2006 BMW 650I CONVERTIBLE automatic transmission

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Display for active cruise control
*70
5Tachometer74
6Engine oil thermometer75
7Display for
>Time/date74
>Outside temperature74
>Indicator and warning lamps79
>Speed for cruise control67
>Desired speed for active cruise
control
*708Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer74
>Computer75
>Date and remaining distance to be
driven for service requirements77
>Automatic transmission
with Steptronic
*62
>SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox
*61
>Dynamic Driving Control64
>High-beam assistant
*97
> Check Control message present79
9Fuel gauge75
10Resetting trip odometer74

Controls
37Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>The engine can only be started if the vehicle
detects that the remote control carried is
located in the vehicle.
Special features in contrast to ordinary
remote control
It is basically irrelevant whether you operate the
above-mentioned functions with the comfort
access feature or by pressing the buttons on
the remote control. Before doing so, please
familiarize yourself with the information on
opening and closing, starting on page28.
The special features when using comfort
access are described below.
Unlocking
Completely grasp a door handle, arrow1.
This corresponds to pressing the button.
If a remote control is detected in the interior
after unlocking, the electric steering-wheel lock
disengages, refer to page58.
Locking doors
Touch the surface, arrow2 on the driver's door
or3 on the passenger door with a finger for
approx. 1 second. This corresponds to pressing
the button.
For comfort closing, hold a finger on the sur-
face, arrow2 or 3.
If a remote control accidentally left in the
luggage compartment is detected inside
the locked vehicle after the luggage compart-
ment lid has been closed, then the luggage
compartment lid opens again. The hazard warn-
ing flashers flash and an acoustic signal
*
sounds.<
Switching on radio readiness
By briefly pressing the Start/Stop button, you
switch on the radio readiness, refer to page58.
When doing so, do not depress the brake
pedal; otherwise, the engine will start
immediately.<
Starting engine
You can start the engine or switch on the igni-
tion if a remote control is located on the interior
of the vehicle. It need not be inserted in the igni-
tion lock, refer to page58.
If you take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle with the engine running, a
warning lamp lights up. In addition, a message
appears on the Control Display. As long as no
remote control is detected in the vehicle, it is
only possible to restart the engine within
approx. 10 seconds after it is switched off.
Switching off engine with automatic
transmission
The engine can only be switched off in the
selector lever position P, refer to page60.
To switch off the engine in the selector lever
position N, the remote control must be inserted
in the ignition lock.
Before driving into a car wash with
automatic transmission
1.Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Place selector lever in position N.
4.Switch off the engine.
The vehicle can roll.
Malfunction
The comfort access function may malfunction
due to local radio waves. If this occurs, then
open or close the vehicle with the buttons on
the remote control or with a key. To start the
engine after this, insert the remote control in the
ignition lock.

Driving
58
Driving
Ignition lock
Insert the remote control as far as possible into
the ignition lock.
>Radio readiness switches on.
Some electrical devices are ready for oper-
ation.
>The electric steering-wheel lock audibly
disengages.
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 pops out
slightly.
At the same time:
>The ignition is switched off if it was still
switched on.
>The electric steering-wheel lock audibly
engages.
Automatic transmission
The remote control can only be removed when
the selector lever is in position P: interlock.
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 electrical devices are ready for operation.
The time and outside temperature are dis-
played in the instrument cluster.
Radio readiness is automatically switched off:
>the moment 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 doors on page37
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
59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Starting engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms;
otherwise, the inhalation 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.
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, always
engage the handbrake and move the selector-
lever into position P or shift into neutral before
leaving the vehicle with the engine running.<
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 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.Move the selector lever into 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 and then back into position N.
Watch the display in the instrument cluster
while doing so.<
Special starting conditions
Depress the accelerator pedal halfway 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 and 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 at all or is burned inadequately and
there is a danger of overheating and damage to
the catalytic converter.<
Switching engine off
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
60
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.Move selector lever into a drive position.
3.Briefly press Start/Stop button.
If the transmission is in N when the engine is
switched off, you will be given an optical and
acoustic reminder.
Automatic transmission*
1.Move the selector lever into 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 engaged.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Engaging
The lever engages automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upward, 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 engage the hand-
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming
to a stop if traffic conditions permit.
The brake lamps do not light up when the hand-
brake is engaged.<
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5th/6th gear, press the
selector-lever toward the right, otherwise
an inadvertent shift into 3rd or 4th gear could
lead to engine damage.<

Controls
61Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
Press the gearshift lever to the left, overcoming
a slight 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 the SMG using the selector-lever
in the center console and two shift paddles on
the steering wheel.
It offers the following functions:
>Choice of manual or automatic mode:
Sequential mode or Drive mode
>Choice of two drive programs: Normal or
Sport, refer to Dynamic Driving Control
page64
>Automatic downshifting and protection
against incorrect shifting even in sequential
operation
>Acceleration assistant, refer to page64.
Selector-lever positions
The current selector-lever position is displayed
in the center console.
>R: Reverse gear
>N: Neutral, idle>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.
This display is your only way to be sure
the desired selector lever position is actu-
ally engaged.<
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
62 It is also possible to start off in second gear, e. g.
in slippery conditions.
In the following situations, SMG does the think-
ing 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, the system will not execute a
downshift that would cause the engine to
overrev.
>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.
To switch from Sequential to Drive mode:
Briefly press the selector-lever to the right
toward D.
Kick-down: for rapid acceleration, e.g. passing,
press the accelerator pedal as far down as it will
go. You achieve maximum acceleration.
To switch back to 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 applying the throt-
tle, but engage the handbrake instead. Other-
wise, overheating can occur in the region of the
transmission.<
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 shift up, pull one of the shift paddles.
>To shift down, press.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
In addition to the fully automatic mode, you can
also shift manually with Steptronic, refer to
page63.
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
manual mode, the gear currently engaged.
Changing selector-lever positions
>Only move the selector-lever from
position P with the engine running: inter-
lock.
>With the vehicle stopped, press the brake
before shifting out of P or N; otherwise, the
selector lever is blocked: shiftlock.

Driving
64 3.Using the screwdriver from the onboard
toolkit, refer to page197, press the lever at
the point marked in red and move the selec-
tor lever into the desired position.
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.
>Cruise control:
The stored speed is reached more quickly
when requested.
Additionally with SMG:
>Gearshifts are faster.
>The engine speed range is used optimally in
the Drive mode.
With automatic transmission:
>The Sport program is activated.
Activating system
With the ignition switched on, 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 or
>shift into reverse or
>switch off the engine.
The LED in the button and SPORT in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Acceleration assistant with SMG
The acceleration assistant enables optimized
vehicle acceleration at race 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 Driving Control.
2.Deactivate DSC, refer to page87.
3.Press the accelerator pedal down fully:
Kick-down. The ideal starting-off engine
speed is set.
To maintain the vehicle stability, reacti-
vate DSC afterward.<
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals