
Navigation
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Driving tips
 181Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
CD player and CD changer
Listening to CDs
Compressed audio files*
CDs with compressed audio files, i.e. MP3, can 
be played by the CD player, but not by the CD 
changer.
CD player: starting CD
With two drives:
The upper drive is for audio CDs.
Inserting CD
Insert the CD into the drive with the labeled side 
up. The CD is retracted.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is on. For CDs with compressed audio files, 
it can take up to approx. 1 minute to read in the 
data depending on the directory structure.
Via iDrive
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 open 
"Entertainment".3.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "CD" is selected and press 
the controller.
4.With a CD changer, change to the second 
field from the top and turn the controller 
until "CD" is selected and press the control-
ler.
The CD player is started.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is switched on.About programmable memory buttons
You can store the CD player function on the 
programmable memory buttons. To start the 
CD player, refer to page21.
Eject CD
Press the   button next to CD player.
The CD emerges slightly from the drive.
CD changer: starting CD
Fill the CD magazine and insert, refer to 
page185.
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CD player and CD changer
182
Via iDrive
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to open 
"Entertainment".
3.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "CD" is selected and press 
the controller.
4.Change to the second field from the top if 
necessary. Turn the controller until the 
desired CD, CD 1 - 6, is selected and press 
the controller.
At the end of the last track, the next CD will be 
selected.
If the CD magazine has been newly filled, play-
back begins with the lowest CD, e.g. CD 1, 
track 1.
The CD magazine's load status is indicated on 
the Control Display.
About programmable memory buttons
You can store a CD compartment of the CD 
changer on the programmable memory but-
tons. To start the CD changer, refer to page21.
Selecting a track
Buttons next to CD player
Press the  button for the corresponding 
direction repeatedly until you reach the desired 
track.
The CD will start play at the start of the track. 
The track is displayed on the Control Display.
You can also change the track with buttons on 
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
Via iDrive
Select a track by turning the controller.
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the directory if necessary and press 
the controller.
2.Select the track and press the controller.
To change the directory:
Select the directory and press the controller. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 183Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
To exit from the menu:
 Select the arrow and press the controller.
You can also store a particular track on the pro-
grammable memory buttons, refer to page21.
Displaying information on track*
With compressed audio files, you can display 
any information stored on the current track, e.g. 
the name of the artist.
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Details" and press the controller.
The information for the current track are dis-
played.
From radio readiness, the setting is stored for 
the remote control currently in use.
Sampling tracks, scan
The system plays a brief sample from each of 
the tracks on the current CD.
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
To end sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
This cancels sampling of the tracks, and the 
player remains on the current track.
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2.Select the desired menu item:
>To sample all tracks of the current direc-
tory, select "Scan directory" and press 
the controller.
>To sample all tracks of the CD, select 
"Scan all" and press the controller.
To end sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan directory" or "Scan all" and 
press the controller.
This cancels sampling, and the player remains 
on the current track. 

CD player and CD changer
184
Repeating a track
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
2.Select "Repeat" and press the controller.
The current track on the CD is repeated.
To stop repeating:
1.Press the controller again.
2.Select "Repeat" and press the controller.
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2.Select the desired menu item:
>To repeat the selected track, select 
"Repeat track" and press the controller.
>To repeat all tracks of the current direc-
tory, select "Repeat directory" and press 
the controller.To stop repeating:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Repeat track" or "Repeat directory" 
and press the controller.
Random play sequence
In this mode, the tracks on the current CD are 
played once in a random sequence.
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
2.Select "Random" and press the controller.
To stop random function:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Random" and press the controller.
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2.Select the desired menu item:
>To pla y all tracks of the current directory 
in random order, select "Random direc-
tory" and press the controller.
>To play all tracks of the CD in random 
order, select "Random all" and press the 
controller.
To stop random function:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Random directory" or "Random all" 
and press the controller. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 185Reference
At a glance
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Fast forward/reverse
Buttons next to CD player:
Press and hold the   button for the corre-
sponding direction.
CD magazine
The BMW CD changer for six CDs is installed in 
the glove compartment.
Removing CD magazine
To insert CDs into the CD magazine 1 or 
remove them from it, you must first remove the 
magazine from the CD changer:
Press button2: the CD magazine1 slides out.
Wait at least 2 seconds before pushing in the 
magazine again so that the inserted CDs can be 
read in again.
Inserting/removing CDs into/from 
CD magazine
When inserting or removing CDs, remember to 
hold them by their edges, taking care to avoid 
touching the data side with its reflective CD 
memory surface.Inserting CDs:
Insert one CD into each compartment of the 
magazine with the labeled side up.
Removing CDs:
Pull out the desired tray and remove the CD.
Inserting CD magazine
Push in the CD magazine as far as possible in 
the direction of the arrow.
The CD changer reads in the loaded CDs and is 
then ready for operation. 

CD player and CD changer
186
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 buildup 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. CD singles, as other-
wise the CD/DVD or the adapter can jam and 
may no longer eject properly.
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 
whether 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 occur only with particular CDs/
DVDs, this can be due to one of the following 
causes.
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 upper side with a 
pen intended for this purpose.
Damaged CDs/DVDs
Avoid fingerprints, dust, scratches and mois-
ture. 
Store CDs/DVDs in a sleeve.
Do not subject CDs/DVDs to temperatures over 
1227/506, high levels of humidity or direct 
sunlight.
CDs/DVDs with copy protection
CDs/DVDs are often provided with a copy pro-
tection feature by the manufacturer. This can 
m e a n  t h a t  s o m e  C D s / D V D s  c a n n o t  b e  p l a y e d  o r  
can only be played to a limited extent.
Care
If necessary, clean the reflective scanning side 
of the CDs/DVDs with a commercially available 
cleaning cloth by wiping in straight lines from 
the center outward. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 187Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
AUX-In connection
You can connect an external audio device, e.g. 
an MP3 player, and play the sound via the vehi-
cle speakers. The sound can be adjusted via 
iDrive.
Connecting
1Connection for audio playback:
1/8 in/3,5 mm jack plug
To play audio tracks through the vehicle's 
speaker system, connect the headset or line-
out port of the external device to connection 1.
Starting audio playback
The audio device must be switched on.
Via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to open 
"Entertainment".3.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "AUX" is selected and press 
the controller.
4.Select "AUX IN" and press the controller.
5.Adjust volume and sound if necessary.
About programmable memory buttons
You can save the audio AUX function on the 
programmable memory buttons. To start audio 
playback, refer to page21. 

USB audio interface
188
USB audio interface
You can connect audio devices to the USB 
audio interface, e.g. an iPod or a USB device 
(MP3 player, USB memory stick). You can then 
operate these via iDrive.
The system can play back common audio files, 
e.g. MP3, WMA, WAV (PCM) and ACC, as well 
as playback lists in the M3U format.
Due to the large number of audio devices avail-
able on the market, operation via the vehicle 
cannot be ensured for every audio device.
Ask your BMW center which audio devices are 
suitable.
Connecting
1USB interface
2Connection for audio playback:
1/8 in/3,5 mm jack plug
iPod
To connect the iPod, use the BMW cable 
adapter for Apple iPods. For more information, 
please contact a BMW center or consult our 
website: www.bmw.com
For audio playback via the vehicle speakers, 
connect the iPod to the connections1 and2.
The USB audio interface supports the iPod 
menu structure
USB device
Use a flexible adapter cable for connec-
tion to protect the USB interface and your 
USB device against mechanical damage.<
For audio playback via the vehicle speakers, 
connect the USB device to the connection 1.
After connecting for the first time, the informa-
tion of all tracks (e.g. artist, music genre) and 
the playback lists of the USB device are trans-
ferred to the vehicle. This process can take 
some time. The time required is dependent on 
the USB device and on the number of tracks.
During the transfer you can select the tracks via 
the directories and file names.
Following the transfer you can call up the tracks 
via the information and playback lists.
The information of up to four USB devices can 
be stored in the vehicle, for a total of approx. 
20,000 tracks.
If a fifth USB device is connected, the informa-
tion of the tracks of the first USB device stored 
in the vehicle is deleted.
Music tracks with integrated Digital 
Rights Management (DRM) cannot be 
played.<
Starting audio playback
Via iDrive
If the audio device has a device name, this will 
be displayed if possible.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to open 
"Entertainment".
3.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "AUX" is selected and press 
the controller.
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