2012 BMW 650I headlamp

The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
Automatic headlamp control
Switch
position : the low beams are switched
on and off automatically, e.g., in tunnels, in twi‐
light or if there is precipitation. The indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can
cause the lights to be switched on.
The low beams always stay on when the fog
lamps are switched on.
Personal responsibility
The automatic headlamp control cannot
serve

as a substitute for your personal judgment
in determining when the lamps should be
switched on in response to ambient lighting
conditions.
For example, the sensors are unable to detect
fog or hazy weather. To avoid safety risks, you
should always switch on the lamps manually un‐
der these conditions.◀
Daytime running lights*
With the ignition switched on, the daytime run‐
ning lights light up in position 0, or .
After the ignition is switched off, the parking
lamps light up in position

.
Roadside parking lamps The vehicle can be illuminated on one side.
Switching on
With the ignition switched off, press the lever
either up or down past the resistance point for
approx. 2 seconds. Switching off
Briefly press the lever to the resistance point in
the opposite direction.
Adaptive light control*
The concept
Adaptive light control is a variable headlamp
control system that enables dynamic illumina‐
tion of the road surface.
Depending on the steering angle and other pa‐
rameters, the light from the headlamp follows
the course of the road.
In tight curves, e.g., on mountainous roads or
when turning, an additional, corner-illuminating
lamp is switched on that lights up the inside of
the curve when the vehicle is moving below a
certain speed.
Controls
Activating
Switch position
with the ignition switched
on.
The turning lamps are automatically switched
on depending on the steering angle or the use
of turn signals.
To

avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the adaptive
light control directs light towards the front pas‐
senger side when the vehicle is at a standstill.
When driving in reverse, only the turning lamp is
active.
Self-leveling headlights
The self-leveling headlights feature adapts the
light distribution to the contours of the road.
The light distribution is lowered on hilltops to
avoid blinding oncoming traffic and tilted in de‐
pressions to increase visibility.
Malfunction
A Check Control message is displayed.
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Adaptive light control is malfunctioning or has
failed.
Have the system checked as soon as pos‐
sible.
High-beam Assistant*
The concept
When the low beams are switched on, this sys‐
tem automatically switches the high beams on
and off. The procedure is controlled by a sensor
on the front of the interior rearview mirror. The
assistant ensures that the high beams are
switched on whenever the traffic situation al‐
lows. The driver can intervene at any time and
switch the high beams on and off as usual.
Activating the High-beam Assistant 1.
Turn the light switch to or .
2. Press the button on the turn signal lever, ar‐
row.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
When the lights are switched on, the
high beams are switched on and off automati‐
cally.
The system responds to light from oncoming
traffic

and traffic driving ahead of you, and to ad‐
equate illumination, e.g., in towns and cities. Switching the high beams on and off
manually
▷
High beams on, arrow 1.
▷ High beams off/headlamp flasher, arrow 2.
To reactivate the High-beam Assistant, press
the button on the turn signal lever.
System limits
Personal responsibility
The high-beam assistant cannot serve as
a substitute for the driver's personal judgment
of

when to use the high beams. Therefore, man‐
ually switch off the high beams in situations
where this is required to avoid a safety risk.◀
The system is not fully functional in situations
such as the following, and driver intervention
may be necessary:
▷ In very unfavorable weather conditions,
such as fog or heavy precipitation.
▷ In detecting poorly-lit road users, such as
pedestrians, cyclists, horseback riders and
wagons; when driving close to train or ship
traffic; and at animal crossings.
▷ In tight curves, on hilltops or in depressions,
in cross traffic or half-obscured oncoming
traffic on freeways.
▷ In poorly-lit towns and cities and in the pres‐
ence of highly reflective signs.
▷ At low speeds.
▷ When the windshield in front of the interior
rearview mirror is fogged over, dirty or cov‐
ered with stickers, etc. Seite 86
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Lamps

Camera
The camera is located on the front of the interior
rearview mirror.
Keep the area in front of the interior rearview
mirror clear.
Fog lamps
Front fog lamps*
The parking lamps or low beams must be
switched on.
Press the button. The green indicator
lamp lights up.
If the automatic headlamp control, refer to
page 85, is activated, the low beams will come
on automatically when you switch on the front
fog lamps.
Instrument lighting
Adjusting
The parking lamps or low beams
must
be switched on to adjust the
brightness.
Adjust the brightness using the
thumbwheel.
Interior lamps
General information
The interior lamps, footwell lamps, entry lamps
and courtesy lamps are controlled automati‐
cally. The brightness of some of these lamps is influ‐
enced by the thumbwheel for the instrument
lighting.
1
Interior lamps
2 Reading lamp
Switching the interior lamps on and off Press the button.
To switch off permanently: press the button for
approx. 3 seconds.
To clear this setting: press the button.
Reading lamps Press the button. Seite 87
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

is moving from the right or left to the central area.
Display in the Head-up Display
*
The warning is simultaneously dis‐
played in the Head-up Display and in the
Control Display. The displayed symbol
can vary with the people detected. For people
located in the central area, the distance to the
person is indicated by the size of the symbol.
System limits
Basic limits
System operation is limited in situations such as
the following:
▷ On steep hills, in steep depressions or in
tight curves.
▷ When the camera is dirty or the protective
glass is damaged.
▷ In heavy fog, rain or snowfall.
▷ At very high external temperatures.
Limits of pedestrian detection
Animals are not detected by the pedestrian de‐
tection

function, even if they are clearly visible in
the image.
Limited pedestrian detection:
▷ When people are fully or partially covered,
especially when their heads are covered.
▷ When people are not in an upright position,
e.g., when lying down.
▷ Cyclists on unconventional bicycles (e.g.,
recumbent bicycles).
▷ After physical damage to the system, e.g.,
after an accident. Activation/deactivation
Press the button.
Display
Settings via iDrive
With Night Vision switched on:
1. Activate Night Vision with pedestrian detec‐
tion.
2. Press the controller.
3. Open the desired menu item.
▷ "Brightness"
▷ "Contrast"
▷ "Pedestrian detection"
The settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Camera Rain, dirt, snow, or ice can impair camera oper‐
ation.
The camera is automatically heated when the
external temperatures are low.
The camera is automatically cleaned together
with the headlamps. Seite 120
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Driving comfort

Do not touch the bulbs
Do not touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare hands, as even minute amounts of
contamination will burn into the bulb's surface
and reduce its service life.
Use
a clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or
hold the bulb by its base.◀
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Light-emitting diodes installed behind a cover
serve as the light source for controls, display el‐
ements and other equipment.
These light-emitting diodes, which are related
to conventional lasers, are officially designated
as Class 1 light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers
Do not remove the covers, and never stare
into the unfiltered light for several hours; other‐
wise, irritation of the retina could result.◀
Headlamp glass
Condensation can form on the inside of the ex‐
ternal lamps in cool or humid weather. When the
light is switched on, the condensation evapo‐
rates after a short time. The headlamp glasses
do not need to be changed.
If there is a large amount of moisture, e.g., water
droplets form in the lamp, have it checked by
your service center.
Front lamps, bulb replacement
Xenon headlamps
Because of the long life of these bulbs, the like‐
lihood of failure is very low. Switching the lamps
on and off frequently shortens their life.
If a bulb fails, switch on the front fog lamps* and
continue the trip with great care. Comply with
local regulations.
Do not perform work/bulb replacement on
xenon headlamps
Have any work on the xenon lighting system, in‐
cluding bulb replacement, performed only by a
service center. Due to the high voltage present in the system,
there
is the danger of fatal injuries if work is car‐
ried out improperly.◀
For checking and adjusting headlamp aim,
please contact your BMW center.
LEDs or light modules
The following lamps are equipped with LED
technology or are designed as light modules:
▷ Parking lamps and roadside parking lamps
▷ Turn signal lamps
▷ Front fog lamps*
▷ Daytime running lights*
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Follow the general instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 243.
Corner-illuminating lamps

*
Follow the general instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 243.
The illustration shows the left side of the engine
compartment.
55-watt bulb, H3
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Replacing components

A signal is sounded when an attempt is made to
lock the vehicle.
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.
Caring for the convertible top
The appearance and life of the convertible top
depend on correct care and operation.
Note the following instructions:
▷ To avoid water stains, mildew spots, and
chafe marks, do not fold and stow the con‐
vertible top in the convertible top well while
the top is wet or frozen.
▷ Remove water stains that may nevertheless
have appeared on the headliner using a mi‐
crofiber cloth and an interior cleaner.
▷ When the vehicle is parked in enclosed
areas for lengthy periods, ensure that the
area is well ventilated.
▷ Remove bird droppings immediately as their
corrosive effect will otherwise attack the
convertible top and damage the rubber
seals.
Do not use spot remover, paint thinner,
solvent,
benzine, or similar products to re‐
move spots on the convertible top. These prod‐
ucts may destroy the rubber coating. Incorrect
care and cleaning may cause the convertible top
and its seams to become leaky.◀
To remove heavy soiling, use a special conver‐
tible top cleaner.
Follow the instructions for use from the manu‐
facturer.
Treat the convertible top with an impregnating
agent after it has been washed three to five
times.
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. Seite 255
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Reference
Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

Capacities

Notes
Fuel tank US gal/liters approx. 18.5/70 Fuel quality, refer
to page 228
Windshield and headlamp
washer system US quarts/liters approx. 5.3/5.0 Seite 262
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Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS, Antilock Brake Sys‐
tem 101
Activated-charcoal filter 126
Active Blind Spot Detec‐ tion 98
Active seat, front 55
Active seat ventilation, front 55
Active Steering, integral 102
Adaptive brake lights, refer to Brake force display 100
Adaptive drive 102
Adaptive light control 85
Additional telephone 196
Additives, oil 239
Adjustments, seats/head re‐ straints 53
Airbags 88
Airbags, indicator/warning light 89
Air circulation, refer to Recir‐ culated-air mode 125
Air distribution, manual 123
Air drying, refer to Cooling function 125
Air pressure, tires 229
Air vents, refer to Ventila‐ tion 126
Air volume, automatic climate control 124
Alarm system 42
Alarm, unintentional 43
All around the center con‐ sole 17
All
around the interior rearview
mirror 18
All around the steering wheel 12
ALL program, automatic cli‐ mate control 125 All-season tires, refer to Win‐
ter tires 233
Alternating-code hand-held transmitter 129
Alternative oil types 239
AM/FM station 166
Announcement, navigation, refer to Spoken instruc‐
tions 155
Antifreeze, washer fluid 71
Antilock Brake System, ABS 101
Anti-slip control, refer to DSC 101
Appointments 212
Approved engine oils 239
Apps 222
Armrest, refer to Center arm‐ rest 132
Arrival time 78
Ashtray 129
Assist 218
Assistance, Roadside Assis‐ tance 249
Assistance when driving off 101
Audio playback 173
Audio playback, Blue‐ tooth 188
AUTO intensity 124
Automatic car wash 254
Automatic Curb Monitor 59
Automatic deactivation, front passenger airbags 89
Automatic headlamp con‐ trol 85
Automatic Hold 67
Automatic locking 39
Automatic recirculated-air control 125
Automatic Soft Closing, doors 40 Automatic transmission with
Steptronic 72
AUTO program, automatic cli‐ mate control 124
AUTO program, intensity 124
AUX-IN port 184
Average fuel consumption 77
Average speed 77
Axle loads, weights 261
B
Backrest curvature, refer to Lumbar support 54
Backrest, seats 53
Backrest, width 54
Backup camera 110
Backup lamps, bulb replace‐ ment 245
Balance 164
Band-Aids, refer to First aid kit 249
Bar for tow-starting/tow‐ ing 252
Bass 164
Battery replacement, vehicle battery 247
Battery replacement, vehicle remote control 32
Battery, vehicle 247
Before entering the car wash 254
Belts, safety belts 56
Beverage holder, cu‐ pholder 133
Bluetooth audio 188
BMW Apps 222
BMW Apps, video play‐ back 187
BMW Assist 218
BMW EfficientDynamics, refer to Saving fuel 141
BMW homepage 6
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Everything from A to Z