2008 BMW 6 SERIES Owners Manual

At a glance
15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Coupe: glass sunroof, electric with raise
function
*40
2Coupe: microphone for hands-free mode
for telephone
* and voice command
system
*23
Convertible: microphone on steering
column
3Reading lamps107
4Interior lamps106
5Coupe: initiating SOS emergency
request227
6Indicator lamp
for front passenger
airbags95
7Convertible: initiating SOS emergency
request
*227
8Control Display16
9Hazard warning flashers
10Central locking system32
11Automatic climate control10812Changing
>radio station163
>track173
13Ejecting
>navigation DVD
*132
>audio CD173
14Programmable memory/direct selection
buttons21
15Drive for navigation DVD in Professional
*
navigation system132
16Drive for audio CDs173
17Entertainment sound output on/off
and adjusting volume159
19Bracket for cup holder118
20Controller16
Turn, press or move horizontally in four
directions
21Opening start menu on Control Display17
22Dynamic Driving Control62 Temperature setting,
left/right108
Automatic air distribution and
volume109
Cooling function111
AUC Automatic recirculated-air
control111
Recirculated-air mode111
Maximum cooling111
Residual heat mode112
Switching off automatic climate
control112
Air volume110
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation110
Rear window defroster108
18
Heated seats*53
PDC Park Distance Control
*85
DTC Dynamic Traction Control88
Convertible: opening the convert-
ible top43
Convertible: closing the convertible
top43

iDrive
16
iDrive
iDrive combines the functions of a multitude of
switches. This allows these functions to be
operated from a central position. The following
section provides an introduction to basic menu navigation. The control of individual functions is
described in connection with the relevant
equipment.
Controls
1Control Display
2 button
Opening the start menu
3Controller
You can use the controller to select menu
items and change settings by:
>moving in four directions, arrows4
>turning, arrow5
>pressing, arrow6To avoid becoming distracted and unnec-
essarily endangering both your own vehi-
cle's occupants and other road users, never
attempt to use the controls or make entries
unless traffic and road conditions allow.<

At a glance
17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation or onboard information
>Navigation system*
>Onboard info, e.g. for displaying of the aver-
age fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
Climate
>Vent settings
>Automatic programs
>Parked car operation
menu
>Switching off the Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central
locking system
>Display of maintenance intervals and dead-
lines for legally mandated inspections
>Settings for the telephone
Basic operation
From radio readiness, refer to page58, the fol-
lowing message is shown on the Control Dis-
play:
To hide the message:
Press the controller.
This displays the start menu.
The message is automatically hidden after
approx. 10 seconds.
Start menu
You can call up all the functions of iDrive using
five menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the button.
To open the start menu from the menu:
Press the button twice.

iDrive
18
Opening menu items of start menu
From the start menu, you can call up the four
menu items Communication, Navigation, Enter-
tainment, and Climate by moving the controller
left, right, forward, or back.
You can open the menu by pressing the con-
troller.
Comfort opening of menu items
Comfort opening offers you the option of:
>Opening a menu item of the start menu in
the view last selected
>Direct changing between Communication,
Navigation, Entertainment and Climate
without pressing the button
To do so, move the controller in the corre-
sponding direction and hold it for approx. 2 sec-
onds.
Displays in menu
1Each menu is divided into fields. The cur-
rently selected field appears brighter.
2A symbol indicates the last selected menu
item of the start menu:
1Menu items are usually grouped in horizon-
tal or vertical lists.
2Arrows indicate the possibility of accessing
other menu items that are not currently vis-
ible.
3Settings are displayed graphically or
numerically.
Communication
Navigation or onboard info
Entertainment
Climate
menu

At a glance
19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Operating principle at a glance
Basic operation via iDrive is described in this
view.You can view the individual steps under
Settings on Control Display, Setting time,
refer to page82.
1Selecting menu item:
>Turn controller; marking moves
>Menu items shown in white can be
selected by marking
2Activating a menu item:
>Press controller
>New menu items are displayed or
function is carried out
3Selecting a menu item: refer to 14Changing between fields:
>Briefly move controller left, right, forward
or back
>Release controller
>Active field appears lighter
5Adjusting settings:
>Turn controller
>Graphic display, numerical value or text
displays can be changed
>Confirmation by changing field

iDrive
20
Status information
1Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD
>Telephone
* in "Communication":
Name of linked mobile phone, network
search or no network
>"BMW Assist"
*:
Existing voice connection with a service
from BMW Assist
2Entertainment sound output off
3Station that transmits traffic information is
received
*:
"TI":
Traffic information for the navigation sys-
tem
can be received and transmission is
switched on
4Display for:
> New entries present in "Missed calls"
*
> Roaming active
5 Telephoning
* is possible if the mobile
phone is paired in the vehicle
Reception strength of mobile phone
network, dependent on mobile phone
6Time
Other displays:
When Check Control information appears or
entries are made via the voice command sys-
tem
*, the status information is temporarily hid-
den.
Assistance window*
Additional information appears in the assis-
tance window:
>the computer or the trip computer
>the arrow or map view with navigation
system
*
>the current position
Selecting display
1.Move the controller to the right to change to
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select a menu item.
3.Press the controller.

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 switch on, change to the assistance window
and press the controller.
Switching Control Display
on/off
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.
To switch on, press the controller.
Programmable memory/
direct selection buttons
You can save and run certain functions of iDrive
on the programmable memory/direct selection
buttons:
>Destinations of navigation
>Telephone, phone numbers
>Entertainment:
>radio station
>CD
>CD compartment of CD changer
*
>AUX
The assignment of the programmable memory/
direct selection buttons is stored for the remote
control currently in use.
Saving function
Destinations of navigation
1.Select navigation destination, e.g. in the
destination list or the address book.
2.Press the ... button longer
than 2 seconds.
Special features:
>With the destination guidance system and
the map view started, the current destina-
tion is stored.
>During destination entry via a map, the
coordinates at the cursor are stored, not the
current destination.
Telephone, phone numbers
1.Enter the phone number or select it in a list
of the stored phone numbers, e.g. of the
A-Z list.
2.Press the ... button longer
than 2 seconds.
If a name is assigned to the phone number, the
name will also be stored.

iDrive
22
Entertainment
In the Entertainment menu, the sound source
currently heard, e.g. a radio station, is stored,
regardless of the selection on the Control Dis-
play.
1.Select the desired function, e.g. radio sta-
tion or CD.
2.Press the ... button longer
than 2 seconds.
If the vehicle is equipped with two drives,
the current track is stored for CDs with
compressed audio files.<
Running function
Press the ... button.
When selecting a phone number, the connec-
tion is also established, or the destination guid-
ance is started when a navigation destination is
selected.
Displaying button assignment
You can display the assignment of the buttons
by touching them with your finger. Please do
not wear gloves when doing so. Touching with
an object, e.g. a pen, does not function.
Displaying short info
Touch the ... button.
The assignment of the buttons is displayed.
Destination of navigation system
Entertainment source
Telephone, phone number
Not assigned
Displaying detailed information
Touch the ... button longer.
Deleting button assignments
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 "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Select "Programmable Memory Keys" and
press the controller.
6.Select "Delete assignment of all memory
keys" and press the controller.
7.Acknowledge with "Yes".