2008 BMW 6 SERIES radio

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to use
the index, refer to page242.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
23Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
47Adjusting
56Transporting children safely
58Driving
74Everything under control
85Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
102Lamps
108Climate
115Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
124Things to remember when driving
Navigation
132Starting navigation system
134Destination entry
146Destination guidance
155What to do if …
Entertainment
158On/off and tone
162Radio
169Satellite radio
172CD player and CD changer
178AUX-In connection
179USB/audio interface
Communications
184Telephoning
199BMW Assist
Mobility
208Refueling
210Wheels and tires
216Under the hood
221Maintenance
223Replacing components
227Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
234Technical data
238Short commands of voice command
system
242Everything from A to Z

Notes
6
For your own safety
Maintenance and repairs
Advanced technology, e.g. the use of
modern materials and high-performance
electronics, requires specially adapted mainte-
nance and repair methods. Have corresponding
work on your BMW performed only by your
BMW center or a workshop that works accord-
ing to BMW repair procedures with appropri-
ately trained personnel. If this work is not car-
ried out properly, there is a danger of
subsequent damage and related safety haz-
ards.<
California Proposition 65 Warning
California law requires us to issue the following
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of
automobile components and parts,
including components found in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and
certain products of component wear contain or
emit chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash
your hands after handling.
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have
caused cancer in laboratory animals. Always
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with
soap and water.<
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts
and accessories approved by BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested and
approved by BMW and Genuine BMW Parts,
you simultaneously acquire the assurance that
they have been thoroughly tested by BMW to
ensure optimum performance when installed
on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free from
defects in material and workmanship.
BMW will not accept any liability for damage
resulting from installation of parts and accesso-
ries not approved by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made by other
manufacturers to verify if it can be used on a
BMW safely and without risk to either the vehi-
cle, its operation, or its occupants.
Genuine BMW Parts, BMW Accessories and
other products approved by BMW, together
with professional advice on using these items,
are available from all BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms, radios,
amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels, suspension
components, brake dust shields, telephones,
including operation of any mobile phone from
within the vehicle without using an externally
mounted antenna, or transceiver equipment, for
instance, CBs, walkie-talkies, ham radios or
similar accessories, may cause extensive dam-
age to the vehicle, compromise its safety, inter-
fere with the vehicle's electrical system or affect
the validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. See
your BMW center for additional information.<
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
the emission control devices and sys-
tems may be performed by any automotive
repair establishment or individual using any cer-
tified automotive part.<

At a glance
11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8Buttons on steering wheel
9Instrument cluster12
12Ignition lock58
13Horn, entire surface16Releasing hood216 Mobile phone
*184
>Press: accepting and ending
call, starting dialing
* for
selected phone number and
redialing if no phone number is
selected
>Press and hold: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice
command system
* 23
Changing radio station162
Selecting music track173
Scrolling in phone book and in
lists with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable
*55
Individually programmable55
Leaving lane warning
*101
10
Windshield wipers64
Rain sensor64
11Starting/stopping engine and
switching ignition on/off 58
14
Steering wheel heater
*54
Steering wheel adjustment54
15
Cruise control*65
Active cruise control66
17Opening luggage compartment
lid34
18
Head-Up Display
*96
BMW Night Vision
*98
19
Parking lamps102
Low beams102
Welcome lamps102
Automatic headlamp control102
Daytime running lamps
*103
Welcome lamps102
Adaptive Head Light
*104
20
Instrument lighting106
Fog lamps106

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

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
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".