
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8Instrument cluster 12
9 Buttons
* on the steering wheel
12 Ignition lock 50
14 Horn, the entire surface
15 Adjusting the steering wheel 4617
Buttons
* on the steering wheel
18 Releasing the hood 197
7
Turn signals 59
High beams, headlamp flasher 90
Roadside parking lamps
*90
Computer 65
Settings and information about the 
vehicle 68
Instrument lighting 90
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling through phone book and 
lists with stored phone numbers
Next entertainment source
Recirculated-air mode 97
10 Windshield wipers 60
Rain sensor
*60
11 Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine
50
13 Steering wheel heating
*47
16 Cruise control
*61
Telephone*:
> Press: accepting and ending a 
call, starting to dial
* selected 
phone number. Redialing if no 
phone number is selected
> Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice acti-
vation system
*23
19 Opening the luggage 
compartment lid
33 

At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in a 
variety of combinations and colors.
Some lamps are checked for proper functioning 
and thus come on briefly when the engine is 
started or the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the upper edge of the Control 
Display explain the meaning of the displayed 
indicator and warning lamps.
You can call up more information, e.g. on the 
cause of a malfunction and on how to respond, 
via Check Control, refer to page 73.
In urgent cases, this  information will be shown 
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps notify you that 
certain functions are active:
High beams/headlamp flasher 90
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC is regulating the propul-
sive forces in order  to maintain driving 
stability 78
Parking brake set 52
Canada: Parking brake set 52
Engine malfunction with adverse 
effect on exhaust emissions 203
Canada: Engine malfunction with 
adverse effect on exhaust 
emissions 203 

At a glance
 17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
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Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Buttons on the controller
Operating principle
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond, 
refer to page50, the following message is dis-
played on the Control Display:
To hide the message: 
Press the controller.
The main menu is displayed.
The message is automa tically hidden after 
approx. 10 seconds.
Opening the main menu
 Press the button.
The main menu is displayed. All iDrive functions can be called up via five 
menu items.
Selecting menu items
The menu items shown in white can be 
selected.
1.
Turn the controller until the desired menu 
item is highlighted.
2. Press the controller.
A new menu is displayed or the function is exe-
cuted.
ButtonFunction
MENU Open the main menu
RADIO Open the Radio menu
CD Open the CD/Entertainment Server menu
NAV Open the Navigation menu
TEL Open the Telephone menu
BACK Display the previous menu
OPTION Open the Options menu 

Opening and closing
28
Opening and closing
Remote control
Each remote control contains a rechargeable 
battery that is automatically recharged when it 
is in the ignition lock while the car is being 
driven. Use each remote  control at least twice a 
year for longer road trips  in order to maintain the 
batteries' charge status. In  cars with convenient 
access
*, the remote control contains a replace-
able battery, refer to page 36.
The settings called up and implemented when 
the car is unlocked depend on which remote 
control is used to unlock  the car, refer to Per-
sonal Profile, next column.
In addition, informatio n about service require-
ments is stored in the re mote control, refer to 
Service data in the remote control, page 202.
Integrated key
Press button 1 to release the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
> Glove compartment, refer to page 101
> Driver's door, refer to page 31
New remote controls
Your BMW center can supply new remote con-
trols with integrated keys as additional units or 
as replacements in the event of loss.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set many of yo ur BMW's functions to 
suit your personal needs and preferences. 
Without any action on your part, Personal Pro-
file ensures that most of these settings are 
stored for the remote control currently in use. 
When you unlock the ca r, the remote control 
used for the purpose is recognized and the set-
tings stored for it are called up and imple-
mented.
This means that your pe rsonal settings will be 
activated for you, even if in the meantime your 
car was used by someone else with another 
remote control and the  corresponding settings. 
The individual settings are stored for a maxi-
mum of four remote cont rols. They are stored 
for two remote controls if convenient access
* is 
in use.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer 
to the specified pages.
> Assignment of programmable memory 
keys, refer to page 21
> Response of the central locking system 
when the car is unlocked, refer to page 29
> Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to 
page 32
> Automatic call-up
* of the driver's seat posi-
tion after unlocking, refer to page 43
> Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page 59 

Opening and closing
34
Arming and disarming
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with 
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm 
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
You can open the lugga ge compartment lid 
using the   button of the remote control even 
if the alarm system is armed, refer to page 30. 
The lid is locked and monitored again as soon 
as it is closed.
Panic mode*
You can trigger the alar m system if you find 
yourself in a dangerous situation:
Press the   button for at least three seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Switching off an alarm
> Unlock the car with the remote control, refer 
to page 29.
> Insert the remote contro l all the way into the 
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
> The indicator lamp under the inside rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
> The indicator lamp flashes after locking: 
doors, hood or luggage compartment lid are 
not properly closed. Even if you do not close 
the alerted area, the sy stem begins to mon-
itor the remaining area s, and the indicator 
lamp flashes continuously after approx. 
10 seconds. The interior motion sensor and 
the tilt alarm sensor  are not activated. >
The indicator lamp goes  out after unlocking: 
your vehicle has not been disturbed while 
you were away.
> If the indicator lamp flashes after unlocking 
until the remote control is inserted in the 
ignition, but for no longer than approx. 
5 minutes: your vehicle has been disturbed 
while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm 
system reacts, e.g. to attempts to steal a wheel 
or tow the vehicle.
Interior motion sensor
The interior of the car  is monitored up to the 
height of the seat cushions. Thus the alarm sys-
tem is activated togeth er with the interior 
motion sensor even if the hardtop is open. The 
alarm can be triggered unintentionally by falling 
objects such as leaves, refer to Avoiding unin-
tentional alarms.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor 
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following 
situations:
> In duplex garages
> During transport on car-carrying trains, 
boats/ships or on a trailer
> When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and 
interior motion sensor
Press the   button on the remote control 
again as soon as the vehicle is locked.
The indicator lamp light s up briefly and then 
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and 
the interior motion sensor  are switched off until 
the next time the vehicle is unlocked and subse-
quently locked again. 

Controls
 35Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Convenient access*
Convenient access enables you to enter your 
vehicle without needing to hold the remote con-
trol in your hand. All you need to do is wear the 
remote control close to your body, e.g. in your 
jacket pocket. The vehicle detects the corre-
sponding remote control within the immediate 
vicinity or in the passenger compartment.
Convenient access supports the following 
functions:
> Unlocking/locking the vehicle
> Unlocking the luggage compartment lid 
separately
> Starting the engine
> Convenient closing
Functional requirement
>The vehicle or the luggage compartment lid 
can only be locked when the vehicle detects 
that the remote contro l currently in use is 
outside of the vehicle.
> The vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked 
again until after approx. 2 seconds.
> The engine can only be started when the 
vehicle detects that th e remote control cur-
rently in use is inside the vehicle.
Comparison to the standard remote 
control
In general, there is no difference between using 
convenient access or pressing the buttons on 
the remote control to  carry out the functions 
mentioned above. You should therefore first 
familiarize yourself with  the instructions on 
opening and closing starting on page 28.
Special features regarding the use of conve-
nient access are described below. If you notice a brief delay while opening or 
closing the windows or retractable hard-
top, the system is chec king whether a remote 
control is inside the vehi cle. Please repeat the 
opening or closing procedure, if necessary. <
Releasing
Pull the handle up, arrow 1. This corresponds to 
pressing the  button.
Locking
Press on the surface, arrow 2. This corre-
sponds to pressing the  button.
To preserve the ba ttery, please make 
sure that the ignition and all electrical 
consumers are switched off before locking the 
vehicle. <
Window and convertible top operation
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond, 
you can open and close the windows and the 
convertible top when a remote control is 
located inside the vehicle.
Unlocking the luggage compartment 
lid separately
Press the button on the  outside of the luggage 
compartment lid. This corresponds to pressing 
the button.
If the vehicle detects that a remote con-
trol has been accident ally left inside the 
locked vehicle's cargo bay after the luggage 
compartment lid is closed, the lid will reopen. 
The hazard warning flashers flash and an 
acoustic signal
* sounds. <
Switching on radio readiness
Radio readiness is switch ed on by pressing the 
start/stop button,  refer to page50.
Do not depress the br ake or the clutch, 
otherwise the engine will start. < 

Opening and closing
36
Starting the engine
You can start the engine or switch on the igni-
tion when a remote control is inside the vehicle. 
It is not necessary to insert a remote control into 
the ignition swit ch, refer to page 50.
Switching off the engine in cars with 
automatic transmission
The engine can only be switched off when the 
selector lever is in position P, refer to page 52.
To switch the engine off when the selector lever 
is in position N, the re mote control must be in 
the ignition switch.
Before driving a vehicle with automatic 
transmission in to a car wash
1.Insert the remote control into the ignition 
switch.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Move the selector lever to position N.
4. Switch off the engine.
The vehicle can roll.
Malfunction
Convenient access may  malfunction due to 
local radio waves. If this happens, open or close 
the vehicle via the buttons on the remote con-
trol or using the integr ated key. To start the 
engine afterward, insert the remote control into 
the ignition switch.
Warning lamps
The warning lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up when you attempt to 
start the engine: the engine cannot 
be started. The remote co ntrol is not inside the 
vehicle or is malfunctioning. Take the remote 
control with you inside the vehicle or have it 
checked. If necessary, insert another remote 
control into the ignition switch.
The warning lamp in the instrument 
cluster lights up while the engine is 
running: the remote control is no 
longer inside the vehicle. After the engine is 
switched off, the engine can only be restarted 
within approx. 10 seconds. The indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on and a message 
appears on the Control Display: 
replace the battery in the remote control.
Replacing the battery
The remote control for  convenient access con-
tains a battery that will ne ed to be replaced from 
time to time.
1. Take the integrated ke y out of the remote 
control, refer to page 28.
2. Remove the cover.
3. Insert the new battery wi th the plus side fac-
ing up.
4. Press the cover on to close.
Take the old battery  to a battery collec-
tion point or to your BMW center.<
Windows
To prevent injuries, watch the windows 
while closing them. 
Take the remote contro l with you when you 
leave the car, otherwise children could operate 
the electric windows and  possibly injure them-
selves. < 

Controls
 37Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Opening, closing
Individually
>Press the switch to the resistance point:
The window opens as long as you press the 
switch.
> Press the switch beyond the resistance 
point:
The window opens automatically. Press 
the switch again to stop the opening 
movement.
You can close the windows in the same manner 
by pulling the switch.
Jointly
> Press the switch to the resistance point:
All windows open as long as you press the 
switch.
> Press the switch beyond the resistance 
point:
All windows open automatically. Press 
the switch again to stop the opening 
movement.
You can close all windows in the same manner 
by pulling the switch.
After switching off the ignition
When the remote control is removed or the igni-
tion is switched off, you can still operate the 
windows for approx. 1 minute as long as no 
door is opened.
Convenient operation
For information on convenient operation via the 
remote control or the do or lock, refer to page29 
or 31 . For information on closing with conve-
nient access, refer to Locking on page 30.
Pinch protection system
If the closing force exceeds a specific value as a 
window closes, the closing action is interrupted 
and the window reopens slightly.
Despite the pinch protection system 
check and clear the window's travel path 
prior to closing it, othe rwise the safety system 
might fail to detect certain kinds of obstruc-
tions, such as thin objects, and the window 
would continue closing. 
Do not install any accessories that might inter-
fere with window movement. Otherwise the 
pinch protection system could be impaired. <
Closing without pinch protection
If there is an external danger, or if ice on the win-
dows, etc., prevents you from closing the win-
dows normally, proceed as follows:
1. Pull the switch past the resistance point and 
hold it there. Pinch pr otection is limited and 
the window reopens slig htly if the closing 
force exceeds a certain value.
2. Pull the switch again past the resistance 
point within approx. 4 seconds and hold it 
there. The window closes without pinch 
protection.