
 5Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Your individual vehicle
In purchasing your BMW, you have decided in 
favor of a model with individualized equipment 
and features. This Owner's Manual describes 
the entire array of options and equipment avail-
able with a specific BMW model.
Please bear in mind that the manual may con-
tain information on accessories and equipment 
that you have not specified for your own vehicle. 
Sections describing options and special equip-
ment are marked by asterisks
* to assist you in 
identifying possible differences between the 
descriptions in this manual and your own vehi-
cle's equipment.
If equipment in your BMW is not described in 
this Owner's Manual, please refer to the accom-
panying Supplementary Owner's Manuals.
Editorial notice
BMW pursues a policy of continuous, ongoing 
development that is conceived to ensure that 
our vehicles continue to embody the highest 
quality and safety standards combined with 
advanced, state-of-the-art technology. For this 
reason, the features described in this Owner's 
Manual may in rare cases differ from those on 
your vehicle.
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. Therefore, have cor-
responding work on your BMW performed only 
by your BMW center or a workshop that works 
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. If this work is 
not carried out properly, there is a danger of 
subsequent damage and related safety haz-
ards.<
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  

At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Control and warning lamps can light up in vari-
ous combinations and colors.
When the engine is started or the ignition is 
switched on, some lamps are checked for 
proper operation and light up briefly in the pro-
cess.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages on Info Display explain the 
meaning of the indicator and warning lamps 
shown.
You can view additional information, e.g. 
regarding the cause of a malfunction and the 
corresponding action to take, in the Check Con-
trol, refer to page80.In urgent cases, this information will be shown 
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps indicate that the 
particular functions are active:
Turn signals65
With parking brake released59
With parking brake set58
Warning lamp on Canadian models
Front fog lamps101 
DTC Dynamic Traction Control88 
High beams/headlamp flasher101 
DSC Dynamic Stability Control, 
flashes88  

iDrive
18 DVDs can only be played on the rear 
seat screen, refer to Rear seat 
screen
* on page21.<
7Settings
>Parking brake58
>PDC Park Distance Control86
>EDC Electronic Damping Control89
>Programmable buttons52
>FTM Flat Tire Monitor
*90
>TPM Tire Pressure Monitor
*91
>Time and date84
>Language84
>Units of measure and display format84
>Brightness85
>Rear seat screen
*21
>Pairing mobile phone with vehicle182
8Climate
>Intensity of AUTO program104
>Air volume106
>Heated seats
*49
>Parked car ventilation109
>Extra, e.g. rear air conditioner108
Basic operation
Once the radio ready position is reached, the 
following message appears on the Control Dis-
play:
To clear the message:
Press the controller.
This displays the start menu.The message automatically disappears after 
approx. 25 seconds.
Start menu
You can access all functions of iDrive via eight 
menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the   button.
Opening the start menu from a menu:
>Move the controller toward the currently 
active menu.
>Move the controller twice in one direction.
Selecting menu
From the start menu, eight menus can be 
accessed by moving the controller in the appro-
priate directions.
In a menu, you can change directly into a 
new menu by moving in the correspond-
ing direction, without having to open the start 
menu first. 
Moving in the direction that corresponds to the 
last menu used brings you back to the last item 
used in this menu.< 

At a glance
 19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Selecting menu items
To edit a function, select the corresponding 
menu item. Menu items shown in white can be 
selected.
Turn the controller
The highlight moves.
To change between the menu 
items on the left and right side of 
the Control Display, continue to turn the con-
troller at the beginning or end of a list. The high-
light moves to the other side of the Control Dis-
play.
Activating menu item
Press the controller.
Changing settings
1.Turn the controller to change the setting.
2.Press the controller to adopt the setting.
Displaying and hiding menu name
You can program the system to display the 
menu name each time you proceed to a new 
menu.
1.Press the   button to open the start 
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Help".
3.Select "Menu name" and press the control-
ler.
The  symbol indicates the menu that is cur-
rently activated. The menu name is displayed.
Symbols
Some functions and information are displayed 
in the form of symbols:
The function is switched on.
Back.
The function is switched on.
"Split": to show the current display in the 
assistance window. 

iDrive
22
Controller/buttons
The controller and buttons are located on the 
center armrest.
Rear lock
The available functions are operated with the 
respective controller.
You can use iDrive to restrict operation in the 
rear or to switch off the rear seat screen.
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the   button to open the start 
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Settings".
3.Select "Rear" and press the controller.
4.Select "Unlock" and press the controller 
repeatedly until the desired enabling of the 
rear iDrive is set.
>"menu"
You can switch the offered menus on or off 
by turning and pressing the controller. 
The  symbol indicates the menus that 
are currently activated.
>"None"
Switches the rear screen off.
>"Full"
Releases all function locks.
>"Limited"
You disable the functions that are used on 
the front Control Display.
Headphones
1Headphone jack
2Adjusting volume
3Station scan/track search
>Station scan
>Search track for CD, search chapter for 
DVD changer
With headphones connected, the sound 
output for the Control Display and the rear 
seat screen are played back separately. For 
example, a radio station can be listened to while 
a DVD is being played in the rear.<
Headphones are only intended for passengers 
in the rear seats. Please check with local regu-
lations regarding use of headphones. 

Controls
 31Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Adapter for spare key
You will need the adapter to activate the ignition 
and to start the vehicle with the spare key.
Take the adapter from the onboard tool kit, refer 
to page213. 
Press lock button1, slide the cover open and 
insert the spare key2 into the adapter. Close 
the cover and insert the adapter into the ignition 
lock.
Key Memory
The concept
You can set a number of functions of your BMW 
individually according to your preferences. Key 
Memory ensures that most of these settings are 
stored for the remote control currently in use 
without you having to do anything. When the 
vehicle is unlocked, the corresponding remote 
control is detected and the settings stored for it 
are called up and carried out.
This means that your BMW will return to your 
personal settings even if it has in the meantime 
been driven by another person with his/her own 
remote control and settings. The individual set-
tings are stored for a maximum of four remote 
controls.
Key Memory
>Personal temperature distribution for seat 
heating
*, refer to page49.
>Personal setting for the programmable but-
ton on the steering wheel, refer to page52.
>Personal setting of PDC Park Distance 
Control
*, refer to page86.>Air distribution, temperature, and intensity 
of the Automatic climate control, refer to 
page105.
>Settings for the displays on the Control Dis-
play:
>Units of measure for fuel consumption, 
distance traveled, distances to go, tem-
perature, and pressure, refer to page84.
>Language on Control Display, refer to 
page84.
>Display format of date and time, refer to 
page84.
>Brightness of Control Display, refer to 
page85.
>Personal settings for volume and tone of 
the Entertainment sound output, refer to 
page153.
>Personal settings for the stored stations of 
the radio, refer to page158.
>Personal settings for the volume of the 
hands-free telephone operation, refer to 
page179.
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for opera-
tion whenever the driver's door is closed. This 
simultaneously engages and releases the locks 
on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid
>Fuel filler door
The central locking system can be operated 
from the outside:
>via the remote control
>via the driver's door lock
>with Comfort Access
* via the door handles
and from inside via the button for the central 
locking system.
When the system is locked from inside, the fuel 
filler door remains unlocked. Refer to page34. 

Opening and closing
32 Each time the central locking system is locked 
or unlocked from outside the vehicle, this simul-
taneously engages or disengages the anti-theft 
system. The alarm system is also armed or dis-
armed. The remote control also switches the 
interior lamps on and off.
For additional details on alarm system
 refer to 
page37.
In an accident of corresponding severity, the 
central locking system automatically unlocks 
the vehicle. In addition, the hazard warning 
flashers and interior lamps switch on.
Opening and closing: from 
outside
Using remote control
Persons or animals left unattended in a 
parked vehicle can lock the doors from 
the inside. For this reason, bring the remote 
control with you whenever you leave the vehicle 
so that you will always be able to unlock the 
vehicle from outside.<
1Unlocking, comfort opening, and deactivat-
ing alarm system
2Locking and securing, arming alarm sys-
tem, switching off tilt alarm sensor and inte-
rior motion sensor, switching on interior 
lamps and perimeter lighting
3Opening luggage compartment lid
4Switching on interior lamps and pathway 
lighting, activating panic mode
*. You can 
find details about pathway lighting on 
page100.If it is no longer possible to lock the vehi-
cle with a remote control, its battery is 
discharged. Use this remote control during an 
extended drive; this will recharge the battery, 
refer to page30. 
In the event of malfunctions, please contact 
your BMW center. which is also your source for 
replacement keys.<
Unlocking
1. Press the  button. The hazard warning 
flashers blink twice.
Driver's door and fuel filler door are 
unlocked.
2.Press the   button again.
All other doors and the luggage compart-
ment lid are unlocked.
The interior lamps and the door-mounted 
perimeter lamps come on.
Comfort opening
Press the   button longer. The windows and 
the glass sunroof open. The glass sunroof will 
not move if it is already in its raised position.
Engaging locks
Press the  button. The hazard warning 
flashers blink once.
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside 
when people are in it since they will be 
unable to unlock it from inside if they do not 
know the special procedure.<
Switching on interior lamps and 
perimeter lighting
Press the  button if the vehicle is 
locked.
Switching on interior lamps
Press the  button.
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages etc. 

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.