2011 BMW 550I XDRIVE GT Owner's Manual

Windshield washer nozzles
The washer jets are automatically heated*
whenever the ignition is switched on.
Fold-out position of the wipers
Required when changing the wiper blades or
under frosty conditions, for example.
1.
Switch off the ignition.
2. Under frosty conditions, ensure that the
wiper blades are not frozen onto the wind‐
shield.
3. Press the wiper lever up beyond the point of
resistance
and hold it for approx. 3 seconds,
until the wiper remains in a nearly vertical
position.
After the wipers are folded back down, the wiper
system must be reactivated.
Fold the wipers back down
Before switching the ignition on, fold the
wipers

back down to the windshield; otherwise,
the wipers may become damaged when they are
switched on.◀
1. Switch on the ignition.
2. Press the wiper levers down. The wipers
move

to their resting position and are ready
for operation.
Washer fluid
General information Antifreeze for washer fluid
Antifreeze is flammable. Therefore, keep
it away from sources of ignition.
Only

keep it in the closed original container and
inaccessible to children.
Follow the instructions on the container.◀ Washer fluid reservoir
Adding washer fluid
Only add washer fluid when the engine is
cool, and then close the cover completely to
avoid

contact between the washer fluid and hot
engine parts.
Otherwise, there is the danger of fire and a risk
to personal safety if the fluid is spilled.◀ All washer nozzles are supplied from one reser‐
voir.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer
antifreeze,

according to the manufacturer's rec‐
ommendations.
Mix the washer fluid before adding to maintain
the correct mixing ratio.
Capacity
Approx. 5.3 US quarts/ 5 liters
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
Transmission positions
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for‐
ward gears are available.
R is Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N is Neutral
Use in automatic car washes, for example. The
vehicle can roll. Seite 73
73Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490

Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

When the ignition is switched off, refer to
page
66, position P is engaged automatically.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
drive wheels are blocked.
P is engaged automatically:
▷ After the engine is switched off, if the car is
in
radio ready state, refer to page 66, or if the
ignition is switched off, refer to page 66, and
if position R or D is engaged.
▷ If the ignition is switched off and position N
is engaged.
▷ If the safety belt is unbuckled, the driver's
door is opened, and the brake pedal is not
pressed while the vehicle is stationary and
transmission position R or D is engaged.
Kickdown
Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving
performance. Press on the accelerator beyond
the resistance point at the full throttle position.
Engaging the transmission position
▷ Transmission position P can only be disen‐
gaged

if the engine is running and the brake
pedal is pressed.
▷ With the vehicle stationary, press on the
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N;
otherwise, the shift command will not be
executed: shift lock.
Depress

the brake until you start driv‐
ing
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after
you select a driving position, maintain pres‐
sure on the brake pedal until you are ready
to start.◀ Engaging D, R and N
Briefly push the selector lever in the desired di‐
rection, beyond a resistance point if necessary.
After

releasing the selector lever, it returns to its
center position. Press the Unlock button to:
▷
Engage R.
▷ Shift out of P.
Engaging P Press button P.
Seite 74
74 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490
Driving

Sport program and manual mode M/S
Activating the sport program
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
DS is displayed in the instrument cluster.
This position is recommended for a perform‐
ance-oriented driving style.
Activating the M/S manual mode
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
Push the selector lever forward or backward.
Manual mode becomes active and the gear is
changed.
The
engaged gear is displayed in the instrument
cluster, e.g., M1.
▷ To shift down: press the selector lever for‐
ward.
▷ To shift up: press the selector lever back‐
ward.
The transmission only shifts up or down if the
rpm and vehicle speed are appropriate. If the
engine

speed is too high, the transmission does
not shift down.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Ending the sport program/manual
mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
D is displayed in the instrument cluster. Displays in the instrument cluster
The transmission position is dis‐
played, for instance, P. Seite 75
75Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490

Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Displays
Instrument cluster
At a glance
1
Fuel gauge
2 Speedometer
3 Indicator/warning lamps
4 Tachometer
5 Oil temperature 6
External temperature*
7 Electronic displays
8 Miles, trip miles
9 Clock*
10 Display/reset miles
Fuel gauge The vehicle inclination may
cause the display to vary.
Notes on refueling, refer to
page 240.
Range After the reserve range is
reached:
▷A Check Control message is
displayed briefly. ▷
The remaining range is
shown on the computer.
▷ When a dynamic driving style is used, such
as when corners are taken rapidly, engine
functions are not ensured.
The Check Control message appears continu‐
ously below a range of approx. 30 miles/50 km.
Refuel promptly
Refuel no later than at a range 30 miles/
50
km, or engine functions are not ensured and
damage may occur.◀ Seite 76
76 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490
Displays

Displaying the cruising range
1.
"Settings"
2. "Info display"
3. "Additional indicators" The range is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Tachometer
Always avoid engine speeds in the red warning
field.
In this range, the fuel supply is interrupted
to protect the engine.
Engine oil temperature
▷Cold engine: the pointer is at
the low temperature end.
Drive

at moderate engine and
vehicle speeds.
▷ Normal operating tempera‐
ture:

the pointer is in the mid‐
dle or in the left half of the
temperature display.
▷ Hot engine: the pointer is at the high tem‐
perature end. A Check Control message is
displayed in addition. Coolant temperature
Should the coolant, and with it the engine, be‐
come too hot, a Check Control message is dis‐
played.
Check the coolant level, refer to page
254.
External temperature
External temperature warning If the display drops to +37 ℉/
+3 ℃, a signal sounds.
A Check Control message is dis‐
played.
There is the increased danger of
ice.
Ice on roads
Even

at temperatures above +37 ℉/+3 ℃,
there can be a risk of ice on roads.
Therefore, drive carefully on bridges and shady
roads, for example, to avoid the increased dan‐
ger of an accident.◀
Current fuel consumption
Displays the current fuel con‐
sumption. You can check
whether you are currently driving
in an efficient and environmen‐
tally-friendly manner.
Displaying the current fuel
consumption
1. "Settings"
2. "Info display"
3. "Additional indicators" Seite 77
77Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490

Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

The bar display for the current fuel consumption
is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Energy recovery
The energy of motion of the ve‐
hicle
is converted to electrical en‐
ergy while coasting. The vehicle
battery is partially charged and
fuel consumption can be low‐
ered.
Odometer and trip odometer ▷Odometer, arrow 1.
▷ Trip odometer, arrow 2.
Display/reset miles Press the knob.
▷When the ignition is switched
off,

the time, external temper‐
ature and odometer are dis‐
played.
▷ When the ignition is switched on, the trip
odometer is reset.
Time The time is displayed at the bot‐
tom of the instrument cluster.
Setting

the time and time format,
refer to page 81.
Date The date is displayed in the in‐
strument cluster.
Setting the date and date format,
refer to page 81. Selection lists in the
instrument cluster
The concept
The following can be operated using the buttons
and the thumbwheel on the steering wheel:
▷
Current audio source.
▷ Redial on telephone*.
▷ Activation of the voice activation system*.
Activating a list and creating the
setting Press a button on the right side of the steering
wheel

or turn the thumbwheel to activate the re‐
quired list.
Create the setting using the thumbwheel.
Computer
Indication in the info display
The information from the com‐
puter is shown in the Info display
in the instrument cluster. Seite 78
78 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490
Displays

Calling up information on the info
display
Press the computer button on the turn signal
lever.
Information
is displayed on the info display of the
instrument cluster.
Information at a glance
Repeatedly pressing the button on the turn sig‐
nal lever calls up the following information on the
info display:
▷ Range.
▷ Average fuel consumption.
▷ Average speed.
▷ Date*.
▷ Time of arrival*
When destination guidance is activated in
the navigation system.
▷ Distance to destination*
When destination guidance is activated in
the navigation system.
▷ Arrow view of navigation system*
When destination guidance is activated in
the navigation system.
Adjusting the info display
You can select what information from the com‐
puter

is to be displayed on the info display of the
instrument cluster.
1. "Settings"
2. "Info display" 3.
Select the desired displays. Information in detail
Range
Displays the estimated cruising range available
with the remaining fuel.
It is calculated based on your driving style over
the last 20 miles/30 km. If there is only enough
fuel left for less than 45 miles/80 km, the color
of the display changes.
Average fuel consumption
This

is calculated for the period during which the
engine is running.
The average fuel consumption is calculated on
the basis of various distances.
Average speed
Periods in which the vehicle is parked with the
engine stopped do not enter into the calculation.
Resetting average values
Press and hold the computer button on the turn
signal lever.
Distance to destination*
The distance remaining to the destination is dis‐
played if a destination is entered in the naviga‐
tion system* before the trip is started.
The distance to the destination is adopted au‐
tomatically.
Seite 79
79Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490

Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Time of arrival*
The estimated time of arrival is
displayed if a destination is en‐
tered in the navigation system
*
before the trip is started.
The time must be correctly set.
Speed limit
Display of a speed limit which, when reached,
should cause a warning to be issued.
Renewed warning if the vehicle speed drops be‐
low the set speed limit once by at least 3 mph/
5 km/h.
Displaying, setting or changing the
limit
1. "Settings"
2. "Speed"
3. "Warning at:" 4.
Turn the controller until the desired limit is
displayed.
5. Press the controller.
The speed limit is stored.
Activating/deactivating the limit
1. "Settings"
2. "Speed"
3. "Warning"
4. Press the controller.
Applying your current speed as the
limit
1. "Settings"
2. "Speed" 3.
"Select current speed"
4. Press the controller.
The current vehicle speed is stored as the
limit.
Resetting values
The average fuel consumption and average
speed can be reset.
Press

and hold the computer button on the turn
signal lever.
Trip computer
There are two types of computer.
▷ "Onboard info": the values can be reset as
often as necessary.
▷ "Trip
computer": the values provide an over‐
view of the current trip.
Resetting the trip computer
1. "Vehicle Info"
2. "Trip computer"
3. "Reset": all values are reset.
"Automatically reset": all values are reset
approx.

4 hours after the vehicle comes to a
standstill. Display on the Control Display
Display the computer or trip computer on the
Control Display.
1.
"Vehicle Info"
2. "Onboard info" or "Trip computer"
Seite 80
80 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 445 - 03 11 490
Displays