Page 3 of 259
525i
530i
550i
525xi
530xiOwner's Manual for Vehicle
Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with 
enhanced control and security when you drive it. We therefore 
have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize 
yourself with the information that we have compiled for you 
before starting off in your new vehicle. It contains important data 
and instructions intended to assist you in gaining maximum use 
and satisfaction from your BMW's unique range of technical fea-
tures. The manual also contains information on maintenance 
designed to enhance operating safety and contribute to main-
taining the value of your BMW throughout an extended service 
life.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet for US models or a Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG  
         
        
        
     
        
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Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to use 
the index, refer to page236.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
22Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
45Adjustments
54Transporting children safely
58Driving
74Everything under control
85Technology for comfort, convenience 
and safety
101Lamps
105Climate
111Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
124Things to remember when driving
Navigation
132Starting navigation system
133Destination entry
144Destination guidance
149What to do if …
Entertainment
152On/off and tone
156Radio
165CD player and CD changer
171External audio device
Communications
174Telephoning
187TeleService, BMW Assist
Mobility
194Refueling
196Wheels and tires
204Under the hood
209Maintenance
211Replacing components
219Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
226Technical data
231Short commands of voice command 
system
236Everything from A to Z 
         
        
        
     
        
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Reference
This chapter contains the technical data,
the short commands of the voice command
system, and the index that will direct you
as quickly as possible to the information
you are looking for.
Reference 
         
        
        
     
        
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Technical data
226
Technical data
Engine data
525i/xi530i/xi550i
Displacement cu in/cmµ182.8/2,996 182.8/2,996 292.8/4,799
No. of cylinders 668
Maximum output hp 215 255 360
at engine speed rpm 6,250 6,600 6,300
Maximum torque lb ft/Nm 185/251 220/298 360/488
at engine speed rpm 2,750 2,750 3,400 
         
        
        
     
        
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Technical data
228
All dimensions given in inches/mm. Smallest turning circle diam.: 39 ft/11.9 m 
         
        
        
     
        
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Technical data
230 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: page195
of that reserve gal/liters approx. 2.1/8
Window cleaning system For more details: page66
>Sedan US quarts/liters approx. 3.2/3
>incl. headlamp washer system US quarts/liters approx. 5.3/5
>Sports Wagon US quarts/liters approx. 5.3/5
Engine with oil filter change BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil.
Oil grades: page206 >525i/xi, 530i/xi US quarts/liters 6.9/6.5
>550i US quarts/liters 8.5/8.0 
         
        
        
     
        
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Everything from A to Z
240 Control Center, refer to 
iDrive16
Control Display, refer to 
iDrive16
– setting brightness83
Controller, refer to iDrive16
Controls, refer to Cockpit10
Convenience operation
– glass sunroof31
– windows31
Convenience start, refer to 
Starting engine59
Coolant207
– checking level207
– temperature74
Cooling, maximum107
Cornering Brake Control 
CBC86
Country of destination for 
navigation134
Courtesy lamps104
Cover, roll-up cover, 
Sports Wagon117
Cradle for telephone or mobile 
phone113
Cruise control66,67
– active cruise control67
Cruising range75
Cup holders114
Curb weight, refer to 
Weights229
Current fuel consumption75
"Current position"148
Current position
– displaying148
– entering140
– storing140
"Curve mode" with 
BMW Night Vision100
"Customer 
Relations"182,190
Cylinders, refer to Engine 
data226
D
Dashboard, refer to 
Cockpit10
Data226
– capacities230
– dimensions227
– engine226
– technical data226
– weights229
"Date"83
Date74
– display format83
– retrieval74
– setting83
"Date format"83
Daytime running lamps102
DBC Dynamic Brake 
Control86
"Deactivated"48
Deactivating selector lever 
interlock64
Decommissioning the vehicle, 
refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Defect
– fuel filler door194
– glass sunroof42
– luggage compartment lid34
– tailgate36
Defrosting windows107
Defrosting windows and 
removing condensation107
Defrost position, refer to 
Defrosting windows107
"Delete address book" for 
navigation system142
"Delete all numbers" for 
mobile phone181
"Delete data" for navigation 
system142
"Delete" for mobile 
phone181
Destination address
– deleting141
– entering133,136Destination for navigation
– destination list139
– entering via voice136
– entry133
– selecting from address 
book141
– selecting using 
information138
– storing140
Destination guidance144
– bypassing route 
sections148
– canceling voice 
instructions53
– changing specified 
route142
– displaying routes
145
– distance and arrival144
– interrupting144
– starting144
– terminating/continuing144
– voice instructions147
– volume of voice 
instructions147
Destination list for 
navigation139
Destinations recently driven 
to139
"Details" in audio mode167
"Dial" for mobile phone179
"Dial number"179
"Diamond button"53
Diamond button53
Digital clock74
Digital radio, refer to High 
Definition Radio160
Dimensions227
Directional indicators, refer to 
Turn signals64
Direction announcements, 
refer to Voice 
instructions147
Direction instructions, refer to 
Voice instructions147
Directory for navigation, refer 
to Address book140
Displacement, refer to Engine 
data226 
         
        
        
     
        
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Reference 251
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Starting off on slopes, refer to 
Starting assistant125
Start menu, iDrive17
"Start route guidance"138
"Start service"189
"State / Province" for desti-
nation entry134
"State inspection"78
Station, refer to Radio156
"Stations", presets163
"Status"78
Status of this Owner's Manual 
at time of printing5
Steering wheel
– adjustment52
– buttons on steering 
wheel11
– easy entry/exit52
– heating52
– lock58
– locking58
– memory47
– programmable buttons53
"Steering wheel buttons"53
Steering-wheel shift buttons, 
refer to Shift paddles62
Steering with variable ratio, 
refer to Active steering93
Steptronic, refer to Automatic 
transmission with 
Steptronic63
"Stop" for stopwatch82
"Stopwatch"82
Stopwatch81
Storage area package119
Storage compartments114
"Store in address book" for 
navigation system140
"Store" on the radio158,163
Storing current position140
Storing radio stations158
Storing sitting position, refer 
to Seat, mirror and steering 
wheel memory47
Storing tires202
Straps, refer to Loading128
"Street" for destination 
entry135Summer tires, refer to Wheels 
and tires196
Sun blinds112
"Surround Settings", refer to 
Tone control154
SW, waveband156
Switches, refer to Cockpit10
Switching between high 
beams and low beams, 
automatic, refer to High-
beam assistant103
Switching cooling function on 
and off107
Switching off engine60
Switching off tilt alarm 
sensor38
Switching on
– audio152
– CD changer152
– CD player152
– radio152
Switching on hour signal83
Swiveling headlamps, refer to 
Adaptive Head Light102
Symbols4
– indicator/warning lamps13
T
Tachometer74
"Tailgate"36
Tailgate33,35
– automatic operation36
– locking and unlocking from 
inside32
– opening from inside, Sports 
Wagon35
Tail lamps213
– replacing bulbs213
Tank contents, refer to 
Capacities230
Target cursor for 
navigation138
Technical alterations, refer to 
For your own safety5
Technical data226
Telematic, refer to 
TeleService, 
BMW Assist187Telephone, refer to Mobile 
phone174
"Telephone list"53
TeleService187
– enabling187
– services offered188
Temperature
– adjusting in upper body 
region106
– adjusting with automatic 
climate control106
– of coolant, refer to Coolant 
temperature74
Temperature display
– outside temperature74
– setting units84
– temperature warning74
Temperature warning74
Tempomat, refer to Cruise 
control66
"Terminate services"190
"Text language"84
"Theater", refer to Tone 
control154
The individual vehicle5
Third brake lamp, refer to 
Center brake lamp214
Through-loading system116
Tightening torque of the lug 
bolts, refer to After 
mounting217
Tilting down passenger-side 
exterior mirror52
"Time"83
"Time format"83
Timer, refer to Preselecting 
activation time109
"Timer 1" for parked car 
ventilation110
"Timer 2" for parked car 
ventilation110
Tire inflation pressures196
Tire pressure loss90,91
Tire pressure monitoring, 
refer to Flat Tire Monitor89
Tire Pressure Monitor 
TPM91
Tire Quality Grading200