
Navigation
Driving tips
 135Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
1.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "Navigation" is selected and press the 
controller.
"New destination" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
3.Select "Enter address" and press the con-
troller.
The system also supports you with the follow-
ing features:
>If you do not enter a street, the system will 
guide you to the downtown area of a town or 
city.
>You can skip the entry of country and local-
ity if the current entries should be retained 
for your new destination.Selecting country
1.Select "State / Province" or the country dis-
played and press the controller.
The list of available countries appears on 
the display.
2.Select the country of destination and press 
the controller.
At least the town/city of the destination or its zip 
code must be entered in order to start the des-
tination guidance.
Entering destination by town/city name
1.Select "Town / City" or the town/city dis-
played and press the controller.
2.Select the starting letter and press the con-
troller.
A list of all towns/cities starting with this let-
ter appears on the Control Display.
3.Delete letters, if necessary:
>To delete individual numbers or letters:
Move the controller towards the right to 
select  , and press the controller.
>To delete all numbers or letters:
Move the controller toward the right to 
select  , and press the controller for 
a longer period. 

Navigation
Driving tips
 139Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
1.Wait for the system to ask for the town/city 
of destination.
The system can suggest up to 6 destina-
tions that fit your entries.
The town/city can also be selected from the list 
via iDrive:
Turn the controller until the destination is 
selected and press the controller.
Identical-sounding towns/cities that can-
not be distinguished by the system are 
compiled in a separate list and shown as a des-
tination followed by three dots. 
If applicable, select this entry with {Yes}. Then 
select the desired town/city from that list.<
Entering street and house number
The street is entered in the same way as the 
destination town/city.
To enter the house number:
House numbers of up to 4 digits can be entered. 
Say the house number as individual digits.
Starting destination guidance
Destination guidance starts immediately.
Storing destinations
Destinations are added to the destination list or 
can be stored in the address book.
Map-guided destination 
selection
If you only know the location of the town or 
street of destination, you can enter the destina-
tion using a map. You can use the cross-hairs to 
select the destination on the map and then 
transfer it for destination guidance.
1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
"New destination" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
3.Select "Input map" and press the controller. 2.Say the name of the destination town/
city.
The system suggests a location.
3.Select location:
>To select highlighted town/city: 
{Yes}
>To select other town/city: {No}
>To select an entry, e.g. {Entry 3}
>To re-enter the town/city: {Repeat}
>To enter the town/city by spelling: 
{Spell}
1.{House number}
2.Say the house number.
{Start guidance}
{Add to destination list} or
{Add to address book} 

Navigation
Driving tips
 145Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Using home address as destination
1.Select "Home address" and press the con-
troller.
2.Select "Start guidance" and press the con-
troller.
Changing home address
1.Select "Home address" and press the con-
troller.
2.Select "Edit address" and press the con-
troller. For operation, refer to Entering a 
destination manually, page134.
Route selection
You can influence the calculated route by 
choosing certain route criteria. You can change 
the route criteria as often as you like during des-
tination entry or during destination guidance.
The route is planned according to fixed rules. 
The type of road is taken into account, e.g. 
whether it is a highway or a winding road. The 
road types are stored on the navigation DVD. As 
a result, the routes recommended by the navi-
gation system may not always be the same 
ones that you would choose based on personal 
experience.
Changing route criteria
1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
2.Move the highlight marker to the third field 
from the top. Turn the controller until 
"Route preference" is selected and press 
the controller.The various criteria are shown on the Con-
trol Display.
3.Select a route criterion for the route:
>"With highways"
Highways and major traffic arteries are 
given priority.
>"Avoid highways"
Highways are avoided as far as possible.
>"Fast route"
Fast route, being a combination of the 
shortest possible route and the fastest 
roads
>"Short route"
Short route, irrespective of how fast or 
slow progress will be
4.Press the controller.
 The route criterion is selected.
5.If necessary, select an additional route cri-
terion and then press the controller:
>"Dynamic route"
Automatic rerouting due to traffic 
obstructions. Depending on road type 
and the kind and extent of the traffic 
obstruction, the guided route may lead 
through the traffic obstruction.
>"Avoid tollroads"
Toll roads are avoided as far as possible.
>"Avoid ferries"
Ferries are avoided as far as possible.
To exit from the menu:
Select the   arrow and press the controller.
The route criteria can also be changed in the 
arrow or map display. 

Destination entry
146 1.Select the symbol for the route criterion and 
press the controller.
2.Select a route criterion and press the con-
troller.
If the "Avoid highways", "Avoid tollroads" 
or "Avoid ferries" route criteria are 
selected, route calculation may take consider-
ably longer.<
Word-matching principle
The system's word-matching principle makes it 
easier for you to enter the names of towns or 
streets. The system runs ongoing checks, com-
paring your destination entries with the data 
stored on the navigation DVD as the basis for 
instant response. The benefits for you include:
>Names of towns entered may differ from the 
official versions if you are using a spelling 
that is customary in another country.
Example:
Instead of the German spelling "München" 
you can also enter the English spelling 
"Munich" or the Italian spelling "Monaco".
>When you are entering the names of towns 
and streets the system will complete them 
automatically as soon as enough letters are 
available to ensure unambiguous identifica-
tion.
>The system offers only those letters for 
selection of name entries that are stored on 
the navigation DVD. Thus, entry of errone-
ous or unregistered names is impossible. 

Navigation
Driving tips
 151Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Repeating or canceling voice 
instructions
With the programmable buttons on the steering 
wheel, you can also execute the following func-
tions, refer to page54:
>Repeat the voice instruction:
Press the button.
>Switch voice instructions on/off:
Press the button for a longer period.
Adjusting volume for voice instructions
The volume can be adjusted only while a voice 
instruction is being issued.
1.Have the last voice instruction repeated, if 
necessary.
2.Turn the button during the voice instruction 
to select the desired volume.
This volume is independent of the volume of the 
audio sources.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Changing a route
During destination guidance, you can revise the 
navigation system's route recommendations to 
avoid particular stretches of road. Enter the 
number of miles/kilometers that you want to 
travel before returning to the original route.1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
2.Move the highlight marker to the third field 
from the top. Turn the controller until "New 
route" is selected and press the controller.
3.Turn the controller to enter the desired 
number and press the controller.
The route is recalculated.
To exit from the menu without changing the 
route:
Select the   arrow and press the controller.
Traffic information*
In many metropolitan areas you can receive 
traffic information broadcast by radio stations. 
The traffic conditions are monitored by traffic 
control centers and the traffic information is 
updated periodically. 
During destination guidance, the traffic infor-
mation relevant to the route you are planning to 
take is automatically shown and taken into 
account in route planning. Whether destination 
guidance is active or not, you can have the traf-
fic information displayed in the map view or in 
the traffic info list.
Switching reception of traffic 
information on/off
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu. 

Destination guidance
154
Traffic information icons
Traffic information during destination 
guidance
System response will vary depending on 
whether or not "Dynamic route" is selected, 
refer to page145.
Displaying traffic obstructions
When the navigation system receives a traffic 
obstruction message and "Dynamic route" is 
not selected, you are shown certain informa-
tion, such as the length of the traffic congestion, 
when you are approx. 25 miles/40 km away 
from the traffic obstruction.
The last possible detour exit is indicated just 
before you reach it. Traffic event displayed with map 
scales larger than 5 miles/10 km; 
arrow points in relevant direction of 
travel
There are several traffic events. 
Switch to a smaller map scale to 
show more detail. 
Traffic light failure
Roadworks
General traffic obstruction
Transport of hazardous load
Vehicle on wrong carriageway
Danger
Low clearance
No parking
Fog
Heavy rain
Slippery road
Cross winds
Smog
Road closed
Slow traffic
Traffic backup
Stopped traffic
Icy roads
Uneven surface
Accident
Lane closure
Delay
Police checkpoint
Slow traffic or other traffic event
Stop and go traffic
Stopped traffic
Traffic events in both directions of 
travel 

Navigation
Driving tips
 155Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
This information is displayed even if you have 
called up another application on the Control 
Display.
Dynamic route planning
When "Dynamic route" is selected, the route 
will be changed automatically in the event of a 
traffic obstruction. The system does not point 
out traffic obstructions on the original route.
Depending on road type and the kind and extent 
of the traffic obstruction, the calculated route 
may lead through the traffic obstruction.
Displaying current position
You can have your current position displayed 
even when the destination guidance is 
switched off.
1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
2.Move the highlight marker to the fourth field 
from the top. Turn the controller until "Cur-
rent position" is selected and press the 
controller.The current position of your BMW is displayed.
If the navigation system is unable to identify a 
town or city, your current map coordinates will 
appear.
To exit from the menu:
Select the   arrow and press the controller.
You can also have the current position dis-
played on a map, refer to page149. 

What to do if …
156
What to do if …
What to do if …
>a navigation DVD is inserted, but an instruc-
tion to insert the DVD appears on the Con-
trol Display?
The navigation DVD may not be the correct 
DVD for the navigation system. This infor-
mation is indicated on the DVD label.
>you request the current position of your 
vehicle, but do not receive a precise dis-
play?
The system is unable to receive enough 
GPS signals at your current position due to 
obstructions, your current position is not 
yet available on your navigation DVD, or the 
system is in the process of calculating your 
current position. As a rule, reception is 
guaranteed when you are in the open.
>the destination guidance does not accept a 
destination?
The data of the destination is not stored on 
the navigation DVD that is loaded. Choose a 
destination as close as possible to the orig-
inal one.
>the destination guidance does not accept 
an address without the street name?
On the navigation DVD, no downtown area 
can be determined for the city or town 
entered. Enter any street, or a destination 
such as the railway station in the selected 
town, and then start the destination guid-
ance.
>you want to enter a destination for the des-
tination guidance, but it is not possible to 
select the letters for your desired entry?
The data of the destination is not stored on 
the navigation DVD that is loaded. In this 
case, the system will not offer you any let-
ters to choose from. Choose a destination 
as close as possible to the original one.
>the system stops furnishing directions on 
which way to turn as you approach intersec-
tions?
You are driving in an area that has not yet 
been completely recorded on the naviga-tion DVD. Instead of an arrow indicating a 
turn, you will see an arrow which indicates 
the general direction of your planned route. 
Or you have left the recommended route 
and the system requires a few seconds to 
calculate a new recommended route.
>the navigation system does not react to 
entries?
If the battery was disconnected, it takes 
about 10 minutes before the system is once 
again operational.