
Destination guidance
160
Repeating and canceling voice 
instructions
With the programmable buttons on the steering 
wheel you can also create the following set-
tings, refer to page56:
>Repeat the voice instruction:
Press button.
>Switch voice instructions on/off:
Press button longer.
Setting volume of voice instructions
The volume can only be adjusted while a voice 
instruction is being output.
1.Repeat the last voice instruction, if neces-
sary.
2.Turn the knob during the voice instruction 
to select the desired volume.
This volume is independent of the volume of the 
audio sources.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Bypassing route sections
During destination guidance, you can revise the 
navigation system's route recommendations to 
avoid particular stretches of road. Enter the 
number of miles/kilometers that you want to 
travel before returning to the original route.1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the third field from the top. 
Turn the controller until "New route" is 
selected and press the controller.
3.Turn the controller to enter the desired 
number and press the controller.
The route is recalculated.
To exit from the menu without changing the 
route:
 Select the arrow and press the controller.
Traffic information*
In many congested areas, you can receive traf-
fic information transmitted by radio stations. 
The traffic conditions are monitored by traffic 
management centers and the traffic information 
is periodically updated.
During destination guidance, the traffic infor-
mation relevant to your planned route is auto-
matically displayed. Whether destination guid-
ance is active or not, you can have the traffic 
information displayed in the map view or in the 
traffic info list.
Switching reception of traffic 
information on/off
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the    menu. 

On/off and tone
168
On/off and tone
The following audio sources have shared con-
trols and setting options:
>Professional
* radio or 
Business radio
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons in the area of the CD player
>iDrive
>Buttons on steering wheel, refer to page11
>Programmable memory buttons, refer to 
page22
Buttons in area of CD player
The layout of the buttons can vary depending 
on your vehicle's equipment.
One drive:
Two drives:1Entertainment sound output on/off, volume
>Press: switch on/off.
When the system is switched on, the 
most recently selected radio station or 
CD track is played.
>Turn: adjust volume.
2Drive for audio CDs
3 Eject CD
4 Station scan/track search
>Change radio station.
>Select track for CD player and 
CD changer.
5Drive for navigation DVDs
Operation via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to open 
"Entertainment".
You have the following choices:
>"FM" and "AM": radio reception
>"WB": weatherband station
>"SAT": satellite radio
>"CD": CD player or CD changer
*
>"AUX"AUX-IN connection
>USB-audio interface
*
>"Set": depending on the audio source, 
other adjustments can be made, e.g. with 
the radio: update station with strongest  

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 169Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
reception, store station, tone control, sam-
ple stations.
From another menu, you can change 
directly to the screen last displayed, 
refer to Comfort opening of menu items, 
page19.<
From radio readiness, the selected audio 
source is stored for the remote control currently 
in use.
Switching on/off
To switch the Entertainment sound output on 
and off:
Press knob1 next to the CD player.
 This symbol on the Control Display indi-
cates that sound output is switched off.
For a single drive, the sound output is available 
for approx. 20 minutes with the ignition 
switched off.
Switch on the sound output again for this pur-
pose.
Adjusting volume
Turn knob1 next to the CD player until the 
desired volume is set.
You can also adjust the volume with the buttons 
on the steering wheel, refer to page11.
From radio readiness, the setting is stored for 
the remote control currently 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 set for all audio sources at 
once.
From radio readiness, the settings are stored 
for the remote control currently in use.
Changing tone settings
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is 
selected and press the controller.
4. "Audio" and press the controller.
The tone settings can also be selected if you 
have called up "Entertainment" in the start 
menu:
Select "Set" and then "Tone", pressing the 
controller after each selection.
Treble and bass
1.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Treble / Bass" is selected 
and press the controller. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 173Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
>"Manual":
To set stations that can be received in addi-
tion to those displayed, refer to Selecting 
frequency manually on page173.
Changing selection criteria
In addition to the stations currently displayed, 
you can have stations with another selection 
criterion displayed.
You can choose from the following selection 
criteria:
>"All stations":
Stations that can currently be received in 
the "FM" waveband.
>"Autostore":
Stations with the best reception on the 
"AM" waveband.
>"Presets":
Stations you have previously stored, refer to 
page174.
>"Manual":
To set stations that can be received in addi-
tion to those displayed, refer to Selecting 
frequency manually on page173.
1.Change into the second field from the top.
2.Turn the controller until the desired selec-
tion criterion is selected and press the con-
troller.
Buttons next to CD player
Press the   button for the corresponding 
direction.
The system changes to the next displayed sta-
tion.
You can also change stations with the buttons 
on the steering wheel, refer to page11.
Sampling stations, scan
The system plays a brief sample from each of 
the stations on the current waveband.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
"Set" is selected.
2.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
3.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
The stations are sampled.
To end sampling:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Scan" and press the controller.
This cancels sampling of the stations, and the 
radio remains on the current station.
Buttons next to CD player
To sample the stations, press and hold the 
 button for the corresponding direction.
To stop scanning, press the button again.
Selecting frequency manually
With "Manual" you can select stations that are 
received in addition to those displayed.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the second field from the top. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 177Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Selecting programs of a digital station*
Some stations transmit several programs. To 
select one of these programs:
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Select "Manual" and press the controller.
3.Select a station that is received digitally.
 This symbol is displayed when a station 
is being received digitally.
4.Switch to the next program of the digital 
station with the   buttons on the radio 
or the steering wheel.
You can store a station, refer to page174.
Updating stations offering digital 
reception
If you are on a longer journey and leave the 
transmission range of the stations originally set, 
you can update the list of stations with the best 
reception.
1.Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2.Change into the second field from the top.3.Select "Autostore" and press the controller.
4.Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
5.Select "Autostore  " and press the con-
troller.
The display of the stations offering digital 
reception is updated. This can take up to 2 min-
utes.
Displaying additional information
With the digital stations, additional information 
on the current track is displayed, e.g. the name 
of the artist.
1.Select a station and press the controller.
2.Select "Details" and press the controller. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 183Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Via iDrive
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to open 
"Entertainment".
3.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "CD" is selected and press 
the controller.
4.Change to the second field from the top if 
necessary. Turn the controller until the 
desired CD, CD 1 - 6, is selected and press 
the controller.
At the end of the last track, the next CD will be 
selected.
If the CD magazine has been newly filled, play-
back begins with the lowest CD, e.g. CD 1, 
track 1.
The CD magazine's load status is indicated on 
the Control Display.
About programmable memory buttons
You can store a CD compartment of the CD 
changer on the programmable memory but-
tons. To start the CD changer, refer to page22.
Selecting a track
Buttons next to CD player
Press the  button for the corresponding 
direction repeatedly until you reach the desired 
track.
The CD will start play at the start of the track. 
The track is displayed on the Control Display.
You can also change the track with buttons on 
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
Via iDrive
Select a track by turning the controller.
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the directory if necessary and press 
the controller.
2.Select the track and press the controller.
To change the directory:
Select the directory and press the controller. 

Telephoning
194
Telephoning
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with a full mobile phone 
preparation package. After pairing a suitable 
mobile phone in the vehicle once, you can oper-
ate the mobile phone via iDrive, with the buttons 
on the steering wheel and by voice.
A mobile phone that has been paired once is 
automatically detected again with the engine 
running or the ignition switched on as soon as 
it is in the vehicle interior. The logon data of up 
to four mobile phones can be stored simulta-
neously. If several mobile phones are detected 
simultaneously, the respective last mobile 
phone paired can be operated via the vehicle.
Using a phone in your vehicle
Using snap-in adapter*
The so-called snap-in adapter, a mobile phone 
cradle, enables the battery to be charged and 
the mobile phone to be connected to the exter-
nal antenna of your vehicle. This ensures 
improved network reception and a consistent 
voice reproduction quality. Ask your BMW cen-
ter which mobile phones snap-in adapters are 
offered for.
For your safety
A car phone makes life more convenient in 
many ways, and can even save lives in an emer-
gency. While you should consult your mobile 
phone's separate operating instructions for a 
detailed description of safety precautions and 
information, we request that you direct your 
particular attention to the following:
Only make entries when traffic conditions 
allow you to do so. Do not hold the mobile 
phone in your hand while you are driving; use 
the hands-free system instead. If you do not 
observe this precaution, your being distracted 
can endanger vehicle occupants and other road 
users.<
Suitable mobile phones
Ask your BMW center which mobile phones 
with a Bluetooth interface are supported by the 
mobile phone preparation package or which 
mobile phones snap-in adapters are available 
for. These mobile phones support the functions 
described in this Owner's Manual with a certain 
software version. Malfunctions can occur with 
other mobile phones.
Care instructions
You can find valuable information on this topic 
under Care, starting on page239 and the oper-
ating instructions for the mobile phone.
Operating options
You can operate the mobile phone* using:
>Buttons on steering wheel, refer to page11
>iDrive, refer to page16
>Voice commands, refer to page205
>Programmable memory buttons, refer to 
page22
Avoid operating a mobile phone detected by 
the vehicle with the keypad of the mobile 
phone, otherwise malfunctions can occur.
Placing phone calls with BMW Assist 
system*: BMW Assist calls
You can use the BMW Assist system via the 
hands-free unit for BMW Assist calls.
When the status information "BMW Assist" or 
"BMW Service" is displayed in "Communica-
tion", only BMW Assist calls are possible.
It may not be possible to establish a telephone 
connection using the mobile phone while a con-
nection is being established to BMW Assist or 
while a call to BMW Assist is already in 
progress. If this happens, you must log off the 
* 

Telephoning
200
Adjusting volume
Turn the knob during a call to select the desired 
volume.
This volume for the hands-free system is main-
tained, even if the other audio sources are set to 
minimum volume.
You can also adjust the volume with the buttons 
on the steering wheel, refer to page11.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Operation via iDrive
You can operate the following functions via 
iDrive:
>Accepting/refusing a call
>Dialing phone numbers
>Dialing phone numbers from the phone 
book
>Dialing stored phone numbers, e.g. from the 
list of accepted calls.
>Ending a call
When the ignition is switched off or in radio 
readiness, e.g. after taking the remote control 
out of the ignition lock, you can continue an 
ongoing call via the hands-free system for sev-
eral minutes.
Speech quality
If the person you are talking to cannot under-
stand you well, this may be due to excessively 
loud background noises. The full mobile phone 
preparation package can compensate for these 
noises to a certain degree. To optimize the speech quality during a call, we recommend 
that you:
>Reduce background noises, e.g. by closing 
the windows, reducing the air volume of the 
automatic climate control or pointing the 
opened front vent outlets downward
>Reduce volume of hands-free system
Requirements
>The logon data of the mobile phone are 
stored in the vehicle and the mobile phone 
is ready to operate.
>The engine is running or the ignition is 
switched on.
>The mobile phone is detected by the vehi-
cle.
Opening Communication
Many of the functions described below are con-
trolled using the "Communication" menu.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button to open the start 
menu.
2.Move the controller forward to open "Com-
munication".
Receiving calls
If you have the phone number of the caller 
stored in the phone book and the phone num-
ber has been transmitted, the name of the entry 
is displayed.
Accepting a call
Press the   button on the steering wheel.
Alternative: