tire BMW 128I CONVERTIBLE 2008 E88 Owner's Manual

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic-
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page244.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
6Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
23Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
45Adjustments
55Transporting children safely
58Driving
67Everything under control
81Technology for driving comfort and
safety
92Lamps
97Climate
103Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
114Things to remember when driving
Navigation
122Starting the navigation system
123Destination entry
136Destination guidance
146What to do if …
Entertainment
150On/off and settings
154Radio
160Satellite radio
163CD player and CD changer
169AUX-In port
170USB-audio interface
Communications
176Telephoning
191BMW Assist
Mobility
202Refueling
204Wheels and tires
212Under the hood
217Maintenance
219Care
223Replacing components
229Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
236Technical data
240Short commands for the voice command
system
244Everything from A - Z

5Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The individual vehicle
When you ordered your BMW, you chose vari-
ous items of equipment. This Owner's Manual
describes the entire array of options and equip-
ment available with a specific BMW model.
Please bear in mind that the manual may con-
tain information on accessories and equipment
that you have not specified for your own vehicle.
Sections describing options and special equip-
ment are marked by asterisks
* to assist you in
identifying possible differences between the
descriptions in this manual and your own vehi-
cle's equipment.
If equipment in your BMW is not described in
this Owner's Manual, please refer to the accom-
panying Supplementary Owner's Manuals.
Editorial notice
BMW pursues a policy of continuous, ongoing
development that is conceived to ensure that
our vehicles continue to embody the highest
quality and safety standards combined with
advanced, state-of-the-art technology. For this
reason, it is possible in exceptional cases that
features described in this Owner's Manual
could differ from those on your vehicle.
For your own safety
Maintenance and repair
Advanced technology, e.g. the use of
modern materials and powerful electron-
ics, requires specially adapted maintenance
and repair methods. You should therefore have
the corresponding work on your vehicle per-
formed only by your BMW center or at a work-
shop that works according to BMW repair pro-
cedures with correspondingly trained
personnel. If this work is not carried out prop-
erly, there is a danger of subsequent damage
and related safety hazards.<
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts
and accessories approved by BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested and
approved by BMW and Original BMW Parts, you
simultaneously acquire the assurance that they
have been thoroughly tested by BMW to ensure
optimum performance when installed on your
vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free from
defects in material and workmanship.
BMW will not accept any liability for damage
resulting from installation of parts and accesso-
ries not approved by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made by other
manufacturers to verify if it can be used on a
BMW safely and without risk to either the vehi-
cle, its operation, or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories and
other products approved by BMW, together
with professional advice on using these items,
are available from all BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms, radios,
amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels, suspension
components, brake dust shields, telephones,
including operation of any mobile phone from
within the vehicle without using an externally
mounted antenna, or transceiver equipment, for
instance, CBs, walkie-talkies, ham radio or sim-
ilar accessories, may cause extensive damage

At a glance
11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7
Fog lamps*95
8
Turn signals62
High beams, headlamp flasher94
Roadside parking lamps
*94
Computer68
Settings and information about the
vehicle71
Settings and information about the
vehicle71
Instrument lighting95
9Instrument cluster12
10
Windshield wipers63
Rain sensor
*63
11Switching the ignition on/off and
starting/stopping the engine58
12Ignition lock58
13Buttons on the steering wheel
Telephone
*:
>Press: accepting and ending a
call; starting dialing
* of
selected phone number; redi-
aling if no phone number is
selected.
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice com-
mand system
*
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling through phone book and
lists with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable53
Individually programmable53
14Horn: the entire surface
15Adjusting the steering wheel53
16
Cruise control
*65
17Releasing the hood212
18Opening the luggage compartment lid33

iDrive
22 e.g. a radio station, irrespective of what was
selected on the Control Display.
1.Select the desired function, e.g. radio sta-
tion or CD.
2. ... Press the key longer than
2seconds.
If the car is equipped with two drives and a
CD with compressed audio files is played,
the current track is stored.<
Executing a function
... Press the key.
The function is executed immediately. This
means that, for example, if a phone number is
selected, the connection is established, or if a
navigation destination is called up, destination
guidance is started.
Displaying memory key assignments
You can have the assignment of a memory key
displayed by touching the key with your finger.
Please do not wear gloves when doing so.
Touching the keys with an object such as a pen
will not work.
Displaying brief information
... Touch the key.
The key assignment is displayed.
Navigation destination
Entertainment source
Telephone, phone number
Not assigned
Displaying detailed information
... Touch the key for a longer
period.
Clearing key assignments
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Select "Programmable Memory Keys" and
press the controller.
6.Select "Delete assignment of all memory
keys" and press the controller.
7.Select "Yes" and press the controller.

Controls
29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to
page63
>Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play and in the instrument cluster:
>12h/24h format of the clock, refer to
page76
>Date format, refer to page77
>Brightness of Control Display, refer to
page80
>Language of Control Display, refer to
page80
>Units of measure for fuel consumption,
distance covered/remaining distances,
and temperature, refer to page71
>Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC, refer to page81
>Light settings:
>Welcome lamps, refer to page92
>Pathway lighting, refer to page93
>Daytime running lamps, refer to page93
>Automatic climate control: AUTO program,
cooling function and automatic recircu-
lated-air control activation/deactivation,
temperature, air flow rate and distribution,
refer to page98
>Entertainment:
>Audio volume, refer to page151
>Tone control, refer to page151
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer
to page151
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system functions when the
driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid
>Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
>In cars with convenient access
*, via the
handles on the driver's and front passen-
ger's doors
The anti-theft system is also operated at the
same time. It prevents the doors from being
unlocked using the lock buttons or door han-
dles. In addition, if the remote control is used,
the welcome lamps
*, interior lamps and the
door's courtesy lamps
* are switched on or off.
The alarm system
* is also armed or disarmed.
For further details on the alarm system
*, refer
to page34.
Operating from inside
By means of the button for central locking, refer
to page32.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the
central locking system unlocks automatically. In
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing:
Using the remote control
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle
could lock the doors from the inside. You
should therefore take the remote control with
you when you leave the vehicle so that the latter
can be opened from outside.<
Unlocking
Press the button.
The interior lamps, the courtesy lamps
* and the
welcome lamps come on.
Setting unlocking characteristics
You can set whether only the driver's door or
the entire vehicle is to be unlocked when the
button is pressed for the first time.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.

Opening and closing
30 2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Door locks" is selected and press the
controller.
6.Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select "Unlock button" and press the con-
troller.
8.Select a menu item:
>"All doors"
Press the button once to unlock the
entire vehicle.
>"Driver's door only"
Press the button once to unlock only
the driver's door and the fuel filler door.
Press the button twice to unlock the
entire vehicle.
9.Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Coupe: convenient opening
Hold the button down.
The windows and the glass roof
* are opened.
Convertible: convenient opening*
You can open the convertible top using the
remote control for convenient access within a
range of approx. 13 ft/4 m from the vehicle.
Hold the button down.
The windows and the convertible top are
opened provided that the doors are closed.
If you continue pressing the button, the win-
dows move up.
Watch during the opening process to
ensure that no one is injured. Releasing
the button interrupts the opening process.<
Locking
Press the button.
Convertible: convenient closing*
You can close the convertible top and the win-
dows using the remote control for convenient
access within a range of approx. 13 ft/4 m from
the vehicle.
Hold the button down.
The convertible top and the windows are
closed.
Watch during the closing process to
ensure that no one is injured. Releasing
the button interrupts the closing process.<
Switching on interior lamps
While the car is locked:
Press the button.
You can also use this function to locate your
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Unlocking the luggage compartment
lid
Press the button for a longer period.
The luggage compartment lid opens a short
distance, regardless of whether it was locked or
unlocked.

Controls
31Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The luggage compartment lid swings
backward and up when opened. Ensure
that there is sufficient clearance.
To avoid locking yourself out by accident, do
not place the remote control in the cargo bay.
A previously locked luggage compartment lid is
locked again after closing.
Before and after each trip, check that the lug-
gage compartment lid has not been inadvert-
ently unlocked.<
Confirmation signals
You can activate or deactivate the confirmation
signals.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Door locks" is selected and press the
controller.
6.Select "Confirmation" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select the desired signal
*.
8.Press the controller.
The signals are switched on.
Malfunctions
The remote control may malfunction due to
local radio waves. If this occurs, unlock and lock
the car at the door lock with the integrated key.
In vehicles without an alarm system
* or conve-
nient access
*, only the driver's door can be unlocked and locked using the integrated key in
the door lock.
When the driver's and front passenger's doors
are closed, you can lock and unlock both doors,
the luggage compartment lid and the fuel filler
door using the button for the central locking
system in the interior, refer to page32.
If the car can no longer be locked with a remote
control, the battery in the remote control is dis-
charged. Use the remote control on an
extended trip to recharge the battery, refer to
page28. The remote control for convenient
access contains a battery that may have to be
changed, refer to page37.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communications
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8766S
LX8766E
LX8CAS
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful inter-
ference, and
>this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or
changes to these devices could void the
user's authority to operate this equipment.<

Opening and closing
32
Opening and closing:
Using the door lock
You can set the way in which the car is
unlocked, refer to page29.
If the vehicle is not equipped with an
alarm system
* or convenient access*,
only the driver's door is locked via the door
lock.<
To lock both doors, the fuel filler door and the
luggage compartment lid together:
1.With the doors closed, lock the vehicle
using the button for the central locking sys-
tem in the interior, refer to page32.
2.Unlock and open the driver's or front pas-
senger's door, refer to page33.
3.Lock the vehicle.
>Lock the driver's door using the inte-
grated key in the door lock, or
>press down the lock button of the front
passenger's door and close the door
from the outside.
Convenient operation*
If the car is equipped with an alarm system* or
convenient access
*, you can also control the
power windows and the glass roof
* in the
coupe or the convertible top in the convertible
via the door lock.
Hold the key in the position for unlocking or
locking.
During each closing procedure, and when
opening the convertible top, watch the
process and ensure that no one becomes
trapped. Releasing the key stops the opera-
tion.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can
lock and unlock the driver's door by turning the
integrated key to the corresponding limit posi-
tions in the door lock.
Opening and closing:
From inside
This button serves to unlock or lock doors and
the luggage compartment lid, but does not acti-
vate the anti-theft system. The fuel filler door
remains unlocked.
Automatic locking
You can also set the situations in which the car
locks:
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Door locks" is selected and press the
controller.
6.Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select a menu item:
>"Relock door if not opened"
The central locking system automati-

Controls
49Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Seat with manual longitudinal
adjustment
Convenient entry
The convenient entry feature includes a mem-
ory function for the longitudinal adjustment and
backrest angle.
1.Pull lever 1 and swing the backrest forward.
2.Push the seat forward.
Previous position
Push the seat backward and swing the backrest
back.
When pushing the seat into its rearmost
position, make sure that no one is injured
and that no objects are damaged.
Before driving off, engage both seats and back-
rests so that they are locked in place. Otherwise
there is a risk of accident due to an unexpected
movement.<
Seat with electrical longitudinal
adjustment
Convenient entry
The convenient entry feature includes a mem-
ory function for the longitudinal adjustment and
backrest angle.1.Pull lever 1 and swing the backrest forward.
2.Press the front end 2 of the switch until the
seat has moved into the desired position.
Previous position
Press the rear end 3 of the switch until the seat
automatically stops in its previous position, and
fold the backrest back. If you release the switch
before the previous seat position is reached,
the seat will stop at its current position.
When sliding the seat backward, make
sure no one is injured and no objects are
damaged.
Before driving off, engage both seats and back-
rests so that they are locked in place. Otherwise
there is a risk of accident due to an unexpected
movement.<
Heated seats*
Press once for each temperature level.
Three LEDs indicate the highest temperature.
To switch off:
Press button longer.
If you continue driving within approx.
15 minutes, the seat heating is automatically
activated at the previously set temperature.
The temperature is lowered or the heating is
switched off entirely to save on battery power.
The LEDs stay lit.
Seat and mirror memory*
You can store and call up two different combi-
nations of driver's-seat and exterior-mirror
positions.

Adjustments
50 Settings for the backrest width and lumbar sup-
port are not stored in memory.
Storing
1.Switch on radio readiness or the ignition,
refer to page58.
2.Adjust the seat and exterior mirrors to the
desired positions.
3.Press the button.
The LED in the button lights up.
4.Press the desired memory button 1 or 2: the
LED goes out.
Call-up
Do not call up memory while you are driv-
ing, otherwise unexpected seat move-
ment could result in an accident.<
Convenience mode
1.Unlock and open the driver's door or switch
on radio readiness, refer to page58.
2.Lightly push the desired memory button1
or 2.
The adjusting procedure is halted when you
touch a seat adjustment switch or one of
the memory buttons.
Safety feature
1.Close the driver's door and switch the igni-
tion on or off, refer to page58.
2.Press the desired memory button1 or2
and keep it pressed until the adjustment
process has been completed.
If the button was pressed accidentally:
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
Call-up with the remote control
The driver's seat position last stored is stored
for the remote control currently in use.
You can select the occasion on which the seat is
reset to that position.
>Call-up when the vehicle is unlocked.
>Call-up when the driver's door is opened.
When this Personal Profile function is
used, first make sure that the footwell
behind the driver's seat is free of obstacles.
Failure to do so could cause injury to persons or
damage to objects as a result of a rearward
movement of the seat.<
The adjusting procedure is halted when you
touch a seat adjustment switch or one of the
memory buttons.
Selecting automatic call-up
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Door locks" is selected and press the
controller.
6.Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select "Last seat pos." and press the con-
troller.