
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to use 
the index, refer to page234.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
22Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
46Adjusting
56Transporting children safely
58Driving
68Everything under control
80Technology for comfort, convenience 
and safety
95Lamps
99Climate
105Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
114Things to remember when driving
Navigation
122Starting navigation system
124Destination entry
136Destination guidance
145What to do if …
Entertainment
148On/off and tone
152Radio
161CD player and CD changer
167AUX-In connection
Communications
170Telephoning
185BMW Assist
Mobility
194Refueling
196Wheels and tires
202Under the hood
207Maintenance
209Replacing components
219Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
226Technical data
229Short commands of voice command 
system
234Everything from A to Z 

At a glance
 17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation or onboard information
>Navigation system*
>Onboard info, e.g. for displaying of the 
average fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
Climate
>Vent settings
>Automatic programs
>Parked car operation
 menu
>Switching off the Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for MDrive, or 
settings for the central locking system
>Display of maintenance intervals and dead-
lines for legally mandated inspections
>Settings for the telephone
Basic operation
From radio readiness, refer to page58, the fol-
lowing message is shown on the Control Dis-
play:
To hide the message:
Press the controller.
This displays the start menu.
The message is automatically hidden after 
approx. 10 seconds.
Start menu
You can call up all the functions of iDrive using 
five menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the   button.
To open the start menu from the   menu:
Press the   button twice. 

At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
If no other commands are possible, then oper-
ate the equipment using iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice 
command
Press the   button on the steering wheel or in 
the center console
or
Commands
Having possible commands read aloud
You can have the system read aloud the possi-
ble commands related to the selected menu 
item on the Control Display.
To have the system list the possible com-
mands:
For example, if you have selected "CD", the 
system will read aloud the possible commands 
for operating the CD player and the CD 
changer
*.
Opening help 
Using alternative commands
There are often several commands for running 
a function, e.g.: 
Running functions directly with short 
commands
With short commands you can run certain func-
tions directly, regardless of which menu item is 
selected, refer to page229.
Opening start menuAn example: selecting a track
1.Switch on Entertainment sound output if 
necessary.
2.Press the   button on the steering wheel 
or in the center console.
4.Press the   button on the steering wheel 
or in the center console. {Cancel}
{Options}
{Help} 
{Radio on} or {Turn radio on}
{Main menu}
3.{Entertainment} 
The system says: 
{{Entertainment}}
{CD}
The system says: 
{{CD on}}
5.Select a track, e.g.:
{Track 1}
The system says: 
{{Track 1}} 

Controls
 107Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Be sure that the flashlight is switched off 
when it is inserted into its socket. Failure 
to comply with this precaution could lead to 
overcharging and damage.<
Center armrest
A storage compartment is located in the arm-
rest between the front seats. This compartment 
is integrated into the central locking system and 
can also be locked separately using the hotel 
function, refer to page33.
To open the cover:
Pull the left button. The cover opens and can be 
folded upward.
Depending on the version, the storage com-
partment can be equipped with a correspond-
ing cradle
* for the telephone or mobile phone.
Connection for external audio device
A connection for an external audio device is 
located in the storage compartment. You can, 
for example, connect a CD player or an MP3 
player, and play the sound via the vehicle loud-
speakers, refer to page167
Adjusting height
The center armrest can be set in two positions.
Pull the right button:
Move the armrest upward or downward and 
lock it in the desired position.
Storage compartments
Storage compartment behind center 
armrest
To open, raise the cover at the left or right edge. 
The compartment contains the cup holder
 and 
the lock for the hotel function, refer to page33.
Other compartments and nets
Other compartments are provided in the doors 
as well as in the front center console
*.
Ticket pockets are located in the sun visors.
Storage nets are located on the backrests of the 
front seats and in the passenger footwell
*.
To prevent the risk of injury during an 
accident, do not stow hard or sharp-
edged items in the nets.< 

Entertainment
This chapter describes the operation
of the radio and CD player as well as
their tone settings.
Entertainment 

On/off and tone
148
On/off and tone
The following audio sources have shared con-
trols and setting options:
>Professional
* radio or 
Business radio
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons near CD player
>iDrive
>Buttons on steering wheel, refer to page11
Buttons near CD player
The layout of the buttons can vary depending 
on your vehicle's equipment.
One drive:
Two drives:1Entertainment sound output on/off, volume
>Press: switch on/off.
When you switch on, the last set radio 
station or CD track is played.
>Turn: adjust volume.
2Drive for audio CDs
3 Eject CD
4 Station scan/track search
>Change radio station.
>Select track for CD player and 
CD changer.
5Drive for navigation DVDs
Operating via iDrive
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up 
"Entertainment".
You have the following choices:
>"FM" and "AM": radio reception
>"WB": Weather Band station
>"SAT": satellite radio
>"CD": CD player or CD changer
>"AUX": AUX-In connection
>"Set": depending on the audio source, 
other adjustments can be made, e.g. with 
the radio: update station with strongest 
reception, store station, tone control, sam-
ple stations. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 149Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
From another menu, you can change 
directly to the screen last displayed, 
refer to Comfort opening of menu items, 
page18.<
With the ignition key in radio-ready position or 
higher, the selected audio source is stored for 
the remote control currently in use.
Switching on/off
To switch the Entertainment sound output on/
off:
Press knob1 next to the CD player.
 This symbol on the Control Display indi-
cates that sound output is switched off.
For a single drive, the sound output is available 
for approx. 20 minutes with the ignition 
switched off.
To do so, switch the sound output on again.
Adjusting volume
Turn knob1 next to the CD player until the 
desired volume is set.
You can also adjust the volume with the buttons 
on the steering wheel, refer to page11.
From radio readiness, the setting for the remote 
control used at the moment is saved.
Tone control
You can alter various tone settings, e. g. treble 
and bass, or the speed-dependent volume 
increase.
The sound settings are globally adjusted for all 
audio sources.
From radio readiness, the settings are saved for 
the remote control used at the moment.
Changing tone settings
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.Select "Audio" and press the controller.
The tone settings can also be selected when 
you have opened "Entertainment" in the start 
menu:
Select "Set" and then "Tone", and press the 
controller.
Treble and bass
1.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Treble / Bass" is selected 
and press the controller.
2.Move the controller to the left or right to 
select "Treble" or "Bass".
3.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is selected. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 153Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
>"Manual":
Set stations that are received in addition to 
those displayed.
Changing selection criteria
1.Change into the second field from the top.
2.Turn the controller until the desired selec-
tion criterion is selected and press the con-
troller.
Buttons next to CD player
Press the   button for the corresponding 
direction.
The system changes to the next displayed sta-
tion.
You can also change stations with buttons on 
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
Sampling stations, scan
The system automatically plays a brief sample 
from each of the stations on the current wave-
band.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
3.Select "Scan" and press the controller.The stations are sampled.
To end sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
This cancels sampling of the stations, and the 
radio remains on the current station.
Buttons next to CD player
To sample the stations, press and hold the 
 button for the corresponding direction.
To stop scanning, press the button again.
Selecting frequency manually
With "Manual" you can select stations that are 
received in addition to those displayed.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the second field from the top.
3.Select "Manual" and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller to set a certain fre-
quency.
Updating stations with best reception
For Professional radio with "AM" and Business 
radio:
If you are on a longer journey and leave the 
transmission range of the stations originally set, 
you can update the list of stations with the best 
reception signal.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the second field from the top.
3.Select "Autostore" and press the controller.
"Set" is selected.