
At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Voice command system
The concept
The voice command system allows you to con-
trol operation of various vehicle systems with-
out removing your hands from the steering 
wheel.
Individual menu items on the Control Display 
can be spoken as commands. It is not neces-
sary to use the controller.
The voice command system transforms your 
oral commands into control signals for the 
selected systems and provides support in the 
form of instructions or questions.
The voice command system uses a special 
microphone located in the area of the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to page14.
Precondition
Via iDrive, select the language in which the 
voice command system is operating, so that the 
spoken commands can be identified. Selecting 
the language for iDrive, refer to page86.
Symbols in the Owner's Manual
Saying commands
Activating voice command system
1.Press the   button on the steering wheel. This symbol on the Control Display and 
an acoustic signal indicate that the voice 
command system is ready to receive spo-
ken commands.
2.Say the command.
The command appears on the Control Dis-
play.
 This symbol appears on the Control Display 
when you can enter additional commands. 
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
Commands
Having the possible commands read 
aloud
You can have the system read aloud the possi-
ble commands related to the selected menu 
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for 
word. 
{{...}} Indicates responses of the voice 
command system.
{Cancel} 

At a glance
 25Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
5.Press the   button on the steering wheel.
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 
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}} 

Adjustments
54 Do not use force to swing the lever 
back up, otherwise the mechanism 
will be damaged.<
Programmable buttons on the steering 
wheel
You can program the buttons to suit your per-
sonal preferences:
These settings are stored for the remote con-
trol 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 "Steering wheel buttons" and press 
the controller.A list showing various functions is dis-
played:
>"Navigation voice instructions" 
Voice messages from the navigation 
system
*
>"Air recirculation on / off" 
Permanent shut-off of outside air, refer 
to AUC Automatic recirculated-air con-
trol on page106
>"Mute on / off" 
To mute the audio sources
>"Monitor on / off" 
To switch the Control Display on/off
>"Telephone list"
*
To show/hide the phone book or last dis-
played list of stored phone numbers
>"Next entertainment source"
To change the audio source
5.Select the desired function and press the 
controller.
6.Select a button, if appropriate, and press 
the controller.
You can operate the selected function using the 
corresponding button.
Operating a function
Briefly press the appropriate button on the 
steering wheel.
If you have programmed "Navigation voice 
instructions" for one of the buttons:
>Switch voice instructions on/off:
Press the button for a longer period.
>To repeat the last voice instruction:
Press the button briefly. 

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: 

Things to remember when driving
124
Things to remember when driving
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to 
each other. Please follow the instructions below 
in order to achieve the optimal service life and 
economy of operation for your vehicle.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do 
not exceed an engine speed of 4500 rpm or a 
road speed of 100 mph/160 km/h.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the 
transmission's kick-down mode.
After driving 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually 
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their 
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in 
period. Therefore, drive cautiously during the 
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized 
contact and wear patterns between brake pads 
and rotors. Drive cautiously during this break-in 
period.
Clutch
The function of the clutch reaches its optimal 
level only after a distance driven of approx. 
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period, 
engage the clutch gently.
Following part replacement
The same break-in procedures should be 
observed if any of the components mentioned 
above have to be renewed in the course of the 
vehicle's operating life.
General driving notes
Close the luggage compartment lid
Operate the vehicle only when the lug-
gage compartment lid is closed. Other-
wise, exhaust fumes could enter the interior of 
the vehicle.<
If special circumstances make it absolutely nec-
essary to drive with the luggage compartment 
lid open:
1.Close all windows and the glass roof.
2.Increase the air flow rate of the automatic 
climate control considerably, refer to 
page106.
Hot exhaust system
In all vehicles, extremely high tempera-
tures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed 
adjacent to various sections of the exhaust sys-
tem, and never apply undercoating to them. 
When driving, standing at idle and while park-
ing, take care to avoid possible contact 
between the hot exhaust system and any highly 
flammable materials such as hay, leaves, grass, 
etc. Such contact could lead to a fire, with the 
risk of serious personal injuries and property 
damage. Do not touch hot exhaust tail pipes. 
Otherwise there is a risk of burns.<
Mobile phone in the vehicle
BMW discourages the use of mobile 
communications devices, e.g. mobile 
phones, inside the vehicle without a direct con-
nection to an outside antenna. Otherwise, the 
vehicle electronics and mobile communications  

Navigation
Driving tips
 141Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
3.Select location:
>"On destination"
>"On location"
>"On a new destination"
4.Press the controller.
5.Make your selection, e.g. "Hotels and res-
taurants", and press the controller.
6.Enter search criteria if necessary, e. g. the 
maximum distance from your location.
7.Select "
troller.
Destinations are shown on the Control Dis-
play.
8.Select a destination and press the control-
ler.
The scope of information and sym-
bols depends on the particular navi-
gation DVD you are using.<
9.Select the desired menu item:
>To transfer the address to the destina-
tion list and start destination guidance:Select the   symbol and press the 
controller.
>To establish a telephone connection:
Select the   symbol and press the con-
troller.
>To display additional destinations:
Select the     symbol and press the 
controller.
>To start a new search:
Select the   symbol and press the con-
troller.
To exit from the menu:
Select the   arrow and press the controller.
Symbols in the map display
If you select the hotel category, for example, 
and start a search, hotels appear on the map as 
symbols.
To hide the symbols in the map display:
1.Select the   symbol and press the control-
ler.
2.Select "Hide map icons" and press the con-
troller.
The symbols are hidden.
To show the symbols:
Select "Show map icons" and press the con-
troller.
To exit from the menu:
Select the   arrow and press the controller.
Destination list
The last 20 destinations entered into the sys-
tem are shown in the destination list. You can 
call up these destinations and transfer them for  

Satellite radio
170
Satellite radio
You can receive over 100 different channels 
with high sound quality.
The channels are offered to you in predefined 
packages. To receive the channels of your 
choice, you must have the corresponding pack-
ages enabled.
With this new technology, signal losses 
can occur from time to time and result in 
audio interruptions.<
Enabling or disabling 
channels
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.Select "SAT".
4.Press the controller.
The channels are displayed.
 These channels are enabled.
Enabling
1.Select a channel that has not yet been 
enabled and press the controller.
A telephone number and the electronic 
serial number, ESN, are displayed.
The electronic serial number is 
required to enable or disable.<
2.To enable the channel:
Dial the phone number.
Disabling
1.Select an enabled channel and press the 
controller.
2.Select "ESN" and press the controller. 
The electronic serial number, ESN, is dis-
played.
The electronic serial number is 
required to disable.<
3.To disable the channel:
Dial the phone number.
* 

Communications
This chapter describes how to use the
telephone, BMW Assist and TeleService.
Communications