2009 BMW 6 SERIES ESP

Things to remember when driving
128 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, refer also to Mini-
mum tire tread on page217.
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 of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate 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 roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal
every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
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 can lead to high tem-
peratures, 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 page63.
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 air conditioner sys-
tem during operation, and then exits under the
vehicle. Traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are therefore normal.
Before driving into a car wash
To prevent the exterior mirrors on this vehicle
from being damaged, always fold them in by
hand before entering an automatic car wash.

Destination entry
138
Entering destination by zip code
1.Select "Town / City" and press the control-
ler.
2.Enter the zip code:
Select the desired digits and press the con-
troller.
>Enter a blank space:
Select the symbol and press the con-
troller.
>Delete individual numbers or letters:
Move the controller toward the right to
select and press the controller.
>Delete all numbers or letters:
Move the controller toward the right to
select and press and hold the con-
troller.
3.Select the zip code and press the controller.
The corresponding destination is displayed.
4.Change into the third field from the top.
Turn the controller until the destination is
selected and press the controller.
Entering street, house number and
intersection
After the street you can also enter the intersec-
tion or the house number.
Entering street and intersection
1.Select "Street" or the street displayed and
press the controller.
2.Enter the street.
The street is entered exactly like the desti-
nation.
The intersection is entered in the same way as
the street.
Entering a street without entering
destination
You can also enter a street without entering a
destination. In this case all streets of the
entered country are offered for selection. The
related town/city is displayed after the street
name.
If a town/city has already been entered, you can
undo this entry. This may be practical if the
desired street does not exist in the entered des-
tination, because, for example, it belongs to
another part of the town/city.
1.Change to upper field.
The arrow is selected.

Destination entry
140 volume, avoiding excessive emphasis and
pauses.
The system can suggest up to 20 destina-
tions that match your entries. Up to
6 entries are displayed at once on the Con-
trol Display.
The town/city can also be selected from the list
via iDrive:
Turn the controller until the destination is
selected and press the controller.
Entering the destination as an entire
word*
Towns/cities and streets located in the region
where the language of the voice command sys-
tem is spoken can be entered as an entire word.
Example: to enter a US destination as an entire
word, the system language must be English.
Speak smoothly and at normal volume, avoiding
excessive emphasis and pauses.1.Wait for the system to request the destina-
tion.
The system can suggest up to 6 destina-
tions that match your entries.
The town/city can also be selected from the list
via iDrive:
Turn the controller until the destination is
selected and press the controller.
Destinations that sound the same which
cannot be differentiated by the system
are summarized in a separate list and shown as
a destination followed by three dots.
Select this entry with {Yes} if necessary. Then
select the desired town/city from this list.<
Entering street and house number
The street is entered in the same way as the
destination.
To enter the house number:
Up to 4-digit house numbers can be entered.
Say the house number as individual numbers. 1.Spell town/city name:
Say at least the first three letters of the
destination. The more letters you say,
the more exactly the system recognizes
the town/city.
A destination is suggested by the system.
2.Select town/city:
>Select highlighted town/city: {Yes}
>Select other town/city: {No}
>Select entry, e.g. {Entry 3}
>To show other entries in the list:
{Next page}
>To respell the town/city: {Repeat}
2.Say the name of the destination.
A destination is suggested by the system.
3.Select town/city:
>Select highlighted town/city: {Yes}
>Select other town/city: {No}
>Select entry, e.g. {Entry 3}
>To reenter the town/city: {Repeat}
>To enter the town/city by spelling:
{Spell}
1.{House number}
2.Say the house number.

Destination entry
142 6.Select the desired menu item:
>"Start route guidance" starts destination
guidance.
>"Show current position" places your
current position at the center of the map.
>"Show destination position" places the
current destination at the center of the
map.
>"Return to map" changes back to the
"Input map".
> Exit the menu.
7.Press the controller.
The map for the destination entry can also be
displayed in the map display:
Select the symbol and press the controller.
Selecting destination using
information
You can obtain a display of selected destina-
tions, e.g. hotels, sights or hospitals, and adopt
them into the destination guidance.
1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
2.Select "Information" and press the control-
ler.3.Select location:
>"On destination"
>"On location"
>"On a new destination"
4.Press the controller.
5.Make your selection, e.g. "Hotels and res-
taurants", and press the controller.
6.Enter search criteria if necessary, e.g. the
maximum distance from the current loca-
tion.
7.Select "" and press the con-
troller.
These destinations are displayed on the
Control Display.
8.Select a destination and press the control-
ler.
The scope of the information and
symbols is dependent on the respec-
tive navigation DVD.<
9.Select the desired menu item:
>To adopt the address in the destination
list and start the destination guidance:

Navigation
Driving tips
147Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
The various criteria are listed on the Control
Display.
3.Select a route criterion for the route:
>"With highways"
Freeways and major traffic arteries are
given priority.
>"Avoid highways"
Freeways are avoided where possible.
>"Fast route"
Fast route, being a combination of the
shortest possible route and the fastest
roads.
>"Short route"
Short route, irrespective of how fast or
slow progress will be.
4.Press the controller.
The route criterion is selected.
5.If necessary, select an additional route cri-
terion and then press the controller:
>"Dynamic route"
Automatic rerouting due to traffic
obstructions. Depending on road type
and the kind and length of the traffic
obstruction, the route can also be calcu-
lated so that it passes through the traffic
obstruction.
>"Avoid tollroads"
Tollroads are avoided where possible.
>"Avoid ferries"
Ferries are avoided where possible.
To exit the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
The route criteria can also be changed in the
arrow or map view:1.Select the symbol for the route criterion and
press the controller.
2.Select a route criterion and press the con-
troller.
If the route criterion "Avoid highways",
"Avoid tollroads", or "Avoid ferries" is
selected, the calculation time for the route can
increase considerably.<
Word matching principle
The system supports the word matching princi-
ple to make it easier for you to enter the names
of streets or towns. The system runs ongoing
checks, comparing your destination entries
with the data stored on the navigation DVD as
the basis for instant response. The user bene-
fits include:
>Names of specific locations can also vary
from the official versions if you are using a
spelling that is customary in another coun-
try.
Example:
Instead of the German spelling "München"
you can also enter the English spelling
"Munich" or the Italian spelling "Monaco".
>When you are entering the names of towns
and streets, the system will complete them
as soon as enough letters are available to
ensure unambiguous identification.
>The system only accepts name entries
beginning with letters that are stored on the
navigation DVD. The system will not accept
non existent names and addresses.

Destination guidance
150 1Street name for change of direction
2Distance up to change of direction
3Change of direction
To exit the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
Displaying map view
You can have your current position displayed on
a map. After starting the destination guidance,
the planned route is shown on the map.
1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the fourth field from the top.
Turn the controller until the desired map
view is selected:
>"Map facing north"
>"Map direction of travel"
>"Perspective"3.Press the controller.
1Switching voice instructions on/off
2Starting/ending destination guidance
3Map-guided destination selection
4Displaying the menu in which the informa-
tion last selected can be displayed/hidden,
refer to Selecting destination via informa-
tion on page142
5Changing map display
> "Map facing north"
> "Map direction of travel"
> "Perspective"
6Changing route criteria
7Manually displaying traffic information
*
8Arrow to destination from a bird's eye view
The estimated time of arrival and the distance
to the destination are shown in the bottom line
of the Control Display.
To exit the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
At scales of less than 250 miles/500 km, you
have the option of deciding whether to orient
the map to north or toward your current direc-
tion of travel. At scales of 250 miles/500 km or
greater, the map always points toward north.
Changing map display

Select the corresponding symbol and press the
controller.
The next map display is displayed.
Changing scale
Turn the controller to adjust the scale.

Navigation
Driving tips
155Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Traffic information during destination
guidance
System response will vary depending on
whether or not "Dynamic route" is selected,
refer to page146.
Displaying traffic obstructions
If a traffic obstruction is reported to the naviga-
tion system and "Dynamic route" is not
selected, you will be provided with specific
information beginning at a distance of approx.
25 miles/40 km, e.g. the length of the conges-
tion.
The last possible junction will be displayed
shortly before this.Select "Detour" and press the controller.
The navigation system determines a new route
to avoid the traffic jam.
This information is also displayed if you have
called up a different application on the Control
Display.
Dynamic route planning
When "Dynamic route" is selected, the route
will be changed automatically in the event of a
traffic obstruction. The system does not point
out traffic obstructions along the original route.
Depending on road type as well as the nature
and extent of the traffic obstruction, the calcu-
lated route may also lead through the traffic
obstruction.
Displaying current position
You can have your current position displayed
even when the destination guidance is
switched off.
1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the fourth field from the top.
Turn the controller until "Current position"
is selected and press the controller. Lane closure
Delay
Police checkpoint
Slow traffic or other event
Stop-and-go traffic
Stopped traffic
Traffic event in both directions of
travel

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
165Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
>"Manual":
To set stations that can be received in addi-
tion to those displayed, refer to Selecting
frequency manually on page165.
Changing selection criteria
In addition to the stations currently displayed,
you can have stations with another selection
criterion displayed.
You can choose from the following selection
criteria:
>"All stations":
Stations that can currently be received in
the "FM" waveband.
>"Autostore":
Stations with the best reception on the
"AM" waveband.
>"Presets":
Stations you have previously stored, refer to
page166.
>"Manual":
To set stations that can be received in addi-
tion to those displayed, refer to Selecting
frequency manually on page165.
1.Change into the second field from the top.
2.Turn the controller until the desired selec-
tion criterion is selected and press the con-
troller.
Buttons next to CD player
Press the button for the corresponding
direction.
The system changes to the next displayed sta-
tion.
You can also change stations with the buttons
on the steering wheel, refer to page11.
Sampling stations, scan
The system plays a brief sample from each of
the stations on the current waveband.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
3.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
The stations are sampled.
To end sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
This cancels sampling of the stations, and the
radio remains on the current station.
Buttons next to CD player
To sample the stations, press and hold the
button for the corresponding direction.
To stop scanning, press the button again.
Selecting frequency manually
With "Manual" you can select stations that are
received in addition to those displayed.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the second field from the top.