
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. 

Mobility
 219Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Avoid raising the filler 
nozzle during refueling, otherwise this leads to
>premature pump shutoff
>a reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor 
recovery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks 
off the first time.
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.
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.<
Fuel filler cap
Closing
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you clearly 
hear a click.
Do not crush the band attached to the 
cap; otherwise, the cap may not properly 
seal and fuel vapors can escape.<
A message
* is displayed if the cap is loose or 
missing.
Fuel specifications
Do not use leaded gasoline, otherwise 
permanent damage to the catalytic con-
verter will result. 
Do not use E85, i.e. fuel that consists of 85% 
ethanol, or Flex Fuel. Otherwise permanent 
damage to the engine and the fuel supply sys-
tem will result.<
Required fuel
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less 
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is 87.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds 
when starting at high outside temperatures. 
This has no affect on the engine life.
Do not use gasoline below the specified 
minimum quality, otherwise engine dam-
age can result.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, 
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale 
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other 
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight, 
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void 
the applicable warranties with respect to 
defects in materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in 
drivability, starting and stalling problems 
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and 
high altitude. 
Should you encounter drivability problems 
which you suspect could be related to the fuel 
you are using, we recommend that you respond 
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand 
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier 
Detergent Gasoline. 
Failure to comply with these recommendations 
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.< 

Technical data
258 Never exceed either the approved axle loads or 
the gross vehicle weight.
Capacities
Sports Wagon535xi
Curb weight
>Manual transmission lbs./kg 4,100/1,860
>Automatic transmission lbs./kg 4,144/1,880
Approved gross vehicle weight
>Manual transmission lbs./kg 5,291/2,400
>Automatic transmission lbs./kg 5,335/2,420
Load lbs./kg 1,190/540
Approved front axle load lbs./kg 2,381/1,080
Approved rear axle load lbs./kg 2,866/1,300
Approved roof load capacity lbs./kg 220/100
Cargo bay capacity cu ft/l 17.7-58.3/500-1,650
Notes
Fuel tank US gal/liters approx. 18.5/70 Fuel grade: page219
of that reserve US gal/liters approx. 2.1/8
550i US gal/liters approx. 2.6/10
Window cleaning system For more details: page69
>Sedan US quarts/liters approx. 3.2/3
>with headlamp cleaning system US quarts/liters approx. 5.3/5
>Sports Wagon US quarts/liters approx. 5.3/5 

Everything from A to Z
282 Turning lamps110
– replacing bulbs240
Turn signals67
– indicator lamp12
– replacing bulbs240
U
Underbody protection, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Uniform Tire Quality Grading/
UTQR226
"Units"88
Units
– average fuel 
consumption88
– temperature88
Universal garage-door 
opener, refer to Integrated 
universal remote 
control121
Universal remote control121
"Unlock button"30
Unlocking
– from inside33
– from outside30
– without key, refer to Comfort 
access38
"Update services"213
USB/audio interface189
"USB" in audio mode190
"Use current location as 
address"152,153
Used batteries
– refer to Disposal245
– refer to Replacing battery40
Using turn signals67
V
Valve screw caps, refer to 
After mounting244
Vehicle
– battery245
– breaking-in134
– care236
– care, refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
– loading137
– measurements, refer to 
Dimensions255
– parking62
– washing, refer to Caring for 
your vehicle brochure
– weights257
"Vehicle / Tires" for 
unlocking30
Vehicle jack243
– jacking points244
Vehicle position, refer to 
Displaying current 
position163
Ventilation118
– draft-free118
– in rear118
– while stationary118
Vent outlets114
– refer to Ventilation118
Vent outlets of automatic 
climate control114
"Vent settings"116
Viscosity233
Voice, refer to Destination 
guidance with voice 
instructions159
Voice command system
– overview23
– short commands259
Voice instructions for 
navigation system159
– muting55
– repeating55,160
– switching on/off55,159
– volume160
Voice phone book206Volume168
– audio sources168
– cargo bay257
– fuel tank, refer to 
Capacities258
– mobile phone200
– setting speed-
dependent170
– voice instructions160
– windshield cleaning system, 
refer to Capacities258
W
Warning lamps, refer to 
Indicator and warning 
lamps13
Warning messages, refer to 
Check Control83
Warning on leaving lane, refer 
to Leaving lane warning106
Warning triangle247
Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian 
models235
Washer fluid69
– capacity of the reservoir69
Washing the vehicle, also refer 
to Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Waste container, refer to 
Ashtray125
Water on roads, refer to 
Driving through water136
Waveband for radio172
"WB"169,176
Wear indicators in tires, refer 
to Minimum tread depth227
Weather news flashes176
Website BMW4
Weights257
Welcome lamps108
"Welcome light"109
Wheel/tire combination, refer 
to New wheels and tires227
Wheel/tire damage227
Wheelbase, refer to 
Dimensions255
Wheels and tires220