Adjusting a BMW 650i can greatly enhance its performance and appearance. The 650i is a powerful sports car, and with the right adjustments, it can be tailored to suit an individual’s preferences.
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital contribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In the interaction with the safety belts, the head restraints and the airbags, the seat position plays an important role in an accident. To ensure that the safety systems operate with optimal efficiency, we strongly urge you to follow the instructions contained in the following section.
Transporting Children Safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger themselves and other persons, e.g. by opening the doors.
Children always in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest place for children is in the back. Children younger than 13 years of age or with a height under 5 ft/150 cm may only be transported in the rear in child restraint systems which correspond to the age, weight and height of the child. Otherwise, there is an increased danger of injury in an accident. Children 13 years of age or older must wear a safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint system can no longer be used due to their age, size and weight.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child restraint system on the front passenger seat, the front, knee and side airbags on the passenger side must be deactivated. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of injury for the child if the airbags are triggered, even with a child restraint system.
a. Automatic deactivation of front passenger airbags
The occupation of the seat is detected by evaluating the impression on the occupied seat surface of the front passenger seat. The system correspondingly activates or deactivates the front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side. The current status of the front passenger airbags, i.e. deactivated or activated, is indicated by the indicator lamp over the interior rearview mirror, refer to Operating state of front passenger airbags below.
Before transporting a child in the front passenger seat, read the safety information and follow the instructions under Transporting children safely.
The front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side can be deactivated for teenagers and adults in certain sitting positions; the indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags lights up when this occurs. In these cases, change the sitting position so that the front passenger airbags are activated and the indicator lamp goes out.
If the desired status cannot be produced by changing the sitting position, transport the corresponding person in the rear seat. Do not fit seat covers, seat cushion padding, beaded mats or other items onto the front passenger seat unless they are specifically recommended by BMW. Do not place objects under the seat which could press against the seat from below. Otherwise, a correct evaluation of the occupied seat surface cannot be ensured.
b. Operating state of front passenger airbags
The illustration here shows a possible arrangement in the Coupe. With some vehicle equipment packages or in the Convertible, the arrangement of the switches and indicator lamps may differ somewhat.
The indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags indicates the operating status of the front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side depending on whether the seat is occupied. The indicator lamp shows whether the front passenger airbags are activated or deactivated.
> The indicator lamp lights up when a child in a child restraint system intended for the purpose is properly detected on the seat. The front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side are deactivated.
Most child seats are detected by the system. Especially the child seats required by the NHTSA at the time the vehicle is manufactured. After installing a child seat, make sure that the indicator lamp for the front passenger
airbags lights up. This indicates that the child seat has been detected and the front passenger airbags are not activated.
> The indicator lamp does not light up when, for example, a correctly seated person of sufficient height is detected on the seat. The front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side are activated.
> The indicator lamp does not light up when the seat is empty. But the front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side are still deactivated.
Installing child restraint systems
Follow child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions for the selection, installation and use of child restraint systems. Otherwise, the degree of protection they offer may be reduced.
On front passenger seat
After mounting a child restraint system on the front passenger seat, make sure that the front and side airbags on the front passenger side are deactivated, as otherwise there is an increased risk of injury if the airbags are triggered.
Child seat security
All rear safety belts and the safety belt for the front passenger can be locked against pulling out to secure child restraint systems.
Locking safety belt
1 Secure the child restraint system with the belt
2 Pull out the belt webbing completely.
3 Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in and pull taut against the child restraint system. The safety belt is locked.
Unlocking safety belt
1 Open the belt buckle.
2 Remove the child restraint system.
3 Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in completely.
Coupe: child restraint system with tether strap
Only use the tether-strap mounting points to secure child restraint systems, otherwise the mounting points could be damaged.
There are two additional mounting points for child restraint systems with a tether strap, refer to arrows
Placement of tether strap
1 Fold anchor fitting into upright position.
2 Push head restraint downward.
3 Guide tether strap over head restraint and hook onto anchor fitting.
LATCH child restraint fixing system
LATCH: Lower Anchor and Tethers for CHildren. When installing and using LATCH child restraint systems, comply with the system manufacturer’s operating and safety instructions.
Rear seats
Before attaching the LATCH child’s seat, pull the belt away from the region of the child restraint fixing system.
The mounting points for the LATCH anchors are located at the positions indicated by arrows in the gap between the seat and the backrest.
Make sure that the LATCH anchor fittings are properly engaged and the child restraint system firmly contacts the backrest.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance between yourself and the airbags. Always hold the steering wheel by its rim with hands at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions to minimize the risk of injuries to your hands and arms in the event of airbag deployment. No one and nothing is to come between the airbags and the seat occupant. Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the front passenger side as a storage area.
Make sure that the front passenger is sitting correctlyand does not rest feet or legs on the instrument panel, otherwise leg injuries can occur if the knee and front airbags are triggered. Make sure that occupants do not rest their head on the side or head airbags; otherwise, injuries can occur if the airbags are triggered.
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.
The following airbags are located under the marked covers:
1 Front airbags
2 Coupe: head airbags
3 Side airbags
4 Knee airbag
5 Knee airbag
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems continue to provide optimized protection, The front airbags help protect the driver and front passenger by responding to frontal impacts in which safety belts alone cannot provide adequate restraint. When needed, the head and side airbags help provide protection in the event of a side impact. The relevant side airbag supports the side upper body area. The head airbag supports the head. The knee airbag protects the legs from colliding with the cockpit.
Do not apply adhesive materials to thecover panels of the airbags, cover them or modify them in any other way. Do not attempt to remove the airbag restraint system from the vehicle. Do not modify or tamper with either the wiring or the individual components in the airbag system. This category includes the upholstery in the center of the steering wheel, on the instrument 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 triggered, because there is a danger of burns. In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or triggering of the airbag restraint system, have the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of airbag generators carried out only by a BMW center or a workshop that works according to BMW repair rocedures with appropriately trained personnel and has the required explosives licenses.
Otherwise unprofessional attempts to service the system could lead to failure in an emergency or undesired airbag triggering, either of which could result in personal injury. Warnings and information on the airbags is also provided on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of front passenger airbags
The occupation of the seat is detected by evaluating the impression on the occupied seat surface of the front passenger seat. The system correspondingly activates or deactivates the front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side.
The current status of the front passenger airbags, i.e. deactivated or activated, is indicated by the indicator lamp over the interior rearview mirror, refer to Operating state of front passenger airbags below
Before transporting a child in the front passenger seat, read the safety information and follow the instructions under Transporting children safely, The front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side can be deactivated for teenagers and adults in certain sitting positions; the indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags lights up when this occurs. In these cases, change the sitting position so that the front passenger airbags are activated and the indicator lamp goes out.
If the desired status cannot be produced by changing the sitting position, transport the corresponding person in the rear seat. Do not fit seat covers, seat cushion padding, beaded mats or other items onto the front passenger seat unless they are specifically recommended by BMW. Do not place objects under the seat which could press against the seat from below. Otherwise, a correct evaluation of the occupied seat surface cannot be ensured.
Operating state of front passenger airbags
The illustration here shows a possible arrangement in the Coupe. With some vehicle equipment packages or in the Convertible, the arrangement of the switches and indicator lamps may differ somewhat.
The indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags indicates the operating status of the front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side depending on whether the seat is occupied. The indicator lamp shows whether the front passenger airbags are activated or deactivated.
> The indicator lamp lights up when a child in a child restraint system intended for the purpose is properly detected on the seat. The front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side are deactivated.
Most child seats are detected by the system. Especially the child seats required by the NHTSA at the time the vehicle is manufactured. After installing a child seat, make sure that the indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags lights up. This indicates that the child seat has been detected and the front passenger airbags are not activated.
> The indicator lamp does not light up when, for example, a correctly seated person of sufficient height is detected on the seat. The front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side are activated.
> The indicator lamp does not light up when the seat is empty. But the front, knee and side airbags on the front passenger side are still deactivated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
the warning lamp lights up briefly, indicating the operational readiness of the entire airbag system and the safety belt tensioners.
Airbag system malfunction
1 Warning lamp does not light up as of radioreadiness.
2 Warning lamp lights up continuously.
Have the airbag system checked immediately in case of a malfunction; otherwise, there is a danger that the airbag system may not respond in the expected manner in an accident despite an impact of corresponding intensity.
Head Restraints
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the risk of injury to cervical vertebrae in an accident. Adjust the head restraint so that its center is approx. at ear level. Otherwise, there is increased danger of injury in the event of an accident.
Front head restraints
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the risk of injury to cervical vertebrae in an accident. Adjust the head restraint so that its center is approx. at ear level. Otherwise, there is increased danger of injury in the event of an accident. Only remove the head restraints if no one will be sitting on the seat in question. Reinstall the head restraints before transporting passengers, as otherwise the head restraint cannot provide its protective function.
Coupe
Adjusting height
1 To raise: pull the head restraint upward.
2 To lower: slide the head restraint downward.
To reach the lowest position, press the button, refer to arrow 1.
Adjusting tilt angle
Swivel the head restraints.
Removing
1 Pull the head restraint upward to the stop.
2 Press the button, arrow 1, and remove the head restraint
Only remove the head restraints if no one will be sitting on the seat in question. Reinstall head restraint before passengers use the respective seat
Installing
Insert head restraint into the sockets and adjust
Convertible
Adjusting height
> To raise: move the switch upward.
> To lower: move the switch downward
Adjusting tilt angle
Swivel the head restraints.
Entering rear
Before starting to drive, fold backrests back, otherwise there is the danger of accident due to an unexpected movement of the seat
Coupe: releasing backrest
Pull the lever upward and fold the backrest forward. The lever is designed so that the safety belt can be hooked onto it. This enables you to fasten the safety belt more conveniently.
Convertible: releasing backrest
The belt system integrated in the seat makes it easier to get in back.
1 Pull lever 1 up and fold the backrest forward.
2 Press and hold button 2 until the seat has moved into the desired position.
3 After passengers have entered the rear, foldthe backrest back and lock it in place.
4 Press and hold button 3 until the seat hasmoved back into its previous position. If you release button 3 before this, the seat stops in its current position.
You can lock the backrest in place when it is folded forward. This is useful, for example, when you get into the vehicle while it is parked on a hill. Press the backrest until it audibly locks into place. To fold it back, you do not
need to use lever 1 to release it.
Lock backrest warning lamp: Lights up when the backrest is not locked. At the same time, a message is shown on the Control Display.
Safety Belt
Before every drive, make sure that safety belts are being worn at all of the occupied seats. Airbags complement the safety belt as an additional safety device, but they do not represent a substitute. Your vehicle has four seats that are each equipped with a safety belt.
Never allow more than one person to wear a single safety belt. Never allow infants or small children to ride in a passenger’s lap. Make sure that the belt lies low around the hips in the lap area and does not press on the
abdomen. The safety belt may not lie across the neck, rub on sharp edges, be routed over solid or breakable objects or be pinched.
Wear the safety belt without twisting, snugly across the lap and shoulders, as close to the body as possible. Otherwise, the belt can slip over the hips in the lap area in a frontal impact and injure the abdomen. Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the belt from fitting properly and pull the shoulder belt upward periodically to readjust the tension across your lap in order to avoid a reduction in the restraining effect of the safety belt.
Before every drive, make sure that safety belts are being worn at all of the occupied seats. Airbags complement the safety belt as an additional safety device, but they do not represent a substitute.
Fastening
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in the belt buckle.
Releasing
1Hold the belt firmly.
2Press the red button in the belt buckle.
3 Guide the belt into its reel.
The shoulder strap’s anchorage point will be in the correct position for adults of every build if the seat is correctly adjusted.
Safety belt reminder for driver’s seat and passenger seat*
The indicator lamp lights up and a signal sounds. At the same time, an additional message appears on the Control Display. Please check whether safety belts are being worn correctly. The safety belt reminder is operative at speeds above approx. 5 mph/8 km/h. It can also be activated if objects are placed on the passenger seat.
Damage to safety belts
In the event of loads caused by accidents or other damage: replace the belt system including the safety belt tensioners and any child restraint systems, and have the belt anchor points checked. Have this work carried out only by a BMW center or a workshop that works according to BMW repair procedures with appropriately trained personnel. Otherwise, correct operation of this safety equipment is not guaranteed.
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat while operating the vehicle. The seat could respond with unexpected movement and the ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to an accident.
On the front passenger side as well, do not tilt the backrest too far toward the rear. Failure to observe this precaution can prevent the belt from providing effective protection against injury, as the passenger could slide under the belt in an accident.
Heated seats*
The temperature setting advances one step in its control sequence each time you press the button. The maximum temperature is supplied when three LEDs are lit.
To switch off: Press the button longer
Convertible: with the wind deflector fitted, do not incline the front seat backrests too far backward if the seat is to be moved back to the end position. Otherwise, the wind deflector will be damaged.
Adjusting seat
To ensure that the safety systems continue to provide optimized protection,
1 Inclination
2 Longitudinal direction
3 Height
4 Backrest
5 Convertible
With the sports seat*, you can also adjust the thigh support manually:
Pull the lever and adjust the thigh support in the longitudinal direction.
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contours of the backrest to obtain additional support in the lumbar region. The upper hips and spinal column receive supplementary support to help you maintain a relaxed, upright sitting position
> Increase or decrease curvature:
Press front or rear of switch.
> Move curvature up or down:
Press top or bottom of switch.
Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory
You can store and select three different adjustment settings for the driver’s seat, exterior mirrors and steering wheel. The adjustment of the lumbar support is not stored in the memory.
Storing
1 Switch on radio readiness or ignition
2 Adjust the desired seat, exterior mirror and steering-wheel positions.
3 Press the button: M The LED in the button lights up.
4 Press the desired memory button 1, 2 or 3: The LED goes out.
Requesting
Do not request a position from the memory while the vehicle is moving. There is a risk of accident from unexpected movement of the seat or steering wheel.
Comfort mode
1 Open the driver’s door after unlocking or switch on radio readiness
2 Briefly press the desired memory button 1, 2 or 3.
The system cancels the adjustment procedure when you briefly press one of the seat adjustment switches or one of the memory buttons. The adjusting procedure for the steering wheel is interrupted if you briefly press the switch for the steering wheel adjustment in any direction.