
97
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Controls
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up. A mes-
sage appears on th
e Control Display. 
PDC is malfunctioning. Have the sys-
tem checked.
To avoid this problem, keep the sensors clean 
and free of ice or snow in order to ensure that 
they will continue to op erate effectively. When 
using a high-pressure cleaner, do not spray the 
sensors for extended periods of time and only 
from a distance of at least 1 ft/30 cm.
Manual operation
The LED above the button also flashes.
PDC with visual warning
The approach of the vehicle to an object is 
shown on the Control Display. Objects that are 
farther away are displayed on the Control Dis-
play before a signal to ne sounds. The display 
appears on the Control Display as soon as PDC 
is activated.
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for 
estimating the distance between the 
vehicle and any obstructions always remains 
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind spot in which objects can 
no longer be detected. The system is also sub-
ject to the physical limit s that apply to all forms 
of ultrasonic measurement, such as those 
encountered with traile r towbars and hitches, 
thin or wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low objects 
that have already been displayed, e.g. curbs, 
can disappear again from  the detection area of 
the sensors before or after a continuous tone 
sounds. Higher, protruding objects, e.g. ledges, 
cannot be detected. Therefore, always drive 
cautiously; otherwise, there is a risk of personal 
injury or property damage.
Loud sound sources outside or inside the car 
can drown out the PDC signal. Therefore, 
always drive cautiously; otherwise, there is a 
risk of personal injury or property damage. <
Driving stability control 
systems
Your BMW has a number of systems that help 
to maintain the vehicle's stability even in 
adverse driving conditions.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during 
braking. Safe steering response is maintained 
even during full braking. Active safety is thus 
increased.
The ABS is operational every time you start the 
engine. Braking safely, refer to page140.
Electronic brake-force distribution 
EBV
The system controls the brake pressure in the 
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system 
automatically produces  the maximum braking 
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. This system exploits all of the benefits pro-
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressu re on the brake for the 
duration of the full braking application.
Dynamic Stability Control DSC
DSC prevents the driving wheels from losing 
traction when you pull aw ay from rest or accel-
erate. The system also recognizes unstable 
driving conditions, for example if the rear of the 
car is about to swerve or if momentum is acting 
at an angle past the front wheels. In these 
cases, DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe 
course within physical limits by reducing engine 
output and through brakin g actions at the indi-
vidual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, 
even with DSC. An appropriate driving 
style always remains th e responsibility of the 
driver. Therefore, do not reduce the additional 
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270
MobilityReplacing components
Replacing components
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.
Onboard vehicle tool kit
Coupe
The onboard vehicle tool kit is stored in a com-
partment on the right-hand side of the cargo 
area. Remove the cover.
Convertible
The onboard vehicle tool kit is stored in a pouch 
under the cargo area floor panel.
Wiper blades
1. Fold out the wiper arm and hold it.
2. Press together the locking spring, arrows 1, 
and fold out the wiper blade, arrow 2.
3. Take the wiper blade ou t of the catch mech-
anism, pulling the blade toward the front.
To avoid damage, make sure that the 
wiper arms are against the windshield 
before you open the hood. <
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribu-
tion to vehicle safety.  They should, therefore, 
be handled carefully.  BMW recommends hav-
ing your BMW center perform any work that you 
do not feel competent to  perform yourself or 
that is not described here.
Never touch the glass  of new bulbs with 
your bare fingers, as even minute 
amounts of contamination will burn into the 
bulb's surface and reduce  its service life. Use a 
clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or hold 
the bulb by its base. <
Replacement bulb sets are available at your 
BMW center. Only change bulbs while they are cool to 
the touch; otherwise, you could suffer 
burns. <
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280
MobilityGiving and receiving assistance
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in neutral position.
Automatic transmission
Selector lever in position N.
Changing selector lever positions, refer to 
page64.
Do not exceed a towing speed of 45 mph 
or 70 km/h and a towing distance of 
90 miles/150 km; otherwise, the automatic 
transmission may be damaged. <
Sport automatic transmission with 
double clutch
Make sure that the parking lock P is not 
engaged; otherwise, the rear wheels are 
immobilized. 
When using the car wash function, refer to 
page 267, note that the parking lock P is 
engaged automatically after approx. 
30 minutes, blocking the rear wheels.
In the event of an electrical malfunction or if the 
vehicle must be towed for more than approx. 
20 minutes, unlock the parking lock manually, 
refer to page 69.<
When towing, do not exceed a maximum 
speed of 30 mph or 50 km/h and a maxi-
mum distance traveled of 30 miles/50 km; oth-
erwise, the transmission may be damaged. <
Towing methods
Do not lift the vehicle by a tow fitting or 
body and chassis parts; otherwise, dam-
age may result. <
With a tow bar
The towing vehicle must not be lighter 
than the towed vehicle; otherwise, it may 
be impossible to maintain control. <
The tow fittings used should be on the same 
side on both vehicles. Should it prove impossi-
ble to avoid mounting the tow bar at an angle, 
please observe the following: >
Clearance and maneuvering capability will 
be sharply limited during cornering.
> The tow bar will generate la teral forces if it is 
attached offset.
Attach the tow bar to  the tow fittings only, 
as attaching it to othe r parts of the vehicle 
could result in damage.<
With a tow rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make 
sure that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated 
stresses on vehicle components when 
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps. 
Attach the tow rope to  the tow fittings only, as 
attaching it to other parts of the vehicle could 
result in damage. <
With a tow truck: vehicle without xDrive
Manual and automatic transmission:
Sport automatic transmission with double 
clutch:
Have the BMW transported with a tow truck 
with a so-called lift bar, or on a flatbed.
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281
Giving and receiving assistance
Mobility
Do not tow the vehicle wi
th just the rear axle 
raised as this may caus e the steering to turn.
With a tow truck: vehicle with xDrive
Do not tow a BMW with xDrive with just 
the front or rear axle raised; otherwise, the 
wheels could lock up and the transfer case 
could be damaged. <
Have the BMW transported on a flatbed surface 
only.
Tow-starting
Avoid tow-starting the  vehicle whenever possi-
ble; instead, jump-start the engine, refer to 
page 278Vehicles with a catalytic converter 
should only be tow-star ted when the engine is 
cold; vehicles with an automatic transmission or 
Sport automatic transmission with double 
clutch cannot be tow-started at all.
1. Switch on hazard warn ing flashers, comply 
with local regulations.
2. Switch on the ignition, refer to page 61.
3. Shift into 3rd gear.
4. Have the vehicle tow-st arted with the clutch 
depressed and slowly release the clutch. 
After the engine starts, immediately 
depress the clutch completely again.
5. Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow 
bar or rope and switch off the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
6. Have the vehicle checked.
With xDrive: do not  activate Hill Descent 
Control HDC when the vehicle is being 
tow-started, page 99.<
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299
Everything from A to Z
Reference
AUX-IN
– port
127
Available services 232
Average fuel consumption 84
– setting the units 87
Average speed 84
Avoid highways in  navigation 159
Avoiding unintentional  alarms 38
Axle loads, refer to 
Weights 287
B
Backrest contour, refer to 
Lumbar support 49
Backrests, refer to Seat  adjustment 48
Backrest width adjustment 49
Back seats
– refer to Rear seats 51
Bag holder 131
Band-aids, refer to First aid  pouch 277
Bar, refer to Towing  methods 280
Base plate for telephone or 
mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter 216
– refer to Snap-in adapter in 
the center armrest storage 
compartment 126
Battery 274
– charging 274
– disposal 40,275
– jump-starting 278
– remote control 30
– replacing 274
– temporary power failure 274
Battery renewal
– remote control 40
– remote control for vehicle 40
Being towed 279
Belt hand-over 54
– pinch protection system 54
Belts, refer to Safety belts 53Belt tensioner, 
refer to Safety 
belts 53
Beverage holders, refer to  Cupholders 128
Black ice, refer to Outside 
temperature warning 82
Blinds, refer to Roller  sunblinds 126
Blower, refer to Air  volume 118
Bluetooth, activating/
deactivating 205
BMW
– car shampoo 269
BMW Assist 228
– updating 232
BMW Homepage 4
BMW Info 222
BMW Maintenance 
System 264
BMW Online 230
BMW webpage 4
Bottle holders, refer to  Cupholders 128
Brake Assist, refer to Dynamic 
Brake Control DBC 97
Brake fluid, refer to Service  requirements 87
Brake Force Display 106
Bra
ke lamps
– Brake Force Display 106
Brake pads 138
– breaking in 138
Brake pedal, refer to Braking 
safely 140
Brake rotors 141
– brakes 138
– breaking in 138
Brakes
– ABS 97
– BMW Maintenance  System 264
– Brake Force Display 106
– breaking in 138
– parking brake 63
– service requirements 87Brakes, refer to Braking 
safely 140
Brake system 138
– BMW Maintenance  System 264
– breaking in 138
– disc brakes 141
Breakdown services, refer to 
Roadside Assistance 277
Breaking in the clutch 138
Breaking in the differential, 
refer to Engine and 
differential 138
Break-in period 138
Brightness of the Control  Display 94
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps  and bulbs 270
Button for starting the engine, 
refer to Start/Stop button 61
Buttons on the steering  wheel 11
C
Calendar 223
– displaying appointment 223
– selecting calendar day 223
California Proposition 65  warning 6
Call
– accepting 209
– ending 210
– muting the microphone 211
– rejecting 209
Calling, refer to Phone  numbers, dialing 210
Calling, refer to Telephone  owner's manual
Calls
– with multiple parties 210
Can holders, refer to  Cupholders 128
Capacities 289
Capacity of the cargo area 287
Car battery, refer to Vehicle 
battery 274
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Everything from A to Z
Reference
Tires
– age
255,257
– air loss 103
– breaking in 138
– changing, refer to Changing 
wheels 273
– condition 256
– damage 256
– inflation pressure 239
– labels 255
– minimum tread depth 256
– new wheels and tires 257
– pressure monitoring, refer to  Flat Tire Monitor 100
– pressure monitoring, refer to  Tire Pressure Monitor 
TPM 102
– puncture 101
– replacing 257
– Run-flat tires 258
– size 255
– storage 258
– tread depth 256
– wear indicators, refer to  Minimum tread depth 256
– wheel/tire combination, refer  to Correct wheels and 
tires 257
– winter tires 258
TMC station, refer to Traffic  bulletins 163
Tools, refer to Onboard  vehicle tool kit 270
Top, refer to Retractable 
hardtop 43
Torque, refer to Engine  data 284
Tow bar 280
Tow fitting 279
– screw thread 279
Tow fittings for tow-starting  and towing away 279Towing
279
– car with automatic 
transmission 279
– methods 280
– with 7-gear Sport automatic 
transmission with double 
clutch 280
Towing and tow-starting 279
Town/city, for navigation 150
Tow rope 280
Tow-starting 279,281
TPM, refer to Tire Pressure  Monitor 102
Traction control, refer to 
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC 97
Traffic bulletins
– categories 165
Traffic bulletins, 
 filtering165
Traffic bulletins for  navigation 163
– during destination 
guidance 165
Traffic bulletins in navigation
– screen display in the map 
view 165
Traffic congestion
– displaying traffic 
bulletins 163
– refer to Route, bypassing  segments 160
Transmission
– 7-gear Sport automatic  transmission with double 
clutch 66
– automatic transmission with  Steptronic 64
– idle position 67
– Launch Control 70
– manually unlocking parking 
lock 69
– manual transmission 64
– overriding selector lever lock 
for automatic transmission 
with Steptronic 66
– reverse gear 67 Transmission interlock
– refer to Changing selector 
lever position 64
– refer to P Park 64
Transporting children 
safely 57
Transport securing devices,  refer to Securing cargo 143
Tread depth, refer to Minimum  tire tread 256
Trip, deleting 158
Trip, storing 158
Trip computer, refer to  Displays on the Control 
Display 84
Trip-distance coun ter, refer to 
Trip odometer 82
Triple turn signal activation 71
Trip odometer 82
Trips, changing 158
Trunk lid 35
– Comfort Access 39
– emergency release 36
– locking or unlocking  separately 36
– opening from inside 35
– opening from outside 36
– remote control 33
Turning circle, refer to  Dimensions 285
Turn signal 71
Turn signal indicators
– indicator/warning lamp 12
Turn signals
– triple turn signal 71
Tying down load s, refer to 
Cargo loading 143
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading/
UTQR 255
Units
– average fuel  consumption 87
Units of measure
– temperature 87
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