
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 page258.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
21Letters and numbers
22Voice activation system
Controls
26Opening and closing
42Adjustments
52Transporting children safely
55Driving
75Controls overview
88Technology for driving comfort and 
safety
101Lamps
106Climate
111Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
126Things to remember when driving
Navigation
134Navigation system
135Destination entry
144Destination guidance
151What to do if …
Entertainment
154On/off and tone
157Radio
160Satellite radio
165CD/DVD player and CD changer
172Music collection
177External devices
Communications
184Telephone
196Contacts
198BMW Assist
Mobility
206Refueling
208Wheels and tires
222Under the hood
227Maintenance
229Care
233Replacing components
238Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
246Technical data
251Short commands for the voice activation 
system
258Everything from A to Z 

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Indicator lamps for turn signals
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Displays for active cruise control
*68
5Tachometer75
6Engine oil temperature76
7Display for
>Clock75
>Outside temperature75
>Indicator and warning lamps848Display for
>Position of automatic transmission
*58
>Gear indicator in 7-gear Sports 
automatic transmission with 
double clutch
*60
>Computer76
>Date of next scheduled service, and 
remaining distance to be driven80
>Odometer and trip odometer75
>High-beam assistant
*103
>Checking engine oil level
*223
>Settings and information79
>There is a Check Control 
message84
9Fuel gauge76
10Resetting the trip odometer75 

Controls
 27Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Settings for the display on the Control 
Display and in the instrument cluster:
>12h/24h format of the clock, refer to 
page83
>Date format, refer to page84
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page87
>Language on the Control Display, refer 
to page87
>Units of measure, refer to page80
>Show visual warning for Park Distance 
Control PDC
*, refer to page89
>Light settings:
>Welcome lamps, refer to page101
>Pathway lighting, refer to page102
>Daytime running lights, refer to 
page102
>High-beam assistant, refer to page103
>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 page107 ff
>Entertainment:
>Tone control, refer to page154
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer 
to page155
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
>Convertible: glove compartment
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
*
>In cars with Comfort Access*, via the 
handles 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 of 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 retractable 
hardtop with the remote control, the 
doors and trunk lid must be closed and the 
cargo area partition must be folded down and 
engaged on both sides. Refer also to page39.<
Unlocking
Press the  button.
The interior lamps, the courtesy lamps
* and the 
welcome lamps come on. 

Opening and closing
28
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.
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 retractable hardtop.
Hold the  button down.
The windows and the retractable hardtop are 
opened if 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 retractable hardtop and the windows.
Hold the  button down.
The retractable hardtop 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 approx. 1 second.
The trunk lid opens a short distance, regardless 
of whether it was locked or unlocked.
The trunk lid swings back and up when 
opened. Ensure that there is sufficient 
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.<
Convertible: convenient loading*
When you are close to the vehicle, the remote 
control for Comfort Access can be used to par-
tially raise the open hardtop for more conve-
nient loading of the cargo area.
1.Briefly press the  button and, within one 
second, press again and hold until the 
retractable hardtop stops in an intermediate 
position. The trunk lid opens slightly.
2.Open the trunk lid, press the cargo area 
partition upward and stow the cargo in the 
cargo area. 

Opening and closing
30
Coupe
In vehicles without an alarm system* or 
Comfort Access
*, only the driver's door 
can be locked via the door lock.<
To lock all doors, the fuel filler flap and the trunk 
lid at once:
1.With the doors closed, lock the vehicle 
using the button for the central locking 
system in the interior, refer to page30.
2.Unlock and open the driver's or front 
passenger door, refer to page31.
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.
Convenient operation
Coupe: if the vehicle is equipped with an alarm 
system
* or Comfort Access*, you can also 
operate the windows and the glass roof
* via the 
door lock.
Convertible: you can operate the windows and 
the retractable hardtop via the door lock.
Hold the key in the position for unlocking or 
locking.
During each closing procedure, and when 
opening the retractable hardtop, 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 the 
vehicle after a short time, unless a door 
has been opened.
>"Lock after start. to drive" 
The central locking system locks the 
vehicle when you drive away.
 The function is switched on and is stored 
for the remote control currently in use. 

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 vehicle with the engine run-
ning, always shift into neutral or selector lever / 
transmission position P and apply the parking 
brake forcefully to prevent the vehicle from roll-
ing.<
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.<
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the 
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right 
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
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 
ignition lock, refer to page55. 

Driving
58
Reverse gear
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary. 
When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, 
a slight resistance has to be overcome.
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can 
also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer to 
page59.
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 
refuse to move: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping 
after you select a driving position, 
depress the brake until you are ready to 
start.<
A lock prevents you from inadvertently engag-
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 rear 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. 

Controls
 75Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Controls overview
Odometer, outside 
temperature display, clock
1Knob in the instrument cluster
2Outside temperature display and clock
3Odometer and trip odometer
Knob in the instrument cluster
>To reset the trip odometer while the ignition 
is switched on
>To display the time, outside temperature 
and odometer briefly while the ignition is 
switched off
Units of measure
To select the respective units of measure, miles 
or km for the odometer as well as 7 or 6 for 
the outside temperature, refer to page80.
The setting is stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
Time, outside temperature display
Setting the time, refer to page83.
Outside temperature warning
When the displayed temperature sinks to 
approx. +377/+36, a signal sounds and a 
warning lamp lights up. There is an increased 
risk of black ice.Black ice can also form at temperatures 
above +377/+36. You should there-
fore drive carefully on bridges and shaded 
roads, for example; otherwise, there is an 
increased risk of an accident.<
Odometer and trip odometer
Resetting the trip odometer: 
With the ignition switched on, press button1 in 
the instrument cluster.
When the vehicle is parked
If you still want to view the time, outside tem-
perature and odometer reading briefly after the 
remote control has been taken out of the igni-
tion lock:
Press button 1 in the instrument cluster.
Tachometer
Never force the engine speed up into the red 
warning field, see arrow. In this range, the fuel 
supply is interrupted to protect the engine.