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ControlsDriving
System limitations
Always remember that the range and abil-
ity of the system does  have physical limi-
tations. It will not apply  the brakes or decelerate 
your vehicle when there is a slow-moving vehi-
cle, stopped vehicle, or stationary object ahead 
of you, for example at a traffic light or when 
approaching a parked vehicle. Also, the system 
does not react to oncoming traffic, pedestrians 
or other types of potentia l traffic such as a rider 
on horseback. The system may also not detect 
smaller moving objects such as motorcycles or 
bicycles. Be especially alert when encountering 
any of these situations as the system will nei-
ther automatically brake, nor provide a warning 
to you. Also, be aware that every decrease in 
the distance setting allows  your vehicle to come 
closer to a vehicle in front of you and requires a 
heightened amount of alertness. <
Active Cruise Control is not and must not 
be used as a collisio n avoidance/warning 
system. <
If while your vehicle is actively following a vehi-
cle in front of you and the vehicle ahead speeds 
up or the lane ahead becomes clear, then your 
vehicle will accelerate  to the speed you have 
selected. Be aware that changing to a clear, 
unobstructed lane will also  result in your vehicle 
accelerating.
Be certain to deactiva te the system when 
you pull into an exit lane for a highway off-
ramp. < Also, vehicles travelin
g in a staggered manner 
on a highway may cause a delay in the system's 
reaction to a vehicle in front of you or may cause 
the system to react to a  vehicle actually in the 
lane next to you. Always  be ready to take action 
or apply the brakes if necessary.
While Active Cruise Co ntrol is capable of 
braking your vehicle automatically when 
you approach a slower vehicle ahead, it is 
important to be aware that the ability of the sys-
tem to apply the brakes is also limited, e.g. 
when you reduce your desired speed sharply. 
The system cannot stop your vehicle. It uses 
only a portion of braking system capacity and 
does not utilize the full ca pacity of the vehicle 
braking system. Therefore, the system cannot 
decrease your speed for large differences in 
speed between your vehicle and the vehicle 
ahead. Examples: when you approach a vehicle 
traveling at a much lower speed than your own 
speed such as approaching a toll booth or when 
a much slower vehicle cuts in front of you at 
close range. <
Active Cruise Control ca n only decelerate the 
vehicle to approx. 20 mph or 30 km/h.
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ControlsControls overview
Controls overview
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all pr oduction, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. For this reason, descrip-
tions will be given of some equipment that may 
not be available in a vehi cle, for example due to 
the special options or  national-market version 
selected. This also app lies to safety related 
functions and systems.
Odometer, outside 
temperature display, clock
1 Knob in the instrument cluster
2 Outside temperature display and clock
3 Odometer 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 temperat ure, refer to page87.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Time, outside temperature display
Setting the time, refer to page 90.
Outside temperature warning
When the displayed temperature sinks to 
approx. +37 7/+3 6, 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 +37 7/+3 6. 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 button 1 in 
the instrument cluster.
When the vehicle is parked
If you still want to view the time, outside tem-
perature and odometer re ading briefly after the 
remote control has been taken out of the igni-
tion lock:
Press button 1 in the instrument cluster.
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Controls overview
Controls
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.
Engine oil temperature
When the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature, the engine oil temperature is between 
approx. 210
7/100 6 and approx. 300 7/
150 6.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 16.1 US gal/
61 liters.
You can find information on refueling on 
page 237.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period, 
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for 
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
Once the fuel level ha s fallen to the reserve 
zone, a message briefly  appears on the Control 
Display and the cruising range for the remaining 
amount of fuel is displayed on the computer. 
Under a cruising range of approx. 30 miles/
50 km, the message remains in the Control Dis-
play.
With a dynamic driving style, e.g. rapid corner-
ing, engine functions are not always assured.
Refuel as soon as possible once your 
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km; otherwise, engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur. <
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Settings and information
Operating principle
1Button for:
>Selecting display
> Setting values
2 Button for:
>Confirming selected display or set val-
ues
> Calling up computer information 84
3 When the lights are on: instrument lighting 
brightness 114
4 Calling up Check Control 925
Checking oil level 260
6 Setting the time 90
7 Setting the date 91
8 Viewing service re quirement display 87
Exiting displays
The outside temperature reading and the time 
reappear when you press button 2 or if you 
make no entries within approx. 15 seconds. If 
required, complete the  current setting first.
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Controls overview
Controls
More information
Detailed information on service 
requirements
You can call up additional information on the 
maintenance regimen on the Control Display.
1.
"Vehicle Info"
2. "Vehicle status"
3. "Service required"
Required maintenance pr ocedures and legally 
mandated inspections are displayed.
You can request more de tailed information on 
every entry:
Select the entry and press the controller.
To exit from the menu:
Move the controller to the left.
Symbols
No service is currently required.
The deadline for servic e or a legally man-
dated inspection is approaching.
The service deadline  has already passed.
Entering deadlines for legally required 
inspections
Make sure the date on th e Control Display is set 
correctly, refer to page 91; otherwise, the effec-
tiveness of CBS Condition Based Service is not 
ensured.
1. "Vehicle Info"
2. "Vehicle status" 3.
"Service required"
4. "§ Vehicle inspection"
5. Open the menu for en tering the deadline.
6. "Date:"
7. Create the settings.
8. Press the controller to apply the setting. 
The year is highlighted.
9. Turn the controller to  make the adjustment.
10. Press the controller to apply the setting. 
The date entry is stored.
To exit from the menu: 
Move the controller to the left.
More information on the BMW Maintenance 
System can be found on page 264.
Automatic Service Request
Data regarding the maintenance status or 
legally mandated inspections of the vehicle are 
automatically transmitted to your BMW center 
prior to a service due date.
You can check when your BMW center was 
notified.
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ControlsControls overview
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors vehicle functions 
and alerts you to any malfunctions in the sys-
tems monitored. This type of Check Control 
message includes indica tor and warning lamps 
in the instrument cluster  and, in some cases, an 
acoustic signal and text messages at the top of 
the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in a 
variety of combinations and colors.
Several of the lamps ar e checked for proper 
functioning and light up  temporarily when the 
engine is started or the  ignition is switched on.
 Indicates that Check Control messages have 
been stored. These Check Control messages 
can be viewed again later, refer to page 93.
Text messages
Text messages at the upper edge of the Control 
Display explain the meaning of the displayed 
indicator and warning lamps.
Supplemental text messages
You can call up more information on the Control 
Display, e.g. on the cause of a malfunction and 
on how to respond, via Check Control.
The text of urgent messages is displayed auto-
matically.
To exit the display: 
Select "OK" and press the Controller.
Symbols
Depending on the Check Control message, you 
can select from among the following functions 
in the supplementary text messages.
>  "Service request"
Contact your BMW center.
>  "Roadside Assistance"
Contact BMW Roadside Assistance.
Hiding Check Control messages
Press the button on the turn signal/high beam 
lever.
> Some Check Control messages are dis-
played continuously an d remain visible until 
the malfunction has been  rectified. If several 
malfunctions occur at  once, the messages 
are displayed consecutively.
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Controls
These messages can be hidden for approx. 
8 seconds. After this, they are displayed 
again automatically.
They are marked with the symbol 
shown here.
> Other Check Control messages are hidden 
automatically after approx. 20 seconds. 
They are stored and can be displayed again 
later.
They are marked with the symbol 
shown here.
Displaying stored  Check Control 
messages
1. Push button 1 in the turn signal/high beam 
lever up or down repe atedly until the appro-
priate symbol appears in the display, 
accompanied by the words "CHECK 
CONTROL".
2. Press button 2.
If there are no Check Control messages, 
then "CHECK OK" is displayed.
If a Check Control message has been 
stored, the corresponding lamp lights up. It 
is accompanied by a  text message on the 
Control Display.
3. Push button 1 to check for other messages.
4. Press button 2.
The display again shows the outside tem-
perature and the time.
Via iDrive
1. "Vehicle Info"
2. "Vehicle status" 3.
"Check Control"
4. Select the text message.
Speed limit
You can enter a speed, and a Check Control 
message will indicate  when you reach this 
speed. This enables you, for example, to 
receive warnings if you  exceed a speed limit in 
an urban area. 
You are only warned of reaching this speed a 
second time if your vehi cle speed falls below it 
again by at least 3 mph or 5 km/h.
Displaying, setting or changing the 
limit
1. "Settings"
2. "Speed"
3. "Warning at:"
4. Turn the controller until the desired speed 
is displayed.
5. Press the controller.
The speed limit is stored.
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ControlsControls overview
Applying your curr ent speed as the 
limit
1. "Settings"
2. "Speed"
3. "Select current speed"
The system adopts your current speed as the 
limit.
Activating/deactivating the limit
1. "Settings"
2. "Speed"
3. "Warning"
4. Press the controller.
Settings on the Control 
Display
Language on the Control Display
Setting the language
1."Settings"
2. "Language/Units" 3.
"Language:"
4. Select the desired language.
The setting is stored fo r the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Setting the voice dialog
Switch between a standard dialog and a short 
dialog.
1. "Settings"
2. "Language/Units"
3. "Speech mode:"
4. Select the desired dialog.
The setting is stored fo r the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Brightness of the Control Display
The brightness is automa tically adapted to the 
ambient lighting conditions. However, you can 
change the basic setting.
1. "Settings"
2. "Control display"
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