2011 BMW 535I GT DRIVE

535i
550i
535i xDrive
550i xDrive Owner's Manual for Vehicle
Thank you for choosing a BMW.
The
more familiar you are with your vehicle, the better control you
will have on the road. We therefore strongly suggest:
Read this Owner's Manual before starting off in your new BMW.
Also use the Integrated Owner's Manual in your vehicle. It con‐
tains important information on vehicle operation that will help you
make full use of the technical features available in your BMW. The
manual also contains information designed to enhance operating
reliability and road safety, and to contribute to maintaining the
value of your BMW.
Any updates made after the editorial deadline for the printed or
integrated Owner's Manual are located in the appendix of the
printed quick reference for the vehicle.
Supplementary information can be found in the additional bro‐
chures in the onboard literature.
We wish you a safe and enjoyable drive.
BMW AG Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490

Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic‐
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page
286.
Using this Owner's Manual
6 Notes
At a glance
12 Cockpit
19 iDrive
25 Voice activation system
27 Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicle
Controls
32 Opening and closing
49 Adjusting
62 Transporting children safely
66 Driving
76 Displays
85 Lamps
89 Safety
99 Driving stability control systems
106 Driving comfort
127 Climate control
133 Interior equipment
139 Storage compartments
Driving tips
146 Things to remember when driving
Navigation
154 Navigation
Entertainment
172 Tone
174 Radio
181 CD/multimedia
201 Rear entertainment Communication
210
Telephone
221 Office
230 Contacts
232 BMW ConnectedDrive
Mobility
240 Refueling
242 Fuel
243 Wheels and tires
251 Engine compartment
253 Engine oil
256 Maintenance
258 Replacing components
264 Breakdown assistance
269 Care
Reference
274 Technical data
277 Short commands of the voice activation
system
286 Everything from A to Z
Seite 5
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490 Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

Notes
Using this Owner's Manual
The fastest way to find information on a partic‐
ular topic is by using the index.
An initial overview of the vehicle is provided in
the first chapter.
Updates made after the editorial
deadline
Any
updates made after the editorial deadline for
the Owner's Manuals are located in the appen‐
dix of the printed quick reference for the vehicle.
Additional sources of information
Should you have any questions, your service
center will be glad to advise you at any time.
Information on BMW, e.g., on technology, is
available on the Internet: bmwusa.com.
Symbols Indicates precautions that must be followed
precisely
in order to avoid the possibility of per‐
sonal injury and serious damage to the vehicle.
◄ Marks the end of a specific item of informa‐
tion.
* Indicates special equipment, country-specific
equipment and optional accessories, as well as
equipment and functions not yet available at the
time of printing.
"..." Identifies Control Display texts used to se‐
lect individual functions.
›...‹ Verbal instructions to use with the voice ac‐
tivation system.
››...‹‹ Identifies the answers generated by the
voice activation system. Refers to measures that can be taken to help
protect the environment. Symbols on vehicle components Indicates that you should consult the rele‐
vant section of this Owner's Manual for infor‐
mation on a particular part or assembly.
Your individual vehicle
You

have decided in favor of a vehicle with indi‐
vidualized equipment and features.
This Owner's Manual describes the entire array
of options and equipment available for a specific
model.
As a result, the manual may contain accessories
and equipment that you may not have specified
for your own vehicle.
All options and special equipment are marked
with an asterisk *.
For options and equipment not described in this
Owner's Manual, please refer to the Supple‐
mentary Owner's Manuals.
On right-hand drive vehicles, some controls are
arranged differently than shown in the illustra‐
tions.
Status of the Owner's Manual
The manufacturer of your vehicle pursues a pol‐
icy of constant development that is conceived
to ensure that our vehicles continue to embody
the highest quality and safety standards. In rare
cases, therefore, the features described in this
Owner's Manual may differ from those in your
vehicle.
Updates made after the editorial
deadline
Any updates made after the editorial deadline for
the Owner's Manuals are located in the appen‐
dix of the printed quick reference for the vehicle.
Seite 6
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Cockpit
All around the steering wheel
1
Seating comfort functions* Seat, mirror, steering wheel mem‐
ory*  58
Active seat*  52
2 Roller sunblinds*  46
3 Safety switch for the rear windows and roller
sunblinds*  46
4 Power windows   45
5 Exterior mirror operation  59
6 Driver assistance systems* Active Blind Spot Detec‐
tion*  96
Collision warning*  112
Lane departure warning*  95 Night Vision with pedestrian de‐
tection*  122
Head-up Display*  
125
7 Lamps Front fog lamps  
88 Parking lamps  
85 Low beams  85
Automatic headlamp con‐
trol*  86
Daytime running lights*  86
Adaptive light control
*  86
High-beam Assistant*  87 Instrument lighting  88
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Cockpit

iDrive
The concept
The
iDrive combines the functions of a multitude
of switches. Thus, these functions can be oper‐
ated from a central location.
Using the iDrive during a trip
To avoid becoming distracted and posing
an unnecessary hazard to your vehicle's occu‐
pants and to other road users, never attempt to
use the controls or enter information unless traf‐
fic and road conditions allow this.◀
Controls at a glance
Controls 1
Control Display
2 Controller with buttons
The

buttons can be used to open the menus
directly. The controller can be used to select
menu items and create the settings.
Control Display
Notes
▷ To clean the Control Display, follow the care
instructions.
▷ Do not place objects close to the Control
Display; otherwise, the Control Display can
be damaged. Switching off
1.
Press the button.
2. "Switch off control display" Switching on
Press the controller again to switch the screen
back on.
Controller
Select menu items and create settings.
1.
Turn. 2.
Press. Seite 19
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls
At a glance

3.
Move in four directions. Buttons on controller
Press the button Function
MENU
Open the main menu.
RADIO Opens the Radio menu.
CD Opens the CD/Multimedia
menu.
NAV Opens the Navigation map
view.
TEL Opens the Telephone
menu.
BACK Displays the previous
panel.
OPTION Opens the Options menu. Operating concept
Opening the main menu
Press the button. The main menu is displayed. All iDrive functions can be called up via the main
menu.
Selecting menu items
Menu items shown in white can be selected.
1.
Turn the controller until the desired menu
item is highlighted. 2.
Press the controller.
Menu items in the Owner's Manual
In the Owner's Manual, menu items that can be
selected are set in quotation marks, e.g.,
"Settings".
Changing between panels
After a menu item is selected, e.g.,
"Radio", a
new panel is displayed. Panels can overlap.
▷ Move the controller to the left.
The

current panel is closed and the previous
panel is displayed.
The previous panel is opened again by
pressing the BACK button. In this case, the
current panel is not closed.
▷ Move the controller to the right.
A

new panel is opened on top of the previous
display. Seite 20
20 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490
iDrive

4.
Turn the controller until "Time/Date" is high‐
lighted, and then press the controller. 5.
Turn the controller until "Time:" is high‐
lighted, and then press the controller. 6.
Turn the controller to set the hours and
press the controller.
7. Turn the controller to set the minutes and
press the controller.
Status information
Status field
The

following information is displayed in the sta‐
tus field at the top right:
▷ Time.
▷ Current entertainment source.
▷ Sound output, on/off.
▷ Wireless network reception strength.
▷ Telephone status.
▷ Traffic bulletin reception*.
Status field symbols
The symbols are grouped as follows. Radio symbols Symbol Meaning
Traffic bulletins* are switched on.
HD Radio™* is switched on.
Satellite radio* is switched on.
Telephone symbols
Symbol Meaning
Incoming or outgoing call*.
Missed call*.
Wireless network reception
strength*
Symbol flashes: searching
for network. Wireless network is not available*.
Bluetooth* is switched on.
Roaming* is active.
Text message* was received.
Check the SIM card*.
SIM card* is blocked.
SIM card* is missing.
Enter the PIN*.
Entertainment symbols
Symbol Meaning
CD/DVD* player.
Music collection*.
Gracenote® database*.
AUX-IN port.
Rear AUX-IN port on the left*.
Rear AUX-IN port on the right*. Seite 22
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iDrive

Symbol Meaning
USB audio interface*.
Mobile phone audio interface*.
Additional symbols
Symbol Meaning
Spoken instructions* are switched
off. Request of the current vehicle posi‐
tion*. Split screen*
General information
Additional information can be displayed on the
right side of the split screen, e.g., information
from the computer.
In the divided screen view, the so-called split
screen, this information remains visible even
when you change to another menu.
Switching the split screen on and off
1.
Press the button.
2. "Split screen"
Selecting the display
1. Press the button.
2. "Split screen"
3. Move the controller until the split screen is
selected. 4.
Press the controller or select "Split screen
content".
5. Select the desired menu item. Programmable memory
buttons
General information
The iDrive functions can be stored on the pro‐
grammable memory buttons and called up di‐
rectly, e.g., radio stations, navigation destina‐
tions, phone numbers and entry points into the
menu.
The settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Saving a function
1.
Highlight the function via the iDrive.
2. Press the desired button for more
than 2 seconds.
Running a function Press the button.
The function will run immediately. This
means, for example, that the number is dialed
when a phone number is selected.
Displaying the button assignment
Use a finger to touch the buttons. Do not wear
gloves or use objects.
The
key assignment is displayed at the top edge
of the screen. Seite 23
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls
At a glance