2016 BMW 7 SERIES Controls

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. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
Air suspension The conceptAir suspension ensures best possible driving
comfort under all load conditions. Due to a var‐
iable adjustment of the front and rear axles, the
damping is adjusted to the vehicle condition.
General information In the case of an uneven road surface, the ve‐
hicle level can be elevated to increase ground
clearance.▷Normal level, for normal road surface.▷Raised level, when the road surface is poor.
In the SPORT driving mode, refer to page 110,
or at higher speeds, the vehicle lowers itself.
Information WARNING
With lowering the vehicle, body parts can
be jammed. There is risk of injuries. When low‐
ering the vehicle, make sure that the areas of
movement under the vehicle and under the
wheel housing are free.◀
Overview
Button in the vehicle
Level adjustment
Adjusting the level manually Press button.
In the low speed range, the vehicle is raised to
the raised level with a press of the button.
Starting at a speed of approx. 20 mph/35 km/h
the vehicle lower itself automatically to the
normal level.
Display
▷LED off: normal level.▷LED flashes: level is being adjusted.▷LED lit: raised level.▷LED flashes fast: level adjustment not pos‐
sible.
System limits
With several manual level changes one after
another, the system will switch itself off if nec‐
essary. The fast-flashing LED on the button in‐
dicates that the system is temporarily unavaila‐
ble.
Tire change Before a tire change, deactivate the system:
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Press button and hold for approx. 7 sec‐
onds, then release. The LED flashes fast.
Activate system:
The system is activated again automatically
when you drive away.
Malfunction
A Check Control message is displayed. The
system is disrupted. Vehicle handling may be
altered and driving comfort may be noticeably
reduced. Have checked by a dealer’s service
center or another qualified service center or re‐
pair shop.
Long periods when vehicle is parked During long periods when the vehicle is
parked, it can lower itself. This is not a mal‐
function.
Dynamic Damping Control The conceptThis system reduces undesirable vehicle mo‐tion when using a dynamic driving style or trav‐
eling on uneven road surfaces.
The system enhances driving dynamics and
comfort fitting road surface and driving style.
General information
The system offers several different damping
settings.
These are assigned to the different driving
modes of the Driving Dynamics Control, refer
to page 110.TuningDrive modeDamper tuningCOMFORT PLUScomfortableSPORTfirmCOMFORT/ECO PRObalanced out
Executive Drive Pro
The concept Executive Drive Pro is an actively controlled
chassis. It increases driving comfort and mini‐
mizes the lateral tilt when driving around
curves. This increases both the agility of the
vehicle as well as the vehicle comfort.
Executive Drive Pro includes the following sys‐
tems:
▷Active damping adjustment, refer to
page 201.▷Active roll stabilization, refer to page 202.
Active damping adjustment
The concept The system increases driving comfort. Using a
camera in the area of the interior mirror, the
road surface is detected and damping auto‐
matically adjusted to the road surface.
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Overview
Camera
The camera is installed near the interior rear‐
view mirror.
Keep the windshield in the area behind the in‐
terior rearview mirror clean and clear.
General information
The system is active up to a speed
of 75 mph/120 km/h.
System limits
Functional limitations The system may not be fully functional or may
not be available in the following situations:
▷In heavy fog, rain, sprayed water or snow‐
fall.▷In tight curves.▷At rapid steering angles.▷When driving very close to the vehicle in
front of you.▷Up to 10 seconds after the start of the en‐
gine, via the Start/Stop button.▷During calibration of the camera immedi‐
ately after vehicle delivery.▷If the field of view of the camera or the front
windshield are dirty or covered.▷If there are constant blinding effects be‐
cause of oncoming light, e. g., from the sun
low in the sky.▷When it is dark outside.Malfunction
A Check Control message is displayed when
there is a camera malfunction. Visit the nearest
dealer’s service center or another qualified
service center or repair shop.
Active roll stabilization
The concept The system reduces the lateral inclination of
the vehicle that occurs during rapid driving in
curves or during quick evasive maneuvers.
The lateral inclination of the vehicle is bal‐
anced out by permanent adjustment on the
front and rear axles. The vehicle is thus always
stabilized.
Agility and driving comfort are increased under
all driving conditions.
General information
The system offers several different damping
settings.
These are assigned to the different driving
modes of the Driving Dynamics Control, refer
to page 110.
TuningDrive modeDamper tuningCOMFORT/COMFORT
PLUScomfortableSPORTfirmSeite 202ControlsDriving comfort202
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Climate controlVehicle 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. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
Automatic climate control Overview
Switch in the center consolePress but‐
tonFunctionTemperature, refer to
page 204.Climate control operation, refer
to page 204.Maximum cooling, refer to
page 204.AUTO program, refer to
page 204.Press but‐
tonFunctionRecirculated-air mode, refer to
page 205.Air flow, manual, refer to
page 205.Air distribution, manual, refer
to page 205.SYNC program, refer to
page 206.Defrost and defog window, re‐
fer to page 206.Rear window defroster, refer to
page 206.Active seat ventilation, refer to
page 92.Seat heating, refer to page 91.Ambient air package, refer to
page 211.
Climate control functions in detail
Switching the system on/off
Switching on
Press any button except:
▷Rear window defroster.▷Left side of Air volume button.▷Seat heating.▷Seat ventilation.▷SYNC program.
Switch off
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Press and hold the left button on
the driver's side until the control
clicks off.▷On the front passenger side:
Press and hold the left button on
the front passenger side.
Temperature
Turn the ring to set the desired
temperature.
The automatic climate control achieves this
temperature as quickly as possible, if needed
by using the maximum cooling or heating ca‐
pacity, and then keeps it constant.
Do not rapidly switch between different tem‐
perature settings. Otherwise, the automatic cli‐
mate control will not have sufficient time to ad‐
just the set temperature.
Information
Symbol is displayed permanently on the
display of the automatic climate control.
Cooling function The car's interior can only be cooled with the
engine running.
Press button. The LED lights up.
The air will be cooled and dehumidi‐
fied and, depending on the temperature set‐
ting, warmed again.
Depending on the weather, the windshield and
side windows may fog up briefly when the en‐
gine is started.
The cooling function is switched on automati‐
cally with the AUTO program.
When using the automatic climate control,
condensation water, refer to page 236, devel‐
ops that exits underneath the vehicle.
Maximum cooling
Press button.
The system is set to the lowest tem‐
perature, optimum air flow and air circulation
mode.
Air flows out of the vents to the upper body re‐
gion. The vents need to be open for this.
The function is available with external temper‐
atures beyond approx. 32 ℉/0 ℃ and with the
engine running.
Adjust air flow on the driver's side with the pro‐
gram active.
AUTO program Press button.
Air flow, air distribution and tempera‐
ture are controlled automatically.
Depending on the selected temperature,
AUTO intensity program and outside influen‐
ces, the air is directed to the windshield, side
windows, upper body, and into the footwell.
The cooling function, refer to page 204, is
switched on automatically with the AUTO pro‐
gram.
At the same time, a condensation sensor con‐
trols the program so as to prevent window
condensation as much as possible.
To switch off the program: press the button
again or manually adjust the air distribution.
Intensity of the AUTO program
With the AUTO program activated, the auto‐
matic intensity control can be changed.
Press the left or right side of the but‐
ton: decrease or increase the inten‐
sity.
The selected intensity is shown on the display
of the automatic climate control.Seite 204ControlsClimate control204
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Automatic recirculated-air control
AUC
The concept
The automatic recirculated air control AUC au‐
tomatically recognizes odors or pollutants in
the outside air. The outside air supply is then
automatically shut off, the interior air is recircu‐
lated.
General information
If the system is activated, a sensor detects pol‐
lutants in the outside air and controls the shut-
off automatically.
If the system is deactivated, outside air contin‐ uously flows into the car's interior.
With constant recirculated-air mode, the air
quality in the car's interior deteriorates and the
fogging of the windows increases.
If there is window condensation,
switch off the recirculated-air mode
and press the button on the driver's side to uti‐ lize the condensation sensor. Make sure that
air can flow to the windshield.
Switching on/off
About iDrive:1."My Vehicle"2."Vehicle settings"3."Climate functions"4."Air quality"5."Automatic air recirculation"
Recirculated-air mode
The concept
You may respond to unpleasant odors or pollu‐
tants in the immediate environment by tempo‐
rarily suspending the supply of outside air. The
system then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
Operating via button
Press button repeatedly to select an
operating mode:▷LED off: outside air flows in continuously.▷LED on: the supply of outside air is perma‐
nently shut off.
With constant recirculated-air mode, the air
quality in the car's interior deteriorates and the
fogging of the windows increases.
If there is window condensation,
switch off the recirculated-air mode
and press the button on the driver's side to uti‐
lize the condensation sensor. Make sure that
air can flow to the windshield.
Air flow, manual
To manually adjust air flow turn off AUTO pro‐
gram first.
Press the left or right side of the but‐
ton: decrease or increase air flow.
The selected air flow is shown on the display of
the automatic climate control.
The air flow of the automatic climate control
may be reduced automatically to save battery
power.
Manual air distribution Press button repeatedly to select a
program:
▷Windows, upper body region, and footwell.▷Upper body region and footwell.▷Footwell.▷Windows and footwell.▷Windows.▷Windows and upper body.▷Upper body region.
The selected air distribution is shown on the
display of the automatic climate control.
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If there is window condensation, press
the button on the driver's side to uti‐
lize the condensation sensor.
SYNC program Press button.
The current settings on the driver's
side for temperature, air flow, air distribution,
and AUTO program are transferred to the front
passenger side and to the left and right rear.
To switch off, press the button again.
The program is switched off if the settings on
the front passenger side or in the rear are
changed.
Defrosts windows and removes
condensation
Press button.
Ice and condensation are quickly re‐
moved from the windshield and the front side
windows.
For this purpose, point the side vents onto the
side windows as needed.
Adjust air flow with the program active. If there is window condensation, you
can also switch on the air conditioning
or press the button to utilize the condensation
sensor.
Rear window defroster Press button.
The rear window defroster switches
off automatically after a certain period of time.
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The microfilter removes dust and pollen from
the incoming air.
The activated-charcoal filter removes gaseous
pollutants from the outside air that enters the
vehicle.This combined filter should be replaced during
scheduled maintenance, refer to page 279, of
your vehicle.
Ventilation
Setting The air flow directions can be individually ad‐
justed:▷Direct ventilation:
The air flow is directly pointed onto the
person. The air flow heats or cools noticea‐
bly, depending on the adjusted tempera‐
ture.▷Indirect ventilation:
If the vents are fully or partly closed, the air
is directly routed into the car's interior.
Indirect ventilation can also be adjusted on
the Control Display.
Front ventilation
▷Lever for changing the air flow direction,
arrow 1.▷Thumbwheel for continuous opening and
closing of the vents, arrow 2▷Touch sensor or thumbwheel to vary the
temperature, arrow 3.
With touch sensor, push the marking in the
desired direction:
Toward blue: colder.
Toward red: warmer.Seite 206ControlsClimate control206
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The set interior temperature for the driver
and passenger are not changed.
Adjusting the ventilation
▷Ventilation for cooling:
Direct vent in your direction when vehicle's
interior is too hot.▷Draft-free ventilation:
Adjust the vent to let the air flow past the
occupants.
Indirect ventilation
Air is indirectly routed into the car's interior.
About iDrive:
1."My Vehicle"2."Vehicle settings"3."Climate functions"4."Indirect ventilation"
Ventilation in rear, center
▷Lever for changing the air flow direction,
arrow 1.▷Thumbwheels to vary the temperature, ar‐
row 2.
Toward blue: colder.
Toward red: warmer.Lateral ventilation▷Lever for changing the air flow direction,
arrow 1.▷Thumbwheel for continuous opening and
closing of the vents, arrow 2.
Rear automatic climate
control
Overview
1Temperature2AUTO program3Air distribution, manual4Air flow, AUTO intensity5Display6Maximum cooling7Seat heating   918Active seat ventilation   92Seite 207Climate controlControls207
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