2008 BMW M6 CONVERTIBLE Owners Manual

Controls
63Reference
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Communications
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Mobility
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. passing,
press the accelerator pedal as far down as it will
go. You achieve maximum acceleration.
Displays in instrument cluster
1Gear 1 to 7, R, N engaged
2Selected driving program,
matches the number of illuminated fields,
refer to Drivelogic on page63
3In drive mode, the currently selected gear
followed by a D is displayed.
The gear display flashes when you open
the driver's door with the engine running.
If you do not subsequently operate the pedals,
shift paddles, or selector lever, then the system
shifts into N.<
Gear changes
Using selector lever
>To upshift, pull the selector lever back.
>To downshift, push the selector lever for-
ward.
Using shift paddles on steering wheel
>To upshift, briefly pull the right shift
paddle +.
>To downshift, briefly pull the left shift
paddle –.
Drivelogic
With Drivelogic various driving programs are
available to you.
Each time you change between the Sequential
mode and the Drive mode, the driving program
last selected in the respective mode is active.
Exception: after the first change from the
Sequential to the Drive mode, driving program 3
is active.
In Drive mode
There are five different driving programs, rang-
ing from relaxed 1 to sporty/highly dynamic 5.
In Sequential mode
You can choose from six driving programs from
balanced/dynamic 1 to sporty/purist 6.
Each time the engine is started, driving
program 3 is activated.
Program 6 is only available when the DSC
Dynamic Stability Control is deactivated, refer
to page83. If DSC is activated, then the system
switches from program 6 to program 5
To maintain vehicle stability, always acti-
vate DSC whenever possible.<

Driving
64
Selecting driving program with button
in center console
Press the button repeatedly until the desired
driving program is displayed in the instrument
cluster, refer to page.63
Selecting driving program via button
on steering wheel
You can also activate your preferred driving pro-
gram with the button on the steering wheel,
refer to MDrive on page53.
With the ignition switched on you can change
the settings of MDrive on the Control Display.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "MDrive" and press the controller.
4.Select "SMG Drivelogic" and press the con-
troller. The first setting is selected.
5.Turn the controller to set Drive mode or
Sequential mode.
"Unchanged" retains the current settings
made outside of MDrive.
6.Press the controller to select driving pro-
grams.7.Turn the controller to set the driving pro-
gram.
8.Press the controller.
Shift lights
To achieve the best vehicle acceleration with
a sporty driving style in the Sequential mode,
shift lights in the Head-Up Display
* indicate the
optimum shifting point briefly before reaching
the maximum rpm.
1.Switch on Head-Up Display, refer to Head-
Up Display on page93.
2.Select display "M View" on Head-Up Dis-
play, refer to Selecting displays on page93.
The current engine speed is highlighted on
the tachometer.
3.When approaching the maximum rpm, yel-
low illuminated fields1 of the tachometer
consecutively indicate the approaching
upshift point.
4.Shift at the latest when the red indicator
field2 lights up.
When the permissible maximum rpm is
reached, the entire tachometer begins to flash.
When the maximum rpm is exceeded, the fuel
supply is cut off to protect the engine. Always
avoid engine speeds in this range.
M Engine Dynamic Control
With M Engine Dynamic Control you can influ-
ence how sporty the reaction of your vehicle to
accelerator pedal movements is to be. Three
programs are available for engine control.

Controls
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"P 400" program
In the "P 400" program the engine reacts gently
to the movement of the accelerator pedal. This
is, for example, ideal for city driving or driving on
snow. In the process, the fuel consumption is
minimal and the engine output is reduced.
"P 500" program
The "P 500" program provides maximum per-
formance and more spontaneous reaction of
the engine to accelerator pedal movements.
"P 500 Sport" program
In the "P 500 Sport" program the engine reacts
especially spontaneously and uncompromis-
ingly sporty with maximum performance to
accelerator pedal movements.
Selecting program
Each time the engine is started, the "P 400"
program is activated.
Press the POWER button to activate the
"P 500" program. Pressing the POWER button
repeatedly switches between the programs
"P 400" and "P 500".
You can also activate your preferred program
with the button on the steering wheel, refer
to MDrive on page53. You can only activate the
"P 500 Sport" program with MDrive.
For the programs "P 500" and "P 500 Sport"
the LED in the POWER button lights up.
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals
Using turn signals
Move the lever beyond the resistance point.
To switch off manually, only press the lever to
the resistance point.
Atypically rapid flashing of the indicator
lamp indicates the failure of a turn signal
lamp.<
Signaling briefly
Press the lever to the resistance point and hold
it there as long as you wish to signal.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever to the resistance point; the turn
signals flash three times.
You can activate or deactivate this function.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.

Driving
66 5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "Lighting" is selected and
press the controller.
6.Select "Triple turn signal" and press the
controller.
Triple turn signal is activated.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating rain sensor
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps
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 whenever the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Briefly press twice or press beyond the resis-
tance point.
The system reverts to operation at normal
speed whenever the vehicle is stationary.
Rain sensor
Wiper operation is controlled automatically as a
function of the rain intensity. The rain sensor 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 and headlamps
Pull the lever, arrow4:
The system sprays washer fluid against the
windshield and activates the wipers for a brief
period.
When the vehicle lighting is switched on, the
headlamps are simultaneously washed at
appropriate intervals.

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67Reference
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Do not use the washers 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
washers when the washer fluid reservoir is
empty, as this will damage the washer pump.<
Windshield washer nozzles
Both windshield washer nozzles are automati-
cally heated with the engine running or the igni-
tion switched on.
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable.
For this reason, keep it away from ignition
sources and store only in the closed original
container out of reach of children. Otherwise,
there is the danger of bodily injury. Always fol-
low the instructions for use provided on the
containers.<
Filler neck for washer fluid
All washer nozzles are supplied from one reser-
voir.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
In order to maintain the mixture ratio, mix
the washer fluid before filling.<
Capacity
Capacity approx. 5.3 US quarts/5 liters.
Cruise control
The concept
The cruise control is available for use at speeds
of approx. 20 mph/30 km/h and higher. The
vehicle stores and maintains the speed that you
set using the lever mounted on the steering col-
umn. To maintain the specified speed, the sys-
tem brakes if the engine braking effect is not
sufficient on a downhill grade. Speed can drop
on uphill grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.
Do not use the cruise control under driv-
ing conditions that do not permit a con-
stant speed, e.g. when driving on winding
roads, in heavy traffic or in poor road conditions
such as snow, rain, ice, and loose road surface.
Otherwise, you could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident.<
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.

Driving
68 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 depress the clutch pedal
>when you shift manually
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

Controls
69Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Everything under control
Odometer, outside
temperature display, clock
1Time, outside temperature, refer to Com-
puter on page70
2Odometer and trip odometer
3Press button:
>with ignition switched on, trip odometer
is reset
>with ignition switched off, odometer is
briefly displayed
Tachometer
The advance warning field, arrow1, and the red
warning field, arrow2, change depending on
the engine temperature. As the engine temper-
ature rises, the permissible engine speed also
increases. Avoid allowing the engine speed to
rise as far as the advance warning field when-
ever possible.
Be sure to avoid engine speeds in the red warn-
ing field. 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 page213.

Everything under control
70
Engine oil temperature*
The general operating temperature lies
between 1757/806 and 2507/1206. Do
not exceed a value of approx. 2657/1306.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, the per-
missible engine speed, and with it the available
engine output is reduced.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 18.5 US gal/
70 liters. You can find information on refueling
on page200.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period,
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
After the reserve quantity has been reached, a
message briefly appears on the Control Display;
the cruising range is shown in the computer.
Below a range of approx. 30 miles/50 km, the
message remains on the Control Display.
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur.<
Computer
Displays in instrument cluster
Press the button on the turn signal lever.
The following information is displayed in the
specified order:
>Time and outside temperature
>Cruising range
>Average fuel consumption
>Oil level, refer to Checking engine oil level
on page210
Manual transmission:
The range, average consumption and
fluid level are shown in the lower display in place
of the gear indicator.
It is possible to change between the time and
date display by pressing the CHECK button.<
Time
To set the time, refer to page77.
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.<
You can set the unit of measure 7 or 6 on the
Control Display, refer to Units of measure on
page79.