2005 BMW 545I SEDAN instrument cluster

At a glance
11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
6Buttons on steering wheel
7Instrument cluster12
9Ignition lock5110Horn: the entire surface
13Releasing hood176
14Opening luggage compartment lid32

Telephone*153:
>Press: accept call or terminate
call
as well as dialing if an entry has
been selected from "A - Z",
"Top 8", "Redial", "Received
calls" or "Missed calls"
>press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice com-
mand system
*22
Fast forward/reverse132
>Radio
Press: change radio station
Press longer: manual search
or automatic search scan
>CD
Press: select track
Press longer: fast forward/
reverse
>Telephone
*
Press: select entry in "A - Z",
"Top 8", "Redial", "Received
calls" or "Missed calls"
Individually programmable
*46
Individually programmable46
8
Windshield wipers57
Rain sensor57
11
Steering wheel heater*46
Steering wheel adjustment45
12
Cruise control
*:58
Active cruise control
*59
15
Head-Up Display
*84
16
Parking lamps87
Low beams87
Automatic headlamp control
*87
Adaptive Head Light88
*
17
Instrument lighting89
Fog lamps
*88

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Indicator lamps for turn signals13
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Display for active cruise control
*60
5Tachometer65
and Energy Control66
6Display for
>Clock/date65
>Outside temperature65
>Indicator and warning lamps68
>Speed of cruise control
*58
>Desired speed for active cruise
control
*597Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer65
>Computer69
>Date and remaining travel distance for
service requirements66
>Automatic transmission with
Steptronic55
>SMG Sequential manual
transmission
*53
> Check Control message present67
8Fuel gage66
9Resetting trip odometer65

Driving
52
SMG Sequential manual transmission
and automatic transmission
Your BMW is equipped with the convenience
starting feature. It is sufficient to turn the igni-
tion key into position 3 for only a short time and
then release it again. The system responds by
automatically engaging the starter for a certain
period and allowing it to run until the engine
starts, after which it then disengages automati-
cally.
SMG Sequential manual transmission
1.Press the brake pedal.
2.Place selector lever in position N.
3.Start the engine.
If the engine does not start, shift back to
the last gear selected, refer to Instrument
cluster display, and then shift into position N.<
Automatic transmission
1.Press the brake pedal.
2.Place selector lever in 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 steer-
ing wheel lock will immobilize the steering.
When leaving the vehicle, remove the ignition
key and lock the steering. When parking on a
downhill incline, apply the handbrake, as other-
wise the vehicle could roll away.<
Manual transmission
1.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
SMG Sequential manual transmission
1.Engage a driving position.
2.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
A signal sounds if the transmission is in
Neutral when the engine is switched off.
Automatic transmission
1.Engage selector lever position P.
2.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Handbrake
The handbrake is primarily intended to prevent
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 start-
ing off. The handbrake is applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and
lower the lever.
If it becomes necessary under special cir-
cumstances to use the handbrake while
driving, it must not be pulled too sharply. In
doing so, continuously 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 hand-
brake is applied.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the hand-

Controls
53Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.<
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5th/6th gear, press the
selector lever toward the right, otherwise
an inadvertent shift into 3rd or 4th gear could
damage the engine.<
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
When pressing the gearshift lever to the left,
overcome some resistance.
The backup lamps switch on automatically
when the ignition key is in position 2.
SMG Sequential manual
transmission*
The concept
The SMG Sequential manual transmission is an
automated manual transmission in which an
electrohydraulic 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 you the following functions:
>Optional manual or automatic operation:
Sequential mode or Drive mode
>You have a choice of two driving programs:
Normal or Sport, refer to Dynamic Driving
Control page54 >Automatic downshifting and prevention of
incorrect shifting even in sequential opera-
tion
>Acceleration assistant, refer to page55.
The SMG is operational when the ignition key is
in position 2.
Selector lever positions
The current selector lever position is displayed
on the center console.
>R: Reverse
>N: Neutral
>One-touch functions for Sequential mode:
+: manual upshifting
–: manual downshifting
>D: Drive mode
The transmission automatically shifts into
N if the driver's door is opened with the
engine running and neither the pedals, the shift
paddles nor the selector lever are operated.
This is indicated by an acoustic signal and the
flashing display N in the instrument cluster.<
Gear display
R N 1 to 6
The currently engaged gear is displayed, pre-
ceded by a D in Drive mode.

Controls
55Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Activating system
Press the SPORT button with the ignition key in
position 2.
The LED in the button lights up and SPORT is
displayed in the instrument cluster.
Deactivating system
Press the SPORT button again.
The LED in the button and SPORT in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Acceleration assistant
The acceleration assistant enables optimized
vehicle acceleration at racing car level on road
surfaces with good adhesion when starting off.
Do not use the acceleration assistant too
often, as otherwise components will wear
prematurely.<
1.Activate the Dynamic Traction Control.
2.Press the DTC button, refer to page78, for
longer than 3 seconds.
3.Quickly press accelerator pedal all the way
down: kick-down. The ideal starting-off
engine speed is set.
To maintain driving stability, do not deac-
tivate DSC if at all possible.<
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can
also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer to
page56.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Displays in instrument cluster
P R N D DS M1 to M6
The selector lever position is indicated, and in
the manual mode the gear currently engaged.
Changing selector lever positions
An interlock prevents inadvertent gearshifts
into selector lever positions R and P. To cancel
the interlock, press the button on the front of
the selector lever knob, refer to arrow.
Shiftlock
Press the brake pedal before shifting out of P
or N; the shift command will not be executed
unless the brake is applied.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after you
select a driving position, maintain pressure on
the brake pedal until you are ready to start.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
The rear wheels are locked.

Driving
56
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
For example, engage in automatic car washes.
The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are available.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con-
sumption is lowest when driving in position D.
Kick-down
The kick-down mode provides maximum accel-
eration: press the accelerator pedal beyond the
full-throttle resistance point.
Manual operation and Sport program
M/S
Move selector lever from position D toward the
left into the M/S shifting slot:
The sport program is activated and DS appears
in the instrument cluster. This position is
recommended for a performance-oriented
driving style.
When the selector lever is pressed forward or
back, the manual mode is activated and the
Steptronic shifts the gear. The instrument clus-
ter shows M1 through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combination
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example,
a downshift that would cause the engine to
overrev will not be executed by the system. The
selected gear appears briefly in the instrument
cluster, followed by the current gear.To use the automatic function again, move the
selector lever to the right into position D.
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To turn off manually, press the lever to the
resistance point.
Atypically rapid flashing of the indicator
lamp indicates that a turn signal bulb
needs to be replaced.
After switching off the ignition, make sure that
the roadside parking lamps are not switched
on.<
Signaling for a short time
Press lever to resistance point and hold for as
long as you wish to signal.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever to the resistance point; the turn
signal flashes three times.
You can activate or deactivate this function.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page16.
1.Open the menu.
2.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
3.Select "Light" and press the controller.

Controls
59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Maintaining speed, storing speed, and
decelerating
Pull the lever 2:
Functions are the same as1, only the vehicle
speed is reduced.
Interrupting cruise control
With the cruise control active, briefly press the
lever up or down 3.
In addition, cruise control is automatically deac-
tivated:
>When the brakes are applied
>When the clutch pedal is depressed or the
automatic transmission/SMG is shifted into
the N position
>When the DSC comes on
Resuming stored speed
Press button4:
The stored speed is resumed and maintained.
Deactivating system
When the ignition is switched off, the system is
deactivated and the stored speed is deleted.
Displays in instrument cluster
1Stored desired speed display
2Digital speed display.
Appears briefly when you select your
desired speed
Active cruise control*
The concept
With active cruise control, you can select a
desired speed which is not only automatically
maintained when driving on open roadways, but
also varied to maintain a selected distance set-
ting as slower traffic is encountered.
Active cruise control is a technological advance
over the familiar cruise control and is a welcome
relief from the constant adjustment of speed
that can accompany driving in traffic on free-
ways or other high-speed thoroughfares. Espe-
cially on longer trips, the system can reduce
fatigue and tension, while increasing your
enjoyment of driving. Please use it safely and
responsibly.
In addition to holding a steady cruising speed,
if you encounter slower vehicles ahead, active
cruise control will, within the scope of given
possibilities, adjust your vehicle's speed auto-
matically so that you can flow with the traffic
without having to make constant adjustments.
If, for example, while cruising at the selected
speed, you begin to approach a slower vehicle
ahead of you in the same lane, the system will
reduce your vehicle's speed to the same as that
of the vehicle ahead to maintain your selected
distance setting between your vehicle and the
vehicle ahead. There are four settings for dis-
tance, which are additionally speed-dependent.
Based on your selected distance setting, the
system automatically decreases the throttle
setting and lightly applies the brakes if neces-
sary. The vehicle brake lamps will automatically
illuminate to signal a following driver to take
action. In addition, it may be necessary for the
vehicle or the driver to downshift, depending on
the kind of transmission your vehicle is
equipped with, to maintain the distance setting
selected. If the vehicle ahead speeds up or
when the lane ahead becomes clear, your vehi-
cle will accelerate to the speed you have
selected by increasing the throttle setting and
shifting gears automatically or by the driver as
needed.

Driving
60 Active cruise control is not and must not
be used as a collision avoidance/warning
system.<
Since this active cruise control system is
a new technology and operates differ-
ently from conventional cruise control systems
which you may be accustomed to, you are
strongly urged to read all of the pages relating
to this system before use. Pay special attention
to the information contained in the Things to
know about active cruise control section in this
manual beginning on page62.<
Vehicles with manual transmission
You can use the system in the 2nd to 6th gear
within a normal engine speed range and also
change gears. Continuous operation at very
high or very low engine speeds is not possible.
In this case the driver is asked to shift or the
system deactivates itself.
Vehicles with SMG
Continuous operation at very high engine
speeds is not possible in the Sequential mode.
In this case the driver is asked to shift or the
system deactivates itself.
In the Drive mode, the SMG acts similarly to the
automatic transmission in the D position.
Operating active cruise control
1Activate system, store and increase desired
speed
2Activate system, store and decrease
desired speed
3Deactivate system4Recall the stored speed and distance or
increase desired speed by 1 mph/1 km/h
with each press of the button
5Select distance to vehicle driving ahead.
You can choose from four available distance
settings. You will find more detailed infor-
mation on page62.
Adjust your desired speed to the traffic
conditions and remain ready to brake at
all times. Great differences in speed to the vehi-
cles driving ahead, e. g. when quickly approach-
ing a truck or when another vehicle swerves into
your lane, cannot be compensated for by the
system.<
Displays in instrument cluster
1Stored desired speed display
2Detected vehicle display. Lights up when
vehicle driving ahead is detected
3Selected distance to vehicle driving ahead
4Digital speed display.
Appears briefly when you select your
desired speed
The system is activated.
The display 3 appears as soon as
you activate the system and no
vehicle is detected driving ahead.
Vehicle detected.
The display 2 lights up yellow
when a vehicle is detected driving
ahead.