Page 5 of 272

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 
     
        
        Page 18 of 272
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, arrow6To 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.< 
     
        
        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. 
     
        
        Page 22 of 272
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 
page84.
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 
     
        
        Page 24 of 272

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. 
     
        
        Page 26 of 272

Voice command system
24
Voice command system
The concept
The voice command system allows you to con-
trol operation of various vehicle systems with-
out taking your hands off the steering wheel.
Individual menu items on the Control Display 
can be spoken as commands. This frees you of 
having to use the controller.
The voice command system transforms your 
oral commands into control signals for the 
selected systems and provides support in the 
form of instructions or questions.
The voice command system includes a special 
microphone.
The microphone is located:
>Near the interior rearview mirror in the 
Coupe, refer to page14
>On the steering column in the Convertible
Precondition
Via iDrive, set the language that applies for the 
voice command system in order to enable iden-
tification of the spoken commands. To set the 
language of iDrive, refer to page86.
Symbols in Owner's Manual
Voice commands
Activating voice command system
1.Press the   button.
 This symbol on the Control Display and 
an acoustic signal tell you that the voice 
command system can respond to com-
mands.
2.Say the command.
The command is displayed on the Control 
Display.
 This symbol is shown on the Control Display 
when you can input additional commands. 
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for 
word.
{{...}} Indicates responses of the voice 
command system. 
     
        
        Page 27 of 272

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}} 
     
        
        Page 34 of 272

Opening and closing
32 remote control. The alarm system
 is armed/dis-
armed at the same time.
You can find more detailed information on the 
alarm system
 on page37.
Operating from inside
Via the central locking button, refer to page34. 
The fuel filler door
 and the compartment in the 
front center console are not locked, refer to 
page34.
In the event of a serious accident, the central 
locking system unlocks automatically. In addi-
tion, the hazard warning flashers and interior 
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.
8.Select a menu item:
>"All doors"
Pressing the   button once unlocks the 
entire vehicle.
>"Driver's door only"
*
Press the  button once to unlock only 
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 mode
Press and hold the  button:
>Coupe: the windows are opened, the glass 
sunroof
* is raised and the sliding visor 
slides back.