2006 BMW 525I traction control

At a glance
13Reference
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Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up both in
the display area1 and in the display2 in various
combinations and colors.
Some lights are tested for proper function by
briefly lighting up during starting of the engine
or when the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text message at the bottom edge of the Con-
trol Display explain the meaning of the dis-
played indicator and warning lamps.
Additional information, e.g. on the cause of a
malfunction and on the corresponding need to
take action can be displayed via the Check Con-
trol, refer to page77.In the case of corresponding urgency, this infor-
mation is displayed immediately when the
related lamp lights up.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps in the display
area1 indicate that the associated functions
are activated:
Handbrake engaged58
Handbrake engaged for Canadian
models
Fog lamps
*97
DTC Dynamic Traction Control85
High beams/headlamp flasher95
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC controls the drive and
braking forces for maintaining vehicle
stability85

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1Microphone for handsfree mode
for telephone
*
and for voice command system*22
2Reading lamps97
3Initiating
an emergency call211
4Interior lamps97
5Glass sunroof, electric
*40
Panorama glass sunroof
*41
6Passenger airbag status lamp91
7Control Display16
Displays for menu navigation
8Hazard warning flashers
9Central locking system32
10Automatic climate control98
11Changing
>radio station144
>track144
12Ejecting
>navigation DVD
*124
>audio CD14413Drive for navigation DVDs
*124
14Drive for audio CDs144
15Switching Entertainment sound output on/
off and adjusting volume144
17Controller16
Turn, press or move horizontally in four
directions
18Activating voice command system
*22
19Opening start menu on Control Display17
20Dynamic Driving Control
*60 Temperature setting, left/right99
Automatic air distribution and
volume99
Cooling function100
AUC Automatic recirculated-air
control101
Maximum cooling100
Residual heat mode101
Switching off automatic climate
control101
Air volume100
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation100
Rear window defroster98
16
Heated seats*48
Active seat ventilation
*49
Active backrest width
adjustment
*45
Active seat
*49
PDC Park Distance Control
*83
DTC Dynamic Traction Control85

Controls
61Reference
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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, otherwise components will wear
prematurely.<
1.Activate the Dynamic Traction Control.
2.Deactivate DSC, refer to page85.
3.Quickly press accelerator pedal all the way
down: kick-down. The ideal starting-off
engine speed is set.
To maintain the vehicle stability, reacti-
vate DSC afterward.<
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can
also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer to
page62.
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
>Only move the selector lever from posi-
tion P when the engine is running: interlock.>With the vehicle stopped, press the brake
before shifting out of P or N, otherwise the
selector lever is blocked: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping
after you select a driving position,
maintain pressure on the brake pedal until
you are ready to start.
A lock prevents accidentally shifting into the
selector lever positions R and P. To cancel the
lock, press the button on the front of the selec-
tor lever, refer to arrow.
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
Can, for example, be engaged 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, the fuel
consumption is lowest when driving in posi-
tion D.
Kick-down
The kick-down mode provides maximum accel-
eration: press the accelerator pedal beyond the
full-throttle resistance point.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
84 iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
4.Select "PDC" and press the controller.
5.Select "PDC display on" and press the con-
troller.
The PDC screen is activated.
The display appears on the Control Display as
soon as PDC is activated.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
System limits
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always remains
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind spot in which objects can
no longer be detected. This applies especially
in those cases where the system approaches
the physical constraints of ultrasonic measure-
ment, as occurs with tow bars and trailer cou-
plings, and in the vicinity of thin or wedge-
shaped objects. Low objects already displayed,
e.g. a curb, can disappear from the detection
area of the sensors again before a continuous
tone sounds. Higher, protruding objects, e.g.
cornices, cannot be detected. Loud sources of
sound, inside and outside the vehicle, could
drown out the PDC signal tone.<
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW is equipped with an extended array
of systems designed to enhance and maintain
vehicle stability under extreme conditions.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during
braking. Safe steering response is maintained
even during full braking. Active safety is thus
increased.
The ABS is operational every time you start the
engine. Braking safely refer to page117.
CBC Cornering Brake Control
When braking during curves or when braking
during a lane change, driving stability and steer-
ing response are improved further.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
DBC Dynamic Brake Control
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
automatically produces the maximum braking
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. This system exploits all of the benefits pro-
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
for the duration of the braking. DBC is switched
off when the brake pedal is released.
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
DSC prevents traction loss in the driving wheels
when starting off and accelerating. DSC also
identifies unstable driving conditions, such as a
loss of traction at the rear of the vehicle or slid-
ing of the vehicle in its 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 indi-
vidual wheels.
The DSC is operational every time you start the
engine.

Controls
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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.<
Deactivating DSC
Press the button until the DSC indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up, but not longer
than approx. 10 seconds. DTC Dynamic Trac-
tion Control and DSC are deactivated together.
Stabilizing and drive output promoting actions
are no longer executed. In addition, the stability
promoting intervention of the active steering
*
is deactivated, refer to page89.
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.
Activating DSC
Press the button; the indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
For better control
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
The indicator lamp lights up:
DSC is deactivated.
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
Press the button again; the DTC indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster goes out.
For better control
The indicator lamp flashes:
DTC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
The indicator lamp lights up:
DTC is activated.
xDrive on 525xi, 530xi
xDrive is the 4-wheel drive system of your
BMW. The combined effects of xDrive and DSC
further optimize the traction and dynamic driv-
ing characteristics. The 4-wheel drive system
xDrive variably distributes the drive torque to
the front and rear axle depending on the driving
situation and prevailing road conditions.

Wheels and tires
192
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire
makes it easier to identify and choose the right
tires.
Tire size
Speed letter
Q = up to 100 mph/160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of
the U.S. Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT... 3705 indicates that the
tire was manufactured in week 37 of 2005.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last
for 10 years.
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 e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ
Belted construction – radial
Rim diameter in inches
Carrying capacity ID-code
(not in ZR tires)
Speed code letter
(in ZR tires before the R)
225/50 R1794 W
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 3705

Mobility
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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
Always observe the maximum permissi-
ble 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 recommends
them. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation.
Use is only permissible in pairs 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 mounting snow chains, do not ini-
tialize the Flat Tire Monitor, otherwise
incorrect displays can occur.
When driving with snow chains, it may be prac-
tical to briefly activate DTC, refer to page85.<

Everything from A to Z
232 Door key, refer to Keys/
remote control28
Door lock32
Door locking, acknowl-
edgment signals31
"Door locks"30
Doors
– manual operation32
– remote control30
DOT Quality Grades192
Draft-free ventilation101
Drinks holder, refer to Cup
holders107
Drive mode60
"Driver's door only"30
Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams94
Driving notes116
Driving route, refer to
Displaying route137
Driving stability control
systems84
Driving through water117
Driving tips, refer to Driving
notes116
Dry air, refer to Cooling
function100
Drying the air, refer to Cooling
function100
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control84
– indicator lamp13,85
DTC Dynamic Traction
Control85
– activating85
– indicator lamp13,85
DVD for navigation124
Dynamic Brake Control
DBC84
Dynamic Drive87
Dynamic Driving Control60
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC84
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC85
E
Easy entry/exit50
– backrest width45
Eject button, refer to Buttons
on CD player144
Electrical malfunction
– door lock32
– driver's door32
– fuel filler door186
– glass sunroof, electric41
– luggage compartment lid34
– panorama glass sunroof42
– tailgate35
Electric steering wheel
adjustment50
Electronic brake-force
distribution84
Electronic oil level check197
Electronic Stability Program
ESP, refer to DSC Dynamic
Stability Control84
Emergency call211
Emergency operation, refer to
Manual operation
– door lock32
– driver's door32
– fuel filler door186
– glass sunroof41
– luggage compartment lid34
– panorama glass sunroof42
– selector lever interlock,
automatic transmission62
– tailgate35
Emergency release for
luggage compartment lid in
luggage compartment34
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside Assistance212
"Emission inspect."76
"Enable services"180
"End call"171
Energy-conscious driving,
refer to Energy Control73
Energy Control73Engine
– breaking-in116
– data218
– overheated, refer to Coolant
temperature72
– speed218
– starting57
– starting, comfort access37
– starting difficulties57
– switching off57
Engine compartment197
Engine coolant199
Engine oil
– adding198
– additives, refer to Approved
engine oils198
– approved engine oil198
– checking oil level197
– electronic oil level check197
"Engine oil level"198
Engine output, refer to Engine
data218
Engine overheating, refer to
Coolant temperature72
Engine speed218
Engine starting, refer to
Starting engine57
"Enter address"125,132
Entering destination via town/
city name126
Entering the
address125,128
Entering the intersection127
Entering town/city for
navigation126
Entering zip code for
navigation127
"Entertainment"144
"Entertainment
settings"145,152
Entertainment sound output
on/off145
Entry map for destination129
"Equalizer", refer to Tone
control147
Equalizer, refer to Tone
control147
"ESN"154