2006 BMW 550I phone

Controls
29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Remove the adapter from the holder in the
glove compartment and slide the spare key into
the adapter.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set a number of functions of your BMW
individually according to your preferences.
Personal Profile ensures that most of these set-
tings are stored for the remote control currently
in use without you having to do anything. When
the vehicle is unlocked, the corresponding
remote control is detected and the settings
stored for it are called up and carried out.
This means you will also find your personal set-
tings when your BMW has meanwhile been
drive by another person with his/her own
remote control and settings. The individual set-
tings are stored for a maximum of four remote
controls.
Personal Profile settings
>When unlocking with the remote control,
either unlock only the driver's door or the
entire vehicle, refer to page30
>Locking the vehicle after a short time or
after starting off, refer to page32
>Assigning the programmable buttons
* on
the steering wheel, refer to page51>Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer
to page81
>Measuring units for consumption, route/
distances, temperature, and pressure,
refer to page81
>Language on Control Display, refer to
page82
>12h/24h mode of the clock, refer to
page81
>Date format, refer to page81
>Showing optical warning for PDC Park Dis-
tance Control
*, refer to page83
>Selection and brightness of display in
Head-Up Display
*, refer to page92
>Air distribution, temperature in the upper
body area and intensity of the automatic air
conditioning system, refer to page99
>Setting voice instructions for destination
guidance in the navigation system
*, refer to
page139
In addition, the following, most recently
selected settings are recalled during unlocking:
>Positions of driver's seat, outside mirrors,
and steering wheel
*, refer to page45
>Audio sources, setting volume and tone,
refer to page145
>Radio, displaying memorized stations, refer
to page148
>Telephone, setting volume, refer to
pages170,176
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for opera-
tion whenever the driver's door is closed. The
system simultaneously engages and releases
the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid/tailgate
>Fuel filler door

Opening and closing
40 and holding it limits the response of the anti-
trapping mechanism. In this case, if the closing
force exceeds a defined threshold, the window
will only open a little.
If the switch is pulled past the resistance point
again within approx. 4 seconds, the anti-trap-
ping mechanism will be deactivated.<
Safety switch
With the safety switch, you can prevent the rear
windows from being opened or closed via the
switches in the rear passenger area, by chil-
dren, for example. The LED lights up when this
safety feature is activated.
Always press the safety switch when
children ride in the rear, otherwise
unchecked closing of the windows could lead
to injuries.<
Accessories in window area
After installing any accessory – such as a
clamp-on antenna for a mobile phone – within
the window's travel range, you will need to have
the system reinitialized for use under the new
conditions. BMW recommends having this
work done by your BMW center.
Glass sunroof, electric*
The glass sunroof is ready for operation with
the ignition switched on, refer to page56.
To prevent injuries, exercise care when
closing the glass sunroof and keep it in
your field of vision until it is closed.
Always take along the remote control when you
leave the vehicle, otherwise children could, for
example, operate the roof and injure them-
selves.<
Raising
Press switch.
>When the glass sunroof is closed, it is raised
slightly and the sliding visor opens slightly.
>When the glass sunroof is open, it automat-
ically travels into the raised position. The
sliding visor remains completely open.
Do not use force to close the headliner
insert with the glass sunroof in its raised
position, otherwise the mechanism will be dam-
aged.<
Opening, closing
>Press switch back to the resistance point.
The glass sunroof and the sliding visor open
together for as long as you hold the switch
in position.
>Press switch back past the resistance point.
The glass sunroof and the sliding visor open
automatically. Briefly press the switch again
to stop the opening movement.
In a similar manner, the glass sunroof closes
when you slide the switch forward. The sliding
visor remains open and can be closed by hand.
For information on using the convenience oper-
ation at the door lock or with the remote control,
refer to page30 or32.
For information on comfort closing with comfort
access, refer to Locking on page38.
Automatic opening and closing
Press the switch past the resistance point.
The following movements are also automatic:
>When the sunroof is open, press the switch
in the lifting direction: the sunroof is raised
all the way.

Controls
51Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Programmable buttons* on steering
wheel
You can program the buttons individually.
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
4.Select "Steering wheel buttons" and press
the controller.
A list of different functions appears:
>"Navigation voice instructions"
Voice instructions for the navigation
system
*
>"Air recirculation on / off"
Permanently shutting off outside air,
refer to AUC Automatic recirculated air
control on page101
>"Mute on / off"
Mutes the audio sources
>"Monitor on / off"
Switches the Control Display on/off>"Telephone list"
Display/hide phone book or last list of
stored phone numbers displayed
>"HDC on / off"
Switches HDC Hill Descent Control
* on/
off
>"Next entertainment source"
Changes audio source
5.Select the desired function unit and press
the controller.
6.Select the button if necessary and press the
controller.
You can operate the selected function using the
corresponding button.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Operating function
Press the corresponding button on the steering
wheel.
If you have programmed "Navigation voice
instructions" for one of the buttons:
>To switch voice instructions on/off:
Hold the button down.
>To repeat the last voice instruction:
Press the button.

Practical interior accessories
106
Closing
Fold the cover up.
To prevent injury in the event of an acci-
dent while the vehicle is being driven,
close the glove compartment immediately after
use.<
Locking
Lock with a key.
If you only hand over the remote control
without the integrated key, e.g. for valet
parking, refer to page28, the glove compart-
ment cannot be unlocked.<
Rechargeable flashlight
The flashlight is located on the left side of the
glove compartment.
The flashlight can remain plugged in continu-
ously. Pull the flashlight out of the socket when
needed.
To avoid possibly damaging the lamp,
always ensure that it is switched off
before inserting it in the socket.<
Front center armrest
The compartment is the center armrest is
divided into two sections.
Opening cover
Press the button. The cover opens somewhat
and can be folded upwards.
Depending on vehicle equipment, the upper
section contains a compartment with a mat that
can be removed for cleaning or a telephone
cradle
*.
Opening upper compartment
Press button and fold cover upward.
Accessing lower compartment
Press the button at the front and fold the upper
compartment or the telephone cradle upward.

Driving tips
117Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Mobile communications devices in
vehicle
BMW discourages the use of mobile
communications devices, e. g. mobile
phones, inside the vehicle without a direct con-
nection to an outside antenna. Otherwise, the
vehicle electronics and mobile communication
device can influence one another. In addition,
there is no assurance that the radiation which
results from transmission will be dissipated
from the vehicle interior.<
Interior and exterior mirrors,
automatic dimming feature*
This feature is controlled by two photocells in
the inside rearview mirror. One is integrated into
the glass of the mirror, while the other is located
at an offset position on the rear of the mirror
housing.
For trouble-free operation, keep the photocells
clean and do not cover the area between the
interior rearview mirror and the windshield. Do
not attach stickers of any kind to the windshield
in front of the mirror, either.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or
complete loss of contact between the tires and
the road surface, ultimately undermining your
ability to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread
depth of the tires decreases, refer also to Mini-
mum tire tread on page193.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if it
is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at
walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the vehi-
cle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Using handbrake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with
the clutch; use the handbrake. Otherwise
greater clutch wear will result.<
SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox
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.<
Starting assistant
The starting assistant enables you to start off
conveniently on slopes. The parking brake is
not required for this purpose.
1.Hold the vehicle with the footbrake.
2.Release the footbrake and immediately
drive off quickly.
The starting assistant holds the vehicle
for approx. 2 seconds after releasing the
footbrake. Depending on the load, the vehicle
may also roll back slightly during this time.
After releasing the footbrake, immediately start
quickly, otherwise the starting assistant no
longer holds the vehicle after approx. 2 seconds
and it begins to roll back.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. In situations that require it, it is best to
brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.

Navigation
Driving tips
131Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
3.Select "Information" and press the control-
ler.
4.Selecting location:
>"On destination"
>"On location"
>"On a new destination"
5.Press the controller.
6.Make your selection, e.g. "Hotels and res-
taurants", and press the controller.
Destinations appear on the Control Display,
which are sorted alphabetically or accord-
ing to distance.
7.Select a destination and press the control-
ler.8.Select a menu item:
>To accept the address into the destina-
tion list and start the destination guid-
ance:
Select "Select as destination" and press
the controller.
>To establish a telephone connection:
Select "Call" and press the controller.
To exit from the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
Destination list
The last 20 entered destinations are shown in
the destination list. You can display these desti-
nations and apply them in the destination guid-
ance system.
For example, to plan a longer route, you can
store all destinations you want to drive to in
advance in the destination list, refer to Entering
a destination manually on page125.
Select "Navigation" and press the controller.
The last destination entered is the first item in
the destination list.
This symbol indicates the current destina-
tion.
Display additional destinations from the desti-
nation list:
Turn the controller.

Radio
154 3.Select "SAT".
4.Press the controller.
The channels are displayed.
These channels are enabled.
Enabling
1.Select a channel that has not yet been
enabled and press the controller.
A telephone number and the electronic
serial number, ESN, are displayed.
The electronic serial number is
required to enable or disable.<
2.To enable the channels:
Dial the phone number.
Disabling
1.Select an enabled channel and press the
controller.2.Select "ESN" and press the controller.
The electronic serial number, ESN, is dis-
played.
The electronic serial number is
required for disabling.<
3.To disable the channels:
Dial the phone number.
Selecting and storing channel
1.Select "SAT" and press the controller.
Channels are shown on the Control Display
sorted on the basis of selection criteria.
2.Select a menu item:
>"Presets":
Up to twelve channels you have stored
previously.
>"All channels":
All channels are displayed.
>"Categories":
All channels, sorted by categories, e. g.
news, jazz.
3.Press the controller.

Communications
This chapter summarizes how to operate your
mobile phone using iDrive or voice control and
how to use BMW Assist or TeleService.
Communications