Get At a glance Guide for BMW 6 Series 4 Door Second Generation (2003-2010)

At a glance

This overview of buttons, switches and

displays is intended to serve as a source

of orientation in your vehicle's operating

environment. The section will also assist

you in becoming acquainted with the

control concepts and options available

for operating the various systems.

Cockpit

All around the steering wheel: controls and displays

1

2

3

Convertible: opening and closing rear

window 35

6

Turn signals 60

Convertible: opening and closing

windows together 34

High beams,

headlamp flasher 86

Convertible: opening and closing back

windows 34

Roadside parking lamps 86

Check Control 66

Computer 69

4

5

Opening and closing front windows 33

Adjusting exterior mirrors 48

10

7

Buttons on the steering wheel

8

9

Instrument cluster 12

Windshield wipers 61

Rain sensor 61

Portable phone:

> Press briefly:

Accept call or terminate call

as well as dial if an entry has been

selected from "A - Z", "Top 8", "Redial",

"Received calls" or "Missed calls"

10 Ignition lock 54

11 Horn: the entire surface

12

> Press longer: redial

Steering wheel heater 49

Volume

Steering wheel adjustment 48

Cruise control 63

13

Voice command system

Fast forward/reverse

14 Releasing the engine hood 170

15 Opening the luggage compartment

lid 30

> Radio

Press briefly: change radio station

Press longer: manual tuning or auto-

matic station-search function scan

16 Head-Up Display 83

17

Parking lamps 85

> CD

Press briefly: select track

Press longer: fast forward/reverse

Low beams 85

> Portable phone

Automatic headlamp

control 85

Adaptive Head Light 86

Press briefly: select entry in "A - Z",

"Top 8", "Redial", "Received calls" or

"Missed calls"

18

Instrument lighting 87

Individually programmable 49

Front fog lamps 86

11

Instrument cluster

1

2

Indicator lamps for turn signals 13

6

Display for

Speedometer with display of speed for

cruise control 63

> Automatic transmission with

Steptronic 58

3

4

Fixed indicator and warning lamps 13

> SMG Sequential manual

transmission 57

Tachometer 64

and engine oil thermometer 65

> Dynamic Driving Control 59

> Computer 69

5

Display for

> Variable indicator and warning

lamps 66

> Date and remaining distance for

service requirement 65

> Speed for cruise control 63

> Time/date 64

> Odometer and trip odometer 64

> Check Control message present 66

Fuel gauge 65

> Outside temperature 64

7

8

Resetting the trip odometer to zero 64

12

Indicator and warning

lamps

ABS Antilock Brake System + 78

DTC Dynamic Traction Control 78

High beams/headlamp flasher 86

Please fasten safety belt + 47

Technology that monitors itself

The indicator and warning lamps identified

by the + symbol are subjected to an oper-

ation check each time you switch on the

ignition or start the engine. They each light

up once for different periods of time.

When a malfunction occurs in a monitored

system, the corresponding lamp will either

fail to go out when the engine is started, or

it will come on again during normal driving,

usually accompanied by a Check Control

message. You will find more details on the

specified pages.

DSC Dynamic Stability

Control + 78

Check Gas Cap 162

Lamp for US models

Colors

The indicator and warning lamps can light

up in different colors and combinations.

Fixed indicator and warning lamps

Turn signals 60

> Red:

Stop immediately

or

important reminder

Active steering + 80

> Red and yellow:

Continue to drive; drive cautiously

Brake system +

With handbrake engaged 55

With handbrake released 78, 173

With other warning lamps 78

> Yellow:

Have the system checked at the earliest

opportunity

or

for your information

Brake system for Canadian models

Airbags + 81

> Green or blue:

For your information.

Service Engine Soon + 176

If the indicator lamp comes on

either continuously or intermit-

tently, this indicates a malfunction

the emissions-related electronic

systems.

Although the vehicle remains oper-

ational, you should have the sys-

tems checked by your BMW center

at the earliest possible opportunity

Variable indicator and warning lamps

On the display 5 of the instrument cluster,

other indicator and warning lamps appear

as necessary. Pay attention to the instruc-

tions of the accompanying Check Control

messages, also refer to page 66.

Service Engine Soon indicator

lamp for Canadian models

Front fog lamps 86

13

All around the center console: controls and displays

14

1

2

Coupe: glass roof, electric with raise

function 35

12 Button for

> Station scan 126

> Track scan 138

13 Ejecting

Microphone for portable phone 146

Convertible: microphone on steering

column*

> Navigation DVD 108

> Audio CD 126

3

4

5

Reading lamps 87

Interior lamps 87

14 Drive for navigation DVD 108

15 Drive for audio CD 126

Microphone for voice command

system 20

Convertible: microphone on steering

column*

16 Switching sound output for Entertain-

ment on/off and adjusting the

volume 126

6

7

8

9

Coupe: initiating an emergency

call 183

17

Heated seats 47

Convertible: initiating an emergency

call 183

PDC Park Distance Control 75

Control Display 16

Displays for menu guidance

DSC Dynamic Stability

Control 77

Hazard warning flashers

10 Central locking system 29

Convertible: opening the

convertible top 38

11 Automatic climate control 88

Temperature setting,

left/right 89

Convertible: closing the

convertible top 38

Automatic air distribution and

volume 89

18 Bracket for cup holder 97

19 Controller 16

Horizontal movement in four directions,

turn or press

Cooling function 89

AUC Automatic recirculated-air

control 89

20 Activating voice command system 20

21 Opening the start menu on the

Control Display 17

Maximum cooling 89

22 Dynamic Driving Control 59

Residual heat mode 90

Switching off automatic climate

control 90

Air volume 89

Defrosting windows 89

Rear window defroster 88

15

Control Center

The Control Center groups the functions of

a large number of switches. This means

that these functions can be operated from

a central position. The following section

provides an introduction to the principle of

the menu guidance. How you control the

individual functions is described in the con-

text of the relevant equipment.

To avoid posing an unnecessary haz-

ard due to inattention, both to your

own vehicle's occupants and to other road

users: never attempt to use the controls or

make entries unless traffic and road condi-

tions allow.<

Menu overview

You can call up all the functions in the

Control Center using five menu items.

Controls

Communication

> Portable phone

> BMW Assist or TeleService.

Navigation or onboard information

> Navigation system

> Onboard information, e.g. for display of

the average fuel consumption.

Entertainment

> Radio

> CD player and CD changer.

Climate

> Air distribution

> Independent ventilation.

menu

1

Controller: you navigate through the

menus of the Control Center and make

adjustments by turning, pressing and

moving it to the left, right, forwards or

backwards

> Switching off the Control Display

> Traffic information

> Tone and display settings

> Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for central

locking or settings for entertainment or

your portable phone

2

3

The start menu can be opened from any

menu with this button

Control Display

> Display of the maintenance requirement

and dates for statutory emission and

vehicle inspections.

When you turn the controller, you feel a

clicking. This helps you to select the

desired menu item.

16

Displays in menu

Menu guidance

As of ignition key position 1, the following

message appears on the Control Display:

1

In menus, you can change fields to

select the menu items they contain or to

make adjustments. The active field is

brighter than the others

Confirm the message by pressing the con-

troller; the start menu is opened.

2

3

Menu items are usually grouped in hor-

izontal or vertical lists

Start menu

Arrows indicate that other menu items

can be selected in lists, but these are

not visible at the moment

4

5

Adjustments are displayed in diagrams

or as numbers

A symbol indicates the last selected

menu item of the start menu:

Communication

Navigation or

onboard information

Via the start menu, you can open four

menus by moving the controller to the left,

right, forwards or backwards. Pressing the

controller opens the menu.

Entertainment

Climate

Opening start menu

menu

Press button.

To open the start menu from the menu:

Press the button twice.

17

Selecting menu items and making adjustments

1

2

3

To select individual menu items: turn

the controller. The marking moves.

Menu items shown in white can be

selected

4

5

To select menu items, cf. 1: turn the

controller. The marking moves

To make adjustments: turn the control-

ler. A graphical display, numerical val-

ues or text displays change. The adjust-

ment is applied if you change to another

field or into another menu

To activate menu items selected with

the marking: press the controller. In the

current field, new menu items are dis-

played or a function is executed

To change the current field: move the

controller to the left, right, forwards or

backwards and let go.

To change the current menu: move the

controller to the left, right, forwards or

backwards and hold for longer than

approx. 2 seconds. The menu in the rel-

evant direction is opened

18

To select the display in the assistance win-

dow:

Status information

1. Move the controller to the right to

change to the assistance window and

press the controller

1

2

Manual or automatic air distribution for

driver and passenger side

Display for Entertainment:

Radio or CD,

sound output for Entertainment off.

Display for telephone:

"Car Phone", "Portable" or no network

2. Select a menu item

3. Press the controller.

3

new entries present in "Missed calls",

text message/SMS received,

roaming active

Switching Control Display on/off

To switch off the Control Display:

1. Open the start menu

4

5

Telephoning and emergency call

possible

2. Press the controller to open the menu

3. Select "Display off" and press the con-

troller.

Current time

Other displays:

The status information continues to be

displayed.

If information is issued by the Check Con-

trol or inputs are made using the voice

command system, a text message appears

here on the Control Display.

Assistance window*

To switch on the Control Display:

Press the controller.

Additional information can be displayed in

the assistance window:

> The computer or the travel computer

> The travel route in vehicles with naviga-

tion system

> The current location.

19

Voice command system

*

Symbols used

The concept

Indicates voice commands in this

Owner's Manual which are to be spo-

ken word for word.

The voice command system allows you to

control operation of various vehicle sys-

tems without ever removing your hands

from the steering wheel.

Individual menu items on the Control Dis-

play can be spoken as commands. Opera-

tion via the controller is not required.

Voice commands

Activating voice command system

The voice command system transforms

your oral commands into control signals for

the selected systems and provides support

in the form of instructions or questions.

The voice command system includes a

special microphone.

The microphone is located:

> On the Coupe near the interior rearview

mirror, refer to page 14

> On the Convertible near the interior

rearview mirror, refer to page 14, or on

the steering column.

Briefly press the button on the steering

wheel or in the center console.

Precondition

The set language of the Control Center and

of the voice command system should

match so that the commands to be spoken

can be identified more easily. Setting the

language of the Control Center, refer to

page 73.

This symbol on the Control Display and

an acoustic message indicate that you can

enter voice commands.

20

An example: selecting a track

1. If necessary, switch on sound output for

Entertainment

2. Press the button in the steering wheel

or in the center console.

3. {Entertainment}.

The system issues:

The text or numbers that the voice com-

mand system has registered will appear on

the Control Display.

This symbol appears on the Control Dis-

play when you can enter additional voice

commands.

If there are no other voice commands,

operate the equipment using the Control

Center.

4. {CD}.

The system issues:

Terminating or canceling voice

command system

Press the button on the steering wheel or

in the center console

or

{Cancel}.

Voice commands

To open the start menu:

{Main menu}.

You can have a list of the respectively pos-

sible voice commands read off; this list is

dependent on the menu item selected on

the Control Display.

For example, if you have selected "CD", the

possible voice commands for operating the

CD player and the CD changer will be read

off:

5. Select a track, e.g.:

{Track 1}.

The system issues:

{{Track 1}}.

{Options} or {Help}.

There are often a number of commands to

run a function, e.g.:

{Radio on} or {Switch on radio}.

With short commands you can carry out

certain functions directly, regardless of

which menu item is selected, refer to

page 194.

21

Notes

Do not use the voice command sys-

tem in emergency situations. In stress

situations, voice and pitch can change.<

The portable phone can also be oper-

ated by voice control, refer to

page 151.<

For voice commands, bear the following in

mind:

> Issue the commands fluently and at

normal volume, avoiding excessive

emphasis and pauses

> Always speak commands with the pro-

nunciation of the voice command sys-

tem, as otherwise, for example, foreign

radio stations will not be understood

> For entries in the voice-activated phone

book, only use names in the language

of the voice command system and no

abbreviations

> Keep the doors, windows and glass

roof or convertible top closed to pre-

vent interference from ambient noise

> Avoid other sources of noise in the

vehicle while speaking, and ask other

vehicle occupants to refrain from talk-

ing while you are using the system.

22

Reference

Mobility

Communications Entertainment

Navigation

Driving tips

Controls

At a glance

At a glance for Your BMW 6 Series 4 Door Second Generation (2003-2010)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals