2008 BMW 6 SERIES sport mode

7Reference
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Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publication
thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warran-
ties:
>New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
>Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
>California Emission Control System Limited
Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is
listed in the Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models or in the Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
Reporting safety defects
For US customers
The following applies only to vehicles owned
and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause injury
or death, you should immediately inform the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) in addition to notifying BMW of North
America, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New
Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone (800) 831-
1117.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order
a recall and remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved in individual
problems between you and your dealer or
BMW of North America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to
http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: Adminis-
trator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. You can also obtain
other information about motor vehicle safety
from http://www.safercar.gov
For Canadian customers
Canadian customers who wish to report a
safety-related defect to Transport Canada,
Defect Investigations and Recalls, may call
1-800-333-0510 toll-free from anywhere in
Canada or 1-613-993-9851 from the Ottawa
region and from other countries, or contact
Transport Canada by mail at: Transport
Canada, ASFAD, Place de Ville, Tower C,
330 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0N5.
You can also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from http://www.tc.gc.ca

Controls
59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
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Mobility
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Starting engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms,
otherwise the inhalation of toxic exhaust
gases can cause unconsciousness and death.
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a
potential safety hazard.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run-
ning, select the idling position, or shift the trans-
mission into position P and firmly apply the
handbrake, otherwise the vehicle can begin to
roll.<
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated starting attempts in
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the
fuel is not burned at all or is burned inade-
quately and there is a danger of overheating and
damage to the catalytic converter.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it
running while the vehicle remains stationary.
Instead, drive off at a moderate engine speed.
Manual transmission
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort
access in vehicle, refer to page36.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Depress the clutch pedal and select the
idling position.
3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Sport automatic transmission*
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort
access in vehicle, refer to page36.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
Switching engine off
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
remote control with you.
When parking, firmly apply the handbrake, as
otherwise the vehicle could roll.<
Manual transmission
1.Press the Start/Stop button with the vehicle
stopped.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Firmly apply the handbrake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page58.
Sport automatic transmission*
1.Shift transmission into position P with the
vehicle stopped.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
3.Firmly apply the handbrake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page58.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if you proceed according to
the following steps:
1.With comfort access: insert the remote con-
trol into the ignition lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Shift into transmission position N.
4.switch off the engine.
Transmission position P will be engaged:
>automatically after approx. 30 minutes
>if you remove the remote control from the
ignition lock

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
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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

Things to remember when driving
126 the road surface, ultimately undermining your
ability to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread
depth of the tires decreases, also refer to Mini-
mum tire tread on page213.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if it
is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at
walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the vehi-
cle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Using handbrake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle in
place for a long time by riding the clutch;
use the handbrake. Otherwise, greater clutch
wear will result.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. In situations that require it, it is best to
brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the
brake pedal. Even light but consistent
pedal pressure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
When driving on wet roads or in heavy rain, it is
a good idea to apply light pressure to the brake
pedal every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions
to ensure that this maneuver does not endan-
ger other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure
that full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and thus reduced
efficiency of the brake system, downshift
to a gear in which only minimal brake applica-
tions are needed when descending long or
steep downhill stretches. Even light but consis-
tent pressure on the brake pedal can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
The braking effect of the engine can be further
increased by downshifting, if necessary all the
way down into first gear. This strategy helps
you avoid placing excessive loads on the brake
system. For information on downshifting in the
manual mode of the sport automatic transmis-
sion, refer to page61.
Do not drive with the clutch depressed, in
idle or with the engine switched off, other-
wise there will be no engine braking action or
support of the braking force and steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area of movement
of the pedals and impair their operation.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
When vehicle is parked
Condensation forms in the automatic climate
control during operation, and then exits under
the vehicle. Traces of condensed water under
the vehicle are therefore normal.

Everything from A to Z
250
I
IBOC, refer to High Definition
Radio166
Ice, refer to Outside
temperature warning74
ID3-Tag, refer to Information
about track174
Identification mark
– recommended tire
brands215
– run-flat tires214
– tire coding212
iDrive16
– adjusting brightness83
– assistance window20
– changing date and time82
– changing language84
– changing menu page19
– changing settings82
– changing units of measure
and display form84
– controller16
– controls16
– displays, menus17
– operating principle17
– selecting menu item19
– selecting or confirming
entry19
– start menu17
– status information20
– symbols18
Ignition58
– switched off59
– switched on58
Ignition key, refer to Keys/
remote control28
Ignition key position 1, refer to
Radio readiness58
Ignition key position 2, refer to
Ignition on58
Ignition lock58
– starting engine with comfort
access38
i menu17
Imprint2Indicator/warning lamps
– ABS Antilock Brake
System88
– active steering93
– airbags95
– brake system88
– DSC13,87
– DTC13,88
– Flat Tire Monitor90
– fog lamps13,106
– handbrake13,60
– safety belt warning52
– TPM Tire Pressure
Monitor92
Indicator and warning lamps,
overview13
Inflation pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure210
Inflation pressure monitoring
– refer to Flat Tire Monitor89
– refer to Tire Pressure
Monitor90
Info menu17
Information
– on another location140
– on current position140
– on town/city of
destination140
"Information" for navigation
system140
Information menu, refer to
imenu17
"Information on
destination"141
"Info sources"77
Initializing
– Flat Tire Monitor89
– radio, refer to Storing
stations164
– refer to Power failure226
– seat, mirror and steering
wheel memory49
– time and date82
"Input map"139
Installation location
– CD changer176
– drive for navigation DVD132Instructions for navigation
system, refer to Voice
instructions149
Instrument cluster12
Instrument illumination, refer
to Instrument lighting106
Instrument lighting106
Instrument panel, refer to
Cockpit10
Instrument panel, refer to
Instrument cluster12
Integrated key28
Integrated universal remote
control115
Interesting destination for
navigation140
"Interim time"82
Interior lamps106
– switching on with remote
control31
Interior motion sensor36
– switching off36
Interior rearview mirror,
automatic dimming
feature54
Intermittent wiper mode64
J
Jacking points225
Joystick, refer to iDrive16
Jump starting228
K
Keyless-Go, refer to Comfort
access36
Keyless opening and closing,
refer to Comfort access36
Key Memory, refer to Personal
Profile29
"Keypad"194
Keys28
– key-related settings, refer to
Personal Profile29
– spare key28
Kick-down, Sport automatic
transmission61

Reference 251
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Knee airbags94
Knock control209
L
Lamps
– refer to High-beam
assistant104
– refer to Parking lamps/low
beams102
Lamps and bulbs223
Lane limit lines, refer to
Leaving lane warning101
"Language / Units"84
– for navigation
system133,149
"Languages"84
– for navigation
system133,149
Lashing eyes, refer to
Securing cargo128
Last destinations, refer to
Destination list141
"Last seat pos."50
LATCH child restraint fixing
system56
Leaving lane warning101
LEDs light-emitting
diodes223
Length, refer to
Dimensions235
License plate lamps, replacing
bulbs225
Light-emitting diodes
LEDs223
Lighter119
"Lighting"64,103
Lighting
– instruments106
– lamps and bulbs223
– of the vehicle, refer to
Lamps102
Light switch102
"Limit"81
Loading, refer to Cargo
loading127
Load securing equipment,
refer to Securing cargo128"Lock after driving"33
Lock buttons in the doors,
refer to Locking33
Locking31
– confirmation signals31
– from inside33
– from outside31
– without key, refer to Comfort
access36
Locking and unlocking doors
– confirmation signals31
– from inside32
– from outside30
Low beams102
– automatic102
– replacing bulbs224
Lower back support, refer to
Lumbar support48
Luggage compartment
– capacity237
– emergency release35
– hotel function33
– increasing capacity,
Convertible35
– opening/closing, refer to
Luggage compartment
lid34
– opening from inside34
– opening from outside34
– opening with remote
control31
Luggage compartment lid34
– comfort access37
– emergency operation34
– emergency release35
– opening from inside34
– opening from outside34
– opening with remote
control31,34
– unlocking manually34
Lumbar support48
LW, waveband162
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires215
Maintenance221
– refer to Service and
Warranty Information
Booklet for US models221
– refer to Service
requirements77
– refer to Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models221
Maintenance system221
Malfunction
– convertible top43
– door lock32
– driver's door32
– fuel filler door208
– glass sunroof41
– hotel function33
– luggage compartment lid34
Malfunction warnings, refer to
Check Control79
Manual air distribution110
"Manual" on the radio163
Manual operation
– convertible top43
– door lock32
– driver's door32
– fuel filler door208
– glass sunroof41
– hotel function33
– luggage compartment lid34
– transmission lock, sport
automatic transmission62
Manual transmission60
"Map direction of travel"148
"Map facing north"148
Map for navigation
– changing scale148
– destination entry139
Map view148
Map view facing north148
Master key, refer to Keys/
remote control28
Maximum cooling111