Page 17 of 217

Control Center
16
Control Center
The Control Center groups the functions of a
large number of switches. This allows these
functions to be operated from a central position.
The following section provides an introduction to basic menu navigation. The control of indi-
vidual functions is described in connection with
the relevant equipment.
Controls
1Controller
2 button: open the start menu from
any menu
3Control Display
By moving the controller1 horizontally in four
directions4, turning5 and pressing 6, you can navigate through the menus of the Control Cen-
ter and change settings.
To avoid posing an unnecessary hazard
due to inattention, both to your own vehi-
cle's occupants and to other road users: never
attempt to use the controls or make entries
unless traffic and road conditions allow.<
Menu overview
You can call up all the functions in the Control
Center using five menu items.
Communication
>Portable phone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation or onboard information
>Navigation system*
>Onboard information, e.g. for display of the
average fuel consumption
Page 18 of 217

At a glance
17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
Climate
>Air distribution
>Independent ventilation
menu
>Switching off the Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for traffic information
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central
locking system
>Display of the service requirements and
dates for statutory emission and vehicle
inspections
Menu navigation
As of ignition key position 1, the following mes-
sage appears on the Control Display:
Confirm the message by pressing the control-
ler; this opens the start menu.
Start menu
From the start menu, you can open four menus
by moving the controller left, right, forward, or
back. Pressing the controller opens the menu.
Opening start menu
Press the button.
To open the start menu from the menu:
Press the button twice.
Displays in menu
1In menus, you can change fields to select
the menu items they contain or to make
adjustments. The respective current field
appears brighter.
2Menu items are usually grouped in horizon-
tal or vertical lists.
3Arrows indicate the possibility of accessing
other menu items that are not currently vis-
ible.
4Settings are displayed graphically, numeri-
cally, or as text.
Page 19 of 217
Control Center
18 5A symbol indicates the last selected menu
item of the start menu:
Communication
Navigation or onboard information
Entertainment
Climate
menu
Page 20 of 217
At a glance
19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Selecting menu items and making adjustments
1Selecting individual menu items: turn the
controller. The highlight moves. Menu
items shown in white can be selected.
2Activating highlighted menu items: press
the controller. New menu items are dis-
played or a functions is carried out.
3Changing the current field: move the con-
troller to the left, right, forward or backward
and let go.
4Selecting menu items: such as1.
5Making adjustments: turn the controller.
A graphical display, numerical values or text
displays change. The setting is applied if
you change to another field or into another
menu.Changing directly to the last menu
Move the controller in the corresponding direc-
tion and hold it for longer than approx. 2 sec-
onds. The menu in the selected direction is
opened and the last menu item selected is dis-
played.
Page 21 of 217

Control Center
20
Status information
1Display* for manual or automatic air distri-
bution on driver's side and passenger side
2Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD or
sound output for entertainment off.
>Portable phone:
"Car Phone", "Portable" or no network
3Display for:
> New entries are present in "Missed
calls"
*
> Text messages/SMS* received
> Roaming active
4 Phoning
* or BMW Assist calls* are
possible
Reception strength for telephone,
depending on portable phone
5Time
Other displays:
When information of the Check Control appears
or entries are made via the voice command sys-
tem
*, the status information is temporarily hid-
den.
Assistance window*
Additional information can be displayed in the
assistance window:
>The computer or the trip computer
*
>The route map or the arrow view in vehicles
with a navigation system
*
>The current position
Switching on assistance window:
Move the controller to the right to change to the
assistance window and press the controller.
To select the display in the assistance window:
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 217
At a glance
21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Closing assistance window:
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.
Switching Control Display on/off
To switch off the Control Display:
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.
To switch on the Control Display:
Press the controller.
Page 23 of 217

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 ever removing your hands from the steering
wheel.
Individual menu items on the Control Display
can be spoken as commands. This frees you of
having 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 includes a special
microphone.
The microphone is located:
>In the Coupe near the interior rearview mir-
ror, refer to page14
>In the Convertible on the steering column
Precondition
In the Control Center, set the language that
applies for the voice command system in order
to enable identification of the spoken com-
mands. For information on setting the language
of the Control Center, refer to page78.
Symbol in the Owner's Manual
Voice commands
Activating voice command system
1.Press the button on the steering wheel
or on the center console.
This symbol on the Control Display and
an acoustic signal indicate that the voice
command system can respond to com-
mands.
2.Say the command.
Text or numbers that the voice command
system has registered will appear on the
Control Display.
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for
word.
{{...}} Indicates the 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 voice commands are possible,
operate the equipment using the Control Cen-
ter.
Terminating or canceling voice
command system
Press the button on the steering wheel or
on 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.
For example, if you have selected "CD", the
system will read aloud possible voice com-
mands for operating the CD player and the
CD changer
*:
Opening help
Using alternative voice commands
There are often a number of commands to run a
function, e.g.:
Calling up functions directly
With short commands you can carry out certain
functions directly, regardless of which menu
item is selected, refer to page196.
Opening the start menu
An example: selecting a track
1.Press the button in the steering wheel
or on the center console.
{Cancel}
{Options}
{Help}
{Information menu} or {i menu}
{Main menu}
2.{Entertainment}
The System outputs:
{{Entertainment}}
3.{CD}
The System outputs:
{{CD}}
4.Select a track, e.g.:
{Track 1}
The System outputs:
{{Track 1}}