The interior features premium sustainable materials.
Approximately 20 % of the thermoplastics in the interior
are produced using recycled or renewable materials.
The Life module
is made of ultra-light
carbon fiber.
lighter than steel.
lighter than aluminum.
50
%
30
%
BMW_i8_Bedienungseinleger_210x138mm_US.indd 515.01.14 17:53 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 891 - II/15
ContentsThe fastest way to find information on a partic‐
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page 198.6Notes
At a glance
14Cockpit18iDrive26Voice activation system29Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicle31BMW eDRIVE34Safety of the high-voltage system
Controls
38Opening and closing51Adjusting57Transporting children safely61Driving75Displays92Lights96Safety109Driving stability control systems113Driving comfort124Climate control129Interior equipment134Storage compartments
Driving tips
138Things to remember when driving142Loading144Increase rangeMobility150Charging vehicle158Refueling161Fuel163Wheels and tires173Engine oil177Coolant178Maintenance180Replacing components183Breakdown assistance187Care
Reference
194Technical data196Appendix198Everything from A to Z
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All around the roofliner1Intelligent Emergency Re‐
quest 1832Indicator lamp, front-seat pas‐
senger airbag 983Reading lights 954Interior lights 95Seite 17CockpitAt a glance17
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3."Export profile"4.BMW Online: "BMW Online"
USB interface: "USB device"
Alternatively, the settings and contacts can be
exported via an app to a suitable smartphone.
Importing profiles Profiles exported via BMW Online can also be
imported via BMW Online.
Profiles stored on a USB device can be im‐
ported via the USB interface.
Existing settings are overwritten with the im‐
ported profile.
1."Settings"2."Profiles"3."Import profile"4.BMW Online: "BMW Online"
USB interface: "USB device"
Alternatively, the settings and contacts can be
imported via an app from a suitable smart‐
phone.
Using the guest profile The guest profile is for individual settings that
are saved in none of the three personal pro‐
files.
This can be useful for drivers who are using
the vehicle temporarily and do not have their
own profile.
1."Settings"2."Profiles"3."Guest"
The guest profile cannot be renamed. It is not
assigned to the current remote control.
Display profile list during start
The profile list can be displayed during each
start to select the desired profile.
1."Settings"2."Profiles"3."Options"4."Display user list at startup"
LED in the driver's door
The signals of the LED have the
following meanings:
▷1x flashing: door is locked.
The LED then still lights up
for a certain time, if the vehi‐
cle was locked from the out‐
side.
The LED then lights up per‐
manently, if the vehicle was
locked from the inside or au‐
tomatically while driving off.▷2x flashing: door is unlocked.▷More than 2x flashing: door malfunction. In
this case, contact the service center.
Using the remote control
Note Take the remote control with youPeople or animals left unattended in a
parked vehicle can lock the doors from the in‐
side. Always take the remote control with you
when leaving the vehicle so that the vehicle
can then be opened from the outside.◀
Unlocking Press button on the remote control.
▷All doors and the tailgate are being un‐
locked.▷The interior lamps are switched on. This
function is not available, if the interior
lamps were switched off manually.▷The welcome lamps are switched on, if this
function was activated.Seite 41Opening and closingControls41
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▷Exterior mirrors folded through convenient
closing are folded open.
You can set how the vehicle is to be unlocked.
For Settings, refer to page 46.
Anti-theft protection is switched off.
The alarm system, refer to page 47, is dis‐
armed.
Convenient opening Press and hold this button on the re‐mote control after unlocking.
The windows are opened, as long as the but‐
ton on the remote control is pressed.
Locking Locking from the outside
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside
with people inside the car, as the vehicle can‐
not be unlocked from inside without special
knowledge.◀
The driver's door must be closed. Press button on the remote control.
All doors and the tailgate are being locked.
Anti-theft protection is switched on. It pre‐
vents the doors from being unlocked using the
door openers.
The alarm system, refer to page 47, is armed.
Switching on interior lights Press button on the remote control with
the vehicle locked.
This function is not available, if the interior
lamps were switched off manually.
If the button is pressed again within 10 sec‐
onds after vehicle was locked, the interior mo‐
tion sensor and tilt alarm sensor of the anti-
theft warning system, refer to page 48, are
turned off. After locking, wait 10 seconds be‐
fore pressing the button again.
Unlocking the tailgate
Press button on the remote control for
approx. 1 second.
The tailgate opens slightly, regardless of
whether the vehicle was previously locked or
unlocked.
Depending on the features and the country
version, it is also possible to have door un‐ locked. Create the settings, refer to page 46.
If the doors were not unlocked, the tailgate is
locked again as soon as it closes.
Do not place the remote control in the
cargo area
Take the remote control with you and do not
leave it in the cargo area; otherwise, the re‐
mote control is locked inside the vehicle when
the tailgate is closed.◀
Provide edge protection
Sharp objects or those with edges can
hit the rear window while driving and damage the heat conductors of the rear window. Pro‐
vide edge protection.◀
Without alarm system: switching the
headlamp courtesy delay feature on
The headlight courtesy delay feature function
must be set for the remote control button. For
Settings, refer to page 46.
Briefly press the button on the remote
control.
The duration can be set in the Control Display.
With alarm system: panic mode You can trigger the alarm system if you find
yourself in a dangerous situation.
Press button on the remote control for
at least 3 seconds.
To reel off the alarm: press any button.Seite 42ControlsOpening and closing42
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From the inside
Unlocking and locking
Via the buttons for the central locking system.
▷ By pressing the button, the vehicle
is locked with the doors closed.▷ Pressing the button unlocks the
vehicle.
The vehicle is not secured against theft when
locking.
In the event of a severe accident, the vehicle is
automatically unlocked. The hazard warning
system and interior lights come on.
Unlocking and opening Press button.
The door is unlocked and slightly open.
Push the door outward.
Note swivel range of the door.
The folding doors swivel to the side and
upward. Before opening, make sure that the
swivel range is clear. Otherwise, the doors can
be damaged.◀
When there is a power failure or to unlock the
door from the rear: first push down on the lever
in the door frame in the front area, arrow. The
lever is raised.
Pull the release on the bottom of the lever up‐
wards, arrow 1, then push the lever forwards,
arrow 2.
Hood
The hood should only be opened by the serv‐
ice center.
Tailgate Opening
The tailgate swings back and up when it
opens.
Ensure that adequate clearance is available
before opening.
Opening from the outside
▷Press button on the remote con‐
trol for approx. 1 second.Seite 44ControlsOpening and closing44
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Tailgate
Depending on optional features and country
version, this setting is not offered in some
cases.1."Settings"2."Doors/key"3. Select the symbol.4.Select the desired function:▷"Tailgate"
The tailgate is unlocked.▷"Tailgate + door(s)"
The tailgate and the doors are un‐
locked.
Confirmation signals from the vehicle
The settings are saved in the active profile, re‐
fer to page 39.
1."Settings"2."Doors/key"3.Deactivate or activate the desired confir‐
mation signals.▷"Acoustic sig. lock/unlock"▷"Flash when lock/unlock"
Automatic locking
The settings are saved in the active profile, re‐fer to page 39.
1."Settings"2."Doors/key"3.Select the desired function:▷"Lock if no door is opened"
The vehicle locks automatically after a
short period of time if no door is
opened.▷"Lock after start driving"
The vehicle locks automatically after
you drive off.Without alarm system: headlamp
courtesy delay feature/standing
climate control
The settings are saved in the active profile, re‐
fer to page 39.1."Settings"2."Doors/key"3. Select the symbol.4.Select the desired function:▷"Pathway lighting"
Headlight courtesy delay feature▷"Comfort climate control"
Stationary climate control
Alarm system
The conceptWhen the vehicle is locked, the vehicle alarm
system responds to:
▷Opening a door, the hood or the tailgate.▷Movements in the interior.▷Changes in the vehicle tilt, e. g., during at‐
tempts at stealing a wheel.▷Disconnected battery voltage.
The alarm system briefly signals tampering:
▷By sounding an acoustic alarm.▷By switching on the hazard warning sys‐
tem.▷By flashing the high beams.
Arming and disarming the alarm
system
When you unlock or lock the vehicle, either
with the remote control or via the Comfort Ac‐
cess, the alarm system is disarmed or armed at
the same time.
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Door lock and armed alarm systemThe alarm system is triggered when the door is
opened, when the vehicle is unlocked via the
door lock.
Tailgate and armed alarm system
The tailgate can be opened even when the alarm system is armed.
After the tailgate is closed, it is locked and
monitored again when the doors are locked.
The hazard warning system flashes once.
Panic mode
You can trigger the alarm system if you find
yourself in a dangerous situation.
Press button on the remote control for
at least 3 seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Indicator lamp on the interior rearview
mirror▷The indicator lamp flashes briefly every
2 seconds:
The system is armed.▷The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
The doors, hood or tailgate is not closed
properly, but the rest of the vehicle is se‐
cured.
After 10 seconds, the indicator lamp
flashes continuously. Interior motion sen‐
sor and tilt alarm sensor are not active.When the still open access is closed, inte‐
rior motion sensor and tilt alarm sensor will
be switched on.▷The indicator lamp goes out after unlock‐
ing:
The vehicle has not been tampered with.▷The indicator lamp flashes after unlocking
until the radio-ready state is switched on,
but no longer than approx. 5 minutes:
An alarm has been triggered.
Tilt alarm sensor The tilt of the vehicle is monitored.
The alarm system responds in situations such
as attempts to steal a wheel.
Interior motion sensor The windows must be closed for the system to
function properly.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sen‐
sor can be switched off together, such as in
the following situations:
▷In automatic car washes.▷In duplex garages.▷During transport on trains carrying vehi‐
cles, at sea or on a trailer.▷With animals in the vehicle.
Switching off the tilt alarm sensor and
interior motion sensor
Press the remote control button again
within 10 seconds as soon as the vehicle
is locked.
The indicator lamp lights up for approx. 2 sec‐
onds and then continues to flash.
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sen‐
sor are turned off, until the vehicle is locked again.
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