iDrive
18 5Help
>Brief help text displays20
>Menu name for menu change19
6Entertainment
>Radio155
>CD player
*162
>CD changer
*164
>DVD changer
*168
It is only possible to play a DVD on the
rear seat screen, refer to Rear seat
screen
* on page21.<
7Settings
>Parking brake58
>PDC Park Distance Control86
>EDC Electronic Damping Control89
>Programmable buttons52
>FTM Flat Tire Monitor
*90
>TPM Tire Pressure Monitor
*91
>Time and date84
>Language84
>Units of measure and display format84
>Brightness85
>Rear seat screen
*21
8Climate
>Intensity of AUTO program104
>Air volume106
>Heated seats
*49
>Parked car ventilation109
>Extra, e.g. rear air conditioner108
Basic operation
Once the radio ready position is reached, the
following message appears on the Control Dis-
play:
To clear the message:
Press the controller.
This displays the start menu.
The message automatically disappears after
approx. 25 seconds.
Start menu
You can access all functions of iDrive via eight
menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the button.
Opening the start menu from a menu:
>Move the controller toward the currently
active menu.
>Move the controller twice in one direction.
At a glance
19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Selecting menu
From the start menu, eight menus can be
accessed by moving the controller in the appro-
priate directions.
In a menu, you can change directly into a
new menu by moving in the correspond-
ing direction, without having to open the start
menu first.
Moving in the direction that corresponds to the
last menu used brings you back to the last item
used in this menu.<
Selecting menu items
To edit a function, you must select the corre-
sponding menu item. Menu items shown in
white can be selected.
Turn the controller
The highlight moves.
To change between the menu
items on the left and right side of
the Control Display, continue to turn the con-
troller at the beginning or end of a list. The high-
light moves to the other side of the Control Dis-
play.
Activating menu item
Press the controller.
Changing settings
1.Turn the controller to change the setting.
2.Press the controller to adopt the setting.
Displaying and hiding menu name
You can program the system to display the
menu name each time you proceed to a new
menu.
1.Press the button to open the start
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Help".
3.Select "Menu name" and press the control-
ler.
The symbol indicates the menu that is cur-
rently activated. The menu name is displayed.
At a glance
23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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. The system operates on the basis of
voice commands that you will learn easily after
using them a few times. In many cases, the
voice command system assists you with
announcements or questions while you are
making your entries.
The voice command system transforms your
oral commands and dialog answers into control
signals for the selected systems.
Please take the time to acquaint yourself
with how a particular system operates
before proceeding to control it using the voice
command system.<
Note
Use iDrive to set the language that will be used
for the voice command system in order to be
able to identify the commands to be spoken.
Setting the language of iDrive, refer to page84.
Symbols used
{...} Verbal instructions to use with the voice
command system.
{{...}} Identifies the answers generated by the
voice command system.
Systems available for use with voice
command
>{Navigation}, refer to page130
>{Radio}, refer to page155
>{Telephone}, refer to page182
>{CD}, refer to page162
>{CD changer}, refer to page164
>{Notepad}, refer to page25
>{DVD}, refer to page168The Info Display, refer to page24, will display
either the equipment that you are now operat-
ing or any current error messages.
Voice commands
Voice command system activation
Briefly press the button on the steering
wheel.
An acoustic signal and the display "SVS active"
on the Info Display, refer to page24, indicate
that the system is ready for operation. The sys-
tem automatically starts in the main menu.
From here, you can call up all the equipment
that can be operated.
Canceling voice command
Briefly press the button on the steering
wheel
or
In dialogs in which any text can be spoken, e.g.
names, notes, canceling is only possible using
the button.
The system automatically switches over
to its telephone mode if you receive a call
during voice input. "SVS active" appears on the
Info Display, refer to page24.<
Voice commands
The voice command system operates on the
basis of specific, predefined commands; these
commands should be spoken precisely as indi-
cated. You can have the possible commands
read back at any stage. To do so, say the com-
mand {Options}.
In addition to the commands described, there
are often other commands that run the same
function. Instead of {Options}, you can, for
example, also say {What now}. In addition,
*
These sections contain information on
using the voice command system.
{Cancel}.
Controls
37Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Manual operation
In the case of an electrical malfunction, you can
unlock the luggage compartment lid with the
key, refer to page35, and slowly open and close
it without sudden movements.
Emergency release
Pull lever in luggage compartment. This
unlocks the luggage compartment lid.
Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds to:
>opening of a door, the hood or the luggage
compartment lid
>movement in the vehicle interior: interior
motion sensor, refer to page38
>changes in the vehicle's tilt if someone
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the
vehicle
>interruptions in battery voltage
The alarm system briefly indicates unautho-
rized tampering:
>with an acoustic alarm
>by switching on
the hazard warning flashers
>by flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming alarm system
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
When the alarm system is armed, you can also
open the luggage compartment lid with the button on the remote control, refer to
page33. When the luggage compartment lid is
closed, it is relocked and monitored again.
Unlocking via the door lock will trigger the
alarm on some national-market versions.
Pressing the 'Panic mode' button for a longer
period also triggers the alarm, refer to
page33.<
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote control,
refer to page32.
>Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp below the interior rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after the vehicle
is locked: the doors or luggage compart-
ment lid are not properly closed. Even if you
do not close the door involved, the system
begins to monitor the remaining areas, and
the indicator lamp flashes continuously
after 10 seconds. 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.
>After the vehicle is unlocked, the indicator
lamp flashes until the remote control is
inserted into the ignition lock, but for no
more than roughly 5 minutes: an attempted
entry has been detected in the period since
the system was armed.
Driving
60 You can program the programmable but-
ton on the steering wheel with the Auto-
matic Hold function, refer to page52. This gives
you the option of being able to quickly activate
or deactivate Automatic Hold without distract-
ing your attention from the road.<
Driving
The parking brake engages automatically when
the vehicle comes to a stop.
The indicator lamp on Info Display lights up
green.
To start off again, simply press the accelerator
pedal. The parking brake is released automati-
cally; the indicator lamp goes out.
Do not drive through an automatic car
wash with the Automatic Hold on and the
engine running. Otherwise, the system will
engage the parking brake the moment the vehi-
cle comes to a stop.<
Parking
The parking brake engages automatically when
you stop the vehicle and switch off the engine.
The indicator lamp changes from green to
red.
You can also release the parking brake
manually after the engine is switched off,
as long as the remote control is in the ignition
lock, refer to page59. You can use this function,
for example, in a car wash.
Automatic Hold is deactivated.<
When leaving the vehicle, release the
remote control from the detent in the igni-
tion lock; this precaution prevents children from
disengaging the parking brake etc.<
For your safety
Automatic Hold is automatically deactivated
when:
>the engine is switched off
>the system detects that the driver's seat is
not occupied while the engine is running
>the hood is opened while the engine is run-
ning>the luggage compartment is opened with
the transmission in position R while the
engine is running
>and when the parking brake is used to brake
the vehicle to a stop during driving
The indicator lamp changes from green to
red, and the indication AUTO P on the Info Dis-
play disappears.
Before starting off again, briefly press the but-
ton to disengage the parking brake manually,
refer to page59, or reactivate Automatic Hold,
refer to page59.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine
running, always move the automatic
transmission's selector lever to position P and
ensure that the parking brake is engaged. The
vehicle could start to roll if you fail to observe
these precautions.<
Automatic Hold is automatically deacti-
vated whenever the system detects any
tendency for the wheels to spin in response to
slippery road surfaces.
Observe the messages on the Info Display. For
additional information, refer to Check Control
on page80.<
Releasing parking brake manually
In the event of an electrical power loss or elec-
trical malfunction, you can release the parking
brake manually.
Before manually releasing the parking
brake and each time you park the vehicle
without engaging the parking brake, make sure
that the automatic transmission is in position P,
refer to page62. Be sure to pay attention to the
information on the Info Display.
If circumstances should force you to park on a
steeply inclined road surface, it is essential to
take additional precautions against inadvertent
rolling, e.g. by using the chock, refer to
page209. Otherwise, there is the danger of the
vehicle rolling, depending on the incline.<
If it becomes necessary to also unlock the
transmission lock of the automatic transmis-
sion, follow this sequence:
Controls
67Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Windshield and headlamp washer
system
Capacity: 6.3 US quarts/6 liters.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
Programmable cruise control
The concept
The programmable cruise control is available
for use at speeds of approx. 20 mph/30 km/h
and higher. The vehicle maintains and stores
the speed that you set using the lever mounted
on the steering column.
You can also use the multilevel preset mode to
store six desired speeds for later selection with
the lever, refer to page67.
This feature assists you in quickly adapting the
vehicle speed to specific road conditions, e.g.
changes in speeds limits.
Do not use the programmable cruise con-
trol when unfavorable conditions do not
permit you to drive at a constant speed, e.g.
when driving on winding roads, in heavy traffic
or under poor road conditions such as snow,
rain, ice, or a loose road surface. If you do, you
could lose control of the vehicle and cause an
accident.<
One lever for all functions
1Maintaining speed, storing, and accelerat-
ing
2Maintaining speed, storing, and decelerat-
ing
3Interrupt or deactivate cruise control
4Resuming stored speed
Maintaining speed, storing, and
accelerating
Press lever to resistance point, arrow 1:
The system maintains and stores the current
vehicle speed. The pointer5 in the speedome-
ter indicates this speed, refer to Displays in
speedometer on page68. Each time the lever is
pressed again briefly, the speed is increased by
approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h.
Push the lever to the resistance point for a
longer time:
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on
the accelerator pedal. The system maintains
and stores your current speed as soon as you
release the lever.
Press the lever past the resistance point if no
desired speeds6 are stored:
The pointer5 jumps to the next multiple of
5 mph or 10 km/h and then further, as long as
the lever is held. The speed then indicated is
reached and stored.
The vehicle may accelerate beyond the preset
speed on steep downhill stretches where the
engine's braking action alone may not be suffi-
cient to slow the vehicle. Speed can drop on
uphill grades if the engine output is insufficient.
Controls
75Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Everything under control
Odometer, outside temperature display, clock
1Outside temperature display, clock
2Odometer
3Trip odometer
4Press button:
>with ignition switched on to reset trip
odometer
>with ignition switched off to briefly dis-
play odometer, outside temperature,
and time
Outside temperature display, clock
The outside temperature and the time displays
are active with the ignition lock in radio ready
state or higher.
You can change the units of measure, 7/6,
in the "Settings" menu, refer to page84.
Setting the clock, refer to page84.
Outside temperature warning
If the display drops to +377/+36, a signal
sounds and a message is shown on the Info Dis-
play. There is an increased danger of ice.
Even at temperatures above +377/
+36, ice can form. Therefore, drive care-
fully, e.g. on bridges and shaded roadways; oth-
erwise, there is an increased accident risk.<
Odometer and trip odometer
The display area is also used for the computer
and the Check Control.
Regardless of the current display, you can
briefly display the odometer by pressing the
button4.
You also reset the displayed trip odometer to
zero by pressing the button.
Check Control, refer to page80.
Computer, refer to page76.
Tachometer
The orange advance warning field, arrow, is dis-
played as a function of the engine temperature.
The segments disappear in sequence as the
engine temperature increases.
Avoid allowing the engine speed to rise as far as
the orange warning sector whenever possible.
Controls
79Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
To exit the menu:
The arrow is selected. Press the controller.
Condition Based Service does not con-
tinue counting down to the next service
during periods when the vehicle is stored with
the battery disconnected or the battery switch
in the OFF position.
Therefore, make sure to have the brake fluid
changed at least every 2 years, regardless of
w h a t i s s h o w n o n t h e d is p la y, r e f e r t o p a g e204.
The same is true for other time-dependent ser-
vice requirements.<
Displaying and entering dates for
legally-mandated emissions and
vehicle inspections
Make sure the date and time are always set cor-
rectly via iDrive, refer to page84; otherwise,
CBS Condition Based Service cannot function
correctly.
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the button to open the start
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Car Data".
3.Select and press the controller.
4.Select "Emissions inspection" or "State
inspection" and press the controller.5.Turn the controller to select appointment
input.
6.Press the controller. The month is high-
lighted.
7.Turn the controller to adjust the setting.
8.Press the controller to save the setting.
The year is highlighted.
9.Turn the controller to adjust the setting.
10.Press the controller to save the setting.
11."STORE DATE" is selected. Press the con-
troller to save the setting. The date entry is
saved.
The list of entries is resorted by date.Display on Info Display
If the deadline for your next emissions or state
vehicle inspection is approaching, the remain-
ing distance and time will appear briefly when
you switch on the ignition.
Your Service Advisor will determine your
vehicle's current service requirements by
reading out the data stored in the remote con-
trol.<