
Contents
The quickest way to find special topics is to 
consult the index, refer to page298.
4 Notes
7 Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Dashboard
18 iDrive
25 Voice activation system
Controls
30Opening and closing
47 Adjustments
57 Transporting children safely
61 Driving
82 Controls overview
96 Technology for driving comfort and 
safety
110 Lamps
116 Climate
122 Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
138Things to remember when driving
Navigation
148Navigation system
150 Destination entry
159 Destination guidance
167 What to do if …
Entertainment
170On/off and tone
173 Radio
176 Satellite radio
181 CD/DVD player and CD changer
188 Music collection
194 External devices
Communications
204Telephone
217 Office
226 Contacts
228 ConnectedDrive
Mobility
236Refueling
239 Wheels and tires
259 Engine compartment
264 Maintenance
266 Care
270 Replacing components
276 Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
284Technical data
290 Short commands for the voice activation 
system
298 Everything from A to Z
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG  

170
EntertainmentOn/off and tone
On/off and tone
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all pr oduction, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. Equipment is also described 
that is not available because of, for example, 
selected options or country version. This also 
applies to safety related functions and systems.
General information
The following audio and video sources share 
the same control elements and adjustments:
> Radio
> CD/DVD player
> CD changer
> Video
> External devices, e.g. MP3 player
Controls
The audio and video sources can be controlled 
using the:
>Buttons near th e CD/DVD player
> iDrive
> Buttons on the steering wheel, refer to 
page 11
> Programmable memory  keys, refer to 
page 23
> 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 the volume
2  Eject the CD/DVD
3 CD/DVD drive
4FM/AM : change the radio station wave-
band
5MODE : change the audio and video 
sources
6  Station scan/track search
> Change the radio station
> Select the track for  the CD/DVD player, 
CD changer and certain multimedia 
devices
Switching on/off
To switch the entertainment audio output on or 
off:
Press knob 1 next to the CD/DVD player.
 This symbol on the Co ntrol Display indicates 
that sound output is switched off.
The sound output is available for approx. 
20 minutes after the ignition was switched off.
For sound output, switch the unit back on.
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG  

181
CD/DVD player and CD changer
Entertainment
CD/DVD player and CD changer
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. Equipment is also described 
that is not available because of, for example, 
selected options or coun
try version. This also 
applies to safety related functions and systems.
CD/DVD playback
Inserting a CD/DVD
Insert the CD/DVD into the drive with the 
labeled side facing up. The CD/DVD is drawn in 
automatically.
Playback starts automati cally if the sound out-
put is on. For CDs/DVDs with compressed 
audio files, it can take se veral minutes to read in 
the data, depending on  the 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, 
M4A CD changer
>
CD: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA
Starting playback
Via iDrive
Fill the CD/DVD magazine  and insert it, refer to 
page 185.
To start playback when a CD/DVD is already in 
the player or changer:
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "CD/DVD"
3. Select the desired CD or DVD:
Ejecting a CD/DVD
Press the  button next to  the CD/DVD player.
The CD/DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
SymbolMeaning
CD/DVD player
CD changer
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG  

182
EntertainmentCD/DVD player and CD changer
Audio playback
Selecting the track using the button
Press the  button for the appropriate 
direction as often as necessary until the desired 
track is reached.
Selecting a track using iDrive
Audio CDs
1."CD/Multimedia"
2. "CD/DVD"
3. Select the desired CD or DVD.
4. Select the desired trac k to begin playback.
CDs/DVDs with comp ressed audio files
Depending on the data,  some letters and num-
bers of the CD/DVD may not be displayed cor-
rectly.
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 a 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
> Number of tracks on the CD/DVD
> Track file name
Random sequence playback, Random
The tracks on the current CD/DVD are played 
once in random sequence.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2. "CD/DVD"
3. Select the desired CD or DVD.
4. Open "Options".
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG  

183
CD/DVD player and CD changer
Entertainment
5.
"Random"
CDs/DVDs with compressed audio files: all the 
tracks in the selected directory are played in 
random order.
Random mode is switched off when the audio 
source is changed or the  ignition is switched off.
Fast forward/reverse
Press and hold the  button for the corre-
sponding direction.
Automatic replay
Selected tracks, directories or CDs/DVDs are 
repeated au tomatically.
Video playback
Country codes
Only DVDs with the code of the home region 
can be played back; also  refer to the information 
on your DVD.
Starting playback
For your own safety, the video image is only dis-
played up to approx. 2 mph/3 km/h and in some 
market-specific versions, only with the parking 
brake engaged or the sele ctor lever of the auto-
matic transmission is in the park position.
DVD video
1. "CD/Multimedia"
2. "CD/DVD"
3. Select a DVD with video content.
4.  "DVD menu"
5. Start the DVD via the DVD menu.
VCD/SVCD
1."CD/Multimedia"
2. "CD/DVD"
3. Select a CD/DVD with video content.
4. "Select track"
5. Select the desired track.
The CD/DVD is started.
Video menu
To open the Video menu:
1. Turn the controller during playback.
2. Press the controller when "Back" is dis-
played.
CodeRegion
1USA, Canada
2 Japan, Europe, Middle East, South  Africa
3Southeast Asia
4 Australia, Central and South Amer- ica, New Zealand
5 Northwest Asia, North Africa
6China
0 All regions
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG  

184
EntertainmentCD/DVD player and CD changer
The Video menu is displayed:
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 Vide o menu: turn the con-
troller and select "Back".
DVD/VCD settings
For some DVDs, settings  can only be made via 
the DVD menu; also refer  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"
SymbolFunction
Open the DVD menu
Starting playback
Pause
Stop
Next chapter/next track
Previous chapter/previous 
track
Fast forward
Reverse
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG  

185
CD/DVD player and CD changer
Entertainment
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"
4. "Zoom mode"
Selecting track
DVD video:
1.Turn the controller when the DVD menu is 
displayed.
2. Open "Options".
3. "Additional options"
4. "Select title"
5. Select the desired track.
VCD/SVCD:
1. "Select track"
2. Select the desired track.
Camera angle
The camera angle depends on the DVD.
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2. Open "Options".
3. "Additional options"
4. "Viewing angle"
5. Select the desired camera angle.
Opening the main menu, back
These functions are not contained on every 
DVD. Therefore, they may not be available for 
use.
CD changer
The BMW CD changer for six CDs is behind the 
left side panel in the cargo area.
Coupe
Convertible
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG  

186
EntertainmentCD/DVD player and CD changer
Removing the CD magazine
T o  i n s e r t  o r  r e m o v e  C D s  f r o m  t h e  C D  m a g a z i n e ,  
you must first remove it from the CD changer:
1.Push the cover to one side, arrow  1.
2. Press the button, arrow  2.
The CD magazine is ejected.
Push the magazine back  in after at least 
2 seconds have passed so that the inserted 
CDs can be read in again.
Inserting/removing CDs from the CD 
magazine
When loading CDs into or removing them from 
the CD magazine, hold them at their edges and 
do not touch the reflecti ve signal-sensing area.
Inserting CDs:
Insert one CD per co mpartment with the 
labeled side up.
Removing CDs:
Pull out the desired comp artment and take out 
the CD.
Inserting the CD magazine
Insert the CD magazine all the way in the direc-
tion of arrow 1 and close the cover, arrow  2.
The CD changer automatically reads in the 
loaded CDs and is then ready for operation.
Notes
BMW CD/DVD players and changers are 
officially designated Class 1 laser prod-
ucts. Do not operate if  the cover is damaged; 
otherwise, severe eye damage can result.
Do not use self-recorded CDs/DVDs with labels 
applied as these can become detached during 
playback due to heat build-up and can cause 
irreparable damage  to the device.
Only use round CDs/DVDs with a standard 
diameter of 4.7 in/12 cm and do not play CDs/
DVDs with an adapter, e.g. CD singles; other-
wise, the CDs or the ad apter might jam and no 
longer eject.
Do not use a combined  CD/DVD, e.g. DVD
Plus; 
otherwise, the CD/DVD  can jam and will no 
longer eject. <
General malfunctions
BMW CD/DVD changers and players have been 
optimized for performance in vehicles. In some 
instances they may be mo re sensitive to faulty 
CDs/DVDs than stationary devices would be.
If a CD/DVD cannot be pl ayed, first check if it 
has been inserted correctly.
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG