
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
6Buttons on steering wheel
7Instrument cluster12
10Ignition lock5811Horn: entire surface
14Releasing hood204
15Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate35,33 Mobile phone
*174:
>Press: accepting and ending 
call, starting dialing
* for 
selected phone number and 
redialing if no phone number is 
selected
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice 
command system
* 22
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling in phone book and in lists 
with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable
*53 
Individually programmable53 
8
Windshield wipers65
Rain sensor65
Sports Wagon: rear window 
wiper66
9Starting/stopping engine and 
switching ignition on/off 58
12
Steering wheel heater*52
Steering wheel adjustment52
13
Cruise control
*66
Active cruise control
*67
16
Head-Up Display
*96
BMW Night Vision
*98
17
Parking lamps101
Low beams101
Automatic headlamp control
*101 
Adaptive Head Light
*102 
High-beam assistant
*103
18
Instrument lighting104
Fog lamps
*104 

At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up both in 
the display area1 and in the display2 in various 
combinations and colors.
Some lights are tested for proper function by 
briefly lighting up during starting of the engine 
or when the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text message at the bottom edge of the Con-
trol Display explain the meaning of the dis-
played indicator and warning lamps.
Additional information, e.g. on the cause of a 
malfunction and on the corresponding need to 
take action can be displayed via the Check Con-
trol, refer to page79.In the case of corresponding urgency, this infor-
mation is displayed immediately when the 
related lamp lights up.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps in the display 
area1 indicate that the associated functions 
are activated:
Handbrake engaged60
Handbrake engaged for Canadian 
models
Fog lamps
*104
DTC Dynamic Traction Control87
High beams/headlamp flasher102
Lamp flashes: 
DSC or DTC controls the drive and 
braking forces for maintaining vehicle 
stability87 

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 controller to 
the left, right, front or rear.
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 
page82.
1Selecting menu item:
>Turn the controller; the highlight moves
>Menu items shown in white can be 
selected by highlighting
2Activating menu item:
>Press the controller
>New menu items are displayed or the 
function is carried out
3Selecting menu item: refer to 14Changing between fields:
>Briefly move the 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 

Controls
 31Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Convenience opening
Press the   button longer. The windows and 
the glass sunroof
* open.
Locking
Press the   button.
Switching on interior lamps
With vehicle locked:
Press the   button.
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Panic mode*
You can also trigger the alarm system in case of 
danger:
Press the   button for at least 3 seconds.
Switch off alarm: press any button.
Sedan: opening luggage 
compartment lid
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The luggage compartment lid opens, regard-
less of whether it was previously locked or 
unlocked.
During opening, the luggage compart-
ment lid pivots back and up. Ensure that 
adequate clearance is available before opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the luggage 
compartment. A previously locked luggage 
compartment lid is also locked again after clos-
ing.<
Sports Wagon: unlocking tailgate
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The tailgate will open slightly, regardless of 
whether it was previously locked or unlocked.
During opening, the tailgate pivots back 
and up. Ensure that adequate clearance is 
available before opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the luggage 
compartment. A previously locked tailgate is 
also locked again after closing. When opening the tailgate, the roll-up cover is 
raised. Before closing the tailgate, press down 
the roll-up cover until it engages.<
If pointed or sharp-edged objects could 
strike the rear window while driving, be 
sure to provide protection around all edges. 
Failure to do so could result in damage to the 
heating conductors of the rear window.<
Setting confirmation signals
You can vary or also deactivate the confirmation 
signals for locking or unlocking.
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. Should the remote control fail 
to operate owing to interference of this kind, 
unlock and lock the vehicle via the door lock 
using a key.
If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle 
using the remote control, then the battery is 
discharged. Use this remote control during an 
extended drive; this will recharge the battery, 
refer to page28. 

Opening and closing
38 The luggage compartment lid/tailgate can also 
be opened with the system armed with the   
button on the remote control, refer to page33. 
When the luggage compartment lid/tailgate is 
closed, it is locked and monitored again.
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote control, 
refer to page30.
>Insert the remote control all the way into the 
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the inside rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking: 
doors, hood, luggage compartment lid/tail-
gate or rear window
 is/are not properly 
closed. Even if you do not close the alerted 
area, the system begins to monitor the 
remaining areas, and the indicator lamp 
flashes continuously after approx. 10 sec-
onds. However, the interior motion sensor 
is not activated.
>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking: 
your vehicle has not been disturbed while 
you were away.
>The indicator lamp flashes after unlocking 
until the remote control is inserted into the 
ignition lock, however for a maximum of 
approx. 5 minutes: your vehicle has been 
disturbed while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm 
system reacts, e.g. in case of an attempted 
wheel theft or towing.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof
* 
must be completely closed.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor 
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following 
situations:
>In stacking garages
>When transporting on car-carrying trains
>When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor
Press the   button on the remote control 
again as soon as the vehicle is locked.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then 
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and 
the interior motion sensor are switched off until 
the next time the vehicle is unlocked and subse-
quently locked again.
Comfort access*
Comfort access enables you to access your 
vehicle without having to hold the remote con-
trol in your hand. It is sufficient to carry the 
remote control with you, e.g. in your jacket 
pocket. The vehicle automatically detects the 
related remote control in the immediate vicinity 
or in the interior.
Comfort access supports the following func-
tions:
>Unlocking/locking vehicle
>Comfort locking
>Opening luggage compartment lid/tailgate 
separately 

Controls
 39Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Sports Wagon: opening rear window sepa-
rately
>Starting engine
Functional requirement
>The vehicle or the luggage compartment 
lid/tailgate can only be locked if the vehicle 
detects that the remote control you are car-
rying is outside the vehicle.
>The next unlocking and locking cycle is not 
possible until after approx. 2 seconds.
>The engine can only be started if the vehicle 
detects that the remote control is located in 
the vehicle.
Comparison with ordinary remote 
control
You can control the functions mentioned previ-
ously with the comfort access or by pressing 
the buttons on the remote control. Therefore, 
please familiarize yourself with the information 
on opening and closing beginning on page28 
beforehand.
The special features when using comfort 
access are described in the following.
Should a short delay occur when opening 
or closing the windows or the glass sun-
roof, the system is checking whether a remote 
control is located in the vehicle. Please repeat 
opening or closing if necessary.<
Releasing
Completely grasp a door handle, arrow1. This 
corresponds to pressing the  button.
If a remote control is detected in the interior 
after unlocking, the electric steering-wheel lock 
unlocks, refer to page58.
Locking
>For the driver's door, touch the area high-
lighted in the picture, arrow2, with your fin-
ger for approx. 1 second.
>For the remaining doors, touch the area 
highlighted in the picture, arrow3, with your 
finger for approx. 1 second.
This corresponds to pressing the   but-
ton.
Please make sure that the ignition and all 
current consumers are switched off 
before locking to save the battery.<
Comfort locking
Hold a finger or the back of the hand on the sur-
face, arrow2 or 3.
The windows and the glass sunroof
* are 
closed.
Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Removing the 
hand from the door handle stops the closing 
process immediately.<
Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate separately
Press the button on the luggage compartment 
lid/tailgate. This corresponds to pressing the 
button.
If a remote control accidentally left in the 
luggage compartment/cargo area is 
detected in the locked vehicle after closing the 
luggage compartment lid/tailgate or the rear 
window, the lid or rear window opens again. The 
hazard warning flashers flash and a signal
* 
sounds.<
Sports Wagon: opening rear window 
separately
Press the button on the rear window, refer to 
page34.
Switching on radio readiness
By briefly pressing the Start/Stop button, you 
switch on the radio readiness, refer to page58. 

Opening and closing
40 When doing so, do not depress the brake 
or clutch pedal, as otherwise the engine 
will start immediately.<
Starting engine
You can start the engine or switch on the switch 
on ignition if a remote control is located in the 
interior of the vehicle. It need not be inserted in 
the ignition lock, refer to page58.
If you take the remote control with you when 
leaving the vehicle with the engine running, a 
warning lamp lights up. In addition, a message 
appears on the Control Display. As long as no 
remote control is detected in the vehicle, it is 
only possible to restart the engine within 
approx. 10 seconds after it is switched off.
Switching off engine with automatic 
transmission
The engine can only be switched off in the 
selector lever position P, refer to page60.
To switch off the engine in the selector lever 
position N, the remote control must be inserted 
in the ignition lock.
Before driving into a car wash with 
automatic transmission
1.Insert remote control into ignition lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Place selector lever in position N.
4.Switch off the engine.
The vehicle can roll.
Malfunction
The comfort access function may malfunction 
due to local radio waves. Then open or close the 
vehicle with the buttons on the remote control 
or with a key. To start the engine following this, 
insert the remote control in the ignition lock.
Replacing battery
The remote control for comfort access contains 
a battery which must be replaced if necessary.1.Remove integrated key from remote con-
trol, refer to page28.
2.Remove cover.
3.Lay in new battery with positive side facing 
upward.
4.Press cover closed.
Return used battery to a recycling collec-
tion point or to your BMW center.<
Windows
To prevent injuries, exercise care when 
closing the windows and keep them in 
your field of vision until they are shut. 
Always take along the remote control when you 
leave the vehicle, otherwise children could, for 
example, operate the windows and injure them-
selves.<
Opening, closing
>Press switch to resistance point: 
The window continues to open as long as 
you keep the switch pressed.
>Press switch beyond resistance point: 
The window opens automatically. Pressing 
the switch again stops the opening move-
ment.