wheel BMW 525I 2006 Owners Manual

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to use
the index, refer to page227.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
Reporting safety defects 7
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
22Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
43Adjustments
52Transporting children safely
56Driving
72Everything under control
83Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
94Lamps
98Climate
104Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
116Things to remember when driving
Navigation
124Starting navigation system
125Destination entry
136Destination guidance
141What to do if …
Entertainment
144On/off and tone
148Radio
157CD player and CD changer
Communications
166Telephoning
179TeleService, BMW Assist
Mobility
186Refueling
188Wheels and tires
196Under the hood
201Maintenance
203Replacing components
211Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
218Technical data
223Short commands of voice command
system
227Everything from A to Z

Notes
6
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 Genuine 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.
Genuine 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 radios or
similar accessories, may cause extensive dam-
age to the vehicle, compromise its safety, inter-
fere with the vehicle's electrical system or affect
the validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. See
your BMW center for additional information.<
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
the emission control devices and sys-
tems may be performed by any automotive
repair establishment or individual using any cer-
tified automotive part.<
Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publication
thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warran-
ties:
>New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
>Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
>California Emission Control System Limited
Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is
listed in the Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models or in the Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.

Cockpit
10
Cockpit
Around the steering wheel: controls and displays
1Sedan: roller sun blind* for rear
window105
2Rear window safety switch40
3Opening and closing windows39
4Adjusting exterior mirror49
Automatic parking function
*50
5
Turn signals62
High beams, headlamp flasher95
High-beam assistant
*95
Roadside parking lamps95
Check Control77
Computer73

At a glance
11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
6Buttons on steering wheel
7Instrument cluster12
10Ignition lock5611Horn: the entire surface
14Releasing hood196
15Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate33 Mobile phone
*166:
>Press: accepting and ending
call, starting dialing
* for
selected phone number and
redialing if no phone number is
selected
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice
command system
* 22
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling in phone book and in lists
with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable
*51
Individually programmable51
8
Windshield wipers63
Rain sensor63
Sports Wagon: rear window
wiper64
9Starting/stopping engine and
switching ignition on/off 56
12
Steering wheel heater*50
Steering wheel adjustment50
13
Cruise control
*64
Active cruise control
*65
16
Head-Up Display
*92
17
Parking lamps94
Low beams94
Automatic headlamp control
*94
Adaptive Head Light
*95
High-beam assistant
*95
18
Instrument lighting97
Fog lamps
*97

Voice command system
22
Voice command system
The concept
The voice command system allows you to con-
trol operation of various vehicle systems with-
out ever removing your hands from the steering
wheel.
Individual menu items on the Control Display
can be spoken as commands. This frees you of
having to use the controller.
The voice command system transforms your
oral commands into control signals for the
selected systems and provides support in the
form of instructions or questions.
The voice command system uses a special
microphone located in the area of the interior
rearview mirror, refer to page14.
Precondition
Via iDrive, set the language that applies for the
voice command system in order to enable iden-
tification of the spoken commands. To set the
language of iDrive, refer to page82.
Symbol in Owner's Manual
Voice commands
Activating voice command system
1.Press the button on the steering wheel
or in the center console.
This symbol on the Control Display and
an acoustic signal tell you that the voice
command system can respond to com-
mands.
2.Say the command.
The command is displayed on the Control
Display.
This symbol appears on the Control Display
when you can input additional commands.
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for
word.
{{...}} Indicates responses of the voice
command system.

At a glance
23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
If no other commands are possible, then oper-
ate the equipment using iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice
command system
Press the button on the steering wheel or in
the center console
or
Commands
Having possible commands read aloud
You can have the system read aloud the possi-
ble commands related to the selected menu
item on the Control Display.
To have the system list the possible com-
mands:
For example, if you have selected "CD", the
system will read aloud the possible commands
for operating the CD player and the CD
changer.
Opening help
Using alternative commands
There are often a number of commands to run a
function, e.g.:
Running functions directly with short
commands
With short commands you can carry out certain
functions directly, regardless of which menu
item is selected, refer to page223.
Opening the start menuExample: selecting a track
1.Switch on Entertainment sound output if
necessary.
2.Press the button on the steering wheel
or in the center console.
5.Press the button on the steering wheel
or in the center console. {Cancel}
{Options}
{Help}
{Settings menu} or {i menu}
{Main menu}
3.{Entertainment}
The system says:
{{Entertainment}}
4.{CD}
The system says:
{{CD drive switched on}}
6.Select track, e.g.:
{Track 1}
The system says:
{{Track 1}}

Controls
29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Remove the adapter from the holder in the
glove compartment and slide the spare key into
the adapter.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set a number of functions of your BMW
individually according to your preferences.
Personal Profile ensures that most of these set-
tings are stored for the remote control currently
in use without you having to do anything. When
the vehicle is unlocked, the corresponding
remote control is detected and the settings
stored for it are called up and carried out.
This means you will also find your personal set-
tings when your BMW has meanwhile been
drive by another person with his/her own
remote control and settings. The individual set-
tings are stored for a maximum of four remote
controls.
Personal Profile settings
>When unlocking with the remote control,
either unlock only the driver's door or the
entire vehicle, refer to page30
>Locking the vehicle after a short time or
after starting off, refer to page32
>Assigning the programmable buttons
* on
the steering wheel, refer to page51>Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer
to page81
>Measuring units for consumption, route/
distances, temperature, and pressure,
refer to page81
>Language on Control Display, refer to
page82
>12h/24h mode of the clock, refer to
page81
>Date format, refer to page81
>Showing optical warning for PDC Park Dis-
tance Control
*, refer to page83
>Selection and brightness of display in
Head-Up Display
*, refer to page92
>Air distribution, temperature in the upper
body area and intensity of the automatic air
conditioning system, refer to page99
>Setting voice instructions for destination
guidance in the navigation system
*, refer to
page139
In addition, the following, most recently
selected settings are recalled during unlocking:
>Positions of driver's seat, outside mirrors,
and steering wheel
*, refer to page45
>Audio sources, setting volume and tone,
refer to page145
>Radio, displaying memorized stations, refer
to page148
>Telephone, setting volume, refer to
pages170,176
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for opera-
tion whenever the driver's door is closed. The
system simultaneously engages and releases
the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid/tailgate
>Fuel filler door

Controls
37Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>To changes in the vehicle's tilt if someone
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the
vehicle
>To interruptions in battery voltage
Unauthorized operations are briefly signaled by
the alarm system:
>with an acoustic alarm
>by switching on
the hazard warning flashers
>by flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming alarm system
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 luggage compartment lid/tailgate can also
be opened with the system armed with the
button on the remote control, refer to page33.
When the luggage compartment lid/tailgate is
closed, it is locked and monitored again.
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote control,
refer to page30, or
>insert the remote control as far as possible
into the ignition lock, refer to page56.
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, luggage compartment lid/tailgate or
rear window
* is/are not closed. Even if you
do not close the alerted area, the system
begins to monitor the remaining areas, and
the indicator lamp flashes continuously after approx. 10 seconds. However, the
interior motion sensor is not activated.
>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
your vehicle has not been disturbed while
you were away.
>The indicator lamp flashes after unlocking
until the remote control is inserted into the
ignition lock, however for a maximum of
approx. 5 minutes: your vehicle has been
disturbed while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm
system reacts, e.g. in case of an attempted
wheel theft or towing.
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 stacking 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
once again directly after locking.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and
the interior motion sensor are switched off until
the next time the vehicle is unlocked and subse-
quently locked again.
Comfort access*
Comfort access enables you to access your
vehicle without having to hold the remote con-
trol in your hand. It is sufficient to carry the

Opening and closing
38 remote control with you, e.g. in your jacket
pocket. The vehicle automatically detects the
related remote control in the immediate vicinity
or in the interior.
Comfort access supports the following func-
tions:
>Unlocking/locking vehicle
>Starting engine
>Comfort locking
Functional requirement
>The vehicle can only be unlocked if the
vehicle detects that the remote control car-
ried is located outside the vehicle.
>The next unlocking and locking cycle is not
possible until after approx. 2 seconds.
>The engine can only be started if the vehicle
detects that the remote control carried is
located in the vehicle.
Special features in contrast to ordinary
remote control
It is basically irrelevant whether you operate the
functions mentioned previously with the com-
fort access feature or by pressing the buttons
on the remote control. Therefore, please famil-
iarize yourself with the information on opening
and closing beginning on page28 beforehand.
The special features when using comfort
access are described in the following.
Releasing
Completely grasp a door handle, arrow1.
This corresponds to pressing the button.If a remote control is detected in the interior
after unlocking, the electric steering-wheel lock
unlocks, refer to page56.
Locking
Touch the surface, arrow2 on the driver's door
or3 on the other doors with a finger for approx.
1 second. This corresponds to pressing the
button.
For comfort closing, hold a finger on the sur-
face, arrow2 or 3.
If a remote control accidentally left in the
luggage compartment/cargo area is
detected in the locked vehicle after closing the
luggage compartment lid/tailgate, the lid/tail-
gate opens again. The hazard warning flashers
flash and an acoustic signal
* sounds.<
Switching on radio readiness
By briefly pressing the Start/Stop button, you
switch on the radio readiness, refer to page56.
When doing so, do not depress the brake
pedal, otherwise the engine will start
immediately.<
Starting engine
You can start the engine or switch on the switch
on ignition if a remote control is located in the
interior of the vehicle. It need not be inserted in
the ignition lock, refer to page56.
If you take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle with the engine running, a
warning lamp lights up. In addition, a message
appears on the Control Display. As long as no
remote control is detected in the vehicle, it is
only possible to restart the engine within
approx. 10 seconds after it is switched off.
Switching off engine with automatic
transmission
The engine can only be switched off in the
selector lever position P, refer to page58.
To switch off the engine in the selector lever
position N, the remote control must be inserted
in the ignition lock.

Controls
43Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital con-
tribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In the
interaction with the safety belts, the head
restraints and the airbags, the seat position
plays an important role in an accident. To
ensure that the safety systems operate with
optimal efficiency, we strongly urge you to
observe the instructions contained in the fol-
lowing section.
For additional information on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page52.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the airbags. Always
hold the steering wheel by its rim with hands at
the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, to mini-
mize the risk of injuries to your hands and arms
in the event of airbag deployment.
No one and nothing is to come between the air-
bags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the
front passenger side as a storage area. Make
sure that the front passenger is sitting correctly
and does not rest feet or legs on the instrument
panel, otherwise leg injuries can occur if the
front airbag is triggered.
Make sure that occupants do not rest their head
on the side or head airbag, otherwise injuries
can occur if the airbags are triggered.<
Even if you adhere to all the instructions, inju-
ries resulting from contact with airbags cannot
be fully excluded, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may
provoke a mild hearing loss in extremely sensi-
tive individuals. This effect is usually only tem-
porary.
For airbag locations and additional information
on airbags, refer to page90.
Head restraints
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of spinal injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint so that its center
is approx. at ear level. Otherwise there is
increased danger of injury in the event of an
accident.<
Safety belts
Before every drive, make sure that safety belts
are being worn at all of the occupied seats. Air-
bags complement the safety belt as an addi-
tional safety device, but they do not represent a
substitute.
Your vehicle is provided with five seats, which
are all equipped with a safety belt.
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a passenger's
lap. Pregnant women should also always wear a
safety belt and make sure that the belt rests low
on the hips in the lap area, and does not press
against the abdomen. Do not route the belt
across your neck, or run it across sharp edges.
Be sure that the belt does not become caught
or jammed. Make sure that the safety belt is
securely fastened across the lap and shoulders,
as close to the body as possible without it being
twisted or tangled. Be sure not to route it over
solid or breakable objects, otherwise the belt
can slip over the hips in the lap area in a frontal
impact and injure the abdomen. Avoid wearing
clothing that prevents the belt from fitting prop-
erly and pull the belt in the upper body area peri-
odically to readjust the tension, in order to avoid
a reduction in the restraint of the safety belt.
Sports Wagon: if the middle safety belt in the
rear is used, the larger seatback half must be
locked, refer to page111, otherwise the middle
safety belt has no restraining action.<
For instructions on operating safety belts, refer
to page47.