
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 page232.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
23Voice command system
Controls
30Opening and closing
43Adjusting
54Transporting children safely
57Driving
75Everything under control
86Technology for comfort, convenience 
and safety
100Lamps
103Climate
111Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
122Things to remember when driving
Navigation
130Starting navigation system
131Destination input
144Route guidance
149What to do if …
Entertainment
152On/off and settings
156Radio
163CD player
165CD changer
169External audio device
170DVD changer
Communications
178Telephone overview
181Getting started
184Using the phone
189BMW Assist
Mobility
198Refueling
200Wheels and tires
207Under the hood
211Maintenance
213Replacing components
219Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
226Technical data
230Short commands of the voice command 
system
232Everything from A to Z 

At a glance
 15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Glass sunroof, electric*41
2Memory buttons for integrated universal 
remote control
*111
3Reading lamps102
4Interior lamps101
5Passenger airbag status lamp96
6Initiating an emergency call
*219
7Control Display16
8Temperature, left side of passenger com-
partment: turn, 
maximum cooling: press106
9Air volume, left side of passenger compart-
ment: turn106 
Defrosting windows and removing conden-
sation: press106
10Hazard warning flashers
11Air volume, right side of passenger 
compartment106
12Temperature, right side of passenger com-
partment: turn,
residual heat: press106
13Rear window defroster
14Air conditioner mode107
15Opening the glove compartment113
16Automatic air distribution and airflow 
as well as intensity of the AUTO program, 
right side of passenger compartment104
17Starting scan
>for stations152
>for tracks152
18Central locking system34
19Selecting AM or FM waveband
20Selecting radio, CD player, and CD changer
21Controller16
22 button and programmable 
button16
23Snap-in adapter18124Seat adjustment43
25Glasses compartment115
26Storage compartments115
27Switching audio sources on/off and 
adjusting volume153
28Retracting telephone keypad179
29Automatic air distribution and airflow 
as well as intensity of the AUTO program, 
left side of passenger compartment104
30Outside air/AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control/recirculated air105
31Switching off automatic climate 
control105
Heated seats*49
Active seat ventilation
*50
Active seat for driver
*50
Seat, mirror and steering wheel 
memory46 

At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Voice command system
The concept
The voice command system allows you to con-
trol operation of various vehicle systems with-
out ever removing your hands from the steering 
wheel. The system operates on the basis of 
voice commands that you will learn easily after 
using them a few times. In many cases, the 
voice command system assists you with 
announcements or questions while you are 
making your entries.
The voice command system transforms your 
oral commands and dialog answers into control 
signals for the selected systems.
Please take the time to acquaint yourself 
with how a particular system operates 
before proceeding to control it using the voice 
command system.<
Note
Use iDrive to set the language that will be used 
so that the voice command system will be able 
to identify the commands spoken. Setting the 
language of iDrive, refer to page84.
Symbols used
{...} Verbal instructions to use with the voice 
command system.
{{...}} Identifies the answers generated by the 
voice command system.
Systems available for use with voice 
command
>{Navigation}, refer to page130
>{Radio}, refer to page156
>{Telephone}, refer to page184
>{CD}, refer to page163
>{CD changer}, refer to page165
>{Notepad}, refer to page25
>{DVD}, refer to page170The Info Display, refer to page24, will display 
either the equipment that you are now operat-
ing or any current error messages.
Voice commands
Voice command system activation
Briefly press the  button on the steering 
wheel.
An acoustic signal and the display "SVS active" 
on the Info Display, refer to page24, indicate 
that the system is ready for operation. The sys-
tem automatically starts in the main menu.
From here, you can call up all the equipment 
that can be operated.
Canceling voice command
Briefly press the  button on the steering 
wheel
or
In dialogs in which any text can be spoken, e.g. 
names, notes, canceling is only possible using 
the  button.
The system automatically switches over 
to its telephone mode if you receive a call 
during voice input. "SVS active" appears on the 
Info Display, refer to page24.<
Voice commands
The voice command system operates on the 
basis of specific, predefined commands; these 
commands should be spoken precisely as indi-
cated. You can have the possible commands 
read aloud at any point. To do so, say the com-
mand {Options}.
In addition to the commands described, there 
are often other commands that run the same 
function. Instead of {Options}, you can, for 
example, also say {What now}. In addition, 
*
These sections contain information on 
using the voice command system.
{Cancel}. 

Voice command system
24 numerous options are often available, such as 
{Scale 100 miles} instead of {Scale}.
Short commands
In the {Main menu} level, you can run certain 
functions directly with brief commands, refer to 
page230, without having to open an equipment 
level first.
For example, if you want to dial a phone num-
ber, you can directly
without previously opening
Identification in Owner's Manual
Special commands are available for specific 
systems. In this Owner's Manual you will find 
these commands in the sections describing the 
individual systems.
Displays on Info Display
The Info Display shows you what the voice 
command system has understood in line2, 
while also indicating which voice command or 
question is currently active in line1.
In addition, any error messages are also dis-
played.
Changing map scale for navigation: an example
Starting the dialog
Briefly press the  button on the steering 
wheel.1.{Dial number}.
2.Enter the phone number.
{Telephone}
Operation with the voice command system 
is always indicated with this symbol.
You sayThe voice command system repliesShown on Info Display
"SVS active"
{Change scale}{{Please enter the desired scale}}"scale?
change scale"
{Scale 400 feet}"ok
400 ft" 

Controls
 37Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Manual operation
In the case of an electrical malfunction, you can 
unlock the luggage compartment lid with the 
key, refer to page35, and slowly open and close 
it without sudden movements.
Emergency release
Pull the lever inside the luggage compartment. 
This unlocks the luggage compartment lid.
Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds to:
>opening of a door, the hood or the luggage 
compartment lid
>movement in the vehicle interior: interior 
motion sensor, refer to page38
>changes in the vehicle's tilt if someone 
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the 
vehicle
>interruptions in battery voltage
The alarm system briefly indicates unautho-
rized tampering:
>with an acoustic alarm
>by switching on
 the hazard warning flashers
>by flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming alarm system
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with 
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm 
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
When the alarm system is armed, you can also 
open the luggage compartment lid with the button on the remote control, refer to 
page33. When the luggage compartment lid is 
closed, it is relocked and monitored again.
Unlocking via the door lock will trigger the 
alarm on some national-market versions.
Pressing the 'Panic mode' button for a longer 
period also triggers the alarm, refer to 
page33.<
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote control, 
refer to page32.
>Insert the remote control into the ignition 
lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp below the interior rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after the vehicle 
is locked: the doors or luggage compart-
ment lid are not properly closed. Even if you 
do not close the door involved, the system 
begins to monitor the remaining areas, and 
the indicator lamp flashes continuously 
after 10 seconds. However, the interior 
motion sensor is not activated.
>After the vehicle is unlocked, the indicator 
lamp goes out: no manipulation or 
attempted intrusions have been detected in 
the period since the system was armed.
>After the vehicle is unlocked, the indicator 
lamp flashes until the remote control is 
inserted into the ignition lock, but for no 
more than roughly 5 minutes: an attempted 
entry has been detected in the period since 
the system was armed. 

Adjusting
52 The steering wheel can be adjusted in four 
directions.
To save steering wheel positions, refer to Seat, 
mirror and steering wheel memory on page46.
Assistance getting in and out
To make it easier to enter and exit the vehicle, 
the steering wheel temporarily moves into the 
top and front position.
This automatic feature is governed by the 
driver's door and the ignition switch.
Steering wheel heater*
Press the button.
When the steering wheel heater is operating, 
the LED in the button lights up.
Programmable buttons
You can individually program the button on the 
steering wheel and the button next to the con-
troller.
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the   button to open the start 
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Settings".3.Select "Vehicle" and press the controller.
4.Select "  button" or "  button". Con-
tinue to press the controller until the 
desired function appears.
>"Recirc. air" 
The supply of outside air is shut off contin-
uously, refer to Automatic recirculated air 
control/recirculated air mode on page105.
>"Navi info" 
To repeat the most recent navigation sys-
tem instruction, refer to Route guidance by 
voice instructions on page146.
>"Short info" 
Display of the help and supplementary texts 
of the active menu for approx. 10 seconds, 
refer to page21.
The " button" can also be programmed with 
the following functions:
>"AUTO P" 
Activation/deactivation, refer to page59.
>"NIGHT VISION"
BMW Night Vision activation and deactiva-
tion, refer to page98.
Rear seat screen
*:
>"Mode"
You can choose between the output 
sources radio, CD player, and CD changer. 
It is necessary for one of these sources to 
have been activated.
>"FM" and "AM" 
Switching between the FM and AM wave-
bands, also refer to page152. 

Driving
60 engage the parking brake the moment the vehi-
cle comes to a stop.<
Parking
The parking brake engages automatically when 
you stop the vehicle and switch off the engine. 
The indicator lamp  changes from green to 
red.
You can also release the parking brake 
manually after the engine is switched off, 
as long as the remote control is in the ignition 
lock, refer to page59. You can use this function, 
for example, in a car wash. 
Automatic Hold is deactivated.<
When leaving the vehicle, release the 
remote control from the detent in the igni-
tion lock; this precaution prevents children from 
disengaging the parking brake etc.<
For your safety
Automatic Hold is automatically deactivated 
when:
>the engine is switched off
>the system detects that the driver's seat is 
not occupied while the engine is running
>the hood is opened while the engine is run-
ning
>the luggage compartment is opened while 
the engine is running and the transmission 
is in reverse
>and when the parking brake is used to brake 
the vehicle to a stop during driving
The indicator lamp   changes from green to 
red, and the indication AUTO P on the Info Dis-
play disappears.
Before starting off again, briefly press the but-
ton to disengage the parking brake manually, 
refer to page59, or reactivate Automatic Hold, 
refer to page59.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine 
running, always move the automatic 
transmission's selector lever to position P and 
make sure that the parking brake is engaged. 
The vehicle could start to roll if you fail to take 
these precautions.
tendency for the wheels to spin in response to 
slippery road surfaces. 
Pay attention to the messages on the Info Dis-
play. For additional information, refer to Check 
Control on page80.<
Releasing parking brake manually
In the event of an electrical power loss or elec-
trical malfunction, you can release the parking 
brake manually.
Before manually releasing the parking 
brake and each time you park the vehicle 
without engaging the parking brake, make sure 
that the automatic transmission is in position P, 
refer to page62. Be sure to pay attention to the 
information on the Info Display. 
If circumstances should force you to park on a 
steeply inclined road surface, it is essential to 
take additional precautions against inadvertent 
rolling, e.g. by using the chock, refer to 
page216. Otherwise, there is the danger of the 
vehicle rolling, depending on the incline.<
If it becomes necessary to also unlock the 
transmission lock of the automatic transmis-
sion, follow this sequence:
1.If necessary, start by releasing the parking 
brake manually.
2.Then release the automatic transmission's 
transmission lock manually, refer to 
page64.
Jump starting and tow starting information, 
refer to section starting on page220. 

Controls
 63Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
You can select this position, for example, in car 
washes. The vehicle can roll.
Transmission remains in N even after the 
ignition is switched off whenever you 
leave the remote control in the ignition lock. 
This function is useful in automatic car washes, 
etc. 
After approx. 30 minutes the system automati-
cally shifts into position P. Pay attention to the 
messages on the Info Display. 
Switching off engine, refer to page58.<
D Drive, automatic position
This is the mode recommended for normal 
vehicle operation. All forward gears are avail-
able.
Under normal operating conditions, the fuel 
consumption is lowest when driving in 
position D.
Kick-down
The kick-down mode provides you with maxi-
mum acceleration.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Sport program and manual operation
Press button1 on the steering wheel.
The sport program is activated and S appears 
on the Info Display. This program is recom-
mended for a performance-oriented driving 
style.
Press button1 again to switch into the manual 
mode and then into the automatic program 
again.
In the manual mode, the Steptronic changes 
gears when one of the buttons2 on the front or 
back of the steering wheel is briefly pressed. 
The Info Display shows the manual ranges M1 
through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only 
when they will result in a plausible combination 
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example, 
the system will not execute a downshift that 
would cause the engine to overrev. In this case, 
the requested gear appears briefly on the Info 
Display, followed by the current gear.
Press button1 again to switch back into the 
automatic program.