
Practical interior accessories
120
Storage compartment behind the 
rear seat backrest
A storage compartment is located behind the 
rear seat backrest. To access the storage com-
partment: remove the insert or fold down the 
rear seat backrest.
When the rear seat backrest is folded 
down or the insert has been removed, 
only transport small light objects in the storage 
compartment; otherwise, braking maneuvers 
and swerving, for example, may lead to a safety 
hazard due to objects flying about the passen-
ger compartment. Only transport heavy lug-
gage in the cargo area if it has been appropri-
ately secured.<
Storage compartments inside 
the cargo area
Coupe
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, the 
following storage spaces can be found in the 
cargo area:
>Left storage compartment, e.g. for storing a 
box of cleaning tissues or up to 12 CD jack-
ets, depending on vehicle equipment ver-
sion
>Net
* for securing smaller objects, to be 
attached to the fixtures on the floor panel
>Hooks for hanging up, e.g., shopping bags 
or tote bags
>Rubber strap on the left trim panel for 
securing small objects such as a folding 
umbrella
>Net for small objects on the right trim panel 
of the cargo area
Convertible
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, the 
following storage spaces can be found in the 
cargo area:
>Storage compartment on the left side of the 
cargo area. To open turn handle by 90°
>Net
* for securing smaller objects, to be 
attached to the fixtures on the floor panel
>Rubber strap
* for subdividing the cargo 
area; can be hooked onto the lateral lashing 
eyes
>Stowage compartment under the floor 
panel
Folding up the floor panel
Do not exceed the maximum permissible 
load of 55 lbs/25 kg for the storage com-
partment under the floor panel; otherwise, dam-
age could result.<
Coupe
Press the floor panel up and secure it with the 
catch.
Convertible
To lift, grab hold of the floor panel at the open-
ing at the rear of the panel.
Lashing eyes
You will find lashing eyelets in the cargo area for 
securing luggage items with nets or tensioning 
straps, refer to page130.
Coupe: ski bag*
The ski bag is designed for safe, clean transport 
of up to 4 pairs of standard skis or up to 
2snowboards.
With the ski bag you can stow skis with a length 
of up to 6.9 ft 10 in/2.10 m. When skis of 6.9 ft 
10 in/2.10 m length are loaded, the overall 
capacity of the ski bag is reduced due to its 
tapered design. 

Controls
 121Reference
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Driving tips
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Mobility
Loading
1.Fold down the center armrest.
2.Press the button, reach into the recess and 
fold down the cover.
3.Open the Velcro fastener, spread the ski 
bag between the front seats and insert the 
skis or snowboards. 
The zip fastener makes objects in the ski 
bag easier to reach.
4.Clip the hooks of the ski bag retaining strap 
into the eyelet.
Only place clean skis in the ski bag. Wrap sharp 
edges to prevent damage.
Securing cargo
After loading, secure the ski bag and its con-
tents. Tighten the retaining strap on the ten-
sioning buckle for this purpose.Secure the ski bag in the manner 
described; otherwise, it could endanger 
the car's occupants, e.g. in case of heavy brak-
ing or sudden swerving.<
To store the ski bag, perform the steps 
described for loading in reverse order.
Removing the ski bag
The ski bag can be completely removed, e.g. for 
faster drying or to allow you to use other inserts.
1.Fold down the center panel in the rear seat 
backrest.
2.Pull the handle, arrow1.
3.Pull out the insert, arrow 2.
For more information on the various 
inserts available, contact your BMW cen-
ter.<
Convertible: through-loading 
opening with integrated 
transport bag*
The transport bag is designed for safe, clean 
transport of up to 4 pairs of standard skis or up 
to 2 snowboards.
When the rear seat backrest is folded up, you 
can remove the insert and use the transport bag 
with the regular through-loading opening. To 
transport larger objects, you can fold down the 
rear seat backrest to create an expanded 
through-loading opening.
With the transport bag you can stow skis with a 
length of up to 6.2 ft/1.90 m. When skis of 6.2 ft/
1.90 m length are loaded, the overall capacity of 
the transport bag is reduced due to its tapered 
design. 

Practical interior accessories
122
Loading
1.For loading using the regular through-load-
ing opening:
Press the button down and remove the 
insert from the front.
For loading with the through-loading open-
ing expanded:
Fold down the rear seat backrest, refer to 
page119.
2.Front cover: press the two recesses 
together and fold the cover down until it 
engages.
3.In the cargo area: press the two recesses 
together and fold down the cover.
4.Undo the Velcro fastener and spread out 
the transport bag between the front seats.5.Insert the latch plate of the retaining strap 
into the belt buckle under the transport bag.
6.Load the transport bag. The zipper eases 
access to the stored items.
Only place clean skis in the transport bag. Wrap 
sharp edges to prevent damage.
You can use the snaps to shorten the transport 
bag if you do not need its full length.
Securing cargo
After loading, secure the transport bag and its 
contents. Tighten the retaining strap on the 
tensioning buckle for this purpose.
Secure the transport bag in the manner 
described; otherwise, it could endanger 
the car's occupants, e.g. in case of heavy brak-
ing or sudden swerving.<
To store the transport bag, perform the steps 
described for loading in reverse order. 

Driving tips
 127Reference
At a glance
Controls
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Entertainment
Mobility
Drive defensively
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking 
maneuvers. To do so, keep an adequate dis-
tance between you and the vehicle in front of 
you. A defensive and smooth driving style 
keeps fuel consumption down.
Avoid high engine speeds
Only use first gear when setting off. In second 
and higher gears, accelerate without hesitation 
or pauses. When accelerating, shift up before 
reaching high engine speeds.
When you reach the desired speed, shift into 
the highest applicable gear and drive with the 
engine speed as low as possible and at a con-
stant speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers 
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Coasting
When approaching a red light, take your foot off 
the accelerator and coast to a stop in the high-
est applicable gear.
On a downhill slope, take your foot off the accel-
erator and coast in a suitable gear.
The fuel supply is interrupted when coasting.
Switch off the engine during lengthy 
stops
Switch off the engine when stopping for lengthy 
periods, e.g. at traffic lights, railroad crossings 
or in traffic congestions. You achieve fuel sav-
ings even if standing time is as short as approx. 
4 seconds.
Switch off functions you do not need at 
the moment
Functions such as the air conditioner, seat 
heating or rear window defroster draw large 
amounts of power and consume additional fuel. 
Especially in city traffic and in stop and go driv-
ing they have a considerable impact. Therefore, 
switch these functions off when they are not 
really needed.
Have the vehicle serviced
Have the vehicle serviced regularly to achieve 
good economy and a long vehicle life. BMW 
recommends having the vehicle serviced at a 
BMW center. Also note the BMW service sys-
tem, refer to page227.
General driving notes
Close the trunk lid
Operate the vehicle only when the trunk 
lid is closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes 
could enter the interior of the vehicle.<
If the vehicle must be driven with the trunk lid 
open:
1.Close all windows and the glass roof.
2.Greatly increase the air volume of the auto-
matic climate control system, refer to 
page108.
Hot exhaust system
In all vehicles, extremely high tempera-
tures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed 
adjacent to various sections of the exhaust sys-
tem, and never apply undercoating to them. 
When driving, standing at idle and while park-
ing, take care to avoid possible contact 
between the hot exhaust system and any highly 
flammable materials such as hay, leaves, grass, 
etc. Such contact could lead to a fire, with the 
risk of serious personal injuries and property 
damage. Do not touch hot exhaust tail pipes. 
Otherwise, there is a risk of burns.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads, 
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge 
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This situation, known as hydroplaning, 
means that the tire can completely lose contact 
with the road surface, so that neither the car can 
be steered nor the brake be properly applied.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases with declin-
ing tread depth on the tires, refer also to Mini-
mum tread depth on page219. 

Things to remember when driving
128
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is 
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only 
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the 
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the 
transmission may be damaged.<
Use the parking brake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle for a 
lengthy period using the clutch; use the 
parking brake instead. Otherwise, greater 
clutch wear will result.<
For more information about the drive-off assis-
tant, refer to page92.
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard 
feature. Applying the brakes fully is the most 
effective way of braking in situations in which 
this is necessary. Since the vehicle maintains 
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid 
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering 
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with 
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that 
ABS is in its active mode.
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain, 
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal 
every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to 
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger 
other road users. The heat generated in this 
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure 
that full braking efficiency will then be available 
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting 
reduced efficiency of the brake system, 
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the 
gear in which the least braking is required. Even 
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to 
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly 
even brake failure.
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing 
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mode of the automatic trans-
mission, refer to page59.
Sports automatic transmission with dou-
ble clutch: never drive with the transmis-
sion in neutral or with the engine switched off; 
otherwise, there will be no engine braking 
action and no power assistance to the brakes 
and steering.
Manual transmission: never drive with the 
clutch held down, with the transmission in neu-
tral or with the engine switched off; otherwise, 
engine braking action will not be present or 
there will be no power assistance to the brakes 
or steering. 
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other 
objects to protrude into the area around the 
pedals; otherwise, pedal function could be 
impaired.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally, 
during extended periods when the vehicle is not 
used at all, and in operating conditions where 
brake applications are less frequent, there is an 
increased tendency for corrosion to form on 
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the 
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum 
pressure which must be exerted by the pads 
during brake applications to clean the rotors is 
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the 
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating 
effect that even extended application will fail to 
cure.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the automatic cli-
mate control is in operation, and then exits 
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water 
under the vehicle are therefore normal. 

Navigation
Driving tips
 141Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Specifying the street
If the system cannot recognize a street, it dis-
plays a street name in the vicinity or the coordi-
nates of the destination.
Interactive map
In the interactive map, the scale can be adjusted 
and the visible map section can be shifted. In 
addition, pressing the controller makes further 
functions available:
> Select that symbol and "Start guid-
ance", if necessary.
>"Exit interactive map"
>Map view
>"Display destination"
The map section around the destination 
is displayed.
>"Display current location"
The map section around your current 
location is displayed.
>"Find points of interest", refer to 
page139.
Entering a destination by 
voice commands*
General information
You can enter a desired destination via the 
voice activation system. During the destination 
input, you can switch between voice entry and 
entry via iDrive at any time. To do so, reactivate 
the voice activation system if necessary.
You can have the possible commands 
read aloud via {Voice commands}.<
Saying the entries
>Countries, towns and cities, streets and 
intersections can be said as whole words or 
spelled in the system language, refer to 
page87.
Example: to enter a destination in a US state 
as a complete word, the system language 
must be English.
>The town/city, street and house number 
can be said as a single sentence.
*
>Spell the entry if the language region and 
the system language differ.
>Say the letters smoothly, and avoid exag-
gerating the pronunciation and inserting 
lengthy pauses between the letters.
Entering an address*
1.Press the  button on the steering wheel.
3.Wait for a request from the system.
4.Say the town or city, street and house num-
ber in a single sentence.
5.Continue making the entry as prompted by 
the system.
6.If necessary, individually name the separate 
components of the address, e.g. the town/
city.
Entering a town/city
The town/city can be spelled or entered as a 
complete word
*.
The methods of entry depend on the nav-
igation data in use and the country and 
language settings.<
2.Wait for the system to prompt you for the 
town/city.
3.Say the name of the town/city, or name at 
least the first three letters.
2.{Enter address}
1.{City} or {Spell city} 

Navigation
Driving tips
 145Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
5.Select additional route criteria, if desired. 
Where possible, the selected criteria will be 
avoided on the route.
>Avoid highways where possible:
"Avoid highways"
>Avoid toll roads where possible:
"Avoid toll roads"
>Avoid ferries where possible: 
"Avoid ferries"
The setting applies to the current route and to 
the planning of future routes.
Dynamic destination guidance
"Dynamic guidance" is switched on:
The route is automatically changed in the event 
of traffic obstructions. The system does not 
point out traffic obstructions along the original 
route.
Depending on the type of road and the nature 
and length of the traffic obstruction, the route 
can also be calculated so that you travel 
through the traffic obstruction.
Activating Dynamic destination 
guidance
1."Navigation"
2.Open "Options".
3."Dynamic guidance"
If the "Avoid highways", "Avoid toll roads" 
or "Avoid ferries" route criteria are 
selected, route calculation may take consider-
ably longer.<
Route
General information
Depending on the equipment in your vehicle, 
various views of the route are available during 
destination guidance.
>List of streets and towns/cities
>Map view, refer to page146
Displaying a list of the streets or towns/
cities on the route
When destination guidance is started, a list of 
the streets and towns/cities on the route is dis-
played. The driving distances and traffic bulle-
tins are displayed for each route section.
1."Navigation"
2."Route information"
3.Highlight a section.
The section is displayed in the preview map.
Bypassing a section of the route
During destination guidance, you can revise the 
navigation system's route recommendations to 
avoid particular stretches of road. Enter the 
number of miles/kilometers that you want to 
travel before returning to the original route.
1."Navigation"
2."Route information"
3."New route for:"
4.Turn the controller: enter the desired num-
ber of miles.
5.Press the controller.
Resuming the original route
If the route section should no longer be 
bypassed:
1."Navigation"
2."Route information"
3."Remove blocking" 

Navigation
Driving tips
 149Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Traffic bulletins in a list
A list of the traffic bulletins can be opened via 
the menu or map view.
Opening traffic bulletins
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
3.Move the controller to the left, if necessary.
4.Select the  symbol: "Traffic Info" 
First, the traffic bulletins on the planned 
route are displayed. The traffic bulletins are 
sorted in the order of their distance from the 
current vehicle position.
5.Select a traffic bulletin.
Additional information can be displayed for 
some traffic bulletins:
1.Select the  symbol.
2.Additional information is displayed.
3.To exit from the menu:
Move the controller to the left.
Traffic bulletins in the map
When the traffic bulletin map is activated, the 
Control Display changes to a grayscale display. 
This enables a better view of the traffic bulle-
tins. The day/night mode is disregarded in this 
setting. The symbols for the special destina-
tions are no longer displayed.
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
3.Open "Options".
4."Settings"
5."Traffic conditions/gray map"
Symbols in the map view
Depending on the scale of the map and the 
location of the traffic obstruction along the 
route, the symbols for the traffic obstructions 
are displayed.
Additional information in the map view
Depending on the map scale, a traffic obstruc-
tion's length, direction and impact are displayed 
on the map using triangles or gray bars along 
the calculated route. The colors displayed 
depend on the information transmitted by the 
traffic information service.
>Red: traffic jam
>Orange: stop-and-go traffic
>Yellow: heavy traffic
>Green: traffic flowing freely
>Gray: general traffic information, e.g. con-
struction zone
Filtering of traffic bulletins
You can filter which traffic bulletins are to be 
displayed by the system:
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
3.Open "Options".
4."Traffic Info categories"
5.Select the desired categories.
Traffic bulletins of the selected categories are 
displayed.
>Traffic bulletins on incidents along the route 
are always displayed.
>For your own safety, traffic bulletins that 
notify you of potentially dangerous situa-
tions, such as wrong-way drivers, cannot be 
hidden.