
CD/DVD player and CD changer
162 5."Random"
CDs/DVDs with compressed audio files: the 
directories and the tracks contained therein are 
played back in random sequence.
Random mode is switched off if the audio 
source is changed or the ignition is switched off.
Fast forward/reverse
Press and hold the   button for the corre-
sponding direction.
Automatic repeat*
Selected tracks, directories or CDs/DVDs are 
repeated automatically.
Video playback*
Country codes
Only DVDs with the code of the home region 
can be played back; also refer to the information 
on your DVD.
Start playback
For your own safety, the video image is only dis-
played up to approx. 2 mph/3 km/h, and in some 
national-market versions only with the parking 
brake applied.
DVD video
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
3.Select a DVD with video content.
4. "DVD menu"
5.Start the DVD via the DVD menu.
VCD/SVCD
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
3.Select a CD/DVD with video content.
4. "Select track"
5.Select the desired track.
The CD/DVD is started.
CodeRegion
1USA, Canada
2 Japan, Europe, Middle East, South 
Africa
3Southeast Asia
4 Australia, Central and South Amer-
ica, New Zealand
5 Northwest Asia, North Africa
6China
0All regions 

Navigation
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At a glance
Controls
Communications
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Video menu
To open the Video menu:
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Press the controller when "Back" is dis-
played.
The Video menu is displayed:
In fast forward/reverse: the speed increases 
every time the controller is pressed. To stop, 
start playback.
DVD menu
1.If necessary, turn the controller to open the 
video menu.
2. "DVD menu"
The DVD menu is displayed. The display 
depends on the contents of the DVD.
>To select menu items: move and press the 
controller.
>To change to the Video menu: turn the con-
troller and select "Back".
DVD/VCD settings
For some DVDs, settings can only be made via 
the DVD menu; refer also to the information on 
your DVD.
Language*
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Open "Options".3."Audio/language"
4.Select the desired language.
The languages that are available depend on the 
DVD.
Subtitles*
Subtitles can be selected if they are contained 
on the DVD.
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Open "Options".
3."Subtitles"
4.Select the desired language or "Do not dis-
play subtitles".
Brightness, contrast, color
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Open "Options".
3."Display settings"
SymbolFunction
Open the DVD menu
*
Start playback
Pause
Stop
Next chapter/next track
Previous chapter/previous 
track
Fast forward
Reverse 

Navigation
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Driving tips
 167Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Music collection
Storing music
Music tracks from CDs, DVDs and USB devices 
can be stored in the music collection in the vehi-
cle 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 disc.<
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, the 
logo typeface and the "powered by Gracenote" 
logo are trade marks of Gracenote.
Storing from CDs/DVDs
Data can only be stored from CDs/DVDs on the 
CD/DVD player.
1.Insert the 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 out of 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 as this will interrupt the storage process. 
You can switch to the other audio sources with-
out interrupting the storage process. Tracks 
from the current CD/DVD that have already 
been stored can also be called up.
Interrupting storage
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD" 

Navigation
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 169Reference
At a glance
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4.Select the desired category.
5.To select the desired entry:
>Open "A-Z search" and enter the 
desired entry.
or
>Select the desired entry from the list.
6.Select additional categories if desired.
The tracks found are listed in alphabetical 
order.
Not all categories 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.
7."Start play"
Restarting the music search
"New search"
Music search by voice*
For instructions on the voice activation system, 
refer to page22.
1.Press the   button on the steering wheel.
To select a track directly:
Say the voice command and the name of the 
desired track in one sentence.
Current playback
The list of tracks that was generated last by the 
music search or the album selected last.
1."Current playback"
2.Select the desired track, if necessary.
Top 50
List of the 50 most frequently played tracks.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3."Top 50"
4.Select the desired track, if necessary.
Albums
All stored albums, listed in order of their storage 
dates. Symbols indicate the format.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3.Select the desired album. 2.{Music search}
3.Open the desired category, e.g., 
{Select artist}.
4.Say the desired entry in the list.
5.Select additional categories if desired.
{Title …}
SymbolFormat
Audio CD
Compressed audio files 

External devices
172
External devices
AUX-IN port
You can connect an external audio device, e.g., 
an MP3 player, and play the sound via the vehi-
cle speakers. The sound can be adjusted via 
iDrive.
Connecting
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 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*
It is possible to connect external audio devices/
mobile phones. They can be operated on the 
iDrive. The sound is played back on the vehicle 
loudspeakers.
Connectors for external devices
Connection via USB audio interface: Apple 
iPod/iPhone, USB devices, e.g., MP3 players, 
USB flash drives or mobile phones that are sup-
ported by 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.
Ask about suitable audio devices/mobile 
phones at your BMW center.
Audio files
The system can play back common audio files, 
e.g., MP3, WMA, WAV (PCM) and AAC, as well 
as playback lists in the M3U format. 

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Connecting via the USB audio interface
Lift up the center armrest.
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.
USB device
To connect the device, use a flexible 
adapter cable to protect the USB inter-
face and your USB device against physical 
damage.<
Connect the USB device to the USB audio 
interface.
After connecting for the first time, the informa-
tion of all tracks (e.g., artist, music genre) and 
the playback lists of the USB device are trans-
ferred to the vehicle. This process can take 
some time. The time required is dependent on 
the USB device and on 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.
I f  a  f i f t h  U S B  d e v i c e  i s  c o n n e c t e d  o r  i f  m o r e  t h a n  
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, this will 
be displayed if possible.1."CD/Multimedia"
2."External devices"
3. Select the symbol. 
The name of the audio device may appear.
The playback starts with the first track. 
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
Track search
You can call up the tracks via the playback lists 
and information. With USB devices you can also 
call up the tracks via the file directory.
Selection is possible via:
>Playback lists
>Information: type of music, artist, album, 
track
>Additionally for USB devices: file directory, 
composer
Tracks are displayed if they have been saved in 
the Latin alphabet.
Starting a track search
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."External devices"
3. Select the symbol.
The name of the audio device may appear. 

External devices
174 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 back the tracks of the selected list 
in random order, e.g., all tracks of an 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 subject the audio device to 
extreme environmental conditions, e.g., 
extremely high temperatures, refer to the oper-
ating instructions of the audio device. Other-
wise, the audio device can be damaged and the 
resulting distraction can reduce road 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.
Connecting instructions
>The connected audio device is supplied 
with a current of max. 500 mA if this is sup-
ported by the device. Therefore, do not 
connect the device to the power socket in 
the vehicle.
>Do not force the plug into the USB interface.
>Do not connect devices such as fans or 
lamps to the USB audio interface.
>Do not connect USB hard discs.
>Do not use the USB audio interface to 
recharge external devices. 

 181
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Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
To temporarily deactivate the Bluetooth link 
between the vehicle and your mobile phone:
1."Telephone"
2.Open "Options".
3."Bluetooth"
Adjusting volume
Turn the knob during a call to select the desired 
volume.
This volume for the hands-free system is main-
tained, even if the other audio sources are set to 
minimum volume.
The setting is stored for 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
>Selecting stored phone numbers, e.g., from 
the list of received calls
>Ending a callWhen the ignition is switched off or in radio 
readiness, e.g., after taking the remote control 
out of the ignition switch, you can continue an 
ongoing call via the hands-free system for sev-
eral 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 preparation 
package mobile phone can compensate for 
these noises to a certain extent.  To optimize 
voice quality 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 vent outlets downward
>Reduce the volume of the hands-free sys-
tem.
Requirements
>The logon 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.
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.
Accepting a call
Press the   button on the steering wheel