Driving tips
121Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Drive defensively
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking
maneuvers. To do so, keep an adequate dis-
tance to the forward vehicle. A defensive and
smooth driving style keeps fuel consumption
down.
Avoid high engine speeds
Only use first gear when setting off. In second
and higher gears, accelerate without hesitation
or pauses. When accelerating, shift up before
reaching high engine speeds.
When you reach the desired speed, shift into
the highest applicable gear and drive with the
engine speed as low as possible and at a con-
stant speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Coasting
When approaching a red light, take your foot off
the accelerator and coast to a stop in the high-
est applicable gear.
O n a d o w n h il l s lo p e , t a k e y o u r f o o t o f f t h e a c c el -
erator and coast in a suitable gear.
The fuel supply is interrupted when coasting.
Switch off the engine during lengthy
stops
Switch off the engine when stopping for lengthy
periods, e.g. at traffic lights, railroad crossings
or in traffic congestions. You achieve fuel sav-
ings even if standing time is as short as approx.
4 seconds.
Switch off functions you do not need at
the moment
Functions such as the air conditioner and the
seat or rear window heating draw large amounts
of power and consume additional fuel. Espe-
cially in city traffic and in stop and go driving
they have a considerable impact. Therefore,
switch these functions off when they are not
really needed.
Have the vehicle serviced
Have the vehicle serviced regularly to achieve
good economy and a long vehicle life. BMW
recommends having the vehicle serviced at a
BMW center. Also note the BMW service sys-
tem, refer to page226.
General driving notes
Close the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate
Operate the vehicle only when the lug-
gage compartment lid/tailgate and rear
window are closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes
could enter the interior of the vehicle.<
If the vehicle must be driven with the luggage
compartment lid/tailgate open:
1.Close all windows and the glass roof.
2.Greatly increase the air volume of the auto-
matic climate control system, refer to
page102.
Hot exhaust system
In all vehicles, extremely high tempera-
tures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed
adjacent to various sections of the exhaust sys-
tem, and never apply undercoating to them.
When driving, standing at idle and while park-
ing, take care to avoid possible contact
between the hot exhaust system and any highly
flammable materials such as hay, leaves, grass,
etc. Such contact could lead to a fire, with the
risk of serious personal injuries and property
damage. Do not touch hot exhaust tail pipes.
Otherwise there is a risk of burns.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This situation, known as hydroplaning,
means that the tire can completely lose contact
with the road surface, so that neither the car can
be steered nor the brake be properly applied.<
Navigation
This chapter describes how you can
enter destinations and specify your route
so that your navigation system guides you
reliably to your destination.
Navigation
Starting the navigation system
128
Starting the navigation system
Your navigation system can use satellites to
ascertain the precise position of your vehicle
and guide you reliably to any destination you
enter.
Navigation DVD
The navigation system requires a special navi-
gation DVD. You can obtain the latest version at
your BMW center.
Inserting navigation DVD
Use the lower drive for navigation DVDs.
1.Insert the navigation DVD with the labeled
side up.
The navigation DVD is pulled in automati-
cally.
2.Wait for several seconds to allow the con-
tents of the DVD to be read in.
Removing navigation DVD
1. Press button 1.
The DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
2.Remove the DVD.
If the DVD is not ejected, the drive may be
blocked. In this case, a message will appear on
the Control Display.
Display in the assistance
window
You can display the route or the current position
in the assistance window. This display remains
visible even if you change to another applica-
tion.
1.Move the controller to the right to enter the
assistance window.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
3.Select the desired route view or "Current
position".
4.Press the controller.
Displaying arrow display in map view*
When the navigation system suggests a change
in direction, the arrow display appears briefly.
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.
*
Destination entry
130
Destination entry
In entering your destination you can select from
the following options:
>Entering a destination manually, see below
>Entering a destination by voice com-
mands*, refer to page134
>Selecting destination using information,
refer to page136
>Selecting destination from a list, refer to
Destination list, page137
>Selecting destination from address book,
refer to page138
>Selecting home address, refer to page140
After selecting your destination you can pro-
ceed to start the destination guidance, refer to
page143.
You can also store a navigation destination on
the programmable memory keys, refer to
page21.
Enter data only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary, and always give priority to the
applicable traffic regulations in the event of any
contradiction between traffic and road condi-
tions and the instructions issued by the naviga-
tion system. Otherwise, vehicle occupants and
other road users may be endangered.<
Opening navigation
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller to the right to call up
"Navigation".
3.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
The following is displayed on the Control Dis-
play:
>The arrow or map view during destination
guidance
>The destination list when destination guid-
ance is switched off
Entering a destination
manually
The system's word-matching principle makes it
easier for you to enter the names of streets or
towns, refer to page142. This allows you to
enter different spellings and completes your
entry automatically so that stored names can be
called up quickly.
Navigation
Driving tips
131Reference
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
135Reference
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
141Reference
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, page130.
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
142 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.