
On/off and tone
158
On/off and tone
The following audio sources have shared 
controls and setting options:
>Professional
* radio or 
Business radio
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons in the area of the CD player
>iDrive
>Buttons on steering wheel, refer to page11
>Programmable memory/direct selection 
buttons, refer to page21
Buttons near CD player
The layout of the buttons can vary depending 
on your vehicle's equipment.
One drive:
Two drives:1Entertainment sound output on/off, volume
>Press: switch on/off.
When the system is switched on, the 
most recently selected radio station or 
CD track is played.
>Turn: adjust volume.
2Drive for audio CDs
3 Eject CD
4 Station scan/track search
>Change radio station.
>Select track for CD player and 
CD changer.
5Drive for navigation DVDs
Operating via iDrive
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up 
"Entertainment".
You have the following choices:
>"FM" and "AM": radio reception
>"WB": Weather Band station
>"SAT": satellite radio
>"CD": CD player or CD changer
>"AUX": AUX-In connection
>USB/audio interface
*
>"Set": depending on the audio source, 
other adjustments can be made, e.g. with 
the radio: update station with strongest 
reception, store station, tone control, 
sample stations. 

Navigation
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Driving tips
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At a glance
Controls
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>"Manual":
To set stations that can be received in addi-
tion to those displayed, refer to Selecting 
frequency manually.
Changing selection criteria
In addition to the stations currently displayed, 
you can have stations with another selection 
criterion displayed.
You can choose from the following selection 
criteria:
>"All stations":
Stations that can currently be received in 
the "FM" waveband.
>"Autostore":
The stations with the strongest received 
signals in the "AM" waveband.
>"Presets":
Stations you have previously stored, refer to 
page164.
>"Manual":
To set stations that can be received in addi-
tion to those displayed, refer to Selecting 
frequency manually.
1.Change into the second field from the top.
2.Turn the controller until the desired selec-
tion criterion is selected and press the con-
troller.
Buttons next to CD player
Press the   button for the corresponding 
direction.
The system changes to the next displayed sta-
tion.
You can also change stations with buttons on 
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
Sampling stations, scan
The system automatically plays a brief sample 
from each of the stations on the current wave-
band.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
3.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
The stations are sampled.
To end sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
This cancels sampling of the stations, and the 
radio remains on the current station.
Buttons next to CD player
To sample the stations, press and hold the 
 button for the corresponding direction.
To stop scanning, press the button again.
Selecting frequency manually
With "Manual" you can select stations that are 
received in addition to those displayed.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the second field from the top.
3.Select "Manual" and press the controller. 

Navigation
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At a glance
Controls
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Mobility
7.Press the controller.
The station is stored.
The stations of the last selection criterion are 
displayed once again after a short time.
From radio readiness, the stations are saved for 
the remote control used at the moment.
With programmable memory/
direct selection buttons
You can also store a station on the programma-
ble memory/direct selection buttons, also refer 
to page21.
1.Select a station.
2. ...   Press and hold desired but-
ton.
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.
4.Select "Store" and press the controller.5.Turn the controller until the desired mem-
ory position is selected.
The number of the memory position 
appears beside the name or frequency of 
the station.
6.Press the controller.
The station is stored.
RDS Radio Data System
In the FM frequency range, additional informa-
tion is transmitted via RDS. If the reception con-
ditions are good, the station names are shown 
on the Control Display. If the reception is weak 
or disrupted, it can take some time before the 
station names are displayed.
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.
Automatically sorting 
stations*
For the "All stations" selection criterion, you 
can set whether the most frequently used sta-
tions are displayed at the beginning.
1.Select "All stations" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected. 

Navigation
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Mobility
Storing channel
1.Select the desired channel.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
3.Select "Store" and press the controller.
"Presets" is displayed.
4.Turn the controller to select a memory posi-
tion and press the controller.
The channel is stored. The stations of the last 
selection criterion are displayed again after a 
short time.
Changing channel with buttons next to 
CD player
Press the   button for the corresponding 
direction.
The system changes to the next enabled chan-
nel.
Notes
If no signal can be received for more than 
4 seconds, a message is displayed on the Con-
trol Display.
Reception may not be possible for certain 
reasons, e.g. environmental influences or 
topographical conditions. The satellite radio 
has no influence on this.
The signal may not be available in tunnels or 
underground garages, next to tall buildings, 
near trees, mountains or other sources of radio 
interference.
Reception is usually possible again as soon as 
the signal is available again.< 

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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 with adhesive 
labels as these can come loose during playback 
due to heat build-up and cause irreparable 
damage to the system.
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 may no 
longer be ejected.
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.
Home-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 advanced age of the CD/DVD blank.
Label CDs/DVDs only on the top, using a marker 
designed for this purpose.
Damaged CDs/DVDs
Avoid fingerprints dust, scratches, and mois-
ture. 
Keep 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
Manufacturers often provide CDs/DVDs with 
copy protection. This can mean that some CDs/
DVDs cannot be played or 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. 

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Mobility
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 va 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 loudspeak-
ers, connect the iPod to the connections1 
and2.
The menu structure of the iPod is supported by 
the USB/audio interface.
USB storage medium
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 loudspeak-
ers, connect the USB device to the connec-
tion1.
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.<
* 

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Entertainment
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At a glance
Controls
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. 

 195
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
Changing between mobile 
phone and hands-free system
From mobile phone to hands-free 
system*
You can continue calls begun outside the Blue-
tooth range of the vehicle via the hands-free 
system when the engine is running or the igni-
tion is switched on. Depending on your mobile 
phone, the system automatically switches over 
to the hands-free mode.
For mobile phones that do not automatically 
switch over to the hands-free mode:
>Depending on the mobile phone model 
used, the conversation can be continued via 
the hands-free system if necessary. Follow 
the instructions displayed on the mobile 
phone display, refer to the operating 
instructions of your mobile phone.
>Press the   button above the storage 
compartment. Switching over may take 
several seconds.
From hands-free system to mobile 
phone
When you telephone via the hands-free system, 
you can also continue the call via the mobile 
phone if necessary, depending on the mobile 
phone model. Act according to what is shown 
on the mobile phone display, refer to the oper-
ating instructions of your mobile phone.
As an alternative, you can deactivate the Blue-
tooth link.
Depending on your mobile phone model, poor 
reception of the wireless communications net-
work can result in the system switching from 
the hands-free system to the mobile phone.
Operation by voice*
The concept
You can operate your mobile phone without 
having to remove your hands from the steering 
wheel. When making your entries, you will be 
supported by announcements or questions in 
many cases.
The same prerequisites as for operation via 
iDrive apply, refer to page190.
Voice commands
Activating system
1.Briefly press the   button on the steering 
wheel.
An acoustic signal indicates that you can 
say commands.
2.Say the command.
Ending/canceling operation by voice
Press the   button on the steering wheel
or
In dialogs where text is spoken, not a command, 
e.g. a name, canceling is only possible using the 
button on the steering wheel.
Having possible commands read aloud
The system understands default commands 
that must be spoken word for word. 
You can have the possible commands spoken 
by the system at any point:
Using alternative commands
There are often a number of commands to run a 
function, e.g.: 
The system recognizes digits from zero to nine.
You can say each digit individually or group 
them into a sequence to accelerate the input.
{Cancel}.
{Help}.
 {Dial name} or {Name}.