
At a glance
 19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
4.Turn the controller until "Time:" is high-
lighted, and then press the controller.
5.Turn the controller to set the hours and 
press the controller.
6.Turn the controller to set the minutes and 
press the controller.
Status information
1Time
2Display for:
>Reception strength of the wireless 
network, depends on the mobile phone
>Incoming, outgoing or missed call
>SMS
* received
>Phone book
* loading
>Roaming
* active
3Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD/DVD, external devices
>Phone book
*:
Name of the mobile phone paired with 
the vehicle4Sound output is switched off or
 traffic bulletin display
*:
>"TI": 
Traffic bulletins are switched on.
>No display: 
Traffic bulletins are switched off.
Other displays: 
The status information is temporarily hidden 
when there are Check Control instructions or 
inputs via the voice activation system
*.
Switching the control display 
on/off
1.Press the OPTION button.
2."Switch off display"
Press the controller to switch on.
Split screen
Additional information can be displayed on the 
right side of the split screen, e.g., information 
from the computer.
In the divided screen view, the so-called split 
screen, this information remains visible even 
when you change to another menu.
Switching the split screen on and off
1.Press the OPTION button.
2."Split screen"
 The split screen is activated. 

iDrive
20
Selecting the display for the split 
screen content
When the split screen is switched on, you can 
select the content displayed on the screen.
1.Move the controller to the right repeatedly 
until the split screen content is selected.
2.Select the display.
Programmable memory 
buttons
Certain iDrive functions can be stored on the 
programmable memory keys and called up 
directly, e.g., radio stations, navigation destina-
tions, phone numbers and entry points into the 
menu.
Storing functions
1.Highlight the function via the iDrive.
2....  Press the desired button 
longer than 2 seconds.
Example for programmable memory 
keys
Switch the voice instructions for the navigation 
on/off.
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
3. Select the   symbol using the controller.
4....  Press the desired button 
longer than 2 seconds.
Executing a function
 ...   Press the button.The function is executed immediately. This 
means, for example, that the number is dialed 
when a phone number is selected.
Displaying button assignment
Touch the button with a finger. Do not wear 
gloves or use objects.
Displaying short info
 ...   Touch the button.
The key assignment is displayed at the top 
edge of the screen.
Displaying detailed information
 ...   Touch the button longer. 

At a glance
 21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Letters and numbers
Entering letters and numbers
1.Turn the controller: select the letters or 
numbers.
2.Select additional letters or numbers if 
needed.
3."OK": confirm the entry.
Switching between letters and 
numbers
Depending on the menu, you can switch 
between entering letters and numbers:
Wordmatch concept during navigation
Entry of names and addresses: the selection is 
narrowed down every time a letter is entered 
and letters may be added automatically.
Destination search: the entries are continuously 
compared to the data stored in the vehicle.
>The only letters offered for entering 
addresses are those for which data are 
available.
Town/city names can be entered with the spell-
ing used in any of the languages available on the 
Control Display.
SymbolFunction
Press the controller: delete one letter 
or number
Press the controller for an extended 
period: delete all letters or numbers
Enter a blank space
SymbolFunction
Entering letters
Entering numbers 

At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
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Entertainment
Mobility
Calling up functions immediately via 
short commands
Short commands enable you to perform certain 
functions immediately, irrespective of which 
menu item is selected, refer to page243.
Example: selecting the track of a CD
1.Switch on entertainment sound output if 
necessary.
2.Press the   button on the steering wheel.
Setting the voice dialog
You can set whether the system should use the 
standard dialog or a shorter variant. In the 
shorter variant of the voice dialog, the prompts 
and responses from the system are abbrevi-
ated.
1."Settings"
2."Language/Units"
3."Speech mode:"
4.Select a setting:
>"Default"
>"Short"
Notes
To operate the phone by voice, refer also 
to page185.<
For voice commands, bear in mind the follow-
ing:>Do not use the voice activation system to 
initiate an Emergency Request. In stressful 
situations, the voice and vocal pitch can 
change. This can unnecessarily delay the 
establishment of a telephone connection.
>Say the commands and numbers smoothly 
and at normal volume, avoiding excessive 
emphasis and pauses. This also applies 
when spelling out and saying a full word 
during destination entry.
>When selecting a radio station, use the 
common pronunciation of the station name.
>For entries in the voice-activated phone 
book, only use names in the language of the 
voice activation system and no abbrevia-
tions.
>Keep the doors, windows and glass sun-
roof
* or panorama glass sunroof* closed to 
prevent interference from ambient noise.
>Avoid making other noise in the vehicle 
while speaking. 3.Select the music track, for instance: 
{CD track 4}
System says: 
{{Track 4}} 

Controls
 27Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
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Navigation
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Mobility
sonal Profile ensures that most of these set-
tings are stored for the remote control currently 
in use without you having to do anything. When 
the vehicle is unlocked, the corresponding 
remote control is detected and the settings 
stored for it are called up and carried out.
This means that you will always find your BMW 
set to your own personal settings even if 
another person with his/her own remote control 
and settings has used the vehicle since the last 
time you drove it. The individual settings are 
stored for a maximum of four remote controls, 
for two with Comfort Access
*.
Personal Profile settings
Details on the settings are provided on the 
specified pages.
>Behavior of the central locking system 
when unlocking vehicle, refer to page28
>Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to 
page30
>Displays on Control Display:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page83
>Measuring units for consumption, route/
distances, temperature, and pressure, 
refer to page76
>12h/24h clock format, refer to page79
>Date format, refer to page79
>Language on Control Display, refer to 
page82
>Lighting settings:
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page63
>Welcome lamps, refer to page100
>Pathway lighting, refer to page101
>Daytime running lamps
*, refer to 
page101
>High-beam Assistant
*, refer to 
page102
>PDC Park Distance Control
*: optical warn-
ing, refer to page84
>Head-up Display
*: selection and brightness 
of display, refer to page96>BMW Night Vision
*: display settings, refer 
to page98
>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 page106
>Navigation system
*: voice instructions for 
destination guidance, refer to page143
In addition, the following, most recently 
selected settings are recalled during unlocking:
>Programmable memory buttons: selecting 
stored functions, refer to page20
>Positions of driver's seat, outside mirrors, 
and steering wheel
*, refer to page45
>Audio sources: volume and tone settings, 
refer to page152
>Radio:
>Display of stored stations, refer to 
page157
>Switching RDS Radio Data System on/
off
*, refer to page156
>Phone: volume setting, refer to page181
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
>Luggage compartment lid or tailgate and 
rear window
>Fuel filler flap
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Using door lock
>With Comfort Access
* via the door handles 

Controls
 29Reference
At a glance
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Mobility
Sedan: opening luggage 
compartment lid
Press the   button for approx. 1 second.
The luggage compartment lid opens, regard-
less of whether it was previously locked or 
unlocked.
During opening, the luggage compart-
ment lid pivots back and up. Make sure 
that adequate clearance is available before 
opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo bay. A 
previously locked luggage compartment lid is 
also locked again after closing.<
Sports Wagon: unlocking tailgate
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The tailgate will open slightly, regardless of 
whether it was previously locked or unlocked.
During opening, the tailgate pivots back 
and up. Make sure that adequate clear-
ance is available before opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo bay. A 
previously locked tailgate is also locked again 
after closing. 
When opening the tailgate, the luggage com-
partment roller cover is raised.<
If pointed or sharp-edged objects could 
strike the rear window while driving, be 
sure to provide protection around all edges. 
Failure to do so could result in damage to the 
heating conductors of the rear window.<
Confirmation signals
You can activate or deactivate the confirmation 
signals.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"3."Flash when lock/unlock"
4.Press the controller.
 Flashing when locking/unlocking the vehi-
cle is switched on.
Malfunction
The remote control may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. Should the remote control fail 
to operate due to interference of this kind, 
unlock and lock the vehicle via the door lock 
using a key.
If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle 
using the remote control, then the battery is 
discharged. Use this remote control during an 
extended drive; this will recharge the battery, 
refer to page26.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with 
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communication 
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8766S 
LX8766E 
LX8CAS
LX8CAS2
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC 
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful inter-
ference, and
>this device must accept any interference 
received, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation. 

Controls
 31Reference
At a glance
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Mobility
then pull the door handle above the armrest 
or
>pull on the door handle of each door twice: 
the first time unlocks the door, the second 
time opens it.
Locking
>Use the central locking button to lock all of 
the doors simultaneously, or
>press down the lock button of a door. 
To prevent you from being locked out, the 
open driver's door cannot be locked using 
the lock button.
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.<
Doors
Automatic soft closing*
To close the doors, merely push them gently. 
The closing process will then be carried out 
automatically.
Make sure that the closing path of the 
doors is clear; otherwise injuries may 
result.<
Luggage compartment lid/
tailgate
During opening, the luggage compart-
ment lid/tailgate pivots back and up. Make 
sure that adequate clearance is available before 
opening.<
Sedan
Opening from inside
Press button1 or button2*: the luggage com-
partment lid opens unless it has been locked.
Opening from outside
Press the button on the luggage compartment 
lid or the   button on the remote control for 
approx. 1 second: the luggage compartment lid 
opens.
All keys, refer to page26, fit the luggage-com-
partment lid lock.
Locking separately
Turn a key in the lock of the luggage compart-
ment lid to the right past a resistance point and 
remove it in the horizontal position. 

Controls
 33Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Make sure that the closing area of the lug-
gage compartment roller cover is clear of 
obstructions, otherwise the payload or the lug-
gage compartment roller cover may be dam-
aged.<
Details on the luggage compartment roller 
cover are provided on page117.
Sports Wagon: tailgate
Opening from inside
Press button1 or button2*: the tailgate opens 
unless it has been locked.
Opening from outside
Press the button on the tailgate or the   but-
ton on the remote control for approx. 1 second: 
The tailgate opens somewhat. It can be swung 
upward.When opening the tailgate, the luggage 
compartment roller cover is raised. 
Before closing the tailgate, press down the lug-
gage compartment roller cover until it 
engages.<
Opening manually
In case of an electrical malfunction:
1.From the cargo bay, press out the cover1 
on the tailgate with a screwdriver.
2.Press the locking bar2 in the direction of 
the arrow.
3.Open the tailgate and press in the cover 
again.
The tailgate is locked again as soon as it is 
closed.
Closing
Make sure that the closing path of the tail-
gate is clear, otherwise injuries may 
result.<