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4.Turn the controller until "BMW Service set-
tings" is selected and press the controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Enabled services" is 
selected and press the controller.
6.Select "Enable services" and press the con-
troller. 
BMW Assist is enabled and the data 
exchange with the BMW Assist Response 
Center begins.
Activation takes a few minutes. The status is 
displayed on the Control Display. If you open 
another menu, the activation process continues 
to run in the background.Displaying vehicle data
When BMW Assist is activated, the license 
plate and the vehicle identification number of 
your vehicle may be displayed.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "BMW Service settings" and press 
the controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Profile" is selected and 
press the controller. 

Refueling
218
Refueling
Switch off the engine before refueling, 
otherwise no fuel can be filled into the 
tank and a message is displayed.<
When handling fuel, always observe all 
applicable precautionary measures and 
regulations. Never transport reserve fuel con-
tainers in the vehicle. These could become 
leaky and cause an explosion or a fire in an acci-
dent.<
Fuel filler door
To open and close: press the rear edge of the 
fuel filler door.
Manual release
If an electrical malfunction should occur, you 
can unlock the fuel filler door manually.
Sedan
1.In the cargo bay, raise the floor mat and the 
cover located beneath it.
2.Open the snap fasteners of the right side 
panel and take off the side panel.
3.Pull the knob with the gas pump symbol.
Sports Wagon
1.Unhook the retaining strap*, refer to 
page130.
2.Open the right-hand side panel in the cargo 
bay.
3.Pull the knob with the gas pump symbol.
Observe the following when refueling
When handling fuels, follow the safety 
precautions posted at the filling station. 
Otherwise, there is a danger of personal injury 
or property damage.<
Place the fuel filler cap in the bracket attached 
to the fuel filler door. 

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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.< 

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Storage
Store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place with 
as little exposure to light as possible. Always 
protect tires against all contact with oil, grease 
and fuels. Do not exceed the maximum tire 
inflation pressure indicated on the side wall of 
the tire.
Rotating wheels between axles
BMW does not recommend moving the front 
wheels to the rear or vice versa, as otherwise 
the handling characteristics may be impaired.
With tires of different makes and types
* such a 
change is not permissible.
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain fine-link snow chains, 
classifies them as road-safe and recommends 
them. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation.
Use is only permissible in pairs on the rear 
wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when 
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed 
of 30 mph/50 km/h with the chains mounted.
After mounting snow chains, do not ini-
tialize the Flat Tire Monitor, otherwise 
incorrect displays can occur.
When driving with snow chains, it may be prac-
tical to briefly activate DTC, refer to page92.< 

Under the hood
232
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on 
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking engine oil level
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic oil 
level check.
The condition for the most accurate indication 
of the oil level possible is measurement with the 
engine at operating temperature, i.e. following 
an uninterrupted drive of at least 6 miles/10 km. 
You can display the oil level on the Control Dis-
play while driving or when stopped on a level 
surface with the engine running.
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.Turn the controller until "Info sources" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Service Info" is 
selected and press the controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Service requirements" is 
selected and press the controller.6.Change to the second field from the top if 
necessary. Turn the controller until "Engine 
oil level" is selected and press the control-
ler. The oil level is displayed.
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level O.K."
>"No measurement available: Updating 
engine oil level measurement...": 
Engine oil level is being measured. This 
process can take approx. 1 minute when 
stopped on a level surface with the engine 
running and approx. 5 minutes while driv-
ing.
If the engine oil has been topped off, the 
measurement of the oil level can take up to 
30 minutes.
>"Oil level at the minimum! Refill with 1 quart 
of engine oil.": 
Add a maximum of 1 US quart/1 liter of 
engine oil at the next opportunity, refer to 
Adding engine oil below. Add at least 
0.5 US quart/0.5 liter. Otherwise the oil 
level control may not display the new value 
correctly.
If the oil level displayed is below minimum, 
add engine oil immediately. Failure to do so 
may lead to engine damage.
>"Engine oil level too high"
*:
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise engine damage may 
result if too much oil has been added.<
>"Please observe recalculated service inter-
val for engine oil":
Do not add engine oil. Before continuing to 
drive, note the recalculated remaining mile-
age until the next oil change service, refer to 
Service requirements on page81. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible. 

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Maintenance
BMW maintenance system
The BMW maintenance system supports the 
preservation of the traffic and operating safety 
of your BMW. The ultimate objective is to 
ensure economical maintenance by providing 
the ideal service for your vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to sell 
your BMW, a complete dealer service history 
will prove to be an asset of inestimable value.
CBS Condition Based Service
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into 
account. Condition Based Service uses this to 
determine the current and future service 
requirements. By letting you define a service 
and maintenance regimen that reflects your 
own individual requirements, the system builds 
the basis for trouble-free driving.
You can set the Control Display to show 
remaining distances and times of selected 
maintenance intervals and legally mandated 
deadlines, refer to page81:
>Engine oil
>Brake pads, front and rear separately
>Brake fluid
>Vehicle check
>Legally mandated inspections depending 
on local regulations
Service data in remote control
Your vehicle stores the information required 
maintenance continuously in the remote con-
trol during driving. After accessing the data 
stored in the remote control, your BMW Service 
Advisor can suggest precisely the right array of 
service procedures for your own individual vehi-
cle. You should therefore hand over the remote 
control you last used to drive to the BMW Ser-
vice Advisor when you take your vehicle in for 
service.
Make sure the date is set correctly, refer 
to page87, otherwise the effectiveness 
of CBS Condition Based Service is not 
ensured.<
Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models and 
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet 
for Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models 
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service 
and repair operations performed at your 
BMW center. 
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet 
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries 
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.< 

Maintenance
236
Socket for OBD Onboard 
Diagnostics interface
Components which are decisive for the 
exhaust-gas composition can be checked via 
the OBD socket with a device.
This socket is located to the left on the driver's 
side, on the underside of the instrument panel 
under a cover.
Exhaust-gas values
The warning lamp lights up. The 
exhaust-gas values worsen. Have the 
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Display of the previously described 
malfunction in Canadian models.
The lamp flashes under certain conditions. This 
is a sign of excessive misfiring of the engine. In 
this case you should reduce speed and drive to 
the nearest BMW center as soon as possible. 
Heavy engine misfiring causes serious damage 
to the emission-relevant components, espe-
cially the catalytic converter, within a short time.
If the fuel filler cap is not properly tight-
ened, the OBD system will assume that 
fuel vapor escapes. Then a display lights up. If 
the cap is then tightened, the display will go out 
within a few days.<
Event Data Recorders
Your vehicle may be equipped with one or sev-
eral measuring and diagnosis modules, or with 
a device for recording or transmitting certain 
vehicle data or information. If you have also sub-
scribed to BMW Assist, certain vehicle data can 
be transmitted or recorded to enable corre-
sponding services.
Care
Important information on the care and mainte-
nance of your BMW is contained in the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure. 

Replacing components
238
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribu-
tion to vehicle safety. You must be duly diligent 
in replacing them. BMW recommends having 
your BMW center perform any work that you do 
not feel competent to perform yourself or that is 
not described here.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs with 
your bare fingers, as even minute 
amounts of contamination will burn into the 
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a 
clean cloth, napkin, etc., or hold the bulb by its 
metal socket.<
A selection of replacement bulbs is available at 
your BMW center.
Only replace bulbs when cool, as other-
wise you may be burned.<
Whenever you perform any work on the 
electrical system, turn off the systems/
consumers involved to prevent short circuits 
from occurring. To avoid possible injury or 
equipment damage when replacing bulbs, 
observe any instructions provided by the bulb 
manufacturer.<
For care and maintenance of the headlamps, 
please follow the instructions in the separate 
Caring for your vehicle brochure.
For bulbs for which changing is not 
described, and for checking and adjusting 
headlamp aim, please contact your BMW cen-
ter.<
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu-
cent lenses serve as the light source for many of 
the controls and displays in your vehicle. These 
light-emitting diodes, which operate using a 
concept similar to that applied in conventional 
lasers, are officially designated as Class 1 light-
emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers, and never 
stare into the unfiltered light for several 
hours, as irritation of the retina could result.<
Halogen headlamps
The illustration shows the left-hand side of the 
engine compartment.
1Cover cap for low beams
2Cover cap for high beams
To remove the cover caps:
>Low beams: press the detent, arrow, and 
remove the cover from the guide.
>High beams: turn the cover cap to the left 
and remove.
Always wear gloves and eye protection – 
the atmosphere within the H7 bulb is 
pressurized. Otherwise there is a danger of inju-
ries if the bulb is accidentally damaged during 
replacement.<