
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic-
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to 
page252.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
6Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
23Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
45Adjustments
56Transporting children safely
59Driving
74Everything under control
88Technology for driving comfort and 
safety
100Lamps
104Climate
110Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
124Things to remember when driving
Navigation
132Starting the navigation system
134Destination entry
147Destination guidance
156What to do if …
Entertainment
160On/off and settings
164Radio
170Satellite radio
173CD player and CD changer
179AUX-In port
180USB-audio interface
Communications
186Telephoning
201BMW Assist
Mobility
210Refueling
212Wheels and tires
224Under the hood
229Maintenance
231Replacing components
236Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
244Technical data
248Short commands for the voice command 
system
252Everything from A - Z 

At a glance
 17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation
>Navigation system
>Onboard information, e.g. for displaying the 
average fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
>AUX-In port, USB-audio interface* for 
external audio device
Climate
>Vent settings
>Automatic programs
>Parked car operation
 menu
>Switching off Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central 
locking system
>Display of service requirements and dates 
for statutory inspections
>Settings for telephone
Operating principle
As of radio readiness, the following message 
appears on the Control Display:
To hide the message: 
Press the controller.
The start menu is displayed.
The message is automatically hidden after 
approx. 10 seconds.
Start menu
All iDrive functions can be called up via five 
menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the   button.
To open the start menu from the   menu:
Press the   button twice. 

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 turn back on, switch to the assistance win-
dow and press the controller.
Switching Control Display 
off/on
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.
Press the controller to switch on.
Programmable memory keys
Using the programmable memory keys, you can 
store and execute certain iDrive functions:
>Navigation destinations
*
>Entertainment:
>Radio stations
>CD
>CD compartment of CD changer
>AUX
>Telephone: phone numbers
The assignment of the programmable memory 
keys is stored for the remote control currently in 
use.
Storing functions
Navigation destinations*
1.Select the navigation destination, e.g. in the 
destination list or address book.
2. ...   Press the key longer than 
2seconds.
Special features:
>If destination guidance and the map view 
have been started, the current destination is 
stored.
>If the destination is entered via map, the 
coordinates in the crosshairs are stored, not 
the current destination.
Telephone, phone numbers
1.Enter the phone number or select the num-
ber from a list of stored phone numbers, e.g. 
the A-Z list.
2. ...   Press the key longer than 
2seconds.
If the phone number is associated with a name, 
the name is also stored.
Entertainment
The item stored in the Entertainment menu is 
the source that is playing at the time of storage, 
e.g. a radio station, irrespective of what was 
selected on the Control Display.
1.Select the desired function, e.g. radio sta-
tion or CD.
2. ...   Press the key longer than 
2seconds. 

Practical interior accessories
114
LED hand lamp
In a holder on the left side of the glove compart-
ment.
Insert the hand lamp into the holder with 
the lens pointing toward the passenger 
compartment to ensure that the lamp cannot be 
switched on accidentally.<
Center armrest
Storage compartment
The center armrest between the front seats 
contains either a compartment or the cover for 
the snap-in adapter
*, depending on the equip-
ment version. For more information about this 
mobile phone base plate refer to the separate 
Owner's Manual.
Convertible: when you lock the vehicle from the 
outside, the center armrest is locked as well.
Opening
Press the button, see arrow.
Ventilated storage compartment
The storage compartment in the center armrest 
can be ventilated: slide the switch backwards.
The temperature is controlled via the knurled 
wheel for adjusting the temperature of air venti-
lating the rear of the passenger compartment, 
refer to page108.
Connection for external audio device
You can connect an external audio device such 
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks 
over the car's loudspeaker system:
>AUX-In port, refer to page179
>USB-audio interface
*, refer to page180
Storage compartments inside 
the vehicle
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you 
will find compartments beside the steering col-
umn
*, in the front doors and in the center con-
sole
*. 
There are netson the front-seat backrests.
Storage compartments in the rear 
console
Depending on your vehicle's equipment ver-
sion, the following storage compartments can 
be found in the rear console: 

On/off and settings
160
On/off and settings
The following audio sources have shared con-
trols and setting options:
>Radio
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons near the CD player
>iDrive
>Buttons
 on the steering wheel, refer to 
page11
>Programmable memory keys, refer to 
page21
Buttons on the CD player
1Sound output for entertainment on/off, vol-
ume
>Press: switch on/off.
When you switch on the unit, the last set 
radio station or 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 DVD
Operation via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
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
>"SAT": satellite radio
*
>"CD": CD player or changer
>"AUX": AUX-In port, USB-audio interface
>"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.
From another menu, you can switch 
directly to the screen last displayed, refer 
to Convenient call-up of menu items on 
page18.<
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond, 
the selected audio source is stored for the 
remote control currently in use.
Switching on/off
In order to switch the entertainment sound out-
put on and off:
Press button1 on the CD player.
 This symbol on the Control Display indi-
cates that sound output is switched off. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 179Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
AUX-In port
You can connect an external audio device, for 
instance an MP3 player, and play audio tracks 
over the car's loudspeaker system. You can 
adjust the tone using iDrive.
Connecting
Lift up the center armrest.
Connection for audio playback:
TRS connector 1/8"/3.5 mm
To play audio tracks over the car's loudspeaker 
system, connect the headset or line-out port of 
the external device to the AUX-in port.
Starting audio playback
The audio device must be switched on.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up 
"Entertainment".
3.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller until "AUX" is selected and press the con-
troller.
4.Select "AUX IN" and press the controller.
5.Adjust volume and tone, if necessary.
Via programmable memory keys
You can store the "AUX" function on a program-
mable memory key to start audio playback, refer 
to page21. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 181Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
3.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "AUX" is selected and press the con-
troller.
4.Select "USB" or the name of the audio 
device and press the controller.
Playback begins with the first track.
Via programmable memory keys
You can store the "USB" function on a pro-
grammable memory key to start audio play-
back, refer to page21.
Selecting a track
You can call up the tracks using the playlists 
and information. With USB devices you can also 
call up tracks using the file directory. The tracks 
can be displayed if they have been stored in the 
Latin alphabet.1.Make your selection, e.g. "Playlists" or "Art-
ists", and press the controller.
2.Select a track and press the controller.
Displaying information about the track
Any information about the current track that has 
been recorded can be displayed, e.g. the name 
of the artist.
1.Press the controller during playback.
2.Select "Details" and press the controller.
The information is shown for the current track. 

Short commands for the voice command system
250
Entertainment
FunctionCommand
Tone control161{Audio}
To switch on radio164{Radio on},
{FM} or
{AM}
To open "FM"164{FM menu}
To open "AM"164{AM menu}
To open "All stations"164{FM All stations}
To select radio station164{Station} e.g. {Station WNYC} or
{Choose station}
To open "Presets"164{FM presets} or
{AM presets}
To open "Manual"165{FM manual} or
{AM manual} or
{Choose frequency}, 
{Frequency ... Megahertz}
To select preset radio station166{Preset ...}
e.g. {Preset 1}
To open strongest radio stations165{AM Autostore}
To open "SAT"171{SAT radio menu}
To switch on satellite radio171{SAT radio}
To open "Presets" of the satellite radio172{SAT radio presets}
To open "All channels" of the satellite radio171{SAT radio all channels}
To open "Categories" of the satellite radio171{SAT radio categories}
To open CD player173{CD menu}
To switch on CD player173{CD}
To open CD changer173{CD changer menu}
To switch on CD changer173{CD changer}
To select a CD in the CD changer173{CD 1...6}
To select track174{CD track ...}
To select a CD and track in the CD changer174{CD 1...6 track ...}
To select track174{Track ...}
To open DVD173{DVD player menu}
To switch on DVD173{DVD player}
To select music track on DVD174{DVD track ...}
To start sound output for external audio 
device179{Audio Aux on}