2011 BMW 550I Track

Music collection
Backing up the music collection
The entire music collection can be stored on a
USB device. Make sure there is enough free
memory capacity on the USB device.
Depending
on the number of tracks, backing up
the music collection may take several hours.
Therefore, it is best to perform the backup dur‐
ing a long trip.
1. Starting the engine.
2. Connect the USB device to the USB inter‐
face in the glove compartment.
3. "CD/Multimedia"
4. "Music collection"
5. Open "Options".
6. "Music data import/export" 7.
"Backup music on USB" Storing the music collection in the vehicle
When

storing from the USB device, the existing
music collection in the vehicle is replaced.
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "Music collection"
3. Open "Options". 4.
"Music data import/export"
5. "Restore music from USB"
Deleting the music collection
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "Music collection"
3. Open "Options".
4. "Delete music collection"
External devices
At a glance Symbol Meaning
AUX-IN port
USB audio interface*
Mobile phone audio interface*
Bluetooth audio*
Rear AUX-IN port* on the left
Rear AUX-IN port* on the right
AUX-IN port
At a glance
▷
For connecting audio devices, e.g., MP3
player. The sound is output on the vehicle
loudspeakers.
▷ Recommendation: use medium tone and
volume settings on the audio device. The
tone depends on the quality of the audio
files.
Seite 192
192 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490
CD/multimedia

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.
Seite 193
193Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490

Reference Mobility Communication
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,
Seite 194
194 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490
CD/multimedia

all results that contain that sequence are
displayed.
▷ Select the desired entry from the list. 6.
Select other categories if you wish.
Not all categories need to be selected. For
example,
if all of the tracks by a certain artist
are to be displayed, call up that artist only.
All of the tracks by that artist are then dis‐
played.
7. "Start play"
Restarting a track search
"New search"
Playback lists
Calling up playback lists.
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "External devices"
3. Select the or symbol.
4. "Playlists"
Current playback
List of tracks currently being played.
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "External devices"
3. Select the or symbol.
4. "Current playback"
Random playback
The current list of tracks is played back in ran‐
dom order.
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "External devices" 3.
Open "Options".
4. "Random"
Fast forward/reverse Press and hold the button.
Video playback*
At a glance
Video playback via snap-in adapter possible.
They can be operated via iDrive. The sound is
output on the vehicle loudspeakers.
Playback
The video image is displayed on the front Con‐
trol

Display up to a speed of approx. 2 mph/3 km/
h; in some countries, it is only displayed if the
parking brake is set or if the automatic trans‐
mission is in position P.
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "External devices"
3. Select the symbol.
4. "Video"
5. Select the directory if necessary.
To change to a higher level directory: move
the controller to the left.
6. Select the desired video file to begin play‐
back.
Video menu Symbol Function
Next video file
Previous video file
Double-click on an icon to play back
previous video file. Notes
Do not expose the audio device to extreme en‐
vironmental conditions, such as very high tem‐
peratures; refer to the audio device operating
instructions. Seite 195
195Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490

Reference Mobility Communication
Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

7.
Enter the passkey and confirm. 8.
Select the desired functions with which the
device is to be connected, for instance
"Audio".
9. "OK" If pairing was successful, the device is displayed
as connected.
White
symbol : the device is active as an audio
source.
If

pairing was unsuccessful: What to do if..., refer
to page 198.
Connecting a specific device
A device that has already been paired can be
connected as an active audio source.
Connecting is not possible when data is ex‐
changed via a mobile phone connected via Blue‐
tooth.
Requirements
If necessary, activate the audio connection of
the desired device from the list of paired devi‐
ces.
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "Bluetooth® (audio)"
3. If necessary, "Bluetooth® audio". 4.
Select the desired device from the list of
paired devices.
5. Open "Options".
6. "Configure phone"
7. "Audio"
8. "OK"
Connecting the device
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "Bluetooth® (audio)"
3. If necessary, "Bluetooth® audio".
4. Select the desired device from the list of
paired devices. White symbol : the device is active as an audio
source.
Playback
General information
▷ The display of music track information de‐
pends on the device.
▷ Operation can takes place on the device or
iDrive.
▷ Playback is interrupted when data is ex‐
changed via a mobile phone connected via
Bluetooth.
Starting playback
1. Connect the device.
2. "CD/Multimedia"
3. "External devices"
Seite 197
197Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490

Reference Mobility Communication
Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

4. Select the symbol.
5.
Select the desired track from the list, if nec‐
essary.
Playback menu*
Depending on the particular device, some of the
functions may not be available. Symbol Function
Next track
Fast forward: press and hold the
symbol. Previous music track
Reverse: press and hold the symbol. Disconnecting the audio connection
1.
"CD/Multimedia"
2. "Bluetooth® (audio)"
3. Highlight the desired device.
4. Open "Options".
5. "Configure phone" 6.
"Audio"
7. "OK" Unpairing a device
1.
"CD/Multimedia"
2. "Bluetooth® (audio)"
3. If necessary, "Bluetooth® audio".
4. Highlight the device that is to be unpaired.
5. Open "Options".
6. "Remove phone from list"
What to do if...
Information
on suitable devices can be found at
www.bmwusa.com/bluetooth.
Suitable mobile phones, refer to page 210.
The device is not supported by the vehicle.
▷ Perform a software update*, refer to
page 199, if needed.
The device could not be paired or connected.
▷ Do the Bluetooth passkeys on the device
and the vehicle match? Enter the same
passkey on the device and via iDrive.
▷ Did it take longer than 30 seconds to enter
the

passkey? Repeat the pairing procedure.
▷ Are too many Bluetooth devices connected
to

the device or vehicle? Delete connections
with other devices if necessary.
▷ Is the mobile phone in power-save mode or
does

it have only a limited remaining battery
life? Charge the mobile phone in the snap-
in adapter or via the charging cable.
▷ Depending on the mobile phone, it is possi‐
ble that only one device can be connected
to the vehicle. Unpair the connected device
from the vehicle and pair and connect only
one device.
▷ The device no longer reacts? Switch the de‐
vice off and on again.
▷ Repeat the pairing procedure.
Music cannot be played back.
▷ Start the program for playing back music
data on the device and select a track on the
device if necessary.
▷ Switch the radio off and on again.
Music files can only be played back softly.
Seite 198
198 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490
CD/multimedia

Remote control
In the center armrest in the rear
Storage is possible in a horizontal position in the
center armrest.
Menu navigation
Press the but‐
ton
Function Operating concept as for the
front controller.
Turn the wheel: highlight a
menu item.
Press the center knob: con‐
firm the selection.
Pressing arrow keys corre‐
sponds to moving controller:
switching between panels.
Open the main menu.
Displays the previous menu.
Opens the "Options" menu.
Changes the station, track or
chapter.
Press and hold the button:
fast forward/reverse. Press the but‐
ton
Function Adjusts the volume.
Switches the volume adjust‐
ment to the left/right.
With Professional rear enter‐
tainment*: Toggles between
the screens.
The transmission time of the remote control is
limited by law. To execute a function again,
press or turn the required button again.
Replacing the batteries
No rechargeable batteries
Do not use rechargeable batteries, as
damage may result from the substances in the
batteries.◀ 1.
Remove the cover. Press on the cover, ar‐
row 1, and push forward, arrow 2.
2. Insert batteries of the same type.
3. Close the cover.
Take the used battery to a recycling cen‐
ter or to your service center.
Controls
Almost
all functions can be operated in the same
manner as they are in the front. Special features
of operating the system in the rear are described
here. Seite 202
202 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490
Rear entertainment

▷
Use only BMW approved software applica‐
tions; otherwise, it may result in malfunc‐
tions.
Information about suitable cell phones, available
software applications and their installation can
be found at www.bmw.com/connectivity or at
the service center.
Create the entries.
Make entries only when traffic and road
conditions allow. Otherwise, the vehicle occu‐
pants
and other road users may be put in danger
because of the distraction from driving.
For reasons of safety, some software applica‐
tions are usable only while the vehicle is station‐
ary.◀
Operate Apps
1. Connect the cell phone via the snap-in
adapter or via the USB audio interface.
2. "ConnectedDrive"
3. Select the desired software application.
Displaying status
Information about the currently available soft‐
ware applications can be displayed.
1. "ConnectedDrive"
2. "BMW apps"
PlugIn*
Selected functions of the cell phone are dis‐
played on the Control Display. They can be op‐
erated via iDrive.
1. Connect cell phone via the snap-in adapter.
2. "ConnectedDrive"
3. "PlugIn"
4. "Activate PlugIn"
5. Navigate to the displayed functions via the
controller

and select, for example, a desired
category or track.
Press button to switch within the cell
phone functions to a higher level or back. Press button twice to switch back to the
main menu.
Notes
▷ The ranges of Apps that can be displayed on
the Control Display depend on the range of
installed software applications on the cell
phone.
▷ The data transmission of the software ap‐
plications

from the cell phone to the vehicle
can last some time. Some software applica‐
tions depend on the speed of the available
Internet connection of the cell phone.
▷ Some cell phones cannot simultaneously
use

Apps and the Bluetooth hands-free sys‐
tem.
If necessary, restart the software application
on the cell phone after a phone conversa‐
tion.
TeleService Report*
Transmits
technical data that is evaluated for the
ongoing development of BMW products from
your vehicle to BMW in regular intervals if nec‐
essary.
TeleService Report is activated in vehicles that
meet certain technical requirements and have a
valid Assist contract; this feature is free of
charge.
Neither personal data nor position data is trans‐
mitted.
Indicate when the last Teleservice Report was
transmitted:
1. "Vehicle Info"
2. "Vehicle status"
3. Open "Options".
4. "Last Teleservice Info" Seite 237
237Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 469 - 03 11 490

Reference Mobility
Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance