2014 BMW I3 light

Driving stability control systemsVehicle features and optionsThis chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during
braking.
The vehicle contains its steering power even
during full brake applications, thus increasing
active safety.
ABS is ready when car is ready to drive.
Brake assistant
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system automatically produces the greatest possible
braking force boost. It reduces the braking dis‐
tance to a minimum during emergency stop.
This system utilizes all of the benefits provided
by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
for the duration of the emergency stop.
Energy recovery
In the event of danger, such as with locked
wheels, energy recovery is reduced in order to
prevent unstable driving situations.
Always be ready to apply the brake
Always be ready to apply the brake, be‐
cause without energy recovery there is also no
braking action through the electric drive unit.The vehicle could roll further than anticipated.
This may constitute a danger for other traffic.◀
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control
The concept DSC prevents traction loss in the power
wheels when driving off and accelerating.
DSC also recognizes unstable vehicle condi‐
tions such as fishtailing or nose-diving. Within
the physical limits DSC helps to keep the vehi‐
cle on a steady course by reducing engine
speed and by applying brakes to the individual
wheels.
Note Adjust your driving style to the situation
An appropriate driving style is always the
responsibility of the driver.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, not
even with DSC.
Therefore, do not reduce the additional safety
margin by driving in a risky manner.◀
Do not deactivate DSC when driving with
roof load
Do not deactivate Dynamic Stability Control DSC when driving with roof load, e.g. roof-
mounted luggage rack.
Otherwise, driving safety is not given in driv‐
ing-critical situation due to the elevated center
of gravity.◀
Indicator/warning lights The indicator lamp flashes: DSC con‐
trols the drive and braking forces.Seite 104ControlsDriving stability control systems106

The indicator lamp lights up: DSC has failed.
DTC Dynamic Traction
Control
The concept The DTC system is a version of the DSC where
forward momentum is optimized.
The system ensures maximum headway on
special road conditions or loose road surfaces,
e.g., unplowed snowy roads, but with some‐
what limited driving stability.
Activating the Dynamic Traction Control DTC
provides maximum traction. Driving stability is
limited during acceleration and when driving in
curves.
Therefore drive with appropriate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC
under the following special circumstances:▷When driving in slush or on uncleared,
snow-covered roads.▷When freeing vehicle from deep snow or
driving off from loose grounds.▷When driving with snow chains.
Deactivating/activating DTC Dynamic
Traction Control
Activating DTC
1."Settings"2."Traction control"3."TRACTION"
TRACTION and the DSC OFF indicator
lamp lights up.
Deactivating DTC
1."Settings"2."Traction control"3."Normal"TRACTION and the DSC OFF indicator
lamp go out.
When drive readiness is switched on, DTC is
automatically deactivated.
Driving Dynamics Control The conceptThe Driving Dynamics Control helps to fine-
tune the vehicle's settings and features. Vari‐
ous programs can be selected for this purpose.
At a glance
Button in the vehicle
Operating the programs
Driving Dynamics ControlProgramCOMFORT
ECO PRO
ECO PRO+
COMFORT
For balanced tuning.
Activating COMFORT Press button repeatedly until COM‐
FORT is displayed in the instrument
cluster.
Seite 105Driving stability control systemsControls107

ECO PROECO PRO, refer to page 151, provides consis‐
tent tuning to maximize range.
Comfort functions and the engine controller
are adjusted.
The program can be configured to individual
specifications.
Activating ECO PRO Press button repeatedly until ECO
PRO is displayed in the instrument
cluster.
Configuring ECO PRO1.Activate ECO PRO.2."Configure ECO PRO"
Make the desired settings.
ECO PRO+ ECO PRO+, refer to page 151, also limits the
maximum speed and reduces climate control and lighting functions.
Comfort functions and the engine controller
are adjusted.
Activating ECO PRO+ Press button repeatedly until ECO
PRO+ is displayed in the instrument
cluster.
Displays
Program selection Pressing the button displays a
list of the selectable programs.
Depending on your vehicle's op‐
tional features, the list in the in‐
strument cluster can differ from
the illustration shown.
Selected program
The ECO PRO and ECO PRO+ driving pro‐
grams are shown in the instrument cluster. In
addition, the display on the automatic climate
control lights up
Display on the Control Display Program changes can be displayed on the
Control Display.1."Settings"2."Driving mode"3."Driving mode info"
Drive-off assistant
This system supports driving off on inclines.
The parking brake is not required.
1.Hold the vehicle in place with the foot
brake.2.Release the foot brake and drive off with‐
out delay.
After the foot brake is released, the vehicle is
held in place for approx. 2 seconds.
Depending on the vehicle load, the vehicle may
roll back slightly.
Driving off without delay
After releasing the foot brake, start driv‐
ing without delay, since the drive-off assistant
will not hold the vehicle in place for more than
approx. 2 seconds and the vehicle will begin to
roll back.◀
Seite 106ControlsDriving stability control systems108

Driving comfortVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
Camera-based cruise control
with Stop & Go function,
ACC
The concept Use this system to select a desired speed that
the vehicle will maintain automatically on clear
roads.
To the extent possible, the system automati‐
cally adjusts the speed to a slower vehicle
ahead of you.
A camera on the interior rear view mirror is
used to detect vehicles driving ahead.
The distance that the vehicle maintains to the
vehicle ahead of you can be varied.
For safety reasons, it depends on the speed.
To maintain a certain distance, the system au‐
tomatically reduces the speed, applies the
brakes lightly, or accelerates again if the vehi‐
cle ahead begins moving faster.
If the vehicle ahead of you brakes to a halt, and
then proceeds to drive again within a brief pe‐
riod, the system is able to detect this within the
given system limits. Your own vehicle will
brake automatically and then accelerate again.
If the vehicle ahead of you drives away again
after a prolonged period, briefly press the ac‐
celerator pedal or press the appropriate button
to reactivate the system. The vehicle will auto‐
matically accelerate.As soon as the road is clear, the vehicle accel‐
erates to the desired speed.
The speed is also maintained downhill, but
may not be maintained uphill if engine power is
insufficient.
General information
Depending on the driving settings, the features
of the cruise control can change in certain
areas.
Hints Personal responsibility
Even an active system holds the driver
responsible for his or her driving, particularly
for staying in your lane, adjusting your speed,
keeping your distance and for your driving
style all in relation to traffic.
Technically the system has its limits, it cannot
independently react to all traffic situations.
Monitor your driving, be on the alert, observe
the vehicle surroundings and other traffic and
react when needed, e.g. through braking,
steering or make evasive maneuvers - risk of
accident.◀
Unfavorable weather conditions
In the event of unfavorable weather and
light conditions, e. g. if there is rain, snowfall,
slush, fog or glare, this may result in poorer
recognition of vehicles as well as short-term
interruptions for vehicles that are already de‐
tected. Drive attentively, and react to the cur‐
rent traffic situation. Intervene actively when
necessary, e.g., by braking, steering or making
an evasive maneuver, otherwise, there is the
risk of an accident.◀Seite 107Driving comfortControls109

Before leaving the vehicle, secure it
against moving on its own.
Before leaving the vehicle, set the parking
brake and reel off drive readiness. Otherwise,
the vehicle may begin to move.◀
At a glance
Buttons on the steering wheelPress but‐
tonFunctionCruise control on/off, interrupt‐
ing, refer to page 110.Store/maintain speed, refer to
page 111.Resume speed, refer to
page 112.Adjust distance, refer to
page 112.Rocker reel:
Maintain, store, change speed,
refer to page 111.
Buttons are arranged according to vehicle's
series, optional features and country specifica‐
tions.
Camera
The camera is found near the interior rearview
mirror.
Keep the windshield in the area behind the in‐
terior rearview mirror clean and clear.
A dirty or covered area in front of the interior
mirror may hinder the detection of vehicles.
If necessary, clean the area in front of the inte‐
rior mirror, e.g., carefully remove salt residue in
the winter.
Switching on/off and interrupting
cruise control
Switching on Press button on the steering wheel.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
Desired speed becomes current speed
and will be displayed - beside the sym‐
bol - in the Info Display.
Cruise control can be used.
Switch off Deactivated or interrupted system
With deactivated or interrupted system
use your brakes, steering and moves as usual
to avoid the chance of an accident.◀
To switch off the system while standing, step
on brake pedal at the same time.
Press button on the steering wheel.▷If active: press twice.▷If interrupted: press once.
The displays go out. The stored desired speed
and distance are deleted.
Interrupting Press button on the steering wheel.
If interrupting the system while stationary,
press on the brake pedal at the same time.
Seite 108ControlsDriving comfort110

▷The indicator lights up green: the system is
active.▷The indicator lights up orange: the system
has been interrupted.▷No display: system is switched off.
Status display
Selected desired speed.
If --- appears briefly on the display for Check
Control messages, it is possible that the sys‐
tem requirements are currently not ready for
operations.
Distance to vehicle ahead of you Selected distance from the vehicle driving
ahead is briefly displayed in the left hand por‐
tion of the instrument cluster.
Distance displayDistance 1Distance 2Distance 3Distance 4
This value is set after the system is
switched on.
Indicator/warning lights
Personal responsibility
The indicator and warning lights do not
relieve the driver of the responsibility to adapt
his or her desired driving speed and style to
the traffic conditions.◀
The vehicle symbol lights up orange:
A vehicle has been detected ahead of you.
The vehicle symbol flashes orange:
The conditions are not adequate for
the system to work.
The system was deactivated but applies the
brakes until you actively resume control by
pressing on the brake pedal or accelerator
pedal.
The vehicle symbol flashes red and an
acoustic signal sounds:
You are requested to intervene by
braking or make an evasive maneuver.
The system has been interrupted or
distance control is deactivated be‐
cause the accelerator pedal is being
pressed; a vehicle was not detected.
Distance control is deactivated be‐
cause the accelerator pedal is being
pressed; a vehicle was detected.
Flashing bar: the detected vehicle has
driven away.
ACC is no longer accelerating. To ac‐
celerate further, activate ACC by stepping on
the accelerator pedal, pressing the RES button
or rocker reel.
Changing between cruise control with/
without distance control
Display in the instrument cluster:
Cruise Control without distance con‐
trol.
Active Cruise Control with distance
control.Seite 111Driving comfortControls113

System limits
Speed range The system is best used on well-constructedroads.
The desired speed can be set between
20 mph/30 km/h and 85 mph/140 km/h.
The system can also be activated when sta‐
tionary.
Comply with the legal speed limit in every sit‐
uation when using the system.
Detection range
The detection lidacity of the system and the
automatic braking lidacity are limited.
Two-wheeled vehicles for instance might not
be detected.
Limited detection potential
Because of the limited possible detec‐
tion, you should be alert at all times so that you
can intervene if needed; otherwise, there is the
risk of an accident.◀
Deceleration
The system does not decelerate for:
▷Pedestrians, cyclists or similar slow road
users.▷Red traffic lights.▷Cross traffic.▷Oncoming traffic.▷Unlit vehicles or vehicles with defective
lighting at night.Swerving vehicles
A vehicle driving in front of you is not detected
until it is completely within the same lane as
your vehicle.
Swerving vehicles
If a vehicle driving ahead of you suddenly
swerves into your lane, the system may not be
able to automatically restore the selected dis‐
tance. This also applies to major speed differ‐
ences to vehicles driving ahead of you, e.g.,
when rapidly approaching a truck. When a ve‐
hicle driving ahead of you is reliably detected,
the system requests that the driver intervene
by braking and carrying out evasive maneu‐
vers, if needed. You must react yourself; other‐
wise, there is the risk of an accident.◀
Cornering
If the desired speed is too high for a curve, the
speed is reduced slightly, although curves can‐
not be anticipated in advance. Therefore, drive
into a curve at an appropriate speed.
In tight curves the system offers only restricted
detection where a vehicle ahead of you might
be detected late or not at all.
Seite 112ControlsDriving comfort114

When you approach a curve the system may
briefly report vehicles in the next lane due to
the bend of the curve. If the system deceler‐
ates you may compensate it by briefly acceler‐
ating.
After releasing the gas pedal the system is re‐
activated and controls speed independently.
Driving away In some situations, the vehicle cannot drive off
automatically; for example:
▷On steep inclines.▷From behind bumps in the road.
In these cases, step on the accelerator pedal.
Malfunction
A Check Control message is displayed if the
system fails.
The system may not be fully functional in the
following situations:
▷When an object was not correctly de‐
tected.▷In heavy fog, rain, sprayed water or snow‐
fall.▷In tight curves.▷If the camera viewing field or the front
windshield are dirty or covered.▷When driving toward bright lights.▷Up to 20 seconds after drive readiness is
switched on via the Start/Stop knob.▷During calibration of the camera immedi‐
ately after vehicle shipment.Cruise control
The concept The system maintains a preset speed via the
buttons on the steering wheel. The system
brakes on downhill gradients if engine braking
is insufficient.
General information
Depending on the driving settings, the features
of the cruise control can change in certain
areas.
Hints Unfavorable conditions
Do not use the system if unfavorable
conditions make it impossible to drive at a con‐
stant speed, e.g.:▷On winding roads.▷In heavy traffic.▷On slippery roads, in fog, snow or rain, or
on a loose road surface.
Otherwise, you could lose control of the vehi‐
cle and cause an accident.◀
At a glance
Buttons on the steering wheel
Press buttonFunctionSystem on/off, interruptStore speedResume speedRocker reel: change, hold,
store speedSeite 113Driving comfortControls115