
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic-
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to 
page246.
Using this Owner's Manual 
4Notes
6Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
22Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
44Adjustments
53Transporting children safely
57Driving
72Everything under control
86Technology for driving comfort and 
safety
97Lamps
101Climate
107Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
122Things to remember when driving
Navigation
130Starting the navigation system
131Destination entry
143Destination guidance
152What to do if …
Entertainment
156On/off and settings
160Radio
166CD player and CD changer
173External audio device
Communications
176Telephoning
190BMW Assist
Mobility
200Refueling
202Wheels and tires
214Under the hood
219Maintenance
221Replacing components
229Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
236Technical data
242Short commands for the voice command 
system
246Everything from A - Z
ProCarManuals.com 

At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8Instrument cluster12
11Ignition lock57
12Buttons
* on the steering wheel13Horn: the entire surface
14Adjusting the steering wheel51
16Releasing the hood214
17Opening the tailgate/luggage compartment 
lid
*
7
Turn signals61
High beams, headlamp flasher99
Roadside parking lamps
*99
Computer74
Settings and information about the 
vehicle76
Instrument lighting100
9
Windshield wipers62
Rain sensor
*62
Sports Wagon:
Rear window wiper63
10Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine57
Telephone
*:
>Press: accepting and ending a 
call, starting dialing
* selected 
phone numbers. Redialing if 
no phone number is selected
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice com-
mand system
*22
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling through phone book and 
lists with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable51 
Individually programmable51 
15
Cruise control
*64
Active cruise control
*66
ProCarManuals.com 

At a glance
 15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Microphone for voice command system* 
and for telephone in hands-free mode*
2SOS: initiating an Emergency Request 
call
*229
3Reading lamps100
4Glass roof/panorama glass roof
*41
5Interior lamps100
6Passenger airbag status lamp
*96
7Control Display16
8Hazard warning flashers
9DTC Dynamic Traction Control88
10Central locking system32
11Automatic climate control
12Ejecting
>Audio CD156
>Navigation DVD13013Changing
>Radio station160
>Track167
15Controller16 
Can be turned, pressed, or moved horizon-
tally in four directions
16Activating voice command system
*22
17Opening start menu on Control Display17
18Drive for navigation DVD130
19Switching audio sources on/off and adjust-
ing volume156
20Drive for audio CDs156 Air distribution to the 
windshield102
Air distribution to the upper body 
area102
Air distribution to the footwell102
Automatic air distribution and flow 
rate103
Cooling function104
AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control103
Recirculated-air mode103
Maximum cooling103
Residual heat mode104
Air flow rate103
Defrosting windows104
Rear window defroster104
14
Heated seats*48
PDC Park Distance Control
*86
Sedan:
Roller sun blind
*110
Hill Descent Control HDC
*88
ProCarManuals.com 

At a glance
 17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation
>Navigation system
>Onboard information, e.g. for displaying the 
average fuel consumption.
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
>External audio device
Climate
>Vent settings
>Automatic programs
>Parked car operation
 menu
>Switching off Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central 
locking system
>Display of service requirements and dates 
for statutory emissions and vehicle inspec-
tions
>Settings for telephone
Operating principle
As of radio readiness, the following message 
appears on the Control Display:
To hide the message: 
Press the controller.
The start menu is displayed.
The message is automatically hidden after 
approx. 10 seconds.
Start menu
All iDrive functions can be called up via five 
menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the   button.
To open the start menu from the   menu:
Press the   button twice.
ProCarManuals.com 

iDrive
20
Status information
1Display for:
>Entertainment: 
Radio, CD or
>Telephone
* in "Communication": 
Name of the connected mobile phone, 
network search or no network
>"BMW Assist"
*:
Active voice connection with a 
BMW Assist service
2Entertainment audio output off
3Display for traffic information*:
"TI":
Traffic information for the navigation sys-
tem can be received and the transmission is 
switched on
4Display for:
> New entries present in "Missed calls"
*
> Roaming active
5 It is possible to make calls
* if the mobile 
phone is paired with the vehicle
 Reception strength of mobile phone 
network, display depending on mobile 
phone
6Time
Other displays:
Status information is temporarily hidden during 
Check Control message displays or entries 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 in vehicles with nav-
igation 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.
ProCarManuals.com 

At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
If no further commands are possible, continue 
by operating the item of equipment via iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice 
command system
Press the  button on the steering wheel or in 
the center console
or
Commands
Having the 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 possible commands read out to 
you:
For instance, if you have selected "CD" the 
commands available for operating the CD 
player and CD changer are read out
*.
Opening help
Using alternative commands
There are often a number of commands to run a 
function, e.g.: 
Calling up functions immediately via 
short commands
Short commands enable you to perform certain 
functions immediately, irrespective of which 
menu item is selected, refer to page242.
Opening the start menu
Example: selecting a track
1.If necessary, switch on entertainment audio 
output.
2.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 on}}
ProCarManuals.com 

Voice command system
24 5.Press the   button on the steering wheel 
or in the center console.
Notes
For information on voice control of the 
telephone, refer also to the separate 
Owner's Manual.<
For voice commands, bear in mind the follow-
ing:
>Pronounce the commands and digits 
smoothly and at normal volume, avoiding 
excessive emphases and pauses. The same 
applies to spelling when entering a destina-
tion for navigation.
>Always speak the commands in the lan-
guage of the voice command system.
>When selecting a radio station, use the 
standard pronunciation of the station name.
>For entries in the voice-activated phone 
book, only use names in the language of the 
voice command system and no abbrevia-
tions
>Keep the doors, windows and glass roof/
panorama glass roof closed to prevent 
interference from outside noise.
>Avoid ambient noise in the vehicle while 
speaking.6.Select a track, e.g.:
{Track 1}
The system says: 
{{Track 1}}
ProCarManuals.com 

Controls
 29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Date format, refer to page82
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer to 
page85
>Language on the Control Display, refer to 
page85
>Units of measure for fuel consumption, dis-
tance covered/remaining distances, and 
temperature, refer to page77
>Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC
*, refer to page86
>Automatic climate control: AUTO program, 
activating/deactivating cooling function and 
automatic recirculated-air control, setting 
temperature, air flow rate and distribution, 
refer to page102 ff
>Audio volume, refer to page157
>Tone control, refer to page157
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer to 
page157
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for opera-
tion whenever the driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid/tailgate
>Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
>In cars with convenient access
*, via the 
handles on the driver's and front passen-
ger's doors
The anti-theft system is also operated at the 
same time. It prevents the doors from being 
unlocked using the lock buttons or door han-
dles. In addition, if the remote control is used, 
the interior lamps and the door's courtesy 
lamps
* are also switched on or off. The alarm system
* is also armed or disarmed.
For further details of the alarm system,
 refer to 
page35.
Operating from inside
By means of the button for central locking, refer 
to page32.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the 
central locking system unlocks automatically. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing: from 
outside
Using the remote control
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle 
could lock the doors from the inside. You 
should therefore take the remote control with 
you when you leave the vehicle so that the latter 
can be opened from outside.<
Unlocking
Press the   button.
The interior lamps and the courtesy lamps
* 
come on. You can also set the way in which the 
car is unlocked. The setting is stored for the 
remote control currently in use.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
ProCarManuals.com