
Adjustments
54 1.Fold the lever down.
2.Move the steering wheel to the preferred 
height and angle to suit your seated posi-
tion.
3.Swing the lever back up.
Do not use force to swing the lever 
back up, otherwise the mechanism 
will be damaged.<
Programmable buttons on the steering 
wheel
You can program the buttons to suit your per-
sonal preferences:
These settings are stored for the remote con-
trol currently in use.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Steering wheel buttons" and press 
the controller.
A list showing various functions is dis-
played:
>"Navigation voice instructions" 
Voice messages from the navigation 
system
*
>"Air recirculation on / off" 
Permanent shut-off of outside air, refer 
to AUC Automatic recirculated-air con-
trol on page106
>"Mute on / off" 
To mute the audio sources
>"Monitor on / off" 
To switch the Control Display on/off
>"Telephone list"
*
To show/hide the phone book or last dis-
played list of stored phone numbers
>"Next entertainment source"
To change the audio source
5.Select the desired function and press the 
controller. 

Controls
 59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Driving
Ignition lock
Insert the remote control into the 
ignition lock
Insert the remote control all the way into the 
ignition lock.
>Radio readiness is switched on.
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
Convenient access*
If the car is equipped with convenient access, 
only insert the remote control into the ignition 
lock under special circumstances, refer to 
page36.
Removing the remote control from the 
ignition lock
Do not forcibly pull the remote control out 
of the ignition lock as this may cause 
damage.<
Before removing the remote control, push it all 
the way in to release the locking mechanism.
>The ignition is switched off if it was on.
Automatic transmission
You cannot take out the remote control unless 
the selector lever is in the P position: interlock.
Start/stop button
Pressing the start/stop button switches radio 
readiness or the ignition on or off.
The engine is started when you press the 
start/stop button and depress the clutch if 
the car has manual transmission, or the brake if 
the car has automatic transmission.<
Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate. 
The time and the outside temperature are dis-
played in the instrument cluster.
Radio readiness is switched off automatically:
>When the remote control is removed from 
the ignition lock
>In cars with convenient access
*, by touch-
ing the surface above the door lock, refer to 
Locking on page37
Ignition on
All electrical consumers can operate. The 
odometer and trip odometer are displayed in 
the instrument cluster.
When the engine is off, please switch off 
the ignition and any unnecessary electri-
cal consumers in order to preserve the bat-
tery.<
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps as well as dis-
plays in the instrument cluster go out. 

Driving
60
Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms, 
otherwise the inhalation of toxic exhaust 
gases can cause unconsciousness and death. 
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, 
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas. 
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the 
engine running, otherwise such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard. 
Before leaving the car with the engine running, 
place the transmission in idle or move the 
selector lever to position P and forcefully apply 
the parking brake to prevent the car from mov-
ing.<
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion as well as repeated start attempts in 
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the 
fuel is not burned or incompletely burned and 
there is a danger of overheating and damaging 
the catalytic converter.<
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the 
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right 
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
Manual transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with con-
venient access, inside the vehicle, refer to 
page36.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Depress the clutch and shift to idle position.
3.Press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain 
time, and stops automatically as soon as the 
engine has started.
Automatic transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with con-
venient access, inside the vehicle, refer to 
page36.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Move the selector lever to position P.
3.Press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain 
time, and stops automatically as soon as the 
engine has started.
Switching off the engine
Always take the remote control with you 
when you leave the vehicle. 
When parking, apply the parking brake force-
fully, otherwise the vehicle could begin to roll.<
Manual transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, press the start/
stop button.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Forcefully apply the parking brake.
4.Removing the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page59.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2.Press the start/stop button.
3.Forcefully apply the parking brake.
4.Removing the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page59.
Parking brake
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it 
brakes the rear wheels. 

Driving
64 Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator 
lamp indicates that a turn signal indicator 
has failed.<
Indicating a turn briefly
Press the lever as far as the resistance point for 
as long as you wish to indicate a turn.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever as far as the resistance point.
The turn signals flash three times.
You can activate or deactivate this function.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
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.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "Lighting" is selected and press the 
controller.
6.Select "Triple turn signal" and press the 
controller.
 Triple turn signaling is activated.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating intermittent wipe or 
rain sensor
*
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
5Setting speed for intermittent wipe, or sen-
sitivity of the rain sensor
Switching on wipers
Press the lever upward, arrow 1.
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once.
The system switches to operation in the inter-
mittent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance 
point. 
The system switches to normal speed when the 
vehicle is stationary.
Intermittent wipe or rain sensor*
If the car is not equipped with a rain sensor, the 
intermittent-wipe time is a preset.
If the car is equipped with a rain sensor, the time 
between wipes is controlled automatically and 
depends on the intensity of the rainfall. The rain 
sensor is mounted on the windshield, directly in 
front of the interior rearview mirror. 

Controls
 79Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
6.Select the desired menu item and press the 
controller.
7.Select the desired measurement unit and 
press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
Service requirements
The remaining driving distance and the date of 
the next scheduled service are displayed briefly 
immediately after you start the engine or switch 
on the ignition.The extent of service work required can 
be read out from the remote control by 
your BMW Service Advisor.<
For certain maintenance operations, you can 
view the respective distance remaining or due 
date individually in the instrument cluster.
1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page59.
2.Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up 
or down repeatedly until the appropriate 
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the words "SERVICE-INFO".
3.Press button 2.
4.Use button 1 to scroll through the individual 
service items.
Possible displays
1Button for selecting functions2Service requirements 

Controls
 81Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
until "Service requirements" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.Select "Status" and press the controller.
7.Select "State inspection" and press the 
controller.
8.Select "Set service date" and press the 
controller. The month is highlighted.
9.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
10.Press the controller to apply the setting. 
The year is highlighted.
11.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
12.Press the controller to apply the setting. 
The date entry is stored.
To exit from the menu: 
Select   and press the controller.
More information on the BMW Maintenance 
System can be found on page229.
Clock
The settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use, refer also to Personal Profile on 
page28.
Setting the time
In the instrument cluster
To set the 12h/24h mode, refer to Setting the 
12h/24h format below.
1.Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up 
or down repeatedly until the appropriate 
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the time and the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.
3.Use button 1 to set the hours.
4.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
5.Use button 1 to set the minutes.
6.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
7.Press button 2.
The system accepts the new time.
Via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button once or twice until 
the start menu appears.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu. 

Everything under control
82 3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Time / Date" is 
selected and press the controller.
5.If necessary, move the controller forwards 
to move the highlight marker to the upper-
most field.
6.Turn the controller until "Time" is selected 
and press the controller.7.Turn the controller until "Set time" is 
selected and press the controller.
Adjusting settings
8.Turn the controller to set the hours and 
press the controller.
9.Turn the controller to set the minutes and 
press the controller.
The system accepts the new time.
Switching on the hour signal*
You will hear three tones just before each full 
hour.
Select "Hour memo" and press the controller.
 The hour signal is activated.
Setting the 12h/24h format
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Time / Date" is 
selected and press the controller.
5.Select "Time format" and press the control-
ler.
6.Select the desired format and press the 
controller.
Date
The settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use, refer also to Personal Profile on 
page28. 

Everything under control
86
Applying your current speed as limit
Select "Select current speed" and press the 
controller. The system adopts your current 
speed as the limit.
Activating the limit
Select "On" and press the controller.
 Limit is activated.
Stopwatch
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Call up "Navigation".
3.Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4.Select "Stopwatch" and press the control-
ler.
Starting, stopping or resetting
>Select "Start" and press the controller. 
The stopwatch starts at the displayed time.
>Select "Reset" and press the controller. 
The stopwatch is reset and restarts if it was 
running beforehand.
>Select "Stop" and press the controller. 
This stops the timer.
Taking an interim time reading
Select "Interim time" and press the controller. 
The interim time appears below the ongoing 
primary stopwatch count.
All of the remaining functions remain 
available at all times while the stopwatch 
is running. The stopwatch continues operation 
in the background.<
Altering settings
Language on the Control Display
The language of the Control Display can be set. 
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "Language" is selected and press the 
controller.
5.Select "Text language" and press the con-
troller. You can switch to another language 
for the display texts and navigation mes-
sages.
6.Select and activate the desired language by 
pressing the controller.
Brightness of the Control Display
The brightness is automatically adapted to the 
ambient lighting conditions. Note, however, 
that you can change the basic setting while the 
low beams are switched on. The setting is 
stored for the remote control currently in use.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller