2012 BMW 5 SERIES airbag

When there is a malfunction, have the air‐
bag system checked immediately
When there is a malfunction, have the airbag
system checked immediately; otherwise, there
is a risk that the system does not function as ex‐
pected in the event of an accident despite cor‐
responding severity of the accident.◀
Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger airbags
The system determines whether the front pas‐
senger seat is occupied by measuring the re‐
sistance of the human body.
The front, knee, and side airbag on the front
passenger side are activated or deactivated ac‐
cordingly.
Leave feet in the footwell
Make sure that the front passenger keeps
his or her feet in the footwell; otherwise, the front
passenger airbags may not function properly.◀
Child restraint fixing system in the front
passenger seat
Before transporting a child on the front passen‐
ger seat, see the safety notes and instructions
under Children on the front passenger seat.◀
Malfunction of the automatic
deactivation system
When transporting older children and adults, the
front passenger airbags may be deactivated in
certain sitting positions. In this case, the indica‐
tor lamp for the front passenger airbags lights
up.
In this case, change the sitting position so that
the front passenger airbags are activated and
the indicator lamp goes out.
If it is not possible to activate the airbags, have
the person sit in the rear.
To make sure that the occupied seat cushion
can be evaluated correctly▷Do not attach covers, cushions, ball mats or
other items to the front passenger seat un‐less they are specifically recommended by
the manufacturer of your vehicle.▷Do not place any electronic devices on the
passenger seat if a child restraint system is
to be installed on it.▷Do not place objects under the seat that
could press against the seat from below.
Indicator lamp for the front passenger
airbags
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air‐
bags indicates the operating state of the front
passenger airbags.
The lamp indicates whether the airbags are ac‐
tivated or deactivated.
▷The indicator lamp lights up
when a child who is properly
seated in a child restraint fix‐
ing system intended for that
purpose is detected on the
seat or the seat is empty. The
airbags on the front passen‐
ger side are not activated.▷The indicator lamp does not light up when,
for example, a correctly seated person of
sufficient size is detected on the seat. The
airbags on the front passenger side are ac‐
tivated.
Detected child seats
The system generally detects children seated in
a child seat, especially in the child seats that
were required by NHTSA when the vehicle was
manufactured. After installing a child seat, make
sure that the indicator lamp for the front pas‐
Seite 96ControlsSafety96
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 607 879 - 09 11 490
ProCarManuals.com

senger airbags lights up. This indicates that the
child seat has been detected and the front pas‐
senger airbags are not activated.
Strength of the driver's and front
passenger airbag
The strength with which the driver's and front
passenger airbags are triggered depends on the
position of the driver's and front passenger
seats.
To maintain the accuracy of this function over
the long-term, calibrate the front seats when a
corresponding message appears on the Control
Display.
Calibrating the front seats
A corresponding message appears on the Con‐
trol Display.1.Move the respective seat forward all the
way.2.Move the respective seat forward again. It
moves forward briefly.3.Readjust the seat to the desired position.
The calibration procedure is completed when
the message on the Control Display disappears.
If the message continues to be displayed, repeat
the calibration.
If the message does not disappear after a repeat
calibration, have the system checked as soon as
possible.
Unobstructed area of movement
Ensure that the area of movement of the
seats is unobstructed to avoid personal injury or
damage to objects.◀
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM
The concept
The tire inflation pressure is measured in the
four mounted tires. The system notifies you if
there is a significant loss of pressure in one or
more tires.
Functional requirements
The system must have been reset when the in‐
flation pressure was correct; otherwise, reliable
signaling of a flat tire is not ensured. Always use
wheels with TPM electronics to ensure that the
system will operate properly. Reset the system
after each correction of the tire inflation pres‐
sure and after every tire or wheel change.
System limits Sudden tire damage
Sudden serious tire damage caused by
external influences cannot be indicated in ad‐
vance.◀
The system does not operate correctly if it has
not been reset. For example, a flat tire may be
indicated despite correct tire inflation pres‐
sures.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat
tire:▷For a mounted wheel without TPM electron‐
ics.▷When the TPM is disturbed by other sys‐
tems or devices with the same radio fre‐
quency.
Status display
The current status of the Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM can be displayed on the Control Display,
e.g., whether or not the TPM is active.
1."Vehicle Info"2."Vehicle status"3. "Tire Pressure Monitor - TPM"
The status is displayed.
Status display
The tire and system status is indicated by the
color of the tires.
Seite 97SafetyControls97
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 607 879 - 09 11 490
ProCarManuals.com

Everything from A to Z
IndexA
ABS, Antilock Brake Sys‐ tem 107
ACC, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go 114
Activated-charcoal filter 142
Active Blind Spot Detec‐ tion 104
Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, ACC 114
Active Protection 106
Active seat, front 49
Active seat ventilation, front 50
Active Steering, integral 110
Adaptive brake assistant 107
Adaptive brake lights, refer to Brake force display 105
Adaptive drive 110
Adaptive light control 91
Additional telephone 230
Additives, oil 285
Adjustments, seats/head re‐ straints 47
Airbags 94
Airbags, indicator/warning light 95
Air circulation, refer to Recir‐ culated-air mode 141
Air distribution, manual 140
Air drying, refer to Cooling function 141
Air pressure, tires 265
Air vents, refer to Ventila‐ tion 142
Air volume, automatic climate control 140
Alarm system 42
Alarm, unintentional 43 All around the center con‐
sole 14
All around the headliner 15
All around the steering wheel 12
ALL program, automatic cli‐ mate control 141
All-season tires, refer to Win‐ ter tires 279
All-wheel-drive 109
Alternating-code hand-held transmitter 147
Alternative oil types 286
AM/FM station 192
Announcement, navigation, refer to Spoken instruc‐
tions 182
Antifreeze, washer fluid 71
Antilock Brake System, ABS 107
Anti-slip control, refer to DSC 107
Applications 258
Appointments 248
Approved engine oils 285
Apps 258
Apps, video playback 215
Armrest, refer to Center arm‐ rest 154
Arrival time 85
Ashtray 148
Ashtray, front 148
Ashtray, rear 149
Assist 253
Assistance, Roadside Assis‐ tance 299
Assistance when driving off 107
Audio playback 201
Audio playback, Blue‐ tooth 216 AUTO H button, refer to Auto‐
matic Hold 67
AUTO intensity 140
Automatic car wash 304
Automatic climate con‐ trol 139
Automatic Cruise Control with Stop & Go 114
Automatic Curb Monitor 56
Automatic deactivation, front passenger airbags 96
Automatic Engine Start/Stop Function 64
Automatic headlamp con‐ trol 90
Automatic Hold 67
Automatic locking 37
Automatic recirculated-air control 141
Automatic Soft Closing, doors 37
Automatic tailgate 38
Automatic transmission with Steptronic 72
AUTO program, automatic cli‐ mate control 140
AUTO program, intensity 140
AUX-IN port 212
Average fuel consumption 84
Average speed 84
Axle loads, weights 311
B
Backrest curvature, refer to Lumbar support 49
Backup camera 126
Balance 190
Band-Aids, refer to First aid kit 299 Seite 324ReferenceEverything from A to Z324
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 607 879 - 09 11 490
ProCarManuals.com

Engine coolant 286
Engine oil 284
Engine oil, adding 285
Engine oil additives 285
Engine oil change 286
Engine oil filler neck 285
Engine oil temperature 80
Engine oil types, alterna‐ tive 286
Engine oil types, ap‐ proved 285
Engine start during malfunc‐ tion 31
Engine start, refer to Starting the engine 63
Engine start, Starting aid 299
Engine stop 63
Engine temperature 80
Entering a car wash 304
Equalizer 190
Equipment, interior 146
ESP Electronic Stability Pro‐ gram, refer to DSC 107
Exchanging wheels/tires 278
Exhaust system 161
Exterior mirror, automatic dim‐ ming feature 56
Exterior mirrors 55
External devices 212
External start 299
External temperature dis‐ play 81
External temperature warn‐ ing 81
Eyes for securing cargo 164
F
Fader 190
Failure message, refer to Check Control 78
False alarm, refer to Uninten‐ tional alarm 43
Fan, refer to Air volume 140
Fault displays, refer to Check Control 78 Filler neck for engine oil 285
Fine wood, care 306
First aid kit 299
Fitting for towing, refer to Tow fitting 302
Flat tire, changing wheels 296
Flat Tire Monitor FTM 100
Flat tire, Tire Pressure Monitor TPM 97
Flat tire, warning lamp 98, 101
Flooding 161
Floor carpet, care 306
Floor mats, care 306
FM/AM station 192
Fold-out position, windshield wipers 71
Foot brake 161
Front airbags 94
Front fog lamps 93
Front fog lamps, front, bulb re‐ placement 294
Front lamps 291
Front passenger airbags, au‐ tomatic deactivation 96
Front passenger airbags, indi‐ cator lamp 96
FTM Flat Tire Monitor 100
Fuel cap 262
Fuel consumption, current 82
Fuel consumption, refer to Average fuel consump‐
tion 84
Fuel filler flap 262
Fuel gauge 80
Fuel quality 264
Fuel, tank capacity 313
Fuse 297
G
Garage door opener, refer to Integrated universal remote
control 146
Gas station recommenda‐ tion 182 Gear change, automatic trans‐
mission 72
Gear shift indicator 83
General driving notes 160
Glass sunroof, powered 45
Glove compartment 153
Gong, volume equaliza‐ tion 191
GPS navigation, refer to Navi‐ gation system 172
Gray display of the map 185
Gross vehicle weight, ap‐ proved 311
Gross weight, permissible for trailer towing 311
H
Hand brake, refer to Parking brake 66
Hand-held transmitter, alter‐ nating code 147
Hazard warning flashers 298
HDC Hill Descent Control 109
HD Radio 193
Head airbags 94
Headlamp control, auto‐ matic 90
Headlamp courtesy delay fea‐ ture 90
Headlamp courtesy delay fea‐ ture via remote control 35
Headlamp flasher 69
Headlamp glass 291
Headlamps 291
Headlamps, care 305
Headlamp washer system 69
Headliner 15
Headphones, rear entertain‐ ment 225
Head restraints 47
Head restraints, front 52
Head restraints, rear 53
Head-up Display 137
Head-up Display, care 307
Heavy cargo, stowing 164 Seite 327Everything from A to ZReference327
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 607 879 - 09 11 490
ProCarManuals.com

Height, vehicle 310
High-beam Assistant 91
High beams 69
High beams/low beams, refer to High-beam Assistant 91
Hill Descent Control HDC 109
Hills 162
Hill start assistant, refer to Drive-off assistant 107
Hints 6
Holder for beverages 155
Homepage 6
Hood 282
Horn 12
Hotel function, trunk lid 40
Hot exhaust system 161
House number, entering for navigation 173
Hydroplaning 161
I
Ice warning, refer to External temperature warning 81
Icy roads, refer to External temperature warning 81
Identification marks, tires 276
Identification number, refer to Important in the engine com‐
partment 282
iDrive 16
Ignition key, refer to Remote control 30
Ignition off 62
Ignition on 62
Indication of a flat tire 98, 101
Individual air distribution 140
Individual settings, refer to Personal Profile 31
Inflation pressure, tires 265
Inflation pressure warning FTM, tires 100
Info display, refer to Com‐ puter 84
Information on the navigation data 186 Initialization, Integral Active
Steering 111
Initializing, Flat Tire Monitor FTM 101
Initializing, Tire Pressure Mon‐ itor TPM 98
Instrument cluster 75
Instrument cluster, electronic displays 77
Instrument lighting 93
Integral Active Steering 110
Integrated key 30
Integrated universal remote control 146
Intensity, AUTO program 140
Interactive map 177
Interior equipment 146
Interior lamps 93
Interior lamps via remote con‐ trol 35
Interior motion sensor 43
Interior rearview mirror 56
Interior rearview mirror, auto‐ matic dimming feature 56
Intermediate destinations 179
Internet page 6
Intersection, entering for navi‐ gation 173
Interval display, service re‐ quirements 82
iPod/iPhone 213
J
Jacking points for the vehicle jack 296
Jack, refer to Vehicle jack 296
Joystick, automatic transmis‐ sion 72
K
Key/remote control 30
Keyless Go, refer to Comfort Access 40 Key Memory, refer to Personal
Profile 31
Kickdown, automatic trans‐ mission 72
Knee airbag 94
L
Lamp replacement 290
Lamp replacement, front 291
Lamp replacement, rear 294
Lamps 89
Lamps and bulbs 290
Lane departure warning 102
Lane margin, warning 102
Language on Control Dis‐ play 87
Lashing eyes, securing cargo 164
LATCH child restraint fixing system 59
Leather, care 305
LEDs, light-emitting di‐ odes 291
Length, vehicle 311
Letters and numbers, enter‐ ing 21
License plate lamp, bulb re‐ placement 295
Light-alloy wheels, care 306
Light control 91
Light-emitting diodes, LEDs 291
Lighter, front 148
Lighter, rear 149
Lighting 89
Lighting via remote control 35
Light switch 89
Load 163
Loading 163
Lock, door 36
Locking/unlocking from in‐ side 37
Locking/unlocking via door lock 36 Seite 328ReferenceEverything from A to Z328
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 607 879 - 09 11 490
ProCarManuals.com

RSC Runflat System Compo‐nent, refer to Run-flat
tires 280
Rubber components, care 306
Run-flat tires 280
S
Safe braking 161
Safety 6
Safety belt reminder 52
Safety belts 51
Safety belts, care 306
Safety Package, refer to Active Protection 106
Safety switch, windows 44
Safety systems, airbags 94
Satellite radio 194
Saving fuel 166
Scale, changing during navi‐ gation 183
Screen, refer to Control Dis‐ play 16
Screwdriver 290
Screw thread for tow fit‐ ting 302
Search, refer to BMW Search 255
Seat belts, refer to Safety belts 51
Seat heating, front 50
Seat heating, rear 50
Seating position for chil‐ dren 58
Seat, mirror, and steering wheel memory 54
Seats 47
Seat ventilation, front 50
Selection list in instrument cluster 83
Selector lever, automatic transmission 72
Sensors, care 307
Service and warranty 7 Service requirements, Condi‐
tion Based Service CBS 288
Service requirements, dis‐ play 82
Service, Roadside Assis‐ tance 299
Settings on Control Dis‐ play 86
Settings, storing for seat, mir‐ rors, steering wheel 54
Shifting, automatic transmis‐ sion 72
Shifting, manual transmis‐ sion 71
Shift paddles on steering wheel 73
Short commands 314
Shoulder support 49
Side airbags 94
Side View 130
Signaling, horn 12
Signals when unlocking 35
Sitting safely 47
Size 310
Ski bag 151
Slide/tilt glass roof 45
Smallest turning circle 311
Smoker's package 148
Snap-in adapter, mobile phone 240
Snow chains 280
Socket 149
Socket, OBD Onboard Diag‐ nostics 289
Software applications, iPhone 258
Software update 219
Spare fuse 297
Special destinations, naviga‐ tion 175
Specified engine oil types 285
Speed, average 84
Speed limit, setting 85
Speed Volume, volume equal‐ ization 191 Split screen 20
Split screen map settings 184
Spoken instructions, naviga‐ tion 182
SPORT+ program, Dynamic Driving Control 112
Sport automatic transmis‐ sion 73
SPORT program, Dynamic Driving Control 112
Sport program, transmis‐ sion 73
Stability control systems 107
Start/stop, automatic func‐ tion 64
Start/Stop button 62
Start function during malfunc‐ tion 31
Starting aid 299
Starting the engine 63
State/province, selecting for navigation 172
Stations, stored 198
Station, storing 192
Status display, tires 97
Status information, iDrive 19
Status of Owner's Manual 6
Steering, Integral Active Steering 110
Steering wheel, adjusting 57
Steering wheel heating 57
Steering wheel memory 54
Steptronic, automatic trans‐ mission 72
Stopping the engine 63
Storage compartment, remote control 156
Storage compartments 153
Storage compartments, loca‐ tions 153
Storage, tires 279
Storing the vehicle 307
Street, entering for naviga‐ tion 173
Summer tires, tread 277 Seite 331Everything from A to ZReference331
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 607 879 - 09 11 490
ProCarManuals.com