2004 BMW 525I SEDAN ignition

Controls
69Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The symbols also indicate the status of the
service requirement display, refer to
page 67.
Calling up stored messages on the
Control Display
Using the CHECK button
1.Press the button longer:
The first stored message is displayed
2.Briefly press the button:
Another message is displayed each
time the button is briefly pressed.
Using the Control Center
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1.Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2.Open the menu by pressing the con-
troller
3.Select "Service" and press the control-
ler
4.Select "Check Control messages" and
press the controller. The stored mes-
sages appear on the display 5.Select the desired message and press
the controller.
The display disappears automatically after
a short time.
To close the display immediately:
Select and press the controller
Displays after completion of trip
Malfunction reports generated during the
trip are shown consecutively when you
switch off the ignition.
If applicable, the message "Parking lamps
on!" appears at the end of a trip when you
open the driver's door.
In addition, a gong sounds:
As long as the display has not disappeared,
you can view the messages again. Press
the CHECK button for approx. 2 seconds. If
several messages are present, you can
continue to press the CHECK button to
view them in succession.
The Check Control function
>cancels itself automatically after a brief
period
>can be canceled by again pressing the
CHECK button for approx. 2 seconds.

Everything under control
70
Computer
To select functions:
As of ignition key position 1, you can use
the BC button in the turn signal indicator
lever to call up computer information in the
instrument cluster.
A new function appears each time you
press the BC button briefly.
Displays in the instrument cluster
The display sequence:
>Cruising range
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption.
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cruising range
available with the remaining fuel. The sys-
tem calculates the cruising range based on
operating conditions and the amount of fuel
remaining in the tank. The basis for the cal-
culations is the average fuel consumption
over the preceding 20 miles/30 km.
Always refuel as soon as possible
once your cruising range falls to
below 30 miles/50 km, as otherwise engine functions are not ensured and damage can
occur.<
Refueling is only registered by the com-
puter for fuel amounts above approx.
1.3 gallons/5 liters.
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated
for the time during which the engine is run-
ning.
You can use the Control Display to view
your fuel consumption rate over two differ-
ent distances, refer to Computer or Trip
computer.
To reset the average fuel consumption to
zero: press the BC button in the turn signal
indicator lever for approx. 2 seconds.
Average speed
Periods with the vehicle parked and the
engine switched off are not included in the
calculations of average speed.
To reset the average speed to zero: press
the BC button in the turn signal indicator
lever for approx. 2 seconds.
Displays on the Control Display
You can also call up the computer via the
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1.Open the start menu by pressing the
button
2.Move the controller to the right to open
"Navigation".
On vehicles without navigation: open
"Car Data"

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
76
Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
PDC Park Distance Control*
The concept
The PDC assists you when you are parking.
Signal tones indicate the current distance
to an object behind or in front of your vehi-
cle. Four ultrasonic sensors in both the
bumpers monitor the distance to the near-
est object. The sensors at the front and at
the two rear corners have a range of
approx. 1.64 ft/50 cm; the rear middle sen-
sors have approx. 5 ft/1.50 m.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate
objects when they are approached
slowly, as is usually the case when parking.
Avoid approaching an object at high speed,
as otherwise the physical circumstances
would mean that the system warning was
too late.<
Automatic function
In ignition key position 2, the system auto-
matically assumes operational status after
a few seconds each time you engage
reverse gear or selector-lever position R.
Wait this short period before revers-
ing.<
Manual activation
Press the button, the indicator lamp lights
up.
Manual deactivation
Press the button again; the indicator lamp
goes out.
Automatic deactivation
The system is automatically deactivated
once the vehicle travels approx. 165 ft/
50 m or exceeds a speed of roughly
20 mph/30 km/h; the indicator lamp goes
out. You can reactivate the system manu-
ally as needed.
Signal tones
The signal indicating the distance to the
nearest obstacle is directional. Thus, an
object detected to the left rear of the vehi-
cle will be indicated by a signal tone from
the left rear speaker, etc. As the distance
between vehicle and object decreases, the
intervals between the tones become
shorter. The signal tone becomes continu-
ous once the distance to the nearest object
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. 3 seconds when the distance to an
object remains constant during this time,
if you are moving parallel to a wall, for
instance.
Malfunctions
The indicator lamp within the button
flashes and a message appears on the
Control Display. Please note any supple-
mentary information that appears there.
Switch the system off and have the cause
of the malfunction corrected by your BMW
center.
PDC with visual warning*
You also enjoy the option of having the sys-
tem show distances to objects on the Con-
trol Display for the specific key in use. The
Control Display will also indicate the pres-

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
84 >When a child is seated in the child-
restraint system or with an empty seat,
the front and side airbags are automat-
ically deactivated on the passenger's
side
>When an adult is traveling in the front
seat, the front and side airbags remain
active on the passenger side.
Although not desired, it can occur in
the case of heavier children that the
front passenger airbags remain active or in
the case of very light adults or young per-
sons that the front passenger airbags are
deactivated.
The state of the front passenger airbags is
shown with the telltale lamp, refer to Indi-
cator lamps in the following. In this case
transport the corresponding persons on
the rear seat.
Except when persons to be transported, do
not increase the load on the front passen-
ger seat with additional items. Do not fit
seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball
mats or other items to the front passenger
seat unless they are specifically recom-
mended by BMW. Do not place any items
under the seat. Otherwise, the function of
the seat occupation detection could be
impaired.<
Indicator lamps
Operational readiness of airbag
system
The airbag indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster indicates the operational readiness
of the entire airbag system and the safety
belt tensioners as of ignition key position 1.
The indicator lamp goes out after a few
seconds.The telltale lamp above the interior rear-
view mirror indicates whether the front-
passenger airbag system is activated or
deactivated as of ignition key position 1.
The telltale lamp refers exclusively to
the front-passenger airbag system.<
>The telltale lamp goes out after a few
seconds.
The front passenger airbags are active,
e.g. when transporting an adult
>The telltale lamp lights up continuously.
The front passenger airbags are deacti-
vated, e.g. when transporting a child in
the child-restraint system or when the
seat is unoccupied.
For more information on the operating prin-
ciple of the front passenger airbag system
and seat occupation detection, refer to
Automatic deactivation of the front passen-
ger airbags.
Airbag system malfunction
A system malfunction could prevent
the system from responding in the
expected manner to an impact occurring
within its normal response range.
Please have the airbag system inspected
immediately at a BMW center.<
There is a fault in the airbag system
if the airbag indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster behaves as fol-
lows:
>Indicator lamp does not light up as of
ignition key position 1
>It remains on continuously
>Indicator lamp lights up while the vehi-
cle is being driven.

Controls
85Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Head-Up Display*
The concept
The Head-Up Display can be used to
project important information into the field
of vision of the driver, e.g. instructions of
the navigation system. You can assimilate
this information without taking your eyes off
the road.
Switching on/off
In ignition key position 2:
Press button 2 to activate or deactivate this
system.
1Instructions of the navigation system
2Cruise control or
Active cruise control
3Speed The Head-Up Display can also be activated
and deactivated with the two programma-
ble function buttons on the steering wheel.
Programing button functions, refer to
page 44.
Specifying selected displays
You can specify which information is to
appear in the Head-Up Display for a spe-
cific key.
Make all entries with the vehicle sta-
tionary. If you are inattentive, you may
be in violation of the law, and can endanger
vehicle occupants and other road users.<
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1.Open the start menu by pressing the
button.
1.Open the menu by pressing the con-
troller
2.Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
3.Select "HUD selection" and press the
controller

Controls
87Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
Parking lamps
With the switch in this position, the
front, rear and side vehicle lighting
is switched on. You can use the side
marker lamps for parking. For lighting on
one side for parking as an additional fea-
ture, refer to page 88.
Low beams
When you switch off the ignition
with the headlamps on, the head-
lamps go out, and only the parking
lamps remain on.
Pathway lighting
After parking the vehicle and switching off
the headlamps, operating the headlamp
flasher activates the low beams. You can
set the duration using the Control Center or
deactivate the function.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1.Open the menu
2.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3.Select "Lighting" and press the control-
ler 4.Select "Pathway lighting" and press the
controller
5.Turn the controller to select the corre-
sponding duration
6.Press the controller to apply the setting.
Lights on warning
If you turn the ignition key to position 0, an
acoustic signal sounds when you open the
driver's door for a few seconds to remind
you that the light has not yet been switched
off. At the same time a message appears
on the Control Display.
Daytime driving lamps*
If desired, the light switch can remain in the
low beam position:
When you switch off the ignition, the exte-
rior lighting goes out.
Always observe all applicable laws govern-
ing the use of daytime driving lamps.
You can switch on the parking lamps when
needed using the standard procedure
described under Parking lamps.
Automatic headlamp control*
When you set the switch to this
position, the system activates and
switches on and off the low beams
in response to changes in ambient light
conditions, for instance, in a tunnel, at
dawn and dusk, and in rain and snow. The
LED next to the symbol is illuminated when
the low beams are on.

Lamps
88 Following automatic activation, the
vehicle's external lighting remains on
when you switch on the fog lamps.<
The automatic headlamp control can-
not serve as a substitute for your per-
sonal judgment in determining when the
lamps should be switched on in response
to ambient lighting conditions. For exam-
ple, the system cannot detect fog. To avoid
safety risks, you should always switch on
the lamps manually under these condi-
tions.<
Adaptive Head Light*
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp
control system that enables dynamic illumi-
nation of the road surface. Depending on
the steering angle and other assumptions,
the light from the headlamp follows the
course of the road.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
In ignition key position 2, turn the
light switch to the position 'Auto-
matic headlamp control', refer to
page 87.
When reversing, the Adaptive Head
Light is inactive; when the vehicle is
stationary, it is only active in one direc-
tion.<
In case of malfunction
The LED above the symbol for automatic
headlamp control flashes. Please have the
system inspected at your BMW center.
Instrument lighting
Turn the serrated dial to adjust the illumina-
tion intensity.
High beams/standing lamps
1High beams: blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher: blue indicator lamp
3Standing lamps
Standing 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:
With the ignition switched off, press the
lever in the desired direction 3, past the
resistance point.

Controls
89Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Fog lamps
Always observe all applicable laws govern-
ing the use of fog lamps.
To disconnect, briefly press the button
again.
The parking lamps or low beams
must be switched on for the fog
lamps to operate. The green indica-
tor lamp in the instrument cluster lights up
whenever the fog lamps are on.
The fog lamps are switched off whenever
the high beams are switched on.
If the automatic headlamp control is
activated, the low beams will come on
automatically when you switch on the fog
lamps.<
Interior lamps
The interior lamps operate automatically.
Switching the interior lamps on
and off manually
Briefly press button 1.
If you want the interior lamps to remain off
continuously, maintain pressure on the but-
ton for approx. 3 seconds. To revert to normal operation, press the
button briefly.
Control of the footwell lamps, door entry
lighting and courtesy lamps
* is also auto-
matic.
Reading lamps
Reading lamps are provided in the front
and rear adjacent to the interior lamps. You
can switch them on and off using the
buttons 2 located next to the lamps.
To avoid discharging the battery, all of
the vehicle's interior lamps are auto-
matically switched off approx. 15 minutes
after the ignition is switched off.<
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind
translucent lenses serve as the light source
for many of the controls and displays in
your vehicle.These light-emitting diodes,
which operate using a concept similar to
that applied in conventional lasers, are offi-
cially designated as Class 1 light-emitting
diodes.
Do not remove the covers, and never
stare into the unfiltered light several
hours, as irritation of the retina could
result.<