
52
ControlsAdjustments
Easy entry
The easy entry feature includes a memory func-
tion for the longitudinal adjustment and back-
rest angle.
1.Pull the lever and swing the backrest for-
ward.
2. Push the seat forward.
Previous position
Push the seat backward  and swing the backrest 
back.
When pushing the seat into its rearmost 
position, make sure that no one is injured 
and that no objects are damaged.
Before driving off, engage both seats and back-
rests so that they are locked in place. Other-
wise, there is a risk of an accident due to unex-
pected movement. <
Seat with electrical longitudinal 
adjustment
Coupe
Convertible
Seat backrest warning lamp:
Lights up when a seat backrest is not 
engaged. In addition, a message 
appears on the Control Display.
Easy entry
The easy entry feature includes a memory func-
tion for the longitudinal adjustment and back-
rest angle.
1. Pull lever 1 and swing the backrest forward.
2. Press the front end 2 of the switch until the 
seat has moved into the desired position.
Previous position
Press the rear end 3 of the switch until the seat 
automatically stops in its previous position, and 
fold the backrest back. If  you release the switch 
before the previous seat  position is reached, 
the seat will stop at its current position.
When sliding the seat backward, make 
sure no one is injured and no objects are 
damaged.
Before driving off, enga ge both seats and back-
rests so that they are locked in place. Other-
wise, there is a risk of an accident due to unex-
pected movement. <
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53
Adjustments
Controls
Seat heating
Press the button once per temperature level. 
Three LEDs indicate the highest temperature.
To switch off:
Press button longer.
If you continue driving within approx. the next 
15 minutes, the seat heating is automatically 
activated at the previo
usly set temperature.
The temperature is lowered or the heating is 
switched off entirely to save on battery power. 
The LEDs stay lit.
Seat and mirror memory
You can store and call up two different combi-
nations of driver's seat and exterior mirror posi-
tions.
Settings for the backrest width and lumbar sup-
port are not stored in memory.
Storing
1. Switch on radio readiness or the ignition, 
refer to page 61. 2.
Adjust the seat and exterior mirrors to the 
desired positions.
3. Press the  button.
The LED in the button lights up.
4. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2: 
the LED goes out.
The driver's seat and exterior mirror posi-
tions are stored for th e remote control cur-
rently in use.
Call-up
Do not call up the memory while you are 
driving; otherwise,  unexpected seat 
movement could result in an accident. <
Comfort function
1.Unlock and open the driver's door or switch 
on radio readiness, refer to page 61.
2. Briefly press the desired memory button 1 
or 2.
The adjusting procedure  is halted immediately 
when you touch a seat adjustment switch or 
one of the memory buttons.
Safety feature
1. Close the driver's door and switch the igni-
tion on or off, refer to page 61.
2. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2 
and keep it pressed until the adjustment 
process has been completed.
If the  button was pr essed accidentally:
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
Safety belts
Observe the adjustment instructions on 
page 48 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection. <
Before every drive, make sure that all occupants 
wear their safety belts.  Airbags complement the 
safety belt as an additi onal safety device, but 
they do not represent a substitute.
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54
ControlsAdjustments
Closing
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in 
the belt buckle.
The upper belt anchor is suitable for adults of 
any stature as long as the seat is adjusted prop-
erly, refer to page 48.
Opening
1. Grasp the belt firmly.
2. Press the red button in the buckle.
3. Guide the belt into its reel.
"Fasten safety belts" reminder for 
driver's and front passenger seat
The indicator lamps light up and an 
acoustic signal sounds. In addition, a 
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. Check whether the safety belt 
has been fastened correctly.
The 'Fasten safety belts'  reminder is issued as 
long as the driver's safety belt has not been fas-
tened. The "Fasten safety  belts" reminder is 
also activated at road speeds above approx. 
5 mph or 8 km/h if the front passenger safety 
belt is not fastened, if objects are placed on the 
front passenger seat, or if driver or front pas-
senger unfasten their safety belts.
Damage to safety belts
If the safety belt s are damaged or 
stressed in an accident: have the belt sys-
tem, including any belt tensioners or child 
restraint systems, replaced and the belt 
anchors checked. Have this work carried out  only at your BMW center. Otherwise correct 
operation of this safety
 equipment is not guar-
anteed. <
Coupe: belt hand-over
The concept
The belt hand-over makes  it easier for you to 
fasten your safety belt. When you close the 
door and switch on radio readiness or the igni-
tion, the belt hand-ove r extends automatically 
and presents the in a position that is convenient 
for fastening it around  you. After you have fas-
tened your safety belt , the belt hand-over 
retracts to its original position.
Even if you have not ye t fastened your safety 
belt, the belt hand-over will retract if you:
> Wait for more than approx. one minute
> Open the corresponding door
> Start driving.
Closing the respective do or reactivates the belt 
hand-over if the ignition  or radio readiness is on.
Front passenger seat
The belt hand-over will exte nd only if the seat is 
occupied and after the front passenger door is 
closed.
Pinch protection system
If the belt hand-over en counters resistance on 
moving in or out, it mo ves back slightly in the 
opposite direction and stops in this position. To 
reactivate the belt hand -over: open and close 
the door or switch the ignition off and on.
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55
Adjustments
Controls
Although there is a pinch protection sys-
tem, always check that the maneuvering 
area of the belt hand-ove r is clear. Otherwise it 
cannot be ensured that the system will stop 
moving in certain extreme situations. <
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
The front passenger's mirror is more con-
vex than the driver's mirror. The objects 
seen in the mirror are cl oser than they appear. 
Do not gauge your distan ce from traffic behind 
you on the basis of what you see in the mirror; 
otherwise, there is an in creased risk of an acci-
dent. <
1 Adjustments
2 Switching to the other mirror or to the auto-
matic curb monitor
3 Folding mirrors in and out
The setting for the exterior mirrors is stored for 
the remote control currently in use. The stored 
position is called up  automatically when the 
vehicle is unlocked.
Manual adjustment
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually: 
press the edge of the glass.
Folding mirrors in and out
At driving speeds up to approx. 12 mph/
20 km/h, you can fold the mirrors in and out by 
pressing button 3. This can be beneficial in 
narrow streets, for example, or for moving mir- rors that were folded in by hand back out into 
their correct positions. 
Mirrors that have been 
folded in fold out automatically at a speed of 
approx. 24 mph/40 km/h.
Before entering an automatic car wash, 
fold in the exterior mirrors manually or 
with button 3 to prevent them from being dam-
aged, depending on the width of the vehicle. <
Automatic heating
Depending on the outside temperature, both 
exterior mirrors are heated automatically when 
the engine is running or the ignition is switched 
on.
Passenger side mirror tilt function – 
automatic curb monitor
Activating
1. Push the switch to the position for the 
driver's side mirror, arrow  1.
2. Shift into reverse or  engage the selector 
lever- or transmission position R.
The glass of the mirror on the passenger 
side tilts slightly down. This allows the 
driver to see the area immediately adjacent 
to the vehicle, e.g. a curb, when backing into 
a parking space.
Deactivating
Push the switch to the position for the passen-
ger side mirror, arrow  2.
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56
ControlsAdjustments
Interior rearview mirror
Turn the knob to reduce glare from the head-
lamps of cars behind you when driving at night.
Interior and exterior mirrors, 
automatic dimming feature
The automatic dimming feature of the interior 
and exterior mirrors is controlled by two photo 
cells in the interior re arview mirror. One photo 
cell is in the mirror frame, see arrow; the other is 
on the back of the mirror.
In order to ensure that  the system functions 
correctly, keep the photo cells clean, do not 
cover the area between the interior rearview 
mirror and windshield, and do not affix adhesive 
labels or stickers of an y kind to the windshield 
directly in front of the mirror.
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust the steering wheel position 
while the car is in mo tion; otherwise, there 
is a risk of an accident due to unexpected move-
ment. <
1. Fold the lever down.
2. Move the steering wheel to the preferred 
height and angle to suit your seated posi-
tion.
3. Swing the lever back up.
Do not use force to  swing the lever 
back up; otherwise, the mechanism 
will be damaged. <
Steering wheel heating
Press the button.
The LED in the button lights up when the steer-
ing wheel heating is switched on.
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63
Driving
Controls
Switching off the engine
Always take the remo
te 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 co ntrol from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page 61.
Automatic transmission
1. With the car at a stan dstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2. Press the Start/Stop button.
3. Forcefully apply  the parking brake.
4. Removing the remote co ntrol from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page 61.
Sport automatic transmission with 
double clutch
1. With the car at a standstill, press the Start/
Stop button.
If the transmission is shifted into N when the 
engine is switched off,  you will be notified 
visually and acoustically of this fact.
2. Forcefully apply  the parking brake.
3. Remove remote contro l from the ignition 
lock, refer to page 61. The transmission is 
automatically shifted  into transmission 
position P.
Parking brake
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it 
brakes the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp is lit, and when you 
drive off an acoustic signal sounds in 
addition. The parking brake is still 
applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in po sition automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and 
lower the lever.
In exceptional cases, if the parking brake 
has to be used to slow or stop the car, do 
not pull the lever up too hard. In doing so, con-
tinuously press the button of the parking brake 
lever. 
Otherwise, excessive force on the parking 
brake can lock up the rear wheels and cause the 
rear of the car to swerve. <
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the parking 
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming 
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.
The brake lamps do not light up when the park-
ing brake is applied. <
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64
ControlsDriving
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, press 
the gearshift lever to  the right. Otherwise, 
the engine could be damaged if you inadvert-
ently shift into 3rd or 4th gear. <
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 auto matic operation, you can 
also manually shift with  the Steptronic, refer to 
page 65.
Vehicle parking
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, 
always select position P and apply the 
parking brake before le aving 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 page 61.
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 statio nary, 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 butto n on the front of the 
selector lever, see arrow.
P Park
Select this only when th e vehicle is stationary. 
The rear wheels are locked.
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66
ControlsDriving
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only 
when they will result in a plausible combination 
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example, 
a downshift that would cause the engine to 
overrev will not be exec uted by the system.
The gear selected is briefly displayed in the 
instrument cluster, followed again by the gear 
actually in use.
Overriding selector lever lock
Should the selector lever  refuse to move out of 
position P even though the ignition is switched 
on, the brake is depressed and the button on 
the selector lever is pre ssed, the selector lever 
lock can be overridden:
1. Switch off ignition.
2. Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.
3. Pull the sleeve up over  the selector lever 
until the sleeve is inside out.
4. Using the screwdriver from the onboard 
vehicle tool kit, refer to page 270, press the 
red lever and with the button pressed, 
simultaneously move th e selector lever to 
the desired position.
7-gear Spor t automatic 
transmission with double 
clutch
The concept
The 7-gear Sport automa tic transmission with 
double clutch is an automated manual trans-
mission with two clutches and secondary gear  sets in which the clutch
ing and shifting is han-
dled by an electrohydraulic system.
With the 7-gear Sport automatic transmission 
with double clutch, the gears are shifted without 
an interruption in driving power.
You operate the 7-gear Sport automatic trans-
mission with double clutch using the selector 
lever and two shift paddles on the steering 
wheel.
It offers you the following functions:
> Either manual or au tomatic mode: sequen-
tial mode or drive mode
> Automatic downshifting and protection 
against incorrect gear selection, even in 
sequential mode
> Acceleration assistan t, Launch Control, 
refer to page 70
> Automatic intermediate  throttle application
System limitations
The 7-gear Sport automatic transmission with 
double clutch has an overheating protection 
that protects the clutch from extreme loads.
The indicator lamp lights up in yellow if 
the transmission becomes too warm. 
Avoid high engine loads and frequent 
accelerations from zero. If the transmission is 
overheated, the indicator lamp lights up in red 
and the power flow to the  motor is interrupted. It 
is only possible to continue driving once the 
transmission has cooled down.
Avoid frequent powerful accelerations from 
zero and do not hold the  vehicle on inclines by 
pressing lightly on the  accelerator while letting 
the clutch slip, as this may cause the transmis-
sion to overheat.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG