steering BMW 645I CONVERTIBLE 2005 E63 Owner's Guide

Controls
87Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag retention
system from the vehicle. Never modify or
tamper with either the wiring or the individual
components in the airbag system. This cate-
gory includes the upholstery in the center of the
steering wheel, on the instrument panel, the
side trim panels on the doors and on the Coupe,
the roof pillars along with the sides of the head-
liner. Do not attempt to remove or dismantle the
steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
If you note any indication of system malfunc-
tion, if you wish to have an airbag deactivated,
or if the airbag retention system is triggered in
response to an accident, you should always
entrust all inspection, repair and dismantling
operations to your BMW center. Unprofessional
attempts to service the system could lead to
failure in an emergency or undesired airbag
activation, either of which could result in per-
sonal injury.<
Airbag warning information is also provided on
the sun visors.
Operational readiness of airbag system
From ignition key position 1 the warning lamp
lights up briefly, indicating the operational
readiness of the entire airbag system and the
belt tensioners.
Airbag system malfunction
>The warning lamp does not light up as of
ignition key position 1.>The warning lamp lights up continuously.
Have the airbag system checked immedi-
ately if a malfunction occurs, as otherwise
there is a danger of the system not responding
in the expected manner to an impact occurring
within its normal response range.<
Convertible:
Rollover protection system
The rollover protection system is automatically
activated in the event of an accident or a critical
driving situation, extreme inclination on the lon-
gitudinal or transverse axis, or loss of ground
contact. The rollover bars located behind the
rear head restraints are deployed within frac-
tions of a second.
As a supplement to the rollover bar integrated
into the windshield frame, the rollover protec-
tion system ensures that all vehicle occupants
have the necessary headroom.
Always keep the path of movement of the
rollover protection system clear.
In less severe accidents, you are protected by
the fastened safety belt and, depending on the
severity of the accident, the belt tensioner and
the multistage airbag restraint system.<
Lowering
If the protection function was not required after
automatic activation, the rollover protection
system can be lowered again. No tools are nec-
essary for this purpose.
1.Press the release backward and hold in that
position.

Lamps
92 The low beams remain on independent of
the ambient lighting conditions when you
switch on the fog lamps.
With the daytime driving lamps activated, the
low beams are always switched on in this switch
position with the ignition key in position 2.<
The automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for your personal
judgment in determining when the lamps
should be switched on in response to ambient
lighting conditions. For example, the system
cannot detect fog. To avoid safety risks, you
should always switch on the lamps manually
under these conditions.<
Adaptive Head Light*
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp
control system that enables better illumination
of the road surface. Depending on the steering
angle and other assumptions, the light from the
headlamp follows the course of the road.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
In switch position3 the Adaptive Head Light is
active and the automatic headlamp control is
switched on.
To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the Adaptive
Head Light
>is not active when driving in reverse
>i s o n l y a c t i v e t o w a r d p a s s e n g e r ' s s i d e w h e n
stationary
Malfunction
The LED beside the symbol for automatic head-
lamp control flashes. The Adaptive Head Light
is malfunctioning or has failed. Have the system
checked as soon as possible.
High beams/
roadside parking lamps
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Roadside parking lamps
Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just one
side of your vehicle when parking. When using
this function, comply with national regulations:
With the ignition switched off, press the lever in
the desired direction3, past the resistance
point.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Avoid using for longer periods, as
otherwise it may not be possible to start the
engine.<
Fog lamps
The parking lamps or low beams must
be switched on for the fog lamps to
operate. The green indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up when the fog
lamps are switched on.

Driving tips
109Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Mobile communication devices in
vehicle
BMW advises against using mobile com-
munication devices, e.g. portable phones,
inside the vehicle without a direct connection to
an external antenna. Otherwise, the vehicle
electronics and mobile communication device
can influence one another. In addition, there is
no assurance that the radiation emitted during
transmission will be conveyed out of the vehicle
interior.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or
complete loss of contact between the tires and
the road surface, ultimately undermining your
ability to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread
depth of the tires decreases, also refer to Mini-
mum tire tread on page171.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if it
is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at
walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the vehi-
cle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Using handbrake on inclines.
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with
the clutch; use the handbrake. Otherwise
greater clutch wear will result.<
SMG Sequential manual transmission
Start off quickly on slopes. Do not hold
the vehicle on a hill by applying the throt-
tle, but engage the handbrake instead. Other-
wise overheating can occur in the transmission
region.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as standard. In
situations that require it, it is best to brake with
full force. Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can still avoid possible
obstacles with a minimum of steering effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the
brake pedal. Even light but consistent
pedal pressure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
When driving on wet roads or in heavy rain,
briefly brake with light pedal pressure at inter-
vals of a few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure
that full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and thus reduced
efficiency of the brake system, downshift
to a gear in which only minimal brake applica-
tions are needed when descending long or
steep downhill stretches. Even light but consis-
tent pedal pressure can lead to high tempera-
tures, brake wear and possibly even brake fail-
ure.<
You can further enhance the engine's braking
effect by selecting a lower gear in the automatic
transmission's manual mode, downshifting as
far as first gear on extremely steep stretches,
refer to page58. This strategy helps you avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake system.
Never drive with the clutch pressed
or allow the vehicle to coast with the
transmission in Neutral – or with the engine
switched off – there is no engine braking when
the transmission is in Neutral, and no power
assist for brakes and steering when the engine
is not running.

Destination guidance
126
Destination guidance
through voice instructions
Switching voice instructions on/off
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page16.
1.Open start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Display settings" and press the
controller.
4.Select "Languages" and press the control-
ler.
5.Select "Navigation voice instructions on"
and press the controller.
The voice instructions are switched on.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Repeating and canceling voice
instructions
With the programmable buttons on the steering
wheel, you can also make the following set-
tings, refer to page51:
>Repeat the voice instruction:
Press the button.
>Switch voice instructions on/off:
Maintain pressure on the button for several
seconds.
Adjusting volume
1.Repeat the last voice instruction, if required.
2.Turn the button during the voice instruction
to select the desired volume.
This volume is independent of the volume of the
audio sources.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.

On/off and tone
132
On/off and tone
The following audio sources have shared
controls and setting options:
>Radio Business
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons near CD player
>Control Center
>Buttons on the steering wheel, refer to
page11
Buttons near CD player
The layout of the buttons can vary depending
on your vehicle's equipment.
Equipment with single drive:Equipment with two drives:
1Sound output for Entertainment on/off,
volume
>Press: to switch on/off.
When you switch on, the last set radio
station or CD track is played.
>Turn: to adjust volume.
2Drive for audio CDs
3 Eject CD
4Station scan/track scan
>Change radio station.
>Select track for CD player and
CD changer.
5Drive for navigation DVDs
Operation using Control Center
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page16.
1.Press button.
This opens the start menu.

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
133Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
2.Move the controller backward to open
"Entertainment".
You have the following choices:
>"FM" or "AM": select radio reception.
>"WB": call up Weather Band station.
>"SAT": select satellite radio.
>"CD": select CD player or CD changer.
>"Set": depending on each audio source,
other settings can be made, e.g. on the
radio: updating stations with best reception,
storing stations, tone control, playing sta-
tions.
Switching on/off
To switch the sound output for entertainment
on/off:
Press button1 next to the CD player.
This symbol on the Control Display indi-
cates that sound output is switched off.
Adjusting volume
Turn button1 next to the CD player until the
desired volume is set.
The volume can also be set on the steering
wheel.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Tone control
You can alter various tone settings, e.g. treble
and bass, or the speed-dependent volume
increase.
The settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Changing tone settings
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page16.
1.Press button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Entertainment settings" and press
the controller.
4.Select "Audio" and press the controller.

CD player and CD changer
144
CD changer: starting CD
1.Fill the CD magazine and insert, refer to
page145.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page16.
2.Press button.
This opens the start menu.
3.Move the controller backward to open
"Entertainment".
4.Select "CD" and press the controller.
5.Select the desired CD and press the con-
troller.
At the end of the last track, the next CD will be
selected.
If new CDs have been placed in the CD maga-
zine, playback starts with the lowest CD, e.g.
CD 1, track 1.
The CD magazine's load status is indicated on
the Control Display.
Selecting a track
Buttons next to CD player:
Press the button for the corresponding
direction repeatedly, continuing until you reach
the desired track on the current CD.
The CD will start play at the start of the track.
The track is displayed on the Control Display.
The track can also be changed on the steering
wheel.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page16.
Select a track by turning the controller.
Repeating a track
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page16.
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.

151
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
your portable phone.
To avoid possible short circuits, after removing
a battery you should never allow it to come into
contact with metallic surfaces of any kind.<
Disposing of used batteries
Return used batteries to a recycling col-
lection point or to your BMW center.<
Care instructions
You can find what you need to know about car-
ing for your portable phone in the Caring for
your vehicle brochure and in the separate porta-
ble phone Owner's Manual.
Operating options
You can operate the portable phone* with:
>The steering wheel, refer to page11
>The Control Center, refer to page152
>Voice commands, refer to page156
Information on operating the portable phone is
contained in the separate Owner's Manual on
the Full Preparation Package Cellphone.
Telephoning with car phone:
BMW Assist calls
You can use the car phone via the hands-free
system for BMW Assist calls.
When the status information "Car Phone" is
displayed in "Communication", only BMW
Assist calls are possible.
Hands-free system
The microphone is located:
>In the Coupe near the interior rearview mir-
ror, refer to page14
>In the Convertible on the steering columnThe hands-free system is activated whenever
you establish or receive a call using:
>The button on the steering wheel
>The Control Center
>Voice commands
Volume adjustment
Turn the button during a call to select the
desired volume.
This volume for the hands-free system is main-
tained, even if the other audio sources are set to
minimum volume.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Operation using Control
Center
The following functions can be used via the
Control Center as soon as the portable phone is
laid in the cradle or is connected to the vehicle
via Bluetooth:
>Dialing phone numbers
>Phone book
>Top 8
>Redialing
>Displaying accepted calls
>Displaying missed calls
>Text messages/SMS

Telephoning
156 2.Select "Options" and press the controller.
3.Select "Call sender" and press the control-
ler.
The selected sender is called.
Deleting text messages/SMS
1.Select the desired text message and press
the controller.
The text message is displayed.
2.Select "Options" and press the controller.
3.Select "Delete" and press the controller.
The text message of the portable phone is
deleted.
Operation by voice
commands*
The concept
You can operate your portable phone without
having to remove your hands from the steering
wheel. The system operates on the basis of
voice commands that you will learn easily after
using them a few times. In addition, you are also
supported by instructions or questions.
Symbols usedVoice commands
In ignition key position 2:
1.Press the button on the steering wheel.
An acoustic signal indicates operating
readiness.
2.Read voice commands aloud.
To have the system list the voice com-
mands possible in each case:
Canceling operation by voice
commands
Press the button on the steering wheel
or
In dialogs where text is spoken, not a command,
e.g. a name, canceling is only possible using the
button. The dialog is automatically inter-
rupted when an incoming call is received.
Voice commands
In addition to the commands described in this
Owner's Manual, alternative commands are
often possible for the same functions, e.g.:
The system recognizes digits from zero to nine.
You can say each digit individually or group
them into a sequence of three to five digits to
speed up the process.
An example: dialing phone numbers
Start the dialog:
Press the button on the steering wheel.{...} Identifies voice commands.
{{...}} Identifies instructions generated by
the system.
{Options}.
{Cancel}.
{Dial name} or {Name}.
Voice commandResponse
{Dial number}{{Please say the number}}
e.g. {123 456 7890}{{123 456 7890. Continue?}}
{Dial}{{Dialing number}}

Mobility
181Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
High beams, parking lamps
The illustration shows the front left side of the
engine compartment.
High beams
Bulb 55 watts, H 7
1.Remove the cover cap1 by pressing the tab
and removing the cover cap upward.
2.Press the bulb holder from above to release
it.
3.Remove the bulb holder.
4.Remove and replace the bulb.
Parking lamps
Bulb 10 watts
Bulb holder and reflector are one unit and
are replaced together.<
1.Turn the bulb holder2 to the right and
remove.
2.Press the snap connection on the plug con-
nector, pull off the bulb holder and replace.
Front turn signal, sidemarker
Your BMW is equipped with two turn signal
lamps per side in the front.
Turn signal lamp 1
Bulb 21 watts, WY 21 SV
The illustration shows the front right side of the
engine compartment.1.The lever shown:
>Right turn signal: press downward
>Left turn signal: press upward
2.Remove the bulb holder towards the rear.
3.Remove and replace the bulb.
Turn signal lamp 2
Bulb 21 watts, WY 21 SV
Bulb replacement for the turn signal lamp 2 is
possible via the wheel well.
The illustration shows the left side of the vehi-
cle.
1.Turn the steering all the way to be able to
remove the cover, refer to illustration.
2.Turn the ignition key to position 0.
3.Unscrew the two bolts using the open-end
wrench from the onboard tool kit, refer to
page180.
4.Turn the bulb holder to the left and remove,
refer to arrow.
5.Remove and replace the bulb.