2009 BMW 6 SERIES USB

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 page250.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
24Voice command system
Controls
30Opening and closing
49Adjusting
58Transporting children safely
60Driving
76Everything under control
87Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
104Lamps
110Climate
117Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
126Things to remember when driving
Navigation
134Starting navigation system
136Destination entry
148Destination guidance
157What to do if …
Entertainment
160On/off and tone
164Radio
171Satellite radio
174CD player and CD changer
180AUX-IN connection
181USB-audio interface/mobile phone audio
interface
Communications
186Telephoning
201BMW Assist
Mobility
212Refueling
214Wheels and tires
220Under the hood
225Maintenance
227Care
231Replacing components
235Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
242Technical data
246Short commands of voice command
system
250Everything from A to Z

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.

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":
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.

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.

Controls
119Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
close the glove compartment immediately after
use.<
Closing
Fold up the lid.
USB interface for data transmission
Port for importing and exporting data on USB
devices, e.g. music collections.
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
A storage compartment is located in the arm-
rest between the front seats. This compartment
is integrated into the central locking system and
can also be locked separately using the hotel
function, refer to page35.To open the cover:
Pull the left button. The cover opens and can be
folded upward.
Depending on the version, the storage com-
partment can be equipped with a correspond-
ing cradle
* for the telephone or mobile phone.
Connection for external audio device
A connection for an external audio device is
located in the storage compartment. You can,
for example, connect a CD player or an MP3
player, and play the sound via the vehicle
speakers, refer to page180.
Adjusting height
The center armrest can be set in two positions.
Pull the right button:
Move the armrest upward or downward and
lock it in the desired position.

On/off and tone
160
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 near 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
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
reception, store station, tone control, sam-
ple stations.

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
181Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
USB-audio interface/mobile phone audio
interface
You can connect audio devices, e. g. an iPod/
iPhone or a USB device (MP3 player, USB flash
drive), to the USB-audio interface. You can then
operate these via iDrive.
When using an iPhone / mobile phone as a
music player, connect the device to the snap-in
adapter, refer to the separate operating instruc-
tions. Playback is only possible if a device is not
connected to the USB-audio interface.
The system can play back common audio files,
e.g. MP3, WMA, WAV (PCM) and AAC, as well
as playback lists in the M3U format.
Due to the large number of audio devices avail-
able on the market, operation via the vehicle
cannot be ensured for every audio device.
Ask your BMW center which audio devices are
suitable.
Connecting
Lift up the center armrest.
1Connection for audio playback:
1/8 in/3,5 mm jack plug
2USB-audio interface
iPod/iPhone
To connect the iPod/iPhone, use the BMW
cable adapter for the Apple iPod/iPhone. For
more information, please contact a BMW center
or consult our website: bmwusa.comTo play audio tracks over the vehicle's loud-
speaker system, connect the iPod/iPhone to
ports 1 and 2.
The iPod/iPhone menu structure is supported
by the USB-audio interface.
USB device
To connect the device, use a flexible
adapter cable to protect the USB-audio
interface and your USB device against physical
damage.<
For audio playback via the vehicle speakers,
connect the USB device to the connection 1.
After connecting for the first time, the informa-
tion of all tracks (e.g. artist, music genre) and
the playback lists of the USB device are trans-
ferred to the vehicle. This process can take
some time. The time required is dependent on
the USB device and on the number of tracks.
During the transfer you can select the tracks via
the directories and file names.
Following the transfer you can call up the tracks
via the information and playback lists.
Information from up to four USB devices can be
stored in the vehicle, or a total of approx. 16 000
tracks.
If a fifth USB device is connected, the informa-
tion of the tracks of the first USB device stored
in the vehicle is deleted.
Music tracks with integrated Digital
Rights Management (DRM) cannot be
played.<
Starting audio playback
Via iDrive
If the audio device has a device name, this will
be displayed if possible.
*

USB-audio interface/mobile phone audio interface
182 1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to call up
"Entertainment".
3.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "AUX" is selected and press
the controller.
4.Select "USB" or the name of the audio
device and press the controller.
5.The playback starts with the first track.
About programmable memory buttons
You can store the "USB" function on the pro-
grammable memory keys to start audio play-
back, refer to page22.
Selecting a track
You can call up the tracks via the playback lists
and information. With USB devices you can also
call up the tracks via the file directory.1.Make your selection, e.g. "Playlists" or "Art-
ists", and press the controller.
2.Select the track and press the controller.
Displaying information on track
You can display any information stored on the
current track, e.g. the name of the artist.
1.Press the controller during playback.
2.Select "Details" and press the controller.
The information for the current track are dis-
played.