
Climate
98 switched on. In the Convertible program, the 
automatic air conditioning system is optimized 
for driving with the top open. In addition, the air 
flow rate is increased as vehicle speed 
increases.
The effectiveness of the Convertible pro-
gram can be enhanced considerably by 
installing the wind deflector.<
Adjusting air flow rate manually
Press the left side of the button to 
reduce airflow. Press the right side 
of the button to increase it.
You can reactivate the automatic mode for the 
air flow rate with the AUTO button.
The air flow rate may be reduced or the blower 
may be switched off entirely to save on battery 
power. The display remains the same.
Switching the system on/off
With the blower at its lowest setting, press the 
left side of the button to switch off the auto-
matic climate control. All displays are cleared 
except for the rear window defroster if it is 
switched on.
Press any button except REST or rear window 
defroster to reactivate the automatic climate 
control.
The recirculated-air mode is switched on 
when you switch off the automatic cli-
mate control. If the air quality deteriorates or the 
window fogs over, switch the system back on 
and increase the air volume.<
Automatic recirculated-air control 
AUC/Recirculated-air mode
Switch on the desired operating 
mode by pressing this button 
repeatedly:
>LED off: outside air flows in continuously.
>Left-hand LED on, AUC mode: a sensor 
detects pollutants in the outside air. If nec-
essary, the system blocks the supply of out-
side air and recirculates the inside air. As 
soon as the concentration of pollutants in 
the outside air has decreased sufficiently, the system automatically switches back to 
outside air supply.
>Right-hand LED on, recirculated-air mode: 
the supply of outside air is permanently 
shut off. The system then recirculates the 
air currently within the vehicle.
If condensation starts to form on the 
inside window surfaces during operation 
in the recirculated-air mode, you should switch 
it off while also increasing the air flow rate as 
required. 
The recirculated-air mode should not be used 
continuously for lengthy periods, otherwise the 
quality of the air inside the car will gradually 
deteriorate.<
Via the button on the steering wheel
You can switch quickly between the recircu-
lated-air mode and the previous mode using an 
individually programmable button
 on the steer-
ing wheel, refer to page50.
Residual heat
The heat stored in the engine is 
used to heat the passenger com-
partment, e.g. while stopped at a 
school to pick up a child.
The function can be switched on when the fol-
lowing conditions are met:
>Up to 15 minutes after the engine has been 
switched off
>While the engine is at operating tempera-
ture
>As long as battery voltage is sufficient
>At an outside temperature below 777/
256
The LED is lit when the function is on.
As of radio readiness, you can set the interior 
temperature, the air flow rate and the air distri-
bution.
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Climate
100 The parked car ventilation remains switched on 
for approx. 30 minutes. Two different switch-on 
times can be preselected. The system can also 
be switched on and off directly. 
Due to its high power consumption, it should 
not be switched on twice in a row without driv-
ing in between to allow the battery to recharge.
The air emerges from the air vents for the upper 
body area in the instrument panel. The air vents 
must therefore be open.
The parked car ventilation system is operated 
via iDrive.
Switching on/off directly
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Settings"
2."Climate"
3."Activate parked-car vent."
 The parked car ventilation is switched on.
 The symbol on the automatic climate control 
display flashes.
Preselecting switch-on times
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Settings"
2."Climate"
3."Activate Timer 1" or "Activate Timer 2"4."Timer 1:" or "Timer 2:"
5.Turn the controller: set the hours.
6.Press the controller: the setting is 
accepted.
7.Turn the controller: set the minutes.
8.Press the controller: the setting is 
accepted.
 The switch-on time is activated.
 The symbol on the automatic climate control 
display lights up.
 The symbol on the automatic climate control 
display flashes when the system has switched 
on.
The respective system is switched on 
within the next 24 hours only. After these 
have elapsed, it must be reactivated.<
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Controls
 103Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Digital compass*
1Adjustment button
2Display
The display shows you the main or secondary 
compass direction in which you are driving.
Operating principle
You can call up various functions by pressing 
the adjustment button with a pointed object such as a pen or similar item. The following 
adjustment options are displayed one after the 
other, depending on how long you keep the 
adjustment button pressed:
>Press briefly: switch display on/off
>3 to 6 seconds: set the compass zone
>6 to 9 seconds: calibrate the compass
>9 to 12 seconds: set left-hand/right-hand 
steering
>12 to 15 seconds: set the language
Setting compass zones
Set the compass zone corresponding to your 
vehicle's geographic location so that the com-
pass can function correctly; refer to the world 
map with compass zones.
To set the compass zone, press the adjustment 
button for approx. 3-4 seconds. The number of 
the compass zone set is shown in the display.
To change the zone setting, briefly press the 
adjustment button repeatedly until the display 
shows the number of the compass zone corre-
sponding to your current location.The compass is operational again after approx. 
10 seconds.
Calibrating the digital compass
The digital compass must be calibrated in the 
following situations:
>An incorrect compass direction is shown.
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Practical interior accessories
104 >The compass direction shown does not 
change although the direction of travel 
does.
>Not all compass directions are shown.
Procedure
1.Make sure that no large metal objects or 
overhead power lines are in the vicinity of 
your vehicle and that you have enough 
space to drive in a circle.
2.Set the currently valid compass zone.
3.Convertible: ensure that the retractable 
hardtop is fully closed.
4.Press the adjustment button for approx. 
6-7 seconds to call up C. Then drive in at 
least one full circle at a speed of no more 
than 4mph or 7km/h.
If calibration is successful, the display 
changes from C to a compass direction.
5.Convertible: open the retractable hardtop 
fully and repeat step 4.
Setting right-hand/left-hand steering
Your digital compass is factory-set to right-
hand or left-hand steering, in accordance with 
your vehicle.
Setting the language
You can set the language of the display:
Press the adjustment button for approx. 
12-13 seconds. Briefly press the adjustment 
button again to switch between English, "E", 
and German, "O".
The setting is automatically saved after approx. 
10 seconds.
Coupe:
Roller sun blind*
Tap the button in the center console to raise or 
lower the roller sun blind.
Glove compartment
Opening
Pull the handle. 
The light in the glove compartment comes on.
To prevent injury in the event of an acci-
dent while the vehicle is being driven, 
close the glove compartment immediately after 
use.<
Closing
Fold cover up.
Locking
To lock the glove compartment, use the inte-
grated key of the remote control, refer to 
page26.
Convertible: when you lock the vehicle from the 
outside, the glove compartment is locked as 
well.
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Navigation system
126
Navigation system
General information
With the help of satellites, the navigation sys-
tem is able to ascertain the precise position of 
the vehicle and guide you reliably to any desti-
nation you enter.
The navigation data is stored in the vehicle and 
can be updated using navigation DVDs. 
Make all entries while the vehicle is sta-
tionary
Enter data only when the vehicle is stationary, 
and always give priority to the applicable traffic 
regulations in the event of any contradiction 
between traffic and road conditions and the 
instructions issued by the navigation system. 
Failure to take to this precaution can place you 
in violation of the law and put vehicle occupants 
and other road users in danger.<
Updating the navigation data
The navigation data is stored in the vehicle and 
can be updated using a navigation DVD. Please 
contact the BMW center if you have any ques-
tions.
Inserting navigation DVD
1.Insert the navigation DVD into the DVD 
player with the labeled side facing up.
2.Follow the instructions on the display.
3.Enter the authorization code of the naviga-
tion DVD and change the DVD if needed.
Displaying information on the version
1."Navigation"
2.Open "Options".
3."Navigation system version". Information 
on the data version is displayed. 
Removing navigation DVD
1. Press button 1.
The DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
2.Remove the DVD.
If the DVD is not ejected, the drive may be 
blocked. In this case, a message will appear on 
the Control Display.
*
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Navigation
Driving tips
 127Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Destination entry
In entering your destination you can select from 
the following options:
>Entering a destination manually, see below
>Selecting destination from address book, 
refer to page129
>Last destinations, refer to Last destinations, 
page130
>Special destinations, refer to page130
>Entering a destination on the map, refer to 
page132
>Selecting home address, refer to page130
>Entering a destination by voice com-
mands*, refer to page133
You can also store a navigation destination on 
the programmable memory keys, refer to 
page20.
Enter data only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary, and always give priority to the 
applicable traffic regulations in the event of any 
contradiction between traffic and road condi-
tions and the instructions issued by the naviga-
tion system. Otherwise, vehicle occupants and 
other road users may be endangered.<
Entering a destination 
manually
The system's word-matching principle makes it 
easier for you to enter the names of towns or 
streets. This allows you to enter different spell-
ings and completes your entry automatically so 
that stored names can be called up quickly.1."Navigation"
2."Enter address"
The system also supports you with the follow-
ing features:
>If you do not enter a street, the system will 
guide you to the downtown a r e a  o f  a  t o w n  o r  
city.
>You can skip the entry of state/province and 
locality if the current entries should be 
retained for your new destination.
Entering a state/province
1."Navigation"
2."Enter address"
3.Select "State/Province" or the displayed 
state/province.
Entering a town/city
1.Select "Town/City/Zip Code" or the dis-
played town/city, or select letters.
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Destination entry
128 Delete letters, if necessary:
>To delete individual letters:
Turn the controller to select  , and 
then press the controller.
>To delete all letters:
Turn the controller to select  , and 
then press the controller for an extended 
period.
>To enter spaces:
Select the   symbol.
The list gradually grows smaller each time 
you enter a new letter.
2.Move the controller to the right.
3.Select the name of the town/city from the 
list. The three destinations stored last are 
displayed. 
If there are several towns/cities with the same 
name:
1.Change to the list of town/city names.
2.Highlight the town/city: a preview map is 
displayed.
3.Select the town/city.
Entering the postal code
1.Select "Town/City/Zip Code" or the dis-
played town/city.
2.Select the  symbol.
3.Select the digits.
4.Change to the list of postal codes and 
towns/cities. 
5.Highlight the postal code. A preview map is 
displayed in the assistance window.
6.Select the postal code.
Entering street and intersection
1.Select "Street" or the displayed street.
2.Enter a street and intersection as you would 
the town/city.
After the street you can also enter the intersec-
tion or the house number.
If there are several streets with the same name:1.Change to the list of street names.
2.Highlight the street: a preview map is dis-
played.
3.Select the street.
Entering a street without a destination 
town/city
You can also enter a street without specifying a 
town/city. In this case, all streets of the same 
name in the specified state/province are 
offered. The corresponding town/city is dis-
played after the street name.
If a town/city has already been entered, you can 
negate this entry. This could be helpful in 
instances where the desired street does not 
exist in the entered town/city because it 
belongs to another suburb, for example.
1."Navigation"
2."Enter address"
3.Select "Street" or the displayed street.
4.Change to the list of street names.
5."Find streets in" the state/province cur-
rently displayed.
6.Select the letters.
7.Change to the list of street names.
8.Highlight the street. A preview map is dis-
played in the assistance window.
9.Select the street.
Entering a house number
You can enter any house number stored in the 
navigation data for the street.
1."House number"
2.Select the digits.
ba8_E9293M3_cic.book  Seite 128  Dienstag, 19. August 2008  12:01 12 

Navigation
Driving tips
 129Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
3.Change to the list of house numbers.
4.Select a house number or range of house 
numbers.
Selection after destination entry
>"Start guidance".
Destination guidance is started immedi-
ately.
>"Route preference"
refer to page137.
>"Points of Interest at dest."
refer to page130.
If a new town/city is selected during destination 
guidance, the current destination guidance is 
terminated.
Address book
To create contacts, refer to page183.
Selecting a destination from the 
address book
1."Navigation"
2."Address book"
Contacts with addresses are displayed.
3.Select a contact from the list or, if neces-
sary, using "A-Z search".
4.Select "Business address" or "Home 
address".
5."Start guidance"
Storing a destination in the address 
book
Store the destination in the address book after 
entering the destination.1.Open "Options".
2."Store as new contact" or "Add to existing 
contact"
3.Select an existing contact, if available.
4.Select "Business address" or "Home 
address".
5.Enter "Last name" and, if necessary, "First 
name".
6."Store in "My Contacts""
Storing the position
Your current position can be stored in the 
address book.
1."Navigation"
2.Open "Options".
3."Store position as contact" or "Add position 
to contact"
4.Depending on the selection, select an exist-
ing contact from the list or the type of 
address and enter the last and first name.
5."Store in "My Contacts""
Editing or deleting an address
1."Navigation"
2."Address book"
ba8_E9293M3_cic.book  Seite 129  Dienstag, 19. August 2008  12:01 12