2006 BMW 525XI Owners Manual

iDrive
16
iDrive
iDrive combines 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 the individual func-
tions is described in connection with the rele-
vant equipment.
Controls
1Control Display
2 button
Opening start menu
3Controller
With the controller you can select menu
items and make settings:
>move in four directions, arrow4
>turn, arrow5
>press, arrow6To 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.<

At a glance
17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation or onboard information
>Navigation system*
>Onboard information, e.g. for displaying
the average fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
Climate
>Air distribution
>Seat air conditioning
*
>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 emission and vehicle inspec-
tions
>Settings for telephone
Operating principle
From radio readiness, refer to page56, the fol-
lowing message appears on the Control Dis-
play:
To confirm the message:
Press the controller.
This opens the start menu.
Start menu
You can call up all the functions of iDrive using
five menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the button.
To open the start menu from the menu:
Press the button twice.

iDrive
18
Opening menu items of start menu
With the start menu you can open the menu
items Communication, Navigation, Entertain-
ment and Climate by moving the controllers to
the left, right, front or rear. Depending on your
selection, the last menu opened will be dis-
played in each case.
You can open the menu by pressing the con-
troller.
Comfort opening of menu items
Comfort opening offers you:
>Opening of a menu item of the start menu in
the last display shown
>Direct switching between Communication,
Navigation, Entertainment and Climate
without pressing the button
For this purpose, move the controller in the cor-
responding direction and hold it for longer than
approx. 2 seconds.
Displays in menu
1Each menu is divided into fields. The
respective active field is highlighted.
2A symbol indicates the last selected menu
item of the start menu:
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 displayed graphically or
numerically.
Communication
Navigation or onboard information
Entertainment
Climate
menu

At a glance
19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Operating principle at a glance
Basic operation via iDrive is described in this
view.You can view the individual steps under Set-
tings on Control Display, Setting time, refer to
page80.
1Selecting menu item:
>Turn the controller; the marking moves
>Menu items shown in white can be
selected by marking
2Activating menu item:
>Press the controller
>New menu items are displayed or the
function is carried out
3Selecting menu item: refer to 14Switching between fields:
>Briefly move controller left, right, forward
or back
>Release controller
>Active field appears lighter
5Adjusting settings:
>Turn controller
>Graphic display, numerical value or text
displays can be changed
>Acknowledgment by changing field

iDrive
20
Status information
1Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD
>Telephone
* in "Communication":
Name of linked mobile phone, network
search or no network
>"BMW Assist"
*:
Existing voice connection with a service
from BMW Assist
2Entertainment sound output off
3Display for:
> New entries present in "Missed calls"
*
> Roaming active
4 Telephoning
* possible if the mobile
phone is logged-on on the vehicle
Mobile phone network with strong
reception, depending on mobile phone
5Time
Other displays:
The status information is temporarily hidden
when there are Check Control instructions or
inputs 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 display in vehicles with a
navigation 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 menu item.
3.Press the controller.

At a glance
21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Switching assistance window off/on
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 switch on, change to the assistance window
and press the controller.
Switching Control Display
off/on
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, press the controller.

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 uses a special
microphone located in the area of the interior
rearview mirror, refer to page14.
Precondition
Via iDrive, set the language that applies for the
voice command system in order to enable iden-
tification of the spoken commands. To set the
language of iDrive, refer to page82.
Symbol in Owner's Manual
Voice 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 tell you that the voice
command system can respond to com-
mands.
2.Say the command.
The command is displayed on the Control
Display.
This symbol appears on the Control Display
when you can input 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 other commands are possible, then oper-
ate the equipment using iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice
command system
Press the button on the steering wheel or in
the center console
or
Commands
Having 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 system list the possible com-
mands:
For example, if you have selected "CD", the
system will read aloud the possible commands
for operating the CD player and the CD
changer.
Opening help
Using alternative commands
There are often a number of commands to run a
function, e.g.:
Running functions directly with short
commands
With short commands you can carry out certain
functions directly, regardless of which menu
item is selected, refer to page223.
Opening the start menuExample: selecting a track
1.Switch on Entertainment sound output if
necessary.
2.Press the button on the steering wheel
or in the center console.
5.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 drive switched on}}
6.Select track, e.g.:
{Track 1}
The system says:
{{Track 1}}