airbag BMW 640I CONVERTIBLE 2012 Owners Manual

Symbol Function or system
High beams
High-beam Assistant*
Parking lamps, headlamp control
Cruise control*
Lane departure warning*
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
DSC Dynamic Stability Control or
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
Tire Pressure Monitor*
Flat Tire Monitor
Safety belts
Airbag system
Steering system Symbol Function or system
Emissions
Brake system
Brake system in Canadian models
Antilock Brake System ABS
Antilock Brake System ABS in Cana‐
dian models
Text messages
Text
messages in combination with a symbol in
the instrument cluster explain a Check Control
message and the meaning of the indicator and
warning lamps.
Supplementary text messages
Additional information on the Control Display,
e.g., on the cause of a malfunction or the re‐
quired action, can be called up via Check Con‐
trol, refer to page 82.
The text of urgent messages is displayed auto‐
matically.
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls
At a glance

All around the interior rearview mirror
1 Emergency Request*  248
2 Reading lamps*  
87 3 Interior lamps  87
4 Indicator lamp, front passenger
airbag*  90
Seite 18
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Adjusting
Sitting safely
The
ideal seating position can make a vital con‐
tribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving.
The seating position plays an important role in
an accident in combination with:
▷ Safety belts, refer to page 56.
▷ Head restraints, refer to page 57.
▷ Airbags, refer to page 88.
Seats
Adjusting
General information Do not adjust the seat while driving
Never attempt to adjust the driver's seat
while driving.
The

seat could respond with unexpected move‐
ment and the ensuing loss of vehicle control
could lead to an accident.◀
Do not incline the backrest too far to the
rear
Do not incline the backrest on the front passen‐
ger side too far to the rear during driving. Oth‐
erwise, there is the danger of sliding under the
safety belt in an accident. This would eliminate
the protection normally provided by the belt.◀
The seat setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use. When the vehicle is unlocked
via the remote control, the position is automati‐
cally retrieved if this function, refer to page 37,
was activated. At a glance
1
Active seat*
2 Seat, mirror, and steering wheel memory*
3 Backrest width*
4 Lumbar support*
5 Backrest, head restraint*
6 Shoulder support*
7 Forward/back, height, tilt*
8 Thigh support*
Adjustments in detail
1. Forward/back. 2.
Height. Seite 53
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Controls At a glance

Safety belts
Seats with safety belt
The vehicle has four seats, each of which is
equipped with a safety belt.
Notes
Always make sure that safety belts are being
worn by all occupants before driving away.
Although airbags enhance safety by providing
added protection, they are not a substitute for
safety belts.
One person per safety belt
Never
allow more than one person to wear
a single safety belt. Never allow infants or small
children to ride on a passenger's lap.◀
Putting on the belt
Lay the belt, without twisting, snugly
across the lap and shoulders, as close to the
body as possible. Make sure that the belt lies low
around the hips in the lap area and does not
press on the abdomen. Otherwise, the belt can
slip over the hips in the lap area in a frontal im‐
pact and injure the abdomen.
The safety belt must not lie across the neck, rub
on sharp edges, be routed over solid or breaka‐
ble objects, or be pinched.◀
Reduction of restraining effect
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the
belt from fitting properly, and pull the shoulder
belt periodically to readjust the tension across
your lap; otherwise, the retention effect of the
safety belt may be reduced.◀ Buckling the belt
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in the
belt buckle.
Unbuckling the belt
1.
Hold the belt firmly.
2. Press the red button in the belt buckle.
3. Guide the belt back into its reel.
Safety belt reminder for the driver's and
front passenger seat The indicator lamp flashes or lights up
and a signal sounds. Make sure that the
safety belts are positioned correctly.
The safety belt reminder is active at speeds
above approx. 5 mph/8 km/h. It can also be ac‐
tivated if objects are placed on the front pas‐
senger seat.
Damage to safety belts
In the case of strain caused by accidents or
damage:
Have the safety belts, including the safety belt
tensioners, replaced and have the belt anchors
checked.
Checking and replacing safety belts
Have the work performed only by your
service center; otherwise, it cannot be ensured
that this safety feature will function properly.◀ Seite 56
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Adjusting

Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Note
Children in the vehicle
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger them‐
selves and other persons, e.g., by opening the
doors.◀
Children should always be in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest place
for children is in the back seat.
Transporting children in the rear
Only transport children younger than
13
years of age or shorter than 5 ft/150 cm in the
rear in child restraint fixing systems provided in
accordance with the age, weight and size of the
child; otherwise, there is an increased risk of in‐
jury in an accident.
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint
fixing system can no longer be used, due to their
age, weight and size.◀
Children on the front passenger seat
Should it ever be necessary to use a child re‐
straint fixing system in the front passenger seat,
make sure that the front, knee and side airbags
on the front passenger side are deactivated. Au‐
tomatic deactivation of front passenger airbags,
refer to page 89.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there is
an increased risk of injury to the child when the
airbags are triggered, even with a child restraint
fixing system.◀ Installing child restraint fixing
systems
Notes
Manufacturer's information for child re‐
straint fixing systems
To select, mount and use child restraint fixing
systems, observe the information provided by
the system manufacturer; otherwise, the pro‐
tective effect can be impaired.
◀
On the front passenger seat
After installing a child restraint fixing system in
the front passenger seat, make sure that the
front, knee and side airbags on the front pas‐
senger side are deactivated.
Deactivate the front passenger airbags auto‐
matically, refer to page 89.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there is
an increased risk of injury to the child when the
airbags are triggered, even with a child restraint
fixing system.◀
Seat position and height
Before installing a child restraint fixing system,
move the front passenger seat as far back as
possible and adjust its height to the highest po‐
sition to obtain the best possible position for the
belt and to offer optimal protection in the event
of an accident.
Do not change the seat position and height after
this.
Backrest width*
Before installing a child restraint fixing system in
the front passenger seat, open the backrest
width completely. Do not change the backrest Seite 62
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Transporting children safely

Safety
Airbags
1
Front airbag, driver
2 Front airbag, front passenger 3
Side airbag
4 Knee airbags
Front airbags
Front airbags help protect the driver and front
passenger by responding to frontal impacts in
which safety belts alone cannot provide ade‐
quate restraint.
Side airbags
In a lateral impact, the side airbag supports the
side
of the body in the chest, lap, and head area.
Knee airbag
The knee airbag supports the legs in a frontal
impact.
Protective action
Airbags are not triggered in every impact situa‐
tion, e.g., in less severe accidents or rear-end
collisions. Information on how to ensure the optimal
protective effect of the airbags
▷ Keep at a distance from the airbags.
▷ Always grasp the steering wheel on the
steering wheel rim, holding your hands at
the

3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, to keep
the danger of injury to your hands or arms as
low as possible if the airbag is triggered.
▷ There should be no people, animals, or ob‐
jects between an airbag and a person.
▷ Do not use the cover of the front airbag on
the front passenger side as a storage area.
▷ Keep the dashboard and window on the
front

passenger side clear, i.e., do not cover
with adhesive labels or coverings, and do not
attach holders such as for navigation instru‐
ments and mobile phones. Seite 88
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Safety

▷
Make sure that the front passenger is sitting
correctly, i.e., keeps his or her feet and legs
in the footwell; otherwise, leg injuries can
occur if the front airbag is triggered.
▷ Do not place slip covers, seat cushions or
other objects on the front passenger seat
that are not approved specifically for seats
with integrated side airbags.
▷ Do not hang pieces of clothing, such as jack‐
ets, over the backrests.
▷ Make sure that occupants keep their heads
away from the side airbag; otherwise, inju‐
ries can occur if the airbags are deployed.
▷ Do not remove the airbag restraint system.
▷ Do not remove the steering wheel.
▷ Do not apply adhesive materials to the air‐
bag cover panels, cover them or modify
them in any way.
▷ Never modify either the individual compo‐
nents
or the wiring in the airbag system. This
also applies to steering wheel covers, the
dashboard, and the seats.◀
Even when all instructions are followed closely,
injury from contact with the airbags cannot be
ruled out in certain situations.
The ignition and inflation noise may lead to
short-term

and, in most cases, temporary hear‐
ing impairment in sensitive individuals.
In the case of a malfunction, deactivation
and after triggering of the airbags
Do not touch the individual components imme‐
diately after the system has been triggered; oth‐
erwise, there is the danger of burns.
Only have the airbags checked, repaired or dis‐
mantled and the airbag generator scrapped by
your service center or a workshop that has the
necessary authorization for handling explosives.
Non-professional attempts to service the sys‐
tem could lead to failure in an emergency or un‐
desired triggering of the airbag, either of which
could result in injury.◀
Warnings and information on the airbags are
also found on the sun visors. Functional readiness of the airbag
system
When

the ignition is switch on, the warn‐
ing lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up briefly and thereby indicates the op‐
erational readiness of the entire airbag system
and the belt tensioner.
Airbag system malfunctioning
▷ In radio ready state, the warning lamp does
not come on.
▷ The warning lamp lights up continuously.
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‐ Seite 89
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Controls At a glance

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 objects on the front pas‐
senger seat.
▷ 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.
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‐
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.◀ Seite 90
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Safety

Rollover protection system
The concept
The
rollover protection system is activated dur‐
ing an accident or a critical driving situation,
when there is extreme tilt with respect to the
longitudinal axis or when there is loss of ground
contact. The safety frames located behind the
rear headrests extend within fractions of a sec‐
ond.
In addition to the rollover bracket integrated in
the front windshield frame, the rollover protec‐
tion system guarantees the required head clear‐
ance of all vehicle occupants.
Maintaining movement space
Always keep the movement space of the
rollover protection system clear. Otherwise,
there may be damage or injuries when the roll‐
over protection system is triggered.◀
In less severe accidents, the secured safety belt
and, depending on the severity of the accident,
the belt tensioner and airbag restraint system
provide protection.
Triggered rollover protection system
After deployment or damage
After deployment of the rollover protec‐
tion system or in the event of damage, have the
system checked and replaced.
Have this work performed only by your service
center; otherwise, it cannot be ensured that this
safety feature will function properly.◀
Do not move convertible top
When the rollover protection system is ex‐
tended, do not move the convertible top. Oth‐
erwise, damages or injuries may result.◀
If the rollover protection system was not placed
under any stress after an automatic triggering, it
can be pushed back by hand, e.g. to close the
convertible top. Three people are necessary for
this. 1.
Push the lever to the side and hold it in this
position. 2.
Push down the safety frame.
3. Release lever.
4. Hold down the safety frame.
5. Proceed likewise with the second safety
frame.
6. Close the convertible top
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation
or after deployment
Only have the airbags checked, repaired or dis‐
mantled

and the system scrapped by your serv‐
ice center. Non-professional attempts to service
the system could lead to failure in an emergency
or undesired triggering of the airbag, either of
which could result in injury.◀
Malfunction
A Check Control message is displayed
when there is a malfunction.
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 Seite 91
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Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS, Antilock Brake Sys‐
tem 101
Activated-charcoal filter 126
Active Blind Spot Detec‐ tion 98
Active seat, front 55
Active seat ventilation, front 55
Active Steering, integral 102
Adaptive brake lights, refer to Brake force display 100
Adaptive drive 102
Adaptive light control 85
Additional telephone 196
Additives, oil 239
Adjustments, seats/head re‐ straints 53
Airbags 88
Airbags, indicator/warning light 89
Air circulation, refer to Recir‐ culated-air mode 125
Air distribution, manual 123
Air drying, refer to Cooling function 125
Air pressure, tires 229
Air vents, refer to Ventila‐ tion 126
Air volume, automatic climate control 124
Alarm system 42
Alarm, unintentional 43
All around the center con‐ sole 17
All
around the interior rearview
mirror 18
All around the steering wheel 12
ALL program, automatic cli‐ mate control 125 All-season tires, refer to Win‐
ter tires 233
Alternating-code hand-held transmitter 129
Alternative oil types 239
AM/FM station 166
Announcement, navigation, refer to Spoken instruc‐
tions 155
Antifreeze, washer fluid 71
Antilock Brake System, ABS 101
Anti-slip control, refer to DSC 101
Appointments 212
Approved engine oils 239
Apps 222
Armrest, refer to Center arm‐ rest 132
Arrival time 78
Ashtray 129
Assist 218
Assistance, Roadside Assis‐ tance 249
Assistance when driving off 101
Audio playback 173
Audio playback, Blue‐ tooth 188
AUTO intensity 124
Automatic car wash 254
Automatic Curb Monitor 59
Automatic deactivation, front passenger airbags 89
Automatic headlamp con‐ trol 85
Automatic Hold 67
Automatic locking 39
Automatic recirculated-air control 125
Automatic Soft Closing, doors 40 Automatic transmission with
Steptronic 72
AUTO program, automatic cli‐ mate control 124
AUTO program, intensity 124
AUX-IN port 184
Average fuel consumption 77
Average speed 77
Axle loads, weights 261
B
Backrest curvature, refer to Lumbar support 54
Backrest, seats 53
Backrest, width 54
Backup camera 110
Backup lamps, bulb replace‐ ment 245
Balance 164
Band-Aids, refer to First aid kit 249
Bar for tow-starting/tow‐ ing 252
Bass 164
Battery replacement, vehicle battery 247
Battery replacement, vehicle remote control 32
Battery, vehicle 247
Before entering the car wash 254
Belts, safety belts 56
Beverage holder, cu‐ pholder 133
Bluetooth audio 188
BMW Apps 222
BMW Apps, video play‐ back 187
BMW Assist 218
BMW EfficientDynamics, refer to Saving fuel 141
BMW homepage 6
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Everything from A to Z