Page 17 of 232

At a glance
15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Glasses compartment115
2Storage compartment115
3Switching audio and video sources on/
off and adjusting volume149
4Telephone keypad, folding176
5Automatic air distribution and supply,
left side of passenger
compartment103
6Outside air/AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control/recirculated air104
7Defrosting windshield and windows
and removing condensation104
8Control Display17
9Temperature, left side of passenger
compartment: turn
Maximum cooling: press104
10Glass roof, electric42
11Memory buttons for integrated
universal remote control111
12Air supply, left side of passenger
compartment: turn
Switching off automatic climate
control: press104, 106
13Reading lamps101
14Hazard warning flashers
15Interior lamps100
16Air supply, right side of passenger
compartment103
17Temperature, right side of passenger
compartment: turn
Residual heat mode: press103, 105
18Rear window defroster
19Air conditioning104
20Starting an emergency call177
21Opening the glove compartment
22Automatic air distribution and supply,
right side of passenger
compartment106
23Station/track search and CD, DVD148
24Central locking system36
25Controller17
26Control Center buttons1727Seat adjustment44
Heated seats49
Active seat ventilation50
Active seat51
Seat, mirror and
steering wheel memory53
Page 18 of 232

Cockpit
16
Buttons on the steering wheel
Buttons are integrated on the steering
wheel for fast operation of the following
functions without being distracted from
driving:
>The Steptronic of the automatic trans-
mission
>Selected audio source functions
>Selected portable phone functions
>The voice command system
>Selected TV and DVD functions.
The buttons on the steering wheel are
only operational when the corre-
sponding systems are switched on.<
Telephone:
Accepting calls, making calls, ending calls.
Volume.
Voice command system:
Switching on and off.
Fast forward/reverse:
>Radio
Press briefly: next stored station
Extended pressure: automatic tuning
>CD
Press briefly: skipping tracks
Extended pressure: fast forward/
reverse
>TV
Selecting program
>DVD
Searching for chapter.Available for individual programming:
In the "Settings" menu, you can select the
function of the button at the " button"
menu item, refer to page 52.
Steptronic:
Press briefly to proceed through a selec-
tion sequence consisting of the automatic
program, the Sport program, and the man-
ual mode, refer to page 66.
Steptronic: upshifting and downshifting,
refer to page 67.
Page 19 of 232

At a glance
17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Control Center
The concept
The Control Center has been designed to
avoid the unnecessary complexity created
by an extended number of switches and
controls. It consists of the controller and
the Control Display.
The controller is used to select the func-
tions that will appear on the Control Dis-
play. In addition, it also shows you Check
Control messages, refer to page 82.
Controls
1Controller: you operate all the functions
in the Control Center by moving, turning
and pressing.
>If you move the controller, you feel
the mechanical guides along the main
direction of movement. This makes it
easier for you to select the right main
menus
>If you turn the controller, you feel an
electronically created rasterizing. This
helps you to select the desired menu
item
2Button for opening the start menu from
any menu item
3Individual button assignment
To avoid posing an unnecessary
hazard, both to your own vehicle's
occupants and to other road users: never
attempt to use the controls or make adjust-ments unless traffic and road conditions
allow.<
The following introduction illustrates how
easy it is to use the Control Center.
You can find detailed instructions describ-
ing how to use the individual systems in the
separate sections.
Programming button function
You can assign specific individual functions
to the programmable button. This feature
then provides you with quick access to this
function, allowing you to control it without
undue distraction from road and traffic
conditions.
1.Select "Settings" and press the control-
ler
2.Select and press the controller
3.Select " button". Continue to press
the controller until the desired function
appears:
>"Mode"
You can choose between the output
sources radio/FM or AM, Compact Disc
CD and CD changer. The precondition
is that one of these sources has been
activated
>"FM" or "AM"
Switching over between wavebands
FM and AM, also refer to page 152
Page 20 of 232

Control Center
18 >"Short info"
Display of the help and supplementary
texts of the active menu for approx.
10 seconds, refer to Assistance win-
dow on page 22.
You can select the displayed function using
the button.
The "Short info" function is not avail-
able in the rear.<
Control Display
To open the start menu:
Press the button
or
move the controller
>toward the currently active menu
>twice in one direction.
To switch off the Control Display, press the
controller when you are in the start menu.
When the Control Display appears,
you see the start menu for approx.
5 seconds, then the last active menu. You
can have the display of the start menu
deactivated at your BMW center.<
Selecting menu
Move the controller to select a menu, here:
"Settings".
The menu appears on the screen as soon
as you release the controller.
You can move directly to a different
menu by moving the controller in the
corresponding direction.<
Selecting menu item
Turn the controller to select the
menu item, here: "Clock".
Confirming selection or item
Press the controller to confirm
the selection, here: "Clock".
Select the desired setting for adjustment
from the menu item, here: "Time" and con-
firm.
Page 21 of 232

At a glance
19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Settings
The first setting option for time is activated.
>Turn the controller to make the adjust-
ment
>Press the controller to confirm Ð store Ð
the new setting and to proceed to the
next highlighted position to adjust.
Changing the menu page
You can select individual pages in specific
menus, here: "Climate".
Select the symbol and press the controller:
To select the second page of the menu
To return to the first page of the menu.
Symbols and lists
The symbols in the corners and edges of
the Control Display have various functions:
1Corner symbols:
These symbols take you to the next
menu item or in a displayed list.
To do so: turn the controller
2List symbols:
Indicate that you can only move within
the displayed list, here: stored radio
stations.
Turn the controller to select an entry
from the list.
To exit from the list, select the sym-
bol and confirm. You can also leave the
list by turning the controller to the left or
right.
Symbols
To select the second page
To return to the first page
To exit from the list
To transfer the current display to the
assistance window. For more
detailed information on the
assistance window, refer to page 22
To transmit vehicle data to the
BMW Service Center
To set display units and formats,
refer to page 88
To change the language of the dis-
play texts, refer to page 88
Page 22 of 232
Control Center
20 To select settings for vehicle func-
tions
To set the brightness of the screen,
refer to page 89.
Page 23 of 232
At a glance
21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menus in Control Display
You can select from an extended range
of functions and setting options:
1BMW Assist182
2Communication
>Using the telephone174
>Portable phone, refer to separate
Owner's Manual
3Car data
>Computer84
>Limit86
>Stopwatch87
>Service required81
>Accessing Check Control
messages824Navigation130
5Help
>Brief help text displays22
>Menu name for menu change
6Entertainment
>Radio152
>CD158, 160
>TV163
>DVD165
7Settings
>Vehicle functions52, 63, 90
>Time and date88
>Language88
Page 24 of 232

Control Center
22 >Units of measure and
display format88
>Brightness89
>Locking Control Center in rear24
8Climate
>Automatic climate control102
>Heated seats49
>Independent ventilation109
Assistance window*
While you use the Control Center, the
assistance window can provide you with a
parallel display for the active system.
You can use it for displays of the following:
>Brief help and supplementary informa-
tion texts for selected menu items
>A function selected in the "Car data"
menu, refer to page 87
>The route for vehicles with a navigation
system, refer to page 131.
Help texts in assistance window
You can call up and also cancel displays
containing help texts and supplementary information on selected menu items in the
assistance window.
1.Select "Help" from the start menu
2.Select "Brief info" menu and confirm.
The help texts appear in the assistance
window
3.Confirm again to hide the automatic
display.
Showing menu name
You can program the system to display the
menu name each time you proceed to a
new menu.
1.Select "Help" from the start menu
2.Select "Menu name" and confirm.