The 2010-5 Series BMWs have a variety of controls for the driver to use. The controls are typically located on the center console, the steering wheel, and the instrument cluster.
On the center console, there are controls for the audio system, climate control, and navigation (if equipped). The audio controls include buttons for power, volume, and tuning, as well as buttons for selecting different sources (e.g. radio, CD, USB). The climate control controls include buttons for adjusting the temperature, fan speed, and airflow direction. The navigation controls (if equipped) allow the driver to input destinations, view maps, and access other navigation features.
On the steering wheel, there are controls for the audio system, phone (if equipped), and cruise control. The audio controls include buttons for volume and track/station selection, while the phone controls (if equipped) allow the driver to make and receive calls and access their phone’s contacts list. The cruise control controls include buttons for setting and adjusting the desired speed.
Overall, the 2010-5 Series BMWs have a wide range of controls that are designed to make it easy for the driver to access and adjust various systems and features of the car.
Odometer, outside temperature display, clock, date
1 Time, outside temperature and date
2 Odometer and trip odometer
3 Press button:
- with ignition switched on, trip odometer is reset
- with ignition switched off, time, outside temperature, and odometer are briefly displayed.
From radio readiness the outside temperature and the time are displayed.
Date retrieval: Press CHECK button on turn signal lever. Time and date setting. You can set the unit of measure 7 or 6 on the Control Display.
Outside temperature warning
If the display drops to +377/+36, a signal sounds and a warning lamp lights up. A message appears on the Control Display. There is an increased danger of ice.
⚠ Even at temperatures above +377/+36 ice can form. Therefore, drive carefully, e.g., on bridges and sections of road in the shade, otherwise there is an increased accident risk.
Tachometer
Avoid engine speeds in the white-striped advance warning field, arrow 1, if possible. Never force the engine speed up into the red warning field, see arrow 2. Never operate the engine with the needle in the red overspeed zone of the gauge. At high revs in this range, the flow of fuel is interrupted to protect the engine.
Coolant temperature
Should the coolant, and with it the engine become too hot, a warning lamp lights up. In addition, a message appears on the Control Display. Checking coolant level.
Energy Control
Displays the current fuel consumption. This allows you to see whether your current driving style is conducive to fuel economy with minimum exhaust emissions.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 18.5 US gal/ 70 liters, including the reserve capacity of approx. 2.1 US gal/8 liters. 550i: approx. 2.6 US gal/10 liters reserve capacity. If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period, when you are driving in mountainous areas, for example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
After the reserve quantity has been reached, a message briefly appears on the Control Display; the remaining range is shown in the computer. Below a range of approx. 30 miles/50 km, the message remains on the Control Display.
⚠ Refuel as soon as possible once your cruising range falls below 30 miles/50 km, otherwise engine functions are not ensured and damage can occur.
Computer
Displays in instrument cluster
Press the button on the turn signal lever. The following information is displayed in the specified order:
- Cruising range
- Average speed
- Average fuel consumption
- No information
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cruising range available with the remaining fuel. The range is projected based on the driving style over the last 20 miles/ 30 km.
⚠ Refuel as soon as possible once your cruising range falls below 30 miles/ 50 km, otherwise engine functions are not ensured and damage can occur.
Average speed
Periods with the vehicle parked and the engine switched off are not included in the calculations of average speed. To reset average speed: press BC button on turn signal lever for approx. 2 seconds.
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for the time during which the engine is running. To reset average fuel consumption: press BC button on turn signal lever for approx. 2 seconds.
For different routes
You can display the average speed and average consumption for two different routes on the Control Display, refer to the following and to Trip computer*.
Displays on the Control Display
You can also call up the computer via iDrive.
- “Vehicle Info”
- “Onboard info” or “Trip computer”
Displays on the “Onboard info”:
- Cruising range
- Distance from destination
- Estimated time of arrival, provided that a destination was entered in the navigation system*.
Displays on the “Trip computer”:
- Departure time
- Trip duration
- Trip distance
Both displays show:
- The average speed and
- the average fuel consumption.
Resetting the fuel consumption and speed
You can reset the values for the average speed and average fuel consumption:
- Select the respective menu item and press the controller.
- To confirm your selection, press the controller again.
Resetting the Trip computer
- “Vehicle Info”
- “Trip computer”
- “Reset” All values are reset.
Setting the units of measure
You can change the units for fuel consumption, route/distance, temperature and pressure. iDrive.
- “Settings”
- “Language/Units”
- Select the desired menu item.
- Select the desired unit.
The settings are stored for the remote key currently in use.
Service requirements
The remaining driving distance and the date for the next maintenance are displayed briefly with the ignition switched on.
▶Your BMW Service Advisor can determine your vehicle’s current service requirements by reading out the data stored in the remote control.
Additional information
You can view more detailed information by using the Control Display.
- “Vehicle Info”
- “Vehicle status”
- “Service required”
Required maintenance procedures and legally mandated inspections are displayed. You can request more detailed information on every entry:
Select the entry and press the controller. To exit from the menu: Move the controller to the left.
Symbols
Entering deadlines for legally required inspections*
Make sure the date on the Control Display is set correctly, otherwise the effectiveness of CBS Condition Based Service is not ensured.
- “Vehicle Info”
- “Vehicle status”
- “Service required”
- “§ Vehicle inspection”
- Open the menu for entering the deadline.
- “Date:”
- Turn the controller until the desired month is displayed, and then press the controller.
- Set the year in the same manner. The date is stored.
To exit the menu: Move the controller to the left.
Automatic Service Request*
Data regarding the maintenance status or legally mandated inspections of the vehicle are automatically transmitted to your BMW center prior to a service due date. You can check when your BMW center was notified.
- “Vehicle Info”
- “Vehicle status”
- “Options”
- “Last Service Request”
Clock
The settings are stored for the remote control currently in use.
Setting the time
To set the 12h/24h mode, refer to Setting the time format below.
- Press the MENU button. The main menu is displayed.
- “Settings”
Setting the time
- “Settings”
- “Time/Date”
- “Time:”
- Turn the controller until the desired hours are displayed, and then press the controller.
- Turn the controller until the desired minutes are displayed, and then press the controller.
The time is stored.
Setting the time format
- “Settings”
- “Time/Date”
- “Format:”
- Select the desired format and press the controller.
The time format is stored.
Date
The settings are stored for the remote control currently in use.
Setting date
To set the dd/mm or mm/dd date format, refer to Setting date format below.
- “Settings”
- “Time/Date”
- “Date:”
- Turn the controller until the desired day is displayed, and then press the controller.
- Create the necessary settings for the month and year.
The date is stored.
Setting date format
- “Settings”
- “Time/Date”
- “Format:”
- Select the desired format.
The date format is stored.
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors functions in the vehicle and issues a message if there is a malfunction in the monitored systems. This kind of Check Control message consists of indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster, and if necessary an acoustic signal and text messages at the bottom of the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in different combinations and colors.
⚠ means that a Check Control message has been generated. The symbol continues to be visible even when the Check Control message disappears after a short time. The warning lamps and text messages are stored and can be displayed later.
Explanatory text messages
For most Check Control messages, you can view more information later, e.g., regarding the cause of a malfunction and how to respond; refer to the information provided below.
In urgent cases, this information will be shown as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on. To hide the information temporarily: Move the controller to the left. To hide the information: Confirm the information.
Hiding Check Control messages
Press the CHECK button on turn signal lever. Some Check Control messages are displayed until the malfunctions have been rectified. They cannot be hidden. If a number of malfunctions occur simultaneously, they are displayed in succession. Other messages are hidden after approx. 20 seconds, but remain stored.
Displaying stored Check Control messages
- Press the button longer: The first stored message is displayed.
- Press the button: When the button is pressed again, a different message is displayed
Via iDrive
- “Vehicle Info”
- “Vehicle status”
- “Check Control”
- Select the text message.
Displays after completion of trip
Malfunction reports generated during the trip are shown consecutively when you switch off the ignition.
Before the display disappears, you can display the messages once again. Press the CHECK button for approx. 2 seconds. If several messages are present, you can continue to press the CHECK button to view them in succession.
The display goes out.
- after a short time
- when you press the CHECK button again for approx. 2 seconds
Speed limit
You can enter a speed and a Check Control message indicates when you have reached this speed. This enables you, for example, to receive warnings if you exceed a speed limit in an urban area. You are only warned of reaching this speed a second time if your vehicle speed falls below it again by at least 3 mph/5 km/h.
Displaying, setting or changing limit
- “Settings”
- “Limit”
- “Limit:”
- Turn the controller until the desired limit is displayed.
- Press the controller. The speed limit is stored.
Applying your current speed as limit
- “Settings”
- “Limit
- “Select current speed”
- Press the controller.
The system adopts your current speed as the limit.
Activating/deactivating limit
- “Settings”
- “Limit”
- “Limit warning”
- Press the controller.
√The limit warning is switched on.
Settings on Control Display
Language on Control Display
Setting the language
- “Settings”
- “Language/Units”
- “Language:”
- Select the desired language.
The setting is stored for the remote control currently in use.
Setting the voice dialog
Switch between a standard dialog and a short dialog.
- “Settings”
- “Language/Units”
- “Speech mode:”
- Select the desired dialog.
The setting is stored for the remote control currently in use.
Warning signal volume
You can raise or lower the volume of the warning signals, e.g., the “Fasten safety belt” reminder, relative to the entertainment sound output. The warning signals have a fixed minimum and maximum volume that cannot be
dropped below or exceeded.
- “Settings”
- “Tone”
- “Volume settings”
- “Speed volume”: speed-dependent volume control
- “PDC”: volume of the PDC* signal tone relative to the entertainment sound output
- “Gong”: volume of the signal tone, e.g., for the “Fasten safety belt” reminder, relative to the entertainment sound output.
Brightness of Control Display
The brightness is automatically adapted to the ambient lighting conditions. However, you can change the basic setting.
- “Settings”
- “Control display”
- “Brightness”
- Turn the controller until the desired setting is selected.
- Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control currently in use. In bright conditions, for example, the brightness control may not be clearly visible.