
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 
page252.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
6Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
23Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
45Adjustments
56Transporting children safely
59Driving
74Everything under control
88Technology for driving comfort and 
safety
100Lamps
104Climate
110Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
124Things to remember when driving
Navigation
132Starting the navigation system
134Destination entry
147Destination guidance
156What to do if …
Entertainment
160On/off and settings
164Radio
170Satellite radio
173CD player and CD changer
180AUX-In port
181USB/audio interface
Communications
186Telephoning
201BMW Assist
Mobility
210Refueling
212Wheels and tires
223Under the hood
228Maintenance
230Replacing components
236Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
244Technical data
248Short commands for the voice command 
system
252Everything 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
*
>AUX-In port, USB/audio interface* for 
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 inspections
>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. 

Voice command system
24 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 page248.
Opening the start menu
Example: selecting a track
1.If necessary, switch on entertainment audio 
output.
2.Press the   button on the steering wheel. {Options}
{Help}
{Radio on} or {Turn radio on} 
{Main menu}
3.{Entertainment}
The system says: 
{{Entertainment}}
4.{CD}
The system says: 
{{CD on}} 

Practical interior accessories
114
Rechargeable flashlight
It is on the left-hand side of the glove compart-
ment. The flashlight can remain plugged in. 
Whenever required, pull the flashlight out of its 
socket.
Only insert the flashlight back into the 
socket when it is switched off, otherwise 
there is a risk of damage.<
Center armrest
Storage compartment
The center armrest between the front seats 
contains either a compartment or the cover for 
the snap-in adapter
*, depending on the equip-
ment version. For more information about this 
mobile phone base plate refer to the separate 
Owner's Manual.
Convertible: when you lock the vehicle from the 
outside, the center armrest is locked as well.
Opening
Press the button, see arrow.
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 page108.
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.
>AUX-In port, refer to page180
>USB/audio interface
*, refer to page181
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 netson the front-seat backrests.
Storage compartments in the rear 
console
Depending on your vehicle's equipment ver-
sion, the following storage compartments can 
be found in the rear console: 

On/off and settings
160
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
>Programmable memory keys, refer to 
page21
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
>"SAT": satellite radio
*
>"CD": CD player or changer
>"AUX": AUX-In port, USB/audio interface
>"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 at radio readiness or beyond, 
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
 161Reference
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 at radio readiness or beyond, 
the setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently 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 at radio readiness or beyond, 
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", pressing the 
controller after each selection.
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
164
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 
best reception, refer to page165.
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":
Stations with the best reception on the 
"AM" waveband. 
For High Definition Radio: stations with the 
best reception on the "FM" waveband.
>"Presets":
Stations you have previously stored, refer to 
page166.
>"Manual"
To select stations that can be received in 
addition to those displayed.
To change the selection criterion: 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 165Reference
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 can 
be 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.