
On/off and tone
152
On/off and tone
The following audio sources have shared con-
trols and setting options:
>Professional radio
* or 
Business radio
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons in the area of the CD player
>iDrive
>Buttons on steering wheel, refer to page11
Buttons in area of CD player
The layout of the buttons can vary depending 
on your vehicle's equipment.
Single drive:
Two drives:1Entertainment sound output on/off, volume
>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 DVDs
Operation via iDrive
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to 
page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to open 
"Entertainment".
You have the following choices:
>"FM" and "AM": radio reception
>"WB": Weather Band station
>"SAT": satellite radio
>"CD": CD player or CD 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, save station, tone control, sam-
ple stations. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 157Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Changing selection criteria
1.Change into the second field from the top.
2.Turn the controller until the desired selec-
tion criterion is selected and press the con-
troller.
Buttons next to CD player
Press the   button for the corresponding 
direction.
The system switches to the next displayed sta-
tion.
You can also change stations with buttons on 
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
Sampling stations, scan
The system automatically plays a brief sample 
from each of the stations on the current wave-
band.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
3.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
The stations are sampled.To end sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
This cancels sampling of the stations, and the 
radio remains on the current station.
Buttons next to CD player
 To sample the stations, press and hold 
the button for the corresponding direction.
To stop scanning, press the button again.
Selecting frequency manually
With "Manual" you can select stations that are 
received in addition to those displayed.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the second field from the top.
3.Select "Manual" and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller to set a certain fre-
quency.
Updating stations with best reception
For Professional radio with "AM" and with Busi-
ness radio:
If you are on a longer journey and leave the 
transmission range of the stations originally set, 
you can update the list of stations with the best 
reception.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the second field from the top. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 159Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Changing a memory position
1.Select "Presets" and press the controller.
2.Select the desired station.
"Set" is selected.
3.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
4.Select "Store" and press the controller.
5.Turn the controller until the desired mem-
ory position is selected.
The number of the memory position 
appears beside the name or frequency of 
the station.
6.Press the controller.
The station is stored.
RDS Radio Data System
RDS transmits additional information in the 
FM frequency range. If the reception conditions 
are good, the station names are shown on the 
Control Display. If the reception is weak or dis-
rupted, it can take some time before the station 
names are displayed.
Switching RDS on/off*
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.3.Select "RDS" and press the controller.
 RDS is activated.
Automatically sorting 
stations*
For the "All stations" selection criterion, you 
can set whether the most frequently used sta-
tions are displayed at the beginning.
1.Select "All stations" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected.
2.Select "Favorites" and press the controller.
 The most frequently used stations are 
shown at the beginning.
Weather news flashes*
Weather Radio is a service of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
of the US Department of Trade. Weather news 
flashes are repeated every 4 to 6 minutes and 
are routinely updated at intervals of 1 to 
3 hours, and more often when necessary. Most 
stations operate 24 hours a day. In case of a 
storm, the National Weather Service interrupts  

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 161Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Updating stations offering digital 
reception
If you are on a longer journey and leave the 
transmission range of the stations originally set, 
you can update the list of stations with the best 
reception.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the second field from the top.
3.Select "Autostore" and press the controller.
4.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
5.Select "Autostore  " and press the con-
troller.
The display of the stations offering digital 
reception is updated. This can take up to 2 min-
utes.
Displaying additional information
With the digital stations, additional information 
on the current track is displayed, e.g. the name 
of the artist.
1.Select a station and press the controller.
2.Select "Details" and press the controller.
 The information is displayed.
If a digital station is received again when the 
station is changed, the additional information 
will be displayed again following a brief interrup-
tion.
Satellite radio*
You can receive over 100 different channels 
with high sound quality.
The channels are offered to you in predefined 
packages. To receive the channels of your 
choice, you must have this package enabled.
With this new technology the signal may 
fail, causing interruptions in reception.< 

 187
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
TeleService , BMW Assist
TeleService
TeleService supports you when communicat-
ing with a BMW center. The built-in car phone 
can be used to transmit data regarding the ser-
vice status of your vehicle or regarding legally 
mandated inspections directly to your BMW 
center. This is the same data that is also stored 
for CBS Condition Based Service in the remove 
control. Your BMW center can then contact 
you, and you can make an appointment that 
suits you while you are still on the road. Your 
advantage here is that your BMW center can 
prepare in advance for the required mainte-
nance work. The TeleService functions are 
country-specific: the data regarding the service 
status of your vehicle or regarding legally man-
dated inspections is transmitted on a country-
specific basis either automatically before they 
fall due or during your calls to the BMW center. 
Your BMW center will be glad to provide more 
detailed information.
BMW Assist
BMW Assist provides you with other services in 
addition to TeleService. For example, the posi-
tion data of your vehicle can be transferred to 
the BMW Assist response center if an emer-
gency call
* has been initiated.
Many functions of BMW Assist depend on the 
individually agreed contract. Data transmission, 
e. g. of the CBS Condition Based Service, dif-
fers from country to country.
The contract of participation with BMW Assist 
and the activation must be completed before 
you can use BMW Assist.
When the contract expires, the car phone can 
be deactivated by a BMW center without having 
to visit a BMW center. Following deactivation of 
the car phone, no emergency calls can be 
made. The car phone can be reactivated after 
signing a new contract with a BMW center.You can also use the services of BMW Assist via 
the Internet. The range of services is continually 
being expanded.
Requirements
You can use TeleService or BMW Assist when 
the following requirements are met:
>The installed car phone is logged on to a 
cellular telephone network. This network 
must be capable of transmitting the ser-
vices.
>To transmit position data, the vehicle must 
be able to determine the current position. 
This can be displayed on the Control Dis-
play.
>For TeleService or BMW Assist to be acti-
vated and updated, the GPS signal must be 
available.
>For BMW Assist: you have applied to your 
BMW center or BMW Customer Support for 
BMW Assist.
Enabling TeleService or BMW Assist
For you to be able to use the services of 
TeleService or BMW Assist, these must be 
enabled.
Requirements
>Make sure that the vehicle can determine its 
current position. Reception is best when 
you have an unobstructed view to the sky.
>Leave radio readiness switched on while 
connecting to the system.
Enabling
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to 
page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
** 

Replacing components
218
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of by your 
BMW center or hand them in to a recy-
cling center. Maintain the battery in an upright 
position for transport and storage. Always 
restrain the battery to prevent it from tipping 
over during transport.<
Power failure
After a temporary power loss, the functioning of 
some equipment may be limited and require 
reinitialization. Individual settings are also lost 
and must be updated:
>Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory
The positions must be stored again, refer to 
page47.
>Time and Date 
The values must be updated, refer to 
page82.
>Radio
Stations must be stored again if necessary, 
refer to page158.
>Navigation system 
Wait until the system starts, refer to 
page149.
Fuses
Never attempt to repair a blown fuse and 
do not replace a defective fuse with a sub-
stitute of another color or amperage rating, as 
this could lead to a circuit overload, ultimately 
resulting in a fire in the vehicle.<
Sedan
Spare fuses, plastic tweezers and fuse alloca-
tion diagram are located in the compartment for 
the onboard tool kit, refer to page211.
Sports Wagon
Reserve fuses and a pair of plastic tweezers are 
contained in the onboard tool kit, refer to 
page211. A fuse allocation diagram is located 
in the cargo area behind the right-hand side 
panel.
In glove compartment
1.Release both quick-release fasteners.
2.Fold the cover forward or remove.
Sedan: in luggage compartment
1.Lift up floor mat.
2.Release the quick-release fastener of the 
right side panel and pull out the panel.
Sports Wagon: in cargo area
1.Unhook the retaining strap*, refer to 
page119.
2.Open the right-hand side panel.