2006 BMW 745i Starting

Controls
57Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Driving
Ignition lock
Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock. Radio ready state is switched on.
Individual electrical devices are ready for use.
Start/Stop button
Briefly pressing the Start/Stop button several
times switches the radio ready state or the igni-
tion on and off.
Briefly pressing the Start/Stop button
with the brake pedal depressed starts the
engine.<
Radio ready state
Individual electrical devices are ready for use.
The time and outside temperature appear on
the Info Display.
Ignition switched on
All vehicle systems are ready for operation.
When the engine is not running, please
switch off the ignition and nonessential current-consuming devices in order to mini-
mize the drain on the battery.<
Ignition off
All of the indicator lamps on the Info Display go
out. Only the selector lever indicator of the
automatic transmission is still briefly displayed.
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.
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, always
select position P on the selector lever and
engage the parking brake before leaving the
vehicle with the engine running. Note the infor-
mation provided on the Info Display.<
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Briefly press the Start/Stop button.
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.

Driving
58
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the gas pedal
halfway down when starting:
>The engine fails to start on the first attempt,
for instance if it is very hot or cold.
>The engine is being started at extremely low
temperatures below + 57/– 156, or at
high altitudes above 3,281 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starts in rapid succession
or repeated starting attempts in which the
engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is
either left unspent or is insufficiently burned
and there is a risk of overheating and damaging
the catalytic converter.<
Switching off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
remote control with you.<
With the vehicle stationary, briefly press the
Start/Stop button. Radio ready state is switched
on.
The transmission automatically shifts to
position P: interlock.
Before driving into a car wash
The transmission remains in position N and the
vehicle can roll when you perform the following
sequence:
1.With Comfort Access: insert remote control
into ignition lock.
2.With the engine running, shift transmission
into position N.
3.Switch engine off.
4.Leave the remote control in the ignition
lock.
The transmission will shift into position P:
>automatically after approx. 30 minutes
>if you remove the remote control from the
ignition lock
Observe the messages on the Info Display.
Removing remote control from ignition
lock
Press in the remote control briefly; it pops part-
way out. This procedure will also switch off the
ignition if it is on.
Comfort function
To switch off the engine when the vehicle is sta-
tionary, press the Start/Stop button for longer
than approx. 2 seconds. The remote control
pops partway out.
Parking brake
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with an electromechan-
ical parking brake.
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked.
You can use the parking brake in two ways:
>Manually, by briefly pressing the button
>Automatically, by activating the Automatic
Hold mode, refer to page59.
An electrohydraulic mechanism then engages
the parking brake to prevent the rear wheels
from turning whenever you switch off the
engine.
When the engine is running, parking brake
engagement is controlled by the brake sys-
tem's hydraulic circuits, which act on the disc
brakes in the front and rear wheels.
Brake pedal feel
The hydraulic brake system can produce a
slightly different braking feel. Engagement may
also be accompanied by activation noise – this
is normal.

Controls
59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Manual engagement
Briefly press the button, the word PARK
appears on the Info Display.
When the parking brake is engaged, the indica-
tor lamp on the Info Display lights up red,
refer to page12.
The remote control does not have to be
inserted into the ignition lock for the parking
brake to be set.
It is only possible to disengage the parking
brake with the ignition on.
If exceptional circumstances should make it
necessary to engage the parking brake while
the vehicle is in motion, maintain pressure on
the button.
The indicator lamp on the Info Display lights up
in red and a chime sounds, the brake lamps light
up.
The vehicle continues to brake forcefully for as
long as you maintain pressure on the button.
When you brake the vehicle almost to a stop,
i.e., down to a speed of approximately 2 mph/
3 km/h or below, the parking brake remains
engaged.
Manual release
Briefly press the button with the ignition
switched on.
The indicator lamp on the Info Display goes
out.
As long as the remote control is inserted
into the ignition lock, you can also release
the parking brake after the engine has been
switched off. This function is useful, for exam-
ple, in automatic car washes, refer to 124<
When leaving the vehicle, always bring
the remote control with you; this precau-tion prevents children from disengaging the
parking brake, etc.<
Automatic Hold
You can activate the system after starting the
engine; it then remains operational until the
next time the engine is switched off.
This feature provides additional assistance dur-
ing vehicle operation by automatically engaging
and releasing the parking brake during stops at
traffic lights, in stop-and-go traffic, etc. The
vehicle is automatically held in place so as to
suppress the tendency to creep when the
transmission is in drive.
It also prevents the vehicle from rolling back-
ward during uphill starts.
The parking brake engages automatically when
you stop the vehicle and switch off the engine.
You can activate or deactivate Automatic Hold
via the "Settings" menu in iDrive.
Activation/deactivation
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the button to open the start
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Settings".
3.Select "Vehicle" and press the controller.
4.Select "AUTO P". Press the controller to
activate/deactivate the desired function.
>Automatic Hold is activated.
The green AUTO P status message on the
Info Display indicates that the system is
ready for operation.
>Automatic Hold is deactivated.
The green AUTO P status message disap-
pears from the Info Display.

Driving
60 You can program the programmable but-
ton on the steering wheel with the Auto-
matic Hold function, refer to page52. This gives
you the option of being able to quickly activate
or deactivate Automatic Hold without distract-
ing your attention from the road.<
Driving
The parking brake engages automatically when
the vehicle comes to a stop.
The indicator lamp on Info Display lights up
green.
To start off again, simply press the accelerator
pedal. The parking brake is released automati-
cally; the indicator lamp goes out.
Do not drive through an automatic car
wash with the Automatic Hold on and the
engine running. Otherwise, the system will
engage the parking brake the moment the vehi-
cle comes to a stop.<
Parking
The parking brake engages automatically when
you stop the vehicle and switch off the engine.
The indicator lamp changes from green to
red.
You can also release the parking brake
manually after the engine is switched off,
as long as the remote control is in the ignition
lock, refer to page59. You can use this function,
for example, in a car wash.
Automatic Hold is deactivated.<
When leaving the vehicle, release the
remote control from the detent in the igni-
tion lock; this precaution prevents children from
disengaging the parking brake etc.<
For your safety
Automatic Hold is automatically deactivated
when:
>the engine is switched off
>the system detects that the driver's seat is
not occupied while the engine is running
>the hood is opened while the engine is run-
ning>the luggage compartment is opened with
the transmission in position R while the
engine is running
>and when the parking brake is used to brake
the vehicle to a stop during driving
The indicator lamp changes from green to
red, and the indication AUTO P on the Info Dis-
play disappears.
Before starting off again, briefly press the but-
ton to disengage the parking brake manually,
refer to page59, or reactivate Automatic Hold,
refer to page59.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine
running, always move the automatic
transmission's selector lever to position P and
ensure that the parking brake is engaged. The
vehicle could start to roll if you fail to observe
these precautions.<
Automatic Hold is automatically deacti-
vated whenever the system detects any
tendency for the wheels to spin in response to
slippery road surfaces.
Observe the messages on the Info Display. For
additional information, refer to Check Control
on page80.<
Releasing parking brake manually
In the event of an electrical power loss or elec-
trical malfunction, you can release the parking
brake manually.
Before manually releasing the parking
brake and each time you park the vehicle
without engaging the parking brake, make sure
that the automatic transmission is in position P,
refer to page62. Be sure to pay attention to the
information on the Info Display.
If circumstances should force you to park on a
steeply inclined road surface, it is essential to
take additional precautions against inadvertent
rolling, e.g. by using the chock, refer to
page209. Otherwise, there is the danger of the
vehicle rolling, depending on the incline.<
If it becomes necessary to also unlock the
transmission lock of the automatic transmis-
sion, follow this sequence:

Controls
61Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1.If necessary, start by releasing the parking
brake manually.
2.Then release the automatic transmission's
transmission lock manually, refer to
page64.
Jump starting and tow starting, refer to
pages213 and214.
What you will need
1Screwdriver handle
2Unlocking tool
310 mm open-end wrench
You will find the required tools in the onboard
tool kit mounted on the inside of the luggage
compartment lid, refer to page207.
Insert the release tool into the screwdriver han-
dle as shown in the illustration.
Releasing
1.Remove the floor mat and the cover above
the spare tire.
2.With the attached screwdriver handle,
insert the release tool into the opening,
arrow1.
3.Fit the open-end wrench onto the hexago-
nal section of the release tool.
Insert the release tool counter to the spring force until the stop is reached, press and
rotate in the arrow direction2 until it notice-
ably engages and meets a perceptible
resistance.
4.Without releasing, continue to turn counter
to the mechanical resistance of the drive
unit in the arrow direction 2 until you can
feel a significant increase in the force of the
resistance.
To prevent possible damage to the
rear brakes, always make sure that
the parking brake is completely released
before driving the vehicle.<
5.Return the tools to their places.
6.Return the spare tire cover and the floor mat
to their original locations.
Have a malfunction corrected only by a
BMW center or a repair shop that works in
accordance with BMW guidelines and uses
appropriately trained personnel. Only techni-
cians can return the parking brake to normal
operational status after it has been released
manually in response to a malfunction.<
Following manual release, the actual sta-
tus of the parking brake may deviate from
that displayed by the indicator lamp.<
Operation after interruptions in power
supply
The parking brake can only be used again
if it was manually released due to an inter-
ruption in the supply of electrical power. Other-
wise, the function of the parking brake is not
guaranteed and there is a danger of the vehicle
rolling despite the parking brake being
engaged.<
Once the electrical power supply has been
restored, you can again use the parking brake:
With the ignition on and the vehicle
stationary, briefly press the button
three times at intervals of approx.
5 seconds. This executes the fol-
lowing initialization sequence:
>Initializing the disengaged setting.
>Engaging: the system registers the new
status and the brake setting is initialized.

Driving
64
Manually releasing transmission lock
In case of a power failure, e.g. when the
battery is drained or disconnected, or in
the event of an electrical malfunction, the trans-
mission lock must be manually released; other-
wise, the drive wheels are locked and the vehi-
cle cannot be towed.<
When manually releasing the transmis-
sion lock, depress the brake pedal; other-
wise, there is a danger of the vehicle rolling
when the transmission lock is manually
released.<
The transmission lock should only be released
for towing. Reengage the transmission lock
after parking the vehicle at its destination.
If it also becomes necessary to manually
release the parking brake, follow this sequence:
1.Start by manually releasing the parking
brake, refer to page60
2.Then proceed to manually release the
transmission lock.
Jump starting and tow starting, refer to
pages213 and214.
Releasing
1.Use the vehicle key to release the cover
panel beneath the instrument panel by turn-
ing the lock counterclockwise, then fold
down the cover.2.Pull out the release lever with the loop1
until it locks into place: the transmission
lock is unlocked.
Reengage the transmission lock after
parking the vehicle at its destination. Oth-
erwise, there is a danger of the vehicle rolling.<
Engaging locks
1.Disengage the release lever by pressing it
together with the red detent lever, refer to
arrow.
2.Guide the release lever all the way back into
its original position – the transmission lock
is engaged once more.
3.Fold up and lock the cover panel again. Now
– and not before – the key may be removed.
Once the transmission lock has been
engaged, the message in the Info Display
should disappear, and the symbol on the Info
Display should change from N to P. Otherwise,
there is a danger of the vehicle rolling.<
Jump starting and tow starting, refer to
pages213 and214.

Controls
71Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Selecting distance
>Knurled wheel up:
To increase distance
>Knurled wheel down:
To decrease distance
The selected distance is displayed in the
speedometer.
Distance 1
Distance 2
Distance 3
This distance is always set when
the system is used for the first time
after starting the engine.
Distance 4
Use good judgment to select the appro-
priate following distance given road con-
ditions, traffic, applicable laws and driving rec-
ommendations for safe following distance.
Otherwise, a violation of the law or the danger of
an accident could result.<
Deactivating cruise control
Press the lever up or down. The displays in the
speedometer go out.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
>when the speed is reduced to below 20 mph
or 30 km/h due to a traffic situation
>when DTC is activated or DSC is deacti-
vated
>when the system does not recognize any
objects for an extended period of time, e.g.
on infrequently traveled roads without a
shoulder or guard rails, or if the radar sensor
is covered with dirt, refer to page72
>when you actuate the parking brake during
driving
>when you shift the transmission into the
Nposition
If the system is deactivated, then it is nec-
essary for the driver to actively intervene
by braking and possibly swerving. Otherwise,
there is the danger of an accident.<
Background lighting
You can switch off the backlighting of the
speedometer and tachometer when the system
is deactivated if no other functions are being
displayed, e.g. the pre-warning field in the
tachometer, refer to page75, or the route guid-
ance of the navigation system.
To do so, press the lever up or down for approx.
1second.

Controls
83Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Limit on Info Display
If, for instance, the warning sector in the
tachometer is visible, refer to page75, the
speed limit will be indicated by a warning sector
in the speedometer, refer to arrow.
Stopwatch
Starting and stopping
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the button to open the start
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Car Data".
3.Select and press the controller.
4.Select and press the controller. The stop-
watch is reset to 0 and starts.
5.Select and press the controller.
This stops the timer.
Press the controller again to reset the stop-
watch to zero.
All of the remaining functions remain
available at all times while the stopwatch
is running. The stopwatch continues to run in
the background.<
Taking an intermediate time reading
Select "INTERM. TIME" and press the control-
ler. This intermediate time appears below the
ongoing primary stopwatch count.
Assistance window for
onboard data
You can select any of the following computer
functions for display in the assistance window:
>Computer
>Trip computer
>Speed limit
>Stopwatch
Applying display
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the button to open the start
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Car Data".
3.Select "BC" and press the controller.
4.Select " Split" and press the controller.
The function appears in the assistance win-
dow.
You can also choose to view brief help texts
explaining selected menu items, refer to
page20, or the travel route with a navigation
system, refer to page130.