
Cockpit
10
Cockpit
Around the steering wheel: controls and displays
1Rear window safety switch41
2Sedan: sun blind
* for rear window121
3Opening and closing windows40
4Adjusting exterior mirrors53
Automatic curb monitor
*53
5Folding exterior mirrors in and out
*53
6
Turn signals67
High beams, 
headlamp flasher109
High-beam assistant
*109
Roadside parking lamps109
Check Control83
Computer79 

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Displays for
>Active cruise control
*74
>Leaving lane warning
*105
5Tachometer78
6Energy Control79
7Display for
>Clock/date78
>Outside temperature78
>Indicator and warning lamps83
>Speed of cruise control
*70
>Desired speed for active cruise 
control
*748Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer78
>Computer79
>Date and remaining travel distance 
for service requirements81
>Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic
*63
>Sport automatic transmission
*66
>HDC Hill Descent Control
*92
>High-beam assistant
*109
> Check Control message present83
9Fuel gauge79
10Resetting trip odometer78 

Controls
 29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Personal Profile ensures that most of these set-
tings are stored for the remote control currently 
in use without you having to do anything. When 
the vehicle is unlocked, the corresponding 
remote control is detected and the settings 
stored for it are called up and carried out.
This means that you will always find your BMW 
set to your own personal settings even if 
another person with his/her own remote control 
and settings has used the vehicle since the last 
time you drove it. The individual settings are 
stored for a maximum of four remote controls, 
for two with comfort access
*.
Personal Profile settings
Details on the settings are provided on the 
specified pages.
>Behavior of the central locking system 
when unlocking vehicle, refer to page30
>Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to 
page32
>Programming buttons
* on steering wheel, 
refer to page54
>Displays on Control Display:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page87
>Measuring units for consumption, route/
distances, temperature, and pressure, 
refer to page88
>12h/24h clock format, refer to page87
>Date format, refer to page87
>Language on Control Display, refer to 
page88
>Lighting settings:
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page67
>Welcome lamps, refer to page107
>Pathway lighting, refer to page108
>Daytime running lamps
*, refer to 
page108
>High-beam assistant
*, refer to page109>PDC Park Distance Control
*: optical warn-
ing, refer to page89
>Head-Up Display
*: selection and bright-
ness of display, refer to page101
>BMW Night Vision
*: display settings, refer 
to page104
>Automatic climate control: AUTO program 
and intensity, cooling function, and auto-
matic recirculated air control/recirculated 
air mode, temperature, air distribution, tem-
perature in the upper body region, refer to 
text starting on page114
>Navigation system
*: voice instructions for 
destination guidance, refer to page159
In addition, the following, most recently 
selected settings are recalled during unlocking:
>Programmable memory buttons: selecting 
stored functions, refer to page21
>Positions of driver's seat, outside mirrors, 
and steering wheel
*, refer to page47
>Audio sources: volume and tone settings, 
refer to page169
>Radio:
>Display of stored stations, refer to 
page172
>Switching RDS Radio Data System 
on/off
*, refer to page175
>Phone: volume setting, refer to 
pages200,206
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system functions when the 
driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid or tailgate and 
rear window
>Fuel filler door 

Controls
 31Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Locking
Press the   button.
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
persons are inside, as unlocking from the 
inside is not possible without special knowl-
edge.<
Switching on interior lamps
With vehicle locked:
Press the   button.
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Panic mode*
You can trigger the alarm system in case of dan-
ger:
Press the   button for at least 3 seconds.
Switching off alarm: press any button.
Sedan: opening luggage 
compartment lid
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The luggage compartment lid opens, regard-
less of whether it was previously locked or 
unlocked.
During opening, the luggage compart-
ment lid pivots back and up. Make sure 
that adequate clearance is available before 
opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo bay. A 
previously locked luggage compartment lid is 
also locked again after closing.<
Sports Wagon: unlocking tailgate
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The tailgate will open slightly, regardless of 
whether it was previously locked or unlocked.
During opening, the tailgate pivots back 
and up. Make sure that adequate clear-
ance is available before opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo bay. A 
previously locked tailgate is also locked again 
after closing. When opening the tailgate, the roll-up cover is 
raised.<
If pointed or sharp-edged objects could 
strike the rear window while driving, be 
sure to provide protection around all edges. 
Failure to do so could result in damage to the 
heating conductors of the rear window.<
Confirmation signals
You can activate or deactivate the confirmation 
signals.
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 "Confirmation" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select the desired signal.
8.Press the controller. 
 The signal is activated.
Malfunction
The remote control may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. Should the remote control fail 
to operate due to interference of this kind, 
unlock and lock the vehicle via the door lock 
using a key.
If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle 
using the remote control, then the battery is 
discharged. Use this remote control during an 
extended drive; this will recharge the battery, 
refer to page28. 

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. 

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 page235. 

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 
page220.
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 page144.
>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.
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.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Open "Navigation".
Without navigation system
*:
Open "Car Data".