
At a glance
 19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Operating principle at a glance
The following is a general description of opera-
tions using iDrive.For an exemplary step-by-step application refer 
to Setting the time, page81.
1Selecting a menu item:
>Turn the controller; the highlight marker 
moves
>Menu items in white can be selected by 
highlighting them
2Activating a menu item:
>Press the controller
>New menu items are displayed or the 
function is executed
3Selecting a menu item: refer to14Switching between fields:
>Briefly move the controller to the left, 
right, forward, or backward
>Release the controller
>The active field is brighter in color
5Adjusting settings:
>Turn the controller
>Graphic display, numerical value or text 
displays can be changed
>Confirm by changing the field 

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 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. 

At a glance
 21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Switching assistance window on/off
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 turn back on, switch to the assistance win-
dow 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.
Press the controller to switch on.
Programmable memory keys
Using the programmable memory keys, you can 
store and execute certain iDrive functions:
>Navigation destinations
*
>Entertainment:
>Radio stations
>CD
>CD compartment of CD changer
>AUX
>Telephone: phone numbers
The assignment of the programmable memory 
keys is stored for the remote control currently in 
use.
Storing functions
Navigation destinations*
1.Select the navigation destination, e.g. in the 
destination list or address book.
2. ...   Press the key longer than 
2seconds.
Special features:
>If destination guidance and the map view 
have been started, the current destination is 
stored.
>If the destination is entered via map, the 
coordinates in the crosshairs are stored, not 
the current destination.
Telephone, phone numbers
1.Enter the phone number or select the num-
ber from a list of stored phone numbers, e.g. 
the A-Z list.
2. ...   Press the key longer than 
2seconds.
If the phone number is associated with a name, 
the name is also stored.
Entertainment
The item stored in the Entertainment menu is 
the source that is playing at the time of storage, 
e.g. a radio station, irrespective of what was 
selected on the Control Display.
1.Select the desired function, e.g. radio sta-
tion or CD.
2. ...   Press the key longer than 
2seconds. 

Controls
 35Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Coupe
Convertible
To close the luggage compartment lid, 
press it down lightly. The lid is closed 
automatically.<
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the luggage com-
partment lid is opened
>To movements inside the vehicle: Interior 
motion sensor, refer to page36
>When the car's inclination changes, for 
instance if an attempt is made to jack it up 
and steal the wheels or to raise it prior to 
towing away
>When there is an interruption in the power 
supply from the battery
The alarm system signals unauthorized entry 
attempts for a short time by means of:
>An acoustic alarm
>Switching on the hazard warning flashers
>Flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming
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.
You can open the luggage compartment lid 
even when the alarm system is armed, by 
pressing the   button on the remote control, 
refer to page30. The lid is locked and moni-
tored again as soon as you close it.
Panic mode*
You can trigger the alarm system if you find 
yourself in a dangerous situation:
Press the   button for at least three seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Switching off an alarm
>Unlock the car with the remote control, refer 
to page29.
>Insert the remote control all the way into the 
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the inside rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking: 
doors, hood or luggage compartment lid are 
not properly closed. Even if you do not close 
the alerted area, the system begins to mon-
itor the remaining areas, and the indicator 
lamp flashes continuously after approx. 
10 seconds. The interior motion sensor and 
the tilt alarm sensor are not activated. 

Controls
 77Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Entering a distance manually
1.Select "Distance to dest." and press the 
controller.
2.Turn the controller to select the distance to 
your destination.
3.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The distance is automatically entered during 
destination guidance.
Trip computer
The trip computer is suitable e.g. for a holiday 
trip.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Call up "Navigation".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4.Select "Trip computer" and press the con-
troller.
>Departure time
>Driving time
>Distance traveled
>Average speed
>Average fuel consumption
Switching trip computer on/off and resetting all 
values to zero:1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
2.Select the desired menu item and press the 
controller.
Display options
You can display the computer or the trip com-
puter in the assistance window.
1.Move the controller to the right to change to 
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select a menu item:
>"Onboard info"
>"Trip computer"
3.Press the controller. 

Everything under control
86
Applying your current speed as limit
Select "Select current speed" and press the 
controller. The system adopts your current 
speed as the limit.
Activating the limit
Select "On" and press the controller.
 Limit is activated.
Stopwatch
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Call up "Navigation".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4.Select "Stopwatch" and press the control-
ler.
Starting, stopping or resetting
>Select "Start" and press the controller. 
The stopwatch starts at the displayed time.
>Select "Reset" and press the controller. 
The stopwatch is reset and restarts if it was 
running beforehand.
>Select "Stop" and press the controller. 
This stops the timer.
Taking an interim time reading
Select "Interim time" and press the controller. 
The interim time appears below the ongoing 
primary stopwatch count.
All of the remaining functions remain 
available at all times while the stopwatch 
is running. The stopwatch continues operation 
in the background.<
Altering settings
Language on the Control Display
The language of the Control Display can be set. 
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "Languages" is selected and press the 
controller.
5.Select "Text language" and press the con-
troller. You can switch to another language 
for the display texts and navigation mes-
sages.
6.Select and activate the desired language by 
pressing the controller.
Brightness of the Control Display
The brightness is automatically adapted to the 
ambient lighting conditions. Note, however, 
that you can change the basic setting while the 
low beams are switched on. The setting is 
stored for the remote control currently in use.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller  

Technology for driving comfort and safety
92 The drive-off assistant holds the car in 
place for approx. 2 seconds after the 
brake is released. Depending on vehicle load, 
the car may roll backwards a little during this 
time span. Drive off without delay after releas-
ing the brake. Otherwise, the drive-off assistant 
will no longer hold the car in place after approx. 
2 seconds and the car will start to roll back-
wards.<
Flat Tire Monitor FTM*
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor monitors tire pressures 
while the car is being driven. The system 
reports any significant loss of pressure in one 
tire in relation to another.
If a tire loses pressure, its rolling radius 
changes, and this in turn alters the speed of 
rotation. This change is detected and is 
reported as a flat tire.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat 
tire, the system must be initialized for the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure.
The system must be reinitialized each 
time a tire inflation pressure has been cor-
rected or a wheel or tire has been changed.<
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor is unable to warn 
the driver of sudden, severe tire damage 
caused by external factors, nor can it identify 
the gradual loss of pressure that will inevitably 
occur in all four tires over a lengthy period of 
time.<
In the following situations, the system could be 
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Performance-oriented style of driving: slip 
in the drive wheels, high lateral acceleration
>Snow chains are attached
Initializing the system
The initialization is completed during driv-
ing, which can be interrupted at any time. 
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically. 
Do not initialize the system while snow chains 
are attached.<
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 
until "FTM" is selected and press the con-
troller.
6.Start the engine, but do not start driving.
7.Select "Reset" and press the controller. 

Controls
 93Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8.Select "Yes" and press the controller.
9.Start to drive.
Initialization is completed while the car is on 
the move, without any feedback.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamps come on in yellow 
and red. A message appears on the 
Control Display. In addition, an 
acoustic signal sounds. There is a flat 
tire or substantial loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph 
or 80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and 
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed 
of 50 mph or 80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with Run-
Flat Tires, refer to page221, the stan-
dard equipment by design, do not continue 
driving. Otherwise a severe accident could 
result after a tire puncture if you continue 
driving.<
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If all four tires are inflated to the cor-
rect pressures, the Flat Tire Monitor 
might not have been initialized. The system 
must then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible 
distance for continued driving on the basis 
of the following guidelines:
>With a light load: 
1 to 2 persons without luggage: 
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load: 
2 persons, cargo bay full, or 4 persons without luggage: 
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load or when towing a trailer: 
4 persons, cargo bay full: 
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph or 80 km/h. In the event 
of pressure loss, vehicle handling changes. This 
includes reduced tracking stability in braking, 
extended braking distance and altered natural 
steering characteristics. 
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during 
the journey, this may be an indication that the 
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce your 
speed and pull over as soon as possible at a 
suitable location. Otherwise parts of the tire 
could come loose, resulting in an accident. Do 
not continue driving. Instead, contact your 
BMW center.<
Malfunction
The warning lamps come on in yel-
low. A message appears on the Con-
trol Display. The Flat Tire Monitor has 
a malfunction or has failed. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible.
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM*
The concept
TPM checks the inflation pressures of the four 
mounted tires. The system notifies you if there 
is a significant loss of pressure in one or more 
tires.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat 
tire, the system must be reset while all tire infla-
tion pressures are correct.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics. Oth-
erwise, the system may malfunction.
Each time a tire inflation pressure has 
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been 
changed, reset the system.<