
Refueling
202
Refueling
Always switch off the engine before refu-
eling; otherwise, fuel cannot be added to 
the tank and a message will be displayed.<
Take all precautionary measures and 
observe all applicable regulations when 
handling fuel. Do not carry any spare fuel con-
tainers in your vehicle. They can develop a leak 
and cause an explosion or cause a fire in the 
event of an accident.<
Fuel filler flap
Opening
1.Open the fuel filler flap. To do so, lightly 
press the rear edge.
2.Turn the gas cap counterclockwise.
3.Place the gas cap in the bracket attached to 
the fuel filler flap.
Closing
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you clearly 
hear a click.
Do not pinch the band attached to the 
cap; otherwise, the cap cannot be closed 
properly and fuel vapors can escape. A mes-
sage will be displayed if the gas cap is loose or 
missing.<
Manually releasing the fuel filler flap
In the event of a malfunction, you can release 
the fuel filler flap manually:
Sedan
1.Remove the cover from the right-hand side-
wall of the cargo area.
2.Pull the knob with the fuel pump symbol. 
The fuel filler flap is released.
Sports Wagon
1.Fold up the cargo area floor panel.
2.Remove the cover from the right-hand side-
wall of the cargo area. To do so, turn the 
screws, arrows 1, 90° and take out the 
cover, arrow 2.
3.Pull the knob with the fuel pump symbol. 
The fuel filler flap is released. 

Mobility
 223Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Tire age
For various reasons, such as the development 
of brittleness, BMW recommends tire replace-
ment after no more than 6 years, regardless of 
the actual wear of the tires.
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in 
the tire coding: 
DOT ... 1010 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 10 of 2010.
Run-flat tires
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle 
with the letters RSC on the sidewall. 
Run-flat tires comprise a conditionally self-sup-
porting tire and a special rim. The reinforce-
ment in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can 
continue to be used subject to certain restric-
tions, even if depressurized.
For information on continuing to drive with a flat 
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page89.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires installed only 
by your BMW center or tire shop that 
works according to BMW repair procedures 
with correspondingly trained personnel. If this 
work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related safety 
hazards. Make sure that the new wheels are bal-
anced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW recommends that you do not use 
retreaded tires, since driving safety may 
be impaired. The causes for this include poten-
tially different tire casing structures and often 
wide variations in tire age, which can result in 
a limited service life.<
Correct wheels and tires
When mounting new tires or changing over 
from summer to winter tires and vice versa, 
mount run-flat tires for your own safety. In the 
event of a flat, no spare wheel is available. Your 
BMW center will be glad to advise you.
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, which could 
lead to body contact and thus to severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are 
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability, 
and therefore cannot guarantee their driving 
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is 
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of 
various vehicle systems such as ABS, DSC or 
FTM.
To maintain good handling and vehicle 
response, use only tires of a single brand and 
tread configuration. After a tire has been dam-
aged, mount the previous wheel and tire combi-
nation again as soon as possible.
Wheels with Tire Pressure Monitor 
TPM electronics
When mounting new tires or changing over 
from summer to winter tires, or vice versa, only 
use wheels with TPM electronics; otherwise, 
the Tire Pressure Monitor may not be able to 
detect a puncture, refer to page89. Your 
BMW center will be glad to advise you. 

Replacing components
244
Changing wheels
Your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires as 
standard. This eliminates the need to change a 
wheel immediately in the event of a puncture.
For information on continuing to drive with a 
damaged tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire on 
page89.
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle 
with the letters RSC on the sidewall, refer to 
Run-flat tires, page223.
When mounting new tires or changing over 
from summer to winter tires and vice versa, 
mount run-flat tires for your own safety. In the 
event of a flat, no spare wheel is available. Your 
BMW center will be glad to advise you. Refer 
also to New wheels and tires, page223.
The tools for changing wheels are avail-
able as optional accessories from your 
BMW center.<
Jack mounting points
The jacking points are at the positions shown in 
the illustration.
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, the 
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery 
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW center will be glad to advise in 
all matters concerning the battery.
Battery replacing
Only use vehicle batteries that have been 
approved for your vehicle by the manu-
facturer; otherwise, the vehicle could be dam-
aged and systems or functions may not be fully 
available.<
After a battery replacement, have the battery 
registered on the vehicle by your service center 
to ensure that all comfort functions are fully 
available.
Charging the battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via the 
terminals in the engine compartment with the 
engine off. Connections, refer to Jump-starting 
on page247.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of by your 
BMW center or bring them to a recycling 
center. Maintain the battery in an upright posi-
tion for transport and storage. Always secure 
the battery against tipping over during trans-
port.< 

Mobility
 245Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Power failure
After a temporary power loss, the functioning of 
some equipment may be limited and require 
reinitialization. Individual settings may likewise 
have been lost and will have to be programmed:
>Time and date 
These values must be updated, refer to 
page79.
>Radio 
In some cases, stations may have to be 
stored again, refer to page154.
>Navigation system 
Operability must be waited for, refer to 
page130.
>Glass roof
It may happen that the roof can only be 
raised. The system must be initialized. 
Please contact your BMW center.
>Panorama glass roof
It may happen that the roof can only be 
raised. The system must be initialized. 
Please contact your BMW center.
>Seat and mirror memory
The positions must be stored again, refer to 
page46.
>Inside rearview mirror with digital compass
The system must be calibrated, refer to 
page110.
>Active steering
The system automatically initializes itself 
briefly during a trip. The system is deacti-
vated during this time, refer to page92.
>xDrive
The system automatically initializes itself 
during a trip. Indicator lamps light up during 
this time. If the lamps do not go out during 
the current trip, have the system checked.
Fuses
Never attempt to repair a blown fuse and 
do not replace a defective fuse with a sub-
stitute of another color or amperage rating; oth-
erwise, this could lead to a circuit overload, ulti-
mately resulting in a fire in the vehicle.<
Open the cover in the glove compartment and 
remove it.
Plastic tweezers are located on the distributor 
box.
See the rear of the cover for information on fuse 
assignment.
Spare fuses are available from your BMW cen-
ter. 

Everything from A to Z
278 Soot particulate filter, refer to 
Diesel particulate filter124
SOS, refer to Sending an 
Emergency Request246
Sound, adjusting during audio 
playback, refer to Tone 
control150
Sound output for 
entertainment on/off150
Spare fuses245
Special destinations135
Special destinations, 
displaying136
Speed
– Run-flat tires89
– with winter tires224
Speed limit82
Speed limit warning, refer to 
Speed limit82
Speedometer12
Speed reading, refer to 
Speedometer12
Speed Volume152
Split rear seat backrest, refer 
to Expanding the cargo 
area115
Split screen, refer to Control 
Display, switching on/off19
Split screen content, refer to 
Display for split screen 
content, selecting20
Spray nozzles, refer to 
Cleaning windshield and 
headlamps61
Stability control, refer to 
Driving stability control 
systems85
Start/stop button55
– starting the engine56
– switching off the engine56
Starting, refer to Starting the 
engine56
Starting assistance, refer to 
Jump-starting247
Starting difficulties
– jump-starting247
Starting the engine
– start/stop button55Start menu17
State/province, for 
navigation131
Station, selecting
– radio153
Status of this Owner's Manual 
at time of printing5
Steam jet233,234
Steering wheel50
– adjustment50
– buttons on steering 
wheel11
– heating50
– lock55
– locking with Comfort 
Access35
Steering with variable ratio, 
refer to Active steering
92
Steptronic, refer to Automatic 
transmission with 
Steptronic57
Storage236
Storage compartments112
Storage nets116
Stored trip, calling up139
Storing a destination in the 
address book133
Storing music168
Storing seat positions, refer to 
Seat and mirror memory46
Storing tires224
Stowage, refer to Storage 
compartments112
Street, entering, 
navigation132
Summer tires, refer to Wheels 
and tires208
Sun blinds110
Surround151
SVCD163
SW, waveband153
Switches, refer to Cockpit10
Switching off
– engine56
Switching off the engine
– start/stop button55Switching on
– audio150
– CD changer150
– CD player150
– radio150
Switching the cooling function 
on and off104
Switch-on times of parked car 
ventilation, preselecting106
Symbols4
– status information19
T
Tachometer71
Tailgate31
– Comfort Access35
– emergency operation, refer 
to Opening manually32
– opening from inside31
– opening from outside31
– opening manually32
– remote control28
Tailgate, refer to Trunk lid/
tailgate31
Tail lamp
– replacing bulb243
Tail lamp, refer to Tail 
lamps241
Tail lamps241
– replacing bulb242,243
Tank contents, refer to 
Capacities258
Technical data254
– dimensions255
Technical modifications, refer 
to For your own safety5
Telephone180
– installation location, refer to 
Center armrest111
– refer to separate Owner's 
Manual
– voice commands189
TeleService196
TeleService Diagnosis197
TeleService Help197