2005 BMW 645CI CONVERTIBLE ABS

Practical interior accessories
104
Socket
In front passenger footwell
Access to the socket:
Fold the cover upward.
Ski bag*
It permits safe and clean transport of up to two
pairs of standard skies or one snowboard.
You can use the ski bag to stow skis up to 6.9 ft/
2.10 m long.
Loading
1.Press the button downward and pull the
filler element forward.
2.Extend the ski bag between the front seats.
The zipper gives you easy access to stowed
items and facilitates drying of the ski bag.3.Press the button in the luggage compart-
ment.
4.Open the loading flap and use the magnetic
holder to secure it to the rear panel.
To store the ski bag, perform the above steps in
reverse order.
Make sure to load only clean skis into the ski
bag. Wrap sharp edges so that no damage
occurs.
Securing cargo
After loading, secure the ski bag and its con-
tents. To do so, tighten the retaining belt at the
buckle.
Secure the ski bag in this way. If you fail to
do so, it could move around and endanger
occupants during braking or evasive maneu-
vers.
To refit the filler element, insert the two tabs at
the bottom into the strip and press the filler ele-
m e n t b a c k i n t o p l a c e . M a k e s u r e t h a t y o u d o n o t
damage the rear seat upholstery.<

Things to remember when driving
108
Things to remember when driving
Breaking-in
Moving parts need time to adjust to one
another. To ensure that your vehicle continues
to provide optimized economy of operation
throughout an extended service life, we request
that you devote careful attention to the follow-
ing section.
Engine and differential
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
You should attempt to vary both vehicle and
engine speeds. Until the break-in period has
been completed, you should also refrain from
exceeding an engine speed of 4,500 rpm or a
driving speed of 100 mph/160 km/h.
Always obey all official speed limits.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kick-down mode during these
initial miles.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles/2,000 km,
the engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually
increased.
SMG Sequential manual transmission
Do not use the acceleration assistant during the
break-in period, refer to page59.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in
period. Therefore, drive reservedly during the
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and rotors.
Clutch
The function of the clutch is only at its opti-
mized level after a distance driven of approx.
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period,
engage the clutch gently.
After component replacement
You should also comply with these break-in
procedures should the components mentioned
above need to be replaced at a later point.
General driving notes
Close the luggage compartment lid
Operate the vehicle only when the lug-
gage compartment lid is completely
closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes could pene-
trate to the interior of the vehicle.<
If special circumstances should make it abso-
lutely necessary to operate the vehicle with the
luggage compartment lid open:
1.Coupe: close both windows and the glass
sunroof.
Convertible: with closed top, close all win-
dows.
2.Adjust the automatic climate control to sup-
ply a high air volume, refer to page95.
Hot exhaust system
As in all vehicles equipped with a catalytic
converter, extremely high temperatures
are generated in this vehicle. Do not remove the
heat shields installed adjacent to various sec-
tions of the exhaust system, and never apply
undercoating to them. When driving, standing
at idle and while parking, take care to avoid pos-
sible contact between the hot exhaust system
and any highly flammable materials such as hay,
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead to a
fire, and with it the risk of serious property dam-
age as well as personal injury.<

Driving tips
109Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Mobile communication devices in
vehicle
BMW advises against using mobile com-
munication devices, e.g. portable phones,
inside the vehicle without a direct connection to
an external antenna. Otherwise, the vehicle
electronics and mobile communication device
can influence one another. In addition, there is
no assurance that the radiation emitted during
transmission will be conveyed out of the vehicle
interior.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or
complete loss of contact between the tires and
the road surface, ultimately undermining your
ability to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread
depth of the tires decreases, also refer to Mini-
mum tire tread on page171.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if it
is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at
walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the vehi-
cle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Using handbrake on inclines.
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with
the clutch; use the handbrake. Otherwise
greater clutch wear will result.<
SMG Sequential manual transmission
Start off quickly on slopes. Do not hold
the vehicle on a hill by applying the throt-
tle, but engage the handbrake instead. Other-
wise overheating can occur in the transmission
region.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as standard. In
situations that require it, it is best to brake with
full force. Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can still avoid possible
obstacles with a minimum of steering effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the
brake pedal. Even light but consistent
pedal pressure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
When driving on wet roads or in heavy rain,
briefly brake with light pedal pressure at inter-
vals of a few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure
that full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and thus reduced
efficiency of the brake system, downshift
to a gear in which only minimal brake applica-
tions are needed when descending long or
steep downhill stretches. Even light but consis-
tent pedal pressure can lead to high tempera-
tures, brake wear and possibly even brake fail-
ure.<
You can further enhance the engine's braking
effect by selecting a lower gear in the automatic
transmission's manual mode, downshifting as
far as first gear on extremely steep stretches,
refer to page58. This strategy helps you avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake system.
Never drive with the clutch pressed
or allow the vehicle to coast with the
transmission in Neutral – or with the engine
switched off – there is no engine braking when
the transmission is in Neutral, and no power
assist for brakes and steering when the engine
is not running.

Wheels and tires
172
Run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by the circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side-
wall.
Run-flat tires consist of self-contained tires and
special rims. The sidewall reinforcement
ensures that the tire retains some residual
safety in the event of pressure drop and driving
remains possible to a restricted degree.
New wheels and tires
Only have new wheels and tires mounted
by a BMW center or a specialized tire
dealer which works with personnel trained in
accordance with BMW specifications. If this
work is performed inexpertly, there is a danger
of damage and associated safety risks. Make
sure that the new wheels are balanced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend the use of
retread tires, as otherwise driving safety
may be reduced. Possible variations in the
design and the age – which could be substan-
tial – of the carcasses can lead to more rapid
wear.<
The right wheels and tires
If you switch from summer to winter tires, or
vice versa, use run-flat tires, as in the event of a
flat tire there is no spare tire available. 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. wheel and tire combinations that BMW
has tested and approved for your particular
vehicle. Variations in factors such as manufac-
turing tolerances mean that even wheels and
tires with identical official size ratings could
actually have different dimensions than the
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 find out the right wheel-tire combina-
tion from your BMW center.
The right wheel-and-tire combination 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, always remember to have the specified
wheel and tire combination remounted on the
vehicle as soon as possible.
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 regula-
tions, 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 your vehicle; if properly cared
for, they will provide a combination of safety and
excellent ride comfort.
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.

Replacing components
180
Replacing components
Onboard tool kit
The onboard tool kit is located in the luggage
compartment under the floor mat.
Wiper blade replacement
1.Fold the wiper arm out and grasp it firmly.
2.Press the locking tabs together while slid-
ing the wiper blade toward the front to dis-
engage it.
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribu-
tion to driving safety. Therefore, exercise suffi-
cient care when handling them. If you are not
familiar with the specified procedures, have the
corresponding work carried out at your BMW
center.Never touch the glass on new bulbs
with your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a
clean cloth, napkin etc., or hold the bulb by its
metal socket.<
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs
at your BMW center.
When working on the lighting system
you should always switch off the lights
affected to prevent short circuits.
To avoid possible injury or equipment damage
when replacing bulbs, observe any instructions
provided by the bulb manufacturer.<
When performing maintenance on the head-
lamps, comply with the instructions in the sep-
arate Caring for your vehicle brochure.
In the case of bulbs where the replace-
ment is not described, please consult
your BMW center.<
Xenon lamps
The service life of these lamps is very long and
the probability of a failure is very low, provided
that they are not switched on and off an unusual
number of times. In the unlikely event that one
of these lamps should fail, you can continue
driving under poor visibility conditions by
switching on your fog lamps and proceeding
carefully, where allowed by law.
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal inju-
ries: owing to the extremely high voltages
at which these units operate, service work on
the xenon lighting system should only be car-
ried out by a BMW center.<

Giving and receiving assistance
186
Warning triangle*
The warning triangle can be found in the lug-
gage compartment on the left side.
Comply with legal requirements requiring
you to carry a hazard warning triangle in
the vehicle.<
First-aid kit*
The first-aid kit is located in the filler element of
the rear seat backrest.
1.Press the button downward and pull the
filler element forward.
2.Take out first-aid kit.To refit the filler element, insert the two
bottom tabs into the strip and press the
filler element back into place. Make sure that
you do not damage the rear seat upholstery.<
Some of the articles contained in the first-
aid kit have a limited service life. For this
reason, check the expiration dates of each of
the items regularly and replace any whose expi-
ration dates have passed. You can find replace-
ments in any pharmacy.
Comply with legal requirements requiring you
to carry a first-aid kit in the vehicle.<
Roadside Assistance*
The Roadside Assistance of the BMW Group
offers you breakdown assistance around the
clock, including on weekends and public holi-
days.
The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-
tance in your home country can be found in the
BMW Contact directory.
In vehicles with BMW Assist or TeleService,
you can call the Roadside Assistance of the
BMW Group directly for breakdown assistance
via the Control Center, refer to page161.
Jump starting
When your battery is discharged, you can use
two jumper cables to start your BMW with
power from the battery in a second vehicle. You
can also use the same method to help start
another vehicle. Use only jumper cables with
fully-insulated clamp handles.
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal injury,
always avoid all contact with electrical
components while the engine is running. Care-
fully adhere to the following sequence, both to
prevent damage to one or both vehicles, and to
guard against possible personal injuries.<

199Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Everything from A to Z
Index
"..." Identifies Control Display
texts used to select
individual functions,
pointing out where these are
located.
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System81
– indicator lamp83
– malfunction83
ACC, refer to Active cruise
control62
Acceleration assistant with
SMG59
Accessories, refer to Your
individual vehicle5
Activated-charcoal filter97
"Activation time" for
independent ventilation98
Active cruise control62
– indicator lamps64
– malfunction68
– selecting distance65
Active roll stabilization83
Active steering85
– initializing system86
– warning lamp85
Adapting temperature in
upper body region97
Adaptive brake lamps, refer to
Brake Force Display86
Adaptive Head Light92
"Add digits" for portable
phone153
"Address book" for
navigation120
Address for navigation
– deleting121
– entering115
– selecting120
– storing current position120"Add to destination list"117
Adhesive bandages, refer to
First-aid kit186
Adjusting the temperature
with automatic climate
control95
Adjusting the thigh support45
Adjusting tone during audio
operation, refer to Tone
control133
"After opening door"46
"After unlocking"46
Airbags86
– deactivating, Coupe52
– sitting safely44
– warning lamp87
Air distribution
– automatic95
– manual96
Airing, refer to Ventilation97
Air recirculation, refer to AUC
Automatic recirculated-air
control95
"Air recirculation on / off"51
Air vents, refer to
Ventilation94
Air volume95
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications167
Alarm system34
– avoiding unintentional
alarms35
– interior motion sensor35
– switching off alarm34
– switching off tilt alarm
sensor and interior motion
sensor35
– tilt alarm sensor35
All around the center
console14
All around the steering
wheel10
"All channels"141"All doors"29
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires172
"AM", reception
range133,136
Antenna for portable
phone150
Antifreeze
– coolant176
– washer fluid61
Antilock Brake System
ABS81
– indicator lamp83
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system34
Anti-theft system29
Anti-trapping mechanism
– glass sunroof38
– power windows37
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights192
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights192
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest102
Arrival time
– refer to Computer75
– refer to Starting destination
guidance124
"Arrow display" during
Navigation127
Ashtray103
Assist, refer to BMW
Assist159
Assistance systems, refer to
Driving stability control
systems81
Assistance window20
"Assist. window off"21
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control95
"Audio"133

Everything from A to Z
200 Audio132
– controls132
– switching on/off132
– tone control133
– volume133
Automatic
– air distribution95
– air volume95
– cruise control61,62
– headlamp control91
– service notification160
– steering wheel adjustment,
refer to Easy entry/exit50
– storing stations138
Automatic car washes110
– also refer to the Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Automatic climate control94
– automatic air distribution95
– convertible program97
– settings using Control
Center96
– switching off96
Automatic curb monitor47
"Automatic programs"97
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC95
Automatic station search137
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic58
– convenience start55
– Dynamic Driving Control59
– interlock54
– kick-down58
– selector lever interlock58
– shiftlock58
– starting engine55
– towing188
– tow-starting189
"Automatic ventilation"98
AUTO program with
automatic climate control95
"Autostore" on the
radio136,138
Average fuel consumption74
– setting units77
Average speed74"Avoid ferries" for
navigation123
Avoid freeways for
navigation122
"Avoid highways" for
navigation122
Avoiding unintentional
alarms35
"Avoid tollroads" for
navigation123
Axle loads, refer to
Weights192
"A - Z"153
B
Backrests, refer to Seats44
Backup lamps, refer to
Reverse gear56
Balance, refer to Tone
control134
Balance adjustment in audio
mode, right/left134
Bandages, refer to First-aid
kit186
"Bass", refer to Tone
control134
Bass, refer to Tone
control133
Battery
– jump starting186
– refer to Vehicle battery183
Being towed188
Belts, refer to Safety belts48
Beverage holder, refer to Cup
holders103
Black ice, refer to Ice
warning69
Blower, refer to Air volume95
BMW Assist159
– enabling159
– services offered160
BMW maintenance
system178
"BMW Service"161
"BMW Service settings"159
Bottle holder, refer to Cup
holders103Brake Assistant, refer to DBC
Dynamic Brake Control81
Brake fluid177
– warning lamp177
Brake Force Display86
Brake hydraulic system177
Brake lamps
– Brake Force Display86
– replacing bulbs182
Brake pads177
– breaking-in108
Brake rotors110
Brakes109
– ABS Antilock Brake
System81
– brake fluid177
– Brake Force Display86
– brake pads108,177
– breaking-in108
– CBC Cornering Brake
Control81
– handbrake55
Brake system108
– brake fluid level177
– brake pads108,177
– brake rotors110
– breaking-in108
– warning lamp13,83,177
Brake wear warning
– brake pads177
Braking
– electronic brake-force
distribution81
– refer to Braking safely109
Breakdown assistance161
Breakdown services, refer to
Roadside Assistance186
Breaking-in108
– clutch108
– differential108
Break wear warning
– warning lamp177
"Brightness"77
Buttons on steering wheel11
Bypassing route sections128