2008 BMW 6 SERIES display

Driving
60
Handbrake
The handbrake is primarily intended to prevent
the vehicle from rolling while parked; it brakes
the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up, and a sig-
nal also sounds when starting off. The
handbrake is applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and
lower the lever.
If exceptional circumstances should
make it necessary to apply the handbrake
while the vehicle is in motion, do not pull it too
firmly. In doing so, continuously press the but-
ton of the handbrake lever. Otherwise, too firm
an application of the handbrake can lock up the
rear wheels and cause the rear of the vehicle to
swerve.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally engage the hand-
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.
The brake lamps do not light up when the hand-
brake is applied.<
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5th/6th gear, press the
gearshift lever toward the right, otherwise
an inadvertent shift into 3rd or 4th gear could
lead to engine damage.<
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
Press the gearshift lever to the left, overcoming
a slight resistance.
Sport automatic
transmission*
In addition to the fully automatic mode, you can
also shift manually with Steptronic, refer to
page61.
You can also choose between two driving pro-
grams: Normal or Sport, refer to Dynamic Driv-
ing Control.
Transmission positions
P R N D M/S + –
Displays in instrument cluster
P, R, N, D, S1 through S6, M1 through M6

Controls
61Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The transmission mode and the currently
selected gear are displayed.
Engaging transmission position
>Do not leave the transmission position P
until the engine is running: interlock.
>With the vehicle stationary, depress the
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N;
otherwise the shift command will not be
executed: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping
after you select a driving position,
maintain pressure on the brake pedal until
you are ready to start.<
Engaging N, D, R
Briefly press the selector lever in the desired
direction, beyond a resistance point if neces-
sary. Press button1 simultaneously out of P or
into R.
The engaged transmission position is also dis-
played on the selector lever.
The selector lever immediately returns to the
center position when released.
Engaging P
Press buttonP.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
The rear wheels are locked.
P is engaged automatically as soon as
you switch off the engine unless N is
engaged and with comfort access the remote
control is inserted in the ignition lock, refer to
Before driving into a car wash, page59.<
N Neutral
You can select N in car washes, for example.
The vehicle can roll.
N remains engaged even after the engine
is switched off whenever you leave the
remote control in the ignition lock. This function
is useful, for example, in automatic car washes,
refer to page59.<
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation.
All forward gears are available.
Kick-down
Kick-down enables you to achieve maximum
performance.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the
increased resistance at full throttle.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Press selector lever toward the left from trans-
mission position D:
The sport program is activated and S1 through
S6 is displayed in the instrument cluster.

Driving
62 This position is recommended for a perfor-
mance-oriented driving style.
When the selector lever is briefly moved for-
ward or back, the manual mode is activated and
the Steptronic shifts gear. The instrument clus-
ter shows M1 through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are only carried out at a
suitable engine and vehicle speed, e.g. a down-
shift is not carried out at excessively high
engine speeds. The selected gear is briefly dis-
played in the instrument cluster, followed by the
current gear.
To resume automatic mode, press the selector
lever to the right.
Shift paddles on steering wheel
You can also shift manually with two shift pad-
dles on the steering wheel. The shift paddles
allow you to shift gears quickly, as both hands
can remain on the steering wheel.
>When you use the shift paddles on the
steering wheel to shift gears in automatic
mode, the gearshift system switches into
the manual mode.
>If you do not shift with the shift paddles and
do not accelerate for a certain time, the sys-
tem switches into the automatic mode
again when the selector lever is in D.
>To shift up: pull one of the shift paddles.
>To shift down: press one of the shift pad-
dles.
Dynamic Driving Control
The Dynamic Driving Control makes it possible
for your BMW to react in an even more perfor-
mance-oriented manner at the push of a button:
>The speed range of the engine is optimally
utilized.
>Gearshifts are faster.
>The engine responds more spontaneously
to accelerator pedal movements.
>The steering will operate in an even sportier
mode.
>In the automatic mode, the 6th gear is not
engaged.
Activating system
Press the SPORT button.
The LED in the button lights up and SPORT is
displayed in the instrument cluster.
Deactivating system
>Press the SPORT button again
>Engage reverse gear
>Switch off engine
The LED in the button and SPORT in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Manually unlocking and locking
transmission lock
In case of a power failure, e.g. when the battery
is drained or disconnected, or an electrical fault,
manually release the transmission lock, as oth-
erwise the rear wheels are blocked and the
vehicle cannot be towed.
Only manually release the transmission lock for
towing and firmly apply the handbrake before-
hand so that the vehicle cannot roll. Reengage

Driving
66
One lever for all functions
1Maintaining, storing and increasing speed
2Maintaining speed, storing speed, and
decelerating
3Interrupting and deactivating system
4Resuming stored speed
Maintaining, storing and increasing
speed
Press lever to resistance point, arrow 1:
The system maintains and stores the current
vehicle speed. The display1 in the speedome-
ter, see below, indicates this regulated speed.
Every time you press the lever, the vehicle's
speed increases by roughly 1 mph/1 km/h.
Press the lever to the resistance point and
hold it:
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on
the accelerator pedal. The system maintains
and stores your current speed as soon as you
release the lever.
Maintaining speed, storing speed, and
decelerating
Pull the lever, arrow2:
Functions are the same as1; the speed is
reduced.
Interrupting system
Press the lever up or down, arrow3.
the display1 in the speedometer changes
color.In addition, the system is automatically inter-
rupted:
>when you brake, even with the handbrake
>when you shift very slowly and when you
shift the automatic transmission into the
idling or N position
>when DTC is activated or DSC is deacti-
vated
Resuming stored speed
Press button4:
The vehicle accelerates to and maintains the
stored speed.
Deactivating system
>Press the lever up or down twice, arrow3
>Switch off the ignition
The speed stored in the memory is deleted.
Displays in instrument cluster
1Stored speed
2Selected speed is displayed briefly
Active cruise control*
With active cruise control you can select a
desired speed which is then automatically
maintained when driving on open roadways and
is varied to maintain a selected distance setting
to slower moving vehicles ahead.
Active cruise control represents a technological
advance over the familiar cruise control and is a
welcome relief from the constant adjustment of
speed that can accompany driving in traffic on
freeways or other high-speed thoroughfares.

Driving
68 vehicle's speed and distance setting within
applicable legal limits. Always be ready to take
action or apply the brakes if necessary, espe-
cially when the system is actively following a
vehicle in front of you. Otherwise, driving condi-
tions can result which lead to a violation of the
law or elevated risk of an accident.
The minimum initial activation speed is 20 mph/
30 km/h, and the maximum speed is 110 mph/
180 km/h. However, you can also activate the
system while stopped, refer to While stopped,
page70.
One lever for all functions
1Storing and increasing desired speed
2Storing and reducing desired speed
3Interrupting, refer to page69, or deactivat-
ing system, refer to page70
4Activating stored desired speed and dis-
tance, refer to page69, or driving off, refer
to While stopped, page70
5Selecting distance to vehicle driving ahead,
refer to page69.
Storing current speed
Tap the lever, arrow1, or briefly pull it, arrow2.
The system stores the current vehicle speed. It
is indicated on the speedometer and briefly in
the instrument cluster.
Increasing desired speed
Press or tap the lever to the resistance point or
beyond, arrow1, until the desired speed is dis-
played.
The speed then displayed is stored and
achieved on a clear road.
>Each time the lever is tapped to the resis-
tance point, the desired speed is increased
by approx. 1 mph/1 km/h.
>Each time the lever is tapped beyond the
resistance point, the desired speed
increases to the next fives place of the mph
speedometer display or the next tens place
of the km/h speedometer display.
Reducing desired speed
Pull the lever, arrow2, until the desired speed is
displayed.
These functions are operated in the same man-
ner as increasing your desired speed.

Controls
69Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Selecting distance
>Briefly press rocker switch downward:
Increase distance.
>Briefly press rocker switch upward:
Reduce distance.
The selected distance is displayed in the instru-
ment cluster.
Use good judgment to select the appro-
priate following distance, given road con-
ditions, traffic, applicable laws and State driving
recommendations for safe following distance.
Otherwise, a violation of the law or risk of an
accident could result.<
Interrupting cruise control
Press the lever upward or downward, and with
the vehicle stopped also depress the brake
pedal. The marking in the speedometer
changes color and the distance indicator goes
out.
In addition, the system is automatically inter-
rupted:
>when you apply the vehicle brakes
>when you shift the transmission
>when DTC is activated or DSC is deacti-
vated
>when DSC comes on
>when you apply the handbrake
>when you release the safety belt and open
the driver's door with the vehicle stopped
>when the system does not recognize any
objects for an extended period of time, e. g.
on infrequently traveled roads without a
shoulder or guard rails, or if the radar sensor
is covered with dirt, refer to page71
If the system is interrupted, then it is nec-
essary for the driver to actively intervene
by braking and steering. Otherwise, there is a
risk of an accident.<
Resuming stored desired speed and
distance
While driving
Press button4.
The displays appear in the instrument cluster. Distance 1
Distance 2
Distance 3
Distance 4
This distance is always set when
you activate the system.

Driving
70
While stopped
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine
running, engage position P of the auto-
matic transmission and apply the handbrake.
Otherwise the vehicle can roll.<
If a detected vehicle in front of you brakes to a
complete stop and your vehicle has also been
braked to a complete stop by the system:
>If the vehicle in front of you drives off while
the marking1 for the desired speed in the
speedometer is green, your vehicle will
accelerate without you having to do any-
thing.
>If the vehicle in front of you drives off while
the marking1 is orange, you briefly depress
the accelerator pedal or press button4.
Rolling bars in the distance indicator3
mean that the vehicle in front of you has
driven off.
If you are stopped behind a vehicle with the
brake pedal depressed and the system is inter-
rupted or deactivated:
1.Press button4 to activate a stored desired
speed or select a desired speed with the
lever, arrow1 or arrow2.
2.Release the brake pedal.
3.If the vehicle in front of you drives off, briefly
depress the accelerator pedal or press
button4.
Deactivating system
>Press the lever upward or downward twice
while driving.
>When stopped, do the same with the brake
pedal depressed.
>Switch off the ignition.
The displays turn off, and the stored desired
speed and distance are deleted.
Displays in instrument cluster
1Stored desired speed
>Green: the system is active.
>Orange: the system is interrupted.
2Lights up yellow: vehicle detected ahead
Display also used for warnings, please read
all information on warnings
3Selected distance to vehicle ahead
The indicator lights up as soon as the sys-
tem is activated
The bars roll: the vehicle in front of you has
driven off
4Brief display of stored desired speed
If the display --- mph/--- km/h appears
briefly, the conditions necessary for oper-
ation may currently not be met.<
Warning lamps
The indicator2 continuously
flashes yellow.
The prerequisites for operating the
system are no longer met, e.g. as a
result of ABS or DSC interven-
tions. The system brakes until you actively take
over.
The indicator2 flashes red; a sig-
nal sounds.
The system indicates that you
must brake and/or maneuver the
vehicle yourself. The system can-
not automatically restore the distance to the
vehicle driving ahead.
However, this display cannot relieve the driver
of the responsibility for adjusting the desired
speed and driving style to the traffic conditions.

Everything under control
74
Everything under control
Odometer, outside
temperature display, clock
1Time, outside temperature, and date
2Odometer and trip odometer
3Press button:
>with ignition switched on, trip odometer
is reset
>with ignition switched off, time, outside
temperature and odometer are briefly
displayed
From radio readiness, the outside temperature
and the time are displayed.
To request the date:
Press the CHECK button in the turn signal lever,
refer to page80.
To set time and date, refer to page82.
You can set the unit of measure 7 or 6 on the
Control Display, refer to Units of measure on
page84.
Outside temperature warning
If the display drops to +377/+36, a signal
sounds and a warning lamp lights up. A mes-
sage appears on the Control Display. There is
an increased danger of ice.
Ice can form even at temperatures above
+377/+36. Drive carefully, especially
on bridges and shaded roadways; otherwise,
your risk of accident increases.<
Tachometer
Avoid engine speeds in the white-striped
advance warning field, arrow1, if possible.
Be sure to avoid engine speeds in the red warn-
ing field, arrow2. At high revs in this range, the
flow of fuel is interrupted to protect the engine.
Coolant temperature
Should the coolant and therefore the engine
become too hot, a warning lamp lights up. In
addition, a message appears on the Control
Display.
Checking coolant level, refer to page220.