ESP BMW 550I 2006 User Guide

Opening and closing
42 For information on using the convenience oper-
ation at the door lock or with the remote control,
refer to page30 or32.
For information on comfort closing with comfort
access, refer to Locking on page38.
Ventilation setting
Press the switch:
The sunroof is raised and the sliding visor is
opened slightly.
Automatic opening and closing
Press the switch past the resistance point.
Pressing the switch again stops the motion.
Opening and closing sunroof and
sliding visor together
Press the switch beyond the resistance point
twice consecutively.
Pressing the switch again stops the motion.
Comfort position
Each time the panorama glass sunroof is com-
pletely opened and then closed, it stops in the
comfort position. If desired, continue the
motion following this with the switch.
In the comfort position the wind noises in the
interior are reduced.
Anti-trapping mechanism
If the panorama glass sunroof or sliding visor
encounter resistance when closing from
roughly one third of the sunroof opening or
when closing from the raised position, the clos-
ing action is interrupted and the panorama
glass sunroof and sliding visor reopen a little.
Despite the anti-trapping mechanism
inspect the sunroof's travel path prior to
closing it, as the safety system might fail to
detect certain kinds of obstructions, such as
very thin objects, and the sunroof would con-
tinue closing.
Pressing the switch beyond the resistance
point and holding it there deactivates the anti-
trapping mechanism.<
Following interruptions in electrical
power supply
After a power loss, the sunroof may only
respond to the lift command. The system must
be initialized. BMW recommends having this
work done by your BMW center.
Moving manually
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can
move the roof manually:
1.Fold back the cover, using the screwdriver
from the toolkit at the points indicated if
necessary, refer to page203.
2.Remove the Allen key from the mounting
next to the toolkit and insert it in the open-
ing provided. Move the sunroof in the
desired direction. The arrow below indi-
cates the rotation direction for closing.

Adjustments
44
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat while
the vehicle is moving. The seat could
respond with unexpected movement, and the
ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to an
accident.
Also on the passenger side, do not incline the
backrest too far to the rear while the vehicle is
being driven, otherwise there is a danger in the
event of an accident of 'sliding under' the safety
belt, eliminating the protection normally pro-
vided by the belt.<
Please observe the information on damage to
safety belts provided on page48 and the infor-
mation on the active front
head restraints* on
page47.
Seat adjustment
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
please observe the adjustment instructions on
page43.<
1Longitudinal direction
2Height
3Angle4Backrest
Adjusting comfort seat*
In this seat, you can also adjust:
1Backrest width
2Shoulder support
3Thigh support
4Lumbar support
*, see below
Shoulder support: the adjustable upper back-
rest also supports the back in the shoulder
region. This provides a relaxed driving position
and helps relieve stress on the shoulder mus-
cles.
Adjusting lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest
to obtain additional support in the lumbar
region.

Adjustments
48 vated if objects are placed onto the passenger
seat.
Releasing
1.Grasp the belt firmly.
2.Press the red button in the buckle.
3.Guide the belt into its reel.
The shoulder strap's anchorage point will be
correct for adult seat occupants of every build if
the seat is correctly adjusted, refer to page44.
The two rear safety belt buckles integrated into
the rear seat are for passengers sitting on the
left and right. The belt buckle embossed with
the word CENTER is intended exclusively for
use by passengers riding in the center position.
Damage to safety belts
In case of loading due to an accident or
damage, replace the belt system includ-
ing the safety belt tensioners and have the belt
anchor points checked. Only have this work
carried out at a BMW center or at a workshop
that works according to BMW repair proce-
dures with correspondingly trained personnel.
Otherwise correct operation of this safety
equipment is not guaranteed.<
Heated seats*
Front
The temperature setting progresses one step
through its control sequence each time you
press the button. When the maximum tempera-
ture is selected, three LEDs light up.
To switch off: press the button longer.
Temperature distribution
The heat output can be distributed variously in
the seat cushion and the backrest.
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the left to open
"Climate".
3.Select "Seat heater distribution" and press
the controller.
4.Move the controller to the left or right to
select "Driver" or "Passenger".
5.Turn the controller. The adjustment is
applied; the field can be changed.
Rear
Operation as for front seat heating; two temper-
ature settings.

Controls
51Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Programmable buttons* on steering
wheel
You can program the buttons individually.
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
4.Select "Steering wheel buttons" and press
the controller.
A list of different functions appears:
>"Navigation voice instructions"
Voice instructions for the navigation
system
*
>"Air recirculation on / off"
Permanently shutting off outside air,
refer to AUC Automatic recirculated air
control on page101
>"Mute on / off"
Mutes the audio sources
>"Monitor on / off"
Switches the Control Display on/off>"Telephone list"
Display/hide phone book or last list of
stored phone numbers displayed
>"HDC on / off"
Switches HDC Hill Descent Control
* on/
off
>"Next entertainment source"
Changes audio source
5.Select the desired function unit and press
the controller.
6.Select the button if necessary and press the
controller.
You can operate the selected function using the
corresponding button.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Operating function
Press the corresponding button on the steering
wheel.
If you have programmed "Navigation voice
instructions" for one of the buttons:
>To switch voice instructions on/off:
Hold the button down.
>To repeat the last voice instruction:
Press the button.

Transporting children safely
52
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger
themselves and other persons, e.g. by opening
the doors.<
In principle, all seats in your BMW are suitable,
with the exception of the driver's seat, for
mounting universal child restraint systems for
all age classes approved for the respective age
group.
Children always in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest place
for children is on the back seat.
Children younger than 13 years of age or
with a height under 5 ft/150 cm may only
be transported in the rear in child restraint sys-
tems which correspond to the age, weight and
height of the child. Otherwise there is an
increased danger of injury in an accident.<
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint
system can no longer be used due to their age,
size and weight.
All rear seat positions in your vehicle comply
with the recommendations of the standard
SAE J1819 for the safe securing of child
restraint systems in motor vehicles.
If your BMW is equipped with side airbags
in the rea r, make s ure tha t children do not
lean against the door trim, otherwise serious
injuries can result when the side airbags are
triggered.<
Deactivating rear seat side airbags
Stickers on the rear door frame indicate the sta-
tus of the rear side airbags. If the status cannot
be clearly recognized, or if you want to have the
airbags activated/deactivated, please contact
your BMW center.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child-
restraint system on the front passenger
seat, the front and side airbag must be deacti-
vated. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of
injury for the child if the airbags are triggered,
even with a child-restraint system. Your BMW
center will be glad to advise you.<
More information on automatic deactivation of
the front passenger airbags, refer to page90.
Installing child-restraint
systems
Observe the child-restraint system man-
ufacturer's instructions for selection,
installation and use of the child restraint sys-
tems. Otherwise the degree of protection may
be reduced.<
Commercially available child restraint systems
are designed for securing with a lap belt or with
the lap belt section of a three-point belt. Incor-
rectly or improperly installed child restraint sys-
tems can increase the risk of injury for children.
Always follow the instructions for installing the
system exactly.
On front passenger seat
Before mounting a child restraint system
on the front passenger seat, make sure
that the front and side airbag on the front pas-
senger side are deactivated, otherwise there is
an increased risk of injury if the airbags are trig-
gered.<
Seat height
Before mounting a universal child-restraint sys-
tem, move the front passenger seat into the
highest position to achieve the best possible
belt routing. Do not change this seat height.

Controls
53Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Backrest width*
The backrest width adjustment of the
passenger seat must be opened com-
pletely. After mounting the child's seat, no
memory position may be called up and the
active backrest width adjustment must be
deactivated, otherwise the stability of the
child's seat on the front passenger seat is lim-
ited.<
1.After unlocking the vehicle, place on the
front passenger seat and close the door to
call up the memory position.
2.Completely open the backrest width adjust-
ment, refer to page44.
3.Deactivate active backrest width adjust-
ment, refer to page45.
4.Install child's seat.
Child seat security
All rear safety belts and the safety belt for the
front passenger can be locked against pulling
out to secure child restraint systems.
Locking safety belt
1.Secure the child restraint system with the
belt.
2.Pull out the belt webbing completely.
3.Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in and
pull taut against the child restraint system.
The safety belt is locked.
Unlocking safety belt
1.Open the belt buckle.
2.Remove the child restraint system.
3.Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in com-
pletely.
Child restraint system with tether strap
Sedan
There are three additional mounting points for
child restraint systems with a tether strap, refer
to arrows. Fold the corresponding mounting
point upward before using.
Sports Wagon
Three are three additional mounting points for
child restraint systems with a tether strap, refer
to arrows, under covers in the cargo area floor.
Before using, remove the corresponding cover
with a screwdriver.

Controls
57Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Starting engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms,
otherwise the inhaling of toxic exhaust
gases can cause unconsciousness and death.
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a
potential safety hazard.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run-
ning, set the selector lever to the idling or the
P position and set the handbrake, otherwise the
vehicle can begin to roll.<
When starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it
running while the vehicle remains stationary.
Instead, begin to drive immediately at a moder-
ate engine speed.
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.Depress the clutch pedal and select the
idling position.
3.Briefly press Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-
ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Briefly press the Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox*
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Engage the selector lever position N and
make sure that this position is also indi-
cated in the instrument cluster.
3.Briefly press Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-
ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
If the engine fails to start, depress the
brake pedal and press the selector lever
to the right then engage the position N. Watch
the display in the instrument cluster while doing
so.<
Special starting conditions
Depress the accelerator pedal half way when
starting the engine in the following situations:
>The engine fails to start on the first attempt,
e.g. if it is very hot or cold.
>The engine is started at very low tempera-
tures, below approx. + 57/– 156, at high
altitudes, over approx. 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated start attempts in which
the engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is
not burned or inadequately burned and there is
a danger of overheating and damaging the cat-
alytic converter.<
Switching off engine
Do not remove the remote control from
the ignition lock while the vehicle is roll-
ing, otherwise the steering wheel lock would
engage while steering.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
remote control with you. When parking on a
downhill slope, apply the handbrake, otherwise
the vehicle could roll.<

Driving
60 It is also possible to start off in second gear, e. g.
in slippery conditions.
In the following situations, SMG thinks for you:
>Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combina-
tion of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for
example, a downshift that would cause the
engine to overrev will not be executed by
the system.
>When the vehicle is stationary, the trans-
mission automatically downshifts into first
gear.
>Shortly before dropping below a gear-
dependent minimum speed, the transmis-
sion downshifts automatically even without
your intervention.
D Drive mode
In the Drive mode, all forward gears are shifted
automatically.
Shifting from Sequential mode to Drive mode:
press selector lever to the right toward D.
Kick-down: for rapid acceleration, e. g. when
passing, press the accelerator pedal as far
down as it will go. You achieve maximum accel-
eration.
To switch back into the Sequential mode: press
selector lever to the right again toward D or shift
using the shifting paddles or the selector lever.
Start off quickly on slopes. Do not hold
the vehicle on a hill by pressing the accel-
erator, but apply the handbrake instead. Other-
wise overheating can occur in the transmission
region.<
Gear changes
Using selector lever
>To upshift, pull the selector lever back.
>To downshift, push the selector lever for-
ward.
Using shift paddles on steering wheel
>To upshift, pull one of the shift paddles.
>To downshift, press.
Dynamic Driving Control
The Dynamic Driving Control makes it possible
for your BMW to react in an even more perfor-
mance-oriented manner at the push of a button:
>The engine responds more spontaneously
to accelerator pedal movements.
>Gearshifts are faster.
>The engine speed range is used optimally in
the Drive mode.
>Cruise control
*:
The stored speed is reached more quickly
when it is requested.
Activating system
Press the SPORT button.
The LED in the button lights up and SPORT is
displayed in the instrument cluster.
Deactivating system
Press the SPORT button again.
The LED in the button and SPORT in the instru-
ment cluster go out.

Driving
66 fares. Especially on longer trips, the system can
reduce fatigue and tension, while increasing
your enjoyment of driving. Please use it safely
and responsibly.
In addition to holding a steady cruising speed,
if you encounter slower vehicles ahead, active
cruise control will, within the scope of given
possibilities, adjust your vehicle's speed auto-
matically so that you can flow with the traffic
without having to make constant adjustments.
If, for example, while cruising at the selected
speed, you begin to approach a slower vehicle
ahead of you in the same lane, the system will
reduce your vehicle's speed to the same as that
of the vehicle ahead to maintain your selected
distance setting between your vehicle and the
vehicle ahead. You can vary the distance, which
is additionally speed-dependent. Based on
your selected distance setting, the system
automatically decreases the throttle setting and
lightly applies the brakes if necessary. The vehi-
cle brake lamps will automatically illuminate to
signal a following driver to take action. In addi-
tion, it may be necessary for the vehicle or the
driver to downshift, depending on the kind of
transmission your vehicle is equipped with, to
maintain the distance setting selected. If the
vehicle ahead speeds up or when the lane
ahead becomes clear, your vehicle will acceler-
ate to the speed you have selected by increas-
ing the throttle setting and shifting gears auto-
matically or by the driver as needed. Your
selected speed will be held when driving down-
hill, too.
Active cruise control is not and must not
be used as a collision avoidance/warning
system.<
Since this active cruise control system is
a new technology and operates differ-
ently from conventional cruise control systems
which you may be accustomed to, you are
strongly urged to read all of the pages relating
to this system before use. Pay special attention
to the information contained in the Things to
know about active cruise control section begin-
ning on page69.<
Navigation system Professional*
If a navigation DVD is in the drive, refer to
page124, the system adjusts the accelerating
and braking behavior of the vehicle to the road
you are driving on.
When the vehicle position is unknown, e.g.
when you leave the map area, this influence of
the navigation system is not available.
Manual transmission
You can shift with the cruise control activated.
Shifting information is provided or the system
deactivates itself if you drive at very high or very
low engine speeds for a longer period.
SMG
In the Sequential mode, shifting information is
provided or the system deactivates itself if you
drive at very high engine speeds for a longer
period.
In the Drive mode the SMG acts similarly to an
automatic transmission in the D position.
Operating active cruise control
1Store and increase desired speed
2Store and decrease desired speed
3Deactivate system, refer to page68
4Resume stored desired speed and dis-
tance, refer to page68
5Select distance to vehicle driving ahead,
refer to page67
Maintaining current speed
Briefly press lever, arrow1, or briefly pull,
arrow2, at a driving speed of more than approx.
20 mph or 30 km/h.

Controls
69Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
be that conditions necessary for operation are
not currently being met. To call up Check Con-
trol messages, refer to page77.<
Warning lamps
The display2 flashes red and a sig-
nal sounds.
The system requests that you
intervene by braking or with an
evasive maneuver. The active
cruise control cannot automatically restore the
distance to the vehicle driving ahead.
However, this display cannot relieve the driver
of the responsibility for adjusting the desired
speed and driving style to the traffic conditions.
The display 2 flashes yellow.
Automatic intervention by ABS or
DSC. The active cruise control
intervenes by braking until you
take over actively.
Radar sensor
Heavy rain, dirt, snow or ice can restrict the
detection of vehicles driving ahead. If neces-
sary, clean the front radar sensor under the
bumper. Exercise particular care when remov-
ing snow and ice.
If the sensor is not aligned properly, the active
cruise control cannot be activated.
Things to know about active cruise control
As with conventional cruise control sys-
tems, active cruise control in no way
diminishes or substitutes for the driver's own
personal responsibility, alertness and aware-
ness in adjusting speed, braking or otherwise
controlling the vehicle. The driver should
decide when to use the system on the basis of
road, traffic, visibility, and weather conditions.
Active cruise control is intended for use on
highway-type roadways where traffic is moving
relatively smoothly. Do not use this system in
city driving; heavy traffic such as during rush
hour; on curvy, winding roads, slippery roads or
roads with sharp curves such as highway off-
ramps; during inclement weather such as snow, strong rain or fog; or when entering inter-
changes, service/parking areas or toll booths.
It is also important to regulate your vehicle's
speed and distance setting within applicable
legal limits. Always be ready to take action or
apply the brakes if necessary, especially when
the system is actively following a vehicle in front
of you.<
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