2021-2024 BMW Emergency Stop Assistant Activation SIB 66 15 23

Important Warnings

BMW has issued critical guidance regarding the BMW Emergency Stop Assistant activation:

• "Important: This is not a malfunction of the Emergency Stop Assistant!"
• "Important Note: A parts replacement does not provide a remedy and is therefore not permitted."

These statements emphasize that the system is likely functioning as designed, and replacing components will not resolve the condition.

Symptoms

Owners may experience the BMW Emergency Stop Assistant activation, which is indicated by a specific icon appearing in the Central Information Display (CID). This activation signifies that the system has initiated an emergency stop procedure.

Causes of Activation

The Emergency Stop Assistant, part of the optional 5AU - Driving Assistant Professional equipment, activates under specific conditions designed to enhance safety. These include:

• Driver Inattention: The system detects that the driver has not paid attention to driving for more than 7 seconds.
• Unresponsive to Takeover Request: The driver ignores a takeover request, which is signaled by a "red steering wheel symbol" on the instrument cluster, from an activated driver assistance function.
• Repeated Lane Departure: The vehicle leaves its driving lane multiple times when the driver's eye and head position are not detected. In such cases, the Lane Departure Warning function guides the vehicle back into its lane.

Understanding the Emergency Stop Assistant

The Emergency Stop Assistant is a critical safety feature designed to intervene if the system perceives the driver is incapacitated or unresponsive. It's important for owners of 2021-2024 BMW models, including the X5 (G05), X6 (G06), X7 (G07), XM (G09), 5 Series Sedan (G60), 7 Series Sedan (G70), iX (I20), and X1 (U11), to understand that these activations are typically the system working as intended, not a fault.

Deactivating the Feature

While the BMW Emergency Stop Assistant activation is a safety measure, owners can choose to activate or deactivate this feature through the vehicle's settings. The path to manage this setting is:

• "Menu" > "Vehicle apps" > "Driving Settings" > "Driver Assistance" > "Safety and Warnings" > "Emergency Stop"

However, it is crucial to note that the system cannot be turned off in all situations. The Emergency Stop Assistant will still activate if:

• The driver does not respond to a takeover request.
• The vehicle leaves its driving lane several times.
• The feature is activated by a speech command.

Owner Action

If you experience a BMW Emergency Stop Assistant activation, it is important to understand that this is likely your vehicle's safety system operating as designed. BMW Service Information Bulletin SIB 66 15 23 advises owners to:

• Familiarize yourself with the operating principles of the Emergency Stop Assistant. Refer to the "Emergency Stop Assistant" section in your BMW Owner's Manual for detailed information.
• Understand the manual options available to abort the braking process initiated by the system. These include actuating the accelerator pedal, aborting via the control display, using the turn indicator, or performing a steering intervention.
• Do not seek a parts replacement for this condition, as BMW explicitly states that it will not provide a remedy.

Source: NHTSA ID 10245420