ing using a wheel chock, for example, when
leaving it.
After a power failure Only put the parking brake into operation
after a power failure
The parking brake should only be put into op‐
eration again if it was manually released due to
an interruption in the supply of electrical
power. Otherwise, it cannot be ensured that
the parking brake will function properly.◀
Putting the parking brake into
operation1.Switch on the ignition.2. Press the switch while the brake is
depressed or transmission position P is
engaged.
It may take several seconds for the brake to be
put into operation. Any sounds associated with
this are normal.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out as soon as the parking
brake is ready for operation.
Lower lamp: indicator lamp in Canadian
models.
Turn signal, high beams, headlamp flasher
Turn signal Do not fold in the exterior mirrors
Do not fold in the exterior mirror while
driving and when the turn signals/warning
flashers are working, or else the additional
flasher lights in the exterior mirror will no lon‐
ger be in the prescribed position and will be
difficult to see.◀
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To switch off manually, press the lever to the
resistance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator lamp
indicates that a turn signal bulb has failed.
Triple turn signal activation Press the lever to the resistance point.
The turn signal flashes three times.
The function can be activated or deactivated:
1."Settings"2."Lighting"3."Triple turn signal"
Signaling briefly
Press the lever to the resistance point and hold
it there for as long as you want the turn signal
to flash.
High beams, headlamp flasher
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Only keep it in the closed original container
and inaccessible to children.
Follow the notes and instructions on the con‐
tainer.
United States: The washer fluid mixture ratio is
regulated by the U.S. EPA and many individual
states; do not exceed the allowable washer
fluid dilution ratios limits that apply. Follow the
usage instructions on the washer fluid con‐
tainer. Use BMW’s Windshield Washer Con‐
centrate or the equivalent.◀
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 res‐
ervoir.
Fill with a mixture of windshield washer con‐
centrate and tap water and – if required – with a
washer antifreeze, according to the manufac‐
turer's recommendations.
Mix the washer fluid before adding to maintain
the correct mixing ratio.
Do not add windshield washer concentrate and
antifreeze undiluted and do not fill with pure
water; this could damage the wiper system.
Do not mix window washer concentrates of dif‐
ferent manufacturers, because otherwise it can
result in clogging of the windshield washer
nozzles.
For the capacity, refer to technical data.
Manual transmissionShifting Shifting into 5th or 6th gear
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, push
the gearshift lever to the right; otherwise inad‐
vertent shifting into the 3rd or 4th gear could
lead to engine damage.◀
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left,
a slight resistance needs to be overcome.
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.
When the ignition is switched off, refer to
page 63, position P is engaged automatically.
P Park Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
drive wheels are blocked.
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Sport program and manual mode
Activating the sport program
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
The engaged gear is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster, e.g., S1.
The sport program of the transmission is acti‐
vated.
Activating the M/S manual mode
1.Push the selector lever to the left out of
transmission position D.2.Push the selector lever forward or pull it
backward.
Manual mode becomes active and the gear is
changed.
The engaged gear is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster, e.g., M1.
Once maximum engine speed is attained, M/S
manual mode is automatically upshifted as
needed.
Switching to manual mode
▷To shift down: press the selector lever for‐
ward.▷To shift up: pull the selector lever rear‐
wards.
Gears will only be shifted at appropriate engine
and road speeds, e.g., downshifting is not pos‐
sible if the engine speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Not M550d xDrive: Sport automatic
transmission: prevent automatic
upshifting in M/S manual mode
For vehicles with Sport automatic transmis‐
sions, automatic shift operations are not per‐
formed, at maximum engine speed for exam‐
ple, if one of the following conditions is met:▷DSC deactivated.▷TRACTION activated.▷SPORT+ activated.
In addition, the kickdown is deactivated.
M550d xDrive: prevent automatic
upshifting in M/S manual mode
Once maximum engine speed is attained, up‐
shifting is not automatically performed in M/S
manual mode.
In addition, the kickdown is deactivated.
The lowest possible gear is selected by simul‐
taneously operating the kickdown and the left
shift paddle.
However, this effect is not produced via the
shift paddles when switching briefly from
transmission position D to manual mode.
Ending the sport program/manual
mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
D is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Shift paddles
The shift paddles on the steering wheel allow
you to shift gears quickly while keeping both
hands on the steering wheel.
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If the shift paddles on the steering wheel are
used to shift gears in automatic mode, the
transmission temporarily switches to manual
mode.
If the shift paddles are not used and the vehicle
is not accelerated for a certain time, the sys‐
tem switches back into automatic mode if the
selector lever is in transmission position D.▷Shift up: pull right shift paddle.▷Shift down: pull left shift paddle.
Gears will only be shifted at appropriate engine
and road speeds, e.g., downshifting is not pos‐
sible if the engine speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Shift lights in the instrument display
The concept Shift lights display the optimum shift point for
sport displays in the multifunction instrument
display. Thus, with a sporty driving style, the
best possible vehicle acceleration is achieved.
Display in the instrument display
▷Current engine speed is displayed in the
tachometer.▷Arrow 1: successive yellow illuminated
fields indicate the upcoming upshift mo‐
ment.▷Arrow 2: fields are illuminated in red. Do
not wait any further to shift.
When the maximum possible speed is
reached, the entire display flashes. When the
maximum speed is exceeded, the supply of
fuel is interrupted in order to protect the en‐
gine. Speeds in this range must be avoided.
Displays in the instrument cluster The transmission position is dis‐
played, e.g.: P.
Sport automatic transmission: launch
Control
The concept
Launch Control enables optimum acceleration
on surfaces with good traction.
Hints Component wear
Do not use Launch Control too often;
otherwise, this may result in premature wear of
components due to the high stress placed on
the vehicle.◀
Did not use Launch Control during the break-
in, refer to page 184, period.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC
again as soon as possible.
Requirements
Launch Control is available when the engine is
warmed up, that is, after uninterrupted driving
of at least 6 miles/10 km.
To start with Launch Control do not steer the
steering wheel.
Start with launch controlWhile the engine is running:1. Press button or select with the
Driving Dynamics Control Sport+.
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Electronic displays
Overview, instrument cluster1Miles/trip miles 87
External temperature 87
Time 87
Selection list, e.g., radio 91
Navigation display, see user's manual for
Navigation, Entertainment and Communi‐
cation.
Computer 92Symbol for service need2Transmission display 76
Current fuel consumption 88
Energy recovery 883Service requirements 88
Messages, e.g., Check Control 84
Navigation display, see user's manual for
Navigation, Entertainment and Communi‐
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Overview, instrument cluster with enhanced features1Messages, e.g. Check Control 84
Time 872Range 873Computer 924Navigation display
Service requirements 88Miles/trip miles 875Selection list, such as for the radio 91
Current fuel consumption 88
Energy recovery 88
External temperature 87
Transmission display 76Multifunctional instrument
display
The concept The instrument dispaly is a variable display.
When the driving mode is changed, the ap‐pearance is changed to reflect the new driving
mode. The change of appearance can be de‐
activated in the Control Display.
Some of the displays in the instrument display
may differ from the way they are shown in this
owner's manual.Seite 81DisplaysControls81
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Automatic Service Request
Data regarding the service status or legally
mandated inspections of the vehicle are auto‐
matically transmitted to your service center
before a service due date.
You can check when your service center was
notified.1."Vehicle Info"2."Vehicle status"3.Open "Options".4."Last Service Request"
Service history
Perform maintenance work at the service cen‐
ter and have them recorded in the vehicle data.
The entries are like a service booklet of the
documentation of regular maintenance.
The entered maintenance work can be dis‐
played on the Control Display. Function is
available as soon as a maintenance operation
has been entered in the vehicle data.
1."Vehicle Info"2."Vehicle status"3. "Service required"4. "Service history"
Performed maintenance operations are
displayed.5.Select an entry to call up detailed informa‐
tion.
Symbols
SymbolsDescriptionGreen: maintenance was per‐
formed on schedule.Yellow: maintenance was per‐
formed late.Maintenance was not per‐
formed.Gear shift indicator
The conceptThe system recommends the most fuel effi‐
cient gear in the current driving situation.
Depending on how the vehicle is equipped and
the country-specific version of the vehicle, the
gear shift indicator is active in the manual
mode of the automatic transmission and in the
manual transmission.
Indicators to shift up or down are displayed in
the instrument cluster.
On vehicles without a gear shift indicator, the
engaged gear is displayed.
Manual transmission: displaysSymbolDescriptionFuel efficient gear is engaged.Shift up to fuel efficient gear.Shift down to fuel efficient gear.Shift into neutral.
Automatic transmission: displays
ExampleDescriptionFuel efficient gear is engaged.Shift into fuel efficient gear.Seite 89DisplaysControls89
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located within the detection range of the sys‐
tem.
At a glance
Button in the vehicle
Intelligent Safety button
Switching on/off
Switching on automatically The system is automatically active every time
the engine is started using the Start/Stop but‐
ton.
Switching off The system is only switched off until the next
time the engine is started with the Start/Stop
button.
Press the button.
The LED goes out.
Warning with braking function Adapting your speed and driving style
The warning does not relieve the driver
of the responsibility to adapt his or her driving
speed and style to the traffic conditions.◀
Display
If a collision with a vehicle detected in this way
is imminent, a warning symbol appears on the
instrument cluster and in the Head-up Display.
SymbolMeasureThe vehicle lights up red: prewarn‐
ing.
Increase braking and distance.The vehicle flashes red and an
acoustic signal sounds: acute warn‐
ing.
You are requested to intervene by
braking or making an evasive ma‐
neuver.
Braking intervention
The warning prompts the driver himself to in‐
tervene. During the warning, the maximum
braking force is used, even with light pressure
on the brake pedal. In addition, if there is a risk
of collision, the system can assist with a slight
braking intervention. The intervention can
bring a vehicle traveling at slow speed to a
complete stop.
Manual transmission: During a braking inter‐
vention up until reaching a complete stop, the
engine may be shut down.
The braking intervention is executed only if
DSC Dynamic Stability Control is switched on
and Dynamic Traction Control DTC is acti‐
vated.
The braking intervention can be interrupted by
pressing on the accelerator or by actively mov‐
ing the steering wheel.
When towing or tow-starting the vehicle,
switch off the collision warning with braking
function to prevent undesired interventions.
System limits Be alert
Due to system limitations, warnings may
be not be issued at all, or may be issued late or
improperly. Therefore, always be alert and ready to intervene; otherwise, there is the dan‐
ger of an accident occurring.◀
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