
At a glance
 21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Letters and numbers
Entering letters and numbers
1.Turn the controller: select the letters or 
numbers.
2.Select additional letters or numbers if 
needed.
3."OK": confirm the entry.
Switching between letters and 
numbers
Depending on the menu, you can switch 
between entering letters and numbers:
Wordmatch concept during navigation
Entry of names and addresses: the selection is 
narrowed down every time a letter is entered 
and letters may be added automatically.
Destination search: the entries are continuously 
compared to the data stored in the vehicle.
>The only letters offered for entering 
addresses are those for which data are 
available.
>Town/city names can be entered with the 
spelling used in any of the languages avail-
able on the Control Display.
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 

Voice activation system
22
Voice activation system
The concept
The voice activation system allows you to con-
trol operation of various vehicle systems with-
out ever removing your hands from the steering 
wheel.
Most menu items on the Control Display can be 
voiced as commands. This frees you of having 
to use the controller.
The voice activation system transforms your 
oral commands into control signals for the 
selected systems and provides support in the 
form of instructions or questions.
The voice activation system uses a special 
microphone located in the area of the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to page14.
Precondition
Using iDrive, set the language that applies for 
the voice activation system in order to enable 
identification of the spoken commands. To set 
the language of iDrive, refer to page86.
Symbols in Owner's Manual
Voice commands
Activating voice activation system
1.Press the  button on the steering wheel.
 This symbol on the Control Display and 
an acoustic signal tell you that the voice activation system can respond to com-
mands.
2.Say the command. 
The command is displayed on the Control 
Display.
 This symbol appears on the Control Display 
when you can enter additional commands. 
If no other commands are possible, then oper-
ate the equipment via iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice 
activation system
Press the  button on the steering wheel 
or
In dialogs that call for a text of your choice, the 
procedure can only be canceled using the but-
ton on the steering wheel.
Possible commands
The commands available in each case depend 
on the menu item selected on the Control Dis-
play.
To have the available commands read aloud:
For example, if "CD" is selected, the commands 
for operating CD/Multimedia are read aloud.
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for 
word. 
{{...}} Indicates responses of the voice acti-
vation system.{Cancel}
{Voice commands} or {Help} 

At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Running functions directly with short 
commands
With short commands you can carry out certain 
functions directly, regardless of which menu 
item is selected, refer to page285.
Example: selecting the track of a CD
1.Switch on Entertainment sound output if 
necessary.
2.Press the  button on the steering wheel.
Setting the voice dialog
You can set whether the system should use the 
standard dialog or a shorter variant. In the 
shorter variant of the voice dialog, the prompts 
and responses from the system are abbrevi-
ated.
1."Settings"
2."Language/Units"
3."Speech mode:"
4.Select a setting:
>"Default"
>"Short"
Notes
To operate the phone by voice, refer to 
page219.<
For voice commands, bear in mind the follow-
ing:>Do not use the voice activation system to 
initiate an Emergency Request. In stressful 
situations, the voice and vocal pitch can 
change. This can unnecessarily delay the 
establishment of a telephone connection.
>Say the commands and numbers smoothly 
and at normal volume, avoiding excessive 
emphases and pauses. This also applies 
when spelling out and saying a full word 
during destination entry.
>When selecting a radio station, use the 
common pronunciation of the station name.
>For entries in the voice-activated phone 
book, only use names in the language of the 
voice activation system and no abbrevia-
tions.
>Keep doors, windows, and glass sunroof
*/
panoramic glass sunroof
* closed in order to 
avoid unpleasant outside noise.
>Avoid making other noise in the vehicle 
while speaking. 3.Select the music track, e.g.: 
{C D track 4}
System says: 
{{Track 4}} 

Controls
 27Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Displays on Control Display:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page86
>Measuring units for consumption, route/
distances, temperature, and pressure, 
refer to page86
>Language on Control Display, refer to 
page86
>12h/24h clock format, refer to page85
>Date format, refer to page85
>Lighting settings:
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page65
>Welcome lamps, refer to page111
>Pathway lighting, refer to page112
>Daytime driving lamps
*, refer to 
page112
>High-beam Assistant
*, refer to 
page113
>PDC Park Distance Control
*: optical warn-
ing, refer to page89
>Top View
*: optical warning, refer to 
page91
>Side View
*, refer to page92
>Rear view camera
*:
>Selecting functions, refer to page93
>Type of display, refer to page95
>Lane departure warning
*: last status, on/
off, refer to page104
>Head-up Display
*: selection, brightness 
and position of display, refer to page109
>Automatic climate control: AUTO program 
and intensity, cooling function, and auto-
matic recirculated-air control/recirculated-
air mode, temperature, air distribution, ven-
tilation temperature, starting on page117
>Programmable memory buttons: selecting 
stored functions, refer to page20
>Positions of driver's seat, outside mirrors, 
and steering wheel
*, refer to page44
>Adaptive Drive
*: selected chassis and sus-
pension tuning, refer to page98>Audio sources: volume and tone settings, 
refer to page168
>Radio:
>Display of stored stations, refer to 
page173
>Switching RDS Radio Data System on/
off
*, refer to page172
>Phone: volume setting, refer to 
pages215,220
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
>Liftgate
>Fuel filler flap
Operating from outside
>Using the remote control
>Using the door lock
>With Comfort Access
* using the door han-
dles
The interior lamps and the courtesy lamps
* are 
also switched on and off with the remote con-
trol. The alarm system
 is armed/disarmed at the 
same time.
You can find more detailed information on the 
alarm system
 on page34.
Operating from inside
Using the button for central locking, refer to 
page30. The fuel filler flap is not locked.
In an accident of sufficient severity, the central 
locking system automatically unlocks the vehi-
cle. In addition, the hazard warning flashers and 
interior lamps come on. 

Controls Overview
86 3."Format:"
4.Select the desired format.
The date format is stored.
Brightness of Control Display
The brightness is automatically adapted to the 
ambient lighting conditions. However, you can 
change the basic setting.
1."Settings"
2."Control display"
3."Brightness"
4.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is selected.
5.Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use. In bright conditions, for example, 
the brightness control may not be clearly visi-
ble.
Setting the units of measure
You can change the units of measure for con-
sumption, distances, temperature and pres-
sure.1."Settings"
2."Language/Units"
3.Select the desired menu item.
4.Select the desired unit.
The settings are stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
Language on Control Display
Set language
1."Settings"
2."Language/Units"
3."Language:"
4.Select the desired language.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Setting the voice dialog
Switch between a standard dialog and a short 
dialog.
1."Settings"
2."Language/Units"
3."Speech mode:" 

Practical interior accessories
126 The display indicates the cardinal or intercardi-
nal direction in which you are currently driving.
Operating principle
You can run various functions by pressing the 
adjustment button with a pointed object, e.g. a 
ball-point pen etc. The following setting options 
are displayed consecutively, depending on how 
long the adjustment button is pressed:>Press briefly: switch display on/off
>3 to 6 seconds: set compass zone
>6 to 9 seconds: calibrate compass
>9 to 12 seconds: set left/right-hand drive 
vehicle
>12 to 15 seconds: setting language
Setting compass zones
Set the respectively applicable compass zone 
in your vehicle so that the compass functions 
properly, refer to the map of the world with 
compass zones.
To set the compass zones, press the adjust-
ment button for approx. 3-4 seconds. The dis-
play indicates the number of the currently set 
compass zone.To change the zone setting, briefly press the 
adjusting button repeatedly until the number of 
the compass zone that applies to your current 
position is displayed.
The compass will be operational again after 
approx. 10 seconds.
Calibrating digital compass
Calibrate the digital compass In the following 
situations:
>The wrong cardinal direction appears on 
the display.>The cardinal direction displayed does not 
change despite a change in the direction of 
travel.
>Not all cardinal directions are displayed. 

Controls
 127Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Procedure
1.Make sure that there are no large metal 
objects or overhead power lines in the vicin-
ity of your vehicle and that you have enough 
space to drive in a circle.
2.Enter the currently applicable compass 
zone.
3.Press the adjustment button for approx. 6-
7 seconds to display C. Then drive in a 
complete circle at least once at a maximum 
speed of 4 mph/7 km/h.
If the calibration is successful, display C is 
replaced with the points of the compass.
Setting right/left-hand drive vehicle
Your digital compass is already set to right or 
left-hand drive vehicle to match your vehicle at 
the factory.
Setting language
You can set the language of the display:
Press the adjustment button for approx. 12-
13 seconds. Briefly press the adjustment but-
ton again to change between English "E" and 
German "O".
The setting is automatically stored after approx. 
10 seconds.
Roller sun blinds for rear side 
windows*
Pull the loop of the roller sun blind and hook 
onto bracket.
Do not open the window with the roller 
blind raised, as otherwise there is a dan-
ger of damage, and therefore a danger of inju-
ries at higher speeds.<
Glove compartment
Opening
Press the button. The covers open upward and 
downward and the lighting in the glove com-
partment switches on.
To prevent injury in the event of an acci-
dent while the vehicle is being driven, 
close the glove compartment immediately after 
use.<
Closing
Press one of the two covers closed.
USB interface for data transmission
Port for importing and exporting data on USB 
devices, e.g. music collections, refer to 
page187.
Observe the following when connecting:
>Do not use force when plugging the con-
nector into the USB audio interface.
>Do not connect devices such as fans or 
lamps to the USB audio interface.
>Do not connect USB hard drives.
>Do not use the USB interface to recharge 
external devices. 

Navigation
Driving tips
 155Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
addition, pressing the controller makes further 
functions available:
> Select a symbol and "Start guid-
ance", if necessary.
>"Exit interactive map"
>Map display
>"Display destination"
The map section around the destination 
is displayed.
>"Display current location"
The map section around your current 
location is displayed.
>"Find points of interest", refer to 
page152.
Entering destination via 
voice*
General information
You can enter a desired destination with the 
voice activation system. When entering the 
destination, it is possible to change between 
voice command and iDrive at any time. Reacti-
vate the voice activation system for this pur-
pose if necessary.
You can use {Voice commands} to have 
the possible commands read aloud to 
you.<
Saying the entries
>Countries, towns/cities, streets, and inter-
sections can be either spoken aloud as an 
entire words or spelled in the system lan-
guage, refer to page86.Example: to enter a destination in a US state 
as a complete word, the system language 
must be English.
>The town/city, street and house number 
can be said as a single sentence.
*
>Spell the entry if the language of the area is 
different from the system language.
>Speak the letters smoothly and avoid 
excessive emphasis and pauses.
Entering an address*
1.Press the  button on the steering wheel.
3.Wait for the system prompt.
4.Say the town or city, street and house num-
ber in a single sentence.
5.Continue entering as prompted by the sys-
tem.
6.If necessary, say the parts of the address 
individually, e.g. town/city.
Entering a town/city
The town/city can be spelled or entered as an 
entire word
*.
The methods of entry depend on the nav-
igation data in use and the country and 
language settings.<
2.Wait for the system prompt for the town/
city.
3.Say the name of the town/city or if neces-
sary, spell at least the first three letters.
Depending on the entry, up to 20 towns/cit-
ies are suggested.
Similar-sounding towns/cities that can-
not be differentiated by the system are 
compiled in a separate list and displayed as a 
2.{Enter address}
1.{City} or {Spell city}.
4.Select city/town:
>To select a recommended town/city: 
{Yes}
>Select other city/town: {New entry}
>To select an entry, e. g. {Entry 2}
>Spell the entry: {Spell city}