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EnglishControls -> Technology for comfort, convenience and safety for your BMW 6 Series 2003-2010
Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
PDC Park Distance Control*
The concept
The PDC assists you when you are parking.
Signal tones and a visual display* indicate
the current distance to an object behind or
in front of your vehicle. To measure the dis-
tance, there are four ultrasonic sensors in
each bumper. The sensors at the front and
at the two rear corners have a range of
approx. 20 in/50 cm; the rear middle sen-
sors have approx. 5 ft/1.50 m.
Deactivating manual mode
Press the button again; the indicator lamp
goes out.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate
objects when they are approached
slowly, as is usually the case when parking.
Avoid approaching an object at high speed,
as otherwise the physical circumstances
would mean that the system warning was
too late.<
Signal tones
The signal indicating the distance to the
nearest obstacle is directional. Thus, an
object detected to the left rear of the vehi-
cle will be indicated by a signal tone from
the left rear speaker, etc. As the distance
between vehicle and object decreases, the
intervals between the tones become
shorter. The signal tone becomes continu-
ous once the distance to the nearest object
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm.
Automatic mode
In ignition key position 2, the system auto-
matically assumes operational status after
a few seconds each time you engage
reverse gear or selector-lever position R.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. 3 seconds if you are moving paral-
lel to a wall.
Wait this short period before driving.<
The system is automatically deacti-
vated once the vehicle travels approx.
165 ft/50 m or exceeds a speed of roughly
20 mph/30 km/h; the indicator lamp goes
out. You can reactivate the system manu-
ally as needed.
Malfunctions
The indicator lamp within the button
flashes and a message appears on the
Control Display. PDC has failed. Switch off
PDC. Have the system checked.
Manual mode
As a preventive measure, keep the sensors
clean and free of ice or snow in order to
ensure that they will continue to operate
effectively.
With the ignition key in position 2, press the
button; the indicator lamp lights up.
PDC with visual warning*
You also enjoy the option of having the sys-
tem show distances to objects on the Con-
trol Display. The Control Display will also
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indicate the presence of objects in green
before they are close enough to generate a
signal tone.
objects cannot be detected. The system is
also subject to the physical limits that apply
to all forms of ultrasonic measurement,
such as those encountered with thin and
wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low objects
already displayed, e.g. a curb, can also dis-
appear from the detection area of the sen-
sors again before a continuous tone
sounds.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1. Press button.
The start menu is opened
Loud noises from outside and inside your
vehicle may prevent you from hearing the
PDC signal tone.<
Do not apply high pressure spray to
the sensors for a prolonged period of
time. Keep the spray at least 4 in/10 cm
away from the sensors.<
Driving stability control
systems
2. Press the controller to open the menu
Your BMW is equipped with an extended
array of systems designed to enhance and
maintain vehicle stability under extreme
conditions. The following section describes
these functions based on ABS and DSC.
3. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
4. Select "PDC" and press the controller
5. Select "Monitor display on" and press
the controller.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS enhances active safety by preventing
the wheels from locking under braking.
ABS is operational every time you start the
engine. ABS includes the functions CBC
Cornering Brake Control and EBV Elec-
tronic brake-force distribution.
CBC Cornering Brake Control
It provides further enhancements in vehicle
stability and steering response during lane
changes and cornering at high rates of lat-
eral acceleration.
The PDC screen is activated.
The display appears on the Control Display
as soon as PDC is activated.
Depending on which key you have used to
open the vehicle, the last adjustment is
applied.
EBV Electronic brake-force
distribution
EBV controls the brake system's applica-
tion pressure at the rear wheels to ensure
stable deceleration.
System limits
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always
remains with the driver. Even when sensors
are involved, there is a blind spot in which
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DSC Dynamic Stability Control
Activating DTC
DSC optimizes vehicle stability during
acceleration and when starting from a full
stop, as well as optimizing traction. The
system recognizes any tendency for the
vehicle to assume an unstable attitude
such as oversteer or understeer; it then
counteracts this tendency with a combina-
tion of graduated reductions in engine
torque and selective braking intervention at
individual wheels. DSC provides optimal
stability within the limits defined by the
laws of physics.
> Press the DSC button briefly; the DTC
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up continuously.
The DSC is operational every time you start
the engine. DSC includes the functionality
of the DTC Dynamic Traction Control and
DBC Dynamic Brake Control, see below.
Deactivating DTC again
Press the DSC button briefly again; the
DTC indicator lamp in the instrument clus-
ter goes out.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp goes out soon
after you start the engine.
The indicator lamp flashes:
Switching off DSC
DSC controls the drive and braking forces.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off via the button.
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
In special driving states, e.g. in deep snow,
DTC ensures maximum forward momen-
tum. The gain in forward momentum also
involves a reduction in driving stability.
DTC is active up to approx. 45 mph/
70 km/h, whereas DSC is only effective to
a limited degree.
Press the DSC button until the DSC indica-
tor light in the instrument cluster lights up
continuously, however not longer than
approx. 10 seconds. DSC and DTC are
deactivated. In addition, the stability pro-
moting intervention of the active steering is
deactivated, refer to page 80.
You may find it useful to briefly activate
DTC under the following special circum-
stances:
> When rocking the vehicle and starting
off in deep snow or on loose road sur-
faces
A message appears on the Control Display.
Please note any supplementary information
that appears there.
> When ascending snow-covered hills,
and when driving in deep or on hard-
packed snow
To maintain optimal stability, drive
with the system on whenever possi-
ble.<
> When driving with snow chains.
Reactivating DSC
Press the DSC button briefly; the indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.
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The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An appro-
priate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Therefore, do
not reduce the additional safety margin
again by taking risks.<
Have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible.
The warning lamp for the brake sys-
tem lights up yellow and a message
appears on the Control Display.
DBC has failed.
Have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible.
DBC Dynamic Brake Control
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this
system automatically produces the maxi-
mum braking force boost and thus helps to
achieve the shortest braking distance dur-
ing panic stops. This system exploits all of
the benefits provided by ABS.
Display of the previously described
malfunction on Canadian models.
Active roll stabilization*
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake
pedal for the duration of the brake applica-
tion. When the brake pedal is released,
DBC is deactivated.
The concept
Active roll stabilization minimizes body roll
and optimizes vehicle stability during cor-
nering and evasive maneuvers.
Dynamic stabilizers at the front and rear
axles form the basis for active roll stabiliza-
tion. Suspension compliance adapts to suit
driving conditions, varying from perfor-
mance-oriented during cornering to
smooth and comfort-oriented when the
vehicle is proceeding in a straight line. Dur-
ing vehicle operation, the system continu-
ously runs through closed-loop control
cycles lasting only fractions of a second.
Malfunctions of driving stability
control systems
The brake system warning lamp
lights up in red, appearing together
with the indicator lamps for ABS
and DSC. A message appears on
the Control Display. Driving stability
control and ABS have failed. Con-
ventionalbrakingefficiencyremains
available without limitations.
The system assumes operational status
each time you start the engine.
While you may continue, you should
remember to proceed cautiously and drive
defensively while avoiding full brake appli-
cations.
Malfunction
Have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible.
The warning lamp lights up and a
message appears on the Control
Display. There is a malfunction in
the system. Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
Display of the previously described
malfunction on Canadian models.
If there is a malfunction in the system,
please remember to adapt your
speed accordingly, especially in curves.
The suspension will be noticeably softer
and the vehicle will display a greater ten-
dency to tilt during cornering and in cross-
winds.
The DSC warning lamp lights up.
DSC and DTC have failed.
If a message stating that you should stop
appears on the Control Display, stop and
switch off the engine as soon as possible.
In this case the oil level in the reservoir may
The stability maintenance functions
are no longer available. The vehicle will
remain completely operational, however,
without DSC.
78
have dropped below the minimum, possi-
bly owing to a leak in the hydraulic system.
Do not continue driving. Contact your BMW
center.<
Initializing system
Perform the initialization immediately
after correcting the inflation pressure,
after changing a tire or changing a wheel or
all wheels. A drive is necessary for this pur-
pose.<
Flat Tire Monitor
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
The concept
1. Start the engine, but do not drive off
2. Open the menu
The Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the
inflation pressures in the four tires as you
drive. The system provides an alert when-
ever the inflation pressure drops signifi-
cantly in relation to the pressure in another
tire.
3. Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
4. Select "FTM" and press the controller
The check of the tire inflation pressure is
based on monitoring the relative speeds
of the wheels. A flat tire is detected and
reported on the basis of a deviation in cer-
tain speed ratios.
Functional requirement
To ensure reliable operation, the system
should have been initialized with the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure.
5. Select "Set tire pressure" and press the
controller
System limits
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot indicate
sudden severe tire damage caused
by outside factors and does not detect a
natural, even pressure drop in all four
tires.<
In the following situations, the system
could be delayed or malfunction:
> When you are driving on snow-covered
or slippery road surfaces
6. Select "Yes" and press the controller
> In the case of performance-oriented
driving: slip on the drive wheels, high
lateral acceleration
7. Drive off.
The message "Initializing" is displayed.
It takes a few minutes before the Flat Tire
Monitor can detect and report a flat tire and
"Status: Active" is displayed.
> False alarms and undetected loss of
pressure may occur when you are driv-
ing with snow chains fitted
If a flat tire is detected during initialization,
a message appears on the Control Display.
> If the Flat Tire Monitor was not initial-
ized after the last inflation pressure cor-
rection, false alarms indicating a flat tire
that is not present are possible or pres-
sure loss might not be detected.
When driving with snow chains, do
not initialize the system.<
79
Report of a flat tire
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up in red
and a message appears on the
Control Display. In addition, an
The fixed warning lamp lights up.
The active steering is no longer
operational. In the low speed range,
greater steering wheel movement is neces-
sary. Have the system checked.
acoustic signal sounds. There is a flat tire
or extensive inflation pressure loss.
1. Cautiously reduce the vehicle speed to
below 50 mph/80 km/h. Avoid sudden
braking and steering maneuvers. Do
not exceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph/
80 km/h
If the warning lamp lights up during the first
engine starting following a power supply
interruption, the system must be activated
with initialization.
Initializing system
Due to the reinforcement on the
side walls of the run-flat tires,
1. Start the engine
inflation pressure loss can not usually
be recognized from the outside, refer to
Run-flat tires on page 168.<
2. With the vehicle stationary, turn the
steering wheel from the straight-ahead
position to the left as far as it will go and
then back to the straight-ahead position
2. To continue driving, comply with the
instructions for driving with damaged
tires on page 168.
3. Switch off the engine.
When you start the engine again, all the
functions of the active steering are avail-
able once again.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up yellow
and a message appears on the
Control Display. The Flat Tire Moni-
tor has a malfunction or has failed. Have
the system checked as soon as possible.
Brake Force Display
The two-stage brake lamps light up in two
stages depending on how strongly you
brake.
Active steering*
The concept
The active steering is a system that actively
varies the steering angle of the front wheels
in relation to the steering wheel move-
ments.
When you are driving in the low road speed
range, e.g. in a town or when parking, the
steering angle of the wheels is reinforced,
i.e. the steering becomes very direct.
In the higher speed range, on the other
hand, the steering angle of the wheels is
reduced more and more. This improves the
handling capability of your BMW over the
entire speed range.
> Normal braking:
The brake lamps and the third brake
lamp go on
> Heavy braking and braking with ABS:
In addition, the light area of the rear
brake lamps is enlarged, refer to illus-
tration.
In critical situations, the system can make
targeted changes to the steering angle pro-
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the
vehicle before the driver intervenes.
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Airbags
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
Do not apply adhesive materials to
the cover panels of the airbags, cover
them or modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag reten-
tion system from the vehicle. Never modify
or tamper with either the wiring or the indi-
vidual components in the airbag system.
This category includes the upholstery in the
center of the steering wheel, on the instru-
ment panel, the side trim panels on the
doors and on the Coupe the roof pillars
along with the sides of the headliner.
Do not attempt to remove or dismantle the
steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been trig-
gered, because there is a danger of burns.
If you note any indication of system mal-
function, if you desire to have an airbag
deactivated, or if the airbag retention sys-
tem is triggered in response to an accident,
you should always entrust all inspection,
repair and dismantling operations to your
BMW center. Unprofessional attempts to
service the system could lead to failure in
an emergency or undesired airbag activa-
tion, either of which could result in personal
injury.<
1
Front airbags for driver and front pas-
senger
2
3
4
5
Coupe: head airbags
Front side airbags
Knee airbag for front passenger
Knee airbag for driver
Protective effect
The front airbags help protect the driver
and front passenger by responding to fron-
tal impacts in which safety belts alone can-
not provide adequate restraint. When
needed, the head and side airbags help
provide protection in the event of a side
impact. The side airbags help restrain the
side of the occupant's upper torso, and the
head airbags help support the head while
also helping provide protection against any
objects penetrating into the passenger
compartment.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered
in every impact situation, e.g. less severe
accidents, certain rollover conditions, or
rear-end collisions.
For information on the correct sitting posi-
tion, refer to page 42.
Airbag warning information is also provided
on the sun visors.
Even if you adhere to all the instructions
injuries resulting from contact with airbags
cannot be fully excluded, depending on the
circumstances. The ignition and inflation
noise may provoke a mild hearing loss in
extremely sensitive individuals. This effect
is usually only temporary.
81
As a supplement to the rollover bar inte-
grated in the windshield frame, the rollover
protection system ensures that all vehicle
occupants have the necessary headroom.
Airbag system operational
Always keep the path of movement of
the rollover protection system clear.
In less severe accidents, you are protected
by the fastened safety belt and, depending
on the severity of the accident, the belt ten-
sioner and the multistage airbag restraint
system.<
The airbag warning lamp in the instrument
cluster indicates the operational readiness
of the entire airbag system and the safety
belt tensioners as of ignition key position 1.
The warning lamp goes out after a few sec-
onds.
Lowering
If the protection function was not required
after automatic activation, the rollover pro-
tection system can be lowered again.
No tools are necessary for this purpose.
1. Press the release backwards and hold
in that position
Airbag system malfunction
Have the airbag system checked
immediately if a malfunction occurs,
as otherwise there is a danger of the sys-
tem not responding in the expected man-
ner to an impact occurring within its normal
response range.<
There is a malfunction in the airbag
system when:
> The warning lamp does not light up as
of ignition key position 1
2. Press the rollover bar halfway down
from above
> The warning lamp remains on continu-
ously
3. Let go of the release
> The warning lamp lights up while the
vehicle is being driven.
4. Press the rollover bar down until it
snaps into place
Convertible:
Rollover protection system
The rollover protection system is automati-
cally activated in the event of an accident
or a critical driving situation, extreme incli-
nation on the longitudinal or transverse
axis, or loss of ground contact. The rollover
bars located behind the rear head
restraints move out within fractions of a
second.
5. Use the same procedure for the second
rollover bar.
Have the rollover protection system
checked after unexpected triggering.
82
Never move the convertible top when
the rollover protection system is
raised.
No changes of any nature may be made to
the individual components of the rollover
protection system and wiring.
Work on the rollover protection system may
only be performed at a BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the sys-
tem can lead to failure or malfunction.
For a system check and to ensure long-
term functioning, you must comply with the
maintenance intervals of the service
requirement display.<
1
2
3
Navigation instructions
Display for cruise control
Speed
Selecting displays
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
Head-Up Display*
The concept
1. Press button.
With the Head-Up Display important infor-
mation is projected into the driver's field of
view, e.g. navigation instructions. This
enables you to take in this information with-
out looking away from the road.
The start menu is opened
2. Press the controller to open the menu
3. Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
4. Select "HUD selection" and press the
controller
5. Select desired information of Head-Up
Display
Switching on/off
Ignition key in position 2:
Press the button to activate or deactivate
this system.
83
6. Press the controller.
The information appears on the
Head-Up Display.
> Objects on the cover of the Head-Up
Display
> Wet road surface and unfavorable light-
ing conditions.
Depending on which key you have used to
open the vehicle, the last adjustment is
applied.
If the image is distorted, please have the
base setting checked at a BMW center.
Adjusting brightness
Special windshield
The brightness of the display is automati-
cally adapted to the ambient lighting condi-
tions. However, you can change the base
setting.
With the low beams switched on, the
brightness can also be adjusted with the
serrated dial of the instrument lighting.
The windshield is part of the system. The
shape of the windshield complies with the
requirements of the Head-Up Display to
enable a precise display. A film in the wind-
shield prevents the double images from
being displayed.
To have the windshield replaced, contact a
BMW center.
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
Care instructions
1. Open the menu
You can find everything you need to know
on this topic by consulting the Caring for
your vehicle brochure.
2. Select "Display settings" and press the
controller
3. Select "Brightness" and press the con-
troller
Only clean the cover of the Head-Up
Display with a soft, non-abrasive cloth
or a display cleaning cloth, as otherwise
damage may result.<
4. If necessary, move the controller to the
left to select "Head-Up Display Offset"
5. Turn the controller until the desired set-
ting is selected.
Depending on which key you have used to
open the vehicle, the last adjustment is
applied.
Notes
The recognizability of the displays in the
Head-Up Display is influenced by:
> Sunglasses with certain polarization
filters
> Certain seating positions
84
