
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 

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. 

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}} 

Controls
 111Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Ventilated storage compartment
The storage compartment in the center armrest 
can be ventilated: slide the switch backwards.
The temperature is controlled via the knurled 
wheel for adjusting the temperature of air venti-
lating the rear of the passenger compartment, 
refer to page105.
Connection for external audio device
You can connect an external audio device such 
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks 
over the car's loudspeaker system, refer to 
page173.
Storage compartments inside 
the vehicle
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you 
will find compartments beside the steering col-
umn
*, in the front doors and in the center con-
sole
*. 
There are nets
* on the front-seat backrests.
Clothes hooks
There are clothes hooks on the grab handles in 
the rear passenger compartment.
Items of clothing hung from the hooks 
must not obstruct the driver's view. Do 
not hang heavy objects from the hooks, other-
wise they could endanger the car's occupants, 
e.g. in case of heavy braking or sudden swerv-
ing.<
Cup holders
Use lightweight and breakproof contain-
ers. Otherwise there is an increased risk 
of injury in the event of an accident. Do not force 
containers that are too large into the cup hold-
ers, otherwise damage could result.<
Front
Opening
Briefly press the center of the cover.
Closing
Briefly press the cover in the center and push in 
the cup holder.
Rear
There are two additional cup holders in the rear 
center armrest.
Press the front of the armrest. 

On/off and settings
156
On/off and settings
The following audio sources have shared con-
trols and setting options:
>Radio
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons near the CD player
>iDrive
>Buttons
 on the steering wheel, refer to 
page11
Buttons on the CD player
1Sound output for entertainment on/off, vol-
ume
>Press: switch on/off.
When you switch on, the last set radio 
station or CD track is played.
>Turn: adjust volume.
2Drive for audio CDs
3 Eject CD
4 Station scan/track search
>Change radio station.
>Select track for CD player and CD 
changer.
5Drive for navigation DVD
Operation via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up 
"Entertainment".
You have the following choices:
>"FM" and "AM": radio reception
>"WB": Weather Band station
>"SAT": satellite radio
>"CD": CD player or changer
>"AUX": external audio device
>"Set": depending on the audio source, 
other adjustments can be made, e.g. with 
the radio: update station with strongest 
reception, store station, tone control, sam-
ple stations.
From another menu, you can switch 
directly to the screen last displayed, refer 
to Convenient call-up of menu items on 
page18.<
With the ignition key in radio-ready position or 
higher, the selected audio source is stored for 
the remote control currently in use.
Switching on/off
In order to switch the entertainment sound out-
put on and off:
Press button1 on the CD player.
 This symbol on the Control Display indi-
cates that sound output is switched off. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 157Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Adjusting volume
Turn knob1 on the CD player until the desired 
volume is obtained.
You can also adjust the volume with buttons on 
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
With the ignition key in radio-ready position or 
higher, the setting is stored for the remote con-
trol currently in use.
Tone control
You can alter various tone settings, e.g. treble 
and bass or the speed-dependent volume 
increase.
The tone settings are applied to all audio 
sources.
With the ignition key in radio-ready position or 
higher, the settings are stored for the remote 
control currently in use.
Changing tone settings
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.Select "Audio" and press the controller.
The tone settings can also be selected if you 
have called up "Entertainment" in the start 
menu:
Select "Set" and then "Tone", and press the 
controller.
Treble and bass
1.Select "Treble / Bass" and press the con-
troller.
2.Move the controller to the left or right to 
select "Treble" or "Bass".
3.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is selected.
Balance and fader
You can adjust the volume distribution in the 
same manner as "Treble / Bass".
>"Balance": left/right volume distribution
>"Fader": front/rear volume distribution
Speed-dependent volume control
The speed-dependent volume control auto-
matically increases the volume with increasing 
driving speed. You can set various stages for 
the increase in volume. 

Radio
160
Radio
Your radio provides reception of the FM and AM 
wavebands:
Listening to the radio
Press the button if the sound output is switched 
off.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up 
"Entertainment".
3.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Select "FM" or "AM".
4.Press the controller.
Stations are shown on the Control Display on 
the basis of various selection criteria, e.g. "Pre-
sets".
If "Autostore" does not show a station in the AM 
waveband or if the displayed stations are no 
longer receivable, update the stations with the 
strongest received signal, refer to page161.
Changing stations
Turn the controller.
Buttons on the CD player
 Press the button for the corre-
sponding direction.
The system switches to the next displayed sta-
tion.
You can also change the station with buttons on 
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
Changing selection criteria
In addition to the stations currently displayed, 
you can have stations with another selection 
criterion displayed.
You can choose from the following selection 
criteria:
>"All stations":
Stations that can currently be received on 
the "FM" waveband.
>"Autostore":
The stations with the strongest received 
signals in the "AM" waveband.
>"Presets":
Stations you have previously stored, refer to 
page162.
To change the selection criterion: 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 161Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
1.Move the highlight marker to the second 
field from the top.
2.Choose a selection criterion and press the 
controller.
Sampling stations, scan
The stations on the current waveband are auto-
matically sampled in succession.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
3.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
The stations are sampled.
Stop sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
Station sampling is interrupted and the 
selected station stays on.
Buttons on the CD player
 To sample stations, press the but-
ton for the corresponding direction for an 
extended time.
To stop scanning, press the button again.
Selecting the frequency manually
With "Manual" you can select stations that are 
received in addition to those displayed.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Move the highlight marker to the second 
field from the top.
3.Select "Manual" and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller to set a certain fre-
quency.
Updating stations with best reception
If on a longer journey you move out of the 
reception range of the stations originally 
received, you can update the list of stations 
received with the strongest signals in the AM 
waveband.
1.Select "AM" and press the controller.
2.Move the highlight marker to the second 
field from the top.
3.Select "Autostore" and press the controller.
"Set" is selected.
4.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.