
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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ControlsDriving
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance 
point. 
The system switches to normal speed when the 
vehicle is stationary.
Intermittent wipe or rain sensor
If the car is not equipped  with a rain sensor, the 
intermittent-wipe time is a preset.
If the car is equipped with a rain sensor, the time 
between wipes is contro lled automatically and 
depends on the intensity of  the rainfall. The rain 
sensor is mounted on the  windshield, directly in 
front of the interior rearview mirror.
Activating intermittent wipe or rain 
sensor
Press the button, arrow 3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Setting speed for intermittent wipe or 
sensitivity of the rain sensor
Turn thumbwheel 5 up or down.
Deactivating intermit tent wipe or rain 
sensor
Press the button again, arrow 3. 
The LED goes out.
Deactivate the rain  sensor before enter-
ing an automatic car  wash. Failure to do 
so could result in damage caused by undesired 
wiper activation. <
Cleaning windshield and headlamps
Pull the lever, arrow  4.
Washer fluid is sprayed onto the windshield and 
the wipers are operated for a short time.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched 
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and 
appropriate intervals. Do not use the washers if there is any 
danger that the flui d will freeze on the 
windshield. If you do, your vision could be 
obscured. Antifreeze should therefore be 
added to the fluid, refer to Washer fluid. 
Do not use the washers when the washer fluid 
reservoir is empty; othe rwise, you will damage 
the washer pump. <
Windshield washer nozzles
Both windshield washer  nozzles are automati-
cally heated with the engine running or the igni-
tion switched on.
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifree ze is flammable. 
Therefore, keep it away from ignition 
sources and only store it  in the closed original 
container that is kept out of reach of children; 
otherwise, there is a risk of personal injury. 
Comply with the instructions on the con-
tainer. <
Washer fluid filler neck
Only refill washer fluid when the engine is 
cool to avoid contact with hot engine 
parts. Otherwise, fluid  spills constitute a fire 
hazard and a risk to personal safety. <
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108
ControlsTechnology for driving comfort and safety
The indicator lamp above the interior 
rearview mirror shows the current status 
of the front passenger airbags, deactivated or 
activated, refer to Status  of front passenger air-
bags below. <
Before transporting  a child on the front 
passenger seat, read the safety precau-
tions and handling inst ructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page 57.
The front and side airbags can also be deacti-
vated by adolescents and adults sitting in cer-
tain positions; the indi cator lamp for the front 
passenger airbags lights up. In such cases, the 
passenger should change his or her sitting 
position so that the fr ont passenger airbags are 
activated and the indicator  lamp goes out. If the 
desired airbag status cannot be achieved by 
changing the sitting position, transport the rele-
vant passenger on a rear  seat. Do not attach 
seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball mats or 
other items to the front passenger seat unless 
they are specifically  recommended by BMW. 
Do not place any items under the seat which 
could press against the seat from below. Other-
wise, a correct analysis of the seat cushion is 
not ensured. <
Status of front passenger airbags
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags shows the functional status of the front 
passenger front and side airbags in accordance 
with whether and how the front passenger seat 
is occupied. The indicator lamp shows whether 
the front passenger airbags are activated or 
deactivated. >
The indicator lamp light s up when a child in 
a specially designated  child restraint sys-
tem is detected, as in tended, on the seat.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated.
Most child seats are detected by the 
system, This partic ularly applies to 
child seats that were  required by NHTSA at 
the time of manufacture  of the vehicle. After 
mounting a child seat,  ensure that the indi-
cator lamp for the fron t passenger airbag is 
lit. It indicates that th e child seat has been 
detected and that the front passenger air-
bags are deactivated. <
> The indicator lamp does  not light up as long 
as a person of sufficient size and in a correct 
sitting position is detected on the seat.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are activated.
> The indicator lamp does not light up if the 
seat is empty.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated.
Operational readine ss of airbag system
As of radio readiness, refer to page 61, the 
warning lamp lights up br iefly to indicate that 
the entire airbag system and the belt tensioners 
are operational.
Airbag system malfunction
> Warning lamp does not light up at radio 
readiness or beyond.
> Warning lamp remains permanently on.
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111
Lamps
Controls
Welcome lamps
If you leave the light switch in position
2 or 3 
when you park the car, the parking lamps and 
the interior lamps light up briefly when you 
unlock the vehicle.
Activating/deactivating welcome 
lamps
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Welcome light"
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Pathway lighting
If the headlamp flasher is  activated after switch-
ing off the ignition with the lamps switched off, 
the low beams come on and remain on for a cer-
tain time.
Setting duration
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Pathway light.:" 4.
Set a time of duration, or 0 s to deactivate 
the function.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Daytime running lights
The daytime running light s light up in switch 
position  0, 1  and 3. They are less powerful than 
the low beams.
The tail lamps may also light up.
Activating/deactivating daytime 
running lights
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Daytime running lamps"
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
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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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115
Lamps
Controls
To reduce the drain 
on the battery, a few 
minutes after the radio readiness is 
switched off, refer to  Start/Stop button on 
page 61, all lights in the vehicle's passenger 
compartment are switched off. <
Switching interior lamps on/off 
manually
Interior lamps, front and rear:
To switch on and off, press the button.
To switch off the interior lamps, footwell lamps, 
entry lamps, and courtesy lamps permanently, 
press the button for the front interior lamps for 
about 3 seconds.
Reading lamps
There are reading lamps at the front and rear, 
next to the interior lights. To switch on and off, 
press the button.
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123
Practical interior accessories
Controls
3.
Hold the hand-held  transmitter of the 
device to be controlled approx. 1 in/2.5 cm 
to 3 in/8 cm away from the buttons on the 
inside mirror.
The required distance depends on the 
hand-held transmitter.
4. Simultaneously press  and hold the button 
of the desired function on the hand-held 
transmitter and the button to be pro-
grammed on the inside mirror.
The LED on the inside mirror will flash 
slowly at first.
5. As soon as the LED flashes rapidly, release 
both buttons. The rapid flashing indicates 
that the button on the inside mirror has 
been programmed.
If the LED does not flash rapidly within 
60 seconds, change the distance between 
the inside mirror and the hand-held trans-
mitter and repeat this step. This may 
require several attemp ts. Allow at least 
15 seconds between attempts.
6. To program additional functions on the 
other buttons of the inside mirror, repeat 
steps 3 through 5.
The buttons on the inside mirror can be used to 
operate the devices if the ignition is switched 
on.
Special procedure with alternating-
code systems
If the device fails to func tion even after repeated 
programming, check whether the device to be 
controlled uses an alte rnating-code system.
To do so, either read the instructions for the 
device or hold down the programmed button on 
the inside mirror. If the  LED on the inside mirror 
flashes quickly at first  and then remains lit for 
2 seconds, the device uses an alternating-code 
system. The LED flashes and lights up repeat-
edly for approx. 20 seconds.
In devices with an alternating-code system, the 
Integrated universal re mote control and the 
device must also be synchronized. For information about synchronizing can also 
be found in the operating instructions for the 
device to be set.
Programming will be easier with the aid of a 
second person.
Synchronizing:
1.
Park your vehicle with in the range of the 
remote-controlled device.
2. Program the Integrated universal remote 
control as described above.
3. Locate and press the  synchronization but-
ton on the device to be set. You have 
approx. 30 seconds to perform the next 
step.
4. Hold down the programmed button on the 
inside mirror for approx. 3 seconds and then 
release it. Repeat this  operation, up to three 
times if necessary,  to complete the syn-
chronization. If the  synchronization has 
succeeded, the programmed function is 
performed.
Reprogramming individual buttons
1. Switch on the ignition.
2. Hold the hand-held transmitter of the 
device to be controlled approx. 1 in/2.5 cm 
bis 3 in/8 cm away from the buttons on the 
inside mirror.
The required distance depends on the 
hand-held transmitter.
3. Press the desired button on the inside mir-
ror.
4. If the LED on the inside mirror flashes 
slowly after approx. 20 seconds, press the 
transmit key of the hand-held transmitter.
5. As soon as the LED flashes rapidly, release 
both buttons.
If the LED does not flash rapidly after 
approx. 60 seconds, alter the distance and 
repeat the step.
Canada: if the LED does not flash rapidly 
after approx. 60 seconds, alter the distance 
and repeat this step or, if the programming 
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