2007 BMW 550I steering wheel adjustment

At a glance
11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
6Buttons on steering wheel
7Instrument cluster12
10Ignition lock5911Horn, entire surface
14Releasing hood216
15Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate35,34 Mobile phone
*182:
>Press: accepting and ending
call, starting dialing
* for
selected phone number and
redialing if no phone number
is selected
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice
command system
* 22
Changing radio station164
Selecting music track174
Scrolling in phone book and in lists
with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable
*53
Individually programmable53
8
Windshield wipers66
Rain sensor66
Sports Wagon: rear window
wiper67
9Starting/stopping engine and
switching ignition on/off 59
12
Steering wheel heater*53
Steering wheel adjustment53
13
Cruise control
*68
Active cruise control
*69
16
Head-Up Display
*98
BMW Night Vision
*100
17
Parking lamps103
Low beams103
Daytime running lamps
*104
Automatic headlamp control
*103
Daytime running lamps
*104
Adaptive Head Light
*104
18
Instrument lighting105
Fog lamps
*105

Controls
47Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Adjusting lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest
to obtain additional support in the lumbar
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a
relaxed, upright sitting position.
>Increase or decrease curvature: press front
or rear section of switch.
>Shift curvature up or down: press upper or
lowers section of switch.
Adjusting active backrest width*
First set a comfortable backrest width, see
above. Based on the backrest width set, the lat-
eral support is automatically adapted to the cur-
rent driving situation.
The adaptation of the backrest width and the
speed of the adjustment vary depending on the
program. You can select from among three pro-
grams from comfort to sport.
Press button once per program:
>"Comfort" program: one LED
>"Normal" program: two LEDs
>"Sport" program: three LEDs
To switch off: press button longer.
Easy entry/exit*
To facilitate entry and exit, the backrest width
temporarily opens all the way.
Seat, mirror and steering
wheel memory*
You can store and request two different posi-
tions for the driver's seat and passenger seat
*,
exterior rearview mirrors, and steering wheel.
The adjustment of the lumbar support is not
stored in the memory.
Storing
1.Switch on radio readiness or ignition, refer
to page59.
2.Set the desired seat, exterior mirror and
steering wheel positions.
3.Press the button:
The LED in the button lights up.
4.Press the desired memory button1 or2:
The LED goes out.
Requesting
Do not request a position from the mem-
ory while the vehicle is moving. There is a
risk of accident from unexpected movement of
the seat or steering wheel.<
Comfort mode
1.Open the driver's door after unlocking or
switch on radio readiness.
2.Briefly press the desired memory button1
or2.

Adjusting
48 The system cancels the adjustment procedure
when you briefly press one of the seat adjust-
ment switches or one of the memory buttons.
Safety feature
1.Close the driver's door and switch the igni-
tion on or off.
2.Press the desired memory button1 or2
and maintain pressure until the adjustment
process has been completed.
If the button was pressed inadvertently:
press the button again; the LED goes out.
Requesting with remote control
The last positions of the driver's seat, the exte-
rior rearview mirrors, and steering wheel are
stored for the remote control currently in use.
You can choose when the position is requested:
>Request when unlocking vehicle
>Request when opening driver's door
When using this feature, always make
sure that the footwell behind the driver's
seat is empty and unobstructed. Failure to do
so could cause injury to persons or damage to
objects behind the seat as a result of a rearward
movement of the seat.<
The system cancels the adjustment procedure
when you briefly press one of the seat adjust-
ment switches or one of the memory buttons.
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to
page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "Door locks" is selected and
press the controller.6.Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select "Last seat pos." and press the con-
troller.
8.Select "After unlocking" or "After door
opened".
9.Press the controller.
To cancel the request:
Select "Deactivated" and press the controller.
Head restraints
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of spinal injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint so that its center
is approx. at ear level. Otherwise there is
increased danger of injury in the event of an
accident. Only remove the head restraints if no
one will be sitting on the seat in question. Rein-
stall the head restraints before transporting
passengers, as otherwise the head restraint
cannot provide its protective function.<

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
96
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up yellow and
a message is shown on the Control Dis-
play. The active steering is no longer
operational. At low speeds, greater steering
wheel movements are required, whereas at
higher speeds, the vehicle reacts more sensi-
tively to steering wheel movements. The stabil-
ity-promoting intervention can also be deacti-
vated. Proceed cautiously and drive
defensively. Have the system checked.
Brake force display
On the left: normal braking.
On the right: heavy braking.
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Head airbags
3Side airbags in front and rear
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
please observe the adjustment instructions on
page45.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the
head and side airbags help provide protection in
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The
head air bag supports the head.The airbags are deliberately not triggered in
every impact situation, e. g. less severe acci-
dents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way. Do not attempt to
remove the airbag restraint system from the
vehicle. Do not modify or tamper with either the
wiring or the individual components in the air-
bag system. This category includes the uphol-
stery in the center of the steering wheel, on the
instrument panel, the doors and the roof pillars
along with the sides of the headliner. Do not
attempt to remove or dismantle the steering
wheel. Do not touch the individual components
immediately after the system has been trig-
gered, because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW center

Controls
101Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>in dense fog, heavy rain or snowfall
>when displaying very hot objects such as
transformers, car exhausts etc.
>when the image briefly freezes during nor-
mal system adjustment.
BMW Night Vision's potential benefits
can be limited by the driving style of the
driver, the size and relative temperature of the
detected objects, dirt or contamination on the
camera lens, adverse weather like snow, rain or
fog, and other factors not mentioned here. It will
always be the driver's responsibility to drive at a
speed and in a manner that recognizes potential
hazards and adjust accordingly.
BMW Night Vision is not a substitute or replace-
ment for driver responsibility or for accommo-
dating the visibility conditions and the traffic sit-
uation. The forward view illuminated by the
headlamps must always be the basis for making
safe driving decisions, otherwise a safety risk
will result.<
Activating BMW Night Vision
1.Turn the light switch to position2 or3, refer
to page103.
2.With low beams switched on:
>Press the button. Depending on the
vehicle's equipment, the location of the
button may differ somewhat.
>Press one of the programmable buttons
on the steering wheel, refer to page53.
The image will be displayed on the Control Dis-
play after a few seconds. Depending on the last
mode selected, either the normal or full screen
image will be displayed.Due to the system's need to adjust periodically,
a still image is displayed at certain intervals for
fractions of a second. This is normal and not an
indication of a problem.
To prevent driving without headlamps, at a
speed of more than approx. 3 mph/5 km/h and
when dark, the thermal image on the Control
Display is only shown when the low beams are
on.
Deactivating BMW Night Vision
>Press the button.
>Press the button on the steering wheel.
>Press the button.
>Via iDrive, refer to Selecting settings.
Selecting settings
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to
page16.
1.Activate BMW Night Vision.
2.Press the controller to display the menu
items.
3.Select the menu item and press the control-
ler:
>"Night Vision off":
Deactivate BMW Night Vision.

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
161Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
You have the following choices:
>"FM" and "AM": radio reception
>"WB": Weather Band station
>"SAT": satellite radio
>"CD": CD player or CD changer
>"AUX": external audio device
>"Set": depending on the audio source,
other adjustments can be made, e.g. with
the radio: update station with strongest
reception, store station, tone control, sam-
ple stations.
From another menu, you can change
directly to the screen last displayed,
refer to Comfort opening of menu items on
page18.<
From radio readiness, the selected audio
source is stored for the remote control currently
in use.
Switching on/off
To switch the Entertainment sound output on
and off:
Press knob1 next to the CD player.
This symbol on the Control Display indi-
cates that sound output is switched off.
For a single drive, the sound output is available
for approx. 20 minutes with the ignition
switched off.
Switch on the sound output again for this pur-
pose.
Adjusting volume
Turn knob1 next to the CD player until the
desired volume is set.
You can also adjust the volume with buttons on
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
From radio readiness, the setting is stored for
the remote control currently in use.
Tone control
You can alter various tone settings, e. g. treble
and bass, or the speed-dependent volume
increase.
The tone settings are set for all audio sources at
once.
From radio readiness, the settings are stored
for the remote control currently in use.
Changing tone settings
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is
selected and press the controller.
4.Select "Audio" and press the controller.
The tone settings can also be selected when
you have opened "Entertainment" in the start
menu:
Select "Set" and then "Tone", and press the
controller.

Everything from A to Z
248
Everything from A to Z
Index
"..." Identifies Control Display
texts used to select
individual functions, and
indicates where to find them
in the text.
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System87
– indicator/warning lamp90
ACC, refer to Active cruise
control69
Acceleration assistant for
SMG Sequential Manual
Transmission64
Accepted calls188
Accessories6
Accident, refer to Emergency
call231
Acoustic signal, refer to Check
Control80
Activated-charcoal filter for
automatic climate
control111
"Activation time" for parked
car ventilation111
Active cruise control69
– indicator lamp72
– radar sensor72
– selecting distance71
– warning lamps72
Active head restraints,
front49
Active seat51
Active seat ventilation51
Active steering95
– warning lamp96
Adapter for spare key28
Adaptive brake lamps, refer to
Brake force display96
Adaptive Head Light104"Add digits" for mobile
phone189
Additives
– coolant219
– engine oil, refer to Approved
engine oils218
"Address book" for
navigation142
Address for navigation
– deleting144
– entering135,138
– selecting143
– storing142
– storing current position143
"Add to address book"142
"Add to destination
list"138,140
Adjusting active backrest
width47
Adjusting interior
temperature108
Adjusting the tone during
audio operation, refer to
Tone control161
Adjusting thigh support46
Adjustment in audio mode
– front/rear balance162
– right/left balance162
"After door opened"48
"After unlocking"48
Airbags96
– indicator/warning lamp98
– indicator lamp for front
passenger airbags97
– sitting safely45
Air distribution
– automatic108
– manual109
Airing, refer to Ventilation110
Air recirculation
– AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control110
– recirculated-air mode110Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air mode110
"Air recirculation on / off"54
Air supply, automatic climate
control107
Air volume109
AKI, refer to Fuel quality207
Alarm system37
– avoiding unintentional
alarms38
– interior motion sensor38
– switching off alarm38
– switching off tilt alarm
sensor and interior motion
sensor38
– tilt alarm sensor38
"All channels"170
"All doors"30
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires214
"All stations" calling up with
radio164,167
All-wheel drive, refer to
xDrive89
Alterations, technical, refer to
For your own safety5
Altering stretch of road151
Alternate route, refer to
Bypassing traffic
congestion154
"AM", reception
range161,164
Antenna, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Antenna for mobile phone182
Antifreeze
– coolant219
– washer fluid67
Antilock Brake System
ABS87
– indicator/warning lamp90
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system37

Reference 249
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Anti-theft system, refer to
Central locking system30
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights241
Approved engine oils218
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights241
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest, rear118
Around the center console14
Around the steering wheel10
Arrival time
– refer to Computer77
– refer to Starting destination
guidance147
"Arrow display" for
navigation148
Artificial leather, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Ashtray
– front117
– rear117
Assist, refer to
BMW Assist196
Assistance systems, refer to
Driving stability control
systems87
Assistance window20
"Assist. window off"21
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control110
"Audio"161,163,168
Audio160
– controls160
– switching on/off160
– tone control161
– volume161
Audio device, external116
Automatic
– air distribution108
– air volume108
– garage door opener113
– headlamp control103
– service notification198
– steering wheel
adjustment47
– storing stations165
– tailgate operation36Automatic car washes128
– also refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Automatic climate control107
– automatic air
distribution108
– parked car ventilation111
– switching on and off110
– ventilation in rear111
Automatic closing of doors,
refer to Automatic soft
closing33
Automatic curb monitor52
Automatic lighting
– refer to Automatic headlamp
control103
– refer to Daytime running
lamps104
– refer to Interior lamps105
– refer to Pathway lighting103
"Automatic programs"108
Automatic roll-up cover,
Sports Wagon119
Automatic soft closing33
Automatic speed reduction for
descents, refer to HDC Hill
Descent Control89
Automatic station search165
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic64
– deactivating selector lever
interlock65
– interlock64
– kick-down65
– selector lever interlock64
– shiftlock64
– sport program65
– tow-starting234,235
– with comfort access40
"Automatic ventilation"111
AUTO program for automatic
climate control108
"Autostore" on the
radio164,166
"AUX"161
AUX-In
– connection116
– refer to External audio
device179"AUX" with external audio
device179
Average fuel consumption77
– setting units85
Average speed, refer to
Computer76
"Avoid ferries" for
navigation145
"Avoid highways" for
navigation145
Avoiding freeways for
navigation145
Avoiding unintentional
alarms38
"Avoid tollroads" for
navigation145
Axle loads, refer to
Weights241
"A - Z"188,189
B
Backrest contour, refer to
Lumbar support47
Backrests, refer to Seats46
Backrest width adjustment46
Back seats, refer to Rear seats
Backup lamps, replacing
bulbs225
"Balance", refer to Tone
control162
Band-aids, refer to First-aid
kit232
"Bass", refer to Tone
control162
Bass, refer to Tone
control161,162
Battery, refer to Vehicle
battery229
– jump starting232
Battery replacement
– remote control for comfort
access40
BC button, refer to
Computer76
Being towed234
Belts, refer to Safety belts50