steering BMW 650I CONVERTIBLE 2006 E64 Owner's Guide

Controls
89Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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 "FTM" and press the controller.
5.Start engine, but do not start driving.
6.Select "Set tire pressure" and press the
controller.
7.Select "Yes" and press the controller.
8.Start driving.
The message "Initializing..." is displayed.
The initialization is completed during driving.
Then the message "Status: FTM active"
appears on the Control Display again.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamp lights up in red. A
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. In addition, an acoustic signal
sounds. There is a flat tire or extensive inflation
pressure loss.
1.Cautiously reduce the vehicle speed to
below 50 mph/80 km/h. Avoid sudden brak-
ing and steering maneuvers. Do not exceed
a vehicle speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.Stop driving if the vehicle is no longer
equipped with run-flat tires, as it was
when it came from the factory, refer to
page188. Continued driving after a flat tire
can result in serious accidents.<
2.Check the air pressure in all four tires at the
next opportunity.
If the tire inflation pressure in all four
tires is correct, the Flat Tire Monitor
may not have been initialized. The system
must then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss,
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible
distance for continued driving on run-flat
tires, based on the following guide values:
>With low load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km.
>With medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full, or
4 persons without luggage:
approx. 94 miles/150 km.
>With full load:
4 persons, luggage compartment full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km.
Drive reservedly and do not exceed
a speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. In the
event of pressure loss, vehicle handling
changes. This includes reduced tracking
stability in braking, extended braking dis-
tances and altered natural steering charac-
teristics.
If unusual vibrations or loud noises occur
while the vehicle is being driven, this can
indicate final failure of the damaged tire.
Reduce speed and stop at a suitable loca-
tion as soon as possible; otherwise, pieces
of the tire could become detached and
cause an accident. Do not continue driving,
but instead contact your BMW center.<

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
90
Active steering*
The concept
The active steering is a system that actively var-
ies the steering angle of the front wheels in rela-
tion to the steering wheel movements.
At low speeds, e.g. in a town or when parking,
the steering angle of the wheels is increased,
i.e. the steering becomes very direct.
In the higher speed range, on the other hand,
the steering angle is reduced more and more.
This improves the handling capability of your
BMW over the entire speed range.
In critical situations, the system can make tar-
geted corrections to the steering angle pro-
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the vehicle
before the driver intervenes. This stability-pro-
moting intervention is deactivated when DSC is
switched off, refer to page86.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up and a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display. The active steering is no longer operational. At
low speed, larger steering wheel movements
are required, while the vehicle reacts more sen-
sitively to steering wheel movements in the
higher road speed range. The stability-promot-
ing intervention can also be deactivated. Pro-
ceed cautiously and drive defensively. Have the
system checked.
Brake force display
>Left-hand picture: normal braking.
>Right-hand picture: heavy braking.
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Coupe: head airbags3Side airbags
4Knee airbag
5Knee airbag

Controls
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Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
please follow the adjustment instructions on
page47.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the
head and side airbags help provide protection in
the event of a side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The
head airbag supports the head. The knee airbag
protects the legs from colliding with the cockpit.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered in
every impact situation, e. g. less severe acci-
dents or rear-end collisions.
For details on the correct seat position, refer to
page47.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag retention
system from the vehicle. Do not modify or
tamper with either the wiring or the individual
components in the airbag system.This category
includes the upholstery in the center of the
steering wheel, on the instrument panel, the
side trim panels on the doors and on the Coupe,
the roof pillars along with the sides of the head-
liner. Do not attempt to remove or dismantle the
steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators carried out only by a BMW cen-
ter or a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with appropriately trained
personnel and has the required explosives
licenses. Unprofessional attempts to service
the system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation, either of
which could result in personal injury. also provided on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of front
passenger airbags
The occupation of the seat is detected by eval-
uating the impression on the occupied seat sur-
face of the front passenger seat. The system
correspondingly activates or deactivates the
front, knee and side airbag on the front passen-
ger side.
The current status of the front passenger
airbag, i.e. deactivated or activated, is
indicated by the indicator lamp over the interior
rearview mirror, refer to Operating state of front
passenger airbags below.<
Before transporting a child in the front
passenger seat, read the safety informa-
tion and follow the instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page56.
The front, knee and side airbag on the front pas-
senger side can be deactivated for teenagers
and adults in certain seat positions; the indica-
tor lamp for the front passenger airbags lights
up when this occurs. In these cases, change the
seat position so that the front passenger air-
bags are activated and the indicator lamp goes
out. If the desired status cannot be produced by
changing the seat position, transport the corre-
sponding person in the rear seat.
Do not fit seat covers, seat cushion padding,
beaded mats or other items onto the front pas-
senger seat unless they are specifically recom-
mended by BMW. Do not place objects under
the seat which could press against the seat
from below. Otherwise a correct evaluation of
the occupied seat surface cannot be ensured.<

Controls
97Reference
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Driving tips
Communications
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Entertainment
Mobility
cannot detect fog. To avoid safety risks, you
should always switch on the lamps manually
under these conditions.<
Adaptive Head Light*
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp
control system that enables better illumination
of the road surface. Depending on the steering
angle and other parameters, the light from the
headlamp follows the course of the road.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
In switch position1, the Adaptive Head Light is
active and the automatic headlamp control is
switched on.
To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the Adaptive
Head Light is not active when driving in reverse
and points toward the passenger side when the
vehicle is stopped.
Malfunction
The LED next to the symbol for automatic head-
lamp control flashes. The Adaptive Head Light
is malfunctioning or has failed. Have the system
checked as soon as possible.
High beams/
roadside parking lamps
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Roadside parking lamps
Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just one
side of your vehicle when parking. When using
this function, comply with national regulations:
After parking the vehicle, press the lever in the
desired direction3, past the resistance point.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Avoid using for longer periods; oth-
erwise, it may not be possible to start the
engine.<
High-beam assistant*
The concept
This system automatically switches the high
beams on and off again. A sensor on the front of
the interior rearview mirror controls the pro-
cess. The assistant ensures that the high
beams are switched on whenever the traffic sit-
uation allows. This reduces the strain on you
while at the same time providing you with the
best possible visibility. Of course, you can inter-
vene at any time and switch the high beams on
and off in the accustomed manner.
Activating high-beam assistant
1.Turn the light switch to switch position1,
refer to page96.
2.Press the turn signal lever in the high beam
direction with the low beams switched on.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the high-beam
assistant is activated. The assistant
automatically switches between high and low
beams, reacting to oncoming traffic and traffic

Driving tips
115Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Mobile communications devices in
vehicle
BMW advises against using mobile com-
munications devices, e.g. mobile phones,
inside the vehicle without a direct connection
to an external antenna. Otherwise, the vehicle
electronics and mobile communications device
can interfere with one another. In addition, there
is no assurance that the radiation emitted dur-
ing transmission will be conveyed out of the
vehicle interior.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or
complete loss of contact between the tires and
the road surface, ultimately undermining your
ability to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread
depth of the tires decreases, also refer to Mini-
mum tire tread on page187.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if
it is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, electrical systems and trans-
mission may be damaged.<
Using handbrake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with
the clutch; use the handbrake. Otherwise
greater clutch wear will result.<
SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox
Start off quickly on slopes. Do not hold
the vehicle on a hill by applying the throt-
tle, but engage the handbrake instead. Other-
wise overheating can occur in the transmission
region.<
Starting assistant
The starting assistant enables you to start off
conveniently on slopes. The parking brake is
not required for this purpose.
1.Hold the vehicle with the footbrake.
2.Release the footbrake and immediately
drive off quickly.
The starting assistant holds the vehicle
for approx. 2 seconds after releasing the
footbrake. Depending on the load, the vehicle
may also roll back slightly during this time.
After releasing the footbrake, immediately start
quickly; otherwise, the starting assistant no
longer holds the vehicle after approx. 2 seconds
and it begins to roll back.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. In situations that require it, it is best to
brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the
brake pedal. Even light but consistent
pedal pressure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
When driving on wet roads or in heavy rain, it is
a good idea to apply light pressure to the brake
pedal every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions
to ensure that this maneuver does not endan-
ger other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure
that full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and thus reduced
efficiency of the brake system, downshift
to a gear in which only minimal brake applica-
tions are needed when descending long or

Things to remember when driving
116 steep downhill stretches. Even light but consis-
tent pedal pressure can lead to high tempera-
tures, brake wear and possibly even brake fail-
ure.<
The braking action of the engine can be further
increased by downshifting in the manual mode
of the automatic transmission, possibly as far as
first gear, refer to page63. This prevents an
excessive load on the brakes.
Do not drive with the clutch depressed, in
idle or with the engine switched off; other-
wise, there will be no engine braking action or
power-assisted braking and steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area of movement
of the pedals and impair their operation.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
When vehicle is parked
Condensation forms in the automatic climate
control during operation, and then exits under
the vehicle. Traces of condensed water under
the vehicle are therefore normal.
Before driving into a car wash
To prevent the exterior mirrors on this vehicle
from being damaged, always fold them in by
hand before entering an automatic car wash.
With comfort access and automatic
transmission
Insert the remote control into the ignition lock.
The engine can be switched off in the selector
lever position N. Also refer to page37.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result
can assume the form of a sudden blow-out.<
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX lbs. or YYY kg, otherwise the vehicle
may be damaged and unstable driving con-
ditions may result.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX lbs. or YYY kg.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
800 lbs. and there will be four 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
200 lbs.:
800 lbs. minus 600 lbs. = 200 lbs.

Destination entry
124 1.Change to upper field.
The arrow is selected.
2.Turn the controller to the right until the
request for the entry of a street in the coun-
try appears and press the controller.
3.Change to the second field from the top and
enter the street.
Entering house number
1.Select "House number" and press the con-
troller.
2.Enter the house number:
Select the individual digits and press the
controller.
3.Change into the third field from the top.
Turn the controller until the house number
is selected and press the controller.
Only house numbers stored for the street
on the navigation DVD can be entered.
Starting destination guidance with
manual destination entry
Select "Start guidance" and press the control-
ler.
Destination guidance starts immediately.
If destination guidance is not to be started
immediately:
Select "Add to destination list" and press the
controller.
The destination is stored in the destination list,
refer to page127.
Entering destination via
voice*
In conjunction with the Professional navigation
system, you can enter the desired destination
via the voice input system. When entering the
destination, it is possible to change between
speech input and iDrive at any time. Reactivate
the speech input function for this purpose if
necessary.
With {Options} you can have the system
read aloud the possible commands.<
1.Press the button on the steering wheel
or in the center console.
2.{Enter address}

Navigation
Driving tips
135Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Destination guidance
through voice instructions
Switching voice instructions on/off
Voice instructions can be switched on or off
during the destination guidance in the arrow or
map view:
1.In the map view:
Move the controller to the left to change the
field.
2.In the arrow and map display:
Turn the controller until the symbol is
selected and press the controller.
To switch the voice instructions on/off at any
time:
1.Open start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Display settings"
is selected and press the controller.
4.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "Languages" is selected and
press the controller.5.Turn the controller until "Navigation voice
instructions on" is selected and press the
controller.
The voice instructions are switched on.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use
*.
Repeating and canceling voice
instructions
With the programmable buttons on the steering
wheel you can also make the following settings,
refer to page54:
>To repeat the voice instruction:
Press the button.
>To switch voice instructions on/off:
Maintain pressure on the button for several
seconds.
Setting volume of voice instructions
The volume can only be adjusted during a voice
instruction.
1.Repeat the last voice instruction, if required.
2.Turn the knob during the voice instruction
to select the desired volume.
This volume is independent of the volume of the
audio sources.

On/off and tone
140
On/off and tone
The following audio sources have shared
controls and setting options:
>Radio Professional
* or
Radio Business
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons near CD player
>iDrive
>Buttons on steering wheel, refer to page11
Buttons near CD player
The layout of the buttons can vary depending
on your vehicle's equipment.
Equipment with a single drive:
Equipment with two drives:1Entertainment sound output on/off, volume
>Press: switch on/off.
When you switch on, the last set radio
station or CD track is played.
>Turn: adjust volume.
2Drive for audio CDs
3 Eject CD
4 Station scan/track search
>Change radio station.
>Select track for CD player and
CD changer.
5Drive for navigation DVDs
Operation via iDrive
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to open
"Entertainment".
You have the following choices:
>"FM" and "AM": radio reception
>"WB": Weather Band station
>"SAT": satellite radio
>"CD": CD player or CD changer
>"Set": depending on the audio source,
other adjustments can be made, e.g. with
the radio: update station with strongest
reception, store station, tone control,
sample stations.

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
141Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
From another menu, you can switch
directly to the screen last displayed,
refer to Comfort opening of menu items on
page18.<
The selected audio source is stored for the
remote control currently in use.
Switching on/off
To switch the Entertainment sound output
on/off:
Press knob1 next to the CD player.
This symbol on the Control Display indi-
cates that sound output is switched off.
For equipment with an individual drive, the
sound output is available for approx. 20 minutes
with the ignition switched off.
To do so, switch the sound output on again.
Adjusting volume
Turn knob1 next to the CD player until the
desired volume is set.
You can also adjust the volume with buttons on
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Tone control
You can alter various tone settings, e. g. treble
and bass, or the speed-dependent volume
increase.
The sound settings are globally adjusted for all
audio sources.
The settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Changing tone settings
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Entertainment settings" and press
the controller.
4.Select "Audio" and press the controller.
The tone settings can also be selected when
you have opened "Entertainment" in the start
menu:
Select "Set" and then "Tone", and press the
controller.
Treble and bass
1.Select "Treble / Bass" and press the con-
troller.