2008 BMW 528I Page 81

Controls
67Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Activating system
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
>Engage reverse gear
>Switch off engine
The LED in the button and SPORT in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To turn off manually, press the lever to the
resistance point.
Atypically rapid flashing of the indicator
lamp indicates that a turn signal bulb
needs to be replaced.<
Signaling briefly
Press lever to resistance point and hold for as
long as you wish to signal.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever to the resistance point; the turn
signal flashes three times.
You can activate or deactivate this function.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens 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 "Lighting" is selected and
press the controller.
6.Select "Triple turn signal" and press the
controller.
Triple turn signaling is activated.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.

Controls
71Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
In addition to holding a steady cruising speed, if
you encounter slower vehicles ahead, active
cruise control will, within limits, adjust your
vehicle's speed automatically so that you can
flow with the traffic without having to make con-
stant adjustments. If, for example, while cruis-
ing 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. You
can vary the following distance, which will vary
with speed. Based on your selected distance
setting, the system automatically decreases the
throttle setting and lightly applies the brakes if
necessary. In addition, if the vehicle ahead of
you slows to a complete stop, the system can
follow this action within the given scope and
can also accelerate from a complete stop if the
vehicle ahead of you drives off again shortly
thereafter. During braking, your vehicle brake
lamps will automatically illuminate to alert a fol-
lowing driver to take action. In addition, it may
be necessary for your vehicle to downshift the
automatic transmission to maintain the dis-
tance setting selected. As soon as the road in
front of you has no moving vehicles, the system
will accelerate to your desired speed. This set
speed is also maintained on downhill grades,
however the vehicle speed can drop below the
set speed when driving uphill if the engine out-
put is not sufficient.
Active cruise control cannot detect stop
signs, red lights, or any object that is
stopped or is blocking the road.
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 differently from con-
ventional cruise control systems which you may
be accustomed to, it is necessary that you read
all of the pages relating to this system before
use. Carefully read and observe the information
on the system limitations beginning on page75
to obtain a good command of the system and its
range of applications. When the system brakes and you also depress
the brake pedal, a somewhat different braking
feel results.
Professional* navigation system
If a navigation DVD is in the drive, refer to
page142, within limits the system adjusts the
accelerating and braking behavior of the vehicle
to the road you are driving on.
To ensure that the system is informed of
the current course of the road, always use
the latest navigation DVD if possible.<
When the vehicle position is unknown, e. g.
when you leave the map area, this influence of
the navigation system is not available.
Applications
Please try the system first during sparse traffic
and clear road conditions so that you can get
used to the system. After you have experience
and understand the system, only then use it
during normal traffic.
As with conventional cruise control systems,
active cruise control in no way reduces or sub-
stitutes for the driver's own personal experi-
ence, 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 as well as in slow-moving traffic. Do
not use the system in city driving; in complex
driving situations; heavy traffic such as during
rush hour; on curvy, winding roads, slippery
roads or roads with sharp curves such as high-
way 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 necessary, espe-
cially when the system is actively following a
vehicle in front of you. Otherwise, driving condi-

Driving
72 tions can result which lead to a violation of the
law or elevated risk of an accident.
The minimum initial activation speed is 20 mph/
30 km/h, and the maximum speed is 110 mph/
180 km/h. However, you can also activate the
system while stopped, refer to While stopped,
page73.
One lever for all functions
1Storing and increasing desired speed
2Storing and reducing desired speed
3Interrupting, refer to page73,
or deactivating system, refer to page74
4Activating stored desired speed and dis-
tance, refer to page73, or driving off, refer
to While stopped, page73
5Selecting distance to vehicle driving ahead,
refer to page72.
Storing current speed
Tap the lever, arrow1, or briefly pull it, arrow2.
The system stores the current vehicle speed. It
is indicated on the speedometer and briefly in
the instrument cluster.
Increasing desired speed
Press or tap the lever to the resistance point or
beyond, arrow1, until the desired speed is dis-
played.
The speed then displayed is stored and
achieved on a clear road.
>Each time the lever is tapped to the resis-
tance point, the desired speed is increased
by approx. 1 mph/1 km/h.
>Each time the lever is tapped beyond the
resistance point, the desired speed
increases to the next fives place of the mph
speedometer display or the next tens place
of the km/h speedometer display.
Reducing desired speed
Pull the lever, arrow2, until the desired speed is
displayed.
These functions are operated in the same man-
ner as increasing your desired speed.
Selecting distance
>Briefly press rocker switch downward:
Increase distance.
>Briefly press rocker switch upward:
Reduce distance.

Controls
73Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The selected distance is displayed in the instru-
ment cluster.
Use good judgment to select the appro-
priate following distance, given road con-
ditions, traffic, applicable laws and State driving
recommendations for safe following distance.
Otherwise, a violation of the law or risk of an
accident could result.<
Interrupting cruise control
Press the lever upward or downward, and with
the vehicle stopped also depress the brake
pedal. The marking in the speedometer
changes color and the distance indicator goes
out.
In addition, the system is automatically inter-
rupted:
>when you apply the vehicle brakes
>when you shift the transmission>when DTC is activated or DSC is deacti-
vated
>when DSC comes on
>when you apply the handbrake
>when you release the safety belt and open
the driver's door with the vehicle stopped
>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 page74
If the system is interrupted, then it is nec-
essary for the driver to actively intervene
by braking and steering. Otherwise, there is a
risk of an accident.<
Resuming stored desired speed and
distance
While driving
Press button4.
The displays appear in the instrument cluster.
While stopped
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine
running, engage position P of the auto-
matic transmission and apply the handbrake.
Otherwise the vehicle can roll.<
If a detected vehicle in front of you brakes to a
complete stop and your vehicle has also been
braked to a complete stop by the system:
>If the vehicle in front of you drives off while
the marking1 for the desired speed in the
speedometer is green, your vehicle will
accelerate without you having to do any-
thing.
>If the vehicle in front of you drives off while
the marking1 is orange, you briefly depress
the accelerator pedal or press button4.
Rolling bars in the distance indicator3
mean that the vehicle in front of you has
driven off.
If you are stopped behind a vehicle with the
brake pedal depressed and the system is inter-
rupted or deactivated: Distance 1, closest
Distance 2
Distance 3
Distance 4, furthest
This distance is always set when
you activate the system.

Everything under control
78
Everything under control
Odometer, outside
temperature display, clock
1Time, outside temperature and date
2Odometer and trip odometer
3Press button:
>with ignition switched on, trip odometer
is reset
>with ignition switched off, time, outside
temperature, and odometer are briefly
displayed.
From radio readiness the outside temperature
and the time are displayed.
Date retrieval:
Press CHECK button on turn signal lever, refer
to page84.
Time and date setting, refer to page86.
You can set the unit of measure 7 or 6 on the
Control Display, refer to Units of measure on
page88.
Outside temperature warning
If the display drops to +377/+36, a signal
sounds and a warning lamp lights up. A mes-
sage appears on the Control Display. There is
an increased danger of ice.
Even at temperatures above +377/
+36 ice can form. Therefore, drive care-
fully, e.g. on bridges and sections of road in the
shade, otherwise there is an increased accident
risk.<
Tachometer
Avoid engine speeds in the white-striped
advance warning field, arrow1, if possible.
Be sure to avoid engine speeds in the red warn-
ing field, arrow2. At high revs in this range, the
flow of fuel is interrupted to protect the engine.
Coolant temperature
Should the coolant, and with it the engine
become too hot, a warning lamp lights up. In
addition, a message appears on the Control
Display.
Checking coolant level, refer to page233.

Controls
79Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Energy Control
Displays the current fuel consumption. This
allows you to see whether your current driving
style is conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 18.5 US gal/
70 liters, including the reserve capacity of
approx. 2.1 US gal/8 liters.
550i: approx. 2.6 US gal/10 liters reserve
capacity.
You will find information on refueling on
page218.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period,
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
After the reserve quantity has been reached, a
message briefly appears on the Control Display;
the remaining range is shown in the computer.
Below a range of approx. 30 miles/50 km, the
message remains on the Control Display.Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur.<
Computer
Displays in instrument cluster
Press the button on the turn signal lever.
The following information is displayed in the
specified order:
>Cruising range
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
>No information
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cruising range available
with the remaining fuel. The range is projected
based on the driving style over the last 20 miles/
30 km.
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur.<
Average speed
Periods with the vehicle parked and the engine
switched off are not included in the calculations
of average speed.
To reset average speed: press BC button on
turn signal lever for approx. 2 seconds.

Everything under control
80
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for
the time during which the engine is running.
To reset average fuel consumption: press BC
button on turn signal lever for approx. 2 sec-
onds.
For different routes
You can display the average speed and average
consumption for two different routes on the
Control Display, refer to the following and to
Trip computer
*.
Displays on Control Display
You can also call up the computer via iDrive.
For operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the right to open
"Navigation".
Without navigation system
*:
Open "Car Data".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4.Select "Onboard info" and press the con-
troller.>Estimated time of arrival at destination and
remaining distance:
>Entering a distance manually in the com-
puter, see below.
>Entering a destination in the navigation
system
*, refer to page142.
>Cruising range
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
Resetting values
You can reset the values for the average speed
and average fuel consumption:
1.Select the respective menu item and press
the controller.
2.To confirm your selection, press the con-
troller again.
Entering a distance manually
1.Select "Distance to dest." and press the
controller.
2.Turn the controller to select the distance to
your destination. If needed, hold it against a
slight resistance to enter a larger differ-
ence.
3.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The distance is automatically preset during the
destination guidance of the navigation sys-
tem
*.
Trip computer*
The trip computer is suitable, for example, for a
vacation trip.

Controls
81Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1.Open the start menu.
2.Open "Navigation".
Without navigation system
*:
Open "Car Data".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4.Select "Trip computer" and press the con-
troller.
>Departure time
>Driving time
>Distance traveled
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
Starting or stopping the trip computer, or reset-
ting all values:
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
2.Select the desired menu item.
3.Press the controller.
Display options
You can display the computer or the trip com-
puter in the assistance window.
1.Move the controller to the right to change to
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select "Onboard info" or "Trip computer".3.Press the controller.
Service requirements
The remaining driving distance and the date for
the next maintenance are displayed briefly with
the ignition switched on.
Your BMW Service Advisor can deter-
mine your vehicle's current service
requirements by reading out the data stored in
the remote control.<
Additional information
You can select a display of more detailed infor-
mation on the maintenance scope on the Con-
trol Display. For operating principle refer to
page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Info sources" and press the control-
ler.
4.Select "Service Info" and press the control-
ler.