2005 BMW 645CI CONVERTIBLE page 40

Controls
51Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
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Mobility
Steering wheel heater*
In ignition key position 2, press the button.
The indicator lamp in the button lights up when
the steering wheel heater is switched on.
Programmable buttons on steering
wheel
You can assign functions to the buttons individ-
ually:
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page16.
1.Open the menu.
2.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
3.Select "Steering wheel buttons" and press
the controller.The different functions are displayed:
>"Nav. voice instructions"
Voice instructions for the navigation
system
>"Air recirculation on / off"
Continuously shut off the supply of out-
side air, refer to AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control on page95
>"Mute on / off"
Mute the audio sources
>"Monitor on / off"
Switch the Control Display on/off
>"Telephone list"
Switch between Entertainment and
Telephone
>"Next entertainment source"
Change audio source
4.Select the desired function.
5.Press the controller.
6.Select button if necessary.
.
7.Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
You can operate the selected function using the
corresponding button.
Operating function
Press the corresponding button on the steering
wheel.
Voice instructions of navigation system:
>To switch voice instructions on/off:
Maintain pressure on the button for several
seconds.
>To repeat the last voice instruction:
Press button.

Driving
56 Vehicles with manual or SMG transmission:
When parking on inclines, engage the hand-
brake, as even engaging the first or reverse gear
might not under certain circumstances secure
the vehicle against moving.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
*:
Engage selector-lever position P.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally engage the hand-
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 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
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 the following functions:
>Choice of manual or automatic mode:
Sequential mode or Drive mode
>Options of two drive programs: Normal or
Sport, refer to Dynamic Driving Control
page59
>Automatic downshifting and protection
against incorrect shifting even in sequential
operation
>Kick-down function in the Drive mode
>Acceleration assistant, refer to page59.
The SMG is operational in ignition key
position 2.
Selector-lever positions
The current selector-lever position is displayed
on the center console.
>R: Reverse gear
>N: Neutral, idle
>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.<

Driving
58
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
In addition to the fully automatic mode, you can
also shift manually with Steptronic, refer to
page58.
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 the 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.To prevent the vehicle from rolling,
always select selector-lever position P
and engage the handbrake before leaving the
vehicle with the engine running.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a
potential safety hazard.<
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
The rear wheels are locked.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
Engage in car washes, for example. The vehicle
can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation.
All forward 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.
M/S manual operation and
Sport program
Move the selector lever from position D to the
left into shifting slot M/S:
The sport program is activated and DS appears
in the instrument cluster. This position is

Controls
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Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
recommended for a performance-oriented driv-
ing style. It is engaged automatically when the
Dynamic Driving Control is activated, see
below.
When the selector lever is briefly moved for-
ward or back, the manual mode is activated and
the Steptronic shifts 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.
Dynamic Driving Control
The Dynamic Driving Control makes it possible
for your BMW to react in an even more perfor-
mance-oriented manner at the push of a button:
>The engine responds more spontaneously
to accelerator pedal movements.
>Cruise control:
The stored speed is reached more quickly
when it is requested.
Additionally with SMG:
>Gearshifts are faster.
>The engine speed range is used optimally in
the Drive mode.
With automatic transmission:
>The Sport program is activated.
Activating system
In ignition key position 2, press the SPORT but-
ton.
The LED in the button lights up and SPORT is
displayed in the instrument cluster.
Deactivating system
>Press the SPORT button again or
>engage reverse gear or
>switch off the engine.
The LED in the button and SPORT in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Acceleration assistant with SMG
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 Driving Control.
2.Press the DTC button, refer to page82, for
longer than three seconds.
3.Press the accelerator pedal down fully:
Kick-down. The ideal starting-off engine
speed is set.
To maintain driving stability, do not deac-
tivate DSC if at all possible.<

Driving
60
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals
Using turn signals
Move the lever beyond the resistance point.
To switch off manually, press the lever to the
resistance point.
Atypically rapid flashing of the indicator
lamp indicates the failure of a turn signal
lamp.<
Brief signaling
Press the lever to the resistance point and hold
it there as long as you wish to signal.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever to the resistance point; the turn
signals flash 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.
4.Select "Triple turn signal activation" and
press the controller.
Triple turn signal is activated.
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating rain sensor
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps
5Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level
Switching on wipers
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Standard wiper speed
Press once.
The system reverts to operation in the intermit-
tent mode whenever the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wipe
Briefly press twice or press beyond the resis-
tance point.

Controls
63Reference
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Mobility
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 one 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.
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 page66. 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 system
4Recall 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 page65.
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.<

Driving
64
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 display3 appears as soon as
you activate the system and no
vehicle is detected driving ahead.
Vehicle detected.
The display2 lights up yellow
when a vehicle is detected driving
ahead.
The system requests that you
intervene by braking or with an
evasive maneuver.
The display2 flashes red and a sig-
nal sounds. The active cruise con-
trol cannot automatically restore the distance to
the vehicle driving ahead. You will find more
detailed information on page67.
Automatic intervention by ABS or
DSC, or you actuate the parking
brake while driving.
The display2 flashes yellow. The
active cruise control now only
intervenes by braking.
Desired speed store and increase
Press the lever forward1 at a driving speed of
more than approx. 20 mph/30 km/h:
The system adopts and stores your current
speed as a desired speed. This speed is indi-
cated on the speedometer and displayed briefly
in the instrument cluster.
Subsequently pressing forward increases the
desired speed to the next multiple of 5 mph/
10 km/h.
Each time the lever is pressed forward again,
the desired speed is increased by another
5 mph/10 km/h until a maximum of 110 mph/
180 km/h is reached. The speed then displayed
is stored and achieved, provided that the road is
clear.
If the display ACC --- mph/km/h briefly
appears in the instrument cluster, it might
be that conditions necessary for operation are
not currently being met.
To call up Check Control messages, refer to
page71.<
Desired speed store and decrease
Pull back the lever2:
The current driving speed is rounded off to the
next multiple of 5 mph/10 km/h, displayed and
stored.
Each time the lever is pulled back again, the
desired speed is decreased by another 5 mph/
10 km/h until the minimum speed of 20 mph/
30 km/h is reached. The speed then displayed
is stored and achieved, provided that the road is
clear.

Controls
69Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Everything under control
Odometer, outside
temperature display, clock
When the ignition is off you can briefly activate
the time, outside temperature and odometer
displays by pressing the knob3 at the lower left
of the instrument cluster.
1 Outside temperature display, clock,
date
The outside temperature and the time are dis-
played from ignition key position 1 onwards.
To call up the date:
Press the CHECK button on the turn signal
lever, refer to page74.
Setting time and date, refer to page78.
You can set the measurement unit 7 or 6 on
the Control Display, refer to Measurement units
on page77.
Ice warning
A signal sounds when the outside temperature
falls to roughly +37.57/+36; this is accompa-
nied by a message.
Please bear in mind that the ice warning
does nothing to alter the fact that black
ice may be present on roads at temperatures
higher than +37.57/+36, e.g. on bridges and
shaded roads.<
2 Odometer and trip odometer
To reset the trip odometer to zero:
Press button3 in the instrument cluster.
Tachometer
The white-striped advance warning field,
arrow1, changes depending on the engine
temperature. The segments disappear in
sequence as the engine warms to its normal
operating temperature.
Avoid allowing the engine speed to rise as far as
the advance warning field whenever possible.
Engine speeds in the red warning field, arrow2,
must absolutely be avoided.
In this range, the fuel supply is interrupted to
protect the engine.