Mobility -> Giving and receiving assistance for your BMW 6 Series 2003-2010

Giving and receiving assistance  
Initiating an emergency call  
Emergency call*  
1. To open the protective cover of the  
emergency call button:  
Briefly press the protective cover  
Conditions for an emergency call:  
> Ignition key as of position 1  
> The car phone is logged on to a  
portable telephone network  
2. Press the emergency call switch for  
at least 2 seconds.  
> The emergency call system is operable.  
The indicator lamp in the button lights  
up. As soon as the voice connection to  
the BMW Assist response center has  
been established, the indicator lamp  
flashes.  
Coupe: emergency call button.  
If conditions allow, remain in the vehicle  
until the connection has been established.  
You will then be able to provide a detailed  
description of the situation.  
If the current location of your vehicle can be  
determined with vehicles with an activated  
BMW Assist, it will be transmitted to the  
BMW Assist response center.  
Convertible: emergency call button.  
Activating BMW Assist, refer to page 155.  
If the indicator lamp flashes, but you are  
unable to hear the BMW Assist response  
center through the hands-free system, this  
could indicate, for instance, that the hands-  
free system is no longer operational. How-  
ever, the BMW Assist response center may  
then still be able to hear you.  
Under certain conditions, an emergency  
call is started automatically immediately  
after a severe accident. The automatic  
emergency call is not affected by the but-  
ton being pressed.  
For technical reasons, the emergency  
call cannot be guaranteed under  
unfavorable conditions.<  
183  
To refit the filler element, insert the  
two steps in the strip and press back  
the filler element. Make sure that you do  
not damage the rear seat upholstery.<  
Warning triangle*  
Some of the articles contained in the  
first-aid kit have a limited service life.  
For this reason, check the expiration dates  
of each of the items regularly and replace  
any whose expiration dates have passed.  
You can find replacements in any phar-  
macy.  
Comply with legal requirements requiring  
you to carry a first-aid kit in the vehicle.<  
The warning triangle can be found in the  
luggage compartment on the left side.  
Comply with legal requirements  
requiring you to carry a hazard warn-  
ing triangle in the vehicle.<  
Roadside Assistance*  
The Roadside Assistance of the BMW  
Group offers you breakdown assistance  
around the clock, including on weekends  
and public holidays.  
First-aid kit*  
The first-aid kit is located in the filler ele-  
ment of the rear seat backrest.  
The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-  
tance in your home country can be found in  
the BMW Dealer Directory.  
1. Press the button downwards  
In the case of vehicles with BMW Assist or  
TeleService, you can call the Roadside  
Assistance of the BMW Group directly for  
breakdown assistance via the Control Cen-  
ter, refer to page 156.  
2. Remove the filler element in a forward  
direction  
Jump-starting  
When your battery is discharged, you can  
use two jumper cables to start your BMW  
with power from the battery in a second  
vehicle. You can also use the same method  
to help start another vehicle. Use only  
jumper cables with fully-insulated clamp  
handles.  
3. Remove the first-aid kit.  
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal  
injury, always avoid all contact with  
electrical components while the engine is  
running. Carefully adhere to the following  
sequence, both to prevent damage to one  
or both vehicles, and to guard against pos-  
sible personal injuries.<  
184  
Preparing  
1. Check whether the battery of the other  
vehicle has a voltage of 12 Volts and  
approximately the same capacitance  
in Ah. This information can be found on  
the battery  
2. Switch off the engine of the vehicle pro-  
viding assistance  
3. Switch off any consumer units in both  
vehicles.  
Your BMW has a special nut as body  
ground or negative pole.  
There must not be any contact  
between the bodies of the two vehi-  
cles, as otherwise there is a danger of  
shorting.<  
4. Attach one end of the jumper cable  
minus/– to the negative terminal of the  
battery or to an engine or body ground  
of the vehicle providing assistance  
Connecting jumper cables  
5. Attach the second end of the cable to  
the negative terminal of the battery or to  
the engine or body ground of the vehi-  
cle to be started.  
To avoid personal injury from sparks,  
always observe this sequence when  
connecting jumper cables.<  
Starting engine  
1. Start the engine on the support vehicle  
and allow it to run for several minutes at  
increased speed  
2. Start the engine on the other vehicle in  
the usual way.  
If the first start attempt is not success-  
ful, wait a few minutes before another  
attempt in order to allow the discharged  
battery to recharge  
On your BMW, the so-called starting-aid  
terminal in the engine compartment serves  
as the battery positive terminal, also refer  
to engine compartment essentials on  
page 171. The symbol + is embossed on  
the cover.  
3. Let the engines run for a few minutes  
4. Disconnect the jumper cables by  
reversing the connection sequence  
If required, have the battery inspected and  
recharged at your BMW center.  
1. Fold open the cover of the BMW start-  
ing-aid terminal. To do so, pull the tab  
Never use spray fluids to start the  
engine.<  
2. Attach one end of the jumper cable  
plus/+ to the positive terminal of the  
battery or a starting-aid terminal of the  
vehicle providing assistance  
Towing and tow-starting  
3. Attach the second end of the cable to  
the positive terminal of the battery or to  
a starting-aid terminal of the vehicle to  
be started  
Always observe all applicable towing  
laws and regulations.<  
Never allow passengers to ride in a  
towed vehicle for any reason.<  
185  
then requires increased effort for braking  
and steering. The active steering is deacti-  
vated; when stopped and in the low speed  
range greater steering wheel movements  
are required.<  
Using tow fitting  
The threaded tow fitting is stored in the tool  
kit mounted on the inside of the luggage  
compartment under the floor mat, refer to  
page 178, and should always remain in the  
vehicle. It can be screwed in at the front or  
rear of the BMW.  
Switch on the hazard warning flashers  
depending on the local regulations. If the  
electrical system fails, mark the vehicle to  
be towed, e.g. with a sign or warning trian-  
gle in the rear window.  
To avoid damage to the tow fitting  
and the vehicle, observe the follow-  
ing: only use the tow fitting that comes with  
the vehicle and screw it in as far as possi-  
ble. Only use the tow fitting to tow on the  
roadway. Avoid heavy lateral loading of the  
tow fitting, e.g. do not lift the vehicle by the  
tow fitting.<  
Vehicles with manual transmission  
Gearshift lever in idle position  
Vehicles with automatic  
transmission  
Access to screw thread  
Selector lever in position N.  
Rectangular cover in bumper:  
Press the arrow symbol of the cover.  
Do not exceed a towing speed of  
45 mph/70 km/h and a towing dis-  
tance of 90 miles/150 km, as otherwise the  
automatic transmission may be dam-  
aged.<  
Front  
Vehicles with SMG Sequential  
manual transmission  
With the ignition switched on, engage  
selector-lever position N, then switch off  
the ignition.  
Towing methods  
Rear  
In some countries, towing with tow bars or  
ropes in public traffic is not permitted.  
Familiarize yourself with all regulations on  
towing in the respective country.  
With tow bar  
The towing vehicle may not be lighter  
than the vehicle to be towed, as oth-  
erwise it will not be possible to control  
vehicle response.<  
The tow fittings used should be on the  
same side on both vehicles. Should it prove  
impossible to avoid mounting the tow bar  
at an offset angle, please observe the fol-  
lowing:  
Being towed  
Even if there is a failure in the electri-  
cal system, make sure that the igni-  
tion key is in position 1, as otherwise the  
steering wheel could lock and it would be  
impossible to steer the vehicle. There is no  
power assist with the engine stopped. This  
> Clearance and maneuvering capability  
will be strictly limited in corners  
186  
> When mounted at an angle, the tow bar  
will exert lateral forces, tending to push  
the vehicle sideways.  
3. Engage the 3rd gear, vehicles with  
SMG, see below  
4. Have the vehicle tow-started with the  
clutch pedal completely depressed and  
slowly release the clutch. After the  
engine starts, depress the clutch pedal  
completely again  
Secure the tow bar on the tow fitting  
only. Otherwise damage could result  
on other vehicle parts.<  
With tow-rope  
5. Stop at a suitable location, remove the  
tow bar or rope and switch off the haz-  
ard warning flashers  
When starting off in the towing vehicle,  
make sure that the tow-rope is taut.  
To avoid jerking and the associated  
stresses on vehicle components  
when towing, always use nylon ropes or  
nylon straps. Secure the tow rope on the  
tow fitting only. Otherwise damage could  
result on other vehicle parts.<  
6. Have the vehicle checked.  
Vehicles with SMG Sequential manual  
transmission:  
1. Tow-start in selector lever position N  
2. Select sequential mode. The correct  
gear will be selected and engaged  
automatically.  
With tow truck  
Have the BMW transported with a tow  
truck with a so-called lift bar or on a load  
bed.  
Do not lift vehicle by tow fitting or  
body and chassis parts, as otherwise  
damage may result.<  
Tow-starting  
Do not tow-start vehicles with an  
automatic transmission.  
Jump-starting, refer to page 184.<  
Only tow-start vehicles with a catalytic  
converter with the engine cold. It is better  
to jump-start the engine, refer to page 184.  
1. Switch on the hazard warning flashers,  
comply with country-specific regula-  
tions  
2. Turn the ignition key to position 2  
187