
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
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in var-
ious combinations and colors in the indicator 
area 1 or2.
Some lamps are checked for proper functioning 
and thus come on briefly when the engine is 
started or the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the lower edge of the Control 
Display explain the meaning of the displayed 
indicator and warning lamps.
You can call up more information, e.g. on the 
cause of a malfunction and on how to respond, 
via Check Control, refer to page83.In urgent cases, this information will be shown 
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps in the indicator 
area1 signal that the associated functions are 
activated:
High beams/headlamp flasher102
Fog lamps
*102
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC is regulating the propul-
sive forces in order to maintain driving 
stability90
Parking brake applied60
Engine malfunction with adverse 
effect on exhaust emissions229
Canada: engine malfunction with 
adverse effect on exhaust 
emissions229 

iDrive
18
Calling up menu items in the start menu
As of radio readiness, refer to page59:
Via the start menu you can call up the four menu 
items of Communication, Navigation, Entertain-
ment and Climate by moving the controller for-
wards, backwards, to the left or to the right.
You can call up the   menu by pressing the con-
troller.
Convenient call-up of menu items
The convenient call-up function enables you to:
>Call up a menu item from the start menu in 
the view last displayed
>Switch directly between Communication, 
Navigation, Entertainment and Climate 
without having to press the   button
To do so, move the controller in the corre-
sponding direction and hold it for more than 
approx. 2 seconds.
Displays in menu
1Each menu is subdivided into fields. The 
active field is highlighted.
2A symbol indicates the start menu item last 
selected.
1Menu items are usually grouped in horizon-
tal or vertical lists.
2In these lists, arrows indicate the possibility 
of accessing other menu items that are not 
currently visible.
3Settings are represented graphically or as 
numerical values.
Communication
Navigation or onboard information
Entertainment
Climate
 menu 

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 

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} 

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}} 

Opening and closing
28
Opening and closing
Keys/remote controls
Each remote control contains a rechargeable 
battery that is automatically recharged when it 
is in the ignition lock while the car is being 
driven. Use each remote control at least twice a 
year for longer road trips in order to maintain the 
batteries' charge status. In cars with convenient 
access
*, the remote control contains a replace-
able battery, refer to page38.
The settings called up and implemented when 
the car is unlocked depend on which remote 
control is used to unlock the car, refer to Per-
sonal Profile, page28.
In addition, information about service require-
ments is stored in the remote control, refer to 
Service data in the remote control, page228.
Integrated key
Press button1 to release the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
>Glove compartment, refer to page113
>Driver's door, refer to page32
>Luggage compartment lid, refer to page33
New remote controls
Your BMW center can supply new remote con-
trols with integrated keys as additional units or 
as replacements in the event of loss.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set many of your BMW's functions to 
suit your personal needs and preferences. 
Without any action on your part, Personal Pro-
file ensures that most of these settings are 
stored for the remote control currently in use. 
When you unlock the car, the remote control 
used for the purpose is recognized and the set-
tings stored for it are called up and imple-
mented.
This means that your personal settings will be 
activated for you, even if in the meantime your 
car was used by someone else with another 
remote control and the corresponding settings. 
The individual settings are stored for up to three 
remote controls.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer 
to the specified pages.
>Assignment of programmable memory 
keys, refer to page21
>Response of the central locking system 
when the car is unlocked, refer to page29
>Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to 
page32
>Automatic call-up
* of the driver's seat posi-
tion after unlocking, refer to page50
>Programming buttons
* on the steering 
wheel, refer to page54
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page64
>12h/24h mode of the clock, refer to page82
>Date format, refer to page83 

Controls
 29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer to 
page86
>Language on the Control Display, refer to 
page86
>Units of measure for fuel consumption, dis-
tance covered/remaining distances, and 
temperature, refer to page78
>Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC
*, refer to page88
>Welcome lamps, refer to page100
>Pathway lighting, refer to page101
>Daytime running lamps, refer to page101
>Automatic climate control: AUTO program, 
activating/deactivating cooling function and 
automatic recirculated-air control, setting 
temperature, air flow rate and distribution, 
refer to page105 ff
>Audio volume, refer to page161
>Tone control, refer to page161
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer to 
page161
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for opera-
tion whenever the driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid
>Fuel filler door
>Convertible: center armrest and glove com-
partment
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
>In cars with convenient access
*, via the 
handles on the driver's and front passen-
ger's doorsThe anti-theft system is also operated at the 
same time. It prevents the doors from being 
unlocked using the lock buttons or door han-
dles. In addition, if the remote control is used, 
the welcome lamps, interior lamps and the 
door's courtesy lamps
* are switched on or off. 
The alarm system
* is also armed or disarmed.
For further details of the alarm system,
 refer to 
page35.
Operating from inside
By means of the button for central locking, refer 
to page32.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the 
central locking system unlocks automatically. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing:
Using the remote control
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle 
could lock the doors from the inside. You 
should therefore take the remote control with 
you when you leave the vehicle so that the latter 
can be opened from outside.<
Convertible: to operate the retractable 
hardtop with the remote control, the 
doors and luggage compartment lid must be 
closed and the cargo bay partition must be 
folded down and engaged on both sides. Refer 
also to page41.<
Unlocking
Press the   button.
The interior lamps, the courtesy lamps
* and the 
welcome lamps come on.
You can also set the way in which the car is 
unlocked. The setting is stored for the remote 
control 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.