
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 

iDrive
16
iDrive
iDrive combines the functions of a multitude of 
switches. This allows these functions to be 
operated from a central position. The following 
introduction illustrates how easy iDrive is to use. The control of individual functions is 
described in connection with the relevant 
equipment.
Controls
1Control Display
2Programmable button52
3 button
Opening start menu
4Controller
You can use the controller to select menu 
items and make settings:
>move in four directions, arrows5
>turn, arrow6
>press, arrow7
To avoid becoming distracted and posing 
an unnecessary hazard, both to your own 
vehicle's occupants and to other road users: 
never attempt to use the controls or make 
entries unless traffic and road conditions 
allow.
menu.
2.Press the controller.
Press the controller again to switch the screen 
back on. 

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.< 

iDrive
20
Status lines
1Hands-free mode active
2A call has come in while you were away
3Signal strength, mobile radio network
*
4Here, you will see:
>the name of the paired mobile phone
>the entered/selected phone number
5Phone status:
>Green, yellow and red flashing: 
Pairing of a mobile phone
>Green: 
Incoming or outgoing call
>Red: 
No network available
>Yellow: 
Partner network
* active, the network of 
another provider is being used
>Flashing yellow: 
Visited network
* active, the network of 
another provider is being used, visited 
network
*
Roaming in a partner or external net-
work incurs higher call charges than 
in your home network.<6There is a Check-Control message80
You can have the Control Display show 
additional information using the menu "Car 
Data" under "CHECK"81
Status service required78
Red: 
At least one service interval has been 
exceeded. You can have more precise infor-
mation about the maintenance procedure 
displayed by using the "Car Data" menu 
under 79
7Temperature selection and intensity of the 
AUTO program, right side of passenger 
compartment
8Air volume, right side of passenger com-
partment
9Entertainment 
Display for radio, CD, and DVD
With compressed audio files, the track 
information is displayed167
10Air volume, left side of passenger compart-
ment
11Temperature selection and intensity of the 
AUTO program, left side of passenger com-
partment
Assistance window
Additional information appears in the assis-
tance window:
>Short help and supplementary information 
texts about selected menu items.
>A function selected from the "Car Data" 
menu, refer to page83.
>The route with a navigation system, refer to 
page130. 

At a glance
 21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Showing/hiding help texts
You can display help texts and supplementary 
information on selected menu items in the 
assistance window.
1.Press the   button to open the start 
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Help".
3.Select "Help text" and press the controller.
The  symbol indicates the menu that is cur-
rently activated.
Status lines
1Outside temperature or town/city of desti-
nation of the navigation system
2Time
3Date
Rear seat screen*
Some of the functions of iDrive can also be 
operated via the rear seat screen. Certain func-
tions are only available via iDrive. These func-
tions can only be operated to a limited degree 
on the rear screen, e.g. the speed limit can only 
be displayed. The settings are made via iDrive.
Deploying rear seat screen
1.Swing pivoting arm upward until it engages.
2.Fold rear seat screen upward.
The rear seat screen is ready for operation.
Stowing rear seat screen
1.Align rear seat screen so that it is straight.
2.Fold rear seat screen downward until pivot-
ing arm unlocks. 
Pivoting arm swings downward.
The rear seat screen is switched off.
Pivot the rear seat screen completely 
downward when the ski bag is being 
used; otherwise, it could be damaged.
Do not pivot the rear seat screen up or down 
with the cup holders open, as this can damage 
it.<
Switching off rear seat screen
1.Press the   button to open the start 
menu.
2.Press the controller.
Press the controller again to switch the screen 
back on. 

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. 

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}. 

Controls
 49Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Damage to safety belts
In case of strain due to an accident or 
damage, replace the belt system includ-
ing the safety belt tensioners and have the belt 
anchor points checked. Have this work done 
only by your BMW center or at a workshop that 
works according to BMW repair procedures 
with correspondingly trained personnel. Other-
wise, there can be no guarantee that the safety 
devices will function properly.<
Seat heating*
Front
The temperature setting progresses one step 
through its control sequence each time you 
press the button. 
The maximum temperature is supplied when 
three lights are lit.
To switch off:
Press and hold the button.
Temperature distribution
The heating action in the seat cushion and 
backrest can be distributed in different ways.
iDrive, for principle details, refer to page16.
1.Press the   button to open the start 
menu.
2.Move the controller toward "Climate".3.If need be, select the   symbol and press 
the controller to switch to the second page 
of the menu.
4.Select "Seat temp." and press the control-
ler.
5.Select "Left" or "Right" and press the con-
troller.
6.Turn to adjust the temperature distribution 
in the seat cushion and backrest and press 
the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Rear
Operates the same as front seat heating, but 
without temperature distribution.