What is the correct way to start a BMW 530li?
2 Answers
After starting the car, fully depress the clutch with your left foot to prepare for the semi-clutch state. Use the palm of your right hand to push and shift the gear lever into 1st gear as the starting gear. With your left hand, gently press the turn signal lever downward to activate the left turn signal, alerting vehicles in front and behind. Press and hold the button in front of the handbrake with your right hand, then lift the handbrake to fully release it before letting go. Slowly raise your left foot until the clutch reaches the semi-clutch state, noting that the semi-clutch height may vary depending on the clutch's sensing point.
My routine with the 530Li is to fasten the seatbelt before starting the engine and ensure no warning lights are illuminated on the instrument cluster. With my foot firmly on the brake pedal, I press the start button to ignite the engine. During cold starts, the RPM initially surges before settling down; I wait about 20 seconds for the RPM to stabilize before shifting gears for a smoother operation. To engage Drive (D), I pull the electronic gear lever downward until the instrument cluster displays 'D', then release the brake to allow the car to move forward gently—a light tap on the accelerator is all that's needed then. I keep BMW's Auto Hold feature permanently enabled; it automatically holds the car when I brake firmly at red lights, making starts as simple as pressing the accelerator. In rainy conditions, I disable ESP traction control to prevent excessive system intervention that could worsen wheel spin. Avoiding aggressive throttle inputs until the transmission fluid warms up is better for the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission's longevity.
