engine BMW 550I XDRIVE GT 2011 F07 Owner's Manual

Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic‐
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page
286.
Using this Owner's Manual
6 Notes
At a glance
12 Cockpit
19 iDrive
25 Voice activation system
27 Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicle
Controls
32 Opening and closing
49 Adjusting
62 Transporting children safely
66 Driving
76 Displays
85 Lamps
89 Safety
99 Driving stability control systems
106 Driving comfort
127 Climate control
133 Interior equipment
139 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
242 Fuel
243 Wheels and tires
251 Engine compartment
253 Engine oil
256 Maintenance
258 Replacing components
264 Breakdown assistance
269 Care
Reference
274 Technical data
277 Short commands of the voice activation
system
286 Everything from A to Z
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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  71
High beams, head‐
lamp flasher  71
High-beam Assistant*  87
Roadside parking lamps  86
Computer  78
9 Steering wheel buttons, left Store speed  114,  107
Resume speed  115,  108
Cruise control on/off, inter‐
rupt  114,  106
Increase distance*  108
Decrease distance*  108
10 Instrument cluster   14
11 Steering wheel buttons, right Entertainment source
Volume Voice activation*  25
Telephone*  210
12 Steering column stalk, right Windshield wipers  71
Rain sensor*  
72 Clean the windshields and head‐
lamps*  71
13 Start/stop the engine and switch
the ignition on/off  66
14 Horn
15 Steering wheel heating*  61
16 Adjust the steering wheel  
61
17 Open the tailgate*  40
18 Unlocking the hood
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls
At a glance

Instrument cluster
1
Fuel gauge  76
2 Speedometer
3 Indicator/warning lamps  14
4 Tachometer  77
5 Engine oil temperature   776
External temperature  77
7 Electronic displays  16
8 Miles, trip miles  78
9 Clock  81
10 Reset miles  78
Indicator/warning lamps
Instrument cluster The indicator and warning lamps can light up in
a variety of combinations and colors.
Several of the lamps are checked for proper
functioning
when the engine is started or the ig‐
nition is switched on, and light up briefly in the
process. Overview: indicator/warning lamps Symbol Function or system
Turn signal
Parking brake
Parking brake in Canadian models
Automatic Hold*
Front fog lamps* Seite 14
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Cockpit

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 controlIf a corresponding Check Control message ap‐
pears, hold the remote control, as shown,
against

the marked area on the steering column
and press the Start/Stop button within 10 sec‐
onds while pressing the brake.
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 139, 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"
2. "Profiles" 3.
Select a profile.
The profile that is opened is assigned to the re‐
mote control currently in use.
Renaming profiles
1. "Settings"
2. "Profiles"
The current profile is selected.
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Controls At a glance

3.
Turn the controller until the desired opening
height is selected. Opening the large tailgate
Note the opening height of the large tail‐
gate
The tailgate pivots back and up when it opens.
Ensure that there is sufficient clearance when
the
large tailgate opens; otherwise, damage may
result.
Adjust the opening height of the large tailgate
according to the given situation.◀
The large tailgate opens automatically to the ad‐
justed opening height. ▷
Press the button on the exterior of the tail‐
gate, arrow 2.
▷ Press the button on the remote
control

for approx. 1 second and re‐
lease. 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
tailgate.
Opening the large tailgate further Press and hold the button on the inside of the
large

tailgate, arrow 2, to open the large tailgate
to the maximum opening height.
Releasing the button stops the motion.
Closing the large tailgate ▷
Press the button, arrow 1, on the inside of
the large tailgate.
The tailgate closes automatically.
Pressing again stops the motion. ▷
With Comfort Access:
Press the button on the open tailgate.
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Controls At a glance

Tailgate closes automatically and the vehi‐
cle is locked.
▷
Press the button on the exterior of the tail‐
gate, arrow 2.
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 tail‐
gate 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 tailgate is closed.◀
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, operate
the unlocked tailgate manually with a slow and
smooth motion.
Do not operate the tailgate manually if it is
blocked
If the tailgate is blocked, do not operate it man‐
ually as the tailgate may otherwise become
damaged and injury may result.
Contact your service center.◀
Locking separately
The tailgate can be locked separately, using the
switch in the front center armrest. ▷
The tailgate is locked, ar‐
row 1.
The small and large tailgates
are locked.
▷ The tailgate is unlocked, ar‐
row 2.
Slide the switch into the arrow 1 position. This
secures
the tailgate 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 tailgate is unlocked.
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.
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 tailgate separately. Seite 42
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Opening and closing

▷
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 tailgate separately
Press the middle button on the exterior of the
tailgate, refer to page 39, to open the small tail‐
gate.
This corresponds to pressing the button.
Press the right-hand button on the exterior of
the tailgate to open the large tailgate.
With automatic trunk lid operation

*:
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 tailgate 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.
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 33. Seite 43
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▷
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.
The alarm system responds in situations such
as attempts to steal a wheel or tow the car.
Interior motion sensor
The

windows and glass sunroof* must be closed
for the system to function properly.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor
can be switched off together, such as in the fol‐
lowing situations:
▷ In automatic car washes
▷ In duplex garages.
▷ During transport on car-carrying trains, at
sea or on a trailer.
▷ When animals are to remain in the vehicle.
Switching off the tilt alarm sensor and
interior motion sensor Press the button on the remote control
twice in succession.
The indicator lamp lights up for approx. 2 sec‐
onds and then flashes continuously.
The

tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor
are switched off until the vehicle is locked again.
Power windows
General information
Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot operate the power windows and injure
themselves.◀ Opening
▷
Press the switch to the resistance
point.
The window opens while the switch is held.
▷ Press the switch beyond the resist‐
ance point.
The window opens automatically.
Pressing again stops the motion.
Closing
Danger of pinching
Monitor the closing process and make
sure

that the closing path of the window is clear;
otherwise, injuries may result.◀
▷ Pull
the switch to the resistance point.
The window closes while the switch is held.
▷ Pull the switch beyond the resistance
point.
The window closes automatically.
Pressing the switch stops the motion.
Convenient operation, refer to page 36, via the
remote control.
Convenient

closing, refer to page 43, with Com‐
fort Access*.
Pinch protection
If the closing force exceeds a specific value as a
window closes, the closing action is interrupted.
The window reopens slightly. Seite 45
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Controls At a glance

The glass sunroof and sliding visor move to‐
gether.
Pressing the switch again stops the mo‐
tion.
Convenient operation, refer to page 36, via the
remote control.
Convenient closing, refer to page 43, with Com‐
fort Access*.
Comfort position
In the comfort position, the roof is not fully open.
This reduces wind noise in the passenger com‐
partment.
Every time the glass sunroof is opened or closed
completely, it stops in the comfort position. If
desired, continue the movement by pressing the
switch.
Pinch protection system
If the closing force when closing the glass sun‐
roof exceeds a certain value, the closing move‐
ment is stopped, beginning at approximately the
middle of the opening in the roof, or from the
tilted position during closing.
The glass sunroof opens again slightly.
Danger of pinching even with pinch pro‐
tection
Despite the pinch protection system, check that
the roof's closing path is clear; otherwise, the
closing action may not be interrupted in certain
extreme situations, such as when thin objects
are present.◀
Closing without the pinch protection
system
For example, if there is an external danger, pro‐
ceed as follows:
1. Press the switch forward beyond the resist‐
ance point and hold.
Pinch protection is limited and the roof re‐
opens

slightly if the closing force exceeds a
certain value.
2. Press the switch forward again beyond the
resistance point and hold until the roof
closes without pinch protection. 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 48
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