
11
Dashboard
At a glance
4
Exterior mirrors folding in and out 55
5 Adjusting exterior mirrors, automatic curb 
monitor 55
9 Instrument cluster 12 12
Ignition lock 61
13 Buttons on the steering wheel
15 Horn, entire surface
16 Adjusting the steering wheel 56
18 Releasing the hood 260
19 OBD socket 265
20 Opening the trunk lid 35
1
Convertible: opening and closing 
windows jointly
40 
2 Convertible: opening and closing 
rear windows
40 
3 Opening and closing front 
windows
40 
6 Parking lamps 110
Low beams 110
Automatic head lamp control110
Adaptive Light Control 112
High-beam Assistant 113
7 Fog lamps 114
8 Turn signals 71
High beams, headlamp 
flasher 112
High-beam Assistant 113
Roadside parking lamps 112
Computer 84
Settings and information about the 
vehicle 86
10 Windshield wipers 71
Rain sensor 72
11Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine
61
Telephone: accepting and ending 
a call; dialing the selected phone 
number; redialing if no phone 
number is selected
Convertible: microphone on steer-
ing column
Volume
Activating/deactivating the voice 
activation system 25
Convertible: microphone on steer-
ing column
Changing the radio station
Interrupting a traffic bulletin
Selecting a music track
Scrolling through the redial list
Next entertainment source
Recirculated air mode 118
14 Steering wheel heating 56
17 Cruise control 75
Active Cruise Control 75
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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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110
ControlsLamps
Lamps
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.
At a glance
0 Lamps off, 
daytime running lights
1 Parking lamps and daytime running lights
2 Low beams, 
welcome lamps
3 Automatic headlamp control, daytime run-
ning lights, welcome lamps, High-beam 
Assistant, and Adaptive Light Control
Parking lamps/low beams, 
automatic headlamp control
General information
When the driver's door is opened with ignition 
switched off, then the exterior lighting is auto-
matically switched off if  the light switch is in 
position  0, 2 , or 3.
Parking lamps
In switch position 1, the front, rear and side 
vehicle lighting is switch ed on. You can use the 
parking lamps for parking.
The parking lamps will discharge the bat-
tery. Therefore, do not leave them on for 
unduly long periods of time; otherwise, the bat-
tery might not have enou gh power to start the 
engine. It is preferable  to switch on the left-
hand or right-hand roadside parking lamps, 
refer to page 112.<
Low beams
The low beams light up wh en the light switch is 
in position 2 and the ignition is on.
Automatic headlamp control
When the switch is in position 3, the low beams 
are switched on and off automatically depend-
ing on ambient lighting conditions, e.g. in a tun-
nel, in twilight, or if there is precipitation. The 
Adaptive Light Control is  active. The LED next 
to the symbol is illu minated when the low 
beams are on. You can also activate the daytime 
running lights, refer to page 111. In the situa-
tions described above, the lamps then automat-
ically switch from daytime running lights to low 
beams.
The headlamps may also  come on when the 
sun is sitting low on a blue sky.
The low beams remain switched on inde-
pendent of the ambient lighting condi-
tions when you switch on the fog lamps. <
The automatic headlamp control cannot 
serve as a substitute for your personal 
judgment in determining when the lamps 
should be switched on  in response to ambient 
lighting conditions. For example, the system 
cannot detect fog or ha zy weather. To avoid 
safety risks, you should  always switch on the 
low-beam headlamps ma nually under these 
conditions. <
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113
Lamps
Controls
High-beam Assistant
The concept
This system automatica
lly switches the high 
beams on and off. The procedure is controlled 
by a sensor on the front of the interior rearview 
mirror. The assistant ensures that the high 
beams are switched on whenever the traffic sit-
uation allows. It handle s this task for you and 
gives you the benefit of the best possible view. 
You can intervene at any time and switch the 
high beams on and off as usual.
Activating the system
1. Turn the light switch to position 3, refer to 
page 110.
2. With the low beams switched on, briefly 
push the turn signal/high beam lever in the 
direction of the high beam.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up when the high beams 
are activated. The system automati-
cally switches from hi gh beams to low beams 
and vice versa in response  to oncoming traffic, 
traffic ahead of you, and adequate ambient 
lighting, e.g. on city streets.
Switching the high beams on and off 
manually
Whenever you wish, or when the situation 
requires, you can intervene:
> If the High-beam Assistant switches on the 
high beams, but you would like to drive with 
the low beams, simply switch off the high 
beams using the turn signal/high beam 
lever. This deacti vates the High-beam 
Assistant. 
To reactivate the syst em, briefly push the 
turn signal/high beam lever toward the high 
beams again. >
If the High-beam Assistant switches on the 
low beams, but you would like to drive with 
the high beams, switch on the high beams 
as usual. This deacti vates the system and 
the high beams need to be switched off 
manually, if necessary.
To reactivate the system, briefly push the 
turn signal/high beam  lever toward the high 
beams again.
> Use the headlamp flasher as usual with the 
low beams switched on.
System limitations
The High-beam Assistant cannot serve 
as a substitute for the driver's personal 
judgment of when to use the high beams. 
Therefore, manually switch off the high beams 
in situations where this  is required to avoid a 
safety risk.<
The system is not fully fu nctional in situations 
such as the following, and driver intervention 
may be necessary:
> In very unfavorable  weather conditions, 
such as fog or heavy precipitation
> In detecting poorly-lit  road users, such as 
pedestrians, cyclists,  horseback riders and 
wagons; when driving close to train or ship 
traffic; and at animal crossings
> In tight curves, on hilltops or in depressions, 
in cross traffic or half-obscured oncoming 
traffic on highways
> In poorly lit towns and cities and in the pres-
ence of highly reflective signs
> At low speeds
> When the windshield in  front of the interior 
rearview mirror is fogged over, dirty or cov-
ered with stickers, etc.
> If the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor on 
the front of the interior  rearview mirror using 
a cloth moistened with a small amount of 
glass cleaner.
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114
ControlsLamps
Activating via iDrive
1."Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "High beam assistant"
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Fog lamps
The parking lamps or low beams must 
be switched on for the fog lamps to 
operate. The green indicator lamp in 
the instrument cluster lights up whenever the 
fog lamps are on.
The fog lamps are switched off while you acti-
vate the headlamp flasher or switch on the high 
beams.
If the automatic headla mp control is acti-
vated, the low beams will come on auto-
matically when you swit ch on the fog lamps.<
Instrument lighting
You can adjust the brightness of the instrument 
lighting only when the pa rking lamps or the low 
beams are switched on.
1. Push button 1 up or down repeatedly until 
the appropriate symbol appears in the dis-
play, accompanied by the brightness set-
ting and scale the word "SET".
2. Press button 2.
3. Push button 1 up or down to select the 
desired brightness level.
4. Press button  2.
The display again shows the outside tem-
perature and the time.
Interior lamps
The interior lamps, the footwell lamps, entry 
lamps, cargo area lamp, and courtesy lamps are 
controlled automatically.
The LEDs for the courtesy  lamps are set in the 
door handles and illuminate  the ground in front 
of the doors.
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271
Replacing components
Mobility
When working on electrical systems, 
always begin by switching off the con-
sumer in question; otherwise, short-circuits 
could result. To avoid possible injury or equip-
ment damage when replacing bulbs, observe 
any instructions provided  by the bulb manufac-
turer. <
For care of the headla mps, please follow the 
instructions in the ch apter entitled 'Care'.
To replace lamps not described here, 
please contact your BMW center. <
Light-emitting diodes LED
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu-
cent lenses serve as the light source for many of 
the controls, displays, and equipment in your 
vehicle. These light-emitting diodes, which 
operate using a concept similar to that applied 
in conventional lasers, are officially designated 
as Class 1 light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers or expose the 
eyes directly to the unfiltered light source 
for several hours; otherwise, this could cause 
irritation of the retina. <
Headlight lenses
In cool or humid weather, condensation may 
form on the interior of outside lamps. The con-
densation will disappear after a short time when 
driving with the headlamps switched on. The 
headlamp glasses do not need to be changed.
If the headlamps do not defrost despite driving 
with the headlamps switch ed on, and additional 
moisture builds up, for example water droplets 
in the lamps, have them checked by your BMW 
center.
Xenon lamps
These bulbs have a very lo ng service life and are 
highly unlikely to fail. If a xenon lamp fails never-
theless, switch on the  fog lamps and continue 
the journey with great ca re, provided that local 
legislation does not prohibit this. Have all work on the xenon lamp system, 
including bulb replacements, performed 
only by your BMW center . Due to high voltage, 
there is a risk of fatal injury if work on the xenon 
lamps is carried out improperly. <
Access to the lamps
1.Switch off the lamps  and take the remote 
control out of the ignition lock.
2. Remove the upper co ver from the head-
lamp. To do so, use a  screwdriver to press 
the catches towards th e rear, see arrows, 
and pull the cover forward and out.
Follow the same steps in reverse order to reat-
tach the cover. Be careful when inst alling the cover; oth-
erwise, leaks could occur and cause dam-
age to the headlamp system.<
Parking lamps and roadside parking 
lamps, daytime running lights
These lamps use LED technology for operation. 
If they malfunction, please contact your BMW 
center.
Corner-illuminating lamps
H3 bulb, 55 watts
1. Switch off the lamps  and take the remote 
control out of the ignition lock.
2. Remove the cover, re fer to Access to the 
lamps.
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG