
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic-
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to 
page242.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
6Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
21Letters and numbers
22Voice activation system
Controls
26Opening and closing
42Adjustments
52Transporting children safely
55Driving
69Everything under control
82Technology for driving comfort and 
safety
93Lamps
97Climate
102Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
116Things to remember when driving
Navigation
124Navigation system
125Destination entry
135Destination guidance
141What to do if …
Entertainment
144On/off and tone
147Radio
150Satellite radio
152CD player and CD changer
159Music collection
163AUX-IN port
164USB-audio interface/mobile phone audio 
interface
Communications
170Telephone
181Contacts
183BMW Assist
Mobility
192Refueling
194Wheels and tires
206Under the hood
211Maintenance
213Care
217Replacing components
224Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
232Technical data
236Short commands for the voice activation 
system
242Everything from A - Z 

Practical interior accessories
106
USB interface for data transmission
Port for importing and exporting data on USB 
devices, e.g. music collections, refer to 
page162.
Observe the following when connecting:
>Do not use force when plugging the con-
nector into the USB audio interface.
>Do not connect devices such as fans or 
lamps to the USB audio interface.
>Do not connect USB hard disks.
>Do not use the USB interface to recharge 
external devices.
Center armrest
Storage compartment
The center armrest between the front seats 
contains either a compartment or the cover for 
the snap-in adapter
*, depending on the equip-
ment version. For more information about this 
mobile phone base plate, refer to page 179.
Opening
Press the button, see arrow.
Settings*
Slide the center armrest into the desired posi-
tion on the driver's side.
Connection for external audio device
You can connect an external audio device such 
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks 
over the car's loudspeaker system:
>AUX-IN port, refer to page163
>USB-audio interface
*, refer to page164
Storage compartments inside 
the vehicle
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you 
will find compartments beside the steering col-
umn
*, in the front doors and in the center con-
sole
*. 
There are nets
 on the front-seat backrests.
Storage compartments in the rear 
console
Depending on your vehicle's equipment ver-
sion, the following storage compartments can 
be found in the rear console:
>Storage tray 

Navigation system
124
Navigation system
General information
With the help of satellites, the navigation sys-
tem is able to ascertain the precise position of 
the vehicle and guide you reliably to any desti-
nation you enter.
The navigation data is stored in the vehicle and 
can be updated using navigation DVDs.
Make all entries while the vehicle is sta-
tionary
Enter data only when the vehicle is stationary, 
and always give priority to the applicable traffic 
regulations in the event of any contradiction 
between traffic and road conditions and the 
instructions issued by the navigation system. 
Failure to take to this precaution can place you 
in violation of the law and put vehicle occupants 
and other road users in danger.<
Updating the navigation data
The navigation data is stored in the vehicle and 
can be updated using a navigation DVD. Please 
contact the BMW center if you have any ques-
tions.
Inserting navigation DVD
1.Insert the navigation DVD into the DVD 
player with the labeled side facing up.
2.Follow the instructions on the display.
3.Enter the authorization code of the naviga-
tion DVD and change the DVD if needed.
Displaying information on the version
1."Navigation"
2.Open "Options".
3."Navigation system version". Information 
on the data version is displayed.
Removing navigation DVD
1. Press button 1.
The DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
2.Remove the DVD.
If the DVD is not ejected, the drive may be 
blocked. In this case, a message will appear on 
the Control Display.
* 

On/off and tone
144
On/off and tone
The following audio and video sources share 
the same control elements and adjustments:
>Radio
>CD player
>CD changer
*
>Video
>External devices, e.g. MP3 player
Controls
The audio and video sources can be controlled 
using the:
>Buttons near the CD player
>iDrive
>Buttons on the steering wheel, refer to 
page11
>Programmable memory keys, refer to 
page20
>Voice activation system
Buttons near the CD player
1Sound output for entertainment on/off, vol-
ume
>Press: switch on/off.
When you switch on the unit, the last set 
radio station or track is played.
>Turn: adjust volume.
2 Eject the CD
3CD/DVD drive
4FM/AM: change the radio station wave-
band5MODE: change the audio and video 
sources
6 Station scan/track search
>Change radio station.
>Select track for CD player and CD 
changer.
Switching on/off
In order to switch the entertainment sound out-
put on and off:
Press button1 next to the CD player.
 This symbol on the Control Display indi-
cates that sound output is switched off.
If equipped with a single drive, the sound output 
is available for approx. 20 minutes after the igni-
tion is switched off.
For sound output, switch the unit back on.
Adjusting volume
Turn button1 next to the CD player until the 
desired volume is obtained.
You can also adjust the volume with buttons on 
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond, 
the setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Tone control
You can alter various tone settings, e.g. treble 
and bass or the speed-dependent volume 
increase.
The tone settings are applied to all audio 
sources.
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond, 
the settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use. 

CD player and CD changer
152
CD player and CD changer
CD/DVD playback
Inserting a CD/DVD
Insert the CD/DVD into the drive with the 
printed side up. The CD/DVD is drawn in auto-
matically.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is on. When playing CDs/DVDs with com-
pressed audio files, it can take the player 
approx. 1 minute to read in the data, depending 
on the directory structure.
Playable formats
CD/DVD player
>DVD: DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-
RW, DVD+RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL, DVD 
audio (video part only), DVD video
>CD: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA, 
VCD, SVCD
>Compressed audio files: MP3, WMA, AAC
CD changer
*
>CD: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA
Start playback
Via iDrive
Fill and insert the CD magazine, refer to 
page157.
To start playback if a CD is already located in 
the player or changer:
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
3.Select the desired CD or DVD:
Ejecting a CD
 Press the button next to the CD player.
The CD emerges slightly from the drive.
Audio playback
Selecting a track
 Press the button for the appropriate 
direction as often as necessary until the desired 
track is reached.
*
SymbolFunction
CD / DVD player
CD changer 

CD player and CD changer
154
Fast forward/reverse
 Press and hold the button for the corre-
sponding direction.
Video playback*
Country codes
Only DVDs with the code of the home region 
can be played back; also refer to the information 
on your DVD.
Start playback
The video image is displayed on the Control 
Display up to a vehicle speed of approx. 2 mph/
3km/h.
In some country versions, playback is either not 
possible at all or only possible with the parking 
brake set.
DVD video
1."CD/DVD"
2.Select a DVD with video content.
3. "DVD menu"
4.Start the DVD via the DVD menu.
VCD/SVCD
1."CD/DVD"
2.Select a CD with video content.
3. "Select track"
4.Select the desired track.
The CD is started.
Video menu
To open the Video menu:
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Press the controller when "Back" is dis-
played.
CodeRegion
1USA, Canada
2 Japan, Europe, Middle East, South 
Africa
3Southeast Asia
4 Australia, Central and South America, 
New Zealand
5 Northwest Asia, North Africa
6China 

CD player and CD changer
156 4."Brightness", "Contrast" or "Color"
5.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is displayed and then press the controller.
Zoom
Display the video image on the full screen.
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Open "Options".
3."Additional options"
4."Zoom mode"
Selecting track
DVD video:
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Open "Options".
3."Additional options"
4."Select chapter"
5.Select the desired track.
VCD/SVCD
1. "Select track"
2.Select the desired track.
Camera angle*
The camera angle depends on the DVD.1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Open "Options".
3."Additional options"
4."Viewing angle"
5.Select the desired camera angle.
Opening the main menu, back
These functions are not contained on every 
DVD. Therefore, they may not be available for 
use.
CD magazine
The BMW CD changer for six CDs is behind the 
left side panel in the cargo bay.
Coupe
Convertible
Removing the CD magazine
To insert or remove CDs from the CD magazine, 
you must first remove it from the CD changer: 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 157Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
1.Push the cover to one side, arrow 1.
2.Press the button, arrow 2.
The CD magazine is ejected.
Push the magazine back in after at least 
2seconds have passed so that the inserted 
CDs can be read in again.
Inserting/removing CDs from the CD 
magazine
When loading CDs into or removing them from 
the CD magazine, hold them at their edges and 
do not touch the reflective signal-sensing area.
Inserting CDs:
Insert one CD per compartment with the 
labeled side up.
Removing CDs:
Pull out the desired compartment and take out 
the CD.
Inserting the CD magazine
Insert the CD magazine all the way in the direc-
tion of arrow 1 and close the cover, arrow 2.
The CD changer automatically reads in the 
loaded CDs and is then ready for operation.
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/DVDs with labels 
applied as these can become detached during 
playback due to heat build-up and can cause 
irreparable damage to the device.
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 will no 
longer eject.
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 if 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.