2008 BMW 550I SEDAN Refueling

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to use
the index, refer to page264.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
23Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
45Adjusting
56Transporting children safely
61Driving
78Everything under control
90Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
108Lamps
114Climate
121Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
134Things to remember when driving
Navigation
142Starting navigation system
144Destination entry
156Destination guidance
165What to do if …
Entertainment
168On/off and tone
172Radio
179Satellite radio
182CD player and CD changer
188AUX-In connection
189USB/audio interface
Communications
194Telephoning
209BMW Assist
Mobility
218Refueling
220Wheels and tires
230Under the hood
235Maintenance
237Replacing components
247Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
254Technical data
259Short commands of voice command
system
264Everything from A to Z

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.

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.

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.<

Reference 277
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Rear socket127
Rear ventilation118
Rearview mirror53
Rear window
– changing wiper blade237
– heating116
– opening and closing on
Sports Wagon34
– roller sun blind, refer to Sun
blinds122
– window wiper on Sports
Wagon69,137
Rear window safety switch41
"Received calls"202
Reception
– quality175
– radio stations175
– regional station174
Reception level of mobile
phone, refer to Status
information20
Rechargeable flashlight123
Recirculated-air mode117
– air recirculation117
– AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control117
Reclining seat, refer to
Seats46
Recording times, refer to
Stopwatch86
"Redial" for mobile phone202
Redialing with mobile
phone207
Reflectors, refer to Tail
lamps240
Refueling218
Releasing
– hood230
– locks, refer to Unlocking38
"Relock door if not
opened"33
Remaining distance, refer to
Cruising range79
Remaining distance to
destination, refer to
Computer80Remote control28
– comfort access38
– garage door opener121
– luggage compartment lid31
– malfunction31,40
– replacing battery40
– tailgate31
Removing condensation on
the windows116
"Repeat directory" in audio
mode185
"Repeat" in audio mode185
"Repeat track" in audio
mode185
Replacement fuses245
Replacement of tires, refer to
Changing wheels242
Replacement remote control,
refer to New remote
controls28
Replacing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs238
Replacing tires228
Replacing wheels/tires, refer
to New wheels and tires227
Reporting safety defects7
Reserve warning, refer to Fuel
gauge79
"Reset"96,98
– stopwatch86
– tone settings171
Reset, refer to Resetting tone
settings171
"resetting FTM …"96
Residual heat117
Restraint systems
– for children56
– refer to Safety belts50
Retaining straps, refer to
Storage area package,
Sports Wagon130
Retreaded tires228
Reverse, fast
– CD changer186
– CD player186Reverse gear
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic64
– manual transmission63
Road map158
"Roadside
Assistance"204,210
Roadside Assistance248
Roadside assistance210
Roadside parking lamps110
– replacing bulbs239
Roller blind, refer to Sun
blinds122
Roll-up cover, Sports
Wagon128
Roof load capacity257
Roof-mounted luggage
rack139
Rope, refer to Tow-starting
and towing249
Rotary/pushbutton, refer to
iDrive16
Route154
– bypassing sections160
– changing160
– changing criteria154
– displaying157
– displaying arrow display157
– displaying map view158
– displaying streets or towns/
cities159
– selecting154
Route information, refer to
Destination guidance with
voice instructions159
Route map, refer to Displaying
map view158
"Route preference",
changing154
Route selection154
RSC Runflat System
Component, refer to Run-
flat tires227
Rubber parts, refer to Caring
for your vehicle brochure