Get Controls -> Driving stability control systems Guide for BMW 7 Series 4 Door Fifth Generation (2008-2014)

Driving stability control systems

Driving off without delay

Antilock Brake System ABS

ABS prevents locking of the wheels during brak‐

ing.

After releasing the foot brake, start driving

without delay, since the drive-off assistant will

not hold the vehicle in place for more than ap‐

prox. 2 seconds and the vehicle will begin rolling

back.◀

The vehicle remains steerable even during full

brake applications, thus increasing active

safety.

ABS is operational every time you start the en‐

gine.

DSC Dynamic Stability

Control

Brake assistant

The concept

When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system

automatically produces the maximum braking

force boost. It thus helps to achieve the shortest

possible braking distance during full braking.

This system utilizes all of the benefits provided

by ABS.

DSC prevents traction loss in the driving wheels

when driving away and accelerating.

DSC also recognizes unstable vehicle condi‐

tions, such as fishtailing or nose-diving. Subject

to physical limits, DSC helps to keep the vehicle

on a steady course by reducing engine speed

and by applying brakes at individual wheels.

Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal

for the duration of the full braking.

Adjust your driving style to the situation

An appropriate driving style is always the

responsibility of the driver.

Adaptive brake assistant

The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even

with DSC.

In combination with the Active Cruise Control,

this system ensures that the brakes respond

even more rapidly when braking in critical situa‐

tions. Refer also to Collision warning, refer to

page 110.

Therefore, do not reduce the additional safety

margin by driving in a risky manner.◀

Deactivating DSC: DSC OFF

DSC can be deactivated. To do this, activate the

DSC OFF program.

Drive-off assistant

This is performed via the Dynamic Driving Con‐

trol, refer to page 102.

This system supports driving away on gradients.

The parking brake is not required.

1. Hold the vehicle in place with the foot brake.

Indicator/warning lamps

2. Release the foot brake and drive away with‐

out delay.

The indicator lamp flashes: DSC con‐

trols the drive forces and brake forces.

After the foot brake is released, the vehicle is

held in place for approx. 2 seconds.

The indicator lamp lights up: DSC has

failed.

Depending on the vehicle load, the vehicle may

roll back slightly.

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You can activate the Hill Descent Control at

speeds below approx. 22 mph/35 km/h. When

driving downhill, the vehicle reduces its speed

to approx. twice walking speed and then keeps

its speed constant.

DTC Dynamic Traction

Control

The concept

The DTC system is a version of the DSC in which

forward momentum is optimized.

While you are actively braking, the system is on

standby. The system does not brake the vehicle

during this time.

The system ensures maximum forward momen‐

tum on special road conditions, e.g., unplowed

snowy roads, but driving stability is limited.

Increasing or decreasing vehicle speed

It is therefore necessary to drive with appropri‐

ate caution.

You can specify your desired speed in the range

from approx. 4 mph/6 km/h to approx. 15 mph/

25 km/h using the rocker switch of the cruise

control on the steering wheel. You can change

the vehicle speed by pressing on the accelerator

lightly.

You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC un‐

der the following special circumstances:

▷

When driving in slush or on uncleared,

snow-covered roads.

When rocking the vehicle or driving off in

deep snow or on loose surfaces.

When driving with snow chains.

Deactivating/activating DTC Dynamic

Traction Control

The system can be deactivated/activated via the

TRACTION and SPORT+ programs of the Dy‐

namic Driving Control, refer to page 102.

▷

Press up the rocker switch to the point of

resistance: the speed increases gradually.

Press up the rocker switch past the point of

resistance: the speed increases while the

rocker switch is pressed.

xDrive*

xDrive is the all-wheel-drive system of your ve‐

hicle. Concerted action by the xDrive and DSC

further optimize traction and driving dynamics.

The xDrive all-wheel-drive system variably dis‐

tributes the drive forces to the front and rear

axles as demanded by the driving situation and

road surface.

▷

Press down the rocker switch to the point of

resistance: the speed decreases gradually.

Press down the rocker switch past the point

of resistance: when driving forward, the

speed decreases to approx. 6 mph/10 km/h;

when reversing, the speed decreases to ap‐

prox. 4 mph/6 km/h.

HDC Hill Descent Control*

The concept

HDC is a downhill driving assistant that auto‐

matically controls vehicle speed on steep down‐

hill gradients. Without requiring brake applica‐

tion, the vehicle moves at slightly more than

twice walking speed.

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Activating HDC

Dynamic Drive*

The concept

Dynamic Drive reduces the lateral inclination of

the vehicle that occurs during rapid driving in

curves or during quick evasive maneuvers.

Driving stability and driving comfort are in‐

creasedunderalldrivingconditions. Thesystem

utilizes active stabilizer bars on the front and rear

axles that react immediately to all driving situa‐

tions.

Press the button; the LED above the but‐

ton lights up.

Programs

The system offers two different programs.

Deactivating HDC

Theprogramscanbeselected via DynamicDriv‐

ing Control, refer to page 102.

Press the button again and the LED goes

out. HDC is automatically deactivated

above approx. 37 mph/60 km/h.

SPORT

Sporty tuning for greater driving agility.

Display in the instrument cluster

The selected speed is displayed

in the speedometer.

NORMAL

Comfort-oriented tuning for optimal comfort.

▷

Green: the system is actively

braking the vehicle.

▷

Orange: the system is on

standby.

Dynamic Damping Control*

The concept

Malfunction

This system reduces undesirable vehicle mo‐

tion when using a dynamic driving style or trav‐

eling on uneven road surfaces.

A message is displayed in the instrument clus‐

ter. HDC is not available, e.g., due to elevated

brake temperatures.

The system enhances driving dynamics and

comfort as required for the road surface and

driving style.

Adaptive Drive*

Programs

The concept

The system offers three different programs.

Adaptive Drive* includes the following systems:

Theprogramscanbeselected via DynamicDriv‐

ing Control, refer to page 102.

▷

Dynamic Drive, refer to page 100

Dynamic Damping Control, refer to

page 100

SPORT

The system increases driving stability and driv‐

ing comfort.

Consistently sporty control of the shock absorb‐

ers for greater driving agility.

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ing wheel approx. 6 times or if the steering

wheel is at an angle.

NORMAL

Balanced tuning between the COMFORT and

SPORT programs.

Using snow chains

Ensure that the rear axle steering is deactivated

when using snow chains, refer to page 252.

COMFORT

Comfort-oriented tuning of the shock absorbers

for optimal traveling comfort.

Programs

The system offers two different programs.

Integral Active Steering*

Theprogramscanbeselected via DynamicDriv‐

ing Control, refer to page 102.

The concept

SPORT

Integral Active Steering is a combination of Ac‐

tive Steering and rear axle steering.

Consistently sporty tuning of the Integral Active

Steering for greater driving agility.

Active Steering varies the steering angle of the

wheels in relation to the steering wheel move‐

ment as a function of the speed.

NORMAL

Balanced tuning of the Integral Active Steering

for optimal traveling comfort.

At speeds up to approx. 37 mph/60 km/h, e.g.,

in curves, the steering angle is increased, i.e.,

steering becomes more direct.

Malfunction

The rear axle steering acts to increase maneu‐

verability by turning the rear wheels slightly in a

direction opposite to the front wheels.

In the event of a malfunction, the steering wheel

must be turned further, while the vehicle re‐

sponds more sensitively to steering wheel

movements in the higher speed range.

At higher speeds, the steering angle is increas‐

ingly reduced.

The stability-enhancing intervention may be de‐

activated.

The rear wheels are turned to the same angle as

the front wheels.

Proceed cautiously and drive defensively.

Have the system checked.

In critical situations, Integral Active Steering can

specifically steer the front and rear wheels to

stabilize the vehicle before the driver intervenes,

e.g., when braking where road conditions differ

on the left and right sides of the vehicle.

Self-leveling suspension*

Initializing

The concept

In rare cases, it may become necessary to initi‐

alize the Integral Active Steering.

The self-leveling suspension keeps the vehicle

height and ground clearance constant. The

height of the vehicle at the rear axle is main‐

tained at a predefined level under all load con‐

ditions.

The warning lamp lights up. A Check

Control message is displayed.

The system ensures consistent comfort by

keeping spring travel constant in all driving sit‐

uations.

1. With the engine running, turn the steering

wheel all the way to the left and right several

times in a uniform manner until the warning

lamp disappears.

2. Have the system checked if the warning

lamp does not go out after moving the steer‐

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To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC again

as soon as possible.

Malfunction

A Check Control message is displayed. A mal‐

function has occurred in the self-leveling sus‐

pension. Vehicle handling may be altered and

driving comfort may be noticeably reduced. Visit

your nearest service center.

Activating DSC OFF

Press and hold the button, but not lon‐

ger than approx. 10 seconds, until the

indicator lamp for the DSC lights up in the in‐

strument cluster and DSC OFF is displayed in

the tachometer.

Dynamic Driving Control*

The DSC system is switched off.

The concept

Dynamic Driving Control can be used to adjust

the driving dynamics of the vehicle. Several pro‐

grams are available for this purpose; they can be

activated using the two Dynamic Driving Control

buttons.

Deactivating DSC OFF

Press the button.

DSC OFF and the DSC indicator lamp

go out.

Indicator/warning lamps

Operating the programs

When DSC OFF is activated, DSC OFF is dis‐

played in the tachometer.

Press the button

Program

The indicator lamp lights up: DSC OFF

is activated.

DSC OFF

TRACTION

SPORT+

SPORT

TRACTION

Maximum traction on loose road surfaces. DTC

Dynamic Traction Control is switched on. Driv‐

ing stability is limited during acceleration and

when driving in bends.

NORMAL

COMFORT*

For Dynamic Damper Control*, the lower button

is labeled with COMFORT.

Activating TRACTION

Press the button.

Automatic program change

The system automatically switches to NORMAL

in the following situations:

TRACTION is displayed in the tachom‐

eter.

The DSC indicator lamp in the instrument clus‐

ter lights up.

▷

Failure of Integral Active Steering*.

Failure of Dynamic Damping Control*.

The vehicle has a flat tire.

Deactivating TRACTION

Press the button again.

DSC OFF

Driving stability is limited during acceleration

and when driving in bends.

TRACTION and the DSC indicator lamp

go out.

Stabilizing interventions by the Integral Active

Steering* system are only performed by the rear

axle steering.

Indicator/warning lamps

When TRACTION is activated, TRACTION is

displayed in the tachometer.

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The indicator lamp lights up: TRACTION

is activated.

1. "Settings"

2. "SPORT mode"

SPORT+

Sporty driving with optimized chassis and sus‐

pension during limited driving stabilization.

Dynamic Traction Control is switched on.

The driver handles several of the stabilization

tasks.

Activating SPORT+

3. Configure the program.

Press the button repeatedly until

SPORT+ appears in the tachometer

and the DSC indicator lamp lights up in the in‐

strument cluster.

This configuration is retrieved when the sport

program is activated.

NORMAL

For a balanced tuning with maximum driving sta‐

bilization.

Indicator/warning lamps

SPORT+ is displayed in the instrument cluster.

The indicator lamp lights up: DTC Dy‐

namic Traction Control is activated.

Activating NORMAL

Press the button repeatedly until the

program display in the tachometer

goes out.

SPORT

In certain situations, the system automatically

changes to the NORMAL program, automatic

program change, refer to page 102.

Consistently sporty tuning of the suspension for

greater driving agility with maximum driving sta‐

bilization.

The program can be configured to individual

specifications.

COMFORT*

Comfort-oriented tuning of the shock absorbers

for optimal traveling comfort with maximum

driving stabilization.

The configuration is stored for the remote con‐

trol currently in use.

Activating SPORT

Activating COMFORT

Press the button repeatedly until

SPORT appears in the tachometer.

Press the button repeatedly until COM‐

FORT appears in the tachometer.

Configuring SPORT

Displays in the instrument cluster

Selected program

When the display is activated on the Control

Display, refer to page 104, the sport program

can be set to individual specifications.

The selected program is dis‐

played in the tachometer.

After the sport program is activated, select

"Configure SPORT mode" on the displayed

panel and configure the program.

Optionally, the sport program can be configured

before it is activated:

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Program selection

Pressing the button displays a list of the select‐

able programs.

Display on the Control Display

Program changes can be displayed briefly on

the Control Display.

To do so, make the following settings:

1. "Settings"

2. "Control display"

3. "Display driving settings"

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Controls -> Driving stability control systems for Your BMW 7 Series 4 Door Fifth Generation (2008-2014)

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