2016 BMW 7 SERIES Controls

Adjusting the height
About iDrive:1."My Vehicle"2."System settings"3."Displays"4."Head-Up Display"5."Height"6.Turn the controller until the desired height
is reached.7.Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the drive profile cur‐
rently used.
Setting the rotation The screen of the Head-up Display can be ro‐
tated around its own axis.
About iDrive:
1."My Vehicle"2."System settings"3."Displays"4."Head-Up Display"5."Rotation"6.Turn the controller until the desired setting
is selected.7.Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the drive profile cur‐
rently used.
Special windshield The windshield is part of the system.
The shape of the windshield makes it possible
to display a precise image.
A film in the windshield prevents double im‐
ages from being displayed.
For this reason, it is strongly suggested to
have the special windshield replaced by a
dealer’s service center or another qualified
service center or repair shop.
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LightsVehicle 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. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
Overview Switches in the vehicle
The light switch elements is located next to the
steering wheel.
Light functions
SymbolFunctionFront fog lightsLights off
Daytime running lightsParking lightsSymbolFunctionAutomatic headlight control
Adaptive Light ControlLow beamsInstrument lightingRight roadside parking lampLeft roadside parking lamp
Parking lights, cornering
lights and roadside parking
lights
General information Position of switch:
, ,
If the driver's door is opened when the drive-
ready state is switched off, the exterior lighting
is automatically switched off at these switch
settings.
Parking lights
Position of switch:

The vehicle is illuminated on all sides.
Do not use the parking lights for extended pe‐
riods; otherwise, they might drain the battery
and disable drive readiness.
When parking, switch on the one-sided road‐
side parking lamp, refer to page 130.
Low beams Position of switch:

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The low beams light up when the drive-ready
state is switched on.
Roadside parking lights When the vehicle is parked, a one-sided road‐
side parking lamp can be switched on.Press buttonFunctionRight roadside parking lamp
on/offLeft roadside parking lamp
on/off
Welcome lights and
headlight courtesy delay
feature
Welcome lights
General information
Depending on the equipment, the exterior
lighting of the vehicle can be set individually.
Activating/deactivating About iDrive:
1."My Vehicle"2."Vehicle settings"3."Lighting"4."Exterior lighting"5.Select desired setting:▷"Welcome lights"
Parking lights and tail lamps are
switched on for a limited time.▷"Door handle lighting"
Door handles and the ground in front of
the doors are illuminated for a limited
time.▷"Light carpet"
The area next to the vehicle is illumi‐
nated for a limited time.Headlight courtesy delay feature
General information
The low beams stay lit for a particular time if
the high beams are switched on after opera‐
tional readiness is switched on.
Setting the duration
About iDrive:1."My Vehicle"2."Vehicle settings"3."Lighting"4."Exterior lighting"5."Pathway lighting"6.Select desired setting.
Automatic headlight control
The concept
The low beams are switched on and off auto‐
matically depending on the ambient bright‐
ness, e.g. in tunnels, in twilight or if there is
precipitation.
General information
A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can
cause the lights to be switched on.
When emerging from a tunnel during the day,
the low beams are not switched off immedi‐
ately but instead only after approx. 2 minutes.
ActivatingPosition of switch:

The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up when the low beams are switched on.
System limits
The automatic headlamp control cannot serve
as a substitute for your personal judgment of
lighting conditions.
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E. g. the sensors are unable to detect fog or
hazy weather. To avoid safety risks under
these conditions, you should always switch on
the lights manually.
Daytime running lights General information
Position of switch:
, ,
The daytime running lights light up when the
drive-ready state is switched on. After the
drive-ready state is switched off, the parking
lights light up in position
.
Activating/deactivating
In some countries, daytime running lights are
mandatory, so it may not be possible to deacti‐
vate the daytime running lights.
About iDrive:
1."My Vehicle"2."Vehicle settings"3."Lighting"4."Exterior lighting"5.Select desired setting.
The setting is stored for the drive profile cur‐
rently used.
Adaptive Light Control The conceptAdaptive Light Control is a variable headlight
control system that enables dynamic illumina‐
tion of the road surface.
General information
Depending on the steering angle and other pa‐ rameters, the light from the headlight follows
the course of the road.
To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the Adap‐
tive Light Control does not swivel to the driv‐
er's side when the vehicle is at a standstill.
Depending on the equipment version, Adap‐
tive Light Control consists of one or several systems:▷Cornering light, refer to page 131.▷Adaptive headlight range control, refer to
page 131.
Activating
Switch setting
with switched-on drive-
ready state.
Corner-illuminating lights
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.
The turning lights are automatically switched
on depending on the steering angle or the use
of turn signals.
When driving in reverse, the turning lights may
be automatically switched on regardless of the
steering angle.
Self-leveling headlights
The self-leveling headlights compensate for
acceleration and braking operations in order
not to blind the oncoming traffic and to achieve
optimum illumination of the roadway.
Malfunction
A Check Control message is displayed.
Adaptive Light Control is malfunctioning or has
failed. Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
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High-beam AssistantThe concept
The high-beam Assistant detects other traffic
participants early on and automatically
switches the high beams on or off depending
on the traffic situation. The assistant ensures
that the high beams are activated whenever
the traffic situation allows. In the low speed
range, the high beams are not switched on by
the system.
General information
The system responds to light from oncoming
traffic and traffic driving ahead of you, and to
adequate illumination, e.g., in towns and cities.
The driver can intervene at any time and switch
the high beams on and off as usual.
Depending on the version of the system in the
vehicle, the high beams may not switch off for
oncoming vehicles, but may only be dimmed in
the areas that blind oncoming traffic. In this
case, the blue indicator light will stay on.
Activating1.Turn the light switch to position .2.Press and hold PC button on blinker lever.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
When the low beams are on, the lights are au‐
tomatically brightened or dimmed.
The blue indicator lamp in the instru‐
ment cluster lights up when the system
switches on the high beams.
Deactivating The High-beam Assistant can be switched off
when manually switching the high beams on
and off, refer to page 103. To reactivate the
High-beam Assistant, press the button on the
turn signal lever.
System limits 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 required to avoid a safety risk.
The system is not fully functional in the follow‐
ing situations, and driver intervention may be
necessary:▷In very unfavorable weather conditions,
such as fog or heavy precipitation.▷When detecting poorly-lit road users such
as pedestrians, cyclists, horseback riders
and wagons; when driving close to train or
ship traffic; or at animal crossings.▷In tight curves, on hilltops or in depres‐
sions, in cross traffic or half-obscured on‐
coming traffic on highways.▷In poorly-lit towns and cities or in the pres‐
ence of highly reflective signs.▷When the windshield behind the interior
mirror is fogged over, dirty or covered with
stickers, etc.
Fog lights
Front fog lights
General information
The low beams must be switched on before
switching on the front fog lamps.
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Switching on/offPress button. The green indicator
lamp lights up.
If the automatic headlight control, refer to
page 130, is activated, the low beams will
come on automatically when you switch on the
front fog lights.
When the high beams or headlight flasher are
activated, the front fog lights are not switched
on.
Instrument lighting The parking lights or low beams
must be switched on to adjust
the brightness.
Adjust the brightness with the
thumbwheel.
Interior lights
General information
Depending on the equipment version, interior
lights, footwell lights, entry lamps, door handle
lighting, and speaker lighting are automatically
controlled.
Overview
Buttons in the vehicle
Interior lights
Reading lights
Switching the interior lights on and off Press button.
To switch off permanently: press the button
and hold for approx. 3 seconds.
The interior lights in the rear of the vehicle can
be switched on and off independently. The
button is located in the rear roofliner.
Switching the reading lamps on and off manually
Press button.
The reading lamps are located at the front and
rear next to the interior lights.
Ambient light
General information
Depending on the equipment version, lighting
can be adjusted for some lights in the car's in‐
terior.
Switching on/off The ambient light is switched on when the ve‐
hicle is unlocked, and switched off when the
vehicle is locked.
If the ambient light was deactivated via iDrive,
it will not be switched on when the vehicle is
unlocked.
Selecting color scheme About iDrive:1."My Vehicle"2."Vehicle settings"3."Lighting"4."Interior lighting"5."Color"6.Select desired setting.Seite 133LightsControls133
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Setting the brightness
About iDrive:1."My Vehicle"2."Vehicle settings"3."Lighting"4."Interior lighting"5."Brightness"6.Select desired setting.
Dimmed when driving About iDrive:
1."My Vehicle"2."Vehicle settings"3."Lighting"4."Interior lighting"5."Dimmed while driving"
The interior lighting is dimmed for some lights
while driving.
Panoramic glass sunroof, lighting If the panoramic glass sunroof is opened or the
sliding visor closed, lighting of the panoramic
glass sunroof is switched off.
When closing the sliding visors, only the light‐
ing for the area in question is switched off.
BMW Touch Command
The ambient light can also be operated using
BMW Touch Command.
Bowers & Wilkins High End Surround
Sound System
General information
Some speakers in the vehicle are illuminated.
Brightness can be individually set.
Switching on/off The speaker lighting is switched on when the
vehicle is unlocked, and switched off when the
vehicle is locked.
If the speakers are muted, speaker lighting will
be switched off.
Setting the brightness About iDrive:1."My Vehicle"2."Vehicle settings"3."Lighting"4."Bowers & Wilkins"5."Brightness"6.Select desired setting.
BMW Touch Command
The operation of the Bowers & Wilkins high-
end surround sound system is also possible
with BMW Touch Command.
Ambient light accent
General information
The ambient light accent illuminates the door
pillar in the rear.
Switching on/off The ambient light accent is switched on when
the vehicle is unlocked, and switched off when
the vehicle is locked.
When opening a rear door, the ambient light
accent of the respective door pillar is switched
off.
Setting the brightness About iDrive:
1."My Vehicle"2."Vehicle settings"3."Lighting"4."Accent lighting in rear"5."Brightness"
The last brightness set is displayed.6.Select desired setting.Seite 134ControlsLights134
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Touch sensorThe ambient light accent is fitted with a touch
sensor. The ambient highlight is switched on
or off with a brief touch of the chrome bar. The
brightness is changed with a long touch.
BMW Touch Command The ambient highlight can also be operated
using BMW Touch Command.Seite 135LightsControls135
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