
 7Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
For Canadian customers
Canadian customers who wish to report a 
safety-related defect to Transport Canada, 
Defect Investigations and Recalls, may call 
1-800-333-0510 toll-free from anywhere in 
Canada or 1-613-993-9851 from the Ottawa 
region and from other countries, or contact 
Transport Canada by mail at: Transport 
Canada, ASFAD, Place de Ville, Tower C, 
330 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0N5.
You can also obtain other information about 
motor vehicle safety from http://www.tc.gc.ca 

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. 

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
 25Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Adjusting volume
You can adjust the volume for the instructions 
from the voice command system:
Turn the knob during an instruction/announce-
ment to select the desired volume.
Instructions/announcements from the voice 
command system will continue at this volume 
level, even if the other audio sources are set to 
minimum volume.
The volume setting is stored for the remote 
control currently in use.
Notes
Do not use the voice command system to 
make emergency calls. Your voice and 
habitual tone could be affected by stressful sit-
uations, as a result of which the process of 
establishing the telephone connection could be 
unnecessarily delayed. Instead, use the emer-
gency call button near the interior rearview mir-
ror, refer to page219.<
Environmental conditions
The voice command system uses a special 
hands-free microphone located in the front of 
your vehicle's headliner. Although the system is 
designed to filter out ambient noise, you can 
help ensure that your commands will be under-
stood by observing the following instructions:
>Speak smoothly and clearly, at a normal vol-
ume. Avoid excessive emphasis and 
pauses.
>Do not speak while the voice command sys-
tem is itself speaking.>Keep the doors, windows and glass sunroof 
closed to prevent interference from ambi-
ent noise.
>Avoid other sources of noise in the vehicle 
while speaking, and ask other vehicle occu-
pants to refrain from talking while you are 
using the system.
>The hands-free microphone is aimed 
toward the driver. This means that the sys-
tem might not be able to register the voices 
of other vehicle occupants properly.
The notepad
Recording a note
You can store roughly ten minutes of spoken 
text, either as a single entry or as multiple 
entries of any desired length.
To stop recording:
Press the   button longer.
When recording a note, the voice com-
mand system does not hear the com-
mand {Cancel} or {Exit}. The text checking 
function for command words is deactivated in 
this case so that you can speak any desired text 
for your notes. This feature saves you from hav-
ing to concentrate on avoiding any command 
words.<
Listening to a notepad entry
To listen to recorded notepad entries:
{Record note}.
1.{Read out}. 
Approximately the first 3 seconds of 
the first note are read aloud.
2.After the request {{Record note, read 
out note, delete note.}} select the 
desired function.
>To listen to the entire note:
{Read out}.
>To listen to the next note: 
{Next}.
>To listen to the note again:
{Back} or {Repeat}. 

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. 

Opening and closing
38
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm 
system reacts, e.g. in case of an attempted 
wheel theft or towing.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof 
must be completely closed.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor 
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following 
situations:
>In duplex garages
>During transport on car-carrying trains, 
boats/ships or on a trailer
>When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor
Press the  button on the remote control 
again as soon as the vehicle is locked.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then 
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and 
the interior motion sensor are switched off until 
the next time the vehicle is unlocked and subse-
quently locked again.
Comfort Access*
With Comfort Access, you can have access to 
your vehicle without having to hold the remote 
control in your hand. It is sufficient to carry the 
remote control on your person, e.g. in a jacket 
pocket. The vehicle automatically detects the 
associated remote control inside the vehicle or 
in its immediate vicinity.
Comfort Access supports the following func-
tions:
>Locking/unlocking the vehicle
>Unlocking the luggage compartment lid 
separately
>Starting the engine
Functional requirements
>The vehicle can only be locked if the remote 
control is outside the vehicle.
>The next unlocking and locking cycle is not 
possible until after approx. 2 seconds.
>The engine can only be started if the remote 
control is inside the vehicle.
Comparison to conventional remote 
control
You can control the functions mentioned previ-
ously with the Comfort Access or by pressing 
the buttons on the remote control. Therefore 
please first familiarize yourself with the instruc-
tions for opening and closing, starting on 
page32.
The specific features involved in the use of 
Comfort Access are described below.
If a short delay occurs when opening or 
closing the windows and the glass sun-
roof, then this indicates that the system is 
checking whether a remote control is located in 
the vehicle. Please repeat opening or closing if 
necessary.<
Unlocking
Pull a door handle. This corresponds to press-
ing the  button.
Only the door of the door handle you have 
pulled is unlocked.
You unlock the other doors from the inside, 
using the central locking system button, refer to 
page34.<
Locking
Push a door handle. This corresponds to press-
ing the  button.
Before locking, make sure that the igni-
tion and all current-consuming devices 
are switched off in order to minimized the drain 
on the battery.
If a remote control is detected in the interior, the 
vehicle is unlocked again or not locked in the 
first place.<