
At a glance
 19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
4.Turn the controller until "Time:" is high-
lighted, and then press the controller.
5.Turn the controller to set the hours and 
press the controller.
6.Turn the controller to set the minutes and 
press the controller.
Status information
1Time
2Display for:
>Reception strength of the wireless 
network, depends on the mobile phone
>Incoming, outgoing or missed call
>SMS
* received
3Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD/DVD, external devices, TV
*
>Telephone*:
Name of the mobile phone paired with 
the vehicle4Sound output is switched off or
 display for traffic bulletins
*:
>"TI": 
Traffic bulletins are switched on.
>No display: 
Traffic bulletins are switched off.
Other displays:
The status information is temporarily hidden 
when there are Check Control instructions or 
during inputs using the voice activation sys-
tem
*.
Switching Control Display 
off/on
1.Press the OPTIONbutton.
2."Switch off control display"
To switch on, press the controller.
Split screen view, Split screen*
Additional information, e.g. from the computer, 
can be displayed on the right side of the split 
screen.
On the split screen, this information remains 
visible even when you change to another menu.
Switching split screen view on and off*
1.Press the OPTIONbutton.
2."Split screen"
 The split screen is activated.
Selecting display for split screen 
content*
When the split screen is switched on, you can 
select the content displayed on the screen. 

iDrive
20 1.Move the controller to the right repeatedly 
until the split screen content is selected.
2.Select the display.
Programmable memory 
buttons
Certain iDrive functions can be stored on the 
programmable memory buttons and called up 
directly, e.g. radio stations, navigation destina-
tions, phone numbers and entry points into the 
menu.
Storing functions
1.Highlight the function via the iDrive.
2. ...   Press the desired button for 
longer than two seconds.
Sample use of programmable memory 
buttons
Switch the voice instructions for the navigation 
on/off.
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
3.Select the   symbol using the controller.
4. ...   Press the desired button for 
longer than two seconds.
Running function
 ...   Press button.
The function is run immediately. This means, 
for example, that the number is dialed when a 
phone number is selected.
Displaying button assignment
Touch the button with a finger. Do not wear 
gloves or use objects.
Displaying short info
 ...   Touch button.
The button assignment is displayed at the top 
edge of the screen.
Displaying detailed information
 ...   Touch button for an extended 
period. 

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 

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
 29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"
3."Flash when lock/unlock"
4.Press the controller.
 Flashing when locking/unlocking the vehi-
cle is switched on.
Malfunctions
The remote control may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. Should the remote control fail 
to operate due to interference of this kind, 
unlock and lock the vehicle using the door lock 
using a key.
If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle 
using the remote control, then the battery is 
discharged. Use this remote control during an 
extended drive; this will recharge the battery, 
refer to page26.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with 
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communications 
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8766S 
LX8766E 
LX8CAS
LX8CAS2
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC 
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful inter-
ference, and>This device must accept any interference 
received, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or 
changes to these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate this equipment.<
Opening and closing:
Using door lock
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
persons are inside because unlocking 
from the inside is not possible without special 
knowledge.<
When unlocking
1.Turning the key once unlocks the driver's 
door and the fuel filler flap.
2.Turning the key a second time unlocks the 
remaining doors and the liftgate.
Convenient opening and closing
You can use the door lock to operate the win-
dows and the glass sunroof
*/panoramic glass 
sunroof
*.
Turn and hold the key in the positions for 
unlocking or locking.
Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Rotating the 
key back into the initial position stops the 
movement.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can 
turn a key all the way to the right or left in the 
door lock to lock or unlock the driver's door. 

Controls
 31Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Opening from inside
Press the button: the liftgate opens somewhat 
unless it has been locked.
Opening from outside
Press the button on the liftgate or the  button 
on the remote control for approx. 1 second: the 
liftgate opens somewhat. It can be swung 
upward.
Opening manually
In case of an electrical malfunction:
1.From the cargo area, press out the handle in 
the liftgate, refer to arrow, with a screw-
driver and pull. The liftgate is unlocked.
2.Open the liftgate and press in the handle.
The liftgate is locked again as soon as it is 
closed.
Closing
Make sure that the closing path of the lift-
gate is clear, otherwise injuries may 
result.<
The handle recesses on the interior trim of the 
liftgate make it easier to pull down.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects could 
strike the rear window while driving, be 
sure to provide protection around all edges. 
Failure to do so could result in damage to the 
heating conductors of the rear window.<
Automatic liftgate operation*
Adjusting opening height
You can adjust how far the liftgate is to open.
When adjusting the opening height, make 
sure that at least approx. 4 in/10 cm of 
clearance is available above the liftgate. Other-
wise, the ceiling height could be insufficient for 
the opened liftgate if, for example, the loading 
state changes.<
1."Settings"
2."Tailgate"
3.Turn the controller until the desired open-
ing height is selected. 

Controls
 33Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The open tailgate can support loads of up 
to 550 lbs./250 kg.<
Closing
Fold the tailgate up and press closed.
BMW X6: liftgate
During opening, the liftgate pivots back 
and up. Ensure that adequate clearance is 
available before opening.<
Adjusting opening height
You can adjust how far the liftgate is to open.
When adjusting the opening height, make 
sure that at least approx. 4 in/10 cm of 
clearance is available above the liftgate. Other-
wise, the ceiling height could be insufficient for 
the opened liftgate if, for example, the loading 
state changes.<
1."Settings"
2."Tailgate"
3.Turn the controller until the desired open-
ing height is selected.
Opening liftgate
The liftgate opens automatically when you:>Press the button on the outside of the lift-
gate when the vehicle is unlocked.
>Press the button in the center console.
>Press the  button on the remote control 
for approx. 1 second.
To stop the opening process:
>Press the button on the outside of the lift-
gate.
>Press and hold the  button on the remote 
control.
>Press the button on the inside of the lift-
gate.
>Press the button in the center console 
again.
The opening process is interrupted if you 
set the vehicle in motion.
gate is clear, otherwise injuries may 
result.<