2010 BMW 535I XDRIVE SEDAN traction control

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13Reference
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Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in
different combinations and colors.
Some lamps are tested for proper function by
briefly lighting up during starting of the engine
or when the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the upper edge of the Control
Display explain the meaning of the displayed
indicator and warning lamps.
Additional information, e. g. on the cause and
elimination of a malfunction, can be opened via
the Check Control system, refer to page79.
In urgent cases, this information will be shown
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps signal particular
functions:
High beams/headlamp flasher102
Fog lamps
*104
Parking brake applied59
Parking brake applied for Canadian
models
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC controls the drive and
braking forces for maintaining vehicle
stability86
DTC Dynamic Traction Control86
Exhaust-gas values216
Exhaust-gas values for Canadian
models216

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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

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85Reference
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System limits
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always remains
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind spot in which objects can
no longer be detected. The system is also sub-
ject to the physical limits that apply to all forms
of ultrasonic measurement, such as those
encountered with tow bars and trailer cou-
plings, or thin and wedge-shaped objects, etc.
Low objects already displayed, e. g. curbs, can
also disappear from the detection area of the
sensors again before or after a continuous tone
already sounds. Higher, protruding objects,
e.g., ledges, cannot be detected. For this rea-
son, drive with care; otherwise, there is a danger
of personal injury or property damage.
Loud sources of sound, inside and outside the
vehicle, could drown out the PDC signal tone.<
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW is equipped with an extended array
of systems designed to enhance and maintain
vehicle stability under extreme conditions.
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during
braking. Safe steering response is maintained
even during full braking. Active safety is thus
increased.
The ABS is operational every time you start the
engine. Braking safely refer to page126.
CBC Cornering Brake Control
When braking during curves or when braking
during a lane change, driving stability and steer-
ing response are improved further.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
Brake assistant
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
produces maximum braking force boosting and
thus helps to achieve the shortest possible
braking distance during full braking maneuvers.
This system exploits all of the benefits provided
by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake for the
duration of the full brake application.
Adaptive brake assistant*
In conjunction with the active cruise control
with the stop-and-go function, the adaptive
brake assistant ensures that the brake
responds even more quickly during braking
with the brake assistant.
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
DSC prevents traction loss in the driving wheels
when starting off and accelerating. The system
also identifies unstable driving conditions, such
as a loss of traction at the rear of the vehicle or
sliding of the vehicle in its front wheels. In these
cases, DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe
course within physical limits by reducing engine
output and through braking actions in the indi-
vidual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed,
even with DSC. An appropriate driving
style always remains the responsibility of the
driver. Therefore, do not restrict the additional
safety margin with a risky driving style, as other-
wise there is a risk of an accident.<
Deactivating DSC
Press the button until the DSC indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up, but not longer

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
86 than approx. 10 seconds. DTC Dynamic Trac-
tion Control and DSC are deactivated together.
Stabilizing and drive output promoting actions
are no longer executed. In addition, the stability
promoting intervention of the active steering
*
is deactivated, refer to page92.
A message appears on the Control Display.
Please note any supplementary information
that appears there.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC again
as soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button; the indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
For better control
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
The indicator lamp lights up:
DSC is deactivated.
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
DTC is a version of DSC in which the drive out-
put is optimized for particular road conditions,
e.g., unplowed snow-covered roads. The sys-
tem assures the maximal drive output, but with
reduced driving stability. It is therefore neces-
sary to drive with appropriate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC
under the following special circumstances:
>When driving on snowy inclines, in slush, or
on unplowed, snow-covered road surfaces
>When rocking a stuck vehicle free or start-
ing off in deep snow or on loose ground
>When driving with snow chains
*
Activating DTC
Press the button briefly; the DTC indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up.
For better control
The indicator lamp flashes:
DTC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
The indicator lamp lights up:
DTC is activated.
Deactivating DTC
Press the button again; the DTC indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster goes out.
xDrive*
xDrive is the 4-wheel drive system of your
BMW. The combined effects of xDrive and DSC
further optimize the traction and dynamic driv-
ing characteristics. The 4-wheel drive system
xDrive variably distributes the drive torque to
the front and rear axle depending on the driving
situation and prevailing road conditions.
HDC Hill Descent Control*
The concept
HDC is a system for driving downhill in steep
terrain. This system reduces vehicle speed on
steep downhill gradients, thus allowing you to
maintain even better control of your BMW
under these conditions. The vehicle moves at
approximately twice walking speed without
active intervention from the driver.
HDC is available for activation at vehicle speeds
below approx. 22 mph/35 km/h. When driving

Mobility
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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
209Reference
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work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related safety
hazards. Make sure that the new wheels are bal-
anced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW recommends that you do not use
retreaded tires, since driving safety may
be impaired. The causes for this include the
possibly different tire casing structures and the
often wide variations in their age, which can
result in a limited service life.<
The right wheels and tires
BMW recommends that you use only
wheel and tire combinations that BMW
has tested and approved for your particular
vehicle. Variations in factors such as manufac-
turing tolerances mean that even wheels and
tires with identical official size ratings could
actually have different dimensions than the
approved units – these differences could lead to
body contact, and with it the risk of severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct wheel/tire combination also affects
various systems whose function would other-
wise be impaired, e.g., ABS, DSC or xDrive.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. Following
tire damage, have the original wheel and tire
combination remounted on the vehicle as soon
as possible.
Wheels with electronics for
TPM Tire Pressure Monitor
When mounting new tires or converting from
summer to winter tires or vice versa, only use
wheels with TPM electronics, otherwise the
Tire Pressure Monitor cannot detect a flat tire,
refer to page90. Your BMW center will be
happy to advise you on this subject.
Recommended tire brands
Certain tire makes are recommended by BMW
depending on the tire size. You can recognize
these from the clearly visible BMW marking on
the tire sidewall.
When used properly, these tires comply with
the most demanding standards for safety and
vehicle response.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires, or changing from
summer to winter tires or vice versa, use run-flat
tires for your own safety. In addition, no spare
tire is available in case of a flat tire. Your BMW
center will be glad to advise you.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in cold
winter driving conditions. Although all-season
M+S tires provide better winter traction than
summer tires, they generally fail to provide the
same levels of cold-weather performance as
winter tires.
Paying attention to speed
Always observe the maximum permissi-
ble speed for the winter tires, otherwise
tire damage may occur, which can result in acci-
dents.<
Storage
Store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place with
as little exposure to light as possible. Always
protect tires against all contact with oil, grease
and fuels. Do not exceed the maximum tire
inflation pressure indicated on the side wall of
the tire.

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

Reference 265
At a glance
Controls
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Mobility
Towing233
– methods234
– tow fittings233
– with automatic and sport
automatic transmission234
– with manual
transmission234
– with Sequential Manual
Transmission with
Drivelogic234
Town/city, for navigation133
Tow rope235
Tow-starting233
TPM Tire Pressure
Monitor90
– resetting system90
– system limits90
– warning lamp91
Tracks
– selecting with CD160
Traction-assist feature, refer
to DSC Dynamic Stability
Control85
Traction control, refer to DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control85
Traffic bulletins
– categories147
Traffic bulletins, filtering147
Traffic information for
navigation
– depiction in route map147
– during destination
guidance147
Traffic information with
navigation145
Traffic jam
– displaying traffic
information145
– refer to Bypassing route
sections143Transmission
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic59
– drive-off assistant87
– manually unlocking and
locking transmission lock61
– manual transmission59
– sport automatic
transmission62
– towing234
Transporting children
safely53
Transport securing device,
refer to Securing cargo128
Tread depth, refer to Minimum
tire tread208
Trip-distance counter
– refer to Trip meter74
Trip meter74
Trip odometer, refer to Trip
meter74
Trunk, refer to Cargo bay
Trunk lid, refer to Tailgate33
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions
239
Turning lamps101
– replacing bulbs223
Turn signals63
– indicator lamp12
– replacing bulbs224
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading/
UTQR207
Units
– average consumption76
– temperature76
Universal garage-door
opener, refer to Integrated
universal remote
control110
Universal remote control110Unlocking
– from inside30
– from outside28
– setting unlocking
behavior28
– without key, refer to Comfort
Access36
Unlocking without key, refer to
Comfort Access36
Updating the navigation
data132
USB audio interface172
Used batteries
– refer to Disposal229
– refer to Replacing battery38
Using turn signals63
V
Valve screw caps, refer to
After mounting228
VCD162
Vehicle
– battery229
– breaking-in124
– loading126
– measurements, refer to
Dimensions239
– parking58
– weights241
Vehicle care, refer to Care217
Vehicle jack227
– jacking points228
Ventilation108
– draft-free108
– in rear108
– while stationary109
Venting
– refer to Ventilation108
Vent outlets105
– refer to Ventilation108
Vent outlets, automatic
climate control105
Vents, automatic climate
control105
Vents, refer to Ventilation108
Video menu163
Video playback162
Viscosity213