Page 18 of 231
iDrive
16
iDrive
iDrive combines the functions of a large number 
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 the individual func-
tions is described in connection with the rele-
vant equipment.
Controls
1Control Display
2 button
Opening start menu
3Controller
With the controller you can select menu 
items and make settings:
>move in four directions, arrows4
>turn, arrow5
>press, arrow6To avoid posing an unnecessary hazard 
due to inattention, both to your own vehi-
cle's occupants and to other road users: never 
attempt to use the controls or make entries 
unless traffic and road conditions allow.< 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 19 of 231

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 information, e.g. for displaying 
the average fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
>External audio device
Climate
>Air distribution
>Seat air conditioning
*
>Automatic program
>Parked car ventilation
 menu
>Switching off Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for MDrive, or 
for the central locking system
>Display of service requirements and dates 
for statutory emission and vehicle inspec-
tions
>Settings for telephone
Operating principle
From radio readiness, refer to page53, the fol-
lowing message is shown on the Control Dis-
play:
To clear the message:
Press the controller.
This displays the start menu.
On vehicles with a single drive, the message 
automatically disappears after approx. 10 sec-
onds.
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. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 20 of 231

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 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 21 of 231
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 
page71.
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 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 22 of 231

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
* possible if the mobile 
phone is logged-on in the vehicle
 Mobile phone network with strong 
reception, display dependent on mobile 
phone
5Time
Other displays:
The status information is temporarily hidden 
when there are Check Control instructions or 
inputs via the voice command system
*.
Assistance window*
Additional information can be displayed in the 
assistance window:
>The computer or the trip computer
>The arrow or map view with a navigation 
system
*
>The current position
Selecting display
1.Move the controller to the right to change to 
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select a menu item.
3.Press the controller. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 23 of 231
At a glance
 21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Switching assistance window off/on
1.Move the controller to the right to change to 
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select "Assist. window off" and press the 
controller.
To switch on, change to the assistance window 
and press the controller.
Switching Control Display 
off/on
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. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 24 of 231

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 
oral commands into control signals for the 
selected systems and provides support in the 
form of instructions or questions.
The voice command system uses a special 
microphone located in the area of the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to page14.
Precondition
Via iDrive, set the language that applies for the 
voice command system in order to enable iden-
tification of the spoken commands. To set the 
language of iDrive, refer to page72.
Symbols in Owner's Manual
Voice commands
Activating voice command system
1.Press the   button.
 This symbol on the Control Display and 
an acoustic signal tell you that the voice 
command system can respond to com-
mands.
2.Say the command. 
The command is displayed on the Control 
Display.
 This symbol is shown on the Control Display 
when you can input additional commands. 
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for 
word. 
{{...}} Indicates responses of the voice 
command system. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 25 of 231

At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
If no other commands are possible, then oper-
ate the equipment using iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice 
command system
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 a number of commands to run a 
function, e.g.: 
Running functions directly with short 
commands
With short commands you can carry out certain 
functions directly, regardless of which menu 
item is selected, refer to page205.
Opening start menuExample: 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}
{Radio on} or {Turn radio on}
{Main menu}
3.{Entertainment} 
The system says: 
{{Entertainment}}
4.{CD} 
The system says: 
{{CD drive switched on}}
6.Select track, e.g.: 
{Track 1} 
The system says: 
{{Track 1}}