Get Driving -> Steptronic transmission Guide for BMW 6 Series 4 Door Third Generation (2011-2017)

Controls

Driving

Folding wipers back down

Washer fluid reservoir

Before switching the ignition on, fold the

wipers back down to the windshield; other‐

wise, the wipers may become damaged when

they are activated.◀

1. Switch on the ignition.

2. Push wiper lever down. Wipers move to

their resting position and are ready again

for operation.

All washer nozzles are supplied from one res‐

ervoir.

Washer fluid

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.

Hints

Antifreeze for washer fluid

Antifreeze is flammable and can cause

injury if it is used incorrectly.

Mix the washer fluid before adding to find the

right mixture.

Therefore, keep it away from possible sources

of ignition.

Do not add windshield washer concentrate and

antifreeze undiluted and do not fill with pure

water; this could damage the wiper system.

Only keep it in the closed original container

and inaccessible to children.

Do not mix window washer concentrates of dif‐

ferent manufacturers because they can clog

the windshield washer nozzles.

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.◀

Recommended minimum fill quantity:

0.2 US gal/1 liter.

Steptronic transmission

Selector lever positions

D Drive

Selector lever position for normal vehicle oper‐

ation. All gears for forward travel are activated

automatically.

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 a danger of fire and a risk to

personal safety if the fluid is spilled.◀

R is Reverse

Select only when the vehicle is stationary.

N Neutral:

The vehicle may roll. Use in automatic car

washes, e.g.

78

Driving

Controls

When the ignition is switched off, refer to

page 69, selector lever position P is engaged

automatically.

Engaging D, R and N

P Park

Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The

drive wheels are blocked.

P is engaged automatically:

▷

After the engine is switched off when the

vehicle is in radio-ready state, refer to

page 69, or when the ignition is switched

off, refer to page 69, and when selector

lever position R or D is set.

Briefly push the selector lever in the desired di‐

rection, beyond a resistance point if needed.

After releasing the selector lever, it returns to

its center position.

▷

With the ignition off, if selector lever posi‐

tion N is set.

If the driver's safety belt is released, the

driver's door is opened, and the brake

pedal is not pressed while the vehicle is

stationary and selector lever position D or

R is set.

Before exiting the vehicle, make sure that se‐

lector lever position P is set. Otherwise, the ve‐

hicle may begin to move.

Press unlock button, in order to:

Kickdown

▷

Engage R.

Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving

performance. Step on the accelerator pedal

beyond the resistance point at the full throttle

position.

Shift out of P.

Engaging P

Engaging selector lever positions

Press on the brake pedal until you start

driving

To prevent the vehicle from creeping after you

select a gear, maintain pressure on the brake

pedal until you are ready to start.◀

▷

It is not possible to shift out of selector

lever position P until the engine is running

and the brake is applied.

Press button P.

▷

With the vehicle is stationary, press on the

brake pedal before shifting out of P or N;

otherwise, the shift command will not be

executed: shift lock.

79

Controls

Driving

The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐

strument cluster, followed by the currently se‐

lected gear.

Sport program and manual mode

Activating the sport program

Steptronic Sport transmission:

prevent automatic upshifting in M/S

manual mode

The Steptronic Sport transmission does not

automatically upshift in M/S manual mode

once the maximum speed is reached, if one of

the following conditions is met:

▷

DSC deactivated.

Press the selector lever to the left out of selec‐

tor lever position D.

TRACTION activated.

SPORT+ activated.

The engaged gear is displayed in the instru‐

ment cluster, e.g., S1.

In addition, the kickdown is deactivated.

The sport program of the transmission is acti‐

vated.

Ending the sport program/manual

mode

Push the selector lever to the right.

Activating the M/S manual mode

D is displayed in the instrument cluster.

1. Press the selector lever to the left out of

selector lever position D.

Shift paddles

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, or if

the engine is getting too hot, M/S manual

mode is automatically upshifted as needed.

The shift paddles on the steering wheel allow

you to shift gears quickly while keeping both

hands on the steering wheel.

Switching to manual mode

▷

To shift down: press the selector lever for‐

ward.

▷

Shift up: briefly pull right shift paddle.

Shift down: briefly pull left shift paddle.

▷

To shift up: pull the selector lever rear‐

wards.

Gears will only be shifted at appropriate engine

and road speeds, for example downshifting is

not possible if the engine speed is too high.

Gears will only be shifted at appropriate engine

and road speeds and when necessary due to

the temperature of the drivetrain, e.g., down‐

shifting is not possible if the engine speed is

too high.

The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐

strument cluster, followed by the current gear.

80

Driving

Controls

If the shift paddles on the steering wheel are

used to shift gears in automatic mode, the

transmission temporarily switches to manual

mode.

Steptronic Sport transmission:

Launch Control

The concept

In the manual mode, after conservative driving

for a certain amount of time or if there has

been no acceleration or shifting of the shift

paddles within a certain amount of time, the

transmission switches back to automatic

mode.

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.◀

Displays in the instrument cluster

The selector lever position is dis‐

played, e.g.: P.

Do not use Launch Control during the break-in,

refer to page 180, period.

To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC

again as soon as possible.

Electronic unlocking of the

transmission lock

An experienced driver may be able to achieve

better acceleration values in DSC OFF mode.

General information

Electronically unlock the transmission lock to

maneuver vehicle from the danger area.

Requirements

Launch Control is available when the engine is

warmed up, that is, after uninterrupted driving

of at least 6 miles/10 km.

Unlocking is possible, if the started can spin

the engine.

To start with Launch Control do not steer the

steering wheel.

Engaging selector lever position N

1. Depress the brake pedal.

Start with launch control

While the engine is running:

2. Press the Start/Stop button. The starter

must audibly start.

3. Press and hold the selector lever into posi‐

tion N.

1.

Press button or select Sport+ with

the Driving Dynamics Control.

A corresponding Check Control message

is displayed.

TRACTION is displayed in the instrument

cluster and the indicator lamp for DSC OFF

lights up.

4. Press the selector lever again into posi‐

tion N within approx. 6 seconds.

2. Engage selector lever position S.

Position N is displayed in the instrument

cluster.

3. With the left foot, forcefully press down on

the brake.

5. Release brake, as soon as the starter

stops.

4. Press and hold down the accelerator pedal

beyond the resistance point at the full

throttle position.

6. Maneuver the vehicle from the danger area

and secure it against moving on its own.

81

Controls

Driving

A flag symbol is displayed in the instru‐

ment cluster.

5. The starting engine speed adjusts. Within

3 seconds, release the brake.

Before using Launch Control, allow the trans‐

mission to cool down for approx. 5 minutes.

Launch Control adjusts to the surrounding

conditions, e.g., wet pavement, when used

again.

82

Driving -> Steptronic transmission for Your BMW 6 Series 4 Door Third Generation (2011-2017)

Related Topics

Driving

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals