
13
Dashboard
At a glance
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in a 
variety of combinations and colors.
Several of the lamps are checked for proper 
functioning and light up temporarily when the 
engine is started or the ignition is switched on.
Text messages
Text messages at the to
p edge of the Control 
Display describe the mean ings of the indicator 
and warning lamps.
Supplementary 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, refer to 
page 92.
In urgent cases, this  information will be shown 
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator  lamps notify you that 
certain functions are active:
High beams/headlamp flasher 112
Fog lamps 114
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC is regulating the propul-
sive forces in order to maintain driving 
stability 98
Parking brake applied 63
Canada: parking brake applied 63
Engine malfunction with adverse 
effect on emissions 265
Canada: engine malfunction with 
adverse effect on emissions 265
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39
Opening and closing
Controls
Unlocking
Grasp the handle on the driver's or front pas-
senger door completely, arrow 1
.
This corresponds to pressing the  button.
Locking
Touch the surface on the door handle, arrow  2, 
with your finger for approx. 1 second.
This corresponds to pressing the   but-
ton.
To preserve the battery, please make 
sure that the ignition and all electrical 
consumers are switched off before locking the 
vehicle. <
Coupe: convenient closing
Keep pressing the surface, arrow 2, with your 
finger.
Convertible: window and convertible 
top operation
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond, 
you can open and close the windows and the 
convertible top when a remote control is 
located inside the vehicle.
Unlocking the trunk lid separately
Press the button on the ou tside of the trunk lid.
This corresponds to pressing the  button.
If the vehicle detects that a remote con-
trol has been accident ally left inside the 
locked vehicle's cargo area after the trunk lid is 
closed, the lid will reopen. The hazard warning 
flashers flash and a signal sounds. <
Switching on radio readiness
Pressing the Start/Stop button switches on 
radio readiness.
Do not depress the brake or the clutch; other-
wise, the engine will start immediately.
Starting the engine
The engine can be started or the ignition can be 
switched on when a remote control is inside the 
vehicle. It is not necessary to insert a remote 
control into the ignition lock, refer to page 61.
Switching off the engine in cars with 
automatic transmission
The engine can only be switched off when the 
selector lever is in po sition P, refer to page 63.
To switch the engine off when the selector lever 
is in position N, the remote control must be in 
the ignition lock.
Malfunction
Local radio waves can in terfere with the func-
tion of Comfort Access, for example when a 
mobile phone is in the immediate vicinity of the 
remote control or by when a mobile phone is 
being charged in the vehicle.
If this happens, open or close the vehicle via the 
buttons on the remote co ntrol or using the inte-
grated key. To start the  engine afterward, insert 
the remote control into  the ignition lock.
Warning lamps
The warning lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up when you attempt to 
start the engine: the engine cannot 
be started. The remote co ntrol is not inside the 
vehicle or is malfunctioning.
Take the remote contro l with you inside the 
vehicle or have it checked. If necessary, insert 
another remote control in to the ignition lock.
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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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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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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 + –
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69
Driving
Controls
>
To upshift, briefly pull the right shift 
paddle +.
> To downshift, briefly  pull the left shift pad-
dle –.
Driving dynamics control
The driving dynamics control permits you, at 
the push of a button, to  have your BMW react in 
an even more sporty fashion when driving:
> Optimal use is made of the engine's speed 
range.
> Gear changes occur more quickly.
> The engine reacts more spontaneously to 
accelerator pedal movements.
Activating the system
Press the SPORT button.
The LED in the button lights up and SPORT 
appears in the info display.
Deactivating the system
>Press the SPORT button again.
> Switch off the engine.
The LED in the button goes out and SPORT 
disappears from the info display.
Manually unlocking parking lock
In the event of a power supply interrup-
tion such as a discharged or discon-
nected battery or an elec trical malfunction, the 
parking lock must be ma nually unlocked; other-
wise, the rear wheels are immobilized and the 
vehicle cannot be towed. <
Only unlock the parking  lock manually for tow-
ing and make sure to set the parking brake 
forcefully beforehand so  that the vehicle cannot 
roll. Lock the parking lock again after the vehicle 
is parked.
Releasing
1. Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.
2. Pull the sleeve up over  the selector lever 
until the sleeve  is inside out.
3. Using the allen wrench from the tool kit, 
refer to page 270, rotate the cover until it 
reaches the stop, arrow  1, and remove, 
arrow 2.
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Driving
Controls
All washer nozzles are 
supplied with washer 
fluid by the same reservoir.
Fill with water and, if  required, with a washer 
antifreeze, according to  manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
Mix the water and antifreeze before filling 
the washer fluid reservoir to make sure 
the correct concentration is maintained. <
Capacity
Approx. 6.3 US quarts/6 liters.
Cruise control
The concept
Cruise control is available for use at speeds of 
approx. 20 mph or 30 km/h. The car then stores 
and maintains the speed that you specify using 
the lever on the steering  column. In order to 
maintain the specifie d speed, the system 
brakes the vehicle when the engine braking 
effect is insufficient  on downhill gradients.
Do not use cruise control when driving at 
constant speed is prevented by adverse 
conditions, e.g. winding roads, dense traffic or 
poor road conditions due  to, e.g., snow, rain, ice 
or loose surfaces. Otherwise, you could lose 
control of the vehicle and cause an accident as a 
result. <
Manual transmission
You can shift gears while  cruise control is acti-
vated. The system is deactivated when you  drive at very low engine speeds for an extended 
period.
One lever for all functions
1
Storing and maintainin g speed or accelerat-
ing
2 Storing and maintaining speed or deceler-
ating
3 Deactivating cr uise control
4 Resuming a previously stored speed
Maintaining current speed
Briefly press the lever, arrow  1, or pull it briefly, 
arrow  2.
The car's current speed is stored and main-
tained. It is displayed on the speedometer and 
briefly in the instrument cluster.
On uphill gradients, it may prove impossible to 
maintain the set speed if  current engine power 
output is insufficient. If the engine braking 
effect is insufficient on  downhill slopes, the sys-
tem will brake the vehicle slightly.
Increasing desired speed
Repeatedly press the lever to the resistance 
point or beyond, arrow 1, until the desired 
speed is reached.
> Each time the lever is  pressed to the resis-
tance point, the desired speed is increased 
by approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h.
> Each time the lever is  pressed beyond the 
resistance point, the desired speed is 
increased by up to 5 mph or 10 km/h.
The system stores and maintains the speed.
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ControlsDriving
Accelerating using the lever
Accelerating slightly:
Press the lever to the resistance point, arrow  1, 
until the desired speed is reached.
Accelerating significantly:
Press the lever beyond the resistance point, 
arrow  1, until the desired speed is reached.
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on 
the accelerator pedal. The system stores and 
maintains the speed.
Decreasing speed
Repeatedly pull the lever  to the resistance point 
or beyond, arrow  2, until the desired speed is 
displayed.
> Each time the lever is  pulled to the resis-
tance point, the desired speed is decreased 
by approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h.
> Each time the lever  is pulled beyond the 
resistance point, the desired speed is 
reduced by  up to  5 mph o r 10 km/h until the  
minimum speed of 20 mph or 30 km/h is 
achieved.
The system stores and maintains the speed.
Deactivating cruise control
Briefly press the lever upwards or downwards, 
arrow 3. 
The displays on the speedometer disappear.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
> When the brakes are applied.
> When the manual transmission is shifted 
very slowly or shifted into neutral.
> When the automatic transmission selector 
lever is moved into  the neutral position.
> When the selector lever of the Sports auto-
matic transmission with double clutch is 
moved into the neutral position.
> When DTC is activate d or DSC is deacti-
vated.
> When DSC or ABS is intervening. Cruise control is not deactivated by depressing 
the accelerator pedal. 
Once the accelerator 
pedal is released, the st ored speed is achieved 
again and maintained.
Warning lamp
The warning lamp lights up when 
cruise control is deactivated due to 
control intervention by the DSC, for 
example. A message appears on the Control 
Display.
Resuming a previously stored speed
Press the button, arrow 4. 
The last stored speed is resumed and main-
tained.
In the following instance s, the stored speed is 
deleted and can no longer be resumed:
> When driving stability control systems are 
intervening.
> In cars with manual transmission: when you 
shift gears very slowly or shift to neutral.
> In cars with automatic transmission: when 
you engage selector lever position N.
> In cars with Sport automatic transmission 
with double clutch: when you engage selec-
tor lever position N.
> When the ignition is switched off.
Displays in the instrument cluster
1Stored speed
2 Selected speed is displayed briefly
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