2008 BMW 750LI Starting engine

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
88 as fishtailing or sliding of the vehicle's front
wheels. In these cases, DSC helps the vehicle
safely stay on course within the physical limits
by reducing the engine output and by applying
the brakes in the individual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed,
even with DSC. An appropriate driving
style always remains the responsibility of the
driver. Do not squander your added margin of
safety by driving dangerously; otherwise you
run the risk of causing an accident.<
Deactivating DSC
1.Press the button to open the start
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Settings".
3.Select "DTC" and press the controller for at
least 3 seconds.
The LED for "DTC" and the DSC indicator lamp
on the Info Display light up. DTC Dynamic Trac-
tion Control and DSC Dynamic Stability Control
are deactivated together. Interventions promot-
ing stability and forward momentum will no
longer be carried out.
To promote enhanced operating stability, reac-
tivate DSC again as soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Select "DTC" and press the controller.
The LED on the Control Display and the DSC
indicator lamp on the Info Display go out.
For control purposes
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC is controlling the drive forces and
brake forces. The indicator lamp comes on:
DSC is deactivated.
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
DTC is a version of DSC that is optimized for
forward momentum in special road conditions.
The system ensures maximum forward
momentum, but with limited driving stability.
Therefore, drive with appropriate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC
under the following special circumstances:
>When driving on snow-covered uphill
grades, in slushy snow or on uncleared,
snow-covered roads
>When rocking a stuck vehicle free or when
starting off in deep snow or on loose ground
>When driving with snow chains
Activating DTC
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the button to open the start
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Settings".
3.Select "DTC" and press the controller.
The LED for "DTC" and the DTC indicator lamp
on the Info Display light up.
For control purposes
The indicator lamp flashes:
DTC is controlling the drive forces and
brake forces.
The indicator lamp comes on:
DTC is activated.

Controls
107Reference
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Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The interior temperature, air volume, and air
distribution can be set starting from the radio
ready state.
Switching cooling function on and off
manually
When activated, the air conditioner
mode cools and dehumidifies the
incoming air, reheating it as
required, depending on the temperature set-
ting. Depending on the weather, the windshield
may fog over briefly when the engine is started.
The cooling function is switched on automati-
cally with the AUTO program. The passenger
compartment can only be cooled with the
engine running.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster
switches off automatically after a
while. Depending on your equip-
ment package, the upper wires are used as an
antenna and are not part of the rear window
defroster.
Front ventilation
1Knurled wheels for smoothly opening and
closing the air vents
2Knurled wheels for changing airflow direc-
tion
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the vents to direct the flow of cool air in
your direction, for instance, if the interior has
become too warm, etc.
Draft-free ventilation
Set the vent outlets so that the air flows past
you and is not directed straight at you.
Ventilation in rear
1Knurled wheel for smoothly opening and
closing the air vents
1Knurled wheels for smoothly opening and
closing the air vents
2Levers for changing airflow direction
3Knurled wheels
* for setting temperature:
>Turn toward blue: colder
>Turn toward red: warmer
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The microfilter removes dust and pollen from
the incoming air. The activated-charcoal filter
provides additional protection by filtering gas-
eous pollutants from the outside air. Your BMW
center replaces this combined filter as a stan-
dard part of your scheduled maintenance.
You can select a display of more detailed infor-
mation in the service required display, refer to
page78.

Mobility
199Reference
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Fuel specifications
Do not use leaded gasoline; otherwise,
you will damage the catalytic converter.
Do not fill the tank with E85, i.e. fuel consisting
of 85Ξ ethanol or flex fuel. Otherwise the
engine and fuel supply system will be dam-
aged.<
Required fuel
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with a
lower AKI rating. 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 effect on the engine life.
Do not use any gasoline below the mini-
mum specified fuel grade. Otherwise the
engine could be damaged.<
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 10Ξ ethanol or other
oxygenates with up to 2.8Ξ oxygen by weight,
that is, 15Ξ MTBE or 3Ξ 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 driveability 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 result in unscheduled maintenance.<

Under the hood
208
Engine compartment
1Wiper fluid filler neck66
2Engine oil filler neck, refer to Adding engine
oil3Body ground, negative terminal220
4Coolant expansion tank210
5Jump starting terminal220
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption depends on driving
style and driving conditions.
Checking oil level
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic oil
level control.
To obtain the most accurate possible oil level
reading, the measurement should be taken
when the engine is at operating temperature,
i.e. following an uninterrupted drive of at least
6 miles/10 km. You can display the oil level
while driving or when stopped on a level surface
with the engine running.
The current oil level can be viewed on the Con-
trol Display.
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.1.Press the button to open the start
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Car Data".
3.Select and press the controller.
The oil level is displayed.
Turn the controller to exit the list.

Mobility
217Reference
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2.Guide the jack head into the rectangular
recess of the jacking point when cranking
up the jack, refer to section of illustration.
3.Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you are
changing is raised from the ground.
Mounting a wheel
1.Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel.
2.Remove accumulations of mud or dirt from
the mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub. Clean the lug bolts.
3.Position the new wheel or spare tire on the
hub and screw in at least two bolts diago-
nally.
When you mount wheels other than Genu-
ine BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug
bolts may also be required.
4.Screw in the remaining lug bolts. Tighten all
the bolts securely in a diagonal pattern.
5.Lower the vehicle and remove the jack from
beneath the vehicle.
After mounting
1.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
To ensure safety, always have the
lug bolts checked with a calibrated
torque wrench as soon as possible to
ensure that they are tightened to the speci-
fied torque. The tightening torque is
100lbft/140Nm.<
2.Reverse the removal sequence when stor-
ing the wheel and tools in the vehicle.3.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
Use valve stem seal caps to protect
valve stems from dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
4.Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page90, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page92.
5.Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire balanced.
Driving with spare tire
On certain wheel-tire combinations, the
size of the spare tire differs from that of
the rest of the tires. The spare tire is fully capa-
ble of running in all load and speed ranges.
However, to recreate the original conditions,
the tire should be replaced as soon as possi-
ble.<
Vehicle battery
Maintenance
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, i.e., the
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW center will be happy to advise
you on all questions concerning the battery.
Charging battery
Charge the battery in the vehicle only via the
terminals in the engine compartment and with
the engine off. Connections, refer to Jump
starting on page220.

Giving and receiving assistance
220 Select "BMW Assist" if you have applied for this
information service, refer to Roadside Assis-
tance on page190.
Warning triangle*
The warning triangle is conveniently stored in
the onboard tool kit mounted on the inside of
the luggage compartment lid.
First-aid kit*
The first-aid kit is also located in the container
of the onboard tool kit.
Some of the articles contained in the first-aid kit
have a limited service life. Check the expiration
dates of the contents regularly and replace the
contents concerned in a timely fashion as
needed.
Jump starting
When your battery is discharged, you can use
two jumper cables to start your vehicle with
power from the battery in a second vehicle. You
can also use the same method to help start
another vehicle. Use only jumper cables with
fully-insulated terminal clamps.
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal injury,
always avoid all contact with electrical
components while the engine is running. Care-
fully adhere to the following sequence, both to
prevent damage to one or both vehicles, and to
guard against possible personal injury.<
Preparing
1.Check whether the battery of the other
vehicle has a voltage of 12 Volts and
approximately the same capacitance in Ah.
This information is listed on the battery.
2.Switch off the engine of the assisting vehi-
cle.
3.Switch off any electrical systems and com-
ponents in both vehicles.
Make sure that there is no contact
between the bodywork of the two vehi-
cles; otherwise, there is a danger of short cir-
cuits.<
Connecting jumper cables
To avoid personal injury from sparks, fol-
low this sequence when connecting jum-
per cables.<
In your BMW, the so-called jump starting termi-
nal in the engine compartment functions as the
positive battery terminal. The symbol + is
embossed on the cover.
1.Remove the cover of the BMW jump start-
ing terminal, refer to arrow1.
2.Attach one terminal clamp of the plus/+
jumper cable to the positive terminal of the
battery or a jump starting terminal of the
vehicle providing assistance.
3.Attach the second positive/+ clamp of the
jumper cable to the positive battery terminal
or to a jump starting terminal on the vehicle
to be started.
4.Attach one negative/– clamp of the jumper
cable to the negative battery terminal or to
an engine or body ground of the assisting
vehicle.

Mobility
221Reference
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Your BMW has a special nut that serves as a
body ground or negative terminal, refer to
arrow2.
5.Attach the second negative/– clamp of the
jumper cable to the negative battery termi-
nal or to an engine or body ground on the
vehicle to be started.
Starting engine
1.Start the engine of the assisting vehicle and
allow it to run for several minutes at a fast
idle.
2.Start the engine on the other vehicle in the
usual way.
If the first start attempt is not successful,
wait a few minutes before another attempt
in order to allow the discharged battery to
recharge.
3.Allow the engines to run for several min-
utes.
4.Disconnect the jumper cables again in the
reverse sequence.
If need be, have the battery checked and
recharged.
Never use spray fluids to start the
engine.<
Towing and tow starting
Observe applicable laws and regulations
for tow starting and towing.<
Do not transport any passengers other
than the driver in a vehicle that is being
towed.<
Using tow fitting
The threaded tow fitting is stored in the
onboard tool kit and must always remain in the
vehicle. It can be screwed in at the front or rear
of the BMW.
Only use the tow fitting that comes with
the vehicle and screw it in as far as it will
go. Use the tow fitting for towing only on roads.
Avoid lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift the vehicle by the tow fitting. Otherwise,
damage to the tow fitting and the vehicle can
occur.<
Access to screw thread
Press the arrow symbol to push out the cover.
Being towed
Do not tow the vehicle by the rear axle;
because there is no steering lock, the
wheels could turn to an extreme angle during
towing. There is no power assist with the
engine stopped. This then requires increased
effort for braking and steering.<
Switch on the hazard warning flashers depend-
ing on the local regulations. If the electrical sys-
tem fails, mark the vehicle to be towed, e.g. with
a sign or warning triangle in the rear window.
Selector lever in position N. Releasing
shiftlock manually, refer to page64. To
avoid damaging the automatic transmission, do
not exceed a towing speed of 45 mph/70 km/h
and a towing distance of 95 miles/150 km.<
Towing methods
In some countries, towing with tow bars or
ropes in public traffic is not permitted.
Familiarize yourself with the regulations on tow-
ing in the respective country.
With tow bar
The towing vehicle must not be lighter
than the vehicle to be towed; otherwise,
it will no longer be possible to control vehicle
response.<

Everything from A to Z
234 BMW homepage4
BMW Maintenance
System211
BMW Night Vision97
– activating/deactivating98
– cleaning camera99
– making settings98
Boot, refer to Luggage
compartment119
Bottle holder, refer to Cup
holders115
Brake assistant87
Brake force display94
Brake lamp, adaptive, refer to
Brake force display94
Brake lamps
– brake force display94
– replacing bulbs214
Brake rotors, refer to
Corrosion on brake
rotors123
Brakes123
– ABS87
– brake force display94
– breaking-in122
– parking brake58
Brake system
– BMW Maintenance
System211
– breaking-in122
– refer to Braking safely123
Breakdown service, refer to
Roadside
Assistance190,219
Breaking-in122
Breaking-in differential, refer
to Engine and
differential122
"Brightness"
– BMW Night Vision99
– DVD changer172
– on Control Display85
Bulbs, replacing213
"button", programmable
buttons52
Buttons
– next to the controller16
– on steering wheel11
C
"Calculate", refer to
Bypassing route
sections147
Calculating distance to
destination77
California Proposition 65
Warning6
"CALL"192
Call
– accepting184
– automatically accepting,
refer to Hands-free
system179
– rejecting184
– touch tone dialing180
– while away, refer to Dialing
numbers stored in a list186
Call back list, refer to Dialing a
number from phone book or
from numbers stored in a
list185
Calling
– from phone book185
– from Top 8 list186
– redialing185
– with retracting telephone
keypad179
Can holder, refer to Cup
holders115
Capacities229
– luggage compartment228
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery217
Car care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
"Car Data"79,81
Care, refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Caring for the upholstery, refer
to Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for the vehicle finish,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochureCar key, refer to Remote
control/key30
Carpet care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Car radio, refer to Radio156
Car wash123
– also refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– with Comfort Access39
Catalytic converter, refer to
Hot exhaust system122
"Categories", radio161
CBC Cornering Brake
Control87
CBS Condition Based
Service211
"CD", CD player163
"CDC", CD changer166
CD changer165
– compressed audio files166
– controls152
– fast forward, reverse
167
– installation location165
– random sequence167
– sampling167
– selecting a CD166
– selecting track166
– starting165
– tone control153
– volume153
CD player163
– controls152
– fast forward, reverse164
– random sequence164
– sampling163
– selecting tracks163
– starting163
– tone control153
– volume153
Center armrest
– front113
– rear114
Center console, refer to
Comfort features14
Central locking system31
– Comfort Access38
– from the inside34
"CHANGE", navigation138