Page 18 of 256
iDrive
16
iDrive
iDrive combines the functions of a multitude of
switches. This allows these functions to be
operated from a central position. The following
section provides an introduction to basic menu navigation. The control of individual functions is
described in connection with the relevant
equipment.
Controls
1Control Display
2 button
Opening the start menu
3Controller
You can use the controller to select menu
items and change settings by:
>moving in four directions, arrows4
>turning, arrow5
>pressing, arrow6To avoid becoming distracted and unnec-
essarily endangering both your own vehi-
cle's occupants and other road users, never
attempt to use the controls or make entries
unless traffic and road conditions allow.<
Page 19 of 256

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.
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iDrive
18
Opening menu items of start menu
From the start menu, you can call up the four
menu items Communication, Navigation, Enter-
tainment, and Climate by moving the controller
left, right, forward, or back.
You can open the menu by pressing the con-
troller.
Comfort opening of menu items
Comfort opening offers you the option of:
>Opening a menu item of the start menu in
the view last selected
>Direct changing between Communication,
Navigation, Entertainment and Climate
without pressing the button
To do so, move the controller in the corre-
sponding direction and hold it for longer than
approx. 2 seconds.
Displays in menu
1Each menu is divided into fields. The cur-
rently selected field appears brighter.
2A symbol indicates the last selected menu
item of the start menu:
1Menu items are usually grouped in horizon-
tal or vertical lists.
2Arrows indicate the possibility of accessing
other menu items that are not currently vis-
ible.
3Settings are displayed graphically or
numerically.
Communication
Navigation or onboard info
Entertainment
Climate
menu
Page 21 of 256
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
page77.
1Selecting menu item:
>Turn controller; marking moves
>Menu items shown in white can be
selected by marking
2Activating a menu item:
>Press controller
>New menu items are displayed or
function is carried out
3Selecting a menu item: refer to 14Changing between fields:
>Briefly move 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
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iDrive
20
Status information
1Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD
>Telephone
* in "Communication":
Name of linked mobile phone, network
search or no network
>"BMW Assist"
*:
Existing voice connection with a service
from BMW Assist
2Entertainment sound output off
3Station that transmits traffic information is
received
*:
"TI":
Traffic information for the navigation sys-
tem
can be received and transmission is
switched on
4Display for:
> New entries present in "Missed calls"
*
> Roaming active
5 Telephoning
* is possible if the mobile
phone is paired in the vehicle
Mobile phone network reception
strength, dependent on mobile phone
6Time
Other displays:
When Check Control information appears or
entries are made via the voice command sys-
tem
*, the status information is temporarily hid-
den.
Assistance window*
Additional information appears in the assis-
tance window:
>the computer or the trip computer
>the arrow or map view with navigation sys-
tem
*
>the current position
Selecting display
1.Move the controller to the right to change to
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select a menu item.
3.Press the controller.
Page 23 of 256
At a glance
21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Switching assistance window on/off
1.Move the controller to the right to change to
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select "Assist. window off" and press the
controller.
To switch on, change to the assistance window
and press the controller.
Switching Control Display on/
off
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Display off" and press the control-
ler.
To switch on, press the controller.
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Voice command system
22
Voice command system
The concept
The voice command system allows you to con-
trol operation of various vehicle systems with-
out ever removing your hands from the steering
wheel.
Individual menu items on the Control Display
can be spoken as commands. This frees you of
having to use the controller.
The voice command system transforms your
spoken commands into control signals for the
selected systems and provides support in the
form of instructions or questions.
The voice command system includes a special
microphone.
The microphone is located:
>Near the interior rearview mirror in the
Coupe, refer to page14
>On the steering column in the Convertible
Prerequisite
In order to enable identification of the com-
mands to be spoken, use iDrive to set the lan-
guage for the voice command system. Setting
iDrive language, refer to page79.
Symbols in Owner's Manual
Voice commands
Activating voice command system
1.Press the button.
This symbol on the Control Display and
an acoustic signal tell you that the voice
command system can respond to com-
mands.
2.Say the command.
The command is displayed on the Control
Display.
This symbol is shown on the Control Display
when you can input additional commands.
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for
word.
{{...}} Indicates the responses of the voice
command system.
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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}}