2006 BMW 650I CONVERTIBLE Owner's Manual

iDrive
16
iDrive
iDrive combines the functions of a multitude 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 individual functions is
described in connection with the relevant
equipment.
Controls
1Control Display
2 button
Opening the start menu
3Controller
You can use the controller to select menu
items and change settings by:
>moving in four directions, arrow4
>turning, arrow5
>pressing, arrow6To avoid becoming distracted and unnec-
essarily endangering both your own vehi-
cle's occupants and 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 info, e.g. for displaying of the
average fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
Climate
>Air distribution
>Automatic program
>Parked car ventilation
menu
>Switching off the Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central
locking system
>Display of the service requirements and
dates for statutory emission and vehicle
inspections
>Settings for the telephone
Basic operation
With the ignition switch at radio readiness or
higher, refer to page58, the following message
appears on the Control Display:
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
From the start menu, you can call up the four
menu items Communication, Navigation, Enter-
tainment, and Climate by moving the controller
left, right, forward, or back. 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
Convenience opening offers you the option of:
>Opening a menu item of the start menu in
the view last selected
>Direct switching between Communication,
Navigation, Entertainment and Climate
without pressing the button
To do so, move the controller in the corre-
sponding direction and hold it for longer than
approx. 2 seconds.
Displays in menu
1Each menu is divided into fields. The cur-
rently selected field appears brighter.
2A symbol indicates the last selected menu
item of the start menu:
1Menu items are usually grouped in horizon-
tal or vertical lists.
2Arrows indicate the possibility of accessing
other menu items that are not currently vis-
ible.
3Settings are displayed graphically or
numerically.
Communication
Navigation or onboard info
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 a menu item:
>Turn the controller; the marking moves
>Menu items shown in white can be
selected by marking
2Activating a menu item:
>Press the controller
>New menu items are displayed or the
function is carried out
3Selecting a 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
>Confirmation 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
* is possible if the mobile
phone is logged onto the vehicle
Reception strength in mobile phone
network depends on mobile phone
5Time
Other displays:
When Check Control information appears or
entries are made via the voice command sys-
tem
*, the status information is temporarily
hidden.
Assistance window*
Additional information can be displayed in the
assistance window:
>the computer or the trip computer
>the arrow display or map view in vehicles
equipped with navigation system
*
>The current position
Selecting displays
1.Move the controller to the right to switch 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 switch to
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select "Assist. window off" and press the
controller.
To switch on, switch to the assistance window
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.
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
spoken commands into control signals for the
selected systems and provides support in the
form of instructions or questions.
The voice command system includes a special
microphone.
The microphone is located:
>Near the interior rearview mirror in the
Coupe, refer to page14
>On the steering column in the Convertible
Prerequisite
In order to enable identification of the com-
mands to be spoken, use iDrive to set the lan-
guage for the voice command system. Setting
iDrive language, refer to page84.
Symbol in the 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 indicate that the voice
command system is ready to respond to
commands.
2.Say the command.
The command is displayed on the Control
Display.
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for
word.
{{...}} Indicates the responses of the voice
command system.

At a glance
23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
This symbol appears on the Control Display
when it is possible to input additional com-
mands.
If no other commands are possible, then oper-
ate the equipment using iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice input
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 several commands for running
a function, e.g.:
Running functions directly with short
commands
You can use short commands to carry out cer-
tain functions directly, regardless of which
menu item is selected, refer to page213.
Opening start menuAn example: 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 player switched on}}
6.Select a track, e.g.:
{Track 1}
The system says:
{{Track 1}}