
Radio
182
With some stations the 
digital signals are not 
transmitted simultaneously with the analog sig-
nals. If you are in an ar ea in which the selected 
station is not continuous ly received digitally, 
playback changes betwee n analog and digital 
reception. This can result in repetitions or inter-
ruptions. In this case  it may be advisable to 
deactivate digital radio reception.
Selecting programs of a digital station*
Some stations transmit several programs on 
one frequency. To select one of these pro-
grams:
1. Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2. Select "Manual" and press the controller.
3. Select a station that is received digitally.
 This symbol is displayed when a station 
is being received digitally.
4. Switch to the next program of the digital 
station with the  buttons on the radio 
or the steering wheel.
You can store a station, refer to page 180.
Updating stations offering digital 
reception
If you are on a longer journey and leave the 
transmission range of the  stations originally set, 
you can update the list of stations with the best 
reception. 1.
Select "FM" or "AM" and press the control-
ler.
2. Change into the second field from the top.
3. Select "Autostore" and press the controller.
4. Press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
5. Select "Autostore  " and press the con-
troller.
The display of the stations offering digital 
reception is updated. This  can take up to 2 min-
utes. 

CD player and CD changer
188
4.
Change to the second field from the top if 
necessary. Select the desired CD and press 
the controller.
At the end of the last tr ack, the next CD will be 
selected.
Via 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 page 21.
Selecting a track
Buttons on CD player
Press the  button for the corresponding 
direction repeatedly until you reach the desired 
track.
The track is displayed on  the Control Display. 
You can also change tracks using the buttons 
on the steering wheel, refer to page 11.
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.
To exit from the menu:  Select the arrow and press the controller.
For equipment with two drives, you can save a 
certain track on the programmable memory 
buttons, refer to page 21.
Displaying information on track
With compressed audio files, you can display 
any information stored on the current track, e.g. 
the name of the artist. 

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 203Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Repeating a track
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2. Select "Repeat track" and press the con-
troller.
To stop repeating:
1. Press the controller.
2. Select "Repeat track" and press the con-
troller.
Random play sequence
You can play back the trac ks of the selected list 
in random order, e.g. a ll tracks of an artist.
1. Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2. Select "Random" and press the controller.
To end random playback:
1. Press the controller.
2. Select "Random" and press the controller.
Fast forward/reverse
Buttons on the steering  wheel or on the CD 
player:
Press and hold the  button for the corre-
sponding direction.
Notes
Do not subject the  audio device to 
extreme environmental conditions, e.g. 
extremely high temperatures, refer to the oper-
ating manual of the audio device. Otherwise the 
audio device may be damaged, impairing driv-
ing safety while driving. <
Depending on the configuration of the audio 
files, e.g. bit rates greater than 256 Kbit/s, 
proper playback cannot always be ensured.
Information on connection
> The USB audio interface supplies the con-
nected audio device with power, provided 
the audio device suppo rts this function. 
Therefore, do not connect the USB audio 
device to a socket in the vehicle during 
operation.
> Do not use force when plugging the con-
nector into the USB interface.
> Do not connect any devices, e.g. fans or 
lamps, to the USB audio interface.
> Do not connect USB hard disks.
> Do not use the USB audio interface to 
recharge external devices. 

Telephoning
220
Telephoning
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with a full mobile phone 
preparation package. After pairing a suitable 
mobile phone in the vehicle once, you can oper-
ate the mobile phone via  iDrive, with the buttons 
on the steering wheel and by voice.
Once a mobile phone has  been paired in your 
vehicle, it is automatically recognized as soon 
as it is inside the vehicl e while the engine is run-
ning or the ignition is switched on. The pairing 
data of up to four mobile phones can be stored 
simultaneously. If seve ral mobile phones are 
detected simultaneously, the respective last 
mobile phone paired can be operated via the 
vehicle.
Using a phone in your vehicle
Using snap-in adapter*
The so-called snap-in adapter, a mobile phone 
cradle, enables the batte ry to be charged and 
the mobile phone to be connected to the exter-
nal antenna of your vehicle. This ensures 
improved network reception and a consistent 
voice reproduction qu ality. Ask your BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center which mobile 
phones snap-in adapters are offered for.
For your safety
A car phone makes life more convenient in 
many ways, and can even save lives in an emer-
gency. While you should consult your mobile 
phone's separate operating instructions for a 
detailed description of  safety precautions and 
information, we request that you direct your 
particular attention to the following:
Only make entries when the traffic situa-
tion allows you to do  so. Do not hold the 
mobile phone in your hand while you are driving; 
use the hands-free system instead. If you do 
not observe this precau tion, your being dis- tracted can endanger vehicle occupants and 
other road users.
<
Suitable mobile phones
Ask your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center 
which mobile phones wi th Bluetooth interface 
are supported by the mo bile phone preparation 
package and which mobile phones are compat-
ible with the snap-in adapter. By virtue of their 
particular software ve rsions, these mobile 
phones support the functions described in this 
Owner's Manual. Malfunctions can occur with 
other mobile phones.
Care instructions
You can find everything you need to know on 
this topic by consulting  the separate operating 
instructions for the mobile phone.
Operating options
You can operate the mobile phone* using:
> Buttons on steering  wheel, refer to page11
> iDrive, refer to page 226
> Voice commands, refer to page 231
> Programmable memory  buttons, refer to 
page 21
Avoid operating a mobile phone detected by 
the vehicle with the keypad of the mobile 
phone, otherwise malf unctions can occur.
Placing phone calls with BMW Assist 
system*: BMW Assist calls
You can use the BMW Assist system via the 
hands-free unit for BMW Assist calls.
When the status information "Communication" 
or "BMW Assist" is displayed in "BMW Ser-
vice", only BMW Assi st calls are possible.
* 

Telephoning
226
Adjusting volume
Turn the knob during a call to select the desired 
volume.
This volume for the hand s-free system is main-
tained, even if the other audio sources are set to 
minimum volume.
You can also adjust the volume with buttons on 
the steering wheel, refer to page 10.
The setting is stored fo r the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Operation via iDrive
You can operate the following functions via 
iDrive:
> Accepting/refusing a call
> Dialing phone numbers
> Dialing phone numbers from the phone 
book
> Dialing stored phone numbers, e.g. from the 
list of accepted calls
> Ending a call
When the ignition and radio readiness are 
switched off, e.g. after removing the remote 
control from the ignition lock, you can continue 
an ongoing call via the hands-free system for no 
more than 25 minutes.
Speech quality
If the person you are talking to cannot under-
stand you well, this may  be due to excessively 
loud background noises. The full mobile phone 
preparation package can compensate for these 
noises to a certain degree.  To optimize the speech qua
lity during a call, we 
recommend that you:
> Reduce background noises, e.g. by closing 
the windows, reducing  the air volume of the 
automatic climate control or pointing the 
opened front air vents downward
> Reduce volume of hands-free system
Requirements
>The pairing data of the mobile phone are 
stored in the vehicle and the mobile phone 
is ready to operate.
> The engine is running  or the ignition is 
switched on.
> The mobile phone is detected by the vehi-
cle.
Opening Communication
You operate many of the functions described in 
the following via the "Communication" menu.
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
1. Press the  button to open the start 
menu.
2. Move the controller forward to open "Com-
munication".
Receiving calls
If you have the phone number of the caller 
stored in the phone book and the phone num-
ber has been transmitted,  the name of the entry 
is displayed. 

 227
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Mobility
Accepting a call
Press the  button on the steering wheel.
Alternative:
"Accept" is selected.
Press the controller.
Rejecting a call
Select "Reject" and press the controller.
The caller is diverted to your mailbox if it has 
been activated.
Calling
Dialing phone numbers
1. Select "Phone" and press the controller.
2. Select "Dial" and press the controller.
3. Enter the desired phone number by dialing 
the individual digits and pressing the con-
troller.
Always enter the complete phone number 
consisting of national  dialing code, area 
code, and phone number.
The letters correspond  to the digits on the 
keypad of the mobile phone. To delete the last digit:
Move the controller toward the right to 
select the arrow  and press the con-
troller.
4. Select "Dial number" and press the control-
ler.
Alternative: press the  button on the 
steering wheel.
For your phone number to  be displayed to the 
person you are calling, the display of phone 
numbers must be enabled by your service pro-
vider.
Via programmable memory buttons
You can store phone numbers on the program-
mable memory buttons to call them directly, 
refer to page 21.
Ending a call
Press the  button on the steering wheel.
Alternative:
1. Select the phone number and press the 
controller. 

 231
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Mobility
For mobile phones that  do not automatically 
switch over to the handsfree mode:
> Depending on the mobile phone model 
used, the conversation can be continued via 
the hands-free system  if necessary. Act 
according to what is  shown on the mobile 
phone display, refer to the operating 
instructions of your mobile phone.
> Press the  button above the storage 
compartment.
From handsfree sy stem to mobile 
phone
When you telephone via the handsfree system, 
you can also continue the call via the mobile 
phone if necessary, depending on the mobile 
phone model. Act accord ing to what is shown 
on the mobile phone display, refer to the oper-
ating instructions of your mobile phone.
As an alternative, you can deactivate the Blue-
tooth link.
Depending on your mob ile phone model, poor 
reception of the wireless communications net-
work can result in the system changing from the 
hands-free system to the mobile phone.
Operation by voice*
The concept
You can operate your mobile phone without 
having to remove your hands from the steering 
wheel. When making your entries, you will be 
supported by announceme nts or questions in 
many cases.
The same prerequisites as for operation via 
iDrive apply, refer to page 226.
Symbols in Owner's Manual Voice commands
Activating system
1.
Briefly press the   button on the steering 
wheel.
An acoustic signal indicates that you can 
say commands.
2. Say the command.
Ending/canceling operation by voice
Press the  button on the steering wheel
or
In dialogs where text is spoken, e.g. a name 
rather than a command, canceling is only possi-
ble using the button on the steering wheel.
Having possible co mmands read aloud
The system understands default commands 
that must be spoken word for word. 
You can have the possi ble commands spoken 
by the system at any point:
Using alternative commands
There are often a number of commands to run a 
function, e.g.: 
The system recognizes digits from zero to nine.
You can say each digit  individually or group 
them into a sequence to  accelerate the input.
{ ...}  Say the specified  commands word for 
word.
{{ ...}}  Indicates responses of the system.
{Cancel }.
{ Help }
{ Dial name } or  {Name }. 

Telephoning
232
Example: dialing phone numbers
To start the dialog:
Press the   button on the steering wheel.
Adjusting volume of instructions
You can adjust the volume for the instructions 
from the system:
Turn the knob during instructions.
This volume for the inst ructions is maintained, 
even if the other audio sources are set to mini-
mum volume.
The setting is stored fo r the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Calling
Dialing phone numbers
The connection to the desired subscriber is 
established.
Correcting phone number
After the last spoken sequence of digits has 
been repeated by the system, you can delete 
this sequence of digits. 
The command  {Correct number } can be 
repeated as often as you like.
Deleting phone number
All digits entered up to  this point are deleted.
Voice phone book
Operating by voice command requires a per-
sonal voice phone book.
>With separate drives  for audio CDs and nav-
igation DVDs, the entries are automatically 
applied from your mobile phone's memory.
> With a single drive, the entries must be 
entered by voice and are independent of 
your mobile phone's memo ry. In this case, it 
is not possible to use voice command either 
to call phone numbers stored in the mobile 
phone or to store new numbers. Up to 50 
entries can be input.  An entry always con-
sists of a name and phone number.
CommandThe voice control answers
{ Dial number }{{ Please say the number }}
e.g.  {123 456 7890 }Depending on equipment:
{{123 456 7890. Continue? }} or
{{ 123 456 7890. And next? }}
{ Dial }{ {Dialing number}}
1. {Dial number }.
2. Say the phone number.
For telephone calls abroad, say  {Plus } 
and then the country code.
3. {Dial }.
{Correct number }.
The digits are deleted.
{ Delete }.