
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7Buttons on steering wheel
8Instrument cluster12
11Ignition lock6012Horn, entire surface
15Releasing hood228
16Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate35,34 Mobile phone
*192:
>Press: accepting and ending 
call, starting dialing
* for 
selected phone number and 
redialing if no phone number is 
selected
>Press and hold: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice 
command system
* 23
Changing radio station170
Selecting music track180
Scrolling in phone book and in lists 
with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable
*54 
Individually programmable
*54 
Leaving lane warning
*105
9
Windshield wipers67
Rain sensor67
Sports Wagon: rear window 
wiper68
10Starting/stopping engine and 
Switching ignition on/off 60
13
Steering wheel heater*54
Steering wheel adjustment54
14
Cruise control
*68
Active cruise control
*69
17
Head-Up Display
*101
BMW Night Vision
*103
18Parking lamp107
Daytime running lamps
*108
Low beams107
Welcome lamps107
Automatic headlamp control
*107 
Daytime running lamps
*108
Welcome lamps107 
Adaptive Head Light
*109 
19
Instrument lighting110
Fog lamps
*110 

At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
different combinations and colors.
Some lamps are tested for proper function by 
briefly lighting up during starting of the engine 
or when the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the bottom edge of the Con-
trol Display explain the meaning of the dis-
played indicator and warning lamps.
Additional information, e.g. on the cause of a 
malfunction and on the corresponding need to 
take action can be displayed via the Check Con-
trol, refer to page82.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 indicate that the 
associated functions are activated:
Handbrake applied62
Handbrake applied for Canadian 
models
Fog lamps
*110
DTC Dynamic Traction Control92
High beams/headlamp flasher109
Lamp flashes: 
DSC or DTC controls the drive and 
braking forces for maintaining vehicle 
stability91 

iDrive
18
Opening menu items of start menu
With the start menu you can open the menu 
items Communication, Navigation, Entertain-
ment and Climate by moving the controller to 
the left, right, front or rear.
You can open the   menu by pressing the con-
troller.
Comfort opening of menu items
Comfort opening offers you:
>Opening of a menu item of the start menu in 
the last display shown
>Direct changing between Communication, 
Navigation, Entertainment and Climate 
without pressing the   button
For this purpose, move the controller in the cor-
responding direction and hold it for longer than 
approx. 2 seconds.
Displays in menu
1Each menu is divided into fields. 
The respective active field is highlighted.
2A symbol indicates the last selected menu 
item of the start menu:
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 displayed graphically or 
numerically.
Communication
Navigation or onboard information
Entertainment
Climate
 menu 

At a glance
 19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Operating principle at a glance
Basic operation via iDrive is described in this 
view.You can view the individual steps under Set-
tings on Control Display, Setting time, refer to 
page85.
1Selecting menu item:
>Turn the controller; the highlight moves
>Menu items shown in white can be 
selected by highlighting
2Activating menu item:
>Press the controller
>New menu items are displayed or the 
function is carried out
3Selecting menu item: refer to 14Changing between fields:
>Briefly move the controller left, right, 
forward or back
>Release controller
>Active field appears lighter
5Adjusting settings:
>Turn controller
>Graphic display, numerical value or text 
displays can be changed
>Confirmation by changing field 

Controls
 29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Remove the adapter from the holder in the 
glove compartment and slide the spare key into 
the adapter before use.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set a number of functions of your BMW 
individually according to your preferences. Per-
sonal Profile ensures that most of these set-
tings are stored for the remote control currently 
in use without you having to do anything. When 
the vehicle is unlocked, the corresponding 
remote control is detected and the settings 
stored for it are called up and carried out.
This means that you will always find your BMW 
set to your own personal settings even if 
another person with his/her own remote control 
and settings has used the vehicle since the last 
time you drove it. The individual settings are 
stored for a maximum of four remote controls.
Personal Profile settings
Details on the settings are provided on the 
specified pages.
>When unlocking with the remote control, 
either unlock only the driver's door or the 
entire vehicle, refer to page30
>Locking the vehicle after a short time or 
after starting off, refer to page33
>Programming buttons
* on steering wheel, 
refer to page54>Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page87
>Measuring units for consumption, route/
distances, temperature, and pressure, 
refer to page87
>Language on Control Display, refer to 
page87
>12h/24h mode of the clock, refer to 
page86
>Date format, refer to page86
>Lighting settings:
>Pathway lighting, refer to page108
>Daytime running lamps
*, refer to 
page108
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page66
>Welcome lamps, refer to page107
>Showing optical warning for PDC Park Dis-
tance Control
*, refer to page89
>Selection and brightness of display in 
Head-Up Display
*, refer to page101
>Display settings of BMW Night Vision
*, 
refer to page104
>Air distribution, temperature in the upper 
body area and intensity of the automatic cli-
mate control, refer to page112
>Setting voice instructions for destination 
guidance in the navigation system
*, refer to 
Starting navigation system, page140
In addition, the following, most recently 
selected settings are recalled during unlocking:
>Positions of driver's seat, outside mirrors, 
and steering wheel
*, refer to page47
>Audio sources, volume and tone settings, 
refer to page167
>Radio:
>Display of stored stations, refer to 
page170
>Switching RDS Radio Data System on/
off
*, refer to page173 

Controls
 31Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8.Select a menu item:
>"All doors"
Press the   button once to unlock the 
entire vehicle.
>"Driver's door only"
Press the   button once to unlock only 
the driver's door and the fuel filler door.
Press the button twice to unlock the 
entire vehicle.
9.Press the controller.
Comfort opening
Press the   button longer. The windows and 
the glass sunroof
* open.
Locking
Press the   button.
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
persons are inside, as unlocking from the 
inside is not possible without special knowl-
edge.<
Switching on interior lamps
With vehicle locked:
Press the   button.
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Panic mode*
You can trigger the alarm system in case of dan-
ger:
Press the   button for at least 3 seconds.
Switching off alarm: press any button.
Sedan: opening luggage 
compartment lid
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The luggage compartment lid opens, regard-
less of whether it was previously locked or 
unlocked.
During opening, the luggage compart-
ment lid pivots back and up. Make sure 
that adequate clearance is available before 
opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo bay. 
A previously locked luggage compartment lid is 
also locked again after closing.<
Sports Wagon: unlocking tailgate
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The tailgate will open slightly, regardless of 
whether it was previously locked or unlocked.
During opening, the tailgate pivots back 
and up. Make sure that adequate clear-
ance is available before opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo bay. 
A previously locked tailgate is also locked again 
after closing. 
When opening the tailgate, the roll-up cover is 
raised. Before closing the tailgate, press down 
the roll-up cover until it engages.<
If pointed or sharp-edged objects could 
strike the rear window while driving, be 
sure to provide protection around all edges. 
Failure to do so could result in damage to the 
heating conductors of the rear window.<
Setting confirmation signals
You can vary or also deactivate the confirmation 
signals for locking or unlocking.
1.Open 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. 

Opening and closing
38 Unauthorized operations are briefly signaled by 
the alarm system:
>with an acoustic alarm
>by switching on
 the hazard warning flashers
>by flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming alarm system
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.
The luggage compartment lid/tailgate can also 
be opened with the system armed with the   
button on the remote control, refer to page34. 
When the luggage compartment lid/tailgate is 
closed, it is locked and monitored again.
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote control, 
refer to page30.
>Insert the remote control all the way into the 
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the interior rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking: 
doors, hood, luggage compartment lid/tail-
gate or rear window
 are not properly closed. 
Even if you do not close the alerted area, the 
system begins to monitor the remaining 
areas, and the indicator lamp flashes con-
tinuously after approx. 10 seconds. How-
ever, the interior motion sensor is not acti-
vated.>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking: 
your vehicle has not been disturbed while 
you were away.
>The indicator lamp flashes after unlocking 
until the remote control is inserted into the 
ignition lock, however for a maximum of 
approx. 5 minutes: your vehicle has been 
disturbed while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm 
system reacts, e.g. in case of an attempted 
wheel theft or towing.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof
* 
must be completely closed.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor 
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following 
situations:
>In two-level garages
>When transporting on car-carrying trains, 
by sea or on a trailer
>When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor
Press the   button on the remote control 
again as soon as the vehicle is locked.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then 
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and 
the interior motion sensor are switched off until 
the next time the vehicle is unlocked and subse-
quently locked again. 

Controls
 39Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Comfort access*
Comfort access enables you to access your 
vehicle without having to hold the remote con-
trol in your hand. It is sufficient to carry the 
remote control with you, e.g. in your jacket 
pocket. The vehicle automatically detects the 
related remote control in the immediate vicinity 
or in the interior.
Comfort access supports the following func-
tions:
>Unlocking/locking vehicle
>Comfort closing
>Opening luggage compartment lid/tailgate 
separately
>Sports Wagon: opening rear window sepa-
rately
>Starting engine
Functional requirement
>The vehicle or the luggage compartment 
lid/tailgate can only be locked if the vehicle 
detects that the remote control you are car-
rying is outside the vehicle.
>The next unlocking and locking cycle is not 
possible until after approx. 2 seconds.
>The engine can only be started if the vehicle 
detects that the remote control is located in 
the vehicle.
Comparison with ordinary remote 
control
You can control the functions mentioned previ-
ously with the comfort access or by pressing 
the buttons on the remote control. Therefore, 
please familiarize yourself with the information 
on opening and closing beginning on page28 
beforehand.
The special features when using comfort 
access are described in the following.
Should a short delay occur when opening 
or closing the windows or the glass sun-
roof, the system is checking whether a remote 
control is located in the vehicle. Please repeat 
opening or closing if necessary.<
Unlocking
Completely grasp a door handle, arrow1. 
This corresponds to pressing the   button.
Locking
>For the driver's door, touch the area high-
lighted in the picture, arrow2, with your fin-
ger for approx. 1 second.
>For the remaining doors, touch the area 
highlighted in the picture, arrow3, with your 
finger for approx. 1 second.
This corresponds to pressing the   but-
ton.
Please make sure that the ignition and all 
electronic systems/consumers are 
switched off before locking to save the bat-
tery.<
Comfort closing
Hold a finger or the back of the hand on the sur-
face, arrow2 or 3.
The windows and the glass sunroof
* are 
closed.
Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Removing the 
hand from the door handle stops the closing 
process immediately.<
Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate separately
Press the button on the luggage compartment 
lid/tailgate. This corresponds to pressing the 
 button.
If a remote control accidentally left in the 
cargo bay is detected in the locked vehi-
cle after closing the luggage compartment lid/