2011 BMW 7 SERIES Owners Manual

3.
Seat tilt. 4.
Backrest tilt. 5.
Thigh support*. Lumbar support*
The curvature of the seat backrest can be ad‐
justed in such a way that it supports the lumbar
region of the spine. The lower back and the
spine are supported for upright posture. ▷
Press the front/rear section of the switch.
The curvature is increased/decreased.
▷ Press the upper/lower section of the switch.
The curvature is shifted up/down.
Backrest width* Change the width of the backrest using the side
wings to adjust the lateral support.
To make it easier to enter and exit the vehicle,
the backrest width temporarily opens fully.
Shoulder support*
Also supports the back in the shoulder area:
▷
Results in a relaxed seating position.
▷ Reduces strain on the shoulder muscles.
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Gentleman function*
The front passenger seat can be adjusted with
the switches of the driver's seat.
1. Press the button. The LED lights up.
2. Adjust the front passenger seat on your own
seat.
3. If needed, store the memory position, refer
to page 57, for the front passenger seat.
4. Press the button to deactivate the function.
The LED goes out.
The function deactivates itself automatically af‐
ter some time.
Active seat*
Active adjustment of the seat cushion's con‐
tours reduces muscular tension and fatigue to
help prevent lower back pain. Press the button. The LED lights up. Front seat heating*
Switching on
Press the button once for each temper‐
ature level.
The maximum temperature is reached when
three LEDs are lit.
Switching off
Press the button longer.
The LEDs go out.
The temperature may be reduced or seat heat‐
ing may be switched off entirely to save battery
power.
Temperature distribution*
The heating action in the seat cushion and back‐
rest can be distributed in different ways.
1. "Climate"
2. "Seat heating distribution"
3. Select the required seat. 4.
Turn the controller to set the temperature
distribution. Seite 50
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Adjusting

Front active seat ventilation*
The seat cushion and backrest surfaces are
cooled by means of integrated fans.
The
ventilation rapidly cools the seat, e.g., if the
vehicle interior is overheated or for continuous
cooling at high temperatures. Switching on
Press
the button once for each ventila‐
tion level.
The highest level is active when three LEDs are
lit.
After a short time, the system automatically
moves down one level in order to prevent ex‐
cessive cooling.
Switching off
Press the button longer.
The LEDs go out.
Rear seats
Adjusting
General information
The switches for adjusting the seats are located
on the center armrest of the rear seats.
Center armrest
When folding down the center armrest,
ensure that the area below the center head re‐
straint is clear. Otherwise, injury may result.◀ At a glance
1
Forward/backward, tilt
2 Backrest
3 Adjust front passenger seat
4 Reset to standard position
5 Head restraint.
6 Lumbar support
The seats cannot be adjusted if the safety
switch for the power windows has been
pressed.
Settings in detail
1. Forward/back. 2.
Seat tilt. Seite 51
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3.
Backrest tilt. Lumbar support
The contour of the seat backrest can be ad‐
justed in such a way that it supports the lumbar
region of the spine. The lower back and the
spine are supported for upright posture.
▷
Press the front/rear section of the switch.
The curvature is increased/decreased.
▷ Press the upper/lower section of the switch.
The curvature is shifted up/down.
Adjusting the front passenger seat
from the rear
For more leg room in the rear, for example. 1.
Press the button to activate the function, ar‐
row. 2.
Adjust the passenger seat, e.g., forward/
back.
3. Press the button to deactivate the function,
arrow.
The function deactivates itself automatically af‐
ter some time.
Reset* to standard position Maintain pressure on the button until the system
completes the adjustment.
Massage function in rear seats
*
Wavelike motions from the top to the bottom in
the backrest relax back muscles.
Button in rear Switching on
To
switch on, press the button once for
each massage level.
The highest level is active when two LEDs are
lit.
Switching off
To switch off, press and hold the button.
The LEDs go out. Seite 52
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Adjusting

Rear seat heating*
Switching on
Press the button once for each temper‐
ature level.
The maximum temperature is reached when
three LEDs are lit.
Switching off
Press the button longer.
The LEDs go out.
Temperature distribution*
The heating action in the seat cushion and back‐
rest can be distributed in different ways.
1. "Climate"
2. "Seat heating rear"
3. Select the required seat. 4.
Turn the controller to set the temperature
distribution. Active seat ventilation*
Switching on
Press the button once for each ventila‐
tion level.
The highest level is active when three LEDs are
lit.
Switching off
Press the button longer.
The LEDs go out.
Safety belts
Seats with safety belt
The vehicle has five seats, each of which is
equipped with a safety belt.
Notes
Always make sure that safety belts are being
worn by all occupants before driving away.
Although airbags enhance safety by providing
added protection, they are not a substitute for
safety belts.
▷ The shoulder strap's anchorage point will be
correct for adult seat occupants of every
build if the seat is correctly adjusted.
▷ The two outer safety belt buckles,
integrated

into the rear seat, are for passen‐
gers sitting on the left and right.
▷ The center rear seat belt buckle marked with
the letters CENTER is solely intended for
the center passenger. Seite 53
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One person per safety belt
Never
allow more than one person to wear
a single safety belt. Never allow infants or small
children to ride on a passenger's lap.◀
Putting on the belt
Lay the belt, without twisting, snugly
across the lap and shoulders, as close to the
body as possible. Make sure that the belt lies low
around the hips in the lap area and does not
press on the abdomen. Otherwise, the belt can
slip over the hips in the lap area in a frontal im‐
pact and injure the abdomen.
The safety belt must not lie across the neck, rub
on sharp edges, be routed over solid or breaka‐
ble objects, or be pinched.◀
Reduction of restraining effect
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the
belt from fitting properly, and pull the shoulder
belt periodically to readjust the tension across
your lap; otherwise, the retention effect of the
safety belt may be reduced.◀
Buckling the belt Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in the
belt buckle.
Tensioning the safety belt
automatically*
After the belt is buckled and the door is closed,
the belt is tightened once automatically.
Unbuckling the belt
1.
Hold the belt firmly.
2. Press the red button in the belt buckle. 3.
Guide the belt back into its reel.
Safety belt reminder for the driver's and
front passenger seat The indicator lamp flashes or lights up
and a signal sounds. Make sure that the
safety belts are positioned correctly.
The safety belt reminder is active at speeds
above approx. 5 mph/8 km/h. It can also be ac‐
tivated if objects are placed on the front pas‐
senger seat.
Safety mode*
In

critical situations, e.g., during full brake appli‐
cation, the front safety belts tighten automati‐
cally.
If the situation passes without an accident oc‐
curring, the belt tension relaxes.
If the belt tension does not loosen automatically,
stop the vehicle and unbuckle the belt using the
red button in the buckle. Fasten the belt before
continuing on your trip.
Damage to safety belts
In the case of strain caused by accidents or
damage:
Have the safety belts, including the safety belt
tensioners, replaced and have the belt anchors
checked.
Checking and replacing safety belts
Have the work performed only by your
service center; otherwise, it cannot be ensured
that this safety feature will function properly.◀
Front head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of injury to cervical vertebrae in the event of
an accident. Seite 54
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Adjusting

Adjusting the head restraint
Correctly adjust the head restraints of all
occupied
seats; otherwise, there is an increased
risk of injury in an accident.◀
Height
Adjust the head restraint so that its center is ap‐
proximately at ear level.
Distance
Adjust the distance so that the head restraint is
as close as possible to the back of the head.
Active head restraint
In the event of a rear-end collision with a certain
severity, the active head restraint automatically
reduces the distance from the head.
Reduced protective function
▷Do not use seat or head restraint cov‐
ers.
▷ Do not hang objects, e.g., clothes hangers,
on the head restraints.
▷ Only attach accessories approved by BMW
to the seat or head restraint.
Otherwise, the protective function of the active
head
restraint will be impaired and the personal
safety of the occupants will be endangered.◀
Adjusting the height Adjusting electrically. Distance to back of head: manual head
restraints
▷
Forward: pull.
▷ Back: press the button and push the head
restraint toward the rear.
Distance to the back of the head:
power* head restraints
The

head restraint is automatically repositioned
when the shoulder support is adjusted.
Adjusting the side extensions* Fold forward for increased lateral support in the
resting position.
Removing
The head restraints cannot be removed.
Rear head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk

of injury to cervical vertebrae in the event of
an accident.
Seite 55
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Adjusting the head restraint
Correctly adjust the head restraints of all
occupied
seats; otherwise, there is an increased
risk of injury in an accident.◀
Height
Adjust the head restraint so that its center is ap‐
proximately at ear level.
Distance
Adjust the distance so that the head restraint is
as close as possible to the back of the head.
Folding forward the center head
restraint Before using the center seat, fold the center
head restraint forward.
Press the button, arrow 1, and fold the head re‐
straint forward.
Adjusting the height: manual head
restraints
The height of the outer head restraints can be
adjusted.
▷
To raise: pull.
▷ To lower: press the button, arrow 1, and
push the head restraint down. Adjusting the height: electrical*
▷
The head restraints on the left and right rear
passenger seats extend automatically
whenever a passenger in the rear seat fas‐
tens his or her safety belt. ▷
In addition, the height of the head restraint
can be adjusted electrically.
Extending the head restraint
To prevent possible personal injury and
property damage, always ensure that the area
above the head restraints is clear and unob‐
structed before extending them upward.◀
The height adjustment of the head restraint is
deactivated when the safety switch for the rear
windows, refer to page 45, has been pressed.
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. Seite 56
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Adjusting