Page 17 of 245

At a glance
 15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Microphone for voice command system* 
and for telephone in hands-free mode*
2Initiating an emergency call*
3Reading lamps96
4Glass sunroof, electric
*38
5Interior lamps96
6Passenger airbag status lamp
*92
7Control Display16
8Hazard warning flashers
9DTC Dynamic Traction Control85
10Central locking system32
11Automatic climate control
12Ejecting
>Audio CD144
>Navigation DVD12413Changing
>Radio station148
>Track157
15Controller16 
Can be turned, pressed, or moved horizon-
tally in four directions
16Activating voice command system
*22
17Opening start menu on Control Display17
18Drive for navigation DVD124
19Switching audio sources on/off and adjust-
ing volume144
20Drive for audio CDs144 Air distribution to the 
windshield98
Air distribution to the upper body 
area98
Air distribution to the footwell98
Automatic air distribution and flow 
rate98
Cooling function100
AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control99
Recirculated-air mode99
Maximum cooling98
Residual heat mode99
Air flow rate99
Defrosting windows100
Rear window defroster100
14
Heated seats*43
PDC Park Distance Control
*83
Roller sun blind
*106
Hill Descent Control HDC
*86 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 18 of 245
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.< 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 19 of 245

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
>Parked car ventilation
 menu
>Switching off Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>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 20 of 245

iDrive
18
Calling up menu items in the start menu
As of radio readiness, refer to page52:
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 more 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 or onboard information
Entertainment
Climate
 menu 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 21 of 245
At a glance
 19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Operating principle at a glance
The following is a general description of opera-
tions using iDrive.For an exemplary step-by-step application refer 
to Setting the time, page77.
1Select a menu item:
>Turn the controller; the highlight marker 
moves
>Menu items in white can be selected by 
highlighting them
2To activate a menu item:
>Press the controller
>New menu items are displayed or the 
function is executed
3Select a menu item: refer to14To switch between fields:
>Briefly move the controller to the left, 
right, forward, or backward
>Release the controller
>The active field is brighter in color
5To adjust settings:
>Turn the controller
>Graphic display, numerical value or text 
displays can be changed
>Confirm by changing the field 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 22 of 245

iDrive
20
Status information
1Display for:
>Entertainment: 
Radio, CD or
>Telephone
* in "Communication": 
Name of the connected mobile phone, 
network search or no network
>"BMW Assist"
*:
Active voice connection with a 
BMW Assist service
2Entertainment audio output off
3Display for:
> New entries present in "Missed calls"
*
> Roaming active
4 It is possible to make calls
* if the mobile 
phone is paired with the vehicle
 Reception strength of mobile phone 
network, depending on mobile phone
5Time
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 23 of 245
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. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 24 of 245

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 page15.
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 page82.
Symbols 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 command appears on the Control Dis-
play.
 This symbol appears on the Control Display 
when you can enter additional commands. 
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for 
word. 
{{...}} Indicates responses of the voice 
command system.