2011 BMW 550I XDRIVE GRAN TURISMO catalytic converter

Before leaving the car with the engine running,
set
the parking brake and place the transmission
in position P or neutral to prevent the car from
moving.◀
Frequent starting in quick succession
Avoid repeated futile attempts at starting
the car and avoid starting the car frequently in
quick succession. Otherwise, the fuel is not
burned or is inadequately burned, and there is
the danger of overheating and damaging the
catalytic converter.◀
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving at mod‐
erate engine speeds.
Starting the engine
Press on the brake pedal and
press the Start/Stop button.
The engine is cranked until it
starts.
Engine stop
General information Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot operate the windows and injure them‐
selves.◀
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. ◀
Before driving into a car wash
In order for the vehicle to be able to roll into a car
wash, heed the information regarding Washing
in automatic car washes, refer to page 269. Switching off the engine
1.
Engage transmission position P with the ve‐
hicle stopped.
2. Press the Start/Stop button.
The engine is switched off.
The radio ready state is switched on.
3. Set the parking brake.
Parking brake
The concept
The

parking brake is used to prevent the vehicle
from rolling when it is parked.
▷ Engine switched off: the parking brake acts
on the rear wheels.
▷ Engine running: the parking brake acts on
the disc brakes of the front and rear wheels
via the hydraulic brake system.
The parking brake can be set manually or auto‐
matically:
▷ Manual: by pulling and pushing the switch.
▷ Automatic: by activating Automatic Hold. Setting
Pull the switch.
The LED lights up.
The indicator lamp lights up in red. The
parking brake is set.
Lower lamp: indicator lamp in Canadian
models Seite 67
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Controls At a glance

Fuel
Fuel quality
Refuel with unleaded fuel only
Do not use leaded fuel as this would per‐
manently damage the catalytic converter.
◀
Do not refuel with ethanol
Do not refuel with E85, i.e., fuel with an
ethanol content of 85 %, or with Flex Fuel, as this
would damage the engine and fuel supply sys‐
tem.◀
Required fuel
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91 or AKI
89
BMW recommends AKI 91 or 89.
Gasoline with lower AKI
The minimum AKI Rating is 89.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat‐
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds
when starting at high outside temperatures.
This has no effect on the engine life.
Minimum fuel grade
Do not use any gasoline below the mini‐
mum specified fuel grade; otherwise, engine
damage may occur.◀
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant differ‐
ences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, ad‐
ditives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale in
the United States and Canada.
Fuels containing up to and including 10 % etha‐
nol or other oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen
by weight, that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol
plus an equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not
void the applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship. Minimum fuel grade
The
use of poor-quality fuels may result in
driveability, starting and stalling problems es‐
pecially under certain environmental conditions
such as high ambient temperature and high al‐
titude.
Should you encounter driveability problems
which you suspect could be related to the fuel
you are using, we recommend that you respond
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier
Detergent Gasoline.
Failure to comply with these recommendations
may result in unscheduled maintenance.◀ Seite 242
242 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490Fuel

Battery replacement, remote
control, rear entertain‐
ment 202
Battery replacement, vehicle battery 262
Battery replacement, vehicle remote control 32
Battery, vehicle 262
Before entering the car wash 269
Belts, safety belts 55
Beverage holder, cu‐ pholder 141
Blinds, sun protection 46
Bluetooth audio 196
BMW Apps 236
BMW Apps, video play‐ back 195
BMW Assist 232
BMW EfficientDynamics, refer to Saving fuel 150
BMW homepage 6
BMW Internet page 6
BMW Maintenance Sys‐ tem 256
BMW Online 234
Bottle holder, refer to Cu‐ pholder 141
Brake assistant 99
Brake assistant, adaptive 99
Brake discs, breaking in 146
Brake force display 98
Brake lamps, brake force dis‐ play 98
Brake lamps, bulb replace‐ ment 261
Brake lights, adaptive 98
Brake pads, breaking in 146
Braking, notes 147
Breakdown assis‐ tance 264, 265
Breaking in 146
Brightness of Control Dis‐ play 82
Bulb replacement 258
Bulb replacement, front 259
Bulb replacement, rear 260
Bulbs and lamps 258 Button, RES 108
Button, Start/Stop 66
Bypassing, refer to starting
aid 265
C
Calendar 226
California Proposition 65 Warning 7
Camera, backup camera 121
Camera, care 271
Camera, Side View 122
Camera, Top View 119
Can holder, refer to Cu‐ pholder 141
Car battery 262
Car care products 270
Care, displays 271
Care, vehicle 270
Cargo 148
Cargo area 136
Cargo area, enlarging 136
Cargo area lid 39
Cargo area, storage compart‐ ments 142
Cargo partition 138
Cargo straps, securing cargo 149
Car key, refer to Remote con‐ trol 32
Carpet, care 271
Car wash 269
Catalytic converter, refer to Hot exhaust system 146
CBS Condition Based Serv‐ ice 256
CD/DVD 181
CD/DVD player, rear 201
CDs, storing 188
Cell phone 210
Center armrest 140
Center console 17
Central locking system 35
Central
screen, refer to Control
Display 19
Changes, technical, refer to Safety 7 Changing parts
258
Changing wheels/tires 248
Check Control 83
Children, seating position 62
Children, transporting safely 62
Child restraint fixing sys‐ tem 62
Child restraint fixing system LATCH 63
Child restraint fixing systems, mounting 62
Child-safety locks 65
Child seat, mounting 62
Child seats 62
Chrome parts, care 270
Cigarette lighter 135
Cleaning, displays 271
Climate control 127
Climate control wind‐ shield 147
Clock 78
Closing/opening from in‐ side 38
Closing/opening via door lock 38
Closing/opening with remote control 36
Clothes hooks 141
Collision warning 112
Combination instrument 14
Combination
instrument, elec‐
tronic displays 16
Combination switch, refer to Turn signals 71
Combination switch, refer to Wiper system 71
Comfort Access 42
COMFORT program, Dynamic Driving Control 104
Computer 78
Concierge service 233
Condensation on win‐ dows 128
Condensation under the vehi‐ cle 148
Condition Based Service CBS 256
Seite 287
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