
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 page270.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
24Voice command system
Controls
30Opening and closing
47Adjusting
58Transporting children safely
62Driving
79Everything under control
90Technology for comfort, convenience 
and safety
108Lamps
114Climate
121Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
134Things to remember when driving
Navigation
142Starting navigation system
144Destination entry
156Destination guidance
165What to do if …
Entertainment
168On/off and tone
172Radio
179Satellite radio
182CD player and CD changer
188AUX-IN connection
189USB-audio interface/mobile phone audio 
interface
Communications
194Telephoning
209BMW Assist
Mobility
220Refueling
222Wheels and tires
232Under the hood
237Maintenance
239Care
243Replacing components
253Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
260Technical data
265Short commands of voice command 
system
270Everything from A to Z 

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Displays for
>Active cruise control
*75
>Leaving lane warning
*106
5Tachometer79
6Energy Control80
7Display for
>Clock/date79
>Outside temperature79
>Indicator and warning lamps84
>Speed of cruise control
*71
>Desired speed for active cruise 
control
*758Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer79
>Computer80
>Date and remaining travel distance 
for service requirements82
>Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic
*64
>Sport automatic transmission
*67
>HDC Hill Descent Control
*93 93
>High-beam assistant
*110
> Check Control message present84
9Fuel gauge80
10Resetting trip odometer79 

iDrive
18
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or BMW TeleServices*
Navigation or onboard information
>Navigation system*
>Onboard information, e.g. for displaying 
the average fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
>AUX-IN connection
>USB-audio interface
* for external audio 
device
Climate
>Vent settings
>Automatic programs
>Seat heater distribution
*
>Parked car operation*
 menu
>Switching off Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central 
locking system
>Display of maintenance intervals and dead-
lines for legally mandated inspections
>Settings for telephone
Operating principle
From radio readiness, refer to page62, the fol-
lowing message is shown on the Control Dis-
play:
To hide the message:
Press the controller.
This displays the start menu.
The message is hidden after approx. 10 sec-
onds.
Start menu
You can open all of the iDrive functions using 
five menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the   button. 

Opening and closing
32 >Radio:
>Display of stored stations, refer to 
page172
>Switching RDS Radio Data System on/
off
*, refer to page175
>Phone: volume setting, refer to page200
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system functions when the 
driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Luggage compartment lid or tailgate and 
rear window
>Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Using door lock
>With comfort access
* via the door handles
In addition, it the remote control is used, the 
welcome lamps, the interior lamps and the 
courtesy lamps
* are switched on or off. The 
alarm system
 is armed/disarmed at the same 
time.
You can find more detailed information on the 
alarm system
 on page39.
Operating from inside
Via the button for central locking, refer to 
page35. The fuel filler door is not locked.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the 
central locking system unlocks automatically. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing: 
Using remote control
Persons or animals left unattended in a 
parked vehicle can lock the doors from 
the inside. Always take along the remote control 
when leaving the vehicle so that the vehicle can 
then be opened from the outside.<
Unlocking
Press the   button. 
The interior lamps, the courtesy lamps
*, and 
the welcome lamps are switched on.
Setting unlocking behavior
You can set whether the first press of the button 
unlocks only the driver's door or the entire vehi-
cle.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Door locks" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select "Unlock button" and press the con-
troller. 

Controls
 33Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8.Select a menu item:
>"All doors"
Pressing the   button once unlocks the 
entire vehicle.
>"Driver's door only"
Pressing the   button once unlocks the 
driver's door and the fuel filler door.
Pressing the button twice unlocks the 
entire vehicle.
9.Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Comfort opening
Press and hold the  button. The windows and 
the glass sunroof
* open.
Locking
Press the   button.
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
persons are inside, as unlocking from the 
inside is not possible without special knowl-
edge.<
Switching on interior lamps
With vehicle locked:
Press the   button.
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Panic mode*
You can trigger the alarm system in case of dan-
ger:
Press the   button for at least 3 seconds.
Switching off alarm: press any button.
Sedan: opening luggage 
compartment lid
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The luggage compartment lid opens, regard-
less of whether it was previously locked or 
unlocked.
During opening, the luggage compart-
ment lid pivots back and up. Make sure 
that adequate clearance is available before 
opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo bay. A 
previously locked luggage compartment lid is 
also locked again after closing.<
Sports Wagon: unlocking tailgate
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The tailgate will open slightly, regardless of 
whether it was previously locked or unlocked.
During opening, the tailgate pivots back 
and up. Make sure that adequate clear-
ance is available before opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo bay. A 
previously locked tailgate is also locked again 
after closing. 
When opening the tailgate, the roll-up cover is 
raised.<
If pointed or sharp-edged objects could 
strike the rear window while driving, be 
sure to provide protection around all edges. 
Failure to do so could result in damage to the 
heating conductors of the rear window.<
Confirmation signals
You can activate or deactivate the confirmation 
signals.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Door locks" is selected and 
press the controller. 

Opening and closing
34 6.Select "Confirmation" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select the desired signal.
8.Press the controller. 
 The signal is activated.
Malfunction
The remote control may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. Should the remote control fail 
to operate due to interference of this kind, 
unlock and lock the vehicle via the door lock 
using a key.
If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle 
using the remote control, then the battery is 
discharged. Use this remote control during an 
extended drive; this will recharge the battery, 
refer to page30.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with 
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communication 
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8766S 
LX8766E 
LX8CAS
LX8CAS2
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC 
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful inter-
ference, and>this device must accept any interference 
received, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or 
changes to these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate this equipment.<
Opening and closing: 
Using door lock
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
persons are inside, as unlocking from the 
inside is not possible without special knowl-
edge.<
When unlocking
1.Turning the key once unlocks the driver's 
door and the fuel filler door.
2.Turning the key a second time unlocks the 
remaining doors and the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate.
Convenient operation
You also have the option of operating the win-
dows and the glass sunroof
* from the driver's 
door lock.
Turn and hold the key in the positions for 
unlocking or locking.
Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Releasing the 
key stops the operation.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can 
turn a key all the way to the right or left in the 
door lock to lock or unlock the driver's door. 

Controls
 35Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Opening and closing: from 
inside
This button serves to unlock or lock doors and 
the luggage compartment lid or tailgate and 
rear window with the front doors closed, but 
does not activate the anti-theft system. The fuel 
filler door remains unlocked.
Automatic locking
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Door locks" is selected and 
press the controller.
6.Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7.Select a menu item:
>"Relock door if not opened" 
The central locking system locks again after a short time if no door has been 
opened.
>"Lock after driving" 
The central locking system locks the 
vehicle as soon as you start to drive.
8.Press the controller. 
 The setting is selected.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Unlocking and opening
>Either unlock the doors together with the 
button for the central locking system and 
then pull the door handle above the armrest 
or
>pull on the door handle of each door twice: 
the first time unlocks the door, the second 
time opens it.
Locking
>Use the central locking button to lock all of 
the doors simultaneously, or
>press down the lock button of a door. 
To prevent you from being locked out, the 
open driver's door cannot be locked using 
the lock button.
Persons or animals left unattended in a 
parked vehicle can lock the doors from 
the inside. Always take along the remote control 
when leaving the vehicle so that the vehicle can 
then be opened from the outside.<
Doors
Automatic soft closing*
To close the doors, merely push them gently. 
The closing process will then be carried out 
automatically.
Make sure that the closing path of the 
doors is clear; otherwise injuries may 
result.< 

Controls
 63Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Radio readiness and ignition switched 
off
All indicator and warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms, 
otherwise the inhalation of toxic exhaust 
gases can cause unconsciousness and death. 
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, 
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas. 
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the 
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a 
potential safety hazard. 
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run-
ning, select the idling position, or shift the trans-
mission into position P and firmly apply the 
handbrake, otherwise the vehicle can begin to 
roll.<
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated starting attempts in 
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the 
fuel is not burned or inadequately burned and 
there is a danger of overheating and damaging 
the catalytic converter.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it 
running while the vehicle remains stationary. 
Instead, begin to drive at a moderate engine 
speed.
Manual transmission
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort 
access in vehicle, refer to page40.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Depress the clutch pedal and shift into 
idling position.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission*
Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort 
access in vehicle, refer to page40.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
Switching off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
remote control with you. 
When parking, firmly apply the handbrake, as 
otherwise the vehicle could roll.<
Manual transmission
1.Press the Start/Stop button with the vehicle 
stopped.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Firmly apply the handbrake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page62.
Automatic and sport automatic 
transmission*
1.Shift transmission into position P with the 
vehicle stopped.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
3.Firmly apply the handbrake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page62.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if you proceed according to 
the following steps:
1.With comfort access: insert the remote con-
trol into the ignition lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Shift into transmission position N.
4.Switch off the engine.
Transmission position P will be engaged:
>after approx. 30 seconds