
At a glance
 15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Microphone for hands-free mode for tele-
phone
*
and for voice activation system*22
2Reading lamps104
3Initiating an Emergency Request call
*231
4Interior lamps104
5Glass sunroof
*, electric39
Panorama glass roof
*40
6Passenger airbag status lamp94
7Control Display16
8Hazard warning flashers
9Central locking system30
10Automatic climate control105
11CD/DVD drive152
12Programmable memory buttons20
13Switching entertainment sound output on/
off and adjusting volume152
14Changing
>radio station155
>track16015Ejecting CD/DVD152
17Controller16 
Can be turned, pressed, or moved in four 
directions
18Buttons on the controller17
Selecting menus directly Temperature setting106 
Automatic air distribution and 
volume106 
Cooling function107 
Automatic recirculated-air control 
AUC
*107 
Maximum cooling
*107 
Air volume107 
Defrosting windows and removing 
condensation106 
Rear window defroster106 
16
Heated seats*49
Active seat ventilation
*50
Adjusting active backrest 
width
*45
Active seat
*50
PDC Park Distance Control
*84
DTC Dynamic Traction Control86
Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate
*31, 33 

Adjusting
44
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat while 
the vehicle is moving. The seat could 
respond with unexpected movement, and the 
ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to an 
accident. 
Also on the passenger side, do not incline the 
backrest too far to the rear while the vehicle is 
being driven, otherwise there is a danger in the 
event of an accident of sliding under the safety 
belt, eliminating the protection normally pro-
vided by the belt.<
Please follow the instructions on damage to 
safety belts provided on page48 and the infor-
mation on the active front head restraints
 on 
page47.
Adjusting seat
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
please observe the adjustment instructions on 
page43.<
1Longitudinal direction
2Height
3Angle4Backrest
Adjusting comfort seat*
In this seat, you can also adjust:
1Backrest width
2Shoulder support
3Thigh support
4Lumbar support
*
Shoulder support
the adjustable upper backrest also supports the 
back in the shoulder region. This provides a 
relaxed driving position and helps relieve stress 
on the shoulder muscles. 

Controls
 45Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest 
to obtain additional support in the lumbar 
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a 
relaxed, upright sitting position.
>Increase or decrease curvature: press front 
or rear section of switch.
>Shift curvature up or down: press upper or 
lowers section of switch.
Adjusting active backrest width*
First set a comfortable backrest width, see 
above. Based on the backrest width set, the lat-
eral support is automatically adapted to the cur-
rent driving situation.
The adaptation of the backrest width and the 
speed of the adjustment vary depending on the 
program. You can select from among three pro-
grams from comfort to sport. 
Button with three LEDs
Press button once per program:
>"Comfort": one LED
>"Normal": two LEDs
>"Sport": three LEDsTo deactivate: Press button longer.
Button with one LED
Press the button repeatedly until the desired 
program is shown on the Control Display. The 
LED in the button lights up.
To deactivate: Press button longer.
Easy entry/exit*
To facilitate entry and exit, the backrest width 
temporarily opens all the way.
Seat, mirror and steering 
wheel memory*
You can store and request two different posi-
tions for the driver's seat and passenger seat
*, 
exterior rearview mirrors, and steering wheel. 

Controls
 51Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Adjusting
2Switching to the other mirror or to the auto-
matic curb monitor
3Folding mirrors in and out
*
Storing the mirror positions, refer to Seat, mir-
ror and steering wheel memory on page45.
Adjusting manually
You can also adjust the mirrors manually by 
pressing against the outer edges of their mirror 
glass.
Folding mirrors in and out*
Pressing button3 allows you to fold mirrors 
in and out up to a speed of approx. 20 mph/
30 km/h. This is advantageous, for example, in 
car washes, narrow streets or for bringing mir-
r o rs  t h a t  h a v e  b e e n  m a n u a l ly  f o l d e d in  b a c k  i n t o  
the correct position. Mirrors that were folded in 
are folded out automatically at a speed of 
approx. 25 mph/40 km/h.
Before going through a car wash, fold the 
mirrors in manually, or with button 3, oth-
erwise they could be damaged, depending on 
the width of the car wash system.<
Automatic heating
Below a certain outdoor temperature, both 
exterior mirrors are heated whenever the 
engine is running or the ignition is switched on.
Tilting down passenger-side exterior 
mirror – automatic curb monitor*
Activating
1.Slide switch into the driver's side mirror 
position, arrow 1.
2.Shift into reverse or move selector lever into 
position R. 
The mirror glass tilts downward somewhat 
on the passenger's side. This allows the 
driver to see the area immediately adjacent 
to the vehicle – such as a curb – when park-
ing, etc.
Deactivating
Slide switch into the passenger side mirror 
position, arrow 2.
Interior rearview mirror
To reduce the dazzle effect of following vehi-
cles at night, turn the knob. 

Controls
 53Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger 
themselves and other persons, e.g., by opening 
the doors.<
Children always in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest place 
for children is on the rear seat.
Children younger than 13 years of age or 
with a height under 5 ft/150 cm may only 
be transported in the rear in child restraint sys-
tems which correspond to the age, weight and 
height of the child. Otherwise there is an 
increased danger of injury in an accident.<
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a 
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint 
system can no longer be used due to their age, 
size and weight.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child 
restraint system on the front passenger 
seat, the front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger must be deactivated. Otherwise, a child 
traveling on that seat will face a significant risk 
of injury if the airbags are deployed, even with a 
child restraint system.
Before installing a child restraint system, move 
the front passenger seat as far back and up as 
possible to obtain the best possible position for 
the belt. Do not change the seat position after 
this.<
For more information on automatic deactivation 
of the front passenger airbags, refer to page94.
Installing child restraint 
systems
Observe the child restraint system manu-
facturer's instructions for selection, 
installation and use of the child restraint sys-tems. Otherwise the degree of protection may 
be reduced.<
On front passenger seat
After mounting a child restraint system on 
the front passenger seat, make sure that 
the front and side airbags on the front passen-
ger side are deactivated, as otherwise there is 
an increased risk of injury if the airbags are trig-
gered.<
Seat position
Before installing a child restraint system, move 
the front passenger seat as far back and up as 
possible to obtain the best possible position for 
the belt. Do not change the seat position after 
this.
Backrest width* on front passenger 
seat
Open the backrest width setting of the 
front passenger seat all the way. After 
mounting the child seat, deactivate the active 
backrest width adjustment and do not call up 
any memory position. Otherwise this limits the 
stability of the child seat on the front passenger 
seat.<
1.After unlocking the vehicle, sit on the front 
passenger seat and close the door to call up 
the memory position.
2.Completely open the backrest width adjust-
ment, refer to page44.
3.Deactivate active backrest width adjust-
ment, refer to page45.
4.Install child seat. 

Wheels and tires
206
550i
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire 
makes it easier to identify and choose the right 
tires.
Tire sizeSpeed letter
Q = up to 100 mph/160 km/h
T = up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of 
the U.S. Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
Compact wheel
*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M61/420
Traveling speeds up 
to max. of 100 mph/
160 km/hTraveling speeds including those exceed-
ing 100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications 
in the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
245/40 R 18 93 Y 32/220 38/260 32/220 35/240 33/230 41/280
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W32/220 38/260 32/220 38/260 38/260 45/310
245/40 R 18 97 V M+S XL 33/230 39/270 33/230 39/270 39/270 46/320
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 Y
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 Y32/220 35/240 32/220 32/220 33/230 38/260
Front: 245/35 R 19 93 Y XL
Rear: 275/30 R 19 96 Y XL35/240 39/270 33/230 38/260 38/260 45/310
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page241.
For instance
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ 
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
(not on ZR tires)
Speed code letter (in
front of the R on ZR tires)225/50 R1794 W 

Mobility
 207Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in 
the tire coding: DOT … 1009 means that the 
tire was manufactured in week 10 of 2009.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires 
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last 
for 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable 
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and 
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA 
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear 
Traction AA A B C 
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to 
Federal Safety Requirements in addition 
to these grades.<
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating 
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested 
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded 
150 would wear one and one-half (1γ) times as 
well on the government course as a tire graded 
100. The relative performance of tires depends 
upon the actual conditions of their use, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the 
norm due to variations in driving habits, service 
practices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are 
AA, A, B, and C. 
These grades represent the tire's ability to stop 
on wet pavement, as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified government test 
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked 
C may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is 
based on straight-ahead braking traction 
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B, 
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the 
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate 
heat when tested under controlled conditions 
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. 
Sustained high temperature can cause the 
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce 
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to 
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to 
a level of performance which all passenger car 
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A 
represent higher levels of performance on the 
laboratory test wheel than the minimum 
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is 
established for a tire that is properly 
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, 
underinflation, or excessive loading, either sep-
arately or in combination, can cause heat 
buildup and possible tire failure.<
RSC – run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular 
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side 
of the tire, refer to page208.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires. 
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires. For instance
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and tire design
Tire age
DOT xxxx xxx 1009 

Mobility
 217Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Care
Car-care products
Regular cleaning and care make a significant 
contribution to retaining your BMW's value.
For the cleaning and care of your vehicle, BMW 
recommends using only products that BMW 
has approved for this purpose.
Your BMW center will be glad to advise you 
about products and services for the cleaning 
and care of your BMW.
Genuine BMW Care Products are materi-
als tested, laboratory tested, and tested in 
actual use. They offer optimum care and pro-
tection for your vehicle.<
Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol 
or solvents; they can damage your vehi-
cle.<
Cleaning agents can contain substances 
that are dangerous or pose health risks. 
You should therefore heed the warnings and 
hazard indications on the packaging. Open the 
doors or windows on your vehicle whenever 
cleaning the interior. Make sure there is suffi-
cient ventilation in enclosed spaces. Use only 
products that are formulated for vehicle clean-
ing.<
Exterior care
Washing your vehicle
In the winter months, it is especially 
important to ensure that the vehicle is 
washed on a regular basis. Otherwise, signifi-
cant soiling and road salt can cause damage to 
the vehicle.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the 
brakes briefly to dry them. Failure to do so 
may lead to a reduction in braking efficiency and 
also to corrosion of the brake rotors.<
Car washes
Give preference to cloth car washes.Before driving into the car wash, make sure that 
it is suitable for your BMW. Pay attention to the 
following points:
>Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to 
page239.
>If necessary, fold in the outside rearview 
mirrors, refer to page51.
>Maximum permissible tire width.
Avoid car washes with rail heights over 
4in/10cm, otherwise there is danger of 
damaging chassis parts.<
Preparations for driving into the car wash:
>Deactivate rain sensor to prevent unwanted 
wiper activation.
>Deactivate rear window wiper
* and protect 
it from damage. Take appropriate protec-
tive measures; inquiring with the car wash 
operator as needed.
>Remove additional add-on parts, e.g., spoil-
ers or phone antennas, if they could be 
damaged.
Automatic transmission
Before driving into the car wash, make sure the 
vehicle is able to roll by making sure to:
1.Insert the remote control into the ignition 
lock, even with Comfort Access.
2.Shift into transmission position N.
3.Release the parking brake.
4.Switch off the engine.
5.Leave the remote control in the ignition lock 
so that the vehicle can roll.
Steam jets/high-pressure washers
When using steam jets or high-pressure 
washers, ensure that you maintain suffi-
cient clearance to the vehicle and do not exceed 
a temperature of 1407/606. 
Insufficient distance or excessive pressure or 
temperature can damage parts of the vehicle or 
can result in water penetration. Follow the oper-