wheel BMW 325I 2005 User Guide

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
45
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, a
slight resistance has to be overcome.
Sequential manual gearbox
SMG*
The concept
The sequential manual gearbox SMG is an
automated transmission in which operation of
the clutch and gearshifts are performed by an
electro-hydraulic system.
SMG is operated via the selector lever in the
center console and two shift paddles on the
steering wheel.
It offers you the following functions:
>Choice of manual or automatic operation:
sequential mode or Drive mode
>Choice of two driving programs: Normal or
Sport, refer to Dynamic Driving Control,
page46
>Automatic downshifting and prevention of
misshifting in sequential mode as well
>Acceleration assistant, refer to page47
Selector lever positions
The current selector lever position can be seen
on the center console.
>R: Reverse gear
>N: Neutral, idle
>One-touch functions for sequential mode:
+: manual upshifting
–: manual downshifting>D: Drive mode or sequential mode
N is automatically selected when the
driver's door is opened while the engine is
running, as long as the pedals, shift paddles and
selector lever are not operated.
This is indicated by an acoustic signal and a
flashing N in the instrument cluster.<
Gear indicator
R N 1 to 6
The gear currently engaged is displayed, pre-
ceded by a D in Drive mode.
This indicator is the only way you can
confirm whether or not the desired selec-
tor lever position is engaged.<
Shiftlock
Before moving the lever away from N with the
vehicle stationary, first depress the brake; oth-
erwise the desired gearshift will not be carried
out.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
Gear-change mode
The gears can be changed in two different
ways.
>Sequential mode
Gears are shifted by means of the shift pad-
dles or the selector lever.
>D Drive mode
All forward gears are shifted automatically.
You can switch from one mode to the other by
pressing the selector lever towards the right in
the direction of D.

Driving
46
Sequential mode
After every engine start, sequential mode is
activated when you press the selector lever
towards the right while the brake is depressed.
You can shift up or down using the shift paddles
or the selector lever. You do not need to lift your
foot from the accelerator pedal while doing so.
It is also possible to start off in second gear, e.g.
on slippery surfaces.
SMG assists you in the following situations:
>Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combina-
tion of engine and vehicle speed; for exam-
ple, a downshift that would cause the
engine to overrev cannot be executed by
the system.
>The system shifts down into first gear auto-
matically when the vehicle comes to a stop.
>The system shifts down automatically just
before the engine speed falls below the
minimum speed required for a certain gear;
the driver does not need to intervene.
Shifting gears via selector lever
>Pull the selector lever backwards to shift up.
>Push it forward to shift down.
Shifting gears via the shift paddles on
the steering wheel
>Pull one of the shift paddles to shift up.
>Press it to shift down.
D Drive mode
In Drive mode, all forward gears are shifted
automatically.To switch from sequential mode to Drive mode:
press the selector lever towards the right in the
direction of D.
Kick-down: to accelerate rapidly, e.g. when
passing another vehicle, depress the accelera-
tor pedal all the way. You will achieve maximum
acceleration.
To switch back to sequential mode: press the
selector lever again towards the right in the
direction of D or shift gears via the shift paddles
or the selector lever.
On uphill slopes, drive off without delay.
Do not hold the vehicle in place by
depressing the accelerator pedal; engage the
handbrake instead. Otherwise, the transmis-
sion could overheat.<
Dynamic Driving Control
Dynamic Driving Control enables you to drive
your BMW in an even more performance-ori-
ented manner at the touch of a button:
>Gears are shifted more quickly.
>In Drive mode, the engine speed range is
utilized optimally.
Activating the system
Press the SPORT button while the ignition is
switched on. The LED in the button lights up.
Deactivating the system
>Press the SPORT button again or
>engage reverse gear or
>switch off the engine.
The LED in the button goes out.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
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Mobility
47
Acceleration assistant
The acceleration assistant provides for optimal,
racing-style acceleration when starting off on a
non-slippery surface.
Do not use the acceleration assistant too
frequently, otherwise components could
wear prematurely.<
1.Activate Dynamic Driving Control.
2.Deactivate DSC, refer to page68.
3.Quickly depress the accelerator pedal all
the way: kick-down. The optimal engine
speed for pulling away is achieved.
To maintain driving stability, reactivate
DSC afterward.<
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can
also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer to
page48.
Vehicle parking
To prevent the vehicle from rolling,
always select position P and apply the
handbrake 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.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Displays in the instrument cluster
P R N D DS M1 to M6
The selector lever position is displayed, or the
current gear in the manual mode.
Changing selector lever positions
>With the ignition switched on or the engine
running, the selector lever can be moved
out of position P: interlock.
>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.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping
after you select a driving position,
depress the brake until you are ready to
start.<
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, refer to arrow.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
rear wheels are locked.

Technology for driving comfort and safety
68 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.<
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 page99.
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 for the
duration of the brake application. If the brake 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.<
Deactivating DSC
Press the button for at least 3 seconds; the indi-
cator lamps for DSC in the instrument cluster
light up. Dynamic Traction Control DTC and
DSC have been simultaneously deactivated.
Stabilizing and drive-output promoting actions
are no longer executed.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC again
as soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button again; the indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster go out.
To control
If the indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
If the indicator lamps are on:
DSC has been completely deacti-
vated.
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
DTC is a version of DSC in which the drive out-
put is optimized for particular road conditions,
e.g. unplowed snow-covered roads. The sys-
tem assures the maximal drive output, but with

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
69
reduced driving stability. It is therefore neces-
sary to drive with appropriate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC
under the following special circumstances:
>When driving uphill on snow-covered roads,
in slush or on unplowed, snow-covered
roads
>When rocking a stuck vehicle free or start-
ing off in deep snow or on loose ground
>When driving with snow chains
Activating DTC
Briefly press the button; the DTC indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster come on.
To control
If the indicator lamp flashes:
DTC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
If the indicator lamps are on:
DTC has been activated.
Deactivating DTC
Press the button again; the DTC indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.
xDrive 325xi, 330xi
xDrive is your BMW's four-wheel-drive system.
The combined efforts of xDrive and DSC help to
further optimize traction and driving dynamics.
The xDrive four-wheel-drive system distributes
driving power variably to the front and rear axles
depending on the driving situation and road
conditions.
Malfunction
In case of any of the malfunctions
described below, drive cautiously and
think well ahead. Avoid driving on rough tracks
and pressing the accelerator pedal down to full
throttle or kick-down position, otherwise the
drive system could be damaged or accidents
could result.<
The warning lamps come on. xDrive
has failed.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
The warning lamps come on. xDrive
and DSC have failed.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
Hill Descent Control HDC 325xi, 330xi
HDC is a downhill driving assistant that reduces
your speed on steep downhill gradients and
makes it even easier to control your BMW's
handling under these conditions. The vehicle
then moves slightly faster than double walking
speed without the driver needing to intervene.
HDC can be activated as long as you are driving
under approx. 20 mph or 35 km/h. When driving
downhill at a speed of under approx. 20 mph or
35 km/h, the vehicle's speed is automatically
reduced to slightly more than double walking
speed and maintained.
Increasing or decreasing speed
By accelerating or braking you can change the
speed within a range from approx. 3 to 15 mph,
approx. 5 to 25 km/h.
You can specify a target speed within the same
range using the cruise control stalk.

Technology for driving comfort and safety
72 The system must be reinitialized each
time a tire inflation pressure has been cor-
rected or a wheel or tire has been changed.<
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor is unable to warn
the driver of sudden, severe tire damage
caused by external factors, nor can it identify
the gradual loss of pressure that will inevitably
occur in all four tires over a lengthy period of
time.<
In the following situations, the system could be
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Performance-oriented style of driving: slip
in the drive wheels, high lateral acceleration
>If snow chains are attached
Initializing the system
The initialization is completed during driv-
ing, which can be interrupted at any time.
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically.
Do not initialize the system while snow chains
are attached.<
Operating principle, refer to page61.
1.Start the engine immediately before pulling
away, but do not drive off yet.
2.Lightly push button 1 in the turn indicator
stalk up or down repeatedly until the appro-
priate symbol appears in the display,
accompanied by the word "INIT".
3.Press button 2 to confirm your choice of the
Flat Tire Monitor.4.Press button 2 for approx. 5 seconds, until
the reading shown below is displayed.
5.Start to drive.
Initialization is completed while the car is on
the move, without any feedback.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamps come on in yellow
and red. In addition, an acoustic sig-
nal sounds. There is a flat tire or sub-
stantial loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph
or 80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed
of 50 mph or 80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with Run-
Flat Tires, refer to page116, the stan-
dard equipment by design, do not continue
driving. Otherwise a severe accident could
result after a tire puncture.<
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If all four tires are inflated to the cor-
rect pressures, the Flat Tire Monitor
might not have been initialized. The system
must then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss,
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible
distance for continued driving on the basis
of the following guidelines:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full, or

Reference
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Mobility
73
4 persons without luggage:
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 or more persons, luggage compart-
ment full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph or 80 km/h. In the event
of pressure loss, vehicle handling changes. This
includes reduced tracking stability in braking,
extended braking distance and altered natural
steering characteristics.
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during
the journey, this may be an indication that the
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce your
speed and pull over to the side of the road at the
earliest opportunity. Otherwise, parts of the tire
could come loose and cause an accident. Do
not continue driving. Contact your BMW Cen-
ter.<
Malfunction
The warning lamps come on in yel-
low. The Flat Tire Monitor has a mal-
function or has failed. Have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible.
Active steering*
The concept
Active steering varies the turning angle of the
front wheels in relation to steering wheel move-
ments. It also varies the steering force required
to turn the wheels depending on the speed at
which you are driving.
When you are driving in the low road-speed
range, e.g. in a town or when parking, the steer-
ing angle increases, i.e. the steering becomes
very direct, and less effort is required to turn the
wheels. In the higher speed range, on the other
hand, the steering angle is reduced more and
more. This improves the handling capability of
your BMW over the entire speed range.
In critical situations, the system can make tar-
geted corrections to the steering angle pro-
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the vehicle before the driver intervenes. This stabilizing
intervention is simultaneously deactivated
when DSC is switched off, refer to page68.
Malfunction
The warning lamps come on. Active
steering is no longer operational. At
low speeds, greater steering wheel
movements are required, whereas at
higher speeds the vehicle reacts more sensi-
tively to steering wheel movements. Drive cau-
tiously and think well ahead. Have the system
checked.
If the warning lamp lights up during the first
engine starting following a power supply inter-
ruption, the system must be activated by being
initialized.
Brake Force Display*
The brake lamps light up in two stages,
depending on how sharply you apply the
brakes.
>Normal braking:
The brake lamps and the center brake lamp
light up.
>Sharp braking:
The illuminated surface of the brake lamps
is enlarged, as long as the rear fog light is
not switched on.

Technology for driving comfort and safety
74
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Head airbags
3Side airbags
Protective action
Observe the adjustment instructions on
page31 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the
head and side airbags help provide protection in
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The
head air bag supports the head.
The airbags will purposely not be activated by
every collision, e.g. not by more minor acci-
dents, certain roll-over situations and rear-end
collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way. Do not attach
seat covers, cushions or other objects not spe-
cifically approved for seats with integral side air-
bags to the front seats. Do not hang items of
clothing such as coats or jackets over the back-
rests. Do not attempt to remove the airbag
retention system from the vehicle. Do not mod-
ify the individual components of the system or
its wiring in any way. This includes the uphol-
stered covers on the steering wheel, instrument
panel, seats and roof posts, as well as the sides of the roof lining. Do not attempt to remove or
dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components imme-
diately after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW Cen-
ter or a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel and has the required explosives
licenses. Unprofessional attempts to service
the system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation, either of
which could result in personal injury.<
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger airbags
An analysis of the impression in the front pas-
senger seat cushion determines whether and
how the seat is occupied. The front and side air-
bags for the front passenger are activated or
deactivated by the system accordingly.
The indicator lamp above the interior
rearview mirror shows the current status
of the front passenger airbags, deactivated or
activated, refer to Status of front passenger air-
bags below.
Before transporting a child on the front
passenger seat, read the safety precau-
tions and handling instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page39.
The front and side airbags can also be deacti-

Climate
80
Climate
Equipment versions
Depending on the equipment version, your car
has an air conditioner or an automatic climate
control system.
1Air conditioner
2Automatic climate control
*
Air vents
3Airflow directed toward the windshield and
side windows
4Air to the upper body area.
The knurled wheels open and close the air
supply continuously. The levers alter the
direction of the airflow. For further details of
draft-free ventilation refer to page85.
5Air to the footwell

Reference
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Driving tips
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81
Air conditioner
1Air distribution
2Recirculated-air mode
3Air flow rate4Cooling function
5Temperature
6Rear window defroster
Air distribution
Direct the flow of air to the win-
dows , to the upper body area
or to the footwell . Intermedi-
ate settings are possible.
Recirculated-air mode
If the air outside the car has an
unpleasant odor or contains pollut-
ants, shut off the supply to the
interior of the car temporarily. The
system then recirculates the air currently within
the vehicle.
You can also activate/deactivate the recircu-
lated-air mode by means of a button
* on 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
continuously for lengthy periods, otherwise the
quality of the air inside the car will gradually
deteriorate.<
Air flow rate
Adjust the air flow rate. The higher
the rate, the more effective the
heating or cooling will be.
Switching the system on/off
Turn the air flow rate rotary switch to 0. Blower
and air conditioner are completely switched off
and the air supply is cut off.
To switch on the air conditioner, set the desired
air flow rate.
Switching cooling function on/off
The cooling function cools and
dehumidifies the incoming air
before also reheating it as
required, according to the temper-
ature setting.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
Rear window defroster
The defroster switches off auto-
matically after a certain time.
Temperature
To increase the temperature, turn
the rotary switch clockwise
towards red.
To cool the air, turn the rotary
switch counterclockwise towards blue.