Page 12 of 286
Cockpit
10
Cockpit
Around the steering wheel: controls and displays
3Folding exterior mirrors in and out*48
4Adjusting exterior mirrors, automatic curb 
monitor
*48
1Safety switch for electric rear 
windows37 
2
Opening and closing windows36 5
Parking lamps97
Low beams97
Automatic headlamp control
*97
Adaptive light control
*98
High-beam assistant
*99
6
Fog lamps100 
     
        
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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.
Several of the lamps are checked for proper 
functioning and light up temporarily when the 
engine is started or the ignition is switched on.
Text messages
Text messages at the top edge of the Control 
Display describe the meanings of the indicator 
and warning lamps.
Supplementary text messages
You can call up more information on the Control 
Display, e.g. on the cause of a malfunction and 
on how to respond, via Check Control, refer to 
page80.
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 flasher99
Fog lamps100
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC is regulating the propul-
sive forces in order to maintain driving 
stability86
parking brake applied57
Canada: parking brake applied57
engine malfunction with adverse effect 
on emissions232
Canada: engine malfunction with 
adverse effect on emissions232 
     
        
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At a glance
 17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Buttons on the controller
Operating principle
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond, 
refer to page55, 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 automatically hidden after 
approx. 10 seconds.
Opening the main menu
Press the MENUbutton.
The main menu is displayed.All iDrive functions can be called up via the main 
menu.
Selecting a menu item
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.
Menu items in the Owner's Manual
In the Owner's Manual, menu items that can 
be selected are set in quotation marks, 
e.g. "Settings".
ButtonFunction
MENU Open the main menu
RADIO Open the Radio menu
CD Open the CD/Multimedia menu
NAV Open the Navigation menu
TEL Open the Telephone menu
BACK Display the previous menu
OPTION Open the Options menu 
     
        
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iDrive
18
Changing between panels
After selecting a menu item, e.g. "Radio", a new 
menu is displayed on a panel. The panels can 
overlap.
Move the controller to the left or right to change 
between the panels.
White arrows pointing to the left or right indi-
cate that additional panels can be opened.
Open the Options menu
Press the OPTIONbutton.
The "Options" menu is displayed.
Another possibility: move the controller to the 
right repeatedly until the "Options" menu 
appears.
The "Options" menu contains the following:
>Screen settings, refer to page19.
>Control options for the selected menu.
Adjusting settings
1.Select a field.
2.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is displayed.
3.Press the controller to confirm the setting.
The scroll bar on the right side indicates 
whether additional menu items or set-
tings can be selected that are currently not vis-
ible.<
Example: setting the clock
1.Press the MENUbutton.
The main menu is displayed.
2.Turn the controller until "Settings" is high-
lighted, and then press the controller.
3.Turn the controller until "Time/Date" is 
highlighted, and then press the controller. 
     
        
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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
3Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD/DVD, external devices
>Telephone
*:
Name of the mobile phone paired with 
the vehicle4Sound output is switched off or
display for traffic bulletins
*:
>"TI": 
Traffic bulletins are switched on.
>No display: 
Traffic bulletins are switched off.
Other displays:
Status information is temporarily hidden during 
Check Control message displays or entries via 
the voice activation system
*.
Switching the Control Display 
off/on
1.Press the OPTIONbutton.
2."Switch off control display"
Press the controller to switch on.
Professional navigation system: split 
screen
Additional information, e.g. from the computer, 
can be displayed on the right side of the split 
screen.
On the split screen, this information remains 
visible even when you change to another menu.
Switching the split screen on and off
1.Press the OPTIONbutton.
2."Split screen"
 The split screen is activated. 
     
        
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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 keys
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 key for 
longer than two 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 key for 
longer than two 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 memory key assignments
Touch the button with a finger. Do not wear 
gloves or use objects.
Displaying brief information
 ...   Touch the button.
The key assignment is displayed at the top 
edge of the screen.
Displaying detailed information
 ...   Touch the button for an 
extended period. 
     
        
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Controls
 27Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play and in the instrument cluster:
>12h/24h format of the clock, refer to 
page79
>Date format, refer to page80
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page83
>Language on the Control Display, refer 
to page83
>Units of measure, refer to page76
>Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC
*, refer to page84
>Light settings:
>Welcome lamps, refer to page97
>Pathway lighting, refer to page98
>Daytime running lights, refer to page98
>High-beam assistant, refer to page99
>Automatic climate control: activating/deac-
tivating AUTO program, cooling function 
and automatic recirculated-air control, set-
ting temperature, air volume and distribu-
tion, refer to page103 ff
>Entertainment:
>Tone control, refer to page150
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer 
to page152
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
>Trunk lid/tailgate
>Fuel filler flap
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
*
>In cars with Comfort Access*, via the 
handles on the driver's and front passenger 
doors
In addition, if the remote control is used, the 
interior lamps and the door's courtesy lamps
* 
are also switched on or off. The alarm system* 
is also armed or disarmed.
For further details of the alarm system,
 refer to 
page33.
Operating from inside
By means of the button for central locking, 
refer to page30.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, 
the central locking system unlocks automati-
cally. In addition, the hazard warning flashers 
and interior lamps come on.
Opening and closing:
Using the remote control
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle 
could lock the doors from the inside. You 
should therefore take the remote control with 
you when you leave the vehicle so that the latter 
can be opened from outside.<
Unlocking
Press the  button.
The interior lamps, the courtesy lamps
* and the 
welcome lamps come on. 
     
        
        Page 33 of 286

Controls
 31Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Trunk lid/tailgate
In order to avoid damage, make sure there 
is sufficient clearance before opening the 
trunk lid/tailgate.<
Opening from inside
Press the button: the trunk lid/tailgate opens 
unless it has been locked.
Opening from outside
Sedan
Press the button, see arrow, or the  button 
on the remote control for a longer period. The 
trunk lid will open slightly. It can now be swung 
upwards.
In the event of a malfunction, please con-
tact your BMW center or a workshop that 
works according to BMW repair procedures 
with correspondingly trained personnel.<
Sports Wagon
Press the button, see arrow, or the  button 
on the remote control for a longer period. The 
tailgate will open slightly. It can now be swung 
upwards.
When the button on the roller cover is 
pressed, refer to page115, the roller 
cover is raised. Before closing the tailgate, 
press the roller cover downward until it 
engages.<