
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 

At a glance
 15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Coupe: glass sunroof, electric with raise 
function
*42
2Coupe: microphone for hands-free mode 
for telephone
* and voice command 
system
*24
Convertible: microphone on steering col-
umn
3Reading lamps109
4Interior lamps108
5Coupe: initiating SOS emergency 
request235
6Indicator lamp
 for front passenger 
airbags97
7Convertible: initiating SOS emergency 
request
*235
8Control Display16
9Hazard warning flashers
10Central locking system34
11Automatic climate control11012Changing
>radio station164
>track175
13Ejecting
>navigation DVD
*134
>audio CD174
14Programmable memory buttons22
15Drive for navigation system DVD with Pro-
fessional
* navigation system134
16Drive for audio CDs174
17Entertainment sound output on/off 
and adjusting volume161
19Bracket for cup holder120
20Controller16 
Can be turned, pressed, or moved in four 
directions
21Opening start menu on Control Display18
22Dynamic Driving Control64
23Selecting AM or FM waveband
24Selecting radio, CD and CD changer Temperature setting, left/
right111
Automatic air distribution and 
volume111
Cooling function113
AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control113
Recirculated-air mode113
Maximum cooling113
Residual heat mode114
Switching off automatic climate 
control114
Air volume112
Defrosting windows and removing 
condensation112
Rear window defroster112
18
Heated seats*55
PDC Park Distance Control
*87
DTC Dynamic Traction Control89
Convertible: opening the convert-
ible top44
Convertible: closing the convertible 
top44 

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. 

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. 

At a glance
 25Reference
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}} 

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. 

CD player and CD changer
174
CD player and CD changer
Listening to CDs
Compressed audio files*
CDs with compressed audio files, i.e. MP3, can 
be played by the CD player, but not by the CD 
changer.
CD player: starting CD
With two drives:
The upper drive is for audio CDs.
Inserting CD
Insert the CD into the drive with the labeled side 
up. The CD is retracted.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is on. For CDs with compressed audio files, 
it can take up to approx. 1 minute to read in the 
data depending on the directory structure.
Via iDrive
To start playback when there is already a CD in 
the drive:
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
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.With a CD changer, change to the second 
field from the top and turn the controller 
until "CD" is selected and press the control-
ler.
The CD player is started.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is switched on.About programmable memory buttons
You can store the CD player function on the 
programmable memory buttons. To start the 
CD player, refer to page22.
Eject CD
Press the   button next to CD player.
The CD emerges slightly from the drive.
CD changer: starting CD
Fill the CD magazine and insert, refer to 
page178.
* 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 175Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
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.