
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. 

Opening and closing
36
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp below the interior rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking: the 
doors or luggage compartment lid 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.
>After the vehicle is unlocked, the indicator 
lamp goes out: no manipulation or 
attempted intrusions have been detected in 
the period since the system was armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after unlocking 
until the remote control is inserted into the 
ignition lock, however for a maximum of 
approx. 5 minutes: an attempted entry has 
been detected in the period since the sys-
tem was armed.
Tilt alarm sensor
Monitors the inclination of the vehicle. The 
alarm system reacts, for example, if someone 
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the vehicle.
Interior motion sensor
Coupe:
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof
* 
must be completely closed.
Convertible:
Monitors the interior up to the height of the seat 
cushions. This means that the alarm system, 
including the interior motion sensor, is armed even if the convertible top is open. Falling 
objects, e.g. leaves, can trigger false alarms, 
refer to Avoiding unintentional alarms.
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 the tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor
Press the   button on the remote control 
once again immediately after locking.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then 
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and 
the interior motion sensor are switched off until 
the vehicle is unlocked and 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
>Starting engine
>Comfort locking
Functional requirement
>The vehicle can only be unlocked if the 
vehicle detects that the remote control car-
ried is located outside the vehicle.
>The next unlocking and locking cycle is not 
possible until after approx. 2 seconds. 

Controls
 49Reference
At a glance
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Mobility
Seat, mirror and steering 
wheel memory
You can store and select three different adjust-
ment settings for the driver's seat, exterior mir-
rors and steering wheel.
The adjustment of the lumbar support is not 
stored in the memory.
Storing
1.Switch on radio readiness or ignition, refer 
to page58.
2.Adjust the desired seat, exterior mirror and 
steering-wheel positions.
3.Press the   button:
The LED in the button lights up.
4.Press the desired memory button 1, 2 or3:
The LED goes out.
Requesting
Do not request a position from the mem-
ory while the vehicle is moving. There is a 
risk of accident from unexpected movement of 
the seat or steering wheel.<
Convenience mode
1.Open the driver's door after unlocking or 
switch on radio readiness, refer to page58.
2.Briefly press the desired memory button1, 
2 or3.
The system immediately cancels the adjust-
ment procedure when you briefly press one of 
the seat adjustment switches or one of the 
memory buttons.The adjusting procedure for the steering wheel 
is immediately interrupted if you operate the 
switch for the steering wheel adjustment in any 
direction, refer to page53.
Safety feature
1.Close the driver's door and switch ignition 
on or off, refer to page58.
2.Press the desired memory button 1, 2 or3 
and maintain pressure until the adjustment 
process has been completed.
If the   button was pressed inadvertently: 
press the button again; the LED goes out.
Activating with remote control
The last positions of the driver's seat, external 
rearview mirrors, and steering wheel are stored 
for the remote key currently in use.
You can choose when the position is requested:
>Request when unlocking vehicle
>Request when opening driver's door
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
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 "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
6.Select "Last seat pos." and press the con-
troller. 

Controls
 53Reference
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Automatic functions
>Both exterior mirrors are automatically 
heated when the engine is running or the 
ignition is switched on.
>When the vehicle is moving forward, the 
interior and exterior mirrors dim as a func-
tion of the incoming light.
The interior mirror is provided with two photo-
cells to control its automatic dimming function. 
One is integrated into the mirror glass, refer to 
arrow, while the other is located at a position 
slightly offset from this on the back of the mirror 
housing.
For trouble-free operation, keep the photocells 
clean and do not cover the area between the 
interior rearview mirror and the windshield. Also 
do not attach stickers to the windshield in front 
of the mirror.
Tilting down passenger-side mirror - 
automatic parking function
Activating
1.Slide switch into the driver's side mirror 
position, arrow 1.2.Engage reverse gear or selector lever posi-
tion R. 
The mirror glass tilts downward somewhat 
on the passenger's side. This allows the 
driver to see the area immediately adjacent 
to the vehicle – such as a curb – when park-
ing, etc.
Deactivating
Slide switch into the passenger side mirror 
position, arrow 2.
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust the steering wheel while the 
vehicle is moving. There is a risk of acci-
dent as the result of unexpected movement.<
The steering wheel can be adjusted in four 
directions.
Storing the steering-wheel position, refer to 
Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory, 
page49.
Electric steering wheel lock
The steering wheel locks or unlocks automati-
cally when the remote control is removed or 
inserted, refer to page58.
Easy entry/exit
To make it easier to enter and exit the vehicle, 
the steering wheel temporarily moves into the 
uppermost position. 

Controls
 65Reference
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Mobility
Using turn signals
Move the lever beyond the resistance point.
To switch off manually, only press the lever as 
far as the resistance point.
Atypically rapid flashing of the indicator 
lamp indicates the failure of a turn signal 
lamp.<
Brief signaling
Press the lever to the resistance point and hold 
it there as long as you wish to signal.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever to the resistance point; the turn 
signals flash three times.
You can activate or deactivate this function.
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the 
controller.
4.Select "Lighting" and press the controller.
5.Select "Triple turn signal activation" and 
press the controller.
 Triple turn signal is activated.
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating rain sensor
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps
5Adjusting rain sensor sensitivity level
Switching on wipers
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Standard wiper speed
Press once. 
The system reverts to operation in the intermit-
tent mode whenever the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wipe
Briefly press twice or press beyond the resis-
tance point. 
The system reverts to operation at normal 
speed whenever the vehicle is stationary.
Rain sensor
Wiper operation is controlled automatically as a 
function of the rain intensity. The rain sensor is 
located on the windshield, directly in front of the 
interior rearview mirror. 

Controls
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Protective action
 To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
please follow the adjustment instructions on 
page47.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of a side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The 
head airbag supports the head. The knee airbag 
protects the legs from colliding with the cockpit.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered in 
every impact situation, e. g. less severe acci-
dents or rear-end collisions.
For details on the correct seat position, refer to 
page47.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag retention 
system from the vehicle. Do not modify or 
tamper with either the wiring or the individual 
components in the airbag system.This category 
includes the upholstery in the center of the 
steering wheel, on the instrument panel, the 
side trim panels on the doors and on the Coupe, 
the roof pillars along with the sides of the head-
liner. Do not attempt to remove or dismantle the 
steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components 
directly after the system has been triggered, 
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or 
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have 
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators carried out only by a BMW cen-
ter or a workshop that works according to BMW 
repair procedures with appropriately trained 
personnel and has the required explosives 
licenses. Unprofessional attempts to service 
the system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation, either of 
which could result in personal injury.
Automatic deactivation of front 
passenger airbags
The occupation of the seat is detected by eval-
uating the impression on the occupied seat sur-
face of the front passenger seat. The system 
correspondingly activates or deactivates the 
front, knee and side airbag on the front passen-
ger side.
The current status of the front passenger 
airbag, i.e. deactivated or activated, is 
indicated by the indicator lamp over the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to Operating state of front 
passenger airbags below.<
Before transporting a child in the front 
passenger seat, read the safety informa-
tion and follow the instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page56.
The front, knee and side airbag on the front pas-
senger side can be deactivated for teenagers 
and adults in certain seat positions; the indica-
tor lamp for the front passenger airbags lights 
up when this occurs. In these cases, change the 
seat position so that the front passenger air-
bags are activated and the indicator lamp goes 
out. If the desired status cannot be produced by 
changing the seat position, transport the corre-
sponding person in the rear seat. 
Do not fit seat covers, seat cushion padding, 
beaded mats or other items onto the front pas-
senger seat unless they are specifically recom-
mended by BMW. Do not place objects under 
the seat which could press against the seat 
from below. Otherwise a correct evaluation of 
the occupied seat surface cannot be ensured.< 

Controls
 97Reference
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cannot detect fog. To avoid safety risks, you 
should always switch on the lamps manually 
under these conditions.<
Adaptive Head Light*
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp 
control system that enables better illumination 
of the road surface. Depending on the steering 
angle and other parameters, the light from the 
headlamp follows the course of the road.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
In switch position1, the Adaptive Head Light is 
active and the automatic headlamp control is 
switched on.
To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the Adaptive 
Head Light is not active when driving in reverse 
and points toward the passenger side when the 
vehicle is stopped.
Malfunction
The LED next to the symbol for automatic head-
lamp control flashes. The Adaptive Head Light 
is malfunctioning or has failed. Have the system 
checked as soon as possible.
High beams/
roadside parking lamps
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Roadside parking lamps
Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just one 
side of your vehicle when parking. When using 
this function, comply with national regulations:
After parking the vehicle, press the lever in the 
desired direction3, past the resistance point.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Avoid using for longer periods; oth-
erwise, it may not be possible to start the 
engine.<
High-beam assistant*
The concept
This system automatically switches the high 
beams on and off again. A sensor on the front of 
the interior rearview mirror controls the pro-
cess. The assistant ensures that the high 
beams are switched on whenever the traffic sit-
uation allows. This reduces the strain on you 
while at the same time providing you with the 
best possible visibility. Of course, you can inter-
vene at any time and switch the high beams on 
and off in the accustomed manner.
Activating high-beam assistant
1.Turn the light switch to switch position1, 
refer to page96.
2.Press the turn signal lever in the high beam 
direction with the low beams switched on.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up when the high-beam 
assistant is activated. The assistant 
automatically switches between high and low 
beams, reacting to oncoming traffic and traffic  

Lamps
98 ahead and to well-lit areas such as towns and 
cities.
Manually switching between high and 
low beams
You can intervene at any time if you wish or the 
situation requires.
>If the high-beam assistant has switched on 
the high beams, but you want to use the low 
beams, simply switch to the low beams with 
the turn signal lever. This also deactivates 
the high-beam assistant. 
To reactivate the system, briefly press the 
turn signal lever in the high beam direction 
again.
>If the high-beam assistant has switched on 
the low beams, but you want to use the high 
beams, switch to the high beams in the 
accustomed manner. The system is deacti-
vated in the process and you must switch to 
the low beams manually.
To reactivate the system, briefly press the 
turn signal lever in the high beam direction 
again.
>You use the headlamp flasher in the usual 
way when the low beams are on.
System limits
The high-beam assistant cannot replace 
personal decisions about the benefits of 
using high beams. In situations that require 
them, you should switch to the low beams man-
ually to avoid a safety risk.<
In the following sample situations, the system 
either does not function or functions only in a 
limited way and a personal reaction may be 
required:
>Under extremely unfavorable weather con-
ditions, such as heavy fog or precipitation
>To make out poorly-lit road users such as 
pedestrians, cyclists, people on horseback, 
horse-drawn vehicles, train or ship traffic 
close to the road and wild animals crossing 
the road>In tight curves, on steep hilltops or in 
depressions, with cross traffic or partially 
concealed oncoming traffic on the freeway
>In poorly lit places and with highly reflective 
signs
>In the low speed range
>When the windshield is fogged up, dirty or 
covered with stickers, decals, etc. in the 
area of the interior rearview mirror
>When the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor 
on the front side of the interior rearview mir-
ror with a cloth moistened with a small 
amount of glass cleaner.
Front fog lamps
The parking lamps or low beams must 
be switched on for the fog lamps to 
operate. The green indicator lamp in 
the instrument cluster lights up when the fog 
lamps are switched on.
The fog lamps are switched off whenever the 
high beams are switched on.
If the automatic headlamp control is acti-
vated, the low beams will come on auto-
matically when you switch on the fog lamps.<