
20
At a glanceiDrive
1.Turn the controller until the desired menu 
item is highlighted.
2. Press the controller.
Menu items in the Owner's Manual
In the Owner's Manual, the menu items that 
should be selected are depicted in quotation 
marks, e.g. "Settings".
Changing between panels
After a menu item is selected, e.g. "Radio", a 
new panel is displayed.  Panels can overlap.
> Move the controller to the left.
The current panel is closed and the previ-
ous panel is displayed.
Pressing the BACK button reopens the pre-
vious panel. This does  not close the current 
panel.
> Move the controller to the right.
A new panel is opened and laid over it.
White arrows pointing to the left or right indi-
cate that additional panels can be opened.
View of an opened menu
When you open a menu, ge nerally the panel last 
selected in this menu is  displayed. To display 
the first panel of the menu:
> Move the controller to  the left repeatedly 
until the first pa nel is displayed.
> Press the menu's butto n twice on the con-
troller.
Open the Options menu
 Press the button.
The "Options" menu is displayed.
Another possibility: move the controller to the 
right repeatedly until the "Options" menu 
appears.
Options menu
The "Options" menu is composed of different 
areas:
> Screen settings, e.g. "Split screen".
The region remains unchanged.
> Control options for the selected main menu, 
e.g. "Radio".
> Other control options for the selected 
menu, for example "Store station".
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iDrive
At a glance
Adjusting settings
1.
Select a field.
2. Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is displayed.
3. Press the controller.
Activating/deactivating functions
Some menu items are preceded by a check box. 
It indicates whether the fu nction is activated or 
deactivated. Selecting the menu item activates 
or deactivates the function.
 The function is activated.
 The function is deactivated.
Example: setting the clock
1.  Press the button.
The main menu  is displayed.
2. Turn the controller until "Settings" is high-
lighted, and then press the controller.
3. If necessary, move the controller to the left 
to display "Time/Date". 4.
Turn the controller until "Time/Date" is 
highlighted, and then press the controller.
5. Turn the controller until "Time:" is high-
lighted, and then press the controller.
6. Turn the controller to set the hours and 
press the controller.
7. Turn the controller to  set the minutes and 
press the controller.
Status information
Status box
The status box at the top right displays the fol-
lowing information:
> Time
> Current entertainment source
> Sound output ON/OFF
> Mobile phone network with strongest 
reception
> Telephone status
> Traffic reports reception
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At a glanceiDrive
Status box symbols
The symbols are divided into separate groups.
Radio symbols
Telephone symbols
Entertainment symbols Other
With the Professional 
navigation system: 
Split screen
General information
Additional information, e.g. from the computer, 
can be displayed on the right side of the Split 
screen.
This information remains visible on the Split 
screen even when you change to another menu.
Switching the Split screen on and off
1.
 Press the button.
2. "Split screen"
Selecting display
1.  Press the button.
2. "Split screen"
3. Move the controller until the Split screen is 
selected.
4. Press the controller or select "Split screen 
content".
5. Select the desired menu item.
SymbolMeaning
Traffic bulletins switched on
HD radio switched on
Satellite radio switched on
SymbolMeaning
Incoming or outgoing call
Missed call
Reception strength of mobile 
phone network symbol flashing: 
network search
No mobile phone network available
Bluetooth switched on
Roaming active
Receiving text message, email
Checking SIM card
SIM card blocked
SIM card missing
Entering PIN
SymbolMeaning
CD/DVD player
Music collection
Gracenote® database
AUX-IN port
USB audio interface
Mobile phone audio interface
SymbolMeaning
Voice instructions are switched off
Querying current vehicle position
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iDrive
At a glance
Programmable memory keys
General information
iDrive functions can be stored on the program-
mable memory keys and called up directly, e.g. 
radio stations, navigation destinations, phone 
numbers and entry points into the menu.
The settings are stored 
for the remote control 
currently in use.
Storing functions
1. Highlight the function via the iDrive.
2.  ...   Press the desired button 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.
The key assignment is displayed at the top 
edge of the screen.
> Displaying brief information:
Press the button.
> Displaying detailed information:
Press and hold the button
Entering letters and numbers
1.Turn the controller: se lect the letters or 
numbers.
2. Select additional letters or numbers if 
needed.
3. "OK": confirm entry.
Switching between letters and 
numbers
Depending on the menu, you can switch 
between entering letters and numbers:
Switching between uppercase and 
lowercase letters
Depending on the menu, you can switch 
between entering upperc ase letters and lower-
case letters:
SymbolFunction
Press the controller: delete 
one letter or number
Press the controller for an 
extended period: delete all 
letters or numbers
Enter a blank space
SymbolFunction
Entering letters
Entering numbers
SymbolFunction
Move the controller toward 
the front: to switch from 
uppercase letters to lower-
case letters
Move the controller toward 
the front: to switch from low-
ercase letters to uppercase 
letters
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At a glanceiDrive
Entry comparison
Entry of names and addresses: the selection is 
narrowed down every ti me a letter is entered 
and letters may be added automatically.
The entries are continuously compared to the 
data stored in the vehicle.
> During entry, only letters for which there are 
data are offered.
> Destination search: town/city names can be 
entered with th e spelling used in any of the 
languages available on the Control Display.
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Voice activation system
At a glance
Voice activation system
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. For this reason, descrip-
tions will be given of some equipment that may 
not be available in a vehi
cle, for example due to 
the special options or  national-market version 
selected. This also app lies to safety related 
functions and systems.
The concept
> The voice activation system can be used to 
control most functions by spoken com-
mands.
> Functions that can only  used when the vehi-
cle is stopped cannot be operated using the 
voice activation system.
> The system includes a special microphone 
on the driver's side.
> In the Owner's Manual,  {...} indicates com-
mands for the voice activation system.
> In the Owner's Manual,  {{...}}  indicates the 
answers from the voice activation system.
Prerequisite
On the Control Display, set a language that is 
also supported by the vo ice activation system 
to permit identification of the commands to be 
spoken.
Setting the langua ge, refer to page94.
Saying commands
Activating voice activation system
1.Press the  button on the steering wheel.
2. Wait for the acoustic signal.
3. Say the command.  This symbol on the 
Control Display and an 
acoustic signal notify yo u that the voice activa-
tion system is activated.
If no additional comma nds are possible, con-
tinue by operating the function via iDrive.
Finishing voice input
Press the  button on the steering wheel
or
Possible commands
Most menu items on the Control Display can be 
spoken as commands.
The available commands depend on which 
menu is currently selected on the Control Dis-
play.
There are short commands  for functions of the 
main menu.
Some list entries such as phone book entries 
can also be selected using the voice activation 
system. Make sure to say list entries the same 
way as they appear in the respective list.
{ Cancel }
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At a glanceVoice activation system
Having the possible commands read 
aloud
To have the available commands read aloud:
For example, if the "Settings" menu is dis-
played, the commands relating to settings are 
read aloud.
Performing functions using short 
commands
Functions from the main menu can be per-
formed directly by means of short commands, 
essentially regardless of  which menu item is 
selected, e.g. { Vehicle status}.
List of short command of the voice activation 
system, refer to page 290.
Help dialog for voice activation system
Accessing help:
Other commands for the help dialog:
>{Help with examples }: information about 
the current control options and the most 
important commands relating to them are 
read aloud.
> {Help with voice activation }: information 
about the principle operation of the voice 
activation system is read aloud.
Example: playing back a CD
1. If necessary, switch on entertainment audio 
output.
2. Press the  button on the steering wheel.
4. Press the  button on the steering wheel.
Setting the voice dialog
You can set whether the system uses the stan-
dard dialog or a short version.
In the short version of  the voice dialog, the 
responses from the system are given in abbre-
viated form.
On the Control Display:
1. "Settings"
2. "Language/Units"
3. "Speech mode:"
4. Select a setting.
Adjusting volume
Turn the volume knob during the spoken 
instruction to select the desired volume.
>The volume remains the same, even if the 
volume of other audio sources is changed.
> The volume is stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
Notes on Emergency 
Requests
Do not use the voice activation system to ini-
tiate an Emergency Request. In stressful situa-
tions, the voice and vo cal pitch can change. 
This can unnecessarily  delay the establishment 
of a telephone connection.
Instead, use the SOS  button, refer to page276, 
in the vicinity of the interior rearview mirror.
{
Voice commands }
{ Help }
3. {C D and multimedia }
The system plays the last media played.
5. {C D track … } e.g. CD track 4.
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31
Opening and closing
Controls
for two remote controls 
if Comfort Access is in 
use.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on  specific settings, refer 
to the specified pages.
> Assignment of programmable memory 
keys, refer to page 23
> Response of the central locking system 
when the car is unlocked, refer to page 32
> Automatic locking of th e vehicle, refer to 
page 35
> Automatic call-up of th e driver's seat posi-
tion, refer to page 53
> Triple turn signal  activation, refer to 
page 71
> Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play and in the instrument cluster:
>12h/24h format of the clock, refer to 
page 91
> Date format, refer to page 91
> Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page 94
> Language on the Control Display, refer 
to page 94
> Units of measure, refer to page 87
> Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC, refer to page 97
> Light settings:
>Welcome lamps, refer to page 111
> Pathway lighting, refer to page 111
> Daytime running lights, refer to 
page 111
> High-beam Assistant, refer to page 113
> 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 page 117 ff >
Entertainment:
>Setting tone contro ls, refer to page171
> Speed-dependent volume control, refer 
to page 172
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
> Fuel filler flap
> Convertible: glove compartment
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
> Using the door lock
> In cars with Comfort Access, via the handles 
on the driver's door and the front passenger 
door
At the same time as locking and unlocking via 
the remote control:
> Welcome lights, the inte rior light, and the 
courtesy lighting are switched on and off.
> Alarm system, refer to page 37, is armed or 
disarmed.
Operating from inside
By means of the button fo r central locking, refer 
to page 35.
In the event of a sufficien tly severe accident, the 
central locking system un locks automatically. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG