2005 BMW 745i brakes

Driving
64 Should exceptional circumstances
render it necessary for you to switch
off the engine while the vehicle is moving,
press the start/stop button for approxi-
mately 1 second.
If you maintain pressure on the start/stop
button for longer than two seconds while
switching off the ignition, the remote con-
trol will be ejected.<
Before leaving the vehicle, remove
the remote control from the ignition
lock; with Comfort Access, always take the
remote control with you.<
Parking brake
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with an electrome-
chanical parking brake.
The parking brake is primarily intended to
prevent the vehicle from rolling while
parked.
You can operate or use the parking brake in
two different ways:
>Manually, by briefly pressing the button
>Automatically, through activation of the
Automatic Hold mode, refer to page65.
An electrohydraulic mechanism then
engages the parking brake to prevent the
rear wheels from turning whenever you
switch off the engine.
When the engine is running, parking brake
engagement is controlled by the brake sys-
tem's hydraulic circuits, which act on the
disc brakes at the front and rear wheels.
Brake pedal feel
Because this function is activated using
the brake system's hydraulic circuits, the
response of the brake pedal may change
slightly. Engagement may also be accom-
panied by activation noise – this is normal.
Manual engagement
Briefly press the button, the
word PARK appears briefly in
the Info Display. With the park-
ing brake engaged, the indica-
tor lamp lights up red in
the Info Display, refer to page12.
With the ignition off, the indicator
lamp goes out after a brief
period.<
Manual release
With the ignition on, briefly
press the button: the indicator
lamp in the Info Display goes
out.
Provided that the remote control is
inserted in the ignition lock, you can
also release the parking brake after the
engine has been switched off. This function
is intended for use in automatic car
washes, etc.<
When leaving the vehicle, always
release the remote control from the
detent in the ignition lock; this precaution
prevents children from disengaging the
parking brake, etc.
The parking brake can still be engaged at
any time when the remote control is
released from the detent. It is only possible
to disengage the parking brake with the
ignition on.<
If exceptional circumstances should
make it necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in motion,
maintain pressure on the button.
The indicator lamp appears in red in the
Info Display. A gong sounds at the same

Controls
67Reference
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Mobility
What you will need
1Screwdriver handle
2Emergency-release tool
310 mm open-end wrench
You will find the required tools in the
onboard tool kit mounted on the inside of
the luggage compartment lid, refer to
page201.
Insert the emergency-release tool in the
screwdriver handle as shown in the illustra-
tion.
Releasing
1.Remove the floor mat and the cover on
the spare tire
2.Guide the emergency-release tool with
the screwdriver handle into the open-
ing, arrow1
3.Apply the open-end wrench to the
hexagon on the emergency-release
tool.
Press against the resistance from the
spring to guide the emergency-release
tool all the way in, then hold it in place.
Turn the emergency-release tool in the
direction indicated by arrow2, continu-
ing until you hear the mechanism snap
into place and feel resistance; maintain
pressure on the tool after the mecha-
nism engages
4.Use the open-end wrench to turn the
emergency-release tool against the
drive unit's mechanical resistance, con-
tinuing to rotate it in arrow direction2
until you feel a substantial increase in
turning effortTo prevent possible damage to the
rear brakes, always make sure that
the parking brake is completely released
before driving the vehicle.<
5.Return the tools to their places
6.Return the spare tire cover and the floor
mat to their original locations.
Have any defects repaired at the
nearest BMW center. The technicians
can also return the parking brake to normal
operational status after it has been
released manually in response to malfunc-
tion.<
Following manual release, the actual
status of the parking brake may vary
from that displayed by the indicator lamp.<
Operation after interruptions in
power supply
The parking brake may only be used
again, if it was released manually after
an interruption in power supply, i.e. as a
r esu lt o f a dis ch ar ged or d isc on ne cte d bat -
tery. If this is not done, the parking brake
may fail to operate correctly. Even with the
parking brake engaged, there would be a
danger of the vehicle rolling on steep
hills.<
Once the electrical power supply has been
restored you can again use the parking
brake:
With the ignition on and the
vehicle stationary, briefly press
the button three times at inter-
vals of approx. 5 seconds. This
initializes the system as follows:
>Initializing the disengaged setting

Driving
70
Sport program and manual operation
Press the S/M/D button on the steering
wheel:
The sport program is activated, and S
appears in the program indicator of the Info
Display. This program is recommended for
a performance-oriented driving style.
Pressing the S/M/D button again switches
into the manual mode.
When the buttons on the back of the steer-
ing wheel are touched, the transmission
upshifts. When the buttons on the front of
the steering wheel are touched, the trans-
mission downshifts. The Info Display shows
the manual ranges M1 through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combi-
nation 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 Info Display, followed by the
current gear.
Pressing the S/M/D button again switches
into the Automatic program again, and D
appears in the program indicator of the Info
Display.
Malfunction
A message appears in the Check Control
and in the Control Display. The directional
arrows also start to flash in the Info Display.
A malfunction has occurred in the transmis-
sion system. Avoid heavy loads.
While it will remain still possible to move
the selector lever to any desired position,
the transmission will revert to operation in
its default mode with only a limited number
of forward gears.
Have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible.
Jump-starting and towing, refer to
pages209 and210.
Manual release of transmission
lockout
You can respond to any interruptions in the
supply of electrical power, for instance, if
the battery is discharged or disconnected,
by releasing the transmission lockout man-
ually.
To prevent the drive wheels from
locking up and sliding, the transmis-
sion lockout must always be released man-
ually before the vehicle is towed.<
Press the brake pedal before releas-
ing the transmission lockout manu-
ally. If the brakes are not applied, the vehi-
cle could start to roll if parked on a steep
slope.
The transmission lockout should only be
released for towing. Remember to engage
the transmission lockout when you repark
the vehicle after moving it.
Should it also be necessary to release the
parking brake manually, owing to a dis-
charged battery, etc., always adhere to the
following sequence:
1.Start by manually releasing the parking
brake, refer to page66
2.Then proceed to manually release the
transmission lockout.<
Jump-starting and towing, refer to
pages209 and210.

Controls
75Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
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Mobility
While driving
Press1 or pull2 the lever beyond the resis-
tance point:
Press button4 for approx. 3 seconds. The
respective driven speed is applied as the
desired speed and displayed with6.
If all of the graduations flash twice,
this indicates that 6 desired speeds
have already been stored. You must then
delete at least one.<
Deleting desired speeds
Select the desired speed5.
Press button4 for approx. 3 seconds.
Activating multilevel preset mode
Press 1 or pull 2 the lever beyond the resis-
tance point.
The current driving speed is maintained,
stored and displayed as the available
speed5.
If no desired speeds are stored, you
can increase or reduce the speed by
5 mph/10 km/h with the multilevel preset
mode activated each time you press or pull
the lever beyond the resistance point.<
Selecting desired speed
Press 1 or pull 2 the lever beyond the resis-
tance point.
The next desired speed is selected.
The available speed changes to the
minimum speed of approx. 20 mph/
30 km/h when you pull the lever beyond the
resistance point 2 at the lowest desired
speed.<
Interrupting the cruise control
With the cruise control active, briefly press
the lever up or down3.
Hiding display for multilevel preset
function
When activated, press the lever up or
down3 for approx. 3 seconds.
Showing display for multilevel preset
function again
Press 1 or pull2 the lever beyond the resis-
tance point.
Deactivating multilevel preset mode
The multilevel preset function is also deac-
tivated when you switch off the ignition.
Active cruise control*
The concept
With active cruise control you can select a
desired speed which is not only automati-
cally maintained when driving on open
roadways, but also varied to maintain a
selected distance setting 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 freeways or other high-
speed thoroughfares. Especially on longer
trips, the system can reduce fatigue and
tension, while increasing your enjoyment of
driving. Please use it safely and responsi-
bly.
In addition to holding a steady cruising
speed, if you do encounter slower vehicles
ahead, active cruise control will, within the
scope of given possibilities, adjust your
vehicle’s speed automatically so that you
can flow with the traffic without frequent
intervention by the driver. 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 distance, which is addi-
tionally speed-dependent. Based on your
selected distance setting, the system auto-
matically decreases the throttle setting and
lightly applies the brakes if necessary.

Controls
79Reference
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Driving tips
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Mobility
in city driving; heavy traffic such as during
rush hour; on curvy, winding roads, slip-
pery roads or roads with sharp curves such
as highway off-ramps; during inclement
weather such as snow, strong rain or fog;
or when entering interchanges, service/
parking areas or toll booths. It is also
important to regulate your vehicle's speed
and distance setting within applicable legal
limits. Always be ready to take action or
apply the brakes if necessary, especially
when the system is actively following a
vehicle in front of you.<
Always remember that the range and
ability of the system does have physi-
cal limitations. It will not apply the brakes or
decelerate your vehicle when there is a
slow-moving vehicle, stopped vehicle or
stationary object ahead of you, as for
example, at a traffic light or a parked vehi-
cle. Also, the system does not react to
oncoming traffic, pedestrians or other type
of potential traffic such as a rider on horse-
back. It is also possible that the system
may not detect smaller moving objects
such as motorcycles or bicycles. Be espe-
cially alert when encountering any of these
situations as the system will neither auto-
matically brake, nor provide a warning to
you. Also, be aware that every decrease in
the distance setting allows your vehicle to
come closer to a vehicle in front of you and
requires a heightened amount of alert-
ness.<
If while your vehicle is actively following a
vehicle in front of you and the vehicle
ahead speeds up or the lane ahead
becomes clear, then your vehicle will
accelerate to the speed you have selected.
Be aware that changing to a clear, unob-
st r uc ted lan e w il l als o r esu lt in y ou r v eh icle
accelerating.
Be certain to deactivate the system
when you pull into an exit lane for a
highway off-ramp.<
Also, vehicles traveling in a staggered man-
ner on a highway may cause a delay in the
system's reaction to a vehicle in front of you
or may cause the system to react to a vehi-
cle actually in the lane next to you. Always be ready to take action or apply the brakes
if necessary.
Active cruise control can only decelerate
the vehicle to approx. 20 mph/30 km/h. If
the system reduces vehicle speed below
20 mph/30 km/h or if DSC/ABS is engaged
while driving, the system will automatically
deactivate.
Remember, the system cannot stop
your vehicle. In addition, the system is
deactivated whenever the driver applies
the vehicle brakes, shifts the transmission
from drive/D to neutral/N, or deactivates
DSC. After any deactivation, the system will
no longer automatically activate the vehicle
brakes, which means the driver must inter-
vene and resume manual braking. You
should then reactivate the system only
when you are fully aware of the prior speed
and distance settings.<
Active cruise control may brake when you
reduce the stored desired speed; however,
the driver must constantly monitor traffic
and intervene if necessary.
When you switch off the engine or ignition,
active cruise control is fully switched off,
too, and any settings you have selected are
canceled.
Behavior in curves
Because of the limited range of the system,
it is possible that in curves or on the peaks
and valleys of hilly roads, a vehicle ahead
may be recognized late, or not at all. There-
fore, it is up to the driver to select a speed
that is prudent in view of the curves and
terrain of the roadway.

Driving
80 In approaching a curve, it is possible that
active cruise control would react briefly to
a vehicle in the adjacent lane. In addition,
the system can sense if your vehicle is in
a curve and may not accelerate. If your
vehicle decelerates in either case, you can
choose to overcome the deceleration by
briefly pressing the accelerator pedal.
Driver interventions
Remember actions by the driver
always supersede and take priority
over the system's automatic actions. Any-
time the driver presses down on the accel-
erator pedal, any automatic braking action
by the system is interrupted until the pedal
is fully released. After doing this, release
the accelerator and the system again con-
trols your cruising speed and distance set-
ting. While driving with activated system,
resting your foot on the accelerator pedal
will cause the system not to brake even if
necessary. Be certain that floormats or
other objects on the vehicle floor do not
interfere with movement of the accelerator
pedal.<
While active cruise control is capable
of braking your vehicle automatically
when you approach a slower vehicle
ahead, it is important to be aware that the
ability of the system to apply the brakes is
also limited, if you are driving down a steep
grade or when you reduce your desired
speed sharply. The system cannot stop
your vehicle. It uses only a portion of brak-
ing system capacity and does not utilize the
full capacity of the vehicle braking system.
Therefore, the system cannot decrease
your speed for large differences in speed
between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead. Examples: during emergency brak-
ing, when you approach a vehicle traveling
at a much lower speed than your own
speed such as approaching a toll booth or
when a much slower vehicle cuts in front of
you at close range.<
Whenever active cruise control
recognizes a situation that
requires driver braking because
the system capacity has been
reached or has been exceeded,
the system alerts the driver by flashing this
symbol in the instrument cluster and
sounding a chime.
Swerving vehicles
When a vehicle moves from an adjacent
lane into your lane, active cruise control will
not recognize this vehicle until it is fully in
your lane ahead of your vehicle.
Malfunctions
The build-up of foreign material, e. g.,
snow, ice, dirt, road debris, etc., can lead
to reduced detection performance of active
cruise control. You should check the sen-
sor under the front bumper and clean it as
necessary prior to driving your vehicle.
If the sensor becomes covered by foreign
material or has a malfunction, it is possible
that the sensor will no longer be able to
detect vehicles in front of you. After the
system recognizes that the sensor is no
longer functional, a message is displayed in
the Check Control and an acoustic signal is
emitted, refer to page83. Also observe the
additional information provided in the Con-
trol Center.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
94
Switching off DSC
Select "Settings". Select "DSC" and con-
firm your selection. DSC is deactivated.
The indicator lamp in the Info Display
remains on continuously.
Deactivating DSC automatically deacti-
vates DTC as well. The systems for
enhancing stability and traction are deacti-
vated, and there is no active braking inter-
vention or torque control.
A status report appears in the Check Con-
trol. Please take note of the additional infor-
mation on the Control Display.
To maintain optimized stability, drive
with the system on whenever possi-
ble.<
Reactivating DSC
Select "Settings". Select "DSC" and con-
firm your selection. DSC is now activated.
The indicator lamp in the Info Display goes
out.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An appro-
priate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unneces-
sary risks.
When DTC is active, DSC provides only
limited system response up to a speed of
approximately 45 mph/70 km/h. Interven-
tion for stability enhancement is reduced.
Do not make any modifications to the DSC
system. Never allow anyone other than
authorized professional technicians to
carry out service or repairs on the DSC sys-
tem.<
DBC Dynamic Brake Control
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this
system automatically produces the maxi-
mum braking force boost and thus helps to
achieve the shortest possible braking dis-
tance during panic stops. This system
exploits all of the benefits provided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake
pedal for the duration of the brake applica-
tion. When the brake pedal is released, the
DBC is deactivated.
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 status report appears in
the Check Control. Please take note
of the additional information on the
Control Display. Driving stability
control and ABS have failed. Con-
ventional braking efficiency remains avail-
able without limitations.
While you may continue, you should
remember to proceed cautiously and drive
defensively while avoiding full brake appli-
cations. Have the system checked as soon
as possible.
Display of the previously described
malfunction on Canadian models.
The DSC warning lamp lights up.
DSC and DTC have failed. Their sta-
bilizing interventions are no longer
available. The vehicle will remain com-
pletely operational, however, without DSC.
Have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible.
The brake system warning lamp
lights up yellow and a message
appears in the Check Control.
Please take note of the additional informa-
tion on the Control Display. DBC has failed.

Controls
97Reference
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Mobility
Vehicles with run-flat tires:
1.Cautiously reduce the vehicle speed to
below 50 mph/80 km/h. Avoid sudden
braking and steering maneuvers. Do not
exceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph/80
km/h
Due to the reinforcement on the
side walls of the run-flat tires,
inflation pressure loss can not usually
be recognized from the outside, refer to
Run-flat tires on page206.<
2.To continue driving, comply with the
instructions for driving with damaged
tires on page206.
Malfunction
The indicator lamp lights up yellow,
accompanied by a status message
in the Check Control. The Flat Tire
Monitor has malfunctioned or failed. Have
the system checked as soon as possible.
Self-leveling suspension*
Malfunction
A Check Control message appear-
ing together with this symbol indi-
cates a malfunction in the self-level-
ing suspension. Please take note of the
additional information on the Control Dis-
play.
Stop and inspect the vehicle. If the rear of
the vehicle is visibly lower than the front,
possibly accompanied by a tilt noticeable
when you compare the left rear with the
right rear, please respond by immediately
proceeding to the nearest BMW center.
Drive with appropriate caution in the mean-
time. The vehicle has reduced ground
clearance and driving comfort may be
noticeably reduced. Even if the attitude of
the vehicle is normal, you should consult
the nearest BMW center if the warning
lamp indicates a system fault.
Brake Force Display
The Brake Force Display indicates the
intensity with which you are applying your
brakes to drivers of following vehicles.
The display consists of two stages:
>Normal braking:
The brake lamps in the tail lamp assem-
blies and the high-mount brake lamp on
the rear tray light up during braking
>Heavy braking and braking with ABS:
The rear lamps also light up with the
same intensity as the standard brake
lamp units to enhance the warning
effect of the brake lamps.