2006 BMW 325XI SPORTS WAGON Owners Manual

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.<

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.

iDrive
18
Calling up menu items in the start menu
As of radio readiness, refer to page53:
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

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, page75.
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

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.

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.

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 page80.
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.

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 page214.
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}}.