2008 BMW 550I wiper fluid

Driving
68
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating rain sensor
4Cleaning windshield, headlamps and
BMW Night Vision camera
*
5Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level
Switching on wipers
Pull the lever upward, arrow1.
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once.
The system reverts to operation in the intermit-
tent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance
point.
The system reverts to normal speed when the
vehicle is stationary.
Rain sensor
The wiper operation is controlled automatically
as a function of the rain intensity. The rain sen-
sor is located on the windshield, directly in front
of the interior rearview mirror.
Activating rain sensor
Press the button, arrow3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level
Turn the knurled wheel5.
Deactivating rain sensor
Press the button again, arrow3. The LED goes
out.
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through an automatic car wash. Failure to
do so could result in damage caused by undes-
ired wiper activation.<
Cleaning windshield, headlamps* and
BMW Night Vision camera*
Pull the lever, arrow4.
The system sprays washer fluid against the
windshield and activates the wipers for a brief
period.
With the vehicle lighting switched on, the head-
lamps and the BMW Night Vision camera are
also cleaned simultaneously at suitable inter-
vals.
Do not use the washing mechanisms if
there is any danger that the fluid will
freeze on the windshield. If you do so, your
vision could be obscured. To avoid freezing,
use a washer fluid antifreeze, refer to Washer
fluid. Do not use washing mechanisms when
the washer fluid reservoir is empty, otherwise
you will damage the washer pump.<

Controls
69Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Windshield washer nozzles
Both windshield washer nozzles are automati-
cally heated with the engine running or the igni-
tion switched on.
Sports Wagon:
Rear window wiper
1Intermittent mode. When reverse gear is
engaged, continuous operation is switched
on automatically
2Cleaning the rear window
Do not use washing mechanisms when
the washer fluid reservoir is empty, other-
wise you will damage the washer pump.<
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable.
For this reason, keep it away from ignition
sources and store only in the closed original
container out of reach of children. Otherwise,
there is the danger of bodily injury. Always
observe the instructions for use provided on the
containers.<
Filler neck for washer fluid
Only add washer fluid with the engine
cooled down to exclude contact with hot
engine components. Otherwise there is a dan-
ger of fire and to personal safety if the fluid is
spilled. voir.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
In order to maintain the mixture ratio, mix
the washer fluid before filling.<
Capacity
Sedan:
Approx. 3.2 US quarts/3 liters, with headlamp
washer system
* approx. 5.3 US quarts/5 liters.
Sports Wagon: approx. 5.3 US quarts/5 liters.
Cruise control*
The concept
The cruise control is available for use at speeds
of approx. 20 mph/30 km/h and higher. The
vehicle stores and maintains the speed that you
set using the lever mounted on the steering col-
umn. To maintain the specified speed, the sys-
tem brakes if the engine braking effect is not
sufficient on a downhill grade. Speed can drop
on uphill grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.
Do not use the cruise control under driv-
ing conditions that do not permit a con-
stant speed, e.g. when driving on winding
roads, in heavy traffic or in poor road conditions
such as snow, rain, ice, and loose road surface.
Otherwise you could loose control of the vehi-
cle and cause an accident.<

Driving tips
137Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Before driving into a car wash
Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to page53,
otherwise they could be damaged due to the
width of the vehicle.
General information on the care and mainte-
nance of your BMW is contained in the Caring
for your vehicle brochure.
528xi, 535xi
Avoid car washes with guide rail heights
over 4 in/10 cm, otherwise there is danger
of damaging chassis components.<
Rear window wiper*
The rear window wiper can be damaged in car
washes. Take appropriate protective measures;
ask the car wash operator if necessary.
Automatic and sport automatic
transmission
Follow the instructions on page62 so that the
vehicle can roll.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result
can assume the form of a sudden blow-out.<
Make sure that no fluids leak in the cargo
bay; otherwise the vehicle could be dam-
aged.<
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX lbs. or YYY kg, as otherwise the vehicle
may be damaged and unstable driving con-
ditions may result.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX lbs. or YYY kg.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs.:
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of
the load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for
transporting a trailer to determine how this
may reduce the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.

Everything from A to Z
272 Headlamp control,
automatic108
Headlamp flasher67
Headlamps108
– care, refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– cleaning, refer to Wiper
system68
– cleaning tank, refer to
Capacities258
– filler neck for washer
fluid231
– replacing bulbs239
Head Light, refer to Adaptive
Head Light110
Head restraints49
– active front head
restraints49
– removing50
– sitting safely45
"Head-Up Display"103
Head-Up Display102
Heated
– mirrors53
– rear window116
– seats51
– steering wheel54
Heating114
– exterior mirrors53
– interior114
– rear window116
– residual heat117
– seats51
– steering wheel54
Heating with engine switched
off, refer to Residual
heat117
Heavy cargo, refer to Securing
cargo138
Height, refer to
Dimensions255
Height adjustment
– seats46
– steering wheel54
"High-beam assistant"112
High-beam assistant110High beams110
– headlamp flasher110
– indicator lamp13
– replacing bulbs239
High Definition Radio176
High water, refer to Driving
through water136
Hill Descent Control HDC93
Hills136
Holder for cups125
"Home address" for
navigation system153
Homepage of BMW
4
Hood230
Hooks for shopping bags,
Sports Wagon130
Horn10
Hotel function, refer to
Locking separately34
Hot exhaust system135
"Hour memo"87
"House number" for
destination entry146
Hydraulic brake assistant,
refer to Brake assistant91
Hydroplaning135
I
IBOC, refer to High Definition
Radio176
Ice, refer to Outside
temperature warning78
ID3 tag, refer to Information on
track184
Identification mark
– recommended tire
brands228
– run-flat tires227
– tire coding225iDrive16
– assistance window20
– automatic climate control
with expanded scope115
– changing date and time86
– changing language88
– changing menu page19
– changing settings86
– changing units of measure
and display type88
– confirming selection or
entry19
– controller16
– controls16
– displays, menus17
– operating principle17
– selecting menu item19
– setting brightness88
– start menu17
– status information20
– symbols18
Ignition61
– switched off62
– switched on61
Ignition key, refer to Keys/
remote control28
Ignition key position 1, refer to
Radio readiness61
Ignition key position 2, refer to
Ignition on61
Ignition lock61
– starting engine with comfort
access39
i menu17
Imprint2
Indicator/warning lamps
– ABS Antilock Brake
System94
– active steering100
– airbags102
– brake system94
– DSC13,92
– DTC13,93
– Flat Tire Monitor96
– fog lamps
13
– safety belt warning50
– TPM Tire Pressure
Monitor98

Reference 283
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Width, refer to
Dimensions255
Windows40
– convenient operation30
– convenient operation from
outside32
– convenient operation with
comfort access39
– rear window, Sports
Wagon34
– safety switch41
Windshield
– cleaning, refer to Wiper
system68
– defrosting, refer to
Defrosting windows116
– displays, refer to Head-Up
Display102
Windshield wash
– automatic, refer to Rain
sensor68
– capacities, reservoir258
– filler neck for washer
fluid231
– rear window69
– washer fluid69
– windshield washer
nozzles69
– wiper system68
Windshield wipers, refer to
Wiper system68
– care, refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– wiper blade
replacement237
Winter tires228
– setting speed limit85
– storage229
Wiper blades
– care, refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– replacement237
Wiper system68
– rain sensor68
– washer fluid69
– windshield washer
nozzles69"With highways" for
navigation system154
Wood decoration, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Word matching principle for
navigation155
Working in the engine
compartment230
Wrenches/screwdrivers, refer
to Onboard toolkit237
X
xDrive93
Xenon lamps239
– replacing bulbs239
Y
Your individual vehicle
– programmable buttons on
steering wheel54
– settings, refer to Personal
Profile29
Z
"Zoom" with BMW Night
Vision106