Controls
87Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Dynamic Drive*
The concept
Dynamic Drive minimizes body roll and opti-
mizes vehicle stability during cornering and
evasive maneuvers.
Dynamic Drive is based on active stabilizers on
the front and rear axles. Suspension compli-
ance adapts to suit driving conditions, varying
from performance-oriented during cornering to
smooth and comfort-oriented when the vehicle
is proceeding in a straight line. During vehicle
operation, the system continuously runs
through closed-loop control cycles lasting only
fractions of a second.
The system assumes operational status each
time you start the engine.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up yellow and
a message is shown on the Control Dis-
play. There is a malfunction in the sys-
tem. Have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible.
If a malfunction occurs, please remember
to adapt your speed accordingly, espe-
cially in curves.
The suspension will be noticeably softer and
the vehicle will display a greater tendency to tilt
during cornering and in crosswinds.
If a message stating that you should stop is
shown on the Control Display, stop at a suitable
location and switch off the engine as soon as
possible. In this case the oil level in the reservoir
may have dropped below the minimum, possi-
bly owing to a leak in the hydraulic system.
Do not continue driving, but instead contact
your BMW center.<
Sports Wagon: self-leveling
suspension
Malfunction
The warning lamp for the self-leveling
suspension lights up in yellow and a
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. A malfunction has occurred in the self-
leveling suspension. Stop and check the vehi-
cle. If it is considerably lower at the rear than at
the front, and possible also on one side – rear
left compared to rear right –, go to the nearest
BMW center or a workshop that works accord-
ing to BMW repair procedures with correspond-
ingly trained personnel. Drive with appropriate
caution in the meantime. The vehicle has
reduced ground clearance and driving comfort
may be noticeably reduced. Even if the position
of the vehicle is normal, go to the nearest BMW
center or a workshop that works according to
BMW repair procedures with correspondingly
trained personnel.
Flat Tire Monitor FTM
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the infla-
tion pressures in the tires as you drive. The sys-
tem provides an alert whenever the inflation
pressure drops significantly in relation to the
pressure in another tire.
In the event of a pressure loss, the rolling radius
and therefore the rotation speed of the wheels
change. This change is detected and is
reported as a flat tire.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat
tire, the system must be initialized for the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure.
The initialization must be repeated after
each time the tire inflation pressure is cor-
rected and after every tire or wheel change.<
Under the hood
198 4.Select "Service requirements" and press
the controller.
5.Select "Engine oil level" and press the con-
troller. The oil level is displayed.
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level O.K."
>"No measured value available: Updating
engine oil level measurement...":
Engine oil level is being measured. This
process can take approx. 3 minutes when
stopped on a level surface and approx.
5 minutes while driving.
>"Oil level at the minimum! Refill with 1 quart
engine oil.":
Add 1 quart/liter of engine oil at the next
opportunity.
>"Engine oil level too high":
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise engine damage may
result if too much oil has been added.<
>"Please observe recalculated service inter-
val for engine oil":
Do not add engine oil. Continued driving is
possible. To do this, observe the recalcu-
lated remaining mileage until the next oil
change service, refer to page201. Have the
system checked as soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
Do not add 1 quart/1 liter of oil until a corre-
sponding message appears on the Control
Display.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km,
otherwise the engine could be dam-
aged.<
Continuous exposure to used oil has
caused cancer in laboratory testing.
For this reason, any skin areas that come into
contact with oil should be thoroughly washed
with soap and water.
Keep oil, grease etc. out of reach of children and
observe the warnings on the containers to pre-
vent health risks.<
Oil change
Have oil changed only at your BMW center or
at a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel.
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical
significance for the operation and service life of
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after confirming their suitability for use
in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Do not use oil additives, as these may
result in engine damage.<
Only use approved BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil.
If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is
unavailable, you can add small quantities of
other synthetic oils between oil changes. Only
use oils of the specification API SH or higher.
Technical data
222 Never exceed either the approved axle loads or
the gross vehicle weight.
Capacities
Sports Wagon530xi
Curb weight
>Manual transmission lbs./kg 3,858/1,750
>Automatic transmission lbs./kg 3,891/1,765
Approved gross vehicle weight
>Manual transmission lbs./kg 5,049/2,290
>Automatic transmission lbs./kg 5,082/2,305
Load lbs./kg 1,190/540
Approved front axle load lbs./kg 2,381/1,080
Approved rear axle load lbs./kg 2,866/1,300
Approved roof load capacity lbs./kg 220/100
Luggage compartment capacity cu ft/l 17.7-58.3/500-1,650
Notes
Fuel tank gal/liters approx. 18.5/70 Fuel grade: page187
of that reserve gal/liters approx. 2.1/8
Window cleaning system For more details: page64
>Sedan quarts/liters approx. 3.2/3
>incl. headlamp washer system quarts/liters approx. 5.3/5
>Sports Wagon quarts/liters approx. 5.3/5
Engine with oil filter change BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil.
Oil grades: page198 >525i/xi, 530i/xi quarts/liters 6.9/6.5
>550i quarts/liters 8.5/8.0
Reference 233
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control84
Event Data Recorders202
Exhaust system, refer to Hot
exhaust system116
Exterior mirrors49
– automatic dimming
feature117
– automatic heating49
– folding in and out49
– tilting down passenger-side
exterior mirror50
Eye for tow-starting and
towing, refer to Tow
fitting213
F
"Fader", refer to Tone
control146
Fader, refer to Tone
control146
Failure messages, refer to
Check Control77
False alarm, refer to Avoiding
unintentional alarms37
Fastening safety belts, refer to
Safety belts47
– warning lamp47
Fastest route for
navigation134
"Fast route" for
navigation135
"Favorites" calling up with
radio151
First aid, refer to First-aid
kit212
First-aid kit212
Flashing during locking/
unlocking, refer to Setting
confirmation signals31
Flashlight, refer to
Rechargeable flashlight106Flat tire
– changing wheels207
– compact wheel208
– Flat Tire Monitor87,88
– run-flat tires88,194
Flat Tire Monitor87
– false alarms88
– initializing system88
– limits of system88
– show chains195
– warning lamp88
Flat tires, refer to Tire
condition193
"FM", reception
range144,148
FM, waveband148
Fog lamps97
– indicator lamp13,97
Folding rear seat
back109,111
Footbrake, refer to Braking
safely117
Footwell lamps97
For specified oil grades, refer
to Approved engine oils198
Forward, fast
– CD changer161
– CD player161
For your own safety5
4-wheel drive system, refer to
xDrive85
Freeway, refer to Route
criteria135
Front airbags90
Front armrest, refer to Center
armrest, front106
Front passenger airbags,
deactivating90
Front seat adjustment44
"FTM"88
FTM, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor87
Fuel187
– capacity222
– display73
– high-quality brands187
– quality187
– specifications187Fuel clock, refer to Fuel
gauge73
Fuel consumption display,
computer, average fuel
consumption73
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge73
Fuel filler door186
– releasing in the event of
electrical malfunction186
Fuses210
G
Garage door opener, refer to
Integrated universal remote
control104
Gasoline, refer to Required
fuel187
Gasoline display, refer to Fuel
gauge73
Gear changes
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic61
– SMG Sequential Manual
Gearbox60
Gear display
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic61
– SMG Sequential Manual
Gearbox59
Gearshift lever, manual
transmission58
Gearshift lever positions,
manual transmission58
General driving notes116
Glass sunroof, electric40
– auto-remote operation from
outside32
– comfort operation with
comfort access38
– moving manually41
– remote control30
Glove compartment105
– lighting105
– rechargeable flashlight106
GPS navigation, refer to
Navigation system124
Reference 237
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Mobile phone
– accepted calls173
– adjusting volume170
– calling171
– ending call171
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest106
– missed calls173
– operation via iDrive170
– redialing173
– refer to separate Owner's
Manual
– Top 8173
– touch tone dialing173
Mobile phones, use in the
interior, refer to Mobile
communications
devices117
Monitor, refer to iDrive16
Monitoring pressure of tires,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor87
"Monitor on / off"51
Most recent mobile phone
numbers173
MP3, refer to Compressed
audio files157
Multi-function steering wheel,
refer to Buttons on steering
wheel11
Multifunction switch
– refer to Turn signals/
headlamp flasher62
– refer to Wiper/washer
system63
Music track, finding159
"Mute on / off"51
MW, waveband148
N
"Navigation"74,125
Navigation destination
– home address134
– manual entry125,128
– selecting via map129
Navigation drive, installation
location124Navigation DVD124
Navigation instructions, refer
to Switching voice instruc-
tions on/off139
Navigation system124
– address book132
– bypassing route
sections140
– destination entry125
– destination guidance in
assistance window124
– destination list131
– displaying current
position140
– entering a destination
manually125,128
– last destinations131
– opening125
– route display137
– route list138
– searching for a special
destination130
– selecting destination using
information130
– selecting destination via
map129
– selecting route criteria134
– starting destination
guidance136
– switching off, refer to Termi-
nating/continuing desti-
nation guidance136
– terminating/continuing
destination guidance136
– voice instructions139
– volume adjustment140
"Navigation voice
instructions"51
"Navigation voice instructions
on"139
Neck support, refer to Head
restraints46
"New address" for
navigation132
"New destination"125,129
New remote control28
"New route"140New wheels and tires194
"Next entertainment
source"
51
"Normal", active backrest
width adjustment45
Nozzles, refer to Windshield
washer nozzles64
Nylon rope, refer to Tow-
starting and towing213
O
OBD socket202
Octane ratings, refer to Fuel
specifications187
Odometer72
Oil
– additives, refer to Approved
engine oils198
– approved engine oils198
– capacity222
– consumption, refer to
Checking engine oil
level197
– level197
– refilling, refer to Adding
engine oil198
Oil change intervals, refer to
Service requirements75
"On a new destination" for
navigation131
Onboard computer, refer to
iDrive16
"Onboard information"74
Onboard toolkit203
"On destination"131
"On location"131
Opening and closing
– comfort access37
– from inside32
– from outside30
– panorama glass sunroof41
– using remote control30
– using the door lock32
Reference 241
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Shiftlock
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic61
– SMG Sequential Manual
Gearbox59
Shift paddles60
Short commands of voice
command system223
"Short route" for
navigation135
Short route in navigation, refer
to Selecting route134
Shoulder support44
"Show current position"130
"Show destination
position"130
Shuffled, refer to Random
– CD changer160
– CD player160
Side airbags90
Side marker lamps, replacing
bulbs205
Side turn signals, replacing
bulbs205
Side window blind, refer to
Sun blinds105
Signal horn, refer to Horn10
Sitting safely43
– with airbags43
– with head restraint43
– with safety belts43
Ski bag110
Sliding/tilt sunroof
– refer to Glass sunroof,
electric40
– refer to Panorama glass
sunroof41
Slope assistant, refer to
Starting assistant117SMG Sequential Manual
Gearbox59
– acceleration assistant61
– breaking-in116
– Dynamic Driving Control60
– gear display59
– kick-down60
– shiftlock59
– towing214
– tow-starting215
Snow chains195
Socket for Onboard
Diagnostics interface202
Socket for remote control,
refer to Ignition lock56
Sockets, refer to Connecting
electrical devices108
Song search with CD, refer to
Playing a track159
SOS, refer to Initiating an
emergency call211
Spare fuses210
Spare key
28
– adapter28
Spare remote control28
Spare wheel, refer to
Changing wheels207
Spare wheel, refer to Compact
wheel208
Special oils, refer to Approved
engine oils198
Speed
– with compact wheel209
– with winter tires195
Speed-dependent
volume146
Speed limit warning, refer to
Speed limit79
Speedometer12
"Speed volume", refer to Tone
control146
"Sport", active backrest width
adjustment45
Sport program, refer to
Dynamic Driving Control60Sports Wagon
– automatic tailgate
operation35
– cargo area cover111
– compartments in cargo
area112
– increasing cargo area111
– opening rear window34
– opening tailgate35
– panorama glass sunroof41
– rear window wiper64
– rear window wiper, changing
wiper blade203
– releasing fuel filler door in
event of electrical
malfunction186
– roll-up cover, refer to Cargo
area cover111
– self-leveling suspension87
– separation net111
– socket in cargo area109
– storage area package112
– tail lamps, replacing
bulbs205
Stability control, refer to
Driving stability control
systems84
"Star button"51
Star button51
Start/Stop button56
"Start destination
guidance"130
"Start" for stopwatch79
"Start guidance"128,136
Starting, refer to Starting
engine57
Starting assistance, refer to
Jump starting212
Starting assistant117
Starting difficulties
– jump starting212
– refer to Special starting
conditions57
Starting off on slopes, refer to
Starting assistant117
Start menu, iDrive17
"Start service"181