, refer to page238.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Dashboard
16iDrive
21Letters and numbers
22Voice activation system
Controls
26Opening and closing
43Adjustments
52Transporting children safely
55Driving
68Controls overview
80Technology for driving comfort and 
safety
91Lamps
96Climate
101Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
112Things to remember when driving
Navigation
120Navigation system
121Destination entry
130Destination guidance
137What to do if …
Entertainment
140On/off and tone
143Radio
146Satellite radio
151CD/DVD player and CD changer
158Music collection
163External devices
Communications
170Telephone
182Contacts
184BMW Assist
Mobility
192Refueling
194Wheels and tires
202Under the hood
207Maintenance
209Care
213Replacing components
219Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
226Technical data
231Short commands for the voice activation 
system
238Everything from A to Z 

Dashboard
12
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
135i: with fuel gauge
2Indicator lamps for turn signals
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Tachometer68
5Fuel gauge69
135i: engine oil temperature69
6Display for
>Clock68
>Outside temperature68
>Indicator and warning lamps767Display for
>Position of automatic transmission
*57
>Gear indicator in 7-gear Sports auto-
matic transmission with double 
clutch
*60
>Computer69
>Date of next scheduled service, and 
remaining distance to be driven72
>Odometer and trip odometer68
>High-beam assistant
*93
>Checking the oil level203
>Settings and information71
8Resetting the trip odometer68 

Controls
 27Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play and in the instrument cluster:
>12h/24h format of the clock, refer to 
page74
>Date format, refer to page76
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page79
>Language of the Control Display, refer to 
page79
>Units of measure for fuel consumption, 
distance covered/remaining distances, 
and temperature, refer to page72
>Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC, refer to page80
>Light settings:
>Welcome lamps, refer to page91
>Pathway lighting, refer to page92
>Daytime running lights, refer to page92
>High-beam assistant
*, refer to page93
>Automatic climate control: activating/deac-
tivating AUTO program, cooling function 
and automatic recirculated-air control, set-
ting temperature, air volume and distribu-
tion, refer to page97 ff
>Entertainment:
>Tone control, refer to page140
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer 
to page140
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
>Trunk lid
>Fuel filler flap
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
*
>In cars with Comfort Access*, via the han-
dles on the driver's and front passenger 
doors
In addition, if the remote control is used, the 
welcome lamps
*, interior lamps and the door's 
courtesy lamps
* are switched on or off. The 
alarm system
* is also armed or disarmed.
For further details on the alarm system
*, refer 
to page32.
Operating from inside
By means of the button for central locking, refer 
to page30.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the 
central locking system unlocks automatically. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing:
Using the remote control
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle 
could lock the doors from the inside. You 
should therefore take the remote control with 
you when you leave the vehicle so that the latter 
can be opened from outside.<
Convertible: to operate the convertible 
top with the remote control, the doors and 
trunk lid must be closed and the cargo area par-
tition must be folded down and engaged on 
both sides. Refer also to page40.<
Unlocking
Press the   button.
The interior lamps, the courtesy lamps
* and the 
welcome lamps come on.
Setting unlocking characteristics
You can set whether only the driver's door or 
the entire vehicle is to be unlocked when the 
button is pressed for the first time. 

Opening and closing
28 1."Settings"
2."Door locks"
3."Unlock button"
4.Select a menu item:
>"All doors"
Press the   button once to unlock the 
entire vehicle.
>"Driver's door only"
Pressing the  button once unlocks 
the driver's door and fuel filler flap.
Press the button twice to unlock the 
entire vehicle.
5.Press the controller.
Coupe: convenient opening
Hold the   button down. 
The windows and the glass roof
* are opened.
Convertible: convenient opening*
When you are close to the vehicle, the remote 
control for Comfort Access can be used to open 
the convertible top and windows.
Hold the   button down. 
The windows and the convertible top
 are 
opened provided that the doors are closed.
If you continue pressing the   button, the win-
dows move up.
Watch during the opening process to 
ensure that no one is injured. Releasing 
the button interrupts the opening process.<
Locking
Press the   button.
Convertible: convenient closing*
When you are close to the vehicle, the remote 
control for Comfort Access can be used to 
close the convertible top and windows.
Hold the   button down.
The convertible top and the windows are 
closed.
Watch during the closing process to 
ensure that no one is injured. Releasing 
the button interrupts the closing process.<
Switching on interior lamps
While the car is locked: 
Press the   button. 
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Unlocking the trunk lid
Press the   button for a longer period.
The trunk lid opens a short distance, regardless 
of whether it was locked or unlocked.
The trunk lid swings backward and up 
when opened. Ensure that there is suffi-
cient clearance.
To avoid locking yourself out by accident, do 
not place the remote control in the cargo area. 
A previously locked trunk lid is locked again 
after closing.
Before and after each trip, check that the trunk 
lid has not been inadvertently unlocked.<
Confirmation signals
You can activate or deactivate the confirmation 
signals.
1."Settings"
2."Door locks" 

Controls
 29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
3."Flash when lock/unlock"
4.Press the controller.
 Flashing when locking/unlocking the vehi-
cle is switched on.
Malfunctions
The remote control may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. If this occurs, unlock and lock 
the car at the door lock with the integrated key.
Coupe: in vehicles without an alarm system
* or 
Comfort Access
*, only the driver's door can be 
unlocked and locked using the integrated key in 
the door lock.
If the car can no longer be locked with a remote 
control, the battery in the remote control is dis-
charged. Use the remote control on an 
extended trip to recharge the battery, refer to 
page26. The remote control for Comfort 
Access contains a battery that may have to be 
changed, refer to page35.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with 
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communications 
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8766S 
LX8766E 
LX8CAS
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC 
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.<
Opening and closing:
Using the door lock
You can set the way in which the car is 
unlocked, refer to page27.
Coupe
In vehicles without an alarm system* or 
Comfort Access
*, only the driver's door 
can be locked via the door lock.<
To lock both doors, the fuel filler flap and the 
trunk lid together:
1.With the doors closed, lock the vehicle 
using the button for the central locking sys-
tem in the interior, refer to page30.
2.Unlock and open the driver's or front pas-
senger door, refer to page30.
3.Lock the vehicle.
>Lock the driver's door using the inte-
grated key in the door lock, or
>press down the lock button of the front 
passenger door and close the door from 
the outside. 

Opening and closing
30
Convenient operation*
Coupe: if the vehicle is equipped with an alarm 
system
* or Comfort Access*, you can also 
operate the windows and glass roof
* via the 
door lock.
Convertible: you can operate the windows and 
convertible top via the door lock.
Hold the key in the position for unlocking or 
locking.
During each closing procedure, and when 
opening the convertible top, watch the 
process and ensure that no one becomes 
trapped. Releasing the key stops the opera-
tion.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can 
lock and unlock the driver's door by turning the 
integrated key to the corresponding limit posi-
tions in the door lock.
Opening and closing:
From inside
This button serves to unlock or lock doors and 
the trunk lid, but does not activate the anti-theft 
system. The fuel filler flap remains unlocked.
Automatic locking
You can also set the situations in which the car 
locks:
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"3.Select the desired function:
>"Lock if no door is opened" 
The central locking system locks 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.
 The function is switched on and is stored 
for the remote control currently in use.
Unlocking and opening doors
>Either unlock the doors together using the 
button for the central locking system and 
then pull the door handle above the armrest 
or
>pull on the door handle of each door twice: 
the first time unlocks the door, the second 
time opens it.
Locking
>Use the central locking button to lock all of 
the doors simultaneously, or
>press down the safety lock button of a door. 
To prevent you from being locked out, the 
open driver's door cannot be locked using 
the lock button.
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle 
could lock the doors from the inside. You 
should therefore take the remote control with 
you when you leave the vehicle so that the latter 
can be opened from outside.< 

Driving
56
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps as well as dis-
plays in the instrument cluster go out.
Starting the 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; otherwise, such a vehi-
cle represents a potential safety hazard.
Before leaving the car with the engine running, 
place the transmission in neutral or move the 
selector lever to position P and forcefully apply 
the parking brake to prevent the car from mov-
ing.<
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the 
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right 
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion as well as repeated start attempts in 
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the 
fuel is not burned or incompletely burned and 
there is a danger of overheating and damaging 
the catalytic converter.<
Manual transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with 
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to 
page33.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Depress the clutch and shift to neutral posi-
tion.
3.Press the start/stop button.The starter operates automatically for a certain 
time, and stops automatically as soon as the 
engine has started.
Automatic transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with 
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to 
page33.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Move the selector lever to position P.
3.Press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain 
time, and stops automatically as soon as the 
engine has started.
Sports automatic transmission with 
double clutch
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with 
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to 
page33.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Press the start/stop button.
The engine starts independent of the current 
transmission position.
Switching off the engine
Always take the remote control with you 
when you leave the vehicle. 
When parking, apply the parking brake force-
fully; otherwise, the vehicle could begin to roll.<
Manual transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, press the start/
stop button.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Forcefully apply the parking brake.
4.Removing the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page55.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2.Press the start/stop button. 

Driving
58
Vehicle parking
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, 
always select position P and apply the 
parking brake before leaving the vehicle with 
the engine running.<
Disengaging the remote control
In order to remove the remote control from the 
ignition lock, you must first move the selector 
lever to position P and switch off the engine: 
interlock. Removing the remote control from 
the ignition lock, refer to page55.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Displays in the instrument cluster
The selector lever position is displayed and, in 
manual mode, the engaged gear, e.g. M4.
Changing selector lever positions
>With the ignition switched on or the engine 
running, the selector lever can be moved 
out of position P.
>Before moving the lever away from P or N 
with the vehicle stationary, first depress the 
brake; otherwise, the selector lever will be 
prevented from moving: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping 
after you select a driving position, 
depress the brake until you are ready to 
start.
ing selector lever positions R and P. To cancel 
the lock, press the button on the front of the 
selector lever, see arrow.
P Park
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary. 
The drive wheels are locked.
R Reverse
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
You can select this in a car wash, for example. 
The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are selected automatically.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con-
sumption is lowest when you are driving in posi-
tion D.
Kickdown
Kickdown enables you to achieve maximum 
performance. 
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.