A new panel is opened on top of the previ‐
ous display.
White arrows pointing to the left or right indi‐
cate that additional panels can be opened.
View of an opened menu
When a menu is opened, it generally opens
with the panel that was last selected in that
menu. To display the first panel of a menu:
▷Move the controller to the left repeatedly
until the first panel is displayed.▷Press the menu button on the controller
twice.
Opening the Options menu
Press the button.
The "Options" menu is displayed.
Additional options: move the controller to the
right repeatedly until the "Options" menu is
displayed.
Options menu The "Options" menu consists of various areas:
▷Screen settings, e.g., "Split screen".This area remains unchanged.▷Control options for the selected main
menu, e.g., for "Radio".▷If applicable, further operating options for
the selected menu, e.g., "Store station".
Changing settings
1.Select a field.2.Turn the controller until the desired setting
is displayed.3.Press the controller.
Activating/deactivating the functions
Several menu items are preceded by a check‐
box. It indicates whether the function is acti‐
vated or deactivated. Selecting the menu item
activates or deactivates the function.
The function is activated.
The function is deactivated.
Touchpad Some iDrive functions can be operated using
the touchpad on the controller:
Selecting functions
1."Settings"2."Touchpad"3.Select the desired function.▷"Speller": letters and numbers, enter‐
ing.▷"Map": operating the interactive map.Seite 18At a glanceiDrive18
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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 field The following information is displayed in the
status field at the top right:
▷Time.▷Current entertainment source.▷Sound output, on/off.▷Wireless network reception strength.▷Telephone status.▷Traffic bulletin reception.
Status field symbols
The symbols are grouped as follows.
Radio symbols
SymbolMeaning HD Radio™ is switched on. Satellite radio is switched on.
Telephone symbols
SymbolMeaning Incoming or outgoing call. Missed call. Wireless network reception
strength Symbol flashes: searching
for network. Wireless network is not available. Bluetooth is switched on. Roaming is active.SymbolMeaning Text message was received. Check the SIM card. SIM card is blocked. SIM card is missing. Enter the PIN.
Entertainment symbols
SymbolMeaning CD/DVD player. Music collection. Gracenote® database. AUX-IN port. Rear AUX-IN port on the left. Rear AUX-IN port on the right.
Additional symbols
SymbolMeaning Spoken instructions are switched
off.
Split screen
General information Additional information can be displayed on the
right side of the split screen, e.g., information
from the computer.
In the divided screen view, the so-called split
screen, this information remains visible even when you change to another menu.
Switching the split screen on and off
1. Press the button.
Seite 20At a glanceiDrive20
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Executing functions using short
commands
Functions on the main menu can be performed
directly by means of short commands, nearly
irrespective of which menu item is currently
selected, e.g., ›Vehicle status‹.
List of short commands of the voice activation
system, see Navigation, Entertainment, Com‐
munication Owner's Manual.
Help dialog for the voice activation
system
Calling up help dialog: ›Help‹
Additional commands for the help dialog:▷›Help with examples‹: information about the
current operating options and the most im‐
portant commands for them are an‐
nounced.▷›Help with voice activation‹: information
about the principle of operation for the
voice activation system is announced.
Example: playing back a CD
Via the main menu The commands of the menu items are spoken
just as they are selected via the controller.
1.Switch on the Entertainment sound output
if necessary.2. Press the button on the steering
wheel.3.›Multimedia‹
The medium last played is played back.4.›C D‹5.›C D drive‹6.›Track ...‹, e.g., CD track 4.Via short command
Playback of the CD can also be started via a
short command.1.Switch on the Entertainment sound output
if necessary.2. Press the button on the steering
wheel.3.›C D drive track ...‹, e.g., CD track 4.
Setting the voice dialog
You can set whether the system should use
the standard dialog or a shorter version.
In the shorter variant of the voice dialog, the
announcements from the system are issued in
an abbreviated form.
On the Control Display:
1."Settings"2."Language/Units"3."Speech mode:"4.Select the setting.
Adjusting the volume
Turn the volume button while giving an in‐
struction until the desired volume is set.
▷The volume remains constant even if the
volume of other audio sources is changed.▷The volume is stored for the remote con‐
trol currently in use.Seite 24At a glanceVoice activation system24
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Context help - Owner's Manual to the
temporarily selected function
The relevant information can be opened di‐
rectly.
Opening via the iDrive
To move directly from the application on the
Control Display to the options menu:1. Press the button or move the control‐
ler to the right repeatedly until the
"Options" menu is displayed.2."Display Owner's Manual"
Opening when a Check Control
message is displayed
Directly from the Check Control message on
the Control Display:
"Display Owner's Manual"
Changing between a function and the
Owner's Manual
To change from a function, e.g., radio, to the
Owner's Manual on the Control Display and to
switch between the two displays:
1. Press the button or move the control‐
ler to the right repeatedly until the
"Options" menu is displayed.2."Display Owner's Manual"3.Select the desired page in the Owner's
Manual.4. Press the button again to return to
the function displayed last.5. Press the button to return to the page
of the Owner's Manual displayed last.
To switch back and forth repeatedly between
the function displayed last and the page of the
Owner's Manual displayed last, repeat steps 4
and 5. This opens a new panel every time.
Programmable memory buttons
General information
The Owner's Manual can be stored on the pro‐
grammable memory buttons and called up di‐
rectly.
Storing1."Owner's Manual" Select via the iDrive.2. Press the desired button for more
than 2 seconds.
Executing
Press the button.
The Owner's Manual is displayed im‐
mediately.
Seite 27Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicleAt a glance27
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Displays in the instrument clusterThe display indicates that the
automatic engine start-stop
function is ready for an auto‐
matic engine start.
The display indicates that the
conditions for an automatic en‐
gine stop have not been satis‐
fied.
Note The engine is not switched off automatically in
the following situations:▷External temperature too low.▷The external temperature is high and auto‐
matic climate control is running.▷The passenger compartment has not yet
been heated or cooled to the required
level.▷The engine is not yet at operating temper‐
ature.▷The wheels are at a sharp angle or the
steering wheel is being turned.▷After driving in reverse.▷Fogging of the windows when the auto‐
matic climate control is switched on.▷Vehicle battery is heavily discharged.▷The engine compartment lid is unlocked.▷HDC Hill Descent Control is activated.▷The parking assistant is activated.▷Stop-and-go traffic.▷The transmission selector lever is in posi‐
tion N or M/S.▷Use of fuel with high ethanol content.
Starting the engine
The engine starts automatically under the fol‐
lowing conditions:
▷Manual transmission:The clutch pedal is pressed.▷Automatic transmission:
By releasing the brake pedal.
When Automatic Hold is activated: press
the accelerator.
After the engine starts, accelerate as usual.
Safety mode
After the engine switches off automatically, it
will not start again automatically if any one of
the following conditions are met.
▷The driver's safety belt is unbuckled and
the driver's door is open.▷The hood was unlocked.
Some indicator lamps light up for varying
lengths of time.
The engine can only be started via the Start/
Stop button.
Note Even if driving away was not intended, the de‐
activated engine starts up automatically in the
following situations:
▷Excessive warming of the passenger com‐
partment when the cooling function is
switched on.▷The steering wheel is turned.▷Automatic transmission: the transmission
position is changed from D to N, R, or M/S.▷Automatic transmission: the transmission
position is changed from P to N, D, R or
M/S.▷The vehicle begins rolling.▷Fogging of the windows when the auto‐
matic climate control is switched on.▷Vehicle battery is heavily discharged.▷Excessive cooling of the passenger com‐
partment when the heating is switched on.▷Low brake vacuum pressure; this can oc‐
cur, for example, if the brake pedal is de‐
pressed a number of times in succession.Seite 66ControlsDriving66
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Sport program and manual mode
Activating the sport program
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
The engaged gear is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster, e.g., S1.
The sport program of the transmission is acti‐
vated.
Activating the M/S manual mode
1.Push the selector lever to the left out of
transmission position D.2.Push the selector lever forward or pull it
backward.
Manual mode becomes active and the gear is
changed.
The engaged gear is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster, e.g., M1.
Once maximum engine speed is attained, M/S
manual mode is automatically upshifted as
needed.
Switching to manual mode
▷To shift down: press the selector lever for‐
ward.▷To shift up: pull the selector lever rear‐
wards.
Gears will only be shifted at appropriate engine
and road speeds, e.g., downshifting is not pos‐
sible if the engine speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Not M550d xDrive: Sport automatic
transmission: prevent automatic
upshifting in M/S manual mode
For vehicles with Sport automatic transmis‐
sions, automatic shift operations are not per‐
formed, at maximum engine speed for exam‐
ple, if one of the following conditions is met:▷DSC deactivated.▷TRACTION activated.▷SPORT+ activated.
In addition, the kickdown is deactivated.
M550d xDrive: prevent automatic
upshifting in M/S manual mode
Once maximum engine speed is attained, up‐
shifting is not automatically performed in M/S
manual mode.
In addition, the kickdown is deactivated.
The lowest possible gear is selected by simul‐
taneously operating the kickdown and the left
shift paddle.
However, this effect is not produced via the
shift paddles when switching briefly from
transmission position D to manual mode.
Ending the sport program/manual
mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
D is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Shift paddles
The shift paddles on the steering wheel allow
you to shift gears quickly while keeping both
hands on the steering wheel.
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Overview, instrument cluster with enhanced features1Messages, e.g. Check Control 84
Time 872Range 873Computer 924Navigation display
Service requirements 88Miles/trip miles 875Selection list, such as for the radio 91
Current fuel consumption 88
Energy recovery 88
External temperature 87
Transmission display 76Multifunctional instrument
display
The concept The instrument dispaly is a variable display.
When the driving mode is changed, the ap‐pearance is changed to reflect the new driving
mode. The change of appearance can be de‐
activated in the Control Display.
Some of the displays in the instrument display
may differ from the way they are shown in this
owner's manual.Seite 81DisplaysControls81
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At a glance1Fuel gauge 862Indicator/warning lamps 843Speedometer4Variable displays5Tachometer 86Selection lists 91
ECO PRO displays 1926Oil temperature 867Computer 928Reset miles 87
Switching the change of display on and off
You can set whether the instrument display
automatically changes to the ECO PRO or
SPORT in the display when you switch driving
modes.1."Settings"2."Info display"3."ECO PRO Info"
or"Driving mode view"With Professional Navigation System:
switching zoom function on/off
Switching
You can program whether the current speed is
to appear enlarged in the speedometer.1."Settings"2."Info display"3."Magnifier function"Seite 82ControlsDisplays82
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