2005 BMW 525I four wheel drive

Opening and closing
28
Opening and closing
The key set
1Every master key with remote control con-
tains an extended-life battery as a power
supply, which is charged automatically in
the ignition lock as you drive. You should
use each master key at least twice a year in
order to maintain the charge condition.
Depending on which master key is detected
by the vehicle during unlocking, different
settings in the vehicle are requested and
executed, refer to Key Memory below.
2Spare key for storage in a safe place, such
as in your wallet.
This key does not fit in the locks of the lug-
gage compartment lid and the glove com-
partment. This is an advantage when valet
parking, for example. The key is not
intended for regular use.
New key
Additional or replacement keys are available at
your BMW center.
Key Memory
How the system functions
Doubtless you have often reflected on how
great it would be if you could configure your
vehicle's various adjustment settings to meet
your own personal requirements. BMW has
designed several freely selectable options into
the vehicle during its development. You can set
these as desired via the Control Center.You can have up to four different basic settings
adjusted for four different persons for the spe-
cific keys. The only requirement is that each
person uses his or her own master key with
remote control.
When your vehicle is unlocked with the remote
control, the vehicle recognizes the individual
key by means of a data exchange and makes
adjustments accordingly.
Size of Key Memory
>When unlocking with the remote control,
either unlock only the driver's door or the
entire vehicle, refer to page29
>Locking the vehicle after a short time or
after starting off, refer to page31
>Assigning the programmable function but-
tons on the steering wheel, refer to page46
>Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer
to page73
>Measuring units for consumption, travel/
distances, temperature, and pressure,
refer to page73
>Voice commands in Control Display,
refer to page74
>12h/24h mode of the clock, refer to
page74
>Date format, refer to page75
>Showing optical warning for PDC Park
Distance Control
*, refer to page76
>Selection and brightness of display in
Head-Up Display
*, refer to page85
>Air distribution, temperature and intensity
of the automatic air conditioning system,
refer to page92
>Setting voice instructions for destination
guidance in the navigation system
*, refer to
page125

Controls
45Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
The mirror on the passenger side fea-
tures 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 dis-
tance to following traffic should not be regarded
as precise.<
1Adjustments
2Switching to the other mirror or to the auto-
matic parking function, refer to Tilting the
passenger-side mirror, page41
Storing the mirror positions, refer to Seat, mir-
ror and steering wheel memory on page40.
Manual adjustment
You can also adjust the mirrors manually if nec-
essary by pressing against the outer edges of
their mirror glass.
Folding mirrors in and out
To prevent the exterior mirrors on this
vehicle from being damaged, always fold
them in by hand before entering an automatic
car wash.<
Automatic heating
Both exterior mirrors are automatically heated
in ignition key position 2.
Interior rearview mirror
To reduce the dazzle effect of following vehi-
cles at night, turn the knob.
Automatically dimming mirrors, refer to
page107.
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust steering wheel while driv-
ing. There is a risk of accident from unex-
pected movement of the steering wheel.<
The steering wheel can be adjusted in four
directions.
Storing steering wheel positions, refer to Seat,
mirror and steering wheel memory on page40.
Easy entry/exit*
To facilitate entry and exit, the steering wheel
temporarily moves into the uppermost position.

Controls
79Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Malfunction in vehicle stability-control
systems
The brake system warning lamp lights
up in red, appearing together with the
indicator lamps for ABS and DSC. A
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. The driving stability control sys-
tems are deactivated. Conventional
braking efficiency remains available
without limitations. While you may con-
tinue, you should remember to proceed cau-
tiously and drive defensively while avoiding full
brake applications. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.
Display of the previously described
malfunction on Canadian models.
The indicator lamp for DSC lights up; a
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. DSC and DTC are deactivated.
The stability maintenance functions are no
longer available. The vehicle remains in running
order. Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
The warning lamp for the brake system
lights up in yellow; a message appears
on the Control Display. DBC has failed.
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
Display of the previously described
malfunction on Canadian models.
Active roll stabilization*
The concept
Active roll stabilization minimizes body roll and
optimizes vehicle stability during cornering and
evasive maneuvers.
Dynamic stabilizers at the front and rear axles
form the basis for active roll stabilization. Sus-
pension compliance adapts to suit driving con-
ditions, varying from performance-oriented during cornering to smooth and comfort-ori-
ented when the vehicle is proceeding in a
straight line. During vehicle operation, the sys-
tem continuously runs through closed-loop
control cycles lasting only fractions of a second.
The system assumes operational status each
time you start the engine.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up and a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display.
There is a malfunction in the system.
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
If there is a malfunction in the system,
please remember to adapt your speed
accordingly, especially in curves. The suspen-
s i o n w il l b e n o t i c ea b ly s o f t e r a n d t h e v e h i cl e w il l
display a greater tendency to tilt during corner-
ing and in crosswinds. If a message stating that
you should stop appears on the Control Display,
stop and switch off the engine as soon as pos-
sible. In this case the oil level in the reservoir
may have dropped below the minimum, possi-
bly owing to a leak in the hydraulic system. Do
not continue driving. Contact your BMW cen-
ter.<
Flat Tire Monitor
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the infla-
tion pressures in the four mounted tires as you
drive. The system provides an alert whenever
the inflation pressure drops significantly in rela-
tion to the pressure in another tire.
In the event of a pressure loss, the rolling radius
and therefore the rotation speed of the wheels
change. This change is detected and is
reported as a flat tire.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat
tire, the system must be initialized for the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure.
Perform the initialization immediately
after correcting the inflation pressure,

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
80 after changing a tire or after changing a wheel or
all of the wheels.<
System limits
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot indicate
sudden severe tire damage caused by
outside factors and does not detect a natural,
even pressure drop in all four tires.<
In the following situations, the system could be
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Sporty driving style: slip in the drive wheels,
high lateral acceleration
>Driving with snow chains
*
When you are driving with the compact wheel,
the Flat Tire Monitor is unable to function.
Initializing system
The initialization finishes during driving,
which can be interrupted at any time.
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically. When driving with snow
chains or with the compact wheel, do not initial-
ize the system.<
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page16.
1.Open the menu.
2.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
3.Select "FTM" and press the controller.
4.Start engine, but do not start driving.5.Select "Set tire pressure" and press the
controller.
6.Select "Yes" and press the controller.
7.Start to drive.
The message "Initializing" is displayed.
The initialization finishes during driving. Then
the message "Status: Active" appears on the
Control Display again.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamp lights up in red and 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.Reduce speed and stop the vehicle care-
fully. Avoid sudden braking and steering
maneuvers.
2.Identify damaged tire.
If identification is not possible, con-
tact a BMW center.<
3.Replace the damaged wheel, refer to
Changing a wheel on page185.
Vehicles with run-flat tires
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph/
80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed of
50 mph/80 km/h.
If the vehicle is not equipped with run-
flat tires, refer to page174, do not
continue driving. Continuing to drive with a
flat tire could cause severe accidents.<

Controls
81Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If the tire inflation pressure in all four
tires is correct, the Flat Tire Monitor
has not been initialized. The system must
then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss,
0 psi/0 kPa, or obvious tire damage, you can
estimate the possible distance for contin-
ued driving on the basis of the following
guide values:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full, or
4 persons without luggage:
approx. 94 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 or more persons, luggage compart-
ment 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 distance and altered natural
steering characteristics.
If unusual vibrations occur while the vehicle is
being driven, this can indicate final failure of the
damaged tire. Reduce speed and stop as soon
as possible. Do not continue driving. Contact
your BMW center.<
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up yellow and
a message appears on the Control Dis-
play. The Flat Tire Monitor has a mal-
function or has failed. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.
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.
When you are driving in the low road speed
range, e. g. in a town or when parking, the steer-
ing angle increases, 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 stabilizing
intervention is simultaneously deactivated
when DSC is switched off, refer to page78.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up. The active
steering is no longer operational. At low
speeds, greater steering wheel move-
ments are required, whereas at higher speeds,
the vehicle reacts more sensitively to steering
wheel movements. Have the system checked.
If the warning lamp lights up during the first
engine starting following a power supply inter-
ruption, the system must be activated by being
initialized.
Initializing system
1.Start the engine.
2.With the vehicle stationary, turn the steer-
ing wheel from the straight-ahead position
t o t h e le f t a s f a r a s i t w i ll g o a n d t h e n b a c k t o
the straight-ahead position.
3.Switch off the engine.
When you start the engine again, all the func-
tions of the active steering are available once
again.