2011 BMW 550I arm rest

Close the glove compartment again im‐
mediately
Close
the glove compartment immediately after
use while driving; otherwise, injury may occur
during accidents.◀
Closing
Fold up the cover.
Center armrest
Front
A storage compartment is located in the center
armrest between the front seats.
Opening Press the button.
Locking the storage compartment
The storage compartment in the armrest can be
locked with an integrated key to separately se‐
cure

the trunk lid, refer to page 37, for example.
After the storage compartment is locked, the re‐
mote control can be handed out without the
integrated key, refer to page 28, for instance at
a hotel. This prevents access to the storage compart‐
ment and to the cargo area.
Connection for an external audio
device
This can be used to connect an external audio
device, such as a CD or MP3 player.
▷
AUX-IN port, refer to page 192.
▷ USB audio interface*, refer to page 193.
Rear
The
center armrest contains a storage compart‐
ment.
Folding down Pull on the opener and fold the armrest forward.
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Opening
Pull on the handle and fold open the cover.
Cupholders
Notes
Shatter-proof containers and no hot
drinks
Use light and shatter-proof containers and do
not
transport hot drinks. Otherwise, there is the
increased danger of injury in an accident.◀
Unsuitable containers
Do not forcefully push unsuitable contain‐
ers into the cupholders. This may result in dam‐
age.◀
Front: manual transmission
On the center console To open: press the button.
The insert folds out.
To

use as a storage compartment, fold the insert
back in. In the center armrest*
Fold the cupholder down.
Before closing the center armrest, fold the cu‐
pholder back up. Push the lever in the direction
of the arrow to do this.
Front: automatic transmission

* To open: press on the cover.
Rear
In the front center armrest.
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Storage compartments

The cupholder can be adjusted for three differ‐
ent container sizes.
To open: press the button.
To
reduce in size: fold closed to the desired po‐
sition.
To close: fold all the way closed. The cupholder
must be closed before it can be opened fully.
Remote control storage
compartment*
Opening Press on the cover. Remote control storage compartment Storage is possible in a vertical position in the
center armrest.
Clothes hooks
The clothes hooks are located next to the grab
handles in the rear and on the door pillar in the
rear.
Do not obstruct view
When suspending clothing from the
hooks,

ensure that it will not obstruct the driver's
vision.◀
No heavy objects
Do not hang heavy objects from the hooks;
otherwise, they may present a danger to pas‐
sengers during braking and evasive maneu‐
vers.◀
Storage compartments in the
cargo area
Net*
Smaller objects can be stored in the net on the
side of the cargo area.
To transport larger objects, it can be pushed
down.
Multi-function hook*
A multi-function hook is available on the left
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Controls At a glance

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/DVD continues at the begin‐
ning of the track at which storage was inter‐
rupted.
Album information
During
storage, information such as the name of
the artist is stored with the track, if this informa‐
tion 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 devi‐
ces,

such as USB flash drives or MP3 players
with a USB interface.
▷ Unsuitable devices: USB hard drives, USB
hubs, USB memory card readers with mul‐
tiple

inserts, Apple iPod/iPhone. Music from
the Apple iPod/iPhone can be played via the
USB audio interface in the center armrest. 1.
Connect the USB device to the USB inter‐
face in the glove compartment, refer to
page 138.
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,
refer to page
190.
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "Music collection"
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Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

Connecting
The AUX-IN port is in the center armrest.
Connect the headphones or line-out connector
of the device to the jack plug.
Playback
1.
Connect the audio device, switch it on and
select a track on the audio device.
2. "CD/Multimedia"
3. If necessary "External devices".
4. "AUX front"
Volume
The volume of the sound output is dependent
on the audio device. If this volume differs mark‐
edly
from the volume of the other audio sources,
it is advisable to adjust the volumes.
Adjusting the volume
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. If necessary "External devices".
3. "AUX front"
4. "Volume" 5.
Turn the controller until the desired volume
is set and press the controller. USB audio interface*/mobile phone
audio interface

*
At a glance
It is possible to connect external audio devices.
They can be operated via iDrive. The sound is
output on the vehicle loudspeakers.
Connectors for external devices
▷ Connection via USB audio interface: Apple
iPod/iPhone, USB devices, e.g., MP3 play‐
ers,

USB flash drives, or mobile phones that
are supported by the USB audio interface.
▷ Connection via snap-in adapter when equip‐
ped

with extended connectivity of the music
player in the mobile phone: Apple iPhone or
mobile phones.
Due to the large number of different audio devi‐
ces
available on the market, it cannot be ensured
that every audio device/mobile phone is opera‐
ble on the vehicle.
Ask your service center about suitable audio de‐
vices/mobile phones.
Audio files
Standard audio files can be played back:
▷ MP3.
▷ WMA.
▷ WAV (PCM).
▷ AAC*, M4A*.
▷ Playback lists: M3U, WPL, PLS.
Connection of Apple iPod/iPhone via
USB audio interface The USB audio interface is in the center armrest.
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Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

Connect using a flexible adapter cable.
Connect the Apple iPod/iPhone
to the USB interface.
The Apple iPod/iPhone menu
structure is supported by the
USB audio interface.
Connection of a USB device via the
USB audio interface The USB audio interface is in the center armrest.
Connect
using a flexible adapter cable to protect
the USB audio interface and the USB device
against physical damage.
Connect the USB device to the
USB interface.
After connecting for the first time
Information on all music tracks, e.g. artist or type
of music, as well as playback lists are transmit‐
ted into the vehicle. This may take some time,
depending on the USB device and the number
of tracks.
During transmission, the tracks can be called up
via the file directory.
Number of tracks
Information from up to four USB devices or for
approx. 36,000 tracks can be stored in the ve‐
hicle. If a fifth device is connected or if more than
36,000 tracks are stored, information on exist‐
ing music tracks may be deleted. Copy protection
Music

tracks with integrated Digital Rights Man‐
agement (DRM) cannot be played.
Playback
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "External devices"
3. Select the or symbol.
The playback starts with the first track.
On

the split screen*, the CD cover for the music
track might be displayed after a few seconds.
Track search
Selection is possible via:
▷ Playback lists.
▷ Information: type of music, artist, and, if
available, composer, album, track.
▷ In addition, for USB devices: file directory
and, if available, composer.
Tracks are displayed if they have been saved in
the Latin alphabet.
Starting the track search
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "External devices"
3. Select the or symbol.
4. "Search"
5. Select the desired category, e.g., "Genre"
or
"Artist".
All entries are displayed in a list.
▷ Open "A-Z search" and input the de‐
sired

entry. When a letter is entered, the
results are filtered using this letter as the
first letter. If multiple letters are entered,
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CD/multimedia

▷
Adjust the volume settings on the device.
Playback is disturbed when buttons are pressed
or by other messages on the device.
▷ Switch off the button tones and other signal
tones on the device.
Playback is interrupted by a telephone call or
traffic bulletin and is not resumed automatically.
▷ Switch the radio off and on again.
Playback is not possible if the mobile phone is
connected
both via Bluetooth Audio and via the
extended connectivity of the music player in the
mobile phone*.
▷ Disconnect one of the two connections; for
example, disconnect the audio connection,
refer to page 198, and restart playback.
If all points in this list have been checked and the
required function is still not available, please
contact the hotline or service center.
Software Update*
The vehicle supports various external devices
depending

on the current software version. With
a software update, the vehicle can support new
cell phones* or new external devices*.
The updating of the software is done via:
▷ USB*.
Updates and related current information is
available at www.bmw.com/update.
▷ TeleService*.
Existing

software can be updated directly via
the vehicle.
Displaying the current version
The currently installed software is displayed.
1. "Settings"
2. "Software update"
3. "Show current version"
SelectDesired version* to displayAdditional in‐
formation*.
Updating software via USB

*
The software may only be updated when the ve‐
hicle is stationary. 1.
Store the file for the software-update in the
main director of a USB flash drive.
2. Insert the USB flash drive into the USB in‐
terface of the USB audio interface in the
center armrest. An update via the USB in‐
terface

in the glove compartment is not pos‐
sible.
3. "Settings"
4. "Software update"
5. "Update software" 6.
If necessary. "USB".
7. "Start update"
8. "OK"
All listed software updates are installed.
Updating software via

TeleService*
The software may only be updated when the ve‐
hicle is stationary.
1. Switch on the ignition.
2. "Settings"
3. "Software update"
4. "Update software"
5. If necessary "TeleService".
6. If necessary, "Start update".
7. "Start update"
8. "OK"
All listed software updates are installed.
To interrupt updating:
"Cancel".
Restoring the previous version
If it should become necessary, the software ver‐
sion prior to the last software update can be re‐
stored.
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Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

Rear entertainment*
Controls
1
Screen, left
2 Screen, right
3 Center armrest, remote control
4 CD/DVD player
Rear CD/DVD player 1
CD/DVD slot
2 Eject CD/DVD
3 On/off, right
4 Headphone connection, right
5 RCA sockets
6 Headphone connection, left
7 On/off, left
Switching the system on/off Press the left or right side of the button
on the CD/DVD player in the rear for the
respective page. Rear entertainment and screens are switched
on/off.
After

switching off the ignition, the system must
be switched on again.
Screens
Adjusting
Danger of burns when screen is folded out
Do not reach behind the screen; other‐
wise, there is the danger of getting burned. The
back of the screen can become very hot.◀ ▷
To fold out: pull at the bottom edge.
▷ To fold in: press against the bottom edge.
Notes
▷ Do not cover lower screen edge, since this
is where the sensors and the infrared inter‐
face are installed.
▷ When loading the rear seats and adjusting
the backrest of the front seat, fold in the
screens.
▷ When using the through-loading system*,
fold the screens down.
▷ When cleaning the screen, follow the care
instructions, refer to page 276. Seite 201
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Reference Mobility Communication
Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance