
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 page296.
Using this Owner's Manual
4 Notes
7 Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16 iDrive
23 Voice activation system
Controls
28Opening and closing
48 Adjusting
61 Transporting children safely
65 Driving
78 Everything under control
91 Technology for comfort, convenience 
and safety
110 Lamps
114 Climate
123 Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
138Things to remember when driving
Navigation
148Starting navigation system
150 Destination entry
162 Destination guidance
170 What to do if …
Entertainment
174On/Off and settings
178 Radio
184 Satellite radio
187 CD player and CD changer
193 DVD changer
200 AUX-In connection
201 USB audio interface
204 DVD system in rear
Communications
220Telephoning
235 BMW Assist
Mobility
244Refueling
249 Wheels and tires
258 Under the hood
263 Maintenance
265 Care
269 Replacing components
279 Giving and rece iving assistance
Reference
286Technical data
291 Short commands of voice activation 
system
296 Everything from A to Z 

At a glance
 17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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
*
>External audio device
Climate
>Vent settings
> Seat heater distribution
*
>Automatic programs
> Parked-car ventilation
*
 menu
>Switching off Control Display
> Tone and display settings
> Settings for traffic information
*
>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
*
Operating principle
From radio readiness, refer to page 65, 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 automatically hidden after 
approx. 10 seconds.
Start menu
You can call up all the fu nctions of iDrive using 
five menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the  button.
To open the start menu from the  menu:
Press the  button twice. 

iDrive
18
Opening menu items of start menu
With the start menu you can open the menu 
items Communication, Navigation, Entertain-
ment and Climate by moving the controller to 
the left, right, front or rear.
You can open the  menu by pressing the con-
troller.
Comfort opening of menu items
Comfort opening offers you:
> Opening of a menu item  of the start menu in 
the last display shown
> Direct changing between Communication, 
Navigation, Entertainment and Climate 
without pressing the  button
For this purpose, move the controller in the cor-
responding direction and hold it for longer than 
approx. 2 seconds.
Displays in menu
1 Each menu is divided into fields. 
The respective active field is highlighted.
2 A symbol indicates the last selected menu 
item of the start menu:
1 Menu items are usually grouped in horizon-
tal or vertical lists.
2 In these lists, arrows indicate the possibility 
of accessing other menu items that are not 
currently visible.
3 Settings are displayed graphically or 
numerically.
Communication
Navigation or onboard information
Entertainment
Climate
 menu 

Controls
 29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Language on Control Display, refer to 
page 90
> 12h/24h clock format, refer to page 89
> Date format, refer to page 89
> Lighting settings:
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page 73
> Welcome lamps, refer to page 110
> Pathway lighting, refer to page 111
> Daytime driving lamps
*, refer to 
page 111
> PDC Park Distance Control
*: optical warn-
ing, refer to page 92
> Rear view camera
*:
> Selecting functions, refer to page 93
> Type of display, refer to page 95
> Head-Up Display
*: selection, brightness 
and position of display, refer to page 107
> Automatic climate control: AUTO program 
and intensity, cooling function, and auto-
matic recirculated air control/recirculated 
air mode, temperature, air distribution, tem-
perature in the upper  body region, refer to 
text starting on page 115
> Programmable memory buttons: selecting 
stored functions, refer to page 21
> Positions of driver's  seat, outside mirrors, 
and steering wheel
*, refer to page 50
> Adaptive Drive
*: selected chassis and sus-
pension tuning, refer to page 99
> Audio sources: volume and tone settings, 
refer to page 175
> Radio:
>Display of stored stations, refer to 
page 178
> Switching RDS Radio Data System on/
off
*, refer to page 181
> Phone: volume setting, refer to 
pages 226,232
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
> Liftgate
> Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>via the remote control
> via the door lock
> with comfort access
* via the door handles
The interior lamps and the courtesy lamps
* are 
also switched on and off with the remote con-
trol. The alarm system
 is armed/disarmed at the 
same time.
You can find more detailed information on the 
alarm system
 on page 38.
Operating from inside
Via the button for centra l locking, refer to 
page 32. The fuel filler door is not locked.
In an accident of sufficient severity, the central 
locking system automati cally unlocks the vehi-
cle. In addition, 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. < 

Controls
 115Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Automatic climate control with 2-zone control
1Seat heating and ventilation, driver's 
side 56
2 Temperature, left side of passenger 
compartment
3 AUTO program
4 Temperature, right side of passenger 
compartment
5 Maximum cooling
6 Seat heating
 and ventilation, 
front passenger side 56
7 Manual air distribution, front passenger side
8 Switching cooling function on and off 
manually 9
AUC Automatic recirculated-air control/
recirculated-air mode
10 Manual air volume, sw itching off automatic 
climate control, residual heat
11 Rear window defroster
12 Defrosting windows and removing 
condensation
13 Air grill for interior temperature sensor – 
please keep clear and unobstructed
14 Manual air distribution, driver's side
The current setting for manual air distribution 
is displayed on the Control Display.
A congenial climate
The AUTO program offers the optimum air dis-
tribution and air volume for virtually all condi-
tions, refer to AUTO pr ogram below. Now you 
only need to select an interior temperature 
pleasant to you.
The following sections contain more detailed 
information on the available setting options.
Most settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use, also re fer to Personal Profile 
settings on page 28.
AUTO program
The AUTO program handles the 
adjustment of air volume and air 
distribution to the windshield and 
side windows, in the direction of 
the upper body and in the footwell. 
It also adapts your inst ructions for the tempera-
ture to outside influenc es throughout the year. The cooling is switched 
on automatically with 
the AUTO program. At the same time, a con-
densation sensor controls the program in such 
a way that window condensation is prevented 
as much as possible.
Intensity of AUTO program
You can adjust the intensity of the AUTO pro-
gram by repeatedly pr essing the AUTO button. 
The respective current setting is displayed 
when the button on the display of the automatic 
climate control is pressed.
You can also adjust the intensity of the AUTO 
program via iDrive.
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
1. Press the  button. 
This opens the start menu.
2. Move the controller to  the left to open "Cli-
mate". 

Climate
116
3.
Select "Automatic programs" and press the 
controller.
4. Select the desired in tensity and press the 
controller.
 The selected intensity level of the auto-
matic program is switched on.
Temperature
Set the desired temperature indi-
vidually on the driver's and front 
passenger side.
The automatic climate control 
adjusts this temperature as quickly as possible 
at any time of year, if necessary with the maxi-
mum cooling or heating capacity, and then 
keeps it constant.
In the highest setting yo u activate the maximum 
heating capacity, regard less of the outside tem-
perature. And in the lo west setting, the maxi-
mum cooling capacity.
When switching betw een different tem-
perature settings in rapid succession, the 
automatic climate control does not have suffi-
cient time to adjust the set temperature. <
Adjusting temperature in upper body 
region
1.Press the  button. 
This opens the start menu.
2. Move the controller to  the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3. Select "Vent settings" and press the con-
troller.
4. Select the driver's or front passenger side 
if necessary. Move the controller to the right  or left repeatedly unt
il the driver's or front 
passenger side is selected.
5. Move the controller to select the field.
6. Turn the controller to adjust the tempera-
ture.
Defrosting window s and removing 
condensation
Quickly remove ice and condensa-
tion from the windshield and front 
side windows. 
To do this, also switch on the cooling function.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster 
switches off automatically after a 
while. Depending on the vehicle 
equipment, upper wires are used 
as an antenna and are not part of the rear win-
dow defroster.
Air volume, manual
You can vary the air volume by 
pressing on the corresponding 
side. You can reactivate the auto-
matic mode for the air  volume with the AUTO 
button.
Air distribution, manual
You can route the air flowing out into the vehicle 
interior via various programs, separately for the 
driver and passenger side.
> Upper body region
> Upper body region and footwell
> Footwell
> Driver's side: windows and footwell 

Controls
 117Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Individual program
Selecting program
Press the button repeatedly until 
the desired program is shown on 
the Control Display.
Adjusting air distribution individually – 
individual program
The settings are stored in this program.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.
1. Press the  button. 
This opens the start menu.
2. Move the controller to  the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3. Select "Vent settings" and press the con-
troller.
The driver's and front passenger side can 
be adjusted separately  with the fields on the 
right or left side.
4. Select the driver's or  front passenger side 
if necessary.
Move the controller to  the right or left 
repeatedly until the driver's or front passen-
ger side is selected.
5. Select the desired field by moving the con-
troller.
6. Turn the controller to ad just the air distribu-
tion.
Driver's side:
1 Air toward the windshield and side windows
2 Air for the upper body
3 Air to footwell Front passenger side:
4
Air for the upper body
5 Air to footwell
Pressing the AUTO button cancels the 
manual air distribution settings. <
The automatic mode for the air volume remains 
effective with manual air distribution.Switching cooling function on and off
The cooling function cools and 
dehumidifies the incoming air 
before also reheating it as 
required, according to the temperature setting. 
This function is only available when the engine 
is running.
The cooling function helps to avoid condensa-
tion on the window surfaces or to quickly 
remove them.
Depending on the weathe r, the windshield may 
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
The cooling function is switched on automati-
cally with the AUTO program.
Maximum cooling
Maximally cooled air is obtained as 
quickly as possible at an outside 
temperature above approx. 32 7/
0 6  and with the engine running.
The automatic climate cont rol switches into the 
recirculated-air mode at the lowest tempera-
ture. The maximum air volume flows out of the 
air vents for the upper body. Therefore, open 
these vents for maximum cooling.
AUC Automatic re circulated-air 
control/recirculated-air mode
You can respond to pollutants or 
unpleasant odors in the immediate 
environment by suspending the 
supply of outside air. The system 
then recirculates the air currently within the 
vehicle. During AUC operation, a sensor 
detects pollutants in the outside air and con-
trols the shut-off automatically. 

Climate
120
The current setting for the temperature and the 
air volume is shown on display
3.
Activating
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
1. Press the  button. 
This opens the start menu.
2. Move the controller to  the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3. Select "Rear climate control" and press the 
controller.
4. Select the desired settings and press the 
controller.
 The rear automatic climate control is 
activated and the setti ngs of the automatic 
climate control on the driver's side can be 
applied if necessary.
The rear automatic c limate control cannot 
be operated if the front automatic climate 
control is switched off. With the defrost win-
dows and eliminate condensation function acti-
vated, the rear automatic  climate control is also 
not ready for operation. <
AUTO program
The AUTO program assumes the 
adjustment of the air distribution 
toward the upper body and in the 
footwell, as well as the air volume 
for you. It also adapts your instruc-
tions for the temperature  to outside influences 
throughout the year.
Temperature
Set the desired temperature indi-
vidually on the left and right side.
The automatic climate control 
adjusts this temperature as quickly 
a s  p o s s i b l e  a t  a n y  t i m e  o f  y e a r ,  i f  n e c e s s a r y  w i t h  
the maximum cooling or heating capacity, and 
then keeps it constant.
When switching betw een different tem-
perature settings in rapid succession, the 
automatic climate control does not have suffi-
cient time to adjust the set temperature. <
Air volume, manual
You can vary the air volume by 
pressing on the corresponding 
side. You can reactivate the auto-
matic mode for the air  volume with the AUTO 
button.
Switching off rear automatic climate 
control
You can select the lowest blower 
speed by pressing and holding the 
left side. Pressing again switches 
off the automatic climate control.
The automatic climate  control can also be 
switched off with iDrive. To switch on the 
automatic climate control again, the system 
must first be reactivate d, refer to Activating.<
Y o u  s w i t c h  o n  t h e  s y s t e m  a g a i n  b y  p r e s s i n g  a n y  
button of the rear auto matic climate control.