BMW 550I 2006 User Guide

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

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Display for active cruise control
*68
5Tachometer72
6Energy Control73
7Display for
>Clock/date72
>Outside temperature72
>Indicator and warning lamps77
>Speed of cruise control
*64
>Desired speed for active cruise
control
*658Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer72
>Computer73
>Date and remaining travel distance
for service requirements75
>Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
*61
>SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox
*59
>HDC Hill Descent Control
*86
>High-beam assistant
*96
> Check Control message present77
9Fuel gauge73
10Resetting trip odometer72

At a glance
13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up both in
the display area1 and in the display2 in various
combinations and colors.
Some lights are tested for proper function by
briefly lighting up during starting of the engine
or when the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text message at the bottom edge of the Con-
trol Display explain the meaning of the dis-
played indicator and warning lamps.
Additional information, e.g. on the cause of a
malfunction and on the corresponding need to
take action can be displayed via the Check Con-
trol, refer to page77.In the case of corresponding urgency, this infor-
mation is displayed immediately when the
related lamp lights up.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps in the display
area1 indicate that the associated functions
are activated:
Handbrake engaged58
Handbrake engaged for Canadian
models
Fog lamps
*97
DTC Dynamic Traction Control85
High beams/headlamp flasher95
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC controls the drive and
braking forces for maintaining vehicle
stability85

Cockpit
14
Around the center console: controls and displays

At a glance
15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Microphone for handsfree mode
for telephone
*
and for voice command system*22
2Reading lamps97
3Initiating
an emergency call211
4Interior lamps97
5Glass sunroof, electric
*40
Panorama glass sunroof
*41
6Passenger airbag status lamp91
7Control Display16
Displays for menu navigation
8Hazard warning flashers
9Central locking system32
10Automatic climate control98
11Changing
>radio station144
>track144
12Ejecting
>navigation DVD
*124
>audio CD14413Drive for navigation DVDs
*124
14Drive for audio CDs144
15Switching Entertainment sound output on/
off and adjusting volume144
17Controller16
Turn, press or move horizontally in four
directions
18Activating voice command system
*22
19Opening start menu on Control Display17
20Dynamic Driving Control
*60 Temperature setting, left/right99
Automatic air distribution and
volume99
Cooling function100
AUC Automatic recirculated-air
control101
Maximum cooling100
Residual heat mode101
Switching off automatic climate
control101
Air volume100
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation100
Rear window defroster98
16
Heated seats*48
Active seat ventilation
*49
Active backrest width
adjustment
*45
Active seat
*49
PDC Park Distance Control
*83
DTC Dynamic Traction Control85

iDrive
16
iDrive
iDrive combines the functions of a large number
of switches. This allows these functions to be
operated from a central position. The following
section provides an introduction to basic menu navigation. The control of the individual func-
tions is described in connection with the rele-
vant equipment.
Controls
1Control Display
2 button
Opening start menu
3Controller
With the controller you can select menu
items and make settings:
>move in four directions, arrow4
>turn, arrow5
>press, arrow6To avoid posing an unnecessary hazard
due to inattention, both to your own vehi-
cle's occupants and to other road users: never
attempt to use the controls or make entries
unless traffic and road conditions allow.<

At a glance
17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation or onboard information
>Navigation system*
>Onboard information, e.g. for displaying
the average fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
Climate
>Air distribution
>Seat air conditioning
*
>Automatic program
>Parked car ventilation
*
menu
>Switching off Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central
locking system
>Display of service requirements and dates
for statutory emission and vehicle inspec-
tions
>Settings for telephone
Operating principle
From radio readiness, refer to page56, the fol-
lowing message appears on the Control Dis-
play:
To confirm the message:
Press the controller.
This opens the start menu.
Start menu
You can call up all the functions of iDrive using
five menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the button.
To open the start menu from the menu:
Press the button twice.

iDrive
18
Opening menu items of start menu
With the start menu you can open the menu
items Communication, Navigation, Entertain-
ment and Climate by moving the controllers to
the left, right, front or rear. Depending on your
selection, the last menu opened will be dis-
played in each case.
You can open the menu by pressing the con-
troller.
Comfort opening of menu items
Comfort opening offers you:
>Opening of a menu item of the start menu in
the last display shown
>Direct switching between Communication,
Navigation, Entertainment and Climate
without pressing the button
For this purpose, move the controller in the cor-
responding direction and hold it for longer than
approx. 2 seconds.
Displays in menu
1Each menu is divided into fields. The
respective active field is highlighted.
2A symbol indicates the last selected menu
item of the start menu:
1Menu items are usually grouped in horizon-
tal or vertical lists.
2In these lists, arrows indicate the possibility
of accessing other menu items that are not
currently visible.
3Settings are displayed graphically or
numerically.
Communication
Navigation or onboard information
Entertainment
Climate
menu

At a glance
19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Operating principle at a glance
Basic operation via iDrive is described in this
view.You can view the individual steps under Set-
tings on Control Display, Setting time, refer to
page80.
1Selecting menu item:
>Turn the controller; the marking moves
>Menu items shown in white can be
selected by marking
2Activating menu item:
>Press the controller
>New menu items are displayed or the
function is carried out
3Selecting menu item: refer to 14Switching between fields:
>Briefly move controller left, right, forward
or back
>Release controller
>Active field appears lighter
5Adjusting settings:
>Turn controller
>Graphic display, numerical value or text
displays can be changed
>Acknowledgment by changing field