2005 BMW 545I SEDAN traction control

At a glance
13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
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Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps and their combina-
tions are displayed in the display region1 and in
the display2. To better differentiate between
malfunctions, different symbols can be shown
on the display2.
Some lights in the display region1 are tested
for proper function by briefly lighting up during
starting of the engine or when the ignition is
switched on.
Acknowledging active functions
The following indicator lamps in the display
region1 indicate that the associated functions
are activated:
What to do in case of a malfunction
All warning lamps and indicator lamps not yet
listed are also accompanied by text messages
on the Control Display. These may contain
more information as to the cause of a malfunc-
tion and instructions on what to do.
Sometimes, warning lamps are also accompa-
nied by supplemental text messages on the
Control Display that are shown immediately.
Text messages that do not appear immediately
are stored and can be displayed subsequently.
For further information on displaying these
messages later, refer to Check Control on
page 67. Turn signals56
Handbrake engaged52
Handbrake engaged for Canadian
models
Front fog lamps88
DTC Dynamic Traction Control78
High beams/headlamp flasher88
DSC Dynamic Stability Control78

At a glance
15Reference
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Mobility
1Microphone for telephone*153
2Reading lamps89
3Initiating an emergency call
*189
4Interior lamps89
5Glass sunroof, electric
*35
6Passenger airbag status lamp84
7Microphone for voice command
system
*22
8Control Display16
Displays for menu navigation
9Hazard warning flashers
10Central locking system31
11Automatic climate control90
12Starting search function
>for radio stations132
>for tracks146
13Ejecting
>navigation DVD
*114
>audio CD132
14Drive for navigation DVD
s*11415Drive for audio CDs132
16Switching audio sources on/off and
adjusting volume132
18Controller16
19Activating voice command system
*22
20Opening start menu on Control Display17
21Dynamic Driving Control
*54 Temperature setting, left/right91
Automatic air distribution and
volume91
Cooling function91
AUC Automatic recirculated-air
control91
Maximum cooling91
Residual heat mode92
Switching off automatic climate
control92
Air volume91
Defrosting windows91
Rear window defroster90
17
Heated seats*43
Active seat ventilation
*44
Active backrest width
adjustment
*40
Active seat
*44
PDC Park Distance Control
*76
DTC Dynamic Traction Control78

Controls
55Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
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Navigation
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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.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
78
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
The system prevents traction loss in the driving
wheels when starting off and accelerating. DSC
also detects unstable driving conditions such
as a fishtailing rear end or sliding of the front
wheels. In these cases, DSC helps the vehicle
maintain a safe course within physical limits by
reducing engine output and through braking
actions in the individual wheels.
The DSC is operational every time you start the
engine.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed,
even with DSC. An appropriate driving
style always remains the responsibility of the
driver. Therefore, do not reduce the additional
safety margin again by taking risks.<
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
DTC is a version of DSC in which the drive out-
put is optimized for particular road conditions,
e.g. unplowed snow-covered roads. The sys-
tem assures the maximal drive output, but with
reduced driving stability. It is therefore neces-
sary to drive with appropriate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC
under the following special circumstances:
>When driving on snowy inclines, in slush, or
on unplowed, snow-covered road surfaces
>When rocking a stuck vehicle free or start-
ing off in deep snow or on loose ground
>When driving with snow chains
Activating DTC
Press the button briefly; the DTC indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up.
Deactivating DTC again
Press the button again; the DTC indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster goes out.
Deactivating DTC and DSC together
Press the button until the DSC indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up, but not longer
than approx. 10 seconds. Stabilizing and drive
output promoting actions are no longer exe-
cuted. In addition, the stability promoting inter-
vention of the active steering is deactivated,
refer to page81.
A message appears on the Control Display.
Please note any supplementary information
that appears there.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC again
as soon as possible.
Reactivating DSC
Press the button; the DTC indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
To control
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC controls the drive forces
and brake forces.
The indicator lamp lights up:
DSC and DTC are deactivated together via the
button DTC.
The indicator lamp lights up:
DTC is activated via the DTC button.

Mobility
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades.<
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half, 1γ, times as
well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test sur-
faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either sep-
arately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.<
RSC – run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire, refer to page174.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged
in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Minimum tread depth
The tread depth should not drop below 0.12 in/
3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of
0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 0.12 in/
3 mm there is an increased risk of high-speed
hydroplaning, even when only small amounts of
water are present on the road surface.
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth
of 0.16 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter conditions. For the sake of
safety, new tires should be installed.

Mobility
175Reference
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approved units – these differences could lead to
body contact, and with it the risk of severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is
another vital factor in ensuring reliable opera-
tion of various vehicle systems such as ABS
and DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. After a flat
tire, have the original wheel and tire combina-
tion remounted on the vehicle as soon as possi-
ble.
Recommended tire brands
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire size,
classifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation.
Observe any country-specific regulations, e.g.
on making a corresponding entry in the vehicle
documents.
The factory-mounted tires have been specially
selected to provide optimized performance
when installed on yo ur vehicle; if pro perly cared
for, they will provide a combination of safety and
excellent ride comfort.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires or changing from
summer tires to winter tires or vice versa, use
run-flat tires because there is no spare tire in
case of a flat. Your BMW center will be glad to
advise you.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
that you do not have damaged run-flat
tires repaired; they should be replaced.<
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in cold
winter driving conditions. Although all-season
M+S tires provide better winter traction than
summer tires, they generally fail to provide the
same levels of cold-weather performance as
winter tires.
Pay attention to speed
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for the winter tires, otherwise tire
damage may occur, which can result in acci-
dents.<
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as possible.
Always protect tires against all contact with oil,
grease and fuels. Do not exceed the maximum
tire inflation pressure indicated on the side wall
of the tire.
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain fine-link snow chains,
classifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation. BMW recommends using these
approved, fine-link snow chains.
Use is only permitted in pairs, with winter tires
on the rear wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed
of 30 mph/50 km/h with the chains mounted.
After snow chains are mounted, do not
initialize the Flat Tire Monitor.
When driving with snow chains, it can be useful
to activate the DTC temporarily, refer to
page78.<

Everything from A to Z
206 Decommissioning the vehicle
– refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Defrosting windows91
Defrosting windows and
removing condensation91
Defrosting windshield, refer to
Defrosting windows91
Defrost position, refer to
Defrosting windows91
"Delete address book" for
navigation122
"Delete all numbers" on the
portable phone157
"Delete data" for
navigation122
"Delete" for portable
phone157,158
Destination address
– deleting121
– entering115
Destination for navigation
– destination list119
– entry115
– selecting from address
book121
– selecting using
information118
– storing120
Destination guidance124
– bypassing route
sections127
– canceling voice
instructions46
– changing specified
route122
– displaying routes126
– distance and arrival124
– interrupting125
– starting124
– terminating/continuing125
– voice instructions125
– volume of voice
instructions126
Destination list119
Destinations recently driven
to119"Dial" for portable phone154
"Dial number"154
"Diamond button"46
Diamond button46
Digital clock65
Dimensions197
Dipstick for engine oil177
Directional indicators, refer to
Turn signals56
Direction announcements,
refer to Voice
instructions125
Direction instructions, refer to
Voice instructions125
Directory, refer to Phone
book155
Directory for navigation, refer
to Address book120
Disc brakes108
Displacement, refer to Engine
data196
Display, refer to Control
Center16
"Display off"21
Displays, refer to Instrument
cluster12
"Display settings"73
Displays on the windshield,
refer to Head-Up Display84
Disposal, vehicle battery187
Distance, refer to
Computer70
Distance cruise control, refer
to Active cruise control59
"Distance to dest."71
Distance to destination, refer
to Computer70
Distance warning, refer to
PDC Park Distance
Control76
Divided rear seat back, refer to
Folding down rear seat101
Door entry lighting89
Door keys28
Door lock31
Door locking, acknowl-
edgment signals30"Door locks"29
Doors
– manual operation31
– remote control29
DOT Quality Grades173
Draft-free ventilation93
Drinks holder, refer to Cup
holders99
Drive mode54
"Driver's door only"29
Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams87
Driving notes106
Driving route, refer to
Displaying route126
Driving stability control
system77
Driving through water107
Driving tips, refer to Driving
notes106
Dry air, refer to Cooling
function91
Drying the air, refer to Cooling
function91
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control78
– indicator lamp13,78
– malfunction79
DTC Dynamic Traction
Control78
– activating78
– indicator lamp13,78
DVD for navigation114
Dynamic Brake Control
DBC77
Dynamic Driving Control54
"Dynamic route" for
navigation123
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC78
– indicator lamp13,78,79
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC78
– indicator lamp13,78

Reference 209
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communica-
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator/warning lamps13
– ABS Antilock Brake
System79
– active steering81
– airbags84
– brake fluid179
– brake pads179
– brake system13,79
– DSC Dynamic Stability
Control13,78
– DTC Dynamic Traction
Control13,78
– Flat Tire Monitor80
– front fog lamps13
– overview13
– safety belt warning42
Individual air distribution92
Individually assignable
buttons on the steering
wheel46
Individual settings, refer to
Key Memory28
Inflation pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure170
Inflation pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor79
Information
– on another location118
– on current position118
– on destination location118
"Information" for
navigation119
"Information on
destination"119
Initializing, refer to Power
loss187
"Input map"118
Installation location
– CD changer147
– portable phone98
Instructions for navigation
system, refer to Voice
instructions125
Instrument cluster12
Instrument illumination, refer
to Instrument lighting89
Instrument lighting89Instrument panel
– refer to Cockpit10
– refer to Instrument
cluster12
Integrated universal remote
control96
"Interim time"73
Interior lamps89
– remote control30
Interior motion sensor34
– switching off34
Interior rearview mirror45
– automatic dimming
feature107
Interlock on automatic
transmission51
Intermittent mode of the
wipers57
J
Jacking points186
Joystick, refer to Control
Center16
Jumpering, refer to Jump
starting190
Jump starting190
K
Key Memory28
"Keypad"157
Keys28
Kick-down
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic56
– SMG Sequential manual
transmission54
Knock control169
L
Lamps, refer to Parking lamps/
low beams87
Lamps and bulbs182
"Languages"74
– for navigation126
Lashing down cargo, refer to
Securing cargo109
Lashing eyes, refer to
Securing cargo109
Last destinations, refer to
Destination list119
"Last seat pos."41
LATCH child-restraint fixing
system49
LEDs light-emitting
diodes185
Length, refer to
Dimensions197
Letter symbol with portable
phone157
License plate lamp, replacing
bulbs184
"Light"56,87
Light-emitting diodes
LEDs185
Lighter99
Lighter socket100
Lighting
– instruments89
– of the vehicle, refer to
Lamps87
Lights on warning87
Light switch87
"Limit"72
Loading
– securing cargo109
– stowing cargo109
– vehicle108
Location, navigation drive114
"Lock after driving off"32
Lock buttons in the doors,
refer to Locking32
Locking
– from inside32
– from outside30
– setting confirmation
signals30