Page 173 of 272
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
171Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Selecting and storing a
channel
1.Select "SAT" and press the controller.
Channels are shown on the Control Display,
sorted on the basis of selection criteria.
2.Select a menu item:
>"Presets":
Up to twelve channels you stored previ-
ously.
>"All channels":
All channels are displayed.
>"Categories":
All channels, sorted by category, e.g.
news, jazz.
3.Press the controller.4.If "Categories" has been selected:
Select the desired category and press the
controller.
The channels of this category are displayed.
5. Select a channel marked with this sym-
bol.
6.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
7.Select "Play" and press the controller.
Additional information
The name of the channel and additional infor-
mation on the current track are displayed, e.g.
the name of the artist.
Page 175 of 272

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
173Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
CD player and CD changer
Listening to CDs
Compressed audio files*
CDs with compressed audio files, MP3s, can be
played by the CD player and CD changer.
Starting the CD player
The upper drive is for audio CDs.
Insert the CD into the drive with the labeled side
up.
The CD is pulled in automatically. Playback
starts automatically if the sound output is on.
When playing CDs with compressed audio files,
it can take the CD player approx. 1 minute to
read in the data, depending on the directory
structure.
To start playback when there is already a CD in
the drive:
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 "CD" and press
the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the second field from the top. On cars with a
CD changer, select "CD" and press the
controller to start the CD player.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is switched on.
Via programmable memory keys
You can store the CD player function on the
programmable memory keys to start the CD
player, refer to page21.
Starting the CD changer
Fill and insert the CD magazine, refer to
page177.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up
"Entertainment".
*
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Navigation
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175Reference
At a glance
Controls
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Mobility
To exit from the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
If the car is equipped with two CD drives, you
can save specific tracks on the programmable
memory keys, refer to page21.
Displaying information about the
track*
With compressed audio files, any information
about the current track that has been recorded
can be displayed, e.g. the name of the artist.
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Details" and press the controller.
The information is shown for the current track.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Sampling tracks, Scan
All tracks on the current CD are automatically
sampled once in succession.
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
Stop sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
Track sampling is interrupted and the selected
track is played on.
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2.Select the desired menu item:
>To sample all the tracks in the current
directory, select "Scan directory" and
press the controller.
>To sample all the tracks on the CD,
select "Scan all" and press the control-
ler.
Stop sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan directory" or "Scan all" and
press the controller.
Sampling is interrupted and the selected track
is retained.
Page 179 of 272

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
177Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2.Select the desired menu item:
>To play all the tracks in the current direc-
tory in random order, select "Random
directory" and press the controller.
>To play all the tracks on the CD in ran-
dom order, select "Random all" and
press the controller.
Stop random function:
1.Press the controller
2.Select "Random directory" or "Random all"
and press the controller.
Fast forward/reverse
Buttons on the CD player:
Press and hold the button for the
corresponding direction.
The tracks can be heard, but reproduction is
distorted.
CD magazine
Coupe
Convertible
The BMW CD changer for six CDs is behind the
left side panel in the cargo bay.
Removing the CD magazine
T o i n s e r t o r r e m o v e C D s f r o m t h e C D m a g a z i n e ,
you must first remove it from the CD changer:
1.Push the cover to one side, arrow 1.
2.Press the button, arrow 2.
The CD magazine is ejected.
Page 181 of 272
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
179Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
DVDs cannot be played or can only be played to
a limited extent.
Care
Clean the reflective signal side of CDs/DVDs as
needed by wiping it with a commercially avail-
able cleaning tissue in straight lines from the
center of the disc outwards. For more informa-
tion on taking care of CDs/DVDs, please refer to
the Caring for your vehicle brochure.
Page 182 of 272

AUX-In port
180
AUX-In port
You can connect an external audio device, for
instance an MP3 player, and play audio tracks
over the car's loudspeaker system. You can
adjust the tone using iDrive.
Connecting
Lift up the center armrest.
Connection for audio playback:
TRS connector 1/8 in/3.5 mm
To play audio tracks over the car's loudspeaker
system, connect the headset or line-out port of
the external device to the AUX-in port.
Starting audio playback
The audio device must be switched on.
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. Turn the controller until "AUX" is selected and press the con-
troller.
4.Select "AUX" and press the controller.
5.Adjust volume and tone, if necessary.
Via programmable memory keys
You can store the "AUX" function on a program-
mable memory key to start audio playback, refer
to page21.
Page 183 of 272

Navigation
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181Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
USB/audio interface
You can connect audio devices, e. g. an iPod or
a USB device (MP3 player, USB stick) to the
USB/audio interface. They can be operated via
iDrive.
Standard audio formats, e.g. MP3, WMA, WAV
(PCM) and AAC, and playlists in the M3U format
can be played.
Due the variety of audio devices on the market,
it cannot be guaranteed that every device will
be operable on the vehicle.
Ask your BMW center about what audio devices
are suitable.
Connecting
Lift up the center armrest.
1Connection for audio playback:
TRS connector 1/8 in/3.5 mm
2USB interface
Depending on your vehicle's equipment
version, it may contain a storage pouch
for your audio device. The pouch is located
under the center armrest.<
iPod
To play audio tracks over the vehicle's loud-
speaker system, connect the iPod to ports 1
and 2.
To connect the iPod, use an iPod adapter cable.
The iPod's menu structure is supported by the
USB/audio interface.
USB device
To connect the device, use the included
flexible adapter cable to protect the USB
interface and your USB device against physical
damage.<
To play audio tracks over the vehicle's loud-
speaker system, connect the USB device to
port2.
After the device is connected for the first time,
the information on all tracks (e. g. artist, type of
music) and the playlists are transferred from the
USB device to the vehicle. This procedure may
take some time. The duration depends on the
USB device and the number of tracks.
During transfer, you can select the tracks using
the directories and file names.
After transfer, you can call up the tracks using
the information and playlists.
Information from up to four USB devices can be
stored on the vehicle, for a total of about 20,000
tracks.
If a fifth USB device is connected, the informa-
tion stored in the vehicle on the tracks of the
first USB device is deleted.
Music tracks with integrated Digital
Rights Management (DRM) cannot be
played.<
Starting audio playback
Via iDrive
If the audio device has a device name, the name
is displayed.
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. Turn the controller
*
Page 185 of 272

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
183Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2.Select "Random" and press the controller.
Stop random play:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Random" and press the controller.
Fast forward/reverse
Buttons on the steering wheel or CD player:
Press and hold the button for the
corresponding direction.
Notes
Do not expose the audio device to
extreme environmental conditions, e. g.
very high temperatures, refer to the operating
instructions of the audio device. Otherwise the
audio device may become damaged, which
could compromise safety while driving.<
Depending on the configuration of the audio
files, e. g. bit rates greater than 256 KBit/s, the
files may not play back correctly in every case.
Notes on connecting
>The USB/audio interface acts as power
supply to the connected audio devices, pro-
vided that this is supported by the audio
device. Therefore, do not connect the USB
audio device to the power socket in the
vehicle during operation.
>Do not forcibly connect the plug to the USB
interface.
>Do not connect devices such as fans or
lamps to the USB/audio interface.
>Do not connect USB hard disks.