2008 BMW M5 SEDAN open hood

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 page238.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
23Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
41Adjusting
53Transporting children safely
56Driving
66Everything under control
78Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
92Lamps
97Climate
104Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
114Things to remember when driving
119BMW M5 Engineering
Navigation
122Starting navigation system
124Destination entry
136Destination guidance
145What to do if …
Entertainment
148On/off and tone
152Radio
159Satellite radio
162CD player and CD changer
168AUX-In connection
169USB/audio interface
Communications
174Telephoning
189BMW Assist
Mobility
198Refueling
200Wheels and tires
206Under the hood
212Maintenance
214Replacing components
223Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
230Technical data
233Short commands of voice command
system
238Everything from A to Z

At a glance
11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7Shift paddles61
8Buttons on steering wheel
9Instrument cluster12
12Ignition lock56
13Horn, entire surface16Releasing hood206
Mobile phone
*174:
>Press: accepting and ending
call, starting dialing
* for
selected phone number and
redialing if no phone number is
selected
>Press and hold: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice
command system
* 23
Changing radio station152
Selecting music track163
Scrolling in phone book and in
lists with stored phone numbers
MDrive, call up individual
settings50
Individually programmable50
10
Windshield wipers63
Rain sensor63
11Starting/stopping engine and
Switching ignition on/off 56
14
Steering wheel heater
*49
Steering wheel adjustment49
15
Cruise control65
17Opening luggage compartment
lid33
18
Head-Up Display
*89
19
Parking lamps92
Low beams92
Daytime running lamps
*93
Automatic headlamp control92

Daytime running lamps*93
Adaptive Head Light
*94
High-beam assistant
*94
20
Instrument lighting96

Controls
35Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the luggage com-
partment lid are opened
>To movements in the vehicle: interior
motion sensor, refer to page35
>To changes in the vehicle's tilt if someone
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the
vehicle
>To interruptions in battery voltage
Unauthorized operations are briefly signaled by
the alarm system:
>with an acoustic alarm
>by switching on
the hazard warning flashers
>by flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming alarm system
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
The luggage compartment lid can also be
opened with the system armed with the but-
ton on the remote control, refer to page33.
When the luggage compartment lid is closed, it
is locked and monitored again.
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote control,
refer to page30.
>Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the interior rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
doors, hood or luggage compartment lid are
not properly closed. Even if you do not close
the alerted area, the system begins to mon-
itor the remaining areas, and the indicator
lamp flashes continuously after approx.
10 seconds. However, the interior motion
sensor is not activated.
>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
your vehicle has not been disturbed while
you were away.
>The indicator lamp flashes after unlocking
until the remote control is inserted into the
ignition lock, however for a maximum of
approx. 5 minutes: your vehicle has been
disturbed while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm
system reacts, e.g. in case of an attempted
wheel theft or towing.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof
*
must be completely closed.

Controls
57Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Radio readiness and ignition
switched 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, shift into neutral
* or move the selector
lever into position N and firmly apply the hand-
brake, 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 or inadequately burned and
there is a danger of overheating and damaging
the catalytic converter.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it
running while the vehicle remains stationary.
Instead, begin to drive 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 shift into
idling position.
3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Sequential Manual Transmission with
Drivelogic
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort
access in vehicle, refer to page36.
1.Firmly apply the handbrake.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Place selector lever in position N.
4.Press the Start/Stop button.
If the engine does not start, shift back to
the last selector lever position selected,
refer to the instrument cluster display or the
selector lever. Then select position N.
You cannot start off with the hood open.
When the engine is cold, the exhaust system
has a slightly metallic undertone due to the sys-
tem design.<
Switching off engine
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 page56.
Sequential Manual Transmission with
Drivelogic
1.Firmly apply the handbrake.
2.Shift into a driving position.
3.Press the Start/Stop button.
If N is engaged when switching off the
engine, this will be pointed out to you opti-
cally and acoustically.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page56.

Driving
60
Selector lever positions
>R: Reverse gear
>N: Neutral
>Β: Drive position:
>+: manual upshifting
>–: manual downshifting
>D/S: switch between Drive mode and
Sequential mode
Shiftlock
Press the brake pedal before shifting out of N;
the shift command will not be executed unless
the brake is applied.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Idle
Always select before starting engine.
If the driving situation requires, e.g. when down-
shifting on a slippery road surface, the Sequen-
tial Manual Transmission automatically
clutches and then declutches again, i.e. it is not
necessary to manually shift into idling mode.
The system shifts into N when you open
the driver's door or the hood with the
engine running and do not operate pedals, shift
paddles or the selector lever. To begin driving
after closing the driver's door or the hood, first
shift the selector lever into the N position, and
then shift into drive.<
S Sequential mode
You can shift up and down using the shift pad-
dles or the selector lever. You do not need to
remove your foot from the accelerator to do so.
After every engine start, as soon as the selector
lever is pushed to the right into the drive
positionΒ and the brake pedal is pressed, the
Sequential mode is activated.
Starting off is also possible on a level road sur-
face in second gear, e.g. in case of ice.
In the following situations, the Sequential Man-
ual Transmission thinks for you:
>Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combina-
tion of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for
example, a downshift that would cause the
engine to overrev will not be executed by
the system.
>When the vehicle is stationary, the trans-
mission automatically downshifts into first
gear.
>Shortly before dropping below a gear-
dependent minimum speed, the transmis-
sion downshifts automatically even without
your intervention.
D Drive mode
In the Drive mode, all forward gears are shifted
automatically.
Shifting from Sequential mode to Drive mode:
press selector lever to the right toward D/S.
To switch back into the Sequential mode: shift
using the shift paddles or the selector lever or
press selector lever to the right toward D/S
again.
Kick-down: for rapid acceleration, e. g. when
passing, press the accelerator pedal as far
down as it will go. You achieve maximum accel-
eration.

Under the hood
206
Under the hood
Never attempt to perform any service or
repair operations on your vehicle without
the required professional technical training.
If you do not know what repair procedures to
follow, have work on your vehicle done only by
your BMW center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. If this work is
not carried out properly, there is a danger of
subsequent damage and related safety haz-
ards.<
Hood
Releasing
Pull lever.
Opening
Press the release handle and open the hood.
You cannot start off with the hood open.<
Closing
Close the hood from a height of approx. 16 in/
40 cm with momentum. It must be clearly heard
to engage.
Make sure that the closing path of the
hood is clear, otherwise injuries may
result.
If you see any signs that the hood is not com-
pletely closed while driving your vehicle, you
should stop at once and close it securely.<

Mobility
211Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling system
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant
can cause burns.<
Coolant is composed of equal parts water and a
coolant additive. Not all commercially available
additives are suitable for your BMW. Ask your
BMW center for suitable additives.
Only use suitable additives, otherwise
engine damage may result. The additives
present a health hazard; observe the instruc-
tions on the containers.<
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when dis-
posing of coolant additives.<
Checking coolant level
1.Do not open the hood until the engine has
cooled down.
2.Turn the cap of the expansion tank counter-
clockwise to allow any accumulated pres-
sure to escape, then continue turning to
open.
3.The coolant level is correct when the upper
end of the float rod is at the same height as
the upper edge of the filler neck, also refer
to the drawing next to the filler neck.
4.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to
the specified level – do not overfill.
5.Turn the cap until there is an audible click.
6.Have the reason for the coolant loss elimi-
nated as soon as possible.

Everything from A to Z
250 "Random", random play
sequence165
"Random all" in audio
mode166
"Random directory" in audio
mode165
"RDS"155
Reading lamps96
Rear armrest, refer to Center
armrest, rear110
Rear lamps, refer to Tail
lamps216
– replacing bulbs216
Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints45
– folding over backrest110
– heating47
– removing head restraints45
Rear socket109
Rear ventilation101
Rearview mirror48
Rear window
– heating99
– roller sun blind, refer to Sun
blinds105
Rear window safety switch38
"Received calls"182
Reception
– quality155
– radio stations155
– regional station154
Reception level of mobile
phone, refer to Status
information20
Rechargeable flashlight106
Recirculated-air mode100
– air recirculation100
– AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control100
Reclining seat, refer to
Seats42
Recording times, refer to
Stopwatch74
"Redial" for mobile phone182
Redialing with mobile
phone187
Reflectors, refer to Tail
lamps216Refueling198
Releasing
– hood206
– locks, refer to Unlocking36
"Relock door if not
opened"32
Remaining distance, refer to
Cruising range68
Remaining distance to
destination, refer to
Computer68
Remote control28
– comfort access36
– garage door opener
104
– luggage compartment lid31
– malfunction31,37
– replacing battery37
Removing condensation on
the windows99
"Repeat directory" in audio
mode165
"Repeat" in audio mode165
"Repeat track" in audio
mode165
Replacement fuses222
Replacement of tires, refer to
Changing wheels219
Replacement remote control,
refer to New remote
controls28
Replacing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs214
Replacing tires203
Replacing wheels/tires, refer
to New wheels and tires203
Reporting safety defects7
Reserve warning, refer to Fuel
gauge67
"Reset"84,85
– stopwatch74
– tone settings151
Reset, refer to Resetting tone
settings151
"resetting FTM …"84
"Reset to default" with
MDrive51
Residual heat100Restraint systems
– for children53
– refer to Safety belts45
Retreaded tires203
Reverse, fast
– CD changer166
– CD player166
Reverse gear60
– manual transmission58
Road map138
"Roadside
Assistance"184,190
Roadside Assistance224
Roadside assistance190
Roadside parking lamps94
Roof load capacity232
Roof-mounted luggage
rack118
Rope, refer to Tow-starting
and towing225
Rotary/pushbutton, refer to
iDrive16
Route134
– bypassing sections
140
– changing140
– changing criteria134
– displaying137
– displaying arrow display137
– displaying map view138
– displaying streets or towns/
cities139
– selecting134
Route information, refer to
Destination guidance with
voice instructions139
Route map, refer to Displaying
map view138
"Route preference",
changing134
Route selection134
Rubber parts, refer to Caring
for your vehicle brochure