2011 BMW 550I SEDAN water

Transmission position
Transmission position P is engaged automati‐
cally:
▷
When the ignition is switched off.
▷ After approx. 15 minutes.
Headlamps
▷ Do not rub dry and do not use abrasive or
caustic cleansers.
▷ Soak areas that have been soiled e.g. due to
insects, with shampoo and wash off with
water.
▷ Thaw ice with de-icing spray; do not use an
ice scraper.
After washing the vehicle
After washing the vehicle, apply the brakes
briefly
to dry them; otherwise, braking action can
be reduced and corrosion of the brake discs can
occur.
Vehicle care
Car care products
BMW recommends using cleaning and care
products from BMW, since these have been
tested and approved.
Car care and cleaning products
Follow the instructions on the container.
When cleaning the interior, open the doors or
windows.
Only use products intended for cleaning vehi‐
cles.
Cleansers can contain substances that are dan‐
gerous and harmful to your health.◀
Vehicle paint
Regular care contributes to driving safety and
value retention.
Environmental influences can act on the vehicle
paint. Tailor the frequency and extent of your car
care to these influences. Leather care
Remove dust from the leather often, using a
cloth or vacuum cleaner.
Otherwise, particles of dust and road grime
chafe in pores and folds, and lead to increased
wear and premature degradation of the leather
surface.
To guard against discoloration, such as from
clothing,

provide leather care roughly every two
months.
Clean light-colored leather more frequently as
dust and dirt are more noticeable.
Use leather care products; otherwise, dirt and
grease will gradually break down the protective
layer of the leather surface.
Suitable care products are available from the
service center.
Upholstery material care
Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner.
If they are very dirty, e.g., beverage stains, use a
soft sponge or microfiber cloth with a suitable
interior cleaner.
Clean the upholstery down to the seams using
large sweeping motions. Avoid rubbing the ma‐
terial vigorously.
Damage from Velcro® fasteners
Open Velcro® fasteners on pants or other
articles of clothing can damage the seat covers.
Ensure that any Velcro® fasteners are closed.◀
Caring for special components
Light-alloy wheels
Use wheel cleaner, particularly during the winter
months. Do not use aggressive, acidic, strongly
alkaline or abrasive cleaners, or steam jets
above 140 ℉/60 ℃; follow the manufacturer's
instructions.
Chrome surfaces*
Carefully clean components such as the radiator
grille or door handles with an ample supply of Seite 275
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Reference
Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

water, possibly with shampoo added, particu‐
larly
when they have been exposed to road salt.
Rubber components
Aside from water, treat only with rubber cleans‐
ers.
When cleaning rubber seals, do not use any sil‐
icon-containing car care products in order to
avoid damage or reduced noise damping.
Fine wood parts*
Clean fine wood facing and fine wood compo‐
nents only with a moist rag. Then dry with a soft
cloth.
Plastic components
These include:
▷ Imitation leather surfaces.
▷ Headliner.
▷ Lamp lenses.
▷ Instrument cluster cover.
▷ Matte black spray-coated components.
Clean with a microfiber cloth.
Moisten the cloth lightly and use plastic
cleanser, if necessary.
Do not soak the headliner.
Do not use cleansers that contain alcohol
or solvents
Do

not use cleansers that contain alcohol or sol‐
vents, such as lacquer thinners, heavy-duty
grease removers, fuel, or such; this could lead to
surface damage.◀
Safety belts
Dirty belt straps impede the reeling action and
thus have a negative impact on safety.
Chemical cleaning
Do not clean chemically; this can destroy
the webbing.◀
Use only a mild soapy solution, with the safety
belts clipped into their buckles. Do not allow the reels to retract the safety belts
until they are dry.
Floor carpets and floor mats*
No objects in the area around the pedals
Keep floor mats, carpets, and any other
objects out of the area of motion of the pedals;
otherwise, the function of the pedals could be
impeded while driving
Do not place additional floor mats over existing
mats or other objects.
Only

use floor mats that have been approved for
the vehicle and can be properly fixed in place.
Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened
again after they were removed for cleaning, for
example.◀
Floor mats can be removed from the passenger
compartment for cleaning.
If the floor carpets are very dirty, clean with a
microfiber cloth and water or a textile cleaner. To
prevent matting of the carpet, rub back and forth
in the direction of travel only.
Sensors/cameras
To clean sensors and cameras, use a cloth mois‐
tened with a small amount of glass cleaner.
Displays/screens
Clean the displays with a microfiber cloth.
Cleaning displays
Do not use chemical or household cleans‐
ers.
Keep all fluids and moisture away from the unit.
Otherwise, they could affect or damage surfa‐
ces or electrical components.
Avoid pressing too hard when cleaning and do
not use abrasive materials; otherwise, damage
can result.◀
Long-term vehicle storage
Your service center can advise you on what to
consider when storing the vehicle for longer
than three months. Seite 276
276 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490
Care

Traffic bulletins, naviga‐
tion 165
Traffic
situation/gray card 166
Transmission, automatic 65
Transmission, manual 64
Transporting children safely 54
Tread, tires 250
Treble, tone 172
Trip computer 77
Triple turn signal activa‐ tion 62
Trip odometer 73
Truck for tow-starting/tow‐ ing 272
Trunk lid 35
Trunk lid, automatic 36
Trunk lid, emergency unlock‐ ing 37
Trunk lid, hotel function 37
Trunk lid via remote con‐ trol 33
Turning circle 281
Turning circle lines, backup camera 114
Turn signals, operation 62
Turn signals, rear, bulb re‐ placement 266
U
Unintentional alarm 40
Units of measure 79
Universal remote control 132
Unlock button, automatic transmission 65
Unlocking/locking from in‐ side 35
Unlocking/locking via door lock 34
Unlocking/locking with remote control 32
Updates made after the edito‐ rial deadline 6
Updating software 199
Upholstery care 275
USB audio interface 193
USB interface 138 V
Variable steering, Integral Ac‐
tive Steering 98
Vehicle battery 267
Vehicle
battery, replacing 267
Vehicle, breaking in 146
Vehicle care 275
Vehicle identification number, refer to Identification number
in the engine compart‐
ment 255
Vehicle jack 267
Vehicle paint 275
Vehicle storage 276
Vehicle wash 274
Ventilation 129
Ventilation, refer to Parked-car ventilation 131
Version of the navigation data 168
Video playback 183
Video playback, iPhone 195
Video playback, snap-in adapter 195
Voice activation, mobile phone 217
Voice activation, short com‐ mands 285
Voice activation system 22
Volume, setting 172
W
Warning messages, refer to Check Control 70
Warning triangle 270
Washer fluid 64
Washer fluid reservoir, ca‐ pacity 284
Washer nozzles, wind‐ shield 64
Washer system 62
Washing, vehicle 274
Water on roads 147
Weather Band 176
Weights 283
Welcome lamps 80 Wheel base, vehicle 281
Wheel change 267
Wheels, changing 251
Wheels, everything on wheels
and tires 242
Wheels,
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM 88
Width, vehicle 280
Window defroster, rear 128
Windows, powered 40
Windshield, climate con‐ trol 147
Windshield washer fluid 64
Windshield washer noz‐ zles 64
Windshield washer system 62
Windshield wiper 62
Windshield wipers, fold-out position 64
Winter storage, care 276
Winter tires, suitable tires 252
Winter tires, tread 250
Wiper blades, replacing 262
Wiper fluid 64
Wiper system 62
Wood, care 276
Word match concept, naviga‐ tion 21
Wrench 262
X
xDrive 96
Xenon headlamps, bulb re‐ placement 264
Y
Your individual vehicle 6
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302 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490
Everything from A to Z