Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Tachometer65
5Engine oil thermometer66
6Display for
>Computer66
Engine oil level194
>Indicator and warning lamps71
>Speed of cruise control647Display for
>Sequential Manual Transmission with
Drivelogic59
>Engine oil level for manual
transmission194
> Check Control message present71
>Odometer and trip odometer65
>Date and remaining travel distance
for service requirements68
>High-beam Assistant
*91
8Fuel gauge66
9Resetting trip odometer65
Controls Overview
66
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 will find information on refueling
on page184.
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 remaining 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 page193
Manual transmission:
The cruising range, average fuel con-
sumption and oil level are shown in the lower
display in place of the gear indicator.
It is possible to change between the time and
data display by pressing the CHECK button in
the turn signal lever.<
Time
To set the time, refer to page69.
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.
Even at temperatures above +377/
+36 ice can form. Therefore, drive care-
fully, e.g. on bridges and sections of road in the
shade, otherwise there is an increased accident
risk.<
You can set the unit of measure 7 or 6 on the
Control Display, refer to Units of measure on
page68.
Mobility
193Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Engine compartment
1Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding
engine oil
2Expansion tank for coolant, refer to
page196
3Starting-aid terminal, refer to page213
4Body ground/negative terminal
5Filler neck for washer fluid of the headlamp
and windshield cleaning systems, refer to
page63
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking engine oil level
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic oil
level check.
The oil level can be displayed when the engine
is at operating temperature. Constant short-
distance driving or a very sporty driving style
can make it impossible for a measurement to be
taken.
Displays in instrument cluster
You can display the current oil level in the
instrument cluster.
1Oil level
2Maximum marking
3Minimum marking
4BC button
Press the button4 in the turn signal lever
repeatedly until the display for the oil level
appears in the instrument cluster.
Manual transmission: the engine oil level
will be shown in the lower display.<
The oil level must be between the two marks.
A new measurement is automatically taken
after each engine start.
Under the hood
194
Possible displays
1Oil level OK
2Oil level is being determined.
This process can take approx. 1 minute
when stopped on a level surface and
approx. 5 minutes while driving.
If the engine oil has been topped off, the
measurement of the oil level can take up to
30 minutes.
3Oil level at minimum:
Add a maximum of 1 US quart/1 liter of
engine oil at the next opportunity, refer to
Adding engine oil below. Add at least 0.5
US quart/liter of oil; otherwise, the oil level
check cannot reliably display the new oil
level.
If the oil level displayed is below minimum,
add engine oil immediately. Failure to do so
may lead to engine damage.
4Oil level too high
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise engine damage may
result if too much oil has been added.<
5No value can be determined at this time.
Engine is not yet at operating temperature.
Fast measurement
In addition to the automatic measurement, you
can also determine the current oil level manu-
ally, e.g. after adding engine oil, but with a lower
degree of measuring accuracy.
1.With the engine at operating temperature,
i.e. after at least 6 miles/10 km of uninter-
rupted driving, park the vehicle in a horizon-
tal position.
2.Allow the engine to run at idle.
3.Press the BC button on the turn signal lever
repeatedly until the oil level display is
shown in the instrument cluster.
4.Press the BC button for at least 2 seconds.
The oil level is determined. A clock symbol
is displayed during the measurement.
5.After approx. 1 minute the current oil level is
displayed.
Displaying via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Engine oil level"
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level OK"
Mobility
195Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
>"Measurement not possible at this time."
>"Measuring engine oil level...":
This can take about 3 minutes if the car is at
a standstill on a level surface and the engine
is running, and about 5 minutes while the
car is moving.
If the engine oil has been topped off, the
measurement of the oil level can take up to
30 minutes.
>"Engine oil level below minimum. Add 1
quart!":
Add a maximum of 1 US quart/1 liter of
engine oil at the next opportunity, refer also
to Adding engine oil below. If the oil level
displayed is below minimum, add engine oil
immediately. Failure to do so may lead to
engine damage.
>"Engine oil level too high! Have this
checked.":
Too much oil will harm the engine.
Have the vehicle checked without
delay.<
>"Measurement inactive. Have this
checked.":
Do not add engine oil. You can continue
your journey. Note the newly calculated dis-
tance remaining to the next oil service, refer
to Service requirements on page68. Have
the system checked as soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
Do not add oil until a value slightly above the
minimum of 0.0 US quarts/liters is displayed by
the oil level measurement. In this area a mes-
sage is also shown on the Control Display.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km,
otherwise the engine could be damaged.Add a maximum of 1 US quart/1 liter of oil; oth-
erwise, the engine may be damaged by adding
too much oil.
Add at least 0.5 US quart/0.5 liter of oil; other-
wise, the oil level check cannot reliably display
the current oil level.<
Please conduct a fast measurement after
adding engine oil to check the oil quantity
added and to update the display.<
Continuous exposure to used oil has
caused cancer in laboratory testing.
For this reason, thoroughly wash exposed areas
of skin with soap and water after such work.
Keep oil, grease etc. out of reach of children and
observe the warnings on the containers to pre-
vent health risks.<
Oil change
Have oil changed only at your BMW center or
at a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel.
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical
significance for the operation and service life of
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after confirming their suitability for use
in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Do not use oil additives; under some cir-
cumstances, they can damage your
engine.<
Your BMW center will be happy to answer
detailed questions on BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil or approved synthetic
oils.<
You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit the website at
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.
Viscosity grades
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and
is specified in SAE grades.
Approved oils belong to the SAE grade
10W-60.<
Under the hood
196
Alternative oil grades
If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is
unavailable, you can add small quantities of
other synthetic oils between oil changes.
Only use oils with the following specifications:
>Viscosity
preferred: SAE 10W-60;
alternative: SAE 10W-40, SAE 5W-50 or
SAE 10W-50
>Specification
API SJ/CF, API SK/CF or higher
Low temperatures
The oils used by BMW from the factory for your
M6 can be used at virtually any ambient tem-
perature. However, if the vehicle is operated for
a longer period at temperatures below –47/
–206, your BMW center will be happy to rec-
ommend a suitable oil.
Coolant
Do not open the cooling system when the
engine is hot. Escaping coolant can cause
burns.<
Coolant is composed of equal parts water and a
coolant additive. Not all commercially available
additives are suitable for your BMW. Ask your
BMW center for suitable additives.
Only use suitable additives, otherwise
engine damage may result. The additives
present a health hazard.<
Always observe all applicable environ-
mental laws and regulations when dis-
posing of used coolant additives.<
Checking coolant level
1.Do not open the hood until the engine has
cooled down.
2.Turn the cap of the expansion tank counter-
clockwise to allow any accumulated pres-
sure to escape, then continue turning to
open.3.The coolant level is correct when the upper
end of the float rod is at the same height as
the upper edge of the filler neck, also refer
to the drawing next to the filler neck.
4.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to
the specified level – do not overfill.
5.Turn the cap until it clicks.
6.Have the reason for the coolant loss elimi-
nated as soon as possible.
Mobility
197Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Maintenance
BMW maintenance system
The BMW maintenance system supports the
preservation of the traffic and operating safety
of your BMW. The service schedule also
includes operations related to the vehicle's
comfort and convenience features, such as
replacement of the filters for the inside air.
The ultimate objective is to ensure economical
maintenance by providing the ideal service for
your vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to sell
your BMW, a complete center service history
will prove to be an asset of inestimable value.
CBS Condition Based Service
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into
account. Condition Based Service uses this to
determine the current and future service
requirements. By letting you define a service
and maintenance regimen that reflects your
own individual requirements, the system builds
the basis for trouble-free driving.
You can set the Control Display to show
remaining distances and times of selected
maintenance intervals and legally mandated
deadlines, refer to page68:
>Engine oil
>Brake pads, front and rear separately
>Brake fluid>Vehicle check
>Legally mandated inspections depending
on local regulations
Service data in remote control
Your vehicle stores the information required
maintenance continuously in the remote con-
trol during driving. After accessing the data
stored in the remote control, your BMW Service
Advisor can suggest precisely the right array of
service procedures for your own individual vehi-
cle. You should therefore hand over the remote
control you last used to drive to the BMW Ser-
vice Advisor when you take your vehicle in for
service.
Make sure the date is set correctly, refer
to page70, otherwise the effectiveness
of CBS Condition Based Service is not
ensured.<
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models and
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
for Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service
and repair operations performed at your
BMW center.
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.<
Everything from A to Z
234 Displays
– on Control Display, refer to
iDrive16
– refer to Instrument
cluster12
Displays on the windshield,
refer to Head-up Display86
Disposal
– battery of remote control
with Comfort Access36
– coolant196
– vehicle battery210
Distance, refer to
Computer67
Distance to destination, refer
to Computer67
Distance warning, refer to
PDC Park Distance
Control75
Door entry lighting, refer to
Interior lamps93
Door key, refer to Keys/
remote control26
Door lock29
Doors
– manual operation30
– remote control28
DOT Quality Grades188
Draft-free ventilation97
Drinks holder, refer to
Cupholders103
Drivelogic50,59
Drive-off assistant, refer to
Starting off on uphill
slopes78
Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams89
Driving programs, refer to
Drivelogic59
Driving stability control
systems76
Driving through water109
Driving tips, refer to General
driving notes108
Dry air, refer to Cooling
function96
Drying the air, refer to Cooling
function96
DSC51DSC Dynamic Stability
Control76
– indicator lamp13,76
– malfunction78
DTC Dynamic Traction
Control
– indicator lamp13
DVD
– country codes146
– settings147
– video playback146
DVD menu147
DVD player, refer to CD
player
144
DVD video146
Dynamic destination
guidance127
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC76
– M Dynamic Mode MDM76
E
Easy entry, refer to Entering
rear47
Easy entry/exit50
EDC51
EDC Electronic Damping
Control79
Eject button, refer to Buttons
in area of the CD/DVD
player136
Electrical malfunction
– convertible top39
– door lock30
– driver's door30
– fuel filler flap184
– luggage compartment lid32
– storage compartment, hotel
function31
Electric convertible top38
Electric steering wheel
adjustment50
Electronic brake-force
distribution76Electronic Damping Control
EDC79
– Comfort program79
– Normal program79
– Sport program79
Emergency operation, refer to
Manual operation
– convertible top39
– door lock30
– driver's door30
– fuel filler flap184
– hotel function31
– luggage compartment lid32
Emergency release for
luggage compartment lid in
cargo area32
Emergency request212
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside Assistance213
Engine
– breaking-in108
– data220
– M Engine Dynamic
Control60
– overheated, refer to Coolant
temperature65
– speed220
– starting56
– starting, Comfort Access34
– switching off56
Engine compartment193
Engine coolant196
Engine oil
– adding195
– additives, refer to Approved
engine oils195
– approved oils195
– checking oil level193
– fast measurement
194
– interval between changes,
refer to Service
requirements68
– oil change195
– oil grades, refer to Approved
engine oils195
– possible displays194
– recommended oils195
– temperature66
– temperature gauge66