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Mobility
USB interface for data transmission
Port for importing and exporting data on USB
devices, e.g. music collections, refer to
page168.
Observe the following when connecting:
>Do not use force when plugging the con-
nector into the USB audio interface.
>Do not connect devices such as fans or
lamps to the USB audio interface.
>Do not connect USB hard drives.
>Do not use the USB interface to recharge
external devices.
Center armrest
Storage compartment
The center armrest between the front seats
contains either a compartment or the cover for
the snap-in adapter
*, depending on the equip-
ment version.
Opening
Press the button, see arrow.
Settings*
Slide the center armrest on the driver's side into
the desired position.
Connection for external audio device
You can connect an external audio device such
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks
over the car's loudspeaker system:
>AUX-IN port, refer to page169
>USB audio interface
*/additional connection
of the music player in the mobile phone
*,
refer to page169
Storage compartments inside
the vehicle
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you
will find compartments beside the steering col-
umn
*, in the front doors and in the center con-
sole
*.
There are nets
* on the front-seat backrests.
Storage compartments in the rear
console
Depending on your vehicle's equipment ver-
sion, the following storage compartments can
be found in the rear console:
Music collection
164
Music collection
Storing music
The music tracks from CDs, DVDs and USB
devices can be stored in the music collection in
the vehicle and played from there.
>Audio CD: tracks are converted into a com-
pressed audio format when they are stored.
If available, information on the album, such
as the artist, is stored as well.
>CD/DVD or USB device with compressed
audio files: the entire content of the CD/
DVD or the USB device is stored in the vehi-
cle as an album. After storing, the tracks and
directories can be deleted individually. Files
are only stored in the WMA, MP3, and AAC
formats.
Tracks with DRM copy protection can be
stored in the vehicle but cannot be played
back.
Regularly back up the music data; other-
wise, it could be lost if there is a fault on
the hard drive.<
Music recognition technology and
related data are provided by
Gracenote®. Gracenote® is the industry stan-
dard in music recognition technology and
related content delivery. For more information,
please visit www.gracenote.com.
CD and music-related data from Gracenote,
Inc., copyright © 2000-2009 Gracenote.
Gracenote Software, copyright © 2000-2009
Gracenote. This product and service may prac-
tice one or more of the following U.S. Patents:
#5,987,525; #6,061,680; #6,154,773;
#6,161,132; #6,230,192; #6,230,207;
#6,240,459; #6,330,593; and other patents
issued or pending. Some services supplied
under license from Open Globe, Inc. for U.S.
Patent: #6,304,523.
Gracenote and CDDB are registered trade-
marks of Gracenote. The Gracenote logo and
logotype, and the "Powered by Gracenote"
logo are trademarks of Gracenote.
Storing files from CDs/DVDs
CDs / DVDs can only be stored from the CD/
DVD player.
1.Insert a CD/DVD into the CD/DVD player.
2."CD/Multimedia"
3."CD/DVD"
4. Select the symbol for the CD/DVD
player.
5."Store in vehicle"
The music collection is displayed.
The tracks are stored and played back in
sequence from the music collection.
Observe the following during the storage pro-
cess:
Do not switch back to the CD/DVD player and
do not remove the CD/DVD from the CD/DVD
player; otherwise, the storage process will be
interrupted.
You can switch to the other audio sources with-
out interrupting the storage process. Tracks
from the current CD/DVD can also be called up,
if they have been stored already.
Interrupting storage
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
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3."Storing..."
4."Cancel storing"
The storage process is interrupted and can be
continued at any time.
Continuing the storage process
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
3. Select the symbol for the CD/DVD
player.
4."Continue storing"
Storage of the CD continues at the beginning of
the track at which storage was interrupted.
Album information
During storage, information such as the name
of the artist is stored with the track, if this infor-
mation is available in the vehicle database or on
the CD.
To update the database, contact your service
center.
Storing from a USB device
To store music, a suitable device must be con-
nected to the USB interface in the glove com-
partment.
>Suitable devices: USB mass storage
devices, such as USB flash drives or MP3
players with a USB interface.
>Unsuitable devices: USB hard drive, USB
hubs, USB memory card readers with multi-
ple inserts, Apple iPod/iPhone.
Music from a USB device can be stored
only via the USB interface in the glove
compartment.<1.Connect the USB device to the USB inter-
face in the glove compartment.
2."CD/Multimedia"
3."Music collection"
4.Open "Options".
5."Music data import/export"
6."Import music (USB)"
Playing music
Music search
All tracks for which additional information has
been stored can be accessed by the music
search. Tracks without additional information
can be called up via the corresponding album.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3."Music search"
Music collection
168
Music collection
Backing up the music collection
The entire music collection can be stored on a
USB medium. Make sure there is enough free
memory capacity on the USB device.
Depending on the number of tracks, backing up
the music collection may take several hours.
Therefore, it is best to perform the backup dur-
ing a long trip.
1.Start the engine.
2.Connect the USB device to the USB inter-
face in the glove compartment.
3."CD/Multimedia"
4."Music collection"
5.Open "Options".
6."Music data import/export"
7."Backup music on USB"
Restoring the music collection in the
vehicle
When storing from the USB device, the
music collection existing in the vehicle is
replaced.<
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"3.Open "Options".
4."Music data import/export"
5."Restore music from USB"
Deleting the music collection
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3.Open "Options".
4."Delete music collection"
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External devices
AUX-IN port
You can connect an external audio device, for
instance an MP3 player, and play audio tracks
over the car's loudspeaker system. You can
adjust the tone using iDrive.
Connecting
Lift up the center armrest.
Connection for audio playback:
TRS connector 1/8 in/3.5 mm
To play audio tracks over the car's loudspeaker
system, connect the headset or line-out port of
the external device to the AUX-IN port.
Starting audio playback
Connect the audio device, switch it on and
select a track. Operate the system on the audio
device.
Via iDrive
1."CD/Multimedia"
2.If applicable, "External devices"
3. "AUX front"
Adjusting the volume
The volume of the sound output depends on
the audio device. If this volume differs markedly
from the volume of the other audio sources, it is
advisable to adjust the volumes.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2.If applicable, "External devices"3. "AUX front"
4."Volume"
5.To adjust: turn the controller.
6.To store: press the controller.
USB audio interface*/
extended connectivity of the
music player in the mobile
phone*
It is possible to connect external audio devices/
mobile phones. They can be operated via iDrive.
Sound is output on the vehicle loudspeakers.
Options for connecting external
devices
>Connection via USB audio interface: Apple
iPod / iPhone, USB devices, e. g. MP3
player, USB flash drive, or mobile phones
that are supported by the USB audio inter-
face.
>Connection via snap-in adapter
*, refer to
page186, when equipped with additional
connection of music player in the mobile
phone: Apple iPhone / mobile phones. Play-
back is possible only if no audio device/
mobile phone is connected to the USB
audio interface.
Due to the large number of different audio
devices/mobile phones available on the market,
it cannot be ensured that every audio device/
mobile phone is operable on the vehicle.
External devices
170 Ask about suitable audio devices/mobile
phones at your BMW center.
Audio files
Standard audio formats, e.g. MP3, WMA, WAV
(PCM) and AAC, and playlists in the M3U format
can be played.
Connecting via USB audio interface
Lift up the center armrest.
1AUX-IN port for audio playback:
TRS connector 1/8 in/3.5 mm
2USB interface
Apple iPod/iPhone
To connect the device, use the special cable
adapter for the Apple iPod/iPhone, available
from your BMW center. The cable adapter is
required for a flawless connection.
Connect the Apple iPod/iPhone with the AUX-
IN port and USB interface1 using the cable
adapter for the Apple iPod/iPhone.
The Apple iPod/iPhone menu structure is sup-
ported by the USB audio interface.
USB device
When connecting the device use a flexi-
ble adapter cable, to protect the USB
interface and your USB device against physical
damage.<
Connect the USB device to connector 2, using
a flexible adapter cable.
After the device is connected for the first time,
the information on all tracks (e.g. artist, type of
music) and the playlists are transferred from the
USB device to the vehicle. This procedure may take some time. The duration depends on the
USB device and the number of tracks.
During transmission, the tracks can be called up
via the file directory.
Information from up to four USB devices can be
stored in the vehicle, or a total of about
16,000 tracks.
If a fifth USB device is connected or if more than
16,000 tracks are stored, information on exist-
ing tracks may be deleted.
Music tracks with integrated Digital
Rights Management (DRM) cannot be
played.<
Starting audio playback
If the audio device has a device name, the name
is displayed.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."External devices"
3. Select the symbol.
The name of the audio device may appear.
Playback begins with the first track. When an
Apple iPhone is connected via the snap-in
adapter and an audio device is connected to the
AUX-IN port at the same time, the audio signal
of the AUX-IN port is played.
Information about the track
If information about a track has been stored, it is
displayed automatically:
>Artist
>Album title
>Number of tracks
>Track file name
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Track search
You can call up the tracks using the playlists
and information. With USB devices you can also
call up tracks using the file directory.
Selection is possible via:
>Playback lists
>Information: type of music, artist, album,
title
>Additionally for USB devices: file directory,
composer
Track titles are displayed if they have been
stored in the Latin alphabet.
Starting the track search
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."External devices"
3. Select the symbol.
The name of the audio device may appear.
4.Select the desired category, "Genre", "Art-
ist".
All entries are displayed in a list. The "A-Z
search" can be used to find specific entries.
>Open "A-Z search" and enter the
desired entry.
>Select the desired entry from the list.
5.Select additional categories if desired.
The tracks found are listed. Not all catego-
ries need to be selected. For example, to
search for all tracks by a certain artist, call
up that artist only. All of the tracks by that
artist are then displayed.
6."Start play"
Restarting a track search
"New search"
Playback lists
To open playback lists.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."External devices"
3.Select the symbol.
4."Playlists"
Current playback
List of tracks currently being played.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."External devices"
3.Select the symbol.
4."Current playback"
Random play sequence
You can play the tracks in the selected list in
random order, e.g. all tracks of a single artist.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."External devices"
3.Open "Options".
4."Random"
Fast forward/reverse
Press and hold the button for the corre-
sponding direction.
Notes
Do not expose the audio device to
extreme environmental conditions, e.g.
very high temperatures, refer to the operating
instructions of the audio device. Otherwise, the
audio device may become damaged, which
could compromise safety while driving.<
Depending on the configuration of the audio
files, e.g. bit rates greater than 256 KBit/s, the
files may not play back correctly in every case.
Notes on connecting
>The connected audio device is supplied
with a maximum current of 500 mA, if the
External devices
172 device supports this. Therefore, do not con-
nect the device to the power socket in the
vehicle.
>Do not forcibly connect the plug to the USB
interface.
>Do not connect devices such as fans or
lamps to the USB audio interface.
>Do not connect USB hard drives.
>Do not use the USB audio interface to
charge external devices.