sensor BMW 330XI IDRIVE SEDAN 2005 Owners Manual
Page 12 of 223
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7Instrument cluster12
10Ignition lock49
11Buttons
* on the steering wheel12Horn: the entire surface
13Steering wheel adjustment44
15Releasing the hood180
16Opening the luggage compartment lid
*
6
Turn signals53
High beams, headlamp flasher86
Roadside parking lamps
*86
Computer65
Settings and information about the 
vehicle68
Instrument lighting87
8
Windshield wipers54
Rain sensor
*54
9Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine49
Telephone
*:
>Press briefly: receiving and 
ending a call, starting dialing
* 
for a selected number
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice com-
mand system
*
Switching radio stations
Selecting music tracks
Scrolling through phone book
Individually programmable45
Individually programmable45
14
Cruise control*55
Active cruise control
*57 
Page 35 of 223
Opening and closing
34
Closing
The handle recesses on the interior trim of the 
luggage compartment lid make it easier to pull 
down.
Make sure that the closing path of the 
luggage compartment lid is clear, as oth-
erwise injuries may result.<
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the luggage com-
partment lid is opened
>To movements inside the vehicle: Interior 
motion sensor, refer to the information fur-
ther below
>When the car's inclination changes, for 
instance if an attempt is made to jack it up 
and steal the wheels or to raise it prior to 
towing away
>When there is an interruption in the power 
supply from the battery.
The system responds to unauthorized vehicle 
entry and attempted theft by simultaneously 
activating:
>An acoustic alarm, which lasts for a period 
of approx. 30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers, which operate 
for approx. 5 minutes
*
>The high beams, which flash on and off in 
the same rhythm.
Arming and disarming
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with 
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm 
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
The system indicates that it has been correctly 
armed by switching on the hazard warning 
flashers for a single cycle and by emitting an 
acoustic signal.
Even when the alarm system is armed, you can 
open the luggage compartment lid by means of 
the   button on the remote control, refer to 
page30. When you subsequently close the lug-
gage compartment lid it is again locked and 
monitored.
Switching off an alarm
>Unlock the car with the remote control, refer 
to page30, or
>insert the remote control all the way into the 
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the inside rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking: 
doors, hood or luggage compartment lid are 
not properly closed. Even if you do not close 
the alerted area, the system begins to mon-
itor the remaining areas, and the indicator 
lamp flashes continuously after approx. 10 
seconds. However, the interior motion sen-
sor is not activated.
>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking: 
your vehicle has not been disturbed while 
you were away. 
Page 36 of 223
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>If the indicator lamp flashes after unlocking 
until the remote control is inserted in the 
ignition, but for no longer than approx. 
5 minutes: your vehicle has been disturbed 
while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor and interior motion 
sensor
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm 
system reacts, e.g. to attempts to steal a wheel 
or tow the vehicle.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof 
must be completely closed.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor 
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following 
situations:
>In duplex garages
>When transporting on car-carrying trains
>When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor
Press the   button on the remote control 
twice in a row.
The indicator lamp comes on for approx. two 
seconds, then begins to flash steadily. The tilt 
alarm sensor and the interior motion sensor are 
switched off until the next time the vehicle is 
unlocked and subsequently locked again.
Windows
To prevent injuries, exercise care when 
closing the windows and keep them in 
your field of vision until they are shut. 
When leaving the car, take the remote control 
out of the ignition lock and close the doors, oth-erwise children could operate the power win-
dows and possibly injure themselves.<
Opening, closing
>Press the switch to the resistance point.
The window continues to open as long as 
you keep the switch pressed.
>Briefly press the switch beyond the resis-
tance point. 
The window opens automatically. Briefly 
press the switch again to stop the opening 
movement.
You can close the windows in the same manner 
by pulling the switch.
There are separate switches in the rear seat 
armrests.
After switching off the ignition
You can still operate the windows:
>In radio readiness, for approx. 15 minutes
>For about one minute when the remote 
control is removed or the ignition and radio 
readiness are switched off, as long as nei-
ther front door has been opened
For information on convenient operation via the 
remote control or door lock, refer to page30 
or31. 
Take the remote control with you when 
you leave the car, otherwise children 
could operate the electric windows and possi-
bly injure themselves.<
Anti-trapping mechanism
If the closing force of an electric window 
exceeds a specific value as it closes, the closing  
Page 55 of 223
Driving
54
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating intermittent wipe or 
rain sensor
*
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
5Setting speed for intermittent wipe, or sen-
sitivity of the rain sensor
Switching on wipers
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once.
The system switches to operation in the inter-
mittent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance 
point. 
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 
sensor is mounted on the windshield, directly in 
front of the interior rearview mirror.
Activating intermittent wipe or rain 
sensor
Press button 3. The LED in the button lights up.
Setting speed for intermittent wipe or 
sensitivity of the rain sensor
Slide switch5 up or down.
Deactivating intermittent wipe or rain 
sensor
Press button 3 again. 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*
Pull lever 4.
Washer fluid is sprayed onto the windshield and 
the wipers are operated for a short time.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched 
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and 
appropriate intervals.
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.<
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are heated 
automatically while the engine is running or the 
ignition switched on. 
Page 61 of 223
Driving
60 >When you deactivate the Dynamic Stability 
Control DSC
>When DSC or ABS is intervening
>When the system does not recognize any 
objects for a longer period of time, e.g. on 
infrequently traveled roads without a shoul-
der or guard rails, or if the radar sensor is 
covered with dirt, refer to page61
>When you actuate the handbrake while driv-
ing
When the system is deactivated, you 
must brake the vehicle yourself and/or 
maneuver as necessary, otherwise there is a 
risk of accident.<
Warning lamp
The warning lamp comes on when 
active cruise control has been auto-
matically deactivated due to one of 
the following factors: you are driving under a 
speed of 20 mph or 30 km/h, the handbrake is 
applied, or DSC is intervening. A message 
appears on the Control Display.
Resuming stored desired speed and 
distance
Press button 4. 
The stored speed and distance are regained 
and maintained.
In the following instances, the stored speed is 
deleted and can no longer be resumed:
>When driving control systems are interven-
ing
>In cars with manual transmission: when you 
shift gears very slowly or engage neutral 
gear
>In cars with automatic transmission: when 
you engage selector lever position N
>When the ignition is switched off
Displays in the instrument cluster
1Stored desired speed
2Shows yellow: vehicle detected ahead
Flashes in red: system cannot maintain dis-
tance; driver must brake the vehicle
Flashes in yellow: driving control systems 
are intervening; cruise control is deacti-
vated
3Selected distance to vehicle ahead
The indicator lights up as soon as the sys-
tem is activated.
4Selected desired speed is temporarily dis-
played
If --- mph or --- km/h temporarily appears 
in the instrument cluster display, it is pos-
sible that the system prerequisites for operation 
are currently not met. Calling up Check Control 
messages, refer to page74.<
Warning lamps
The indicator2 flashes in red; a 
signal sounds. 
The system indicates that you 
must brake and/or maneuver the 
vehicle yourself. Active cruise con-
trol cannot automatically restore the distance to 
the vehicle ahead. 
This indicator does not release you, however, 
from your responsibility to adapt your desired 
speed and driving style to prevailing driving 
conditions.
The indicator 2 flashes in yellow. 
The prerequisites for operating 
active cruise control are not met, 
e.g. as a result of ABS or DSC  
Page 62 of 223
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interventions. Active cruise control is deacti-
vated. You can reactivate the system, if desired, 
by tapping or pulling the lever when road and 
traffic conditions permit this. It is not possible to 
resume a stored speed.
Radar sensor
The sensor's ability to detect vehicles ahead 
may be restricted as a result of heavy rain, dirt, snow or ice. If necessary, clean the radar sensor 
located in the front bumper, see arrow. Be sure 
t o  u s e  p a r t i c ul a r  c a r e  w h e n r e m o v i n g  a n y  l a y e r s  
of snow or ice from the sensor.
When the radar sensor is not properly posi-
tioned, active cruise control cannot be activated 
at all.
Malfunction
The warning lamp comes on when 
the system has failed. A message 
appears on the Control Display. You 
can find more information starting on page73.
System limitations
Always remember that the range and abil-
ity of the system does have physical limi-
tations. It will not apply the brakes or decelerate 
your vehicle when there is a slow-moving vehi-
cle, stopped vehicle or stationary object ahead 
of you, as for example, at a traffic light or a 
parked vehicle. Also, the system does not react 
to oncoming traffic, pedestrians or other types 
of potential traffic such as a rider on horseback. 
It is also possible that the system may not 
detect smaller moving objects such as motor-
cycles or bicycles. Be especially alert when 
encountering any of these situations as the sys-
tem will neither automatically brake, nor provide 
a warning to you. Also, be aware that every 
decrease in the distance setting allows your 
vehicle to come closer to a vehicle in front of you and requires a heightened amount of alert-
ness.<
Active cruise control is not and must not 
be used as a collision avoidance/warning 
system.<
If while your vehicle is actively following a vehi-
cle in front of you and the vehicle ahead speeds 
up or the lane ahead becomes clear, then your 
vehicle will accelerate to the speed you have 
selected. Be aware that changing to a clear, 
unobstructed lane will also result in your vehicle 
accelerating.
Be certain to deactivate the system when 
you pull into an exit lane for a highway off-
ramp.<
Also, vehicles traveling in a staggered manner 
on a highway may cause a delay in the system's  
Page 78 of 223
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Technology for driving comfort and safety
PDC Park Distance Control*
The concept
The PDC assists you with maneuvering in tight 
parking spaces. Acoustic signals and a visual 
indicator
 warn you of the presence of an object 
in front of
* or behind your car. To measure the 
distance, there are four ultrasonic sensors in 
each bumper. The sensors at the front
* and at 
the two rear corners have a range of approx. 
24 in/60 cm; the rear middle sensors have 
approx. 5 ft/1.50 m.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate 
objects when they are approached 
slowly, as is usually the case when parking. 
Avoid approaching an object at high speed, as 
otherwise physical circumstances may lead to 
the system warning being issued too late.<
Automatic mode
With the engine running or the ignition switched 
on, the system is activated automatically after 
approx. 1 second when you engage reverse 
gear or move the automatic transmission selec-
tor lever to position R. Wait this short period 
before driving.
Manual operation*
Press the button, the LED lights up.
Deactivating manual mode
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
The system is automatically deactivated once 
the vehicle travels approx. 165 ft/50 m or exceeds a speed of roughly 20 mph or 30 km/h; 
the LED goes out. You can reactivate the sys-
tem manually as needed.
Signal tones
When nearing an object, its position is indicated 
correspondingly by an interval tone. For exam-
ple, the tone sounds at the rear if the system 
detects an object behind the car. As the dis-
tance between vehicle and object decreases, 
the intervals between the tones become 
shorter. If the distance to the nearest object 
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm, then a contin-
uous tone sounds.
The warning signal is canceled after approx. 
3 seconds, if you are moving parallel to a wall.
Malfunction
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on. PDC is malfunc-
tioning. A message appears on the 
Control Display. Have the system checked.
To avoid this problem, keep the sensors clean 
and free of ice or snow in order to ensure that 
they will continue to operate effectively.
Manual mode
The LED above the button flashes in addition.
PDC with optical warning
You can also have the system show distances 
to objects on the Control Display. The contours 
of distant objects are shown on the Control Dis-
play even before the acoustic signal sounds. 
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
iDrive concept, refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the 
controller. 
Page 79 of 223
Technology for driving comfort and safety
78 4.Select "PDC" and press the controller.
5.Select "PDC display on" and press the con-
troller.
6. The PDC screen is activated.
The display is shown on the Control Display as 
soon as PDC is activated.
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for 
estimating the distance between the 
vehicle and any obstructions always remains 
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind spot in which objects can 
no longer be detected. The system is also sub-
ject to the physical limits that apply to all forms 
of ultrasonic measurement, such as those 
encountered with trailer towbars and couplings, 
thin and wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low 
objects already indicated, such as a curb, may 
enter the sensors' dead areas before a continu-
ous audible signal is given. Higher, protruding 
objects, such as ledges, may not be detectable. 
Loud sound sources outside or inside the car 
can drown out the PDC signal.<
Keep the sensors clean and free of ice or 
snow in order to ensure that they will con-
tinue to operate effectively.
Do not spray the sensors for a long period of 
time using high-pressure cleaners and maintain 
a distance of at least 4 in/10 cm when spraying 
the sensors.<
Driving stability control 
systems
Your BMW has a number of systems that help 
to maintain the vehicle's stability even in 
adverse driving conditions.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during 
braking. Safe steering response is maintained 
even during full braking. Active safety is thus 
increased.
The ABS is operational every time you start the 
engine. Braking safely, refer to page107.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the 
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
DBC Dynamic Brake Control
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system 
automatically produces the maximum braking 
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. This system exploits all of the benefits pro-
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal 
for the duration of the brake application. If the 
brake pedal is released, DBC will be switched 
off.
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
DSC prevents the driving wheels from losing 
traction when you pull away from rest or accel-
erate. DSC also recognizes unstable driving 
conditions, for example if the rear of the car is 
about to swerve or if momentum is acting at an 
angle past the front wheels. In these cases, 
DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe course 
within physical limits by reducing engine output 
and through braking actions at the individual 
wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, 
even with DSC. An appropriate driving 
style always remains the responsibility of the 
driver. Therefore, do not reduce the additional 
safety margin again by taking risks.< 
Page 90 of 223
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Controlling the climate for pleasant driving
1Airflow directed toward the windshield and 
side windows
2Air to the upper body area 
Draft-free ventilation92
3Air to the footwell
4Air distribution, manual
5Temperature adjustment, left-hand side of 
passenger compartment
6Maximum cooling
7AUTO program
8Air flow rate, manual
9AUC Automatic recirculated-air control/
Recirculated-air mode10Temperature adjustment, right-hand side 
of passenger compartment
11Residual heat
12Defrosting windows and removing conden-
sation
13Switching cooling function on/off manually
14Rear window defroster
15Air grill for interior temperature sensor – 
please keep clear and unobstructed
The current setting for the air distribution is dis-
played on the Control Display, refer to page90. 
Page 92 of 223
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Intensity of the AUTO program
You can set the intensity of the air supply in the 
AUTO program. This changes the duration of 
time during which the vehicle interior is heated 
or cooled.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Call up "Climate".
3.Select "Automatic programs" and press the 
controller.
4.Select the desired area.
5.Press the controller to set the desired inten-
sity.
 The selected intensity level of the auto-
matic program is switched on.
Adjusting air flow rate manually
Press the left side of the button to 
reduce airflow. Press the right side 
of the button to increase it. You can 
reactivate the automatic mode for the air flow 
rate with the AUTO button.
Switching the system on/off
With the blower at its lowest setting, press the 
left side of the button to switch off the auto-
matic climate control. All indicators go out.
Press any button except REST to reactivate the 
automatic climate control.
AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control/Recirculated-air mode
Set the desired operating mode by 
pressing this button repeatedly:
>LEDs off: outside air flows in 
continuously.>Left-hand LED on, AUC mode: a sensor 
detects pollutants in the outside air. If nec-
essary, the system blocks the supply of out-
side air and recirculates the inside air. As 
soon as the concentration of pollutants in 
the outside air has decreased sufficiently, 
the system automatically switches back to 
outside air supply.
>Right-hand LED on, recirculated-air mode: 
the supply of outside air is permanently 
shut off. The system then recirculates the 
air currently within the vehicle.
You can activate/deactivate the recirculated-air 
mode by means of a freely programmable but-
ton
* in the steering wheel, refer to page11.
If condensation starts to form on the 
inside window surfaces during operation 
in the recirculated-air mode, you should switch 
it off while also increasing the air flow rate as 
required. 
The recirculated-air mode should not be used 
over an extended period of time, as otherwise 
the air quality inside the car will deteriorate con-
tinuously.<
Using residual heat
The heat stored in the engine is 
used to heat the passenger com-
partment, e.g. while stopped at a 
school to pick up a child.
You can use this function for up to 15 minutes 
after switching off the engine if it is warm and 
the battery is sufficiently well charged. The out-
side temperature must be below 777/256. 
The LED in the button comes on if these condi-
tions are met and the function is activated.
Defrosting windows and removing 
condensation
This program quickly removes ice 
and condensation from the wind-
shield and front side windows. 
When the program is switched on, the LED 
comes on.