
Technology for driving comfort and safety
92 stop and check your tires as soon as possible,
and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving
on a significantly underinflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and
tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s han-
dling and stopping ability. Please note that the
TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire mainte-
nance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if underin-
flation has not reached the level at which the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale illuminates.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the sys-
tem detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash
for approximately one minute and then remain
continuously lit. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle startups as long as
the malfunction exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may not be
able to detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a
variety of reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning
properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function properly.
Active steering*
The concept
Active steering varies the turning angle of the
front wheels in relation to steering wheel move-
ments. It also varies the steering force required
to turn the wheels depending on the speed at
which you are driving.
When you are driving in the low road speed
range, e.g. in a town or when parking, the steer-
ing angle is increased, i.e. steering becomes
very direct and less effort is required to turn the
wheels. In the higher speed range, on the other
hand, the steering angle is reduced as the
speed increases. This improves the handling of
your BMW over the entire speed range.
In critical situations, the system can make tar-
geted corrections to the steering angle pro-
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the vehicle
before the driver intervenes. This stabilizing
intervention is simultaneously deactivated
when DSC is switched off, refer to page86.
Malfunction
The warning lamps light up and a
message is displayed on the Control
Display. Active steering is malfunc-
tioning or is temporarily deactivated.
At low speeds, greater steering wheel move-
ments are required, whereas at higher speeds
the vehicle reacts more sensitively to steering
wheel movements. The stability-enhancing
feature may also be deactivated. Drive cau-
tiously and think well ahead.
Deactivation
Active steering is deactivated to perform an ini-
tialization. A message indicates that the feature
is deactivated. Initialization may take several
minutes.
If the message does not disappear during the
current trip, have the system checked.
Defect
If there is a defect, a corresponding text mes-
sage appears. Have the system checked.

Things to remember when driving
124
Diesel particulate filter*
The diesel particulate filter collects soot parti-
cles and burns them periodically at high tem-
peratures. This cleaning process takes several
minutes. During cleaning, you may notice that
the engine temporarily runs less smoothly and
that a somewhat higher engine speed is neces-
sary to achieve the accustomed performance.
Also, noises may be heard and a slight amount
of smoke may emerge from the exhaust, even
for a short period after the engine is switched
off.
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 page222.
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
assistant, refer to page87.
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.<
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
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.
Never drive with the clutch held down,
with the transmission in neutral 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.<

Mobility
221Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire
makes it easier to identify and choose the right
tires.
Tire size
Speed code letter
Q = up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph or 190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph or 210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph or 240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph or 270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph or 300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of
the US Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT … 1010 means that the
tire was manufactured in week 10 of 2010.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last
for 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades.<
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1γ) times as
well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test sur-
faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter, in
front of the R on ZR tires225/45 R1791 V
e.g.
Manufacturer's
code for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 1010

Wheels and tires
222 heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either sep-
arately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.<
RSC – run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire, refer to page223.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Designation for specially reinforced tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged
in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Minimum tread depth
The tread depth should not drop below 0.12 in/
3mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of
0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 0.12 in/
3 mm there is an increased risk of high-speed
hydroplaning, even when only small amounts of
water are present on the road surface.
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth of 0.16 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter conditions. In the interest of
safety, new tires should be installed.
Wear indicators in the base of the tread groove
are distributed around the tire's circumference;
the letters TWI, for Tread Wear Indicator, on the
tire's sidewalls identify tires that incorporate
these wear indicators. Once the tire tread has
worn down to the wear indicators, the tire has
worn to a depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm.
Wheel/tire damage
Please note that low-profile tires cause wheels,
tires and suspension parts to be more suscep-
tible to road hazard and consequential dam-
ages.
Unusual vibrations encountered during normal
vehicle operation can indicate tire failure or
some other vehicle defect. This can, for exam-
ple, be caused by driving over curbs. The same
applies to any other abnormal road behavior,
such as pulling severely to the right or left.
In these cases, reduce speed immedi-
ately and have wheels and tires thor-
oughly checked. To do so, drive carefully to the
nearest BMW center or tire shop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. If necessary,
have the vehicle towed there.
O t h e r w i s e , t i r e d a m a g e c a n p o s e a l e t h a l h a z a r d
to vehicle occupants and other road users.<

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.

Reference 279
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Temperature
– automatic climate
control103
– changing unit of measure76
– coolant, refer to Coolant
temperature72
Temperature display
– outside temperature71
– outside temperature
warning71
– setting the units76
Tempomat, refer to Cruise
control62
Tensioning straps, refer to
Securing cargo126
The individual vehicle5
Third brake lamp, refer to
Center brake lamp243
Through-loading system114
Through-loading system,
refer to Expanding the cargo
area115
Tilt alarm sensor34
Tilt function, passenger side
mirror49
Timer, refer to Preselecting
switch-on times106
Tire inflation pressure208
– loss89,90
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor88
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM89
– resetting the system90
– system limitations89
– warning lamp91
Tire puncture, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor89
Tire Quality Grading221Tires
– age221,223
– air loss91
– breaking in122
– changing, refer to Changing
wheels244
– condition222
– damage222
– inflation pressure208
– labels221
– minimum tread depth222
– new wheels and tires223
– pressure monitoring, refer to
Flat Tire Monitor88
– pressure monitoring, refer to
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM89
– puncture89
– replacing223
– size221
– storage
224
– tread depth222
– wear indicators, refer to
Minimum tread depth222
– wheel/tire combination, refer
to Correct wheels and
tires223
– winter tires224
TMC station, refer to Traffic
bulletins144
Tone
– control150
– middle setting152
Tools, refer to Onboard
vehicle tool kit237
Top 50 of music
collection170
Torque, refer to Engine
data254
Tow bar249
Tow fitting249
– screw thread249
Tow fittings for tow-starting
and towing away249
Towing248
– car with automatic
transmission248
– methods249
Towing and tow-starting248Town/city, for navigation131
Tow rope250
Tow-starting248,250
TPM, refer to Tire Pressure
Monitor89
Track
– selecting on CD162
Traction control, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC85
Traffic bulletins
– categories145
Traffic bulletins, filtering145
Traffic bulletins for
navigation144
– display in map view145
– during destination
guidance146
Traffic jam
– displaying traffic
bulletins144
Transmission
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic57
– manual transmission57
– overriding selector lever lock
for automatic transmission
with Steptronic60
Transmission interlock
– refer to Changing selector
lever position58
– refer to P Park58
Transporting children
safely51
Transport securing devices,
refer to Securing cargo126
Tread depth, refer to Minimum
tire tread222
Trip, deleting139
Trip, storing139
Trip computer, refer to
Displays on the Control
Display74
Trip-distance counter, refer to
Trip odometer71
Triple turn signal activation60
Trip odometer71
Trips, changing139
Trunk, refer to Cargo area115

Everything from A to Z
280 Trunk lid31
– Comfort Access35
– emergency release32
– locking or unlocking
separately32
– opening from inside31
– opening from outside31
– remote control28
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions255
Turn signal indicators
– indicator/warning lamp12
Turn signals60
– replacing bulbs241
– triple turn signal60
Tying down loads, refer to
Cargo loading126
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading/
UTQR221
Units
– average fuel
consumption76
Units of measure
– temperature76
Universal garage door opener,
refer to Integrated universal
remote control107
Universal mobile phone
preparation package, refer
to separate Owner's Manual
Unlatching, refer to
Unlocking34
Unlocking
– from inside30
– from outside27
– setting unlocking
characteristics28
– tailgate35
– trunk lid35
– without remote control, refer
to Comfort Access34
Updating the navigation
data130
USB audio interface174
V
VCD163
Vehicle
– battery244
– breaking in122
– cargo loading125
– Identification Number, refer
to Engine compartment226
– measurements, refer to
Dimensions255
– parking56
– weight257
Vehicle jack244
Vehicle storage236
Ventilation105
– draft-free105
– in the rear105
Ventilation, refer to
Climate102
Ventilation while at a
standstill106
Vents, refer to Ventilation105
Video menu164
Video playback163
Voice, refer to Destination
guidance through voice
instructions142
Voice commands
– overview22
– short commands259
– telephone189
Voice instructions from
navigation system142
– repeating142
– switching on/off142
– volume142
Voice phone book190
Volume150
– audio sources150
– fuel tank, refer to
Capacities258
– mobile phone183
– voice instructions142
Volume balance, tone
setting152
W
Warning and indicator
lamps13
Warning messages, refer to
Check Control80
Warning triangle247
Washer fluid62
– content of the reservoir62
Washer fluid reservoir62
Waste tray, refer to
Ashtray112
Water on roads, refer to
Driving through water124
Water penetration233,234
Waveband with the radio153
Wear indicators in tires, refer
to Minimum tread depth222
Weights257
Welcome lamps97
Wheel/tire combination, refer
to Correct wheels and
tires223
Wheelbase, refer to
Dimensions255
Wheels, new223
Wheels and tires208
Width, refer to
Dimensions255
Windows36
– convenient operation28
– opening, closing36
– pinch protection system37
– rear window33
– safety switch37
Windows, indicator on Control
Display16
Windshield
– cleaning61
Windshield wash61
– filling capacity, reservoir258
– nozzles62
– rear window62
– reservoir for washer fluid62
– washer fluid62
Windshield wiper blades,
changing237