2004 BMW 645CI COUPE wheel

Adjustments
42
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital
contribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving.
The sitting position also plays an important
role together with the safety belts and air-
bags in providing occupants with maximum
levels of passive safety in an accident. To
ensure that the safety systems operate with
optimal efficiency, we strongly urge you to
observe the instructions contained in the
following section.
For additional information on transporting
children safely, refer to page 51.
Sitting safely with airbags
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between yourself and the air-
bags. Always hold the steering wheel by
its rim with hands at the 9 o'clock and
3 o'clock positions, to minimize the risk of
injuries to your hands and arms in the event
of airbag deployment.
No one and nothing is to come between the
airbags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on
the front passenger side as a storage area.
Make sure that the front passenger is sit-
ting correctly and does not rest feet or legs
on the instrument panel, otherwise leg inju-
ries can occur if the knee and front airbags
are triggered.
Never let an occupant's head rest near or
on a side airbag because the inflating air-
bag could cause a serious or fatal injury.<
Even if you adhere to all the instructions
injuries resulting from contact with airbags
cannot be fully excluded, depending on the
circumstances. The ignition and inflation
noise may provoke a mild – usually tempo-
rary – hearing loss in extremely sensitive
individuals.
For airbag locations and additional infor-
mation on airbags, refer to page 81.
Sitting safely with safety belts
Fasten your safety belt before starting any
trip. Airbags complement the safety belt as
an additional safety device, but they do not
represent a substitute.
Your vehicle has four seats that are all
equipped with a safety belt.
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained:
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems; larger children and
adults using the safety belts.
Never allow more than one person to wear
a single safety belt. Never allow infants or
small children to ride in a passenger's lap.
Expectant mothers should always wear
their safety belts, taking care to position
the lap belt against the lower hips, where it
will not exert pressure against the abdomi-
nal area.
Do not route the belt across your neck, or
run it across sharp edges. Be sure that the
belt does not become caught or jammed.
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it firmly
across the hips and shoulder. Do not allow
the belt to rest against hard or fragile
objects. Otherwise, in the event of a frontal
impact, a loose lap belt could slide over
your hips, leading to abdominal injury.
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the
belt from fitting properly and pull the lap
belt periodically to readjust the tension
across your shoulder in order to avoid a
reduction in the retention effect of the
safety belt.<
For instructions on operating safety belts,
refer to page 47.

Adjustments
44
Seat, mirror and steering
wheel memory
You can store and select three different
adjustment settings for the driver's seat,
exterior mirrors and steering wheel.
The adjustment of the lumbar support is not
stored in the memory.
Storing
Ignition key as of position 1:
1.Adjust the desired seat, exterior mirror
and steering-wheel positions
2.Press
MEMORY button:
The indicator lamp in the button lights
up
3.Press the desired memory button 1, 2
or 3:
The indicator lamp goes out.
Calling up automatically
You have two possibilities:
>Calling up on unlocking the vehicle
>Calling up on opening the driver's door.
If you want to call up the last driver's seat,
exterior mirror and steering wheel position,
proceed as follows:
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1.Open the menu
2.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3.Select "Door locks" and press the con-
troller
4.Select "Central locking" and press the
controller5.Select "Last seat pos." and press the
controller
6.Select "After unlocking" or "After open-
ing door"
7.Press the controller.
Depending on which key you have used to
open the vehicle, the last adjustment is
applied.
When using this Key Memory feature,
always make sure that the footwell
behind the driver's seat is empty and unob-
structed. If you fail to do so, any persons or
objects behind the seat could be injured or
damaged by a rearward movement of the
seat.<
Calling up manually
Do not call up a position from the
memory while the vehicle is moving.
There is a risk of accident from unexpected
movement of the seat or steering wheel.<
Convenience mode
1.Open the driver's door after unlocking
or turn the ignition key to position 1
2.Briefly press the desired memory but-
ton 1, 2 or 3.
The system immediately cancels the
adjustment procedure when you press one
of the seat adjustment switches or use one
of the memory buttons.
The adjusting procedure for the steering
wheel is immediately interrupted if you
operate the switch for the steering wheel
adjustment in any direction, refer to
page 48.

Adjustments
48
Mirrors
Adjusting exterior mirrors
Armrest in the driver's door:
14-way adjustment
2Switching to the other mirror or auto-
matic curb monitor, refer to page 45
To prevent the exterior mirrors from
being damaged due to the width of
the vehicle, always fold them in by hand
before entering an automatic car wash.<
You can also adjust the mirrors manually
if necessary by pressing against the outer
edges of their lenses.
Storing the mirror positions, refer to Seat,
mirror and steering wheel memory,
page 44.
The mirror on the passenger's side
features a lens with a more convex
surface than the mirror installed on the
driver's side. When estimating the distance
between yourself and other traffic, bear in
mind that the objects reflected in the mirror
are closer than they appear. This means
that estimations of the distance to following
traffic should not be regarded as precise.<
Automatic functions
>Both exterior mirrors are automatically
heated in ignition key position 2
>The interior and exterior mirrors dim
depending on the light occurring when
the vehicle is being driven forward
*.There are two photocells in the interior
mirror to control the automatic dimming
of the interior mirror. One is integrated
within the mirror's lens, refer to arrow,
while the other is located at an offset
position on the rear of the mirror hous-
ing.
For trouble-free operation, keep the
photocells clean and do not cover the
area between the interior rearview mir-
ror and the windshield. Do not attach
any kind of stickers on the windshield in
front of the mirror, either.
Steering wheel adjustment
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving. There is a risk
of accident from unexpected movement.<
The steering wheel can be adjusted in four
directions.
Storing the steering-wheel position, refer
to Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory,
page 44.

Controls
49Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Automatic steering wheel
adjustment
In conjunction with seat, mirror and steer-
ing wheel memory.
The steering wheel automatically moves as
high up and far forward as possible to ease
driver entry and exit before then returning
to the standard position or stored memory
setting.
This automatic feature is governed by the
driver's door and the ignition lock.
Steering wheel heater*
In ignition key position 2, press the button.
The indicator lamp within the button lights
up when the steering wheel heater is in
operation.
Programming button function
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, an
individual function can be assigned to each
of the two programmable function buttons
in the steering wheel.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1.Open the menu
2.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
3.Select "Steering wheel buttons" and
press the controller.A list with different functions is dis-
played:
>"Navigation"
Voice instructions for the navigation
system
>"Air recirculation on / off"
In this mode, you can continuously
block the supply of outside air, refer
to AUC Automatic recirculated-air
control on page 89
>"Mute on / off"
Mutes the audio sources
>"Screen on / off"
Switches the Control Display on/off
>"Short cut / Telephone"
Display/hide phone book
>"Next entertainment source"
Changes audio source
4.Select the desired function
5.Press the controller
6.Select button if necessary
.
7.Press the controller.
Depending on which key you have used to
open the vehicle, the last adjustment is
applied.
You can operate the selected function
using the corresponding button.

Adjustments
50
Operating function
Briefly press the corresponding button on
the steering wheel.
Voice instructions of navigation system:
>Switch voice instructions on/off:
Maintain pressure on the button for
several seconds
>Repeat the last voice instruction:
Briefly press the button
>To prevent the navigation system from
interrupting other audio sources, such
as a news program or traffic bulletin,
you can cancel the voice instructions:
Press the button briefly during an
instruction.

Driving
54
Driving
Ignition lock
0 Steering locked
The key can only be inserted or removed in
this position.
After removing the key, turn the steering
wheel slightly until it locks.
Interlock on automatic transmission
>Only move the selector lever from
position P with the engine running
>To turn the key back to position 0 or to
remove it, first select the selector lever
position P.
1 Steering unlocked
A slight steering wheel movement often
makes it easier to turn the key from 0 to 1.
Individual current consumers are ready for
operation.
2 Ignition switched on
All vehicle systems are ready for operation.
3 Start engine
Starting engine
Do not run the engine in closed
rooms, as otherwise the inhaling of
toxic exhaust gases can cause uncon-
sciousness 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 repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, always
select idle position or position N and apply
the handbrake before leaving the vehicle
with the engine running.<
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 immedi-
ately at a moderate engine speed.
Special starting conditions
Press the accelerator pedal halfway down
when starting if
>the engine fails to start on the first
attempt, for instance, if it is very hot or
cold
>the engine is started at very low tem-
peratures, below approx. + 57/–156,
at high altitudes, over 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting in quick suc-
cession 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 overheat-
ing and damaging the catalytic converter.<
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake
2.Gearshift lever in idle position
3.Press the clutch pedal
If the clutch pedal is not
depressed, the engine will not
start.<
4.Start the engine.
Do not terminate the starting operation
too early, but after approx. 20 seconds
at the latest. When the engine starts, let
go of the ignition key immediately.

Controls
55Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
SMG Sequential manual
transmission and automatic
transmission
Your BMW is equipped with the conve-
nience starting feature. Here, it is sufficient
to turn the ignition key only briefly to posi-
tion 3 'Start engine' and to let go of it right
away. The system responds by automati-
cally engaging the starter for a certain
period and allowing it to run until the engine
starts, after which it then disengages auto-
matically.
SMG Sequential manual
transmission
1.Press the brake pedal
2.Engage selector-lever position N
3.Start the engine.
If the engine does not start, engage
the last gear selected again, refer to
instrument cluster display, and then
engage selector-lever position N.<
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
1.Press the brake pedal
2.Engage selector-lever position P or N
3.Start the engine.
Switching off engine
Do not remove the ignition key while
the vehicle is rolling, as otherwise the
steering wheel lock would engage while
steering.
When leaving the vehicle, remove the igni-
tion key and lock the steering.
When parking on a downhill incline, apply
the handbrake, as otherwise the vehicle
could roll away.<
Manual transmission
1.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0
2.Engage first or reverse gear.
SMG Sequential manual
transmission
1.Engage a drive position
2.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
A signal sounds if the idle position N is
engaged on stopping the engine.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
1.Engage selector-lever position P
2.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Handbrake
The handbrake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked;
it brakes the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up, and an
acoustic signal also sounds when
starting off. The handbrake is
engaged.
Indicator lamp for Canadian mod-
els.
Engaging
The lever locks into place automatically;
the indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up as of ignition key position 1.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and
lower the lever.
If exceptional circumstances should
make it necessary to engage the
handbrake while the vehicle is in motion,

Driving
56 do not pull it too strongly. In doing so, con-
tinuously press the button of the handbrake
lever.
Strong application of the handbrake can
lead to overbraking of the rear axle and
associated 'fishtailing' of the vehicle rear
end.
The brake lamps do not light up when the
handbrake is engaged.
Vehicles with manual or SMG transmission:
When parking on inclines, engage the
handbrake, as even engaging the first or
reverse gear might not under certain cir-
cumstances secure the vehicle against
moving.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Engage selector-lever position P.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided
braking action, occasionally engage
the handbrake lightly when the vehicle is
slowly coming to a standstill if the traffic
conditions are suitable.<
Manual transmission
While shifting gear in the 5th/6th gear
level, press the gearshift lever to the
right, as otherwise engine damage could
occur from inadvertently engaging a gear in
the 3rd/4th gear level.
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with the
clutch; use the handbrake. Otherwise there
is high clutch wear.<
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is completely
stationary. When pressing the gearshift
lever to the left, overcome some resis-
tance.The backup lamps automatically switch on
in ignition key position 2.
SMG Sequential manual
transmission*
The concept
The SMG Sequential manual transmission
is an automated manual transmission in
which an electro-hydraulic system handles
the clutching and gear changes.
You operate the SMG using the selector
lever in the center console and two shift
paddles on the steering wheel.
It offers the following functions:
>Choice of manual or automatic mode:
Sequential mode or Drive mode
>Options of two drive programs:
Normal or Sport, refer to page 59
>Protection against incorrect gearshifts
and automatic shift down at minimum
engine speed, also in the Sequential
mode
>Kickdown function in the Drive mode
>Acceleration assistant, refer to
page 60.
The SMG is operational in ignition key posi-
tion 2.
Selector-lever positions
The current selector-lever position is dis-
played on the center console.
>R: Reverse gear
>N: Neutral, idle