
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. 

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. 

At a glance
 23Reference
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". 

Controls
 31Reference
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  

Controls
 57Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Programmable buttons* on steering 
wheel
You can program the buttons individually.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
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. "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Steering wheel buttons" and press 
the controller.A list of different functions appears:
>"Navigation voice instructions" 
Voice messages from the navigation 
system
*
>"Air recirculation on / off"
To permanently shut off outside air, refer 
to AUC Automatic recirculated-air con-
trol on page113
>"Mute on / off" 
To mute the audio sources
>"Monitor on / off" 
To switch the Control Display on/off
>"Telephone list
"*
To show/hide the phone book or last dis-
played list of stored phone numbers
>"Next entertainment source"
To change the audio source
>"Night Vision on / off"
To switch BMW Night Vision
* on/off
5.Select the desired function unit and press 
the controller.
6.Select the button if necessary and press the 
controller.
You can operate the selected function using the 
corresponding button.
Operating function
Press the corresponding button on the steering 
wheel.
If you have programmed "Navigation voice 
instructions" for one of the buttons:
>To switch voice instructions on/off: 
Press button longer.
>To repeat the last voice instruction: 
Press the button.