Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic-
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page218.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
6Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
22Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
40Adjustments
50Transporting children safely
52Driving
66Everything under control
80Technology for driving comfort and
safety
90Lamps
95Climate
101Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
112Things to remember when driving
Navigation
120Starting the navigation system
121Destination entry
132Destination guidance
137What to do if …
Entertainment
140On/off and settings
144Radio
152CD player and CD changer
158External audio device
Communications
162Telephoning
175TeleService, BMW Assist
Mobility
182Refueling
184Wheels and tires
191Under the hood
196Maintenance
198Replacing components
203Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
210Technical data
214Short commands for the voice command
system
218Everything from A - Z
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 3 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
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
>Vent settings
>Automatic programs
>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:
To hide the message:
Press the controller.
The start menu is displayed.
The message is automatically hidden after
approx. 10 seconds.
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.
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 17 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
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}
{Radio} or {Switch on radio}
{Main menu}
3.{Entertainment}
The system says:
{{Entertainment}}
4.{CD}
The system says:
{{CD on}}
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 23 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
On/off and settings
140
On/off and settings
The following audio sources have shared con-
trols and setting options:
>Radio
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons near the CD player
>iDrive
>Buttons
on the steering wheel, refer to
page11
Buttons on the CD player
1Sound output for entertainment on/off, vol-
ume
>Press: switch on/off.
When you switch on, the last set radio
station or CD track is played.
>Turn: adjust volume.
2Drive for audio CDs
3 Eject CD
4 Station scan/track search
>Change radio station.
>Select track for CD player and CD
changer.
5Drive for navigation DVD
Operation via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up
"Entertainment".
You have the following choices:
>"FM" and "AM": radio reception
>"WB": Weather Band station
>"SAT": satellite radio
>"CD": CD player or changer
>"Audio Aux": external audio device
>"Set": depending on the audio source,
other adjustments can be made, e.g. with
the radio: update station with strongest
reception, store station, tone control, sam-
ple stations.
From another menu, you can switch
directly to the screen last displayed, refer
to Convenient call-up of menu items page18.<
The selected audio source is stored for the
remote control currently in use.
Switching on/off
In order to switch the entertainment sound out-
put on and off:
Press button1 on the CD player.
This symbol on the Control Display indi-
cates that sound output is switched off.
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 140 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
CD player and CD changer
152
CD player and CD changer
Listening to CDs
Compressed audio files*
CDs with compressed audio files, MP3s, can be
played by the CD player and CD changer.
Starting the CD player
The upper drive is for audio CDs.
Insert the CD into the drive with the labeled side
up.
The CD is pulled in automatically. Playback
starts automatically if the sound output is on.
When playing CDs with compressed audio files,
it can take the CD player approx. 1 minute to
read in the data, depending on the directory
structure.
To start playback when there is already a CD in
the drive:
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up
"Entertainment".3.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Select "CD" and press
the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the second field from the top. On cars with a
CD changer, select "CD" and press the
controller to start the CD player.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is switched on.
Starting the CD changer
1.Fill and insert the CD magazine, refer to
page156.
2.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
3.Move the controller backwards to call up
"Entertainment".
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Select "CD" and press
the controller.
*
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 152 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
CD player and CD changer
154 To exit from the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
Displaying information about the
track*
With compressed audio files, any information
about the current track that has been recorded
can be displayed, e.g. the name of the artist.
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Details" and press the controller.
The information is shown for the current track.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Sampling tracks, Scan
All tracks on the current CD are automatically
sampled once in succession.
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
Stop sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
Track sampling is interrupted and the selected
track is played on.
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2.Select the desired menu item:
>To sample all the tracks in the current
directory, select "Scan directory" and
press the controller.
>To sample all the tracks on the CD,
select "Scan all" and press the control-
ler.
Stop sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan directory" or "Scan all" and
press the controller.
Sampling is interrupted and the selected track
is played on.
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 154 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
CD player and CD changer
156
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2.Select the desired menu item:
>To play all the tracks in the current direc-
tory in random order, select "Random
directory" and press the controller.
>To play all the tracks on the CD in ran-
dom order, select "Random all" and
press the controller.
Stop random function:
1.Press the controller
2.Select "Random directory" or "Random all"
and press the controller.
Fast forward/reverse
Buttons on the CD player:
Press and hold the button for the
corresponding direction.
The tracks can be heard, but reproduction is
distorted.
CD magazine
The BMW CD changer for six CDs is behind the
left side panel in the cargo bay.
Removing the CD magazine
To insert or remove CDs from the CD magazine,
you must first remove it from the CD changer:1.Push the cover to one side, arrow 1.
2.Press the button, arrow 2.
The CD magazine is ejected.
Inserting/removing CDs from the CD
magazine
When loading CDs into or removing them from
the CD magazine, hold them at their edges and
do not touch the reflective signal-sensing area.
Inserting CDs:
Insert the CD in its slot with the label side on
top.
Removing CDs:
Pull out the desired drawer, see arrow, and
remove the CD.
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 156 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
157Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Inserting the CD magazine
Insert the CD magazine all the way in the direc-
tion of arrow 1 and close the cover, arrow 2.
The CD changer automatically reads in the
loaded CDs and is then ready for operation.
Notes
BMW CD/DVD players and changers are
officially designated Class 1 laser prod-
ucts. Do not operate if the cover is damaged,
otherwise severe eye damage can result.
Do not use self-recorded CDs/DVDs with labels
applied as these can become detached during
playback due to heat build-up and can cause
irreparable damage to the device.
Only use round CDs/DVDs with a standard
diameter of 12 cm and do not play CDs/DVDs
with an adapter, e.g. Single-CDs, otherwise the
CDs or the adapter can jam and will no longer
eject.
Do not use a combined CD/DVD, e.g. DVD
Plus,
otherwise the CD/DVD can jam and will no
longer eject.<
General malfunctions
BMW CD/DVD changers and players have been
optimized for performance in vehicles. In some
instances they may be more sensitive to faulty
CDs/DVDs than stationary devices would be.
If a CD/DVD cannot be played, first check if it
has been inserted correctly.
Humidity
High levels of humidity can lead to condensa-
tion on the CD/DVD or the laser's scan lens and
temporarily prevent playback.
Malfunctions with individual CDs/DVDs
If malfunctions only occur with individual CDs/
DVDs, one of the following factors may be the
cause.
Self-recorded CDs/DVDs
Possible reasons for malfunctions with self-
recorded CDs/DVDs are, e.g., inconsistent
data-creation or recording processes, or poor
quality or high age of the CD/DVD blank.
Only label CDs/DVDs on the top, with a pen
designed for this purpose.
Damaged CDs/DVDs
Avoid leaving fingerprints, as well as dust,
scratches or moisture on the CDs/DVDs.
Keep CDs/DVDs in protective sleeves or cases.
Do not subject CDs/DVDs to temperatures over
1207/506, high levels of humidity or direct
sunlight.
CDs/DVDs with copy protection
CDs/DVDs are often copy-protected by the
manufacturer. This can mean that some CDs/
DVDs cannot be played or can only be played to
a limited extent.
Care
Clean the reflective signal side of CDs/DVDs as
needed by wiping it with a commercially avail-
able cleaning tissue in straight lines from the
center of the disc outwards. For more informa-
tion on taking care of CDs/DVDs please refer to
the Caring for your vehicle brochure.
ba8_E9293_US.book Seite 157 Freitag, 5. Mai 2006 1:02 13