2011 BMW 550I GT power steering

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

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.◀
The tailgate opens, regardless of whether it was
previously locked or unlocked.
In some vehicle equipment variants, the tailgate
can only be opened using the remote control if
the vehicle was unlocked first.
To avoid locking yourself out of the vehicle, do
not place the remote control into the cargo area.
The tailgate is locked again as soon as it is
pushed closed.
Provide edge protection
Sharp or angular objects can hit the rear
window while driving and damage the heating
wires of the rear window. Provide edge protec‐
tion.◀
Confirmation signals from the vehicle
1. "Settings"
2. "Door locks"
3. Deactivate or activate the desired confirma‐
tion signals.
▷"Acoustic sig. lock/unlock"
▷ "Flash when lock/unlock" Retrieving the seat, mirror, and
steering wheel settings
The driver's seat, exterior mirror, and steering
wheel positions selected last are stored for the
currently used remote control.
When the vehicle is unlocked, these positions
are automatically retrieved if this function was
activated.
Pinch hazard when moving back the seat
If
this function is used, first make sure that
the footwell behind the driver's seat is empty.
Otherwise, people can be injured or objects
damaged when the seat is moved back.◀
The adjustment procedure is interrupted:
▷ When a seat position switch is pressed.
▷ When a button of the seat, mirror, and steer‐
ing wheel memory is pressed briefly.
Activating the setting
1. "Settings"
2. "Door locks"
3. "Last seat position auto." Malfunction
If the vehicle can no longer be locked or un‐
locked

with the remote control, the battery may
be discharged or there may be interference from
external sources such as mobile phones, metal
objects, overhead power lines, transmission
towers, etc.
If this occurs, unlock or lock the vehicle at the
door lock using the key. Seite 37
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

▷
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

Adjusting the height: manual head
restraints
▷
To raise: pull.
▷ To lower: press the button, arrow 1, and
push the head restraint down.
Adjusting the height: Electrical* head
restraints Move the switch in the desired direction.
Adjusting the side extensions
*Fold the side extensions on the head restraint
forward

for increased lateral support in the rest‐
ing position.
Removing: manual head restraints
Only remove the head restraint if no one will be
sitting in the seat in question. 1.
Pull the head restraint upward as far as pos‐
sible.
2. Press the button, arrow 1, and pull the head
restraint out completely.
Before transporting passengers
Reinstall the head restraint before trans‐
porting anyone in the seat; otherwise, the pro‐
tective function of the head restraint is unavail‐
able.◀
Removing: power* head restraints
For

technical reasons, the head restraint cannot
be removed.
Seat, mirror, and steering
wheel memory*
General information
Front Two different driver's seat, exterior mirror, and
steering wheel positions can be stored and re‐
trieved

for each remote control. The adjustment
of the lumbar support is not stored. Seite 58
58 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490
Adjusting

Rear
Two different seat positions can be stored and
retrieved.
Storing
1.
Switch on the ignition.
2. Set the desired position.
3. Press the button. The LED in the
button lights up.
4. Press the desired button 1 or 2. The LED
goes out.
If the M button is pressed accidentally: Press the button again.
The LED goes out.
Calling up settings Do not retrieve the memory while driving
Do not retrieve the memory setting while
driving,
as an unexpected movement of the seat
or steering wheel could result in an accident.◀
Comfort function
1. Open the driver's door.
2. Switch off the ignition.
3. Briefly press the desired button 1 or 2.
The corresponding seat position is performed
automatically.
The procedure stops when a switch for adjust‐
ing the seat or one of the buttons is pressed.
Safety mode
1. Close the driver's door or switch on the ig‐
nition. 2.
Press and hold the desired button 1 or 2 until
the adjustment procedure is completed.
Calling up of a seat position
deactivated
After

a brief period, the calling up of stored seat
positions is deactivated to save battery power.
To reactivate calling up of a seat position:
▷ Open or close the door or tailgate.
▷ Press a button on the remote control.
▷ Press the Start/Stop button.
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
At a glance 1
Adjusting
2 Left/right, Automatic Curb Monitor*
3 Fold in and out*
General information
The
mirror on the passenger side is more curved
than the driver's side mirror.
Estimating distances correctly
Objects reflected in the mirror are closer
than they appear. Do not estimate the distance
to the traffic behind you based on what you see
in the mirror, as this will increase your risk of an
accident.◀
The mirror setting is stored for the remote con‐
trol currently in use. When the vehicle is un‐
locked via the remote control, the position is au‐ Seite 59
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Interior rearview mirror, automatic
dimming feature
*Photocells are used for control:
▷
In the mirror glass.
▷ On the back of the mirror.
For proper operation:
▷ Keep the photocells clean.
▷ Do not cover the area between the inside
rearview mirror and the windshield.
Steering wheel
General information Do not adjust while driving
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving; otherwise, an unexpected movement
could result in an accident.◀
Manual steering wheel adjustment 1.
Fold the lever down.
2. Move the steering wheel to the preferred
height and angle to suit your seating posi‐
tion.
3. Fold the lever back. Power* steering wheel adjustment
The steering wheel can be adjusted in four di‐
rections.
Storing the position
Seat, mirror, and steering wheel memory, refer
to page
58.
Steering wheel heating

*
Switching on/off Press the button.
▷ On: the LED lights up.
▷ Off: the LED goes out. Seite 61
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Set the parking brake and further secure
the vehicle as required
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and
downward inclines, further secure the vehi‐
cle, for example, by turning the steering wheel in
the direction of the curb. ◀
While driving
Use while driving:
Pull the switch and hold it. The vehicle brakes
hard while the button is being pulled.
The indicator lamp lights up in red, a sig‐
nal sounds and the brake lamps light up.
Lower lamp: indicator lamp in Canadian
models
If the vehicle is braked to a speed of approx.
2 mph/3 km/h, the parking brake remains set.
Releasing Press the switch while the brake pedal is
pressed or transmission position P is en‐
gaged.
The LED and indicator lamp go out.
The parking brake is released.
Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot release the parking brake.◀
Manual release
The parking brake can be released manually in
the event of a power failure or electrical fault.
Before releasing, secure the vehicle
against rolling
Before releasing the parking brake manually,
and whenever you park the vehicle with the
parking brake released, ensure that position P of
the automatic transmission is engaged. Secure the vehicle in a manner appropriate to
the inclination of the road, e.g., with a wheel
chock; otherwise, there is the danger of the ve‐
hicle rolling.◀
Unlocking
1.
Raise the rear cargo floor cover in the cargo
area, arrow 1, and fasten it with a retaining
strap. 2.
Remove the release tool from the tool kit. 3.
Take out the floor trim in the cargo area, re‐
moving

the clips with a screwdriver, arrows. Seite 68
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Driving

Driving comfort
Active Cruise Control with
Stop & Go function, ACC*
The concept
This system can be used to select a desired
speed that the vehicle will maintain automati‐
cally on clear roads.
To
the extent possible, the system automatically
adjusts the speed to a slower vehicle ahead of
you.
The distance that the vehicle maintains to the
vehicle ahead of you can be varied.
For safety reasons, it depends on the speed.
To maintain a certain distance, the system au‐
tomatically decelerates, applies the brakes
lightly, or accelerates again if the vehicle ahead
begins moving faster.
If the vehicle ahead of you brakes to a halt, the
system is able to detect this within the given
system limits. If the vehicle ahead of your drives
away again from a halt, your vehicle is able to
accelerate if operated accordingly.
Even if some time passes before the vehicle
drives away again, the BMW can still be accel‐
erated automatically and simply.
As soon as the road is clear, it accelerates to the
desired speed.
The speed is also maintained on downhill gra‐
dients, but may not be maintained on uphill
slopes if engine power is insufficient. Buttons at a glance 1
System on/off, interrupt
2 Resume speed
3 Store speed*
4 Reduce distance
5 Store, maintain/change speed
6 Increase distance
Switching on/off and interrupting
cruise control
Switching on Press

the button on the steering wheel.
The indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
light up and the marking in the speedometer is
set to the current speed.
Cruise control can be used.
Switching off Deactivated or interrupted system
If the system is deactivated or interrupted,
actively intervene by braking and, if necessary,
with evasive maneuvers; otherwise, there is the
danger of an accident occurring.◀
If switching off the system while stationary,
press on the brake pedal at the same time.
Press the button.
▷ If active: press twice.
▷ If interrupted: press once. Seite 106
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Driving comfort