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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 
         
        
        
     
        
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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 
         
        
        
     
        
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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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At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
If no further 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
Commands
Having the possible commands read 
aloud
You can have the system read aloud the possi-
ble commands related to the selected menu 
item on the Control Display.
To have the possible commands read out to 
you:
For instance, if you have selected "CD", the 
commands available for operating the CD 
player and CD changer are read out.
Opening help
Using alternative 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 page222.
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}
{Settings menu} or {i menu} 
{Main menu}
3.{Entertainment}.
The system says: 
{{Entertainment}}.
4.{CD}.
The system says: 
{{CD on}}. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 26 of 245
Voice command system
24 5.Press the   button on the steering wheel 
or in the center console.
Notes
For information on voice control of the 
telephone, refer also to the separate 
Owner's Manual.<
For voice commands, bear in mind the follow-
ing:
>Pronounce the commands and digits 
smoothly and at normal volume, avoiding 
excessive emphases and pauses. The same 
applies to spelling when entering a destina-
tion for navigation.
>Always speak the commands in the lan-
guage of the voice command system.
>When selecting a radio station, use the 
standard pronunciation of the station name.
>For entries in the voice-activated phone 
book, only use names in the language of the 
voice command system and no abbrevia-
tions
>Keep the doors, windows and glass sunroof 
closed to prevent interference from outside 
noise.
>Avoid ambient noise in the vehicle while 
speaking.6.Select a track, e.g.:
{Track 1}.
The system says: 
{{Track 1}}. 
         
        
        
     
        
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At a glance
 25Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility 
         
        
        
     
        
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Controls
 29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Take the adapter out of the bracket on the 
inside of the glove compartment and slide the 
spare key into the adapter before using it.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set many of your BMW's functions to 
suit your personal needs and preferences. 
Without any action on your part, Personal Pro-
file ensures that most of these settings are 
stored for the remote control currently in use. 
When you unlock the car, the remote control 
used for the purpose is recognized and the set-
tings stored for it are called up and imple-
mented.
This means that your personal settings are 
active when you return to your BMW, even if the 
car was used in the meantime by someone else 
with a remote control of their own and the set-
tings were changed accordingly.
You can configure a maximum of three remote 
controls for three different people. The prereq-
uisite for this is that each person has his or her 
own remote control.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer 
to the specified pages.
>Response of the central locking system 
when the car is unlocked, refer to page30
>Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to 
page32
>Automatic call-up
* of the driver's-seat and 
exterior-mirror positions after unlocking, 
refer to page44>Functions assigned to the programmable 
buttons
* on the steering wheel, refer to 
page47
>12h/24h mode of the clock, refer to page78
>Date format, refer to page79
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer to 
page82
>Language on the Control Display, refer to 
page82
>Units of measure for fuel consumption, dis-
tance covered/remaining distances, and 
temperature, refer to page73
>Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC
*, refer to page83
>Automatic climate control: AUTO program, 
activating/deactivating cooling function and 
automatic recirculated-air control, setting 
temperature, air flow rate and distribution, 
refer to page98 ff
>Audio volume, refer to page145
>Tone control, refer to page145
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer to 
page145
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for opera-
tion whenever the driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid
>Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
>In cars with convenient access
*, via the 
handles on the driver's and front passen-
ger's doors 
         
        
        
     
        
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Controls
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At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Panic mode*
You can also trigger the alarm system if you find 
yourself in a dangerous situation:
Press the   button for at least three seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Unlocking the luggage compartment 
lid
Press the   button for a longer period.
The luggage compartment lid opens a short 
distance, regardless of whether it was locked or 
unlocked.
In order to avoid damage, make sure there 
is sufficient clearance in all directions 
before opening the luggage compartment lid. 
A previously locked luggage compartment lid is 
locked again after closing.
Before and after each trip, check that the lug-
gage compartment lid has not been inadvert-
ently unlocked.<
Setting confirmation signals
You can program the vehicle to confirm when it 
has been locked or unlocked.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the 
controller.
4.Select "Door locks" and press the control-
ler.
5.Select "Confirmation" and press the con-
troller.6.Select the desired signal.
7.Press the controller.
 The signal is activated.
Malfunctions
The remote control may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. If this occurs, unlock and lock 
the car at the door lock with the integrated key.
If the car can no longer be locked with a remote 
control, the battery in the remote control is dis-
charged. Use this remote control during an 
extended drive; this will recharge the battery, 
refer to page28.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with 
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communications 
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8766S 
LX8766E 
LX8CAS
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC 
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful inter-
ference, and
>This device must accept any interference 
received, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or 
changes to these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate this equipment.<