Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic-
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page292.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
21Letters and numbers
22Voice activation system
Controls
26Opening and closing
42Adjusting
54Transporting children safely
58Driving
76Controls Overview
88Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
111Lamps
116Climate
124Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
138Things to remember when driving
Navigation
148Navigation system
149Destination entry
158Destination guidance
165What to do if …
Entertainment
168On/off and tone
171Radio
174Satellite radio
179CD/DVD player and CD/DVD changer
187Music collection
192External devices
196DVD system in rear
Communications
212Telephone
224Contacts
226BMW Assist
Mobility
234Refueling
239Wheels and tires
251Under the hood
256Maintenance
258Care
262Replacing components
273Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
280Technical data
285Short commands of voice activation
system
292Everything from A - Z
Practical interior accessories
128
Center armrest front
A storage compartment is located under the
armrest between the front seats and, depend-
ing on the vehicle's equipment, also a cover for
the mobile phone bracket or the snap-in
adapter. Also refer to page212.
Opening cover
Push cover down slightly and press the button.
The cover folds upward.
Connection for external audio device
You can connect an external audio device such
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks
over the vehicle's speaker system:
>AUX-IN connection, refer to page192
>USB audio interface, refer to page192
Storage compartments
Compartments are located in the doors, in the
center console in the front and rear
* as well as
in the rear console in the X6.
Storage nets
* are located on the backrests of
the front seats.
Do not stow hard or sharp-edged objects
in the storage nets; otherwise there is an
increased risk of injury in the event of an acci-
dent.<
Clothes hooks
When hanging clothing on the hooks,
ensure that it will not obstruct the driver's
vision. Do not hang heavy objects on the hooks.
If you do so, they could cause personal injury to occupants during braking or evasive maneu-
vers.<
BMW X5
Clothes hooks are located near the grab han-
dles in the rear.
BMW X6
To fold out, press against upper edge.
Cupholders
Use lightweight, unbreakable containers
and do not transport hot beverages; oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the
event of an accident. Do not force unsuitable
containers into the cupholders, as otherwise
damage can result.<
Front
Slide the cover back.
Navigation system
148
Navigation system
General information
The navigation system can determine the pre-
cise position of the vehicle, with the aid of satel-
lites and vehicle sensors, and can reliably guide
you to every entered destination.
Enter data only with the vehicle station-
ary, and always give priority to the appli-
cable traffic regulations in the event of any con-
tradiction between traffic and road conditions
and the instructions issued by the navigation
system. Failure to take to this precaution can
place you in violation of the law and put vehicle
occupants and other road users in danger.<
Navigation data
General information
Navigation data are stored in the vehicle and
can be updated.
Navigation data and authorization codes are
available from your BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle Center.
Updating the data can take several hours,
depending on the volume of data.
>The data are updated as you drive.
>The update is resumed automatically when
a trip is continued after an interruption.
>The basic navigation is available during the
trip.
>The data are stored in the vehicle.
>After the updating process is complete, the
system restarts.
>The medium with the navigation data can
be removed after the update.
Updating the navigation data
Inserting navigation DVD
1.Insert the navigation DVD into the DVD
player with the label facing up.
2.Follow the instructions on the Control Dis-
play.
3.Enter the authorization code of the naviga-
tion DVD and change the DVD if needed.
Removing navigation DVD
1. Press button1.
The DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
2.Remove the DVD.
Information on navigation data
1."Navigation"
2.Open "Options".
3."Navigation system version":
Information on the data version is displayed.
*
On/off and tone
168
On/off and tone
The following audio and video sources share
the same control elements and adjustments:
>Radio
>CD/DVD player
>CD/DVD changer
*
>Video*
>External devices, e.g. MP3 player
Controls
The audio and video sources can be controlled
using:
>Buttons near the CD/DVD player
>iDrive
>Buttons on the steering wheel, refer to
page10
>Programmable memory buttons, refer to
page20
>Voice activation system
Buttons near the CD/DVD player
1Sound output for entertainment on/off, vol-
ume
>Press: switch on/off
When you switch on the unit, the last set
radio station or track is played.
>Turn: adjusting volume
2 Ejecting CD/DVD
3Drive for CD/DVD
*
4 Station scan/track search
>Change the radio station
>Select a track for the CD/DVD
* player,
CD/DVD changer
* and certain multime-
dia devices
5MODE: change the audio and video
sources
6FM/AM: change the radio station wave-
band
Switching on/off
To switch the Entertainment sound output on
and off:
Press button1 next to the CD/DVD player.
This symbol on the Control Display indicates
that sound output is switched off.
The sound output is available for approx.
20 minutes after the ignition was switched off.
Switch on the sound output again for this pur-
pose.
Adjusting volume
Turn button1 next to the CD/DVD player until
the desired volume is obtained.
You can also adjust the volume with buttons on
the steering wheel, refer to page10.
Tone control
You can alter various tone settings, e.g. treble
and bass or the speed-dependent volume
increase.
The tone settings are set for all audio sources at
once.
The settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Treble, bass, balance, fader
>"Balance": left/right volume distribution
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
175Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
4."Manage subscription"
The telephone number and electronic serial
number, ESN, are displayed.
5.Call Sirius to deactivate the channels.
Selecting channels
You can only listen to activated channels.
The selected channel is stored for the remote
control currently in use.
Using iDrive
1."Radio"
2."Satellite radio"
3.Select "All channels" or the desired cate-
gory.
4.Select desired channel.
Using the button near the CD/DVD
player
Press the button for the corresponding
direction.
The next channel is selected.
Using direct channel entry
1."Radio"
2."Satellite radio"
3."Select channel"
4.Turn the controller until the desired channel
is displayed and press the controller.
Storing channel
1."Radio"
2."Satellite radio"
3.Select "All channels" or the desired cate-
gory.
4.Select desired channel.
5.Press the controller again.
6.Press the controller again in order to con-
firm selection of the highlighted channel.
7.Select the desired memory location.
The channels are stored for the remote control
currently in use.
You can also store the channels on the pro-
grammable memory buttons, refer to page.20.
Changing list view
The list view changes each time the first symbol
on the navigation bar is pressed.
Information about the channel is displayed.
SymbolFunction
Channel name
Artist
Track
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
179Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
CD/DVD player and CD/DVD changer
CD/DVD playback
Inserting CD/DVD
Push the CD/DVD into the drive with the labeled
side facing upward. The CD/DVD is automati-
cally pulled in.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is on. CDs/DVDs with compressed audio
files can take a few minutes to read, depending
on their directory structure.
Playable formats
CD/DVD player
>DVD: DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-
RW, DVD+RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL,
DVD audio (video part only), DVD video
>CD: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA,
VCD, SVCD
>Compressed audio files: MP3, WMA, AAC
CD changer
*
>CD: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA
DVD changer
*
>DVD: DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-
RW, DVD+RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL,
DVD audio (video part only), DVD video, CD:
CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA, VCD,
SVCD
Starting playback
Using iDrive
Fill and insert CD/DVD magazine, refer to
page183.
To start playback if a CD is already located in
the player or changer:
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
3.Select the desired CD or DVD:
Ejecting CD/DVD
Press the button next to the CD/DVD player.
The CD/DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
*
SymbolFunction
CD/DVD player
CD/DVD changer
CD/DVD player and CD/DVD changer
180
Audio playback
Selecting the track using the button
Press the button for the corresponding
direction repeatedly until you reach the desired
track.
Selecting the track using iDrive
Audio CDs
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
3.Select the desired CD or DVD.
4.Select the desired track to begin playback.
CDs / DVDs with compressed audio
files*
It is possible that not all of the characters on the
CD/DVD will be correctly displayed, depending
on the data.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
3.Select the desired CD or DVD.
4.Select the directory, if necessary.
To change to a higher level directory: move
the controller to the left.5.Select the track and press the controller.
Displaying information about the
track*
If information about a track has been stored, it is
displayed automatically:
>Artist
>Album title
>Track number on the CD/DVD
>Track file name
Random play sequence
The tracks of the current CD/DVD are played
once in a random sequence.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
3.Select the desired CD or DVD.
4.Open "Options".
CD/DVD player and CD/DVD changer
182 In fast forward/reverse: the speed increases
every time the controller is pressed. To stop,
start playback.
DVD menu
1.If necessary, turn the controller to open the
video menu.
2. "DVD menu"
The DVD menu is displayed. The display
depends on the contents of the DVD.
>To select menu items: move and press the
controller.
>To change to the Video menu: turn the con-
troller and select "Back".
Settings for DVD/VCD
For some DVDs, settings can only be made via
the DVD menu; refer also to the information on
your DVD.
Language*
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Open "Options".
3."Audio/language"
4.Select the desired language.The languages that are available depend on the
DVD.
Subtitles*
Subtitles can be selected if they are contained
on the DVD.
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Open "Options".
3."Subtitles"
4.Select the desired language or "Do not dis-
play subtitles".
Brightness, contrast, color
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Open "Options".
3."Display settings"
4."Brightness", "Contrast" or "Color"
5.Turn the controller until the desired setting
is displayed and then press the controller.
Zoom
Display the video image on the full screen.
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Open "Options".
3."Additional options" Stop
Next chapter/next track
Previous chapter/previous
track
Fast forward
Reverse
SymbolFunction