2011 BMW 550I GT Comfort

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

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

Controls
This chapter is intended to provide you with
information that will give you complete control of
your
vehicle. All features and accessories that are
useful for driving and your safety, comfort and convenience are described here.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490

3.
Turn the controller until the desired opening
height is selected. Opening the large tailgate
Note the opening height of the large tail‐
gate
The tailgate pivots back and up when it opens.
Ensure that there is sufficient clearance when
the
large tailgate opens; otherwise, damage may
result.
Adjust the opening height of the large tailgate
according to the given situation.◀
The large tailgate opens automatically to the ad‐
justed opening height. ▷
Press the button on the exterior of the tail‐
gate, arrow 2.
▷ Press the button on the remote
control

for approx. 1 second and re‐
lease. Pressing the button again stops the motion.
The opening process is interrupted as well:
▷
When starting the engine.
▷ When the vehicle starts moving.
▷ By pressing the button in the driver's foot‐
well. ▷
By pressing the button on the inside of the
tailgate.
Opening the large tailgate further Press and hold the button on the inside of the
large

tailgate, arrow 2, to open the large tailgate
to the maximum opening height.
Releasing the button stops the motion.
Closing the large tailgate ▷
Press the button, arrow 1, on the inside of
the large tailgate.
The tailgate closes automatically.
Pressing again stops the motion. ▷
With Comfort Access:
Press the button on the open tailgate.
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Tailgate closes automatically and the vehi‐
cle is locked.
▷
Press the button on the exterior of the tail‐
gate, arrow 2.
Pressing again stops the motion.
The closing operation is interrupted:
▷ When starting the engine.
▷ The vehicle starts off with jerks.
Danger of pinching
Make sure that the closing path of the tail‐
gate is clear; otherwise, injuries may result.◀
Do not place the remote control in the
cargo area
Take the remote control with you and do not
leave it in the cargo area; otherwise, the remote
control may be locked inside the vehicle when
the tailgate is closed.◀
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, operate
the unlocked tailgate manually with a slow and
smooth motion.
Do not operate the tailgate manually if it is
blocked
If the tailgate is blocked, do not operate it man‐
ually as the tailgate may otherwise become
damaged and injury may result.
Contact your service center.◀
Locking separately
The tailgate can be locked separately, using the
switch in the front center armrest. ▷
The tailgate is locked, ar‐
row 1.
The small and large tailgates
are locked.
▷ The tailgate is unlocked, ar‐
row 2.
Slide the switch into the arrow 1 position. This
secures
the tailgate and disconnects it from the
central locking system.
When the center armrest is locked, the tailgate
cannot be accessed. This is beneficial when the
vehicle is parked using valet service. The infra‐
red remote control can be handed out without
the key.
Emergency unlocking* Pull the handle inside the cargo area.
The tailgate is unlocked.
Comfort Access*
The concept
The vehicle can be accessed without activating
the remote control.
All you need to do is to have the remote control
with you, e.g., in your jacket pocket.
The vehicle automatically detects the remote
control when it is nearby or in the passenger
compartment.
Comfort Access supports the following func‐
tions:
▷
Unlocking/locking of the vehicle.
▷ Convenient closing.
▷ Unlocking of the tailgate separately. Seite 42
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Opening and closing

▷
Starting the engine.
Functional requirements
▷ There are no external sources of interfer‐
ence nearby.
▷ To lock the vehicle, the remote control must
be located outside of the vehicle.
▷ The next unlocking and locking cycle is not
possible until after approx. 2 seconds.
▷ The engine can only be started if the remote
control is inside the vehicle.
Comparison with ordinary remote
control
The
functions can be controlled by pressing the
buttons or via Comfort Access.
Unlocking Fully grasp a door handle, arrow 1. This corre‐
sponds to pressing the
button.
Locking Press the area on the door handle, arrow 2, with
your finger for approx. 1 second.
This corresponds to pressing the
button.
To save battery power, ensure that the ignition
and all electronic systems and/or power con‐ sumers are switched off before locking the ve‐
hicle.
Convenient closing
Press the area, arrow 2, with your finger and
hold.
In

addition to locking, the windows and the glass
sunroof* are closed.
Monitor the closing process
Monitor the closing process to ensure that
no one becomes trapped.◀
Unlocking the tailgate separately
Press the middle button on the exterior of the
tailgate, refer to page 39, to open the small tail‐
gate.
This corresponds to pressing the button.
Press the right-hand button on the exterior of
the tailgate to open the large tailgate.
With automatic trunk lid operation

*:
This corresponds to pressing the button.
Do not place the remote control in the
cargo area
Take the remote control with you and do not
leave

it in the cargo area; otherwise, the remote
control may be locked inside the vehicle when
the tailgate is closed.◀
Malfunction
Comfort Access may not function properly if it
experiences interference from external sources
such as mobile phones, metal objects, overhead
power lines, transmission towers, etc.
If this occurs, open or close the vehicle using the
buttons on the remote control or use a key in the
door lock.
To subsequently start the engine, hold the re‐
mote control against the marked area on the
steering column, refer to page 33. Seite 43
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds to:
▷
Opening of a door, the hood or the tailgate.
▷ Movements in the vehicle: interior motion
sensor, refer to page 45.
▷ Changes in the vehicle tilt, e.g., during at‐
tempts to steal a wheel or when towing the
car.
▷ Interruptions in battery voltage.
The alarm system briefly indicates tampering:
▷ By sounding an acoustic alarm.
▷ By switching on the hazard warning system.
▷ By flashing the high beams.
Arming and disarming the alarm
system
General information
When
you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with
the remote control or at the door lock*, the alarm
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
Door lock and armed alarm system
Unlocking via the door lock will trigger the alarm
on some country-specific versions.
Tailgate and armed alarm system
The tailgate can be opened using the remote
control, even if the alarm system is armed.
▷ Press the button on the remote
control

for approx. 1 second and re‐
lease.
The small tailgate opens slightly. ▷
With automatic trunk lid operation*:
Press the button on the remote
control for approx. 1 second and release.
The large tailgate opens automatically. Note the opening height of the large tail‐
gate
The tailgate pivots back and up when it opens.
Ensure that there is sufficient clearance when the large tailgate opens; otherwise, damage may
result.◀
After

the tailgate is closed, it is locked and moni‐
tored again by the alarm system. The hazard
warning system flashes once.
In some vehicle equipment variants, the tailgate
can only be opened using the remote control if
the vehicle was unlocked first.
Panic mode*
Press the button on the remote control
for at least 3 seconds.
Switching off the alarm
▷ Unlock the vehicle using the remote control.
▷ With Comfort Access: If you are carrying the
remote control with you, pull on the door
handle.
Indicator lamp on the interior rearview
mirror ▷
The indicator lamp flashes briefly every
2 seconds:
The system is armed.
▷ The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
The doors, hood or tailgate is not closed
properly, but the rest of the vehicle is se‐
cured.
After

10 seconds, the indicator lamp flashes
continuously. The interior motion sensor is
not active.
▷ The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
The vehicle has not been tampered with. Seite 44
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Opening and closing

The glass sunroof and sliding visor move to‐
gether.
Pressing the switch again stops the mo‐
tion.
Convenient operation, refer to page 36, via the
remote control.
Convenient closing, refer to page 43, with Com‐
fort Access*.
Comfort position
In the comfort position, the roof is not fully open.
This reduces wind noise in the passenger com‐
partment.
Every time the glass sunroof is opened or closed
completely, it stops in the comfort position. If
desired, continue the movement by pressing the
switch.
Pinch protection system
If the closing force when closing the glass sun‐
roof exceeds a certain value, the closing move‐
ment is stopped, beginning at approximately the
middle of the opening in the roof, or from the
tilted position during closing.
The glass sunroof opens again slightly.
Danger of pinching even with pinch pro‐
tection
Despite the pinch protection system, check that
the roof's closing path is clear; otherwise, the
closing action may not be interrupted in certain
extreme situations, such as when thin objects
are present.◀
Closing without the pinch protection
system
For example, if there is an external danger, pro‐
ceed as follows:
1. Press the switch forward beyond the resist‐
ance point and hold.
Pinch protection is limited and the roof re‐
opens

slightly if the closing force exceeds a
certain value.
2. Press the switch forward again beyond the
resistance point and hold until the roof
closes without pinch protection. Initializing after a power failure
After

a power failure during the opening or clos‐
ing process, the roof can only be operated to a
limited extent.
Initializing the system
The system can be initialized when the vehicle
is stationary and the engine is running.
Danger of pinching
Monitor the closing process and make
sure that the closing path of the glass sunroof is
clear; otherwise, injuries may result.◀
Press the switch up and hold it
until the initialization is complete:
▷Initialization begins within
15

seconds and is completed
when the sunroof and sliding
visor are completely closed.
▷ The roof closes without pinch protection. Seite 48
48 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490Opening and closing