Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
161Reference
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
Entertainment
Driving tips
163Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
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
166
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
Lift up the center armrest.
Connection for audio playback:
TRS connector 1/8"/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"
Adjust 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*/
additional connection of
music player in mobile
phone*
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
player, USB flash drive, or mobile phones
that are supported by the USB audio inter-
face.
>Connection via snap-in adapter
*, refer to
page182; when equipped with an addi-
tional connection of the music player in the
mobile phone: Apple iPhone / mobile
phones. Playback is only possible if an
audio device/mobile phone is not con-
nected 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.
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
167Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
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.
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.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, 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. 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
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
External devices
168 >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.
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 sequence, 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.
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
169Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
>Do not use the audio interface to recharge
external devices.
175
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
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
Telephone
180 activation system supports you by making
announcements and asking questions.
>{...} Verbal instructions to use with the voice
activation system.
Requirements
The same prerequisites as for operation via
iDrive apply, refer to page175.
Voice commands
Activating voice activation 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
Briefly press the button on the steering
wheel orIn 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 commands read aloud
The system understands default commands
that must be spoken word for word.
You can have the possible commands for any
function read aloud to you:
The system recognizes digits from zero to nine.
You can say each digit individually or group
them into a sequence to accelerate the input.
Using alternative commands
Often there is more than a single command to
run a function, e.g.:
Example: Dialing phone numbers
To start the dialog:
Press the button on the steering wheel.
Setting volume of instructions
You can adjust the volume for the instructions
from the system:Turn the knob during instructions.
This volume for the instructions is maintained,
even if the other audio sources are set to mini-
mum volume.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use. {Cancel}.
{Help}.
{Dial name} or {Name}.
You sayThe voice control answers
{Dial number}{{Please say the number}}
For example {123 456 7890}Depending on equipment:
{{123 456 7890. Continue ?}}
{Dial}{{Dialing number}}