engine BMW 550I SEDAN 2011 Owners Manual

Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic‐
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page
294.
Using this Owner's Manual
6 Notes
At a glance
12 Cockpit
16 iDrive
22 Voice activation system
24 Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicle
Controls
28 Opening and closing
44 Adjusting
54 Transporting children safely
58 Driving
67 Displays
80 Lamps
85 Safety
95 Driving stability control systems
102 Driving comfort
126 Climate control
132 Interior equipment
138 Storage compartments
Driving tips
146 Things to remember when driving
Navigation
154 Navigation
Entertainment
172 Tone
174 Radio
181 CD/multimedia
201 Rear entertainment Communication
210
Telephone
221 Office
230 Contacts
232 BMW ConnectedDrive
Mobility
240 Refueling
241 Fuel
242 Wheels and tires
255 Engine compartment
257 Engine oil
260 Maintenance
262 Replacing components
269 Breakdown assistance
274 Care
Reference
280 Technical data
285 Short commands of the voice activation
system
294 Everything from A to Z
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Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490 Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

For your own safety
Maintenance and repairs
Advanced technology, e.g., the use of modern
materials
and high-performance electronics, re‐
quires suitable maintenance and repair meth‐
ods.
Therefore, have this work performed only by a
BMW center or a workshop that works accord‐
ing to BMW repair procedures with appropri‐
ately trained personnel.
If this work is not carried out properly, there is
the danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards.
Parts and Accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts and ac‐
cessories approved by BMW. When you pur‐
chase accessories tested and approved by
BMW and Genuine BMW Parts, you simultane‐
ously 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 de‐
fects in material and workmanship. BMW will not
accept any liability for damage resulting from in‐
stallation of parts and accessories 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
vehicle, its operation, or its occupants. Genuine
BMW Parts, BMW Accessories and other prod‐
ucts approved by BMW, together with profes‐
sional 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 trans‐
ceiver equipment, for instance, CBs, walkie-
talkies, ham radios or similar accessories, may
cause extensive damage to the vehicle, com‐
promise its safety, interfere with the vehicle's
electrical system or affect the validity of the
BMW Limited Warranty. See your BMW center for additional information. Maintenance, re‐
placement,
or repair of the emission control de‐
vices and systems may be performed by any au‐
tomotive repair establishment or individual
using any certified automotive part.
California Proposition 65 Warning
California laws require us to state the following
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of automobile
components and parts, including components
found in the interior furnishings in a vehicle, con‐
tain or emit chemicals known to the State of Cal‐
ifornia to cause cancer and birth defects and re‐
productive harm. In addition, certain fluids
contained in vehicles and certain products of
component wear contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. Wash your
hands after handling. Used engine oil contains
chemicals that have caused cancer in laboratory
animals. Always protect your skin by washing
thoroughly with soap and water.
Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publication
thoroughly. Your vehicle is covered by the fol‐
lowing warranties:
▷ 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.
Your vehicle has been specifically adapted and
designed to meet the particular operating con‐
ditions and homologation requirements in your
country

and continental region in order to deliver
the full driving pleasure while the vehicle is op‐
erated under those conditions. If you wish to op‐
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8
Steering column stalk, left Turn signal  62
High beams, head‐
lamp flasher  62
High-beam Assistant*  82
Roadside parking lamps  81
Computer  75
9 Steering wheel buttons, left Store speed*  110  103
Resume speed  111  104
Cruise control on/off, interrupt‐
ing  110  102
Increase distance*  104
Decrease distance*  104
10 Instrument cluster   67
11 Steering wheel buttons, right Entertainment source
Volume Voice activation*  22
Telephone*  210
12 Steering column stalk, right Windshield wipers  62
Rain sensor*  
63 Clean the windshields and head‐
lamps*  62
13 Start/stop the engine and switch
the ignition on/off  59
14 Horn
15 Steering wheel heating*  53
16 Adjust the steering wheel  
53
17 Open the trunk lid  
35
18 Unlocking the hood
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls
At a glance

New remote controls
You can obtain new remote controls from your
service center.
Loss of the remote controls
Lost remote controls can be blocked by your
service center.
Emergency
detection of remote control
It is possible to switch on the ignition or start the
engine in situations such as the following:
▷ Interference of radio transmission to remote
control by external sources.
▷ Discharged battery in the remote control.
A Check Control message is displayed if an at‐
tempt is made to switch on the ignition or start
the engine.
Starting the engine in case of
emergency

detection of remote controlAutomatic transmission: if a corresponding
Check Control message appears, hold the re‐
mote

control, as shown, against the marked area
on the steering column and press the Start/Stop
button within 10 seconds while pressing the
brake.
Manual transmission: if a corresponding Check
Control message appears, hold the remote con‐
trol, as shown, against the marked area on the
steering column and press the Start/Stop button
within 10 seconds while pressing the clutch. Personal Profile
The concept
Personal Profile concept
You can set several of your vehicle's functions
to suit your personal needs and preferences.
▷
The settings are automatically saved in the
profile currently activated.
▷ When the vehicle is unlocked, the profile that
was last detected and called up with the re‐
mote control is used.
▷ Your personal settings will be recognized
and called up again even if the vehicle has
been

used in the meantime by someone else
with another remote control.
The individual settings are stored for three Per‐
sonal Profiles and one guest profile.
Transmitting the settings
Your

personal settings can be taken with you to
another vehicle equipped with the Personal Pro‐
file function. For more information, contact your
service center.
Transmission takes place via:
▷ The USB interface*, refer to page 138, in
the glove compartment onto a USB device.
Profile management
Opening the profiles
A

different profile can be called up than the one
associated with the remote control currently in
use.
1. "Settings"
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Controls At a glance

Opening from the inside
Push the button in the driver's footwell.
If the vehicle is stationary, the trunk lid opens if
it is not locked.
Closing Recessed grips in the interior trim of the trunk
lid make it easier to pull down the lid.
Danger of pinching
Make sure that the closing path of the
trunk

lid is clear; otherwise, injuries may result.◀Do not place the remote control in the
cargo area
Take the remote control with you and do not
leave it in the cargo area; otherwise, the remote
control may be locked inside the vehicle when
the trunk lid is closed.◀
Locking the vehicle* Press the button on the inside of the trunk lid.
The vehicle is locked completely. Automatic trunk lid operation*
Opening
The trunk lid opens fully.
▷
Press the button on the exterior of the trunk
lid.
▷ Press the button on the remote
control or in the driver's footwell. Pressing the button again stops the motion.
The opening process is interrupted as well:
▷
When starting the engine.
▷ When the vehicle starts moving.
▷ By pressing the button in the driver's foot‐
well.
▷ By pressing the button on the inside of the
trunk lid.
Closing ▷
Press the button on the inside of the trunk
lid.
The trunk lid closes automatically.
Pressing again stops the motion.
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Opening and closing

With Comfort Access:
▷
Press the button, arrow 1, on the inside of
the trunk lid.
The trunk lid closes automatically.
Pressing again stops the motion.
▷ Press the button, arrow 2.
The trunk lid closes automatically and the
vehicle is locked. ▷
Press the button on the exterior of the trunk
lid.
Pressing again stops the motion.
The closing operation is interrupted:
▷ When starting the engine.
▷ The vehicle starts off with jerks.
Danger of pinching
Make sure that the closing path of the
trunk
lid is clear; otherwise, injuries may result.◀ Do not place the remote control in the
cargo area
Take the remote control with you and do not
leave it in the cargo area; otherwise, the remote
control may be locked inside the vehicle when
the trunk lid is closed.◀ Manual operation
In the event of an electrical fault, manually op‐
erate the unlocked trunk lid slowly and
smoothly.
Locking separately
The

trunk lid can be locked separately using the
switch in the front center armrest.
▷Trunk lid secured, arrow 1.
▷ Trunk lid not secured, ar‐
row 2.
Slide the switch into the arrow 1 position. This
secures
the trunk lid and disconnects it from the
central locking system.
When the center armrest is locked, the tailgate
cannot be accessed. This is beneficial when the
vehicle is parked using valet service. The infra‐
red remote control can be handed out without
the key.
Emergency unlocking* Pull the handle inside the cargo area.
The trunk lid unlocks.
Comfort Access*
The concept
The vehicle can be accessed without activating
the remote control.
All you need to do is to have the remote control
with you, e.g., in your jacket pocket. Seite 37
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Controls At a glance

The vehicle automatically detects the remote
control when it is nearby or in the passenger
compartment.
Comfort Access supports the following func‐
tions:
▷
Unlocking/locking of the vehicle.
▷ Convenient closing.
▷ Unlocking of the trunk lid separately.
▷ Starting the engine.
Functional requirements
▷ There are no external sources of interfer‐
ence nearby.
▷ To lock the vehicle, the remote control must
be located outside of the vehicle.
▷ The next unlocking and locking cycle is not
possible until after approx. 2 seconds.
▷ The engine can only be started if the remote
control is inside the vehicle.
Comparison with ordinary remote
control
The
functions can be controlled by pressing the
buttons or via Comfort Access.
Unlocking Fully grasp a door handle, arrow 1. This corre‐
sponds to pressing the
button.Locking Press the area on the door handle, arrow 2, with
your finger for approx. 1 second.
This corresponds to pressing the
button.
To save battery power, ensure that the ignition
and all electronic systems and/or power con‐
sumers are switched off before locking the ve‐
hicle.
Convenient closing
Press the area, arrow 2, with your finger and
hold.
In

addition to locking, the windows and the glass
sunroof* are closed.
Monitor the closing process
Monitor the closing process to ensure that
no one becomes trapped.◀
Unlocking the trunk lid separately
Press the button on the exterior of the trunk lid,
refer to page 35.
This corresponds to pressing the button.
Do not place the remote control in the
cargo area
Take the remote control with you and do not
leave

it in the cargo area; otherwise, the remote
control may be locked inside the vehicle when
the trunk lid is closed.◀
Malfunction
Comfort Access may not function properly if it
experiences interference from external sources
such as mobile phones, metal objects, overhead
power lines, transmission towers, etc. Seite 38
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Opening and closing

If this occurs, open or close the vehicle using the
buttons
on the remote control or use a key in the
door lock.
To subsequently start the engine, hold the re‐
mote control against the marked area on the
steering column, refer to page 29.
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds to:
▷ Opening of a door, the hood or the trunk lid.
▷ Movements in the vehicle: interior motion
sensor, refer to page 40.
▷ Changes in the vehicle tilt, e.g., during at‐
tempts to steal a wheel or when towing the
car.
▷ Interruptions in battery voltage.
The alarm system briefly indicates tampering:
▷ By sounding an acoustic alarm.
▷ By switching on the hazard warning system.
▷ By flashing the high beams.
Arming and disarming the alarm
system
General information
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.
Door lock and armed alarm system
Unlocking via the door lock will trigger the alarm
on some country-specific versions.
Trunk lid and armed alarm system
The trunk lid can be opened using the remote
control, even if the alarm system is armed.
Press the button on the remote control
for approx. 1 second and release.
After the trunk lid is closed, it is locked and
monitored again by the alarm system. The haz‐
ard warning system flashes once. In some vehicle equipment variants, the trunk lid
can only be opened using the remote control if
the vehicle was unlocked first.
Panic mode*
Press

the button on the remote control
for at least 3 seconds.
Switching off the alarm
▷ Unlock the vehicle using the remote control.
▷ With Comfort Access: If you are carrying the
remote control with you, pull on the door
handle.
Indicator lamp on the interior rearview
mirror ▷
The indicator lamp flashes briefly every
2 seconds:
The system is armed.
▷ The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
The doors, hood or trunk lid is not closed
properly, but the rest of the vehicle is se‐
cured.
After

10 seconds, the indicator lamp flashes
continuously. The interior motion sensor is
not active.
▷ The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
The vehicle has not been tampered with.
▷ The indicator lamp flashes after unlocking
until

the engine is started, but no longer than
approx. 5 minutes:
An alarm has been triggered.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. Seite 39
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Controls At a glance

Initializing after a power failure
After
a power failure during the opening or clos‐
ing process, the roof can only be operated to a
limited extent.
Initializing the system
The system can be initialized when the vehicle
is stationary and the engine is running.
Danger of pinching
Monitor the closing process and make
sure that the closing path of the glass sunroof is
clear; otherwise, injuries may result.◀
Press the switch up and hold it
until the initialization is complete:
▷Initialization begins within
15

seconds and is completed
when the sunroof and sliding
visor are completely closed.
▷ The roof closes without pinch protection. Seite 43
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General information
The
mirror on the passenger side is more curved
than the driver's side mirror.
Estimating distances correctly
Objects reflected in the mirror are closer
than they appear. Do not estimate the distance
to the traffic behind you based on what you see
in the mirror, as this will increase your risk of an
accident.◀
The mirror setting is stored for the remote con‐
trol currently in use. When the vehicle is un‐
locked via the remote control, the position is au‐
tomatically retrieved if the setting for this
function is active.
Selecting a mirror
To change over to the other mirror:
Slide the mirror changeover switch.
Adjusting electrically The setting corresponds to the direction
in which the button is pressed.
Storing positions*
Seat, mirror, and steering wheel memory, refer
to page 51.
Adjusting manually
If an electrical malfunction occurs, for example,
press the edges of the mirror glass.
Automatic Curb Monitor*
When the reverse gear is engaged, the mirror
glass tilts downward slightly on the front pas‐
senger side. This improves your view of the curb
and other low-lying obstacles when parking, for
example.
Activating
1. Slide the mirror changeover switch
to the driver's side mirror position.
2. Engage transmission position R. Deactivating
Slide the mirror changeover switch to the pas‐
senger's side mirror position.
Fold in and out*
Press the button.
Possible up to approx. 15 mph/20 km/h.
For example, this is advantageous
▷ In car washes.
▷ In narrow streets.
▷ For folding back mirrors that were folded
away manually.
Mirrors that were folded in are folded out auto‐
matically
at a speed of approx. 25 mph/40 km/h.
Fold in the mirror in a car wash
Before entering an automatic car wash,
fold in the exterior mirrors by hand or with the
button; otherwise, they could be damaged, de‐
pending on the width of the vehicle.◀
Automatic heating
Both exterior mirrors are automatically heated
whenever the engine is running.
Automatic dimming feature
Both exterior mirrors are automatically dimmed.
Photocells are used for control in the Interior rear
view mirror, refer to page 53.
Interior rearview mirror
Reducing the blinding effect From behind when driving at night: turn the
knob. Seite 52
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Adjusting