2006 BMW 525XI Owners Manual

Driving
56
Driving
Ignition lock
Insert the remote control as far as possible into
the ignition lock.
>Radio readiness switches on.
Some current consumers are ready for
operation.
>The electric steering-wheel lock audibly
unlocks.
Before moving the vehicle, insert the
remote control into the ignition lock,
otherwise the electric steering-wheel lock will
not be unlocked and the vehicle cannot be
steered.<
Removing remote control from ignition
lock
Briefly press in the remote control; it is pushed
out somewhat.
At the same time:
>The ignition is switched off if it was still
switched on.
>The electric steering-wheel lock audibly
locks.
Automatic transmission
The remote control can only be removed when
the selector lever position P is selected: inter-
lock.
Start/Stop button
Briefly pressing the Start/Stop button several
times switches the radio readiness or the igni-
tion on and off.
Briefly pressing the Start/Stop button
with the brake or clutch pedal depressed
starts the engine.<
Radio readiness
Some current consumers are ready for opera-
tion. The time and outside temperature are dis-
played in the instrument cluster.
Radio readiness is automatically switched off:
>immediately when the remote control is
removed from the ignition lock
>with comfort access
* by touching the sen-
sitive surface on the door handle, refer to
Locking on page38
Ignition on
Most indicator and warning lamps in the display
area1 of the instrument cluster, refer to
page13, light up for different periods.
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster go out.

Controls
57Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Starting engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms,
otherwise the inhaling of toxic exhaust
gases can cause unconsciousness and death.
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a
potential safety hazard.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run-
ning, set the selector lever to the idling or the
P position and set the handbrake, otherwise the
vehicle can begin to roll.<
When starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it
running while the vehicle remains stationary.
Instead, begin to drive immediately at a moder-
ate engine speed.
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.Depress the clutch pedal and select the
idling position.
3.Briefly press Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-
ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Briefly press the Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox*
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Engage the selector lever position N and
make sure that this position is also indi-
cated in the instrument cluster.
3.Briefly press Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-
ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
If the engine fails to start, depress the
brake pedal and press the selector lever
to the right then engage the position N. Watch
the display in the instrument cluster while doing
so.<
Special starting conditions
Depress the accelerator pedal half way when
starting the engine in the following situations:
>The engine fails to start on the first attempt,
e.g. if it is very hot or cold.
>The engine is started at very low tempera-
tures, below approx. + 57/– 156, at high
altitudes, over approx. 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated start attempts in which
the engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is
not burned or inadequately burned and there is
a danger of overheating and damaging the cat-
alytic converter.<
Switching off engine
Do not remove the remote control from
the ignition lock while the vehicle is roll-
ing, otherwise the steering wheel lock would
engage while steering.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
remote control with you. When parking on a
downhill slope, apply the handbrake, otherwise
the vehicle could roll.<

Driving
58
Manual transmission
1.Briefly press the Start/Stop button with the
vehicle stopped.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Apply the handbrake.
SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox*
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.Engage a driving position.
3.Briefly press Start/Stop button.
If the position N is engaged when the
engine is switched off, this is pointed out
visually and acoustically.
Automatic transmission*
1.Select the selector lever position P with the
vehicle stopped.
2.Briefly press Start/Stop button.
Handbrake
The handbrake is primarily intended to prevent
the vehicle from rolling while parked; it brakes
the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up, and a sig-
nal also sounds when starting off. The
handbrake is applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and
lower the lever.
If it becomes necessary under special cir-
cumstances to use the handbrake while
driving, it must not be pulled too sharply. In
doing so, continuously press the button of the
handbrake lever. Otherwise strong application
of the handbrake can lead to overbraking of the
rear axle and associated 'fishtailing' of the vehi-
cle rear end.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the hand-
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.
The brake lamps do not light up when the hand-
brake is applied.<
Manual transmission
While shifting in the 5th/6th gear lane,
press the gearshift lever toward the right,
otherwise accidental shifting into the 3rd or 4th
gear could result in engine damage.<

Controls
59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
When pressing the gearshift lever to the left,
overcome some resistance.
The backup lamps switch on automatically with
the ignition switched on.
SMG Sequential Manual
Gearbox*
The concept
The SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox is an
automated manual transmission in which an
electrohydraulic system handles the clutching
and gear changes.
You operate SMG with the selector lever in the
center console and two shift paddles on the
steering wheel.
It offers you the following functions:
>Optional manual or automatic operation:
Sequential mode or Drive mode
>You have a choice of two driving programs:
Normal or Sport, refer to Dynamic Driving
Control page60
>Automatic downshifting and prevention of
incorrect shifting even in sequential opera-
tion
>Acceleration assistant, refer to page61.
Selector lever positions
The current selector lever position is displayed
on the center console.
>R: Reverse gear
>N: Neutral>One-touch functions for Sequential mode:
+: manual upshifting
–: manual downshifting
>D: activate/deactivate the 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 oper-
ated.
This is indicated by an acoustic signal and the
flashing display N in the instrument cluster.<
Gear display
R N 1 to 6
The currently engaged gear is displayed, pre-
ceded by a D in Drive mode.
It is only possible to recognize whether
the desired selector lever position is
engaged with this display.<
Shiftlock
Press the brake pedal before shifting out of N;
the shift command will not be executed unless
the brake is applied.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
Sequential mode
After every engine start, as soon as the selector
lever is pushed to the right and the brake pedal
is pressed, the Sequential mode is activated.
You can shift up and down using the shifting
paddles or the selector lever. You do not need
to remove your foot from the accelerator to do
so.

Driving
60 It is also possible to start off in second gear, e. g.
in slippery conditions.
In the following situations, SMG thinks for you:
>Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combina-
tion of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for
example, a downshift that would cause the
engine to overrev will not be executed by
the system.
>When the vehicle is stationary, the trans-
mission automatically downshifts into first
gear.
>Shortly before dropping below a gear-
dependent minimum speed, the transmis-
sion downshifts automatically even without
your intervention.
D Drive mode
In the Drive mode, all forward gears are shifted
automatically.
Shifting from Sequential mode to Drive mode:
press selector lever to the right toward D.
Kick-down: for rapid acceleration, e. g. when
passing, press the accelerator pedal as far
down as it will go. You achieve maximum accel-
eration.
To switch back into the Sequential mode: press
selector lever to the right again toward D or shift
using the shifting paddles or the selector lever.
Start off quickly on slopes. Do not hold
the vehicle on a hill by pressing the accel-
erator, but apply the handbrake instead. Other-
wise overheating can occur in the transmission
region.<
Gear changes
Using selector lever
>To upshift, pull the selector lever back.
>To downshift, push the selector lever for-
ward.
Using shift paddles on steering wheel
>To upshift, pull one of the shift paddles.
>To downshift, press.
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.
>Gearshifts are faster.
>The engine speed range is used optimally in
the Drive mode.
>Cruise control
*:
The stored speed is reached more quickly
when it is requested.
Activating system
Press the SPORT button.
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.

Controls
61Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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.

Driving
62
Sport program and
manual operation M/S
Move selector lever from position D toward the
left into the M/S shifting slot:
The sport program is activated and DS appears
in the instrument cluster. This position is rec-
ommended for a performance-oriented driving
style.
When the selector lever is pressed forward or
back, the manual mode is activated and the
Steptronic shifts the 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.
Deactivating selector lever interlock
If the selector lever is blocked in the position P
even though the button on the selector lever is
pressed, the selector lever interlock can be
deactivated:1.Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.
2.Pull the sleeve over the selector lever.
3.Press the lever at the point marked in red
with the screwdriver from the onboard tool-
kit, refer to page203, and move the selector
lever into the desired position.
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To turn off manually, press the lever to the
resistance point.
Atypically rapid flashing of the indicator
lamp indicates that a turn signal bulb
needs to be replaced.<
Signaling for a short time
Press lever to resistance point and hold for as
long as you wish to signal.

Controls
63Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever to the resistance point; the turn
signal flashes three times.
You can activate or deactivate this function.
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 "Lighting" and press the controller.
5.Select "Triple turn signal activation" and
press the controller.
Triple turn signaling 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.
Normal wiper speed
Press once.
The system reverts to operation in the intermit-
tent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance
point.
The system reverts to normal speed when the
vehicle is stationary.
Rain sensor
The wiper operation is controlled automatically
as a function of the rain intensity. The rain sen-
sor is located on the windshield, directly in front
of the interior rearview mirror.
Activating rain sensor
Press the button, arrow3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level
Turn the knurled wheel5.
Deactivating rain sensor
Press the button again, arrow3. The LED goes
out.
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through an automatic car wash. Failure to
do so could result in damage caused by undes-
ired wiper activation.<
Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
The system sprays washer fluid against the
windshield and activates the wipers for a brief
period.