Page 17 of 223
iDrive
16
iDrive
iDrive integrates the functions of a large num-
ber of switches. This allows these functions to
be operated from a single central position. The
following section provides an introduction to basic menu navigation. The control of the indi-
vidual functions is described in connection with
the relevant equipment.
Controls
1Control Display
2 button
Opening start menu
3Controller
The controller can be used to select menu
items and to adjust settings:
>Move in four directions, arrow 4
>Turn, arrow 5
>Push, arrow 6Operate the controller only when traffic
and road conditions allow this, to avoid
endangering the car's occupants and other
road users by being distracted.<
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At a glance
17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation
>Navigation system
>Onboard information, e.g. for displaying the
average fuel consumption.
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
>External audio device
Climate
>Air distribution
>Automatic program
menu
>Switching off Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for traffic information
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central
locking system
>Display of service requirements and dates
for statutory emissions and vehicle inspec-
tions
>Settings for telephone
Operating principle
As of radio readiness, the following message
appears on the Control Display:
Confirm the message by pressing the control-
ler.
This opens the start menu.
Start menu
All iDrive functions can be called up via five
menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the button.
To open the start menu from the menu:
Press the button twice.
Page 19 of 223

iDrive
18
Calling up menu items in the start menu
As of radio readiness, refer to page49:
Via the start menu you can call up the four menu
items of Communication, Navigation, Entertain-
ment and Climate by moving the controller for-
wards, backwards, to the left or to the right.
Depending on your selection, the menu last
called up will be shown.
You can call up the menu by pressing the con-
troller.
Convenient call-up of menu items
The convenient call-up function enables you to:
>Call up a menu item from the start menu in
the view last displayed
>Switch directly between Communication,
Navigation, Entertainment and Climate
without having to press the button
To do so, move the controller in the corre-
sponding direction and hold it for longer than
approx. 2 seconds.
Displays in menu
1Each menu is subdivided into fields. The
active field is highlighted.
2A symbol indicates the start menu item last
selected.
1Menu items are usually grouped in horizon-
tal or vertical lists.
2In these lists, arrows indicate the possibility
of accessing other menu items that are not
currently visible.
3Settings are represented graphically or as
numerical values.
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
Climate
menu
Page 20 of 223
At a glance
19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Selecting menu items and making adjustments
1Selecting a menu item
2Activating a menu item
3Switching between fields
4Selecting a menu item
5Adjusting settings
Selecting a menu item
Turn the controller. The highlight moves. In
some cases, other menu items will be visible.
Menu items shown in white can be selected by
highlighting them.
Activating a menu item
Press the controller. The highlighted menu item
is activated. New menu items are displayed or a
function is executed.
Switching between fields
Move the controller slightly left, right, forward,
or backward and release. The active field is
highlighted and you can select any of the menu
items it features or adjust settings.
Adjusting settings
Turn the controller. This causes the graphical
display, numerical values or text displays to
change. When you change to another field or
menu, the new setting is applied.
Page 21 of 223
iDrive
20
Status information
1Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD or
entertainment audio output off
>Telephone
* in "Communication":
Name of the connected portable phone,
active BMW Assist call, network search
or no network
2Display for:
> New entries present in "Missed calls"
*
> Roaming active
3 It is possible to use the telephone
* when
the portable phone is paired with the vehicle
Reception strength of mobile phone
network, depending on the portable phone
4Time
Other displays:
Status information is temporarily hidden during
Check Control message displays or entries via
the voice command system
*.
Assistance window
Additional information can be displayed in the
assistance window:
>The computer or the trip computer
*
>The arrow or map view in vehicles with nav-
igation system
*
>The current position
Selecting display
1.Move the controller to the right to change to
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select a menu item.
3.Press the controller.
Page 22 of 223
At a glance
21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Switching assistance window on/off
1.Move the controller to the right to change to
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select "Assist. window off" and press the
controller.
To turn back on, switch to the assistance win-
dow and press the controller.
Switching Control Display on/
off
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Display off" and press the control-
ler.
Press the controller to switch on.
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Voice command system
22
Voice command system
The concept
The voice command system allows you to con-
trol operation of various vehicle systems with-
out removing your hands from the steering
wheel.
Individual menu items on the Control Display
can be spoken as commands. It is not neces-
sary to use the controller.
The voice command system transforms your
oral commands into control signals for the
selected systems and provides support in the
form of instructions or questions.
The voice command system uses a special
microphone located in the area of the interior
rearview mirror, refer to page14.
Precondition
Via iDrive, select the language in which the
voice command system is operating, so that the
spoken commands can be identified. Selecting
the language for iDrive, refer to page76.
Symbol in the Owner's Manual
Saying commands
Activating voice command system
1.Press the button on the steering wheel
or in the center console.
This symbol on the Control Display and
an acoustic signal indicate that the voice
command system is ready to receive spo-
ken commands.
2.Say the command.
The text or numbers that the voice com-
mand system has registered will appear on
the Control Display.
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for
word.
{{...}} Indicates responses of the voice
command system.
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At a glance
23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
This symbol appears on the Control Display
when you can input additional voice com-
mands.
If no further spoken commands are possible,
continue by operating the item of equipment via
iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice
command system
Press the button on the steering wheel or in
the center console
or
Voice commands
Having the possible voice commands
read aloud
You can have the system read aloud the possi-
ble voice commands related to the selected
menu item on the Control Display.
To have the possible voice commands read out
to you:
For instance, if you have selected "CD", the
spoken commands available for operating the
CD player and CD changer are read out.
Opening help
Using alternative voice commands
There are often a number of commands to run a
function, e.g.:
Calling up functions immediately via
short commands
Short commands enable you to perform certain
functions immediately, irrespective of which
menu item is selected, refer to page202.
Opening the start menu
Example: selecting a track
1.If necessary, switch on entertainment audio
output.
2.Press the button on the steering wheel
or in the center console.
{Cancel}.
{Options}
{Help}
{Information menu} or {i menu}
{Main menu}
3.{Entertainment}.
The system says:
{{Entertainment}}.
4.{CD}.
The system says:
{{CD on}}.