
Radio
162 5.Select "Autostore" and press the controller.
The display of the stations with the strongest 
reception is updated. The frequencies of the 
stations are displayed.
Storing stations
Via iDrive
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Move the highlight marker to the second 
field from the top. Turn the controller until 
the desired selection criterion is chosen 
and press the controller.
3.Select the desired frequency or station.
"Set" is selected.
4.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.5.Select "Store" and press the controller.
"Presets" is displayed.
6.Turn the controller until the desired mem-
ory location is selected.
7.Press the controller.
The station is stored.
The channels of the last selection criterion are 
displayed once again after a short time.
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond, 
the stations are stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
Via programmable memory keys
You can store a station on the programmable 
memory keys, refer also to page21.
1.Select a station.
2. ...   Press the desired key for a 
longer period.
Changing a memory position
1.Select "Presets" and press the controller.
2.Select the desired station.
"Set" is selected.
3.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 163Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
4.Select "Store" and press the controller.
5.Turn the controller until the desired mem-
ory location is selected.
The number of the memory location 
appears beside the name or frequency of 
the station.
6.Press the controller.
The station is stored.
RDS Radio Data System
On the FM waveband, additional information is 
broadcast via RDS. If the reception conditions 
are good, the station names are shown on the 
Control Display. Where reception is poor or in 
the event of interference, it may take some time 
before the station names will appear in the dis-
play.
Switching RDS on/off*
1.Select "FM" and press the controller.
"Set" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
3.Select "RDS" and press the controller.
 RDS is activated.The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
High Definition Radio*
Many stations transmit analog and digital sig-
nals. You can receive these stations digitally for 
improved sound quality.
A digital radio network must be available to be 
able to receive digital stations.
Switching digital radio reception 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.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4.Select "Audio" and press the controller.
5.Move the highlight marker to the uppermost 
field. Turn the controller until "HD radio" is 
selected and press the controller.
6.Select "Off" and press the controller.
 Digital station reception is now switched on.
 This symbol is displayed when a station is 
received digitally. 

Radio
164 Some stations do not transmit the digital and 
analog signals simultaneously. If you are in an 
area in which digital reception of the selected 
station is not possible continuously, reception 
will alternate between analog and digital. This 
can cause repetitions or interruptions. In this 
case it may be preferable to switch off digital 
reception.
Selecting the programs of a digital 
station*
Some stations broadcast several programs on a 
single frequency. To select one of these pro-
grams:
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Select "Manual" and press the controller.
3.Select a station that can be received digi-
tally.
 This symbol is displayed when a station 
is received digitally.
4. Change to the next program of 
the digital station using the buttons on the 
radio or steering wheel.
You can store a station, refer to page162.
Updating digitally receivable stations
If on a longer journey you move out of the 
reception range of the stations originally 
received, you can update the list of stations 
received with the strongest signals.1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Move the highlight marker to the second 
field from the top.
3.Select "Autostore" and press the controller.
4.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
5.Select "Autostore  " and press the con-
troller.
The display of the digitally receivable stations is 
updated. This can take up to 2 minutes.
Displaying additional information
With digital stations, additional information on 
the current track can be displayed, e.g. the 
name of the artist. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 169Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
CD player and CD changer
Listening to CDs
Compressed audio files*
CDs with compressed audio files, MP3s, can be 
played by the CD player and CD changer.
Starting the CD player
The upper drive is for audio CDs.
Insert the CD into the drive with the labeled side 
up. 
The CD is pulled in automatically. Playback 
starts automatically if the sound output is on. 
When playing CDs with compressed audio files, 
it can take the CD player approx. 1 minute to 
read in the data, depending on the directory 
structure.
To start playback when there is already a CD in 
the drive:
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. Select "CD" and press 
the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the second field from the top. On cars with a 
CD changer, select "CD" and press the 
controller to start the CD player.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is switched on.
Via programmable memory keys
You can store the CD player function on the 
programmable memory keys to start the CD 
player, refer to page21.
Starting the CD changer
Fill and insert the CD magazine, refer to 
page173.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up 
"Entertainment".
* 

CD player and CD changer
170 3.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Select "CD" and press 
the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the second field from the top. Select the 
desired CD and press the controller.
At the end of the last track, the next CD is 
selected and played.
If new CDs have been placed in the CD maga-
zine, playback starts with the lowest CD, e.g. 
CD 1, track 1.
The CD magazine's load status is indicated on 
the Control Display.
Via programmable memory keys
You can store a CD compartment of the CD 
changer on the programmable memory keys to 
start the CD changer, refer to page21.
Selecting a track
Buttons on the CD player
 Press the button for the appropriate 
direction as often as necessary until the desired 
track is reached.
The track is displayed on the Control Display. 
You can also change the track with the buttons 
on the steering wheel, refer to page11.
Via iDrive
Turn the controller to select a track.
Compressed audio files*
1.Select a directory, if necessary, and press 
the controller.
2.Select a track and press the controller.
To change the directory:
Select the directory and press the controller. 

CD player and CD changer
174
Inserting the CD magazine
Insert the CD magazine all the way in the direc-
tion of arrow 1 and close the cover, arrow 2.
The CD changer automatically reads in the 
loaded CDs and is then ready for operation.
Notes
BMW CD/DVD players and changers are 
officially designated Class 1 laser prod-
ucts. Do not operate if the cover is damaged, 
otherwise severe eye damage can result.
Do not use self-recorded CDs/DVDs with labels 
applied as these can become detached during 
playback due to heat build-up and can cause 
irreparable damage to the device.
Only use round CDs/DVDs with a standard 
diameter of 4.7 in/12 cm and do not play CDs/
DVDs with an adapter, e.g. Single-CDs, other-
wise the CDs or the adapter can jam and will no 
longer eject.
Do not use a combined CD/DVD, e.g. DVD
Plus, 
otherwise the CD/DVD can jam and will no 
longer eject.<
General malfunctions
BMW CD/DVD changers and players have been 
optimized for performance in vehicles. In some 
instances they may be more sensitive to faulty 
CDs/DVDs than stationary devices would be.
If a CD/DVD cannot be played, first check if it 
has been inserted correctly.
Humidity
High levels of humidity can lead to condensa-
tion on the CD/DVD or the laser's scan lens and 
temporarily prevent playback.
Malfunctions with individual CDs/DVDs
If malfunctions only occur with individual CDs/
DVDs, one of the following factors may be the 
cause.
Self-recorded CDs/DVDs
Possible reasons for malfunctions with self-
recorded CDs/DVDs are, e.g., inconsistent 
data-creation or recording processes, or poor 
quality or high age of the CD/DVD blank.
Only label CDs/DVDs on the top, with a pen 
designed for this purpose.
Damage prevention
Avoid leaving fingerprints, as well as dust, 
scratches or moisture on the CDs/DVDs. 
Keep CDs/DVDs in protective sleeves or cases.
Do not subject CDs/DVDs to temperatures over 
1207/506, high levels of humidity or direct 
sunlight.
CDs/DVDs with copy protection
CDs/DVDs are often copy-protected by the 
manufacturer. This can mean that some CDs/
DVDs cannot be played or can only be played to 
a limited extent.
Care
Clean the reflective signal side of CDs/DVDs as 
needed by wiping it with a commercially avail-
able cleaning tissue in straight lines from the 
center of the disc outwards. For more informa-
tion on taking care of CDs/DVDs, please refer to 
the Caring for your vehicle brochure. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 175Reference
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
 177Reference
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.