
Communications
This chapter summarizes how to operate your
mobile phone using iDrive or voice control and
how to use BMW Assist or TeleService.
Communications 

Telephoning
184
Telephoning
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with a full mobile phone 
preparation package. After a suitable mobile 
phone has been paired in the vehicle once, you 
can operate the mobile phone via iDrive, with 
the buttons on the steering wheel and by voice.
A mobile phone that has been paired once is 
automatically detected again as soon as it is 
brought back inside the vehicle, provided that 
the engine is running or the ignition is switched 
on. The pairing data of up to four mobile phones 
can be stored simultaneously. If several mobile 
phones are detected simultaneously, the most 
recently paired mobile phone can be operated 
via the vehicle.
Using a phone in your vehicle
Using snap-in adapter*
The so-called snap-in adapter, a mobile phone 
cradle, enables the battery to be charged and 
the mobile phone to be connected to the exter-
nal antenna of your vehicle. This ensures 
improved network reception and a consistent 
voice reproduction quality. Ask your BMW cen-
ter which mobile phones snap-in adapters are 
offered for.
For your safety
A car phone makes life more convenient in 
many ways, and can even save lives in an emer-
gency. While you should consult your mobile 
phone's separate operating instructions for a 
detailed description of safety precautions and 
information, we request that you direct your 
particular attention to the following:
Only make entries when traffic conditions 
allow you to do so. Do not hold the mobile 
phone in your hand while you are driving; use 
the hands-free system instead. If you do not 
observe this precaution, your being distracted can endanger vehicle occupants and other road 
users.<
Suitable mobile phones
Ask your BMW center which mobile phones 
with a Bluetooth interface are supported by the 
mobile phone preparation package or which 
mobile phones will fit in the snap-in adapters 
they offer. These mobile phones support the 
functions described in this Owner's Manual, 
provided they are running a certain software 
version. Malfunctions can occur with other 
mobile phones.
Care instructions
You can find what you need to know about car-
ing for your mobile phone in the separate Caring 
for your vehicle brochure and in the mobile 
phone operating instructions.
Operating options
You can operate the mobile phone* using:
>Buttons on steering wheel, refer to page11
>iDrive, refer to page16
>Voice commands, refer to page195
>Programmable memory/direct selection 
buttons, refer to page21
Avoid operating a mobile phone detected by 
the vehicle with the keypad of the mobile 
phone, otherwise malfunctions can occur.
Placing phone calls with BMW Assist 
system*: BMW Assist calls
You can use the BMW Assist system via the 
hands-free unit for BMW Assist calls.
When the status information "BMW Assist" or 
"BMW Service" is displayed in "Communica-
tion", only BMW Assist calls are possible.
* 

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At a glance
Controls
Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
Accepting a call
Press the   button on the steering wheel.
Alternative:
"Accept" is selected.
Press the controller.
Rejecting a call
Select "Reject" and press the controller.
The caller is diverted to your mailbox if it has 
been activated.
Calling
Dialing phone numbers
1.Select "Phone" and press the controller.
2.Select "Dial" and press the controller.
3.Enter the desired phone number by dialing 
the individual digits and pressing the con-
troller.
Always enter the complete phone number 
consisting of national dialing code, area 
code, and phone number.
The letters correspond to the digits on the 
keypad of the mobile phone.To delete the last digit:
Move the controller toward the right to 
select the   arrow and press the control-
ler.
4.Select "Dial number" and press the control-
ler.
Alternative:
Press the   button on the steering wheel.
For your phone number to be displayed to the 
person you are calling, the display of phone 
numbers must be enabled by your service pro-
vider.
With programmable memory/
direct selection buttons
You can store phone numbers on and call them 
up with the programmable memory/direct 
selection buttons, refer to page21.
Ending a call
Press the   button on the steering wheel.
Alternative:
1.Select the phone number and press the 
controller. 

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Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
5.Change the phone number.
6.Select "Dial number" and press the control-
ler.
Dialing a phone number stored in a list
To select an entry and establish a connection:
1.Select "Phone" and press the controller.
2.Select list and press the controller:
>"Top 8"
>"Redial"
>"Missed calls"
>"Received calls"
3.Select the desired entry and press the con-
troller.
4.Select "Call" and press the controller.
The system dials the number.
Deleting individual entries
1.Select the desired entry from the list and 
press the controller.
2.Select "Delete" and press the controller.
The entry is deleted.
Deleting entire list
1.Select an entry from the list and press the 
controller.
2.Select "Delete all numbers" and press the 
controller.
3.If applicable, select "Yes" and press the 
controller.
The list is deleted.
BMW Contact*
If you have not enabled BMW Assist, you can 
have several service numbers displayed:
>Roadside Assistance
* of the BMW Group 
when you require breakdown assistance
>BMW center, e.g. when you want to make 
an appointment for service
>BMW Customer Relations
* for information 
on all aspects of your vehicle
If BMW Assist is enabled, refer to page199. 

Telephoning
194 You can dial the displayed service phone num-
bers if your mobile phone is paired in the vehi-
cle:
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller forwards to select 
"Communication".
3.Select "BMW Contact" and press the con-
troller.
4.Select "BMW Contact Numbers" and press 
the controller.
5.Select one of the following menu items and 
press the controller:
>"Roadside Assistance"
>"Customer Relations"
>"Service Request"
6.Select "Call" and press the controller.
Contact is established.
Transferring phone number via tone 
dialing method
The tone dialing method is required for access 
to network services or for controlling devices, 
e.g. remote checking of an answering machine.
This function is available when a connection 
has been established.
1.Establish connection.
2.With a single drive:
Press the controller.
Select "Keypad" and press the controller.
With two drives:
Move the controller backwards until the 
bottom field is selected.
3.Select the desired character
 and press the 
controller.
Each character is sent immediately and 
confirmed by a tone depending on the 
mobile phone model. 

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Controls
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Navigation
Mobility
BMW Assist
BMW Assist provides you with various services. 
For example, the position data of your vehicle 
can be transmitted to the BMW Assist 
Response Center if an emergency request
* has 
been initiated.
Many BMW Assist services depend on the indi-
vidually agreed contract.
After your contract has expired, the BMW 
Assist system will be deactivated by the BMW 
Assist Response Center without you having to 
visit a BMW center. Following the deactivation 
of the BMW Assist systems, no BMW Assist 
service is available. The BMW Assist system be 
reactivated by a BMW center after signing a 
new contract.
Requirements
You can use BMW Assist when the following 
requirements are met:
>The installed BMW Assist system is logged 
on to a mobile phone network. This network 
must be capable of transmitting the ser-
vices.
>To transmit position data, the vehicle must 
be able to determine the current position.
>In order to activate and update BMW Assist, 
a GPS signal must be available.
>You have subscribed to BMW Assist with 
your BMW center or with the BMW Assist 
Response Center. Enabling must have 
been completed.
>BMW Assist is activated, refer to page204.
Offered services
The following services are available via 
BMW Assist:
>Emergency request, refer to page227: 
When you press the SOS button, a connec-
tion is established to the BMW Assist 
Response Center. The BMW Assist 
Response Center contacts you and takes 
further steps to help you.
>Automatic collision notification:
Under certain conditions a connection is 
established to the BMW Assist Response 
Center directly following a serious accident. 
If possible, the BMW Assist Response Cen-
ter contacts you and takes further steps to 
help you.
>Enhanced roadside assistance: 
You can call Roadside Assistance
* of the 
BMW Group should you require help in the 
event of a breakdown. If possible, the vehi-
cle and position data are transmitted in the 
process.
>BMW Customer Relations: 
For information related to your vehicle, call 
BMW Customer Relations.
>TeleService: 
The data on the service status of your vehi-
cle or on required inspections are transmit-
ted to your BMW center either automati-
cally prior to the due date or when you 
request a BMW service appointment.
>Remote door unlock: 
Inform the BMW Assist Response Center, 
e.g. if your remote control is not available 
and you want to have the vehicle unlocked.
>Stolen vehicle recovery: 
After your vehicle has been reported to the 
police as stolen, the BMW Assist Response 
Center can locate its position. To do this, 
the vehicle electronics must be ready for 
operation.
* 

BMW Assist
200 In addition, you can be provided with other ser-
vices, e.g. the concierge service or information 
on route planning, traffic conditions, and the 
weather. With Critical Calling, you can make a 
limited number of calls via the BMW Assist 
Response Center, e.g. if you do not have your 
mobile phone with you.
Press the SOS button to contact the BMW 
Assist Response Center, see below.
You also have access to the BMW Assist con-
cierge service via the Internet.
Characteristics of the offered services
The following characteristics apply to the ser-
vices:
>The services offered are country-specific.
>Voice contact is established or data are 
transferred, depending on the equipment 
and the country. In some countries, it is 
possible to do both.
>The data transmitted can, for example, be 
the vehicle data, your current position or the 
CBS Condition Based Service data.
Using services
Contacting BMW Assist Response 
Center
You can contact the BMW Assist Response 
Center via the SOS button.
1.Briefly press protective cover to open.
With some vehicle equipment packages or 
in the Convertible, the arrangement of the 
switches and indicator lamps may differ 
somewhat.
2.Press the button for at least 2 seconds.The BMW Assist Response Center is con-
tacted.
Roadside assistance
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller forwards to select 
"Communication".
3.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "BMW Assist" is selected 
and press the controller.
4.Select "Roadside Assistance" and press 
the controller.
If the location can be determined, the cur-
rent vehicle position is displayed. 

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5.Select "Start service" and press the con-
troller.
The BMW Assist Response Center will connect 
you to the Roadside Assistance of the 
BMW Group.
TeleService
Automatic service notification*
The data on the service status of your vehicle or 
on required inspections are transmitted auto-
matically prior to the due date. You can check 
when the BMW center was notified.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Info sources" and press the control-
ler.
4.Select "Service" and press the controller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Service requirements" is 
selected and press the controller.6.Select "Service notification" and press the 
controller.
Manual service notification
You can transmit data regarding your vehicle's 
service status to your BMW center when you 
wish to arrange a service appointment.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller forwards to select 
"Communication".
3.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "BMW Assist" is selected 
and press the controller.
4.Select "Service Request".
5.Press the controller.
6.Select "Start service" and press the con-
troller.