2008 BMW 550I SEDAN headlamps

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
105Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>in dense fog, heavy rain or snowfall
>when displaying very hot objects such as
transformers, car exhausts etc.
>when the image briefly freezes during nor-
mal system adjustment.
BMW Night Vision's potential benefits
can be limited by the driving style of the
driver, the size and relative temperature of the
detected objects, dirt or contamination on the
camera lens, adverse weather like snow, rain or
fog, and other factors not mentioned here. It will
always be the driver's responsibility to drive at a
speed and in a manner that recognizes potential
hazards and adjust accordingly.
BMW Night Vision is not a substitute or replace-
ment for the driver's responsibility to adapt to
visibility and traffic conditions. The forward view
illuminated by the headlamps must always be
the basis for making safe driving decisions, oth-
erwise a safety risk will result.<
Activating BMW Night Vision
1.Turn the light switch to position2 or3, refer
to page108.
2.With low beams switched on:
>Press the button. Depending on the
vehicle's equipment, the location of the
button may differ somewhat.
>Press one of the programmable buttons
on the steering wheel, refer to page54.
The image will be displayed on the Control Dis-
play after a few seconds. Depending on the last
mode selected, either the normal or full screen
image will be displayed.Due to the system's need to adjust periodically,
a still image is displayed at certain intervals for
fractions of a second. This is normal and not an
indication of a problem.
To prevent driving without headlamps, at a
speed of more than approx. 3 mph/5 km/h and
when dark, the thermal image on the Control
Display is only shown when the low beams are
on.
Deactivating BMW Night Vision
>Press the button.
>Press the button on the steering wheel.
>Press the button.
>Via iDrive, refer to Selecting settings.
Selecting settings
For iDrive details, refer to page16.
1.Activate BMW Night Vision.
2.Press the controller to display the menu
items.

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.<

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

Everything from A to Z
280 "Start Service" for
BMW Assist212
"State / Province" for
destination entry145
"State inspection"82
Station, refer to Radio172
"Status"82
Status information on Control
Display20
Status of this Owner's Manual
at time of printing5
Steering wheel
– adjustment54
– automatic adjustment, refer
to Steering wheel
memory47
– buttons on steering
wheel11
– easy entry/exit54
– heating54
– lock, refer to Ignition lock61
– memory47
– programmable buttons54
– shift paddles66
Steering-wheel shift buttons,
refer to Shift paddles66
Steering with variable ratio,
refer to Active steering99
Steptronic
– refer to Automatic
transmission with
Steptronic63
– refer to Sport automatic
transmission66
– refer to Sport program and
manual mode64
"Stop" for stopwatch86
"Stopwatch"86
Stopwatch86
Storage area package, Sports
Wagon130
Storage compartments124
"Store in address book" for
navigation system152
"Store" on the radio175,181
Storing current position152
Storing radio stations174Storing sitting position, refer
to Seat, mirror and steering
wheel memory47
Storing tires229
"Street" for destination
entry146
Summer tires, refer to Wheels
and tires220
Sun blinds122
"Surround Settings", refer to
Tone control170,171
SW, waveband172
Swinging up floor panel,
Sports Wagon
129
Switches, refer to Cockpit10
Switching automatically
between high beams and
low beams, refer to High-
beam assistant110
Switching off engine62
Switching on
– audio168
– CD changer168
– CD player168
– radio168
Switching on hour signal87
Swiveling headlamps, refer to
Adaptive Head Light110
Symbols4
– indicator/warning lamps13
– navigation system162
– status information20
– traffic information with
navigation system160
T
Tachometer78
"Tailgate"36
Tailgate33
– automatic operation36
– emergency operation, refer
to Opening manually35
– locking and unlocking from
inside32
– opening from inside35
Tail lamps240
– replacing bulbs240Tank contents, refer to
Capacities258
Target cursor for
navigation149
Technical alterations, refer to
For your own safety5
Technical data254
– capacities258
– dimensions255
Telematics, refer to
BMW Assist209
Telephone
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest123
– refer to Mobile phone194
"Telephone list"55
TeleService211
Temperature
– adjusting in upper body
region115
– adjusting with automatic
climate control115
– changing units of
measure88
– refer to Coolant
temperature78
Temperature display
– changing units of
measure88
– outside temperature78
– outside temperature
warning78
Tempomat, refer to Cruise
control69
"Terminate services"214
"Text language"88
"Theater", refer to Tone
control171
The individual vehicle5
Third brake lamp, refer to
Center brake lamp241
Through-loading system127
Tightening torque of the lug
bolts, refer to After
mounting244
Tilt alarm sensor38
– switching off38