Get Controls -> Driving Guide for BMW 1 Series 4 Door First Generation (2004-2011)

Driving

Ignition lock

Start/stop button

Insert the remote control into the

ignition lock

Pressing the start/stop button switches radio

readiness or the ignition on or off.

The engine is started when you press the

start/stop button and depress the clutch if

the car has manual transmission, or the brake if

the car has automatic transmission.<

Insert the remote control all the way into the

ignition lock.

>

Radio readiness is switched on.

Individual electrical consumers can operate.

Radio readiness

Comfort Access*

Individual electrical consumers can operate.

The time and the outside temperature are dis-

played in the instrument cluster.

If the car is equipped with Comfort Access, only

insert the remote control into the ignition lock

under special circumstances, refer to page 33.

Radio readiness is switched off automatically:

>

When the remote control is removed from

the ignition lock

Removing the remote control from the

ignition lock

Do not forcibly pull the remote control out

of the ignition lock as this may cause

damage.<

>

In cars with Comfort Access*, by touching

the surface above the door lock, refer to

Locking on page 33

Before removing the remote control, push it all

the way in to release the locking mechanism.

Ignition on

All electrical consumers can operate. The

odometer and trip odometer are displayed in

the instrument cluster.

>

The ignition is switched off if it was on.

Automatic transmission

When the engine is off, please switch off

the ignition and any unnecessary electri-

cal consumers in order to preserve the bat-

tery.<

You cannot take out the remote control unless

the selector lever is in the P position: interlock.

Radio readiness and ignition off

All indicator and warning lamps as well as dis-

plays in the instrument cluster go out.

55

Automatic transmission

Starting the engine

Remote control in the ignition lock or, with

Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to

page 33.

Do not run the engine in enclosed areas;

otherwise, the inhalation of toxic exhaust

gases can cause loss of consciousness and

death. The exhaust gases contain carbon mon-

oxide, an odorless and colorless, but highly

toxic gas. Never leave an unattended vehicle

with the engine running; otherwise, such a vehi-

cle represents a potential safety hazard.

Before leaving the car with the engine running,

place the transmission in neutral or move the

selector lever to position P and forcefully apply

the parking brake to prevent the car from mov-

ing.<

1. Depress the brake.

2. Move the selector lever to position P.

3. Press the start/stop button.

The starter operates automatically for a certain

time, and stops automatically as soon as the

engine has started.

Switching off the engine

Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the

vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right

away, but at moderate engine speeds.

Always take the remote control with you

when you leave the vehicle.

When parking, apply the parking brake force-

fully; otherwise, the vehicle could begin to roll.<

Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-

sion as well as repeated start attempts in

which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the

fuel is not burned or incompletely burned and

there is a danger of overheating and damaging

the catalytic converter.<

Manual transmission

1. With the car at a standstill, press the start/

stop button.

2. Shift into first gear or reverse.

3. Forcefully apply the parking brake.

4. Removing the remote control from the igni-

tion lock, refer to page 55.

Automatic transmission

1. With the car at a standstill, move the selec-

tor lever to position P.

2. Press the start/stop button.

3. Forcefully apply the parking brake.

Manual transmission

4. Removing the remote control from the igni-

tion lock, refer to page 55.

Remote control in the ignition lock or, with

Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to

page 33.

Before driving into a car wash

1. Depress the brake.

The vehicle is able to roll when you perform the

following steps:

2. Depress the clutch and shift to neutral posi-

tion.

1. Insert the remote control, even with Com-

fort Access, into the ignition lock.

3. Press the start/stop button.

The starter operates automatically for a certain

time, and stops automatically as soon as the

engine has started.

2. Depress the brake.

3. Move the selector lever to position N.

4. Switch off the engine.

56

Parking brake

Manual transmission

The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-

vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it

brakes the rear wheels.

Indicator lamp

The indicator lamp is lit, and when you

drive off a signal sounds in addition.

The parking brake is still applied.

Indicator lamp for Canadian models.

When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, press

the gearshift lever to the right. Otherwise,

the engine could be damaged if you inadvert-

ently shift into 3rd or 4th gear.<

Applying

The lever locks in position automatically.

Reverse gear

Releasing

Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.

When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, a

slight resistance has to be overcome.

Automatic transmission with

Steptronic*

In addition to fully automatic operation, you can

also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer to

page 58.

Pull slightly upwards, press the button and

lower the lever.

In exceptional cases, if the parking brake

has to be used to slow or stop the car, do

not pull the lever up too hard. In doing so, con-

tinuously press the button of the parking brake

lever.

Otherwise, excessive force on the parking

brake can lock up the rear wheels and cause the

rear of the car to swerve.<

Vehicle parking

To prevent the vehicle from rolling,

always select position P and apply the

parking brake before leaving the vehicle with

the engine running.<

Disengaging the remote control

In order to remove the remote control from the

ignition lock, you must first move the selector

lever to position P and switch off the engine:

interlock. Removing the remote control from

the ignition lock, refer to page 55.

To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-

ing action, occasionally apply the parking

brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming

to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.

The brake lamps do not light up when the park-

ing brake is applied.<

Selector lever positions

P R N D M/S + –

57

Displays in the instrument cluster

R Reverse

Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.

N Neutral

You can select this in a car wash, for example.

The vehicle can roll.

D Drive, automatic position

Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-

ward gears are selected automatically.

P R N D DS M1 to M6

Under normal operating conditions, fuel con-

sumption is lowest when you are driving in posi-

tion D.

The selector lever position is displayed, or the

current gear in the manual mode.

Kickdown

Changing selector lever positions

Kickdown enables you to achieve maximum

performance.

Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-

throttle resistance point.

>

With the ignition switched on or the engine

running, the selector lever can be moved

out of position P.

>

Before moving the lever away from P or N

with the vehicle stationary, first depress the

brake; otherwise, the selector lever will

refuse to move: shiftlock.

Sport program and manual operation

M/S

To prevent the vehicle from creeping

after you select a driving position,

depress the brake until you are ready to

start.<

Move selector lever from position D toward the

left into the M/S shifting slot:

The sport program is activated and DS is dis-

played on the instrument cluster. This position

is recommended for a performance-oriented

driving style.

A lock prevents you from inadvertently engag-

ing selector lever positions R and P. To cancel

the lock, press the button on the front of the

selector lever, see arrow.

To deactivate the sport program or manual

mode M/S, move the selector lever to the right

into position D.

P Park

Shifting gears via the selector lever

Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.

The drive wheels are locked.

Move selector lever from position D toward the

left into the M/S shifting slot:

When you press the selector lever forwards or

backwards, the manual mode is activated and

58

Steptronic changes gear. M1 through M6 are

displayed on the instrument cluster.

Overriding selector lever lock

Should the selector lever refuse to move out of

position P even though the ignition is switched

on, the brake is depressed and the button on

the selector lever is pressed, the selector lever

lock can be overridden:

Upshifts and downshifts are executed only

when they will result in a plausible combination

of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example,

a downshift that would cause the engine to

overrev will not be executed by the system. The

gear selected is briefly displayed in the instru-

ment cluster, followed by the gear actually in

use.

1. Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.

2. Pull the sleeve up over the selector lever

until the sleeve is inside out.

Shifting gears via shift paddles* on the

steering wheel

The shift paddles allow you to shift gears

quickly since both hands can remain on the

steering wheel.

>

When you use the shift paddles on the

steering wheel to shift gears in automatic

mode, the transmission switches to manual

mode.

3. Using the screwdriver from the onboard

vehicle tool kit, refer to page 209, press the

red lever, see arrow, while moving the

selector lever to the desired position.

If you do not accelerate or shift gears using

the shift paddles for a certain amount of

time, the transmission switches back to

automatic mode.

If the selector lever is in the M/S gear

plane, manual mode remains active.<

Turn signals/

headlamp flasher

>

To shift up: pull one of the shift paddles.

1

2

3

High beams

To shift down: press one of the shift pad-

dles.

Headlamp flasher

Turn signals

Upshifts and downshifts are executed only

when they will result in a plausible combination

of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example,

a downshift that would cause the engine to

overrev will not be executed by the system. The

gear selected is briefly displayed in the instru-

ment cluster, followed by the gear actually in

use.

Using turn signals

Press the lever beyond the resistance point.

To turn off manually, press the lever to the

resistance point.

59

Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator

lamp and the turn signals indicates that

one of the turn signal bulbs has failed.<

5

Setting speed for intermittent wipe, or sen-

sitivity of the rain sensor

Switching on wipers

Indicating a turn briefly

Press the lever upward, arrow 1.

Press the lever as far as the resistance point for

as long as you wish to indicate a turn.

The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-

tion when released.

Triple turn signal activation

Normal wiper speed

Press the lever as far as the resistance point.

The turn signals flash three times.

Press once.

The system switches to operation in the inter-

mittent mode when the vehicle is stationary.

You can activate or deactivate this function.

1. "Settings"

Fast wiper speed

2. "Lighting"

Press twice or press beyond the resistance

point.

3. "Triple turn signal"

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 controlled 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.

Triple turn signal activation is activated and

is stored for the remote control currently in use.

Activating intermittent wipe or rain

sensor

Wiper system

Press the button, arrow 3. The LED in the but-

ton lights up.

1

2

3

Switching on wipers

Switching off wipers or brief wipe

Setting speed for intermittent wipe or

sensitivity of the rain sensor

Activating/deactivating intermittent wipe or

rain sensor*

Turn the thumb wheel 5.

4

Cleaning windshield and headlamps*

60

Deactivating intermittent 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*

All washer nozzles are supplied with washer

fluid by the same reservoir.

Pull the lever, arrow 4.

Washer fluid is sprayed onto the windshield and

the wipers are operated for a short time.

Fill with water and, if required, with a washer

antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-

mendations.

When the vehicle lighting system is switched

on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and

appropriate intervals.

Mix the water and antifreeze before filling

the washer fluid reservoir to make sure

the correct concentration is maintained.<

Do not use the washers if there is any

danger that the fluid 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; otherwise, you will damage

the washer pump.<

Capacity

Approx. 6.3 US quarts/6 liters.

Cruise control*

The concept

Windshield washer nozzles

You can use the cruise control feature begin-

ning at approx. 20 mph/30 km/h. The car then

stores and maintains the speed that you specify

using the lever on the steering column.

The windshield washer nozzles are heated

automatically* while the engine is running or

the ignition is switched on.

Do not use cruise control when driving at

constant speed is prevented by adverse

conditions, e.g. winding roads, dense traffic or

poor road conditions due to, e.g. snow, rain, ice

or loose surfaces. Otherwise, you could lose

control of the vehicle and cause an accident as a

result.<

Washer fluid

Washer fluid antifreeze 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.<

61

speed is increased or the vehicle is accelerated,

except that in this case the speed decreases.

One lever for all functions

Deactivating cruise control

Tap the lever upwards or downwards, arrow 3.

In addition, the system is automatically deacti-

vated:

>

When you brake the vehicle

When you depress the clutch of a manual

transmission or shift to neutral

1

2

Storing and maintaining speed or accelerat-

ing

>

When you select the automatic transmis-

sion's neutral position N

Storing and maintaining speed or deceler-

ating

When the vehicle travels faster or slower

than the set speed for an extended period,

e.g. when the accelerator is depressed

3

4

Deactivating cruise control

Resuming a speed stored beforehand

>

When you activate DTC or deactivate DSC

When DSC is intervening

Maintaining current speed

Tap the lever, arrow 1, or pull it briefly, arrow 2.

The car's current speed is stored and main-

tained. It is briefly displayed in the instrument

cluster.

Resuming a speed stored beforehand

Press the button, arrow 4.

The last stored speed is resumed and main-

tained.

If the engine braking power is insufficient on a

downhill slope, the set speed may be exceeded.

On uphill gradients, it may prove impossible to

maintain the set speed if engine power output is

insufficient.

The stored speed is briefly displayed in the

instrument cluster.

The stored speed is cleared when the ignition is

switched off.

Display in the instrument cluster

Increasing speed

Repeatedly press the lever, arrow 1, until the

desired speed is reached.

Each time the lever is pressed lightly, the speed

is increased by approx. 1 mph/1 km/h.

Accelerating using the lever

Press the lever, arrow 1, until the desired speed

is reached.

The vehicle accelerates without pressure on

the accelerator pedal. The system stores and

maintains the speed.

When the speed at which the vehicle is traveling

is stored or when a stored speed is called up,

the speed is briefly displayed in the instrument

cluster.

Decreasing speed

Repeatedly pull the lever, arrow 2, until the

desired speed is reached.

The functions are the same as when the set

62

Controls -> Driving for Your BMW 1 Series 4 Door First Generation (2004-2011)

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