Page 20 of 272
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
*
>USB-audio interface* for external audio 
device
Climate
>Vent settings
>Automatic programs
>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
Basic operation
From radio readiness, refer to page60, 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 call up all the functions of iDrive using 
five menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the   button. 
         
        
        
     
        
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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 
         
        
        
     
        
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At a glance
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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":
Traffic information for the navigation sys-
tem
 can be received and transmission is 
switched on
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 the trip computer
>the arrow or map view with a navigation sys-
tem
*
>the current position
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. 
         
        
        
     
        
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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. 
         
        
        
     
        
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At a glance
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Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
If the vehicle is equipped with two drives, 
the current track is stored for CDs with 
compressed audio files.<
Running function
Press the  ...  button.
When selecting a phone number, the connec-
tion is also established, or the destination guid-
ance is started when a navigation destination is 
selected.
Displaying button assignment
You can display the assignment of the buttons 
by touching them with your finger. Please do 
not wear gloves when doing so. Touching with 
an object, e.g. a pen, does not function.
Displaying short info
Touch the  ...  button.
The assignment of the buttons is displayed.
 Destination of navigation system
 Entertainment source
 Telephone, phone number
 Not assigned
Displaying detailed information
Touch the  ...  button longer.
Deleting button assignments
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.Select "Programmable Memory Keys" and 
press the controller.
6.Select "Delete assignment of all memory 
keys" and press the controller.
7.Confirm with "Yes". 
         
        
        
     
        
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At a glance
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Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
If no other commands are possible, then oper-
ate the equipment via iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice 
command
Press the   button on the steering wheel 
or
Commands
Having possible commands read aloud
You can have the system read aloud the possi-
ble commands related to the selected menu 
item on the Control Display.
To have the system list the possible com-
mands:
For instance, if you have selected "CD", the 
commands available for operating the CD 
player and CD changer
* are read out.
Opening help
Using alternative commands
There are often a number of commands to run a 
function, e.g.: 
Running functions directly with short 
commands
With short commands you can run certain func-
tions directly, regardless of which menu item is 
selected, refer to page246.
Opening start menuAn example: selecting a track
1.Switch on Entertainment sound output if 
necessary.
2.Press the  button on the steering wheel.
5.Press the  button on the steering wheel. {Cancel}
{Options}
{Help} 
{Radio on} or {Turn radio on}
{Main menu}
3.{Entertainment}
The system says: 
{{Entertainment}}
4.{CD} 
The system says: 
{{CD on}}
6.Select a track, e.g.:
{Track 1}
The system says: 
{{Track 1}} 
         
        
        
     
        
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At a glance
 27Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility 
         
        
        
     
        
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Controls
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At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
the vehicle is unlocked, the corresponding 
remote control is detected and the settings 
stored for it are called up and carried out.
This means that you will always find your BMW 
set to your own personal settings even if 
another person with his/her own remote control 
and settings has used the vehicle since the last 
time you drove it. The individual settings are 
stored for a maximum of four remote controls, 
for two with comfort access
*.
Personal Profile settings
Details on the settings are provided on the 
specified pages.
>Behavior of the central locking system 
when unlocking vehicle, refer to page32
>Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to 
page34
>Programming buttons on steering wheel, 
refer to page57
>Displays on Control Display:
>12h/24h clock mode, refer to page85
>Date format, refer to page85
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page85
>Units of measure for consumption, 
route/distances, temperature and pres-
sure, refer to page86
>Language on the Control Display, refer 
to page86
>Lighting settings:
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page66
>Welcome lamps, refer to page104
>Pathway lighting, refer to page105
>Daytime running lamps
*, refer to 
page105
>High-beam assistant
*, refer to page106
>PDC Park Distance Control
*: optical warn-
ing, refer to page87
>Head-Up Display
*: selection and bright-
ness of display, refer to page98>BMW Night Vision
*: display settings, refer 
to page102
>Automatic climate control: for AUTO pro-
gram and intensity, cooling function, and 
automatic recirculated air control/recircu-
lated air mode, temperature, air distribution, 
temperature in the upper body region, refer 
to page111
>Navigation system
*: voice instructions for 
destination guidance, refer to page151
In addition, the following, most recently 
selected settings are recalled during unlocking:
>Programmable memory buttons: selecting 
stored functions, refer to page22
>Driver's seat, exterior-mirror and steering-
wheel position, refer to page51
>Audio sources: volume and tone settings, 
refer to page161
>Radio: display of stored stations, refer to 
page164
>Phone: adjusting volume, refer to page192
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
>Compartment in the front center console
>Luggage compartment lid
>Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Using door lock
>With comfort access
* via the door handles
These actions operate the anti-theft system
* at 
the same time. It prevents the doors from being 
unlocked using the lock buttons or door han-
dles. The interior lamps and the courtesy 
lamps
* are also switched on and off with the