2006 BMW 745i ignition

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
62 The indicator lamp on Info Display lights
up green.
>Releasing: the parking brake is ready for
operation.
The indicator lamp on the Info Display
goes out.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can
also shift manually using the buttons on the
steering wheel, refer to page63.
Transmission range selection
P R N D
Displays on Info Display
P R N D S or M1 to M6
The transmission range is indicated, and in the
manual mode, the gear currently engaged.
Selecting transmission range
>Only engage transmission positions D, R,
or N when the engine is running: interlock.
>With the vehicle stationary, depress the
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N;
otherwise, the shift command will not be
executed: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping
after you select a driving position,
maintain pressure on the brake pedal until
you are ready to start off. Activate Auto-
matic Hold to suppress the tendency to
creep, refer to page59. Display.
Selecting D, R or N
Lightly pull selector lever and engage desired
position:
>N Neutral:
Up to resistance point, arrowN.
>D Drive:
Downward past resistance point, arrowD.
>R Reverse:
Upward past resistance point, arrowR.
The selector lever immediately returns to the
center position when released.
Selecting P
Press button P.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
The rear wheels are locked.
Transmission automatically shifts into P
as soon as you switch off the engine
unless N is selected and the remote control is
inserted into the ignition lock, refer to
page58.<

Controls
63Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
You can select this position, for example, in car
washes. The vehicle can roll.
Transmission remains in N even after the
ignition is switched off whenever you
leave the remote control in the ignition lock.
This function is useful in automatic car washes,
etc.
After approx. 30 minutes the system automati-
cally shifts into position P. Observe the mes-
sages on the Info Display.
Switching off engine, refer to page58.<
D Drive, automatic position
This is the mode recommended for normal
vehicle operation. All forward gears are avail-
able.
Under normal operating conditions, the fuel
consumption is lowest when driving in posi-
tion D.
Kick-down
The kick-down mode provides maximum accel-
eration.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Sport program and manual operation
Press button1 on the steering wheel.
The sport program is activated and S appears
on the Info Display. This program is recom-
mended for a performance-oriented driving
style.
Press button1 again to switch into the manual
mode and then into the Automatic program
again.
In the manual mode, the Steptronic changes
gears when one of the buttons2 on the front or
back of the steering wheel is briefly pressed.
The Info Display shows the manual ranges M1
through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combination
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example,
the system will not execute a downshift that
would cause the engine to overrev. The
requested gear appears briefly on the Info Dis-
play, followed by the current gear.
Press button1 again to switch into the Auto-
matic program again.

Driving
66
Activating rain sensor
Briefly press the button, arrow, the wipers move
once across the windshield. The LED lights up.
Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level
Turn the knurled wheel 5.
Deactivating rain sensor
Briefly press the button again, arrow. The LED
goes out.
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through an automatic car wash. Failure to
do so could result in damage caused by undes-
ired wiper activation.<
Cleaning windshield, headlamps and
BMW Night Vision camera*
The system sprays washer fluid against the
windshield and activates the wipers for a brief
period.
With the vehicle lighting switched on, the head-
lamps and the BMW Night Vision camera are
also cleaned simultaneously at suitable inter-
vals.
Do not use the washers if there is any
danger that the fluid will freeze on the
windshield. If you do so, your vision could be
obscured. To avoid freezing, use a washer fluid
antifreeze, refer to Washer fluid.
Avoid using the washer when the reservoir is
empty. Otherwise, you could damage the
pump.<
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles and the wind-
shield itself in the area around the wipers are
heated automatically when the ignition is
switched on.
Pivoting wipers into folded-out
position
This position is important for changing wiper
blades or when folding wiper arms away from
windshield to prevent blades from sticking in
the event of frost.
1.Switch off the engine and remove the
remote control from the ignition lock.
2.Press the wiper lever upward past the resis-
tance point and maintain pressure for about
3 seconds until the wipers stop in a roughly
vertical position: pivot into the folded-out
position.
After folding the wipers back against the wind-
shield you will need to reactivate the wiper sys-
tem:
1.Switch on radio ready state.
2.Briefly press wiper lever downward. The
wipers return to their retracted position and
are ready for normal operation.
To prevent damage to the wipers, always
fold them back against the windshield
before switching on either the radio ready state
or the ignition.<
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable.
Always keep it well away from sparks and
open flames, and store it in tightly closed con-
tainers well out of the reach of children. Always
follow the instructions for use provided on the
containers.<
In order to maintain the mixture ratio, mix
the washer fluid before filling.<

Driving
68
Maintaining speed, storing, and
decelerating
Pull the lever, arrow2:
Functions in the same way as1, except that the
vehicle speed is decreased.
Interrupting the cruise control
Briefly press the lever up or down, arrow3.
In addition, cruise control is interrupted auto-
matically:
>when you apply pressure to the brake pedal
>when you shift the automatic transmission
into position N
>when the DSC control is operative
Resuming stored speed
Briefly press the button4:
The vehicle accelerates back to and maintains
the stored speed.
Displays in speedometer
5Pointer for stored speed
> Cruise control activated
> Cruise control deactivated
6Mark for stored desired speed in the multi-
level function
Storing desired speeds
With vehicle stationary
1.Switch on the ignition.
2.Press, arrow1, or pull, arrow2, the lever
past the resistance point:
Now you can move the pointer5 with the lever until you have reached your desired
speed:
>Press or pull the lever up to the resis-
tance point again: the pointer slowly
moves.
>Press or pull the lever past the resis-
tance point again: the pointer jumps to
the next multiple of 5 mph or 10 km/h
and then further, as long as the lever is
held.
3.Press the button4 for approx. 3 seconds.
The stored desired speed is indicated by a
mark 6.
If six desired speeds have already been stored,
please delete at least one of them before adding
another.
While driving
1.Press, arrow1, or pull, arrow2, the lever
past the resistance point.
2.Press the button4 for approx. 3 seconds.
The current speed is applied as the desired
speed and displayed with6.
If all of the marks 6 flash twice, this indicates
that six desired speeds have already been
stored. You must then delete at least one of
them before adding another.
Deleting desired speeds
1.Select corresponding desired speed6,
refer to section below.
2.Press button4 for approx. 3 seconds.
Activating multilevel preset mode
Press, arrow1, or pull, arrow2, the lever past
the resistance point.
The current driving speed is maintained, stored
and displayed by the pointer5.
Selecting desired speed
Press, arrow1, or pull, arrow2, the lever past
the resistance point:
The next desired speed is selected.

Controls
69Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Deactivating system
>Press the lever up or down, arrow3 for
approx. 3 seconds
>or switch off the ignition.
The stored speed5 is deleted, however the
stored marks6 are retained.
Active cruise control*
The concept
With active cruise control you can select a
desired speed which is not only automatically
maintained when driving on open roadways, but
also varied to maintain a selected distance set-
ting as slower traffic is encountered.
Active cruise control represents a technological
advance over the familiar cruise control and is a
welcome relief from the constant adjustment of
speed that can accompany driving in traffic on
highways or other high-speed thoroughfares.
Especially on longer trips, the system can
reduce fatigue and tension, while increasing
your enjoyment of driving. Please use it safely
and responsibly.
In addition to holding a steady cruising speed,
if you encounter slower vehicles ahead, active
cruise control will, within the scope of given
possibilities, adjust your vehicle's speed auto-
matically so that you can flow with the traffic
without having to make constant adjustments.
If, for example, while cruising at the selected
speed, you begin to approach a slower vehicle
ahead of you in the same lane, the system will
reduce your vehicle's speed to the same as that
of the vehicle ahead to maintain your selected
distance setting between your vehicle and the
vehicle ahead. You can vary the distance, which
is additionally speed-dependent. Based on
your selected distance setting, the system
automatically decreases the throttle setting and
lightly applies the brakes if necessary. The vehi-
cle brake lamps will automatically illuminate to
signal a following driver to take action. In addi-
tion, it may be necessary for the vehicle to
downshift to maintain the distance setting
selected. If the vehicle ahead speeds up or when the lane ahead becomes clear, your vehi-
cle will accelerate to the speed you have
selected by increasing the throttle setting and
shifting gears as needed. Your selected speed
will be maintained when driving downhill, too.
Active cruise control is not and must not
be used as a collision avoidance/warning
system.<
Since this active cruise control system is
a new technology and operates differ-
ently from conventional cruise control systems
to which you may be accustomed, you are
strongly urged to read all of the pages relating
to this system before use. Pay special attention
to the information contained in the Things to
know about active cruise control section begin-
ning on page73.<
Brake pedal feel
>When the system brakes and you also
depress the brake pedal, a somewhat differ-
ent braking feeling results.
>Any noises produced during automatic
braking are normal.
Applications
As with conventional cruise control systems,
active cruise control in no way diminishes or
substitutes for the driver's own personal
responsibility, alertness and awareness in
adjusting speed, braking or otherwise control-
ling the vehicle. The driver should decide when
to use the system on the basis of road, traffic,
visibility, and weather conditions. Active cruise
control is intended for use on highway-type
roadways where traffic is moving relatively
smoothly. Do not use this system in city driving;
heavy traffic such as during rush hour; on curvy,
winding roads, slippery roads or roads with
sharp curves such as highway off-ramps; during
inclement weather such as snow, strong rain or
fog; or when entering interchanges, service/
parking areas or toll booths. It is also important
to regulate your vehicle's speed and distance
setting within applicable legal limits. Always be
ready to take action or apply the brakes if nec-
essary, especially when the system is actively

Driving
72
Resuming stored desired speed and
distance
Press button4:
The displays appear in the speedometer.
When you switch off the ignition, the stored
desired speed is deleted.
Info Display screen contents
1Stored desired speed display
2Lights up: vehicle detected ahead
3Selected distance to vehicle driving ahead
4The selected desired speed is displayed for
a short time, refer to page70
If the display ACC --- mph/ACC --- km/h
appears briefly in the speedometer, then
conditions required for operation may not cur-
rently be fulfilled. Retrieving Check Control
messages, refer to page81.<
Warning lamps
The display flashes and a chime
sounds.
The system asks you to intervene
by braking or with an evasive
maneuver. The active cruise control cannot
automatically restore the distance to the vehicle
driving ahead.
The display does not relieve you of the respon-
sibility for adapting desired speed and driving
style to traffic conditions.
Automatic intervention by ABS or
DSC. The active cruise control
intervenes by braking until you
actively intervene.
Radar sensor
Heavy rain and also dirt, snow, or ice can limit
the detection of vehicles ahead. If needed,
clean the radar sensor under the front bumper.
When doing so, be particularly careful in remov-
ing layers of snow and ice.
If the sensor is not aligned properly, the active
cruise control cannot be activated.