
Mobility
 201Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Place the fuel filler cap in the bracket attached 
to the fuel filler flap.
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Avoid raising the filler 
nozzle during refueling; otherwise this leads to
>premature pump shutoff
>a reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor 
recovery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks 
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 18.5 US gal/70 liters, including the 
reserve capacity of approx. 2.1 US gal/8 liters.
550i: approx. 2.6 US gal/10 liters reserve 
capacity.
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.<
Fuel filler cap
Closing
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you clearly 
hear a click.
Do not crush the band attached to the 
cap; otherwise, the cap may not properly 
seal and fuel vapors can escape.<
A message
* is displayed if the cap is loose or 
missing.
Fuel specifications
Do not use leaded gasoline, otherwise 
permanent damage to the catalytic con-verter will result. 
Do not use E85, i.e., fuel that consists of 85% 
ethanol, or Flex Fuel. Otherwise permanent 
damage to the engine and the fuel supply sys-
tem will result.<
Required fuel
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less 
AKI. 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 affect on the engine life.
Do not use gasoline below the specified 
minimum quality, otherwise engine dam-
age can result.<
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 10 % ethanol or other 
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight, 
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % 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 drivability 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 also result in unscheduled maintenance.< 

Everything from A to Z
250
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS Antilock Brake 
System85
– indicator lamp87
ACC, refer to Active cruise 
control66
Accessories6
Accident, refer to Emergency 
request231
Acoustic signal, refer to Check 
Control79
Activated-charcoal filter for 
automatic climate 
control108
Activation times of parked car 
ventilation, preselecting109
Active backrest width, 
adjusting45
Active cruise control66
– indicator lamp70
– radar sensors70
– selecting distance68
– warning lamps70
Active front head restraints47
Active seat50
Active seat ventilation50
Active steering92
– warning lamp93
Adapter for spare key26
Adaptive brake assistant85
Adaptive brake lamps, refer to 
Brake force display93
Adaptive Light Control101
Additional connection of 
music player in mobile 
phone172
Additives
– coolant214
– engine oil, refer to Approved 
engine oils213
Address for navigation
– entering133Adjusting interior 
temperature106
Adjusting the tone during 
audio operation, refer to 
Tone control152
Adjusting thigh support44
Airbags93
– indicator/warning lamp95
– indicator lamp for front 
passenger airbags94
– sitting safely43
Air distribution
– automatic106
– manual107
Airing, refer to Ventilation108
Air recirculation
– AUC Automatic 
recirculated-air control107
– recirculated-air mode107
Air recirculation, refer to 
Recirculated-air mode107
Air supply, automatic climate 
control105
Air volume107
AKI, refer to Fuel 
specifications201
Alarm system35
– avoiding unintentional 
alarms36
– interior motion sensor36
– switching off alarm35
– switching off tilt alarm 
sensor and interior motion 
sensor36
– tilt alarm sensor36
Albums of music 
collection169
Alloy wheels218
All-season tires, refer to 
Winter tires209
All-wheel drive, refer to 
xDrive86Alterations, technical, refer to 
For your own safety5
Altering stretch of road143
Antenna for mobile phone178
Antifreeze
– coolant214
– washer fluid65
Anti-theft alarm system, refer 
to Alarm system35
Anti-theft system, refer to 
Central lokking system27
Approved axle loads, refer to 
Weights241
Approved engine oils213
Approved gross vehicle 
weight, refer to Weights241
Armrest, refer to Center 
armrest
– rear116
Around the center console14
Around the steering wheel10
Arrival time
– refer to Computer76
Ashtray
– front114
– rear115
Assistance systems, refer to 
Driving stability control 
systems85
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control107
Audio152
– controls152
– switching on/off152
– tone control152
– volume152
Audio device, external113 

Reference 255
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Driving through water126
Driving tips, refer to General 
driving notes124
Dry air, refer to Cooling 
function107
Drying the air, refer to Cooling 
function107
DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control85
– indicator lamp13,86
– malfunction87
DTC Dynamic Traction 
Control86
– activating86
– indicator lamp13,86
DVD
– country codes162
– settings163
– video playback162
DVD menu163
DVD player, refer to CD 
player160
DVD video162
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
– warning lamp87
Dynamic destination 
guidance143
Dynamic Drive88
Dynamic Driving Control62
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC85
Dynamic Traction Control 
DTC86
E
Easy entry/exit52
– backrest width45
Eject button, refer to Buttons 
in area of CD/DVD 
player152
Electrical malfunction
– door lock30
– driver's door30
– fuel filler flap200
– glass sunroof, electric40
– luggage compartment lid32
– panorama glass sunroof41
– tailgate33Electrical steering wheel 
adjustment52
Electronic brake-force 
distribution85
Electronic oil level check212
Emergency operation, refer to 
Manual operation
– door lock30
– driver's door30
– fuel filler flap200
– luggage compartment lid32
– tailgate33
– transmission lock, automatic 
transmission61
Emergency operation, refer to 
Moving manually
– glass sunroof40
– panorama glass sunroof41
Emergency release for 
luggage compartment lid in 
cargo bay32
Emergency request231
Emergency services, refer to 
Roadside Assistance232
Energy-conscious driving, 
refer to Energy Control75
Energy Control75
Engine
– breaking-in124
– data238
– overheated, refer to Coolant 
temperature74
– speed238
– starting58
– starting, with Comfort 
Access36
– switching off58
Engine compartment212
Engine coolant214Engine oil
– adding213
– additives, refer to Approved 
engine oils213
– approved engine oil213
– checking oil level212
– electronic oil level check212
– interval between changes, 
refer to Service 
requirements
77
– oil change213
– oil grades, refer to Approved 
engine oils213
Engine output, refer to Engine 
data238
Engine speed, refer to Engine 
data238
Engine starting, refer to 
Starting engine58
Entering destination via town/
city name133
Entering intersection, 
navigation134
Entering special destinations 
by name137
Entering the 
address133,139
Entering zip code for 
navigation134
Entertainment sound output 
on/off152
Entry map for destination138
Environmentally friendly 
driving
– refer to Energy control75
Equalizer, refer to Tone 
control153
ESP Electronic Stability 
Program, refer to DSC 
Dynamic Stability 
Control85
Event Data Recorders216
Exhaust system, refer to Hot 
exhaust system125