Found a very detailed article online about EWS (drive away protection system). Can be pretty heavy stuff for most, and most likely you would never need the knowledge anyway..but still good to know.
http://www.europeantransmissions.com/Bulletin/DTC.BMW/understandthe EWS BMW.pdf
http://www.europeantransmissions.com/Bulletin/DTC.BMW/understandthe EWS BMW.pdf