2009 BMW 550I SEDAN Owner's Manual

At a glance
15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Microphone for hands-free mode for tele-
phone
* and for voice command
system
*24
2Reading lamps113
3SOS: initiating
an emergency request253
4Interior lamps112
5Glass sunroof
*, electric43
Panorama glass sunroof45
6Passenger airbag status lamp101
7Control Display16
Displays for menu navigation
8Hazard warning flashers
9Central locking system35
10Automatic climate control114
11Changing
>radio station172
>track168
12Ejecting
>navigation DVD
*142
>audio CD182
13Programmable memory buttons22
14Drive for navigation DVDs
*14215Drive for audio CDs182
16Switching Entertainment sound output on/
off and adjusting volume168
18Controller16
Can be turned, pressed, or moved in four
directions
19Opening start menu on Control Display17
20Selecting AM or FM waveband
21Selecting radio, CD and CD changer Temperature setting, left/
right115
Automatic air distribution and
volume115
Cooling function117
AUC Automatic recirculated-air
control117
Recirculated-air mode117
Maximum cooling117
Air volume116
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation116
Rear window defroster116
17
Heated seats*53
Active seat ventilation
*54
Adjusting active backrest
width
*49
Active seat
*54
PDC Park Distance Control
*90
DTC Dynamic Traction Control92
Opening luggage compartment lid/
tailgate
*36,37

iDrive
16
iDrive
iDrive combines the functions of a large number
of switches. This allows these functions to be
operated from a central position. The following
section provides an introduction to basic menu navigation. The control of the individual func-
tions is described in connection with the rele-
vant equipment.
Controls
1Control Display
2Controller with buttons
You can use the buttons to open the menus
directly. The controller can be used to
select the menu items and create settings.
>Call up a menu directly, arrow3
>Move in four directions, arrows4
>Turn, arrow5
>Press, arrow6
To avoid posing an unnecessary hazard
due to inattention, both to your own vehi-
cle's occupants and to other road users: never
attempt to use the controls or make entries
unless traffic and road conditions allow.<

At a glance
17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Buttons on the controllerFunction
MENU Opens the main menu
RADIO Opens the Radio menu
CD Opens the last Entertainment menu, e.g. CD or
AUX
NAV Opens the Navigation menu
From the Navigation menu: opens the main
menu
TEL Opens the Telephone menu
BACK Opens the previous menu
Not possible from the main menu
OPTION Opens the Options menu

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.

At a glance
19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Opening menu items of the start menu
In the start menu, you can open the Communi-
cation, Navigation, Entertainment and Climate
menu items by moving the controller to the left,
right, front or rear.
You can open the menu by pressing the con-
troller.
Comfort opening of menu items
Comfort opening offers you:
>Opening of a menu item of the start menu in
the last display shown
>Direct changing between Communication,
Navigation, Entertainment and Climate
without pressing the button
To do so, move the controller in the corre-
sponding direction and hold it there for longer
than 2 seconds or use the buttons on the con-
troller.
Displays in menu
1Each menu is divided into fields.
The respective active field is highlighted.
2A symbol indicates the last selected menu
item of the start menu:
1Menu items are usually grouped in horizon-
tal or vertical lists.
2In these lists, arrows indicate the possibility
of accessing other menu items that are not
currently visible.
3Settings are displayed graphically or
numerically.
Communication
Navigation or onboard information
Entertainment
Climate
menu

iDrive
20
Operating principle at a glance
Basic operation via iDrive is described in this
view.You can view the individual steps under Set-
tings on Control Display, Setting time, refer to
page87.
1Selecting menu item:
>Turn the controller; the highlight moves
>Menu items shown in white can be
selected by highlighting
2Activating menu item:
>Press the controller
>New menu items are displayed or the
function is carried out
3Selecting menu item: refer to 14Changing between fields:
>Briefly move the controller to the left,
right, front or back
>Release controller
>Active field appears lighter
5Adjusting settings:
>Turn controller
>Graphic display, numerical value or text
displays can be changed
>Confirmation by changing field

At a glance
21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Status information
1Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD, AUX, USB-audio interface
*
>Telephone* in "Communication":
Name of linked mobile phone, network
search or no network
>"BMW Assist"
*:
Active voice connection with a
BMW Assist service
2Entertainment sound output off
3Station that transmits traffic information is
received
*:
"TI":
Reception of traffic information for the nav-
igation system
is possible and activated
4Display for:
> New entries present in "Missed calls"
*
> Roaming active
5 Telephoning
* is possible if the mobile
phone is paired in the vehicle
Reception strength of mobile phone
network, dependent on mobile phone
6Time
Other displays:
The status information is temporarily hidden
when there are Check Control instructions or
inputs via the voice command system
*.
Assistance window*
Additional information appears in the assis-
tance window:
>The computer or trip computer
*
>The arrow or map view with a navigation
system
*
>The current location
Selecting display
1.Move the controller to the right to change to
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select a menu item.
3.Press the controller.

iDrive
22
Switching assistance window off/on
1.Move the controller to the right to change to
the assistance window and press the con-
troller.
2.Select "Assist. window off" and press the
controller.
To switch on, change to the assistance window
and press the controller.
Switching Control Display
off/on
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Display off" and press the control-
ler.
To switch on, press the controller.
Programmable memory
buttons
You can save and request certain functions of
iDrive on the programmable memory buttons:
>Destinations of navigation>Telephone, phone numbers
>Entertainment:
>radio station
>CD
>CD compartment of CD changer
*
>AUX
>USB-audio interface
*
The assignment of the programmable buttons
is stored for the remote control currently in use.
Saving function
Destinations of navigation
1.Select navigation destination, e.g. in the
destination list or the address book.
2.Press the ... button longer
than 2 seconds.
Special features:
>With the destination guidance system and
the map view started, the current destina-
tion is stored.
>During destination entry via a map, the
coordinates at the cursor are stored, not the
current destination.
Telephone, phone numbers
1.Enter the phone number or select it in a list
of the stored phone numbers, e.g. of the A-
Z list.
2.Press the ... button longer
than 2 seconds.
If a name is assigned to the phone number, the
name will also be stored.
Entertainment
In the Entertainment menu, the sound source
currently heard, e.g. a radio station, is stored,
regardless of the selection on the Control Dis-
play.
1.Select the desired function, e.g. radio sta-
tion or CD.
2.Press the ... button longer
than 2 seconds.