iDriveVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
The concept
The iDrive combines the functions of many
switches. Thus, these functions can be oper‐
ated from a central location.
Using the iDrive during a trip
To avoid becoming distracted and pos‐
ing an unnecessary hazard to your vehicle's
occupants and to other traffic, never attempt
to use the controls or enter information unless
traffic and road conditions allow it.◀
Control elements at a glanceControl elements1Control Display2Controller with buttons and, depending on
the equipment version, with touchpadControl Display
Hints▷To clean the Control Display, follow the
care instructions.▷Do not place objects close to the Control
Display; otherwise, the Control Display can
be damaged.▷In the case of very high temperatures on
the Control Display, e.g. due to intense so‐
lar radiation, the brightness may be re‐
duced down to complete deactivation.
Once the temperature is reduced, e.g.
through shadow or climate control system,
the normal functions are re-established.
Switching on
1.Switch on the ignition.2.Press the controller.
Switch off
1. Press button.2."Turn off control display"
Controller with navigation system
The buttons can be used to open the menus
directly. The controller can be used to select
menu items and enter the settings.
Some iDrive functions can be operated using
the touchpad on the controller.
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Buttons on controllerPress buttonFunctionMENUOpen the main menu.AudioOpen audio menu last listened
to, switch between audio me‐
nus.TELOpens the phone menu.BACKOpen previous panel.OPTIONOpens the Options menu.
Operating concept
Opening the main menu Press button.
The main menu is displayed.
All iDrive functions can be called up via the
main menu.
Selecting menu items
Highlighted menu items can be selected.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, menu items that can be
selected are set 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.
Closes current display and shows previous
display.
Reopens previous display by pressing
BACK button. In this case, the current
panel is not closed.▷Move the controller to the right.
Opens new display on top of previous
screen.Seite 20At a glanceiDrive20
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This can unnecessarily delay the establish‐
ment of a phone connection.
Instead, use the SOS button, refer to
page 218, close to the interior mirror.
Environmental conditions▷Say the commands, numbers, and letters
smoothly and with normal volume, empha‐
sis, and speed.▷Always say commands in the language of
the voice activation system.▷Keep the doors, windows, and glass sun‐
roof closed to prevent noise interference.▷Avoid making other noise in the vehicle
while speaking.Seite 29Voice activation systemAt a glance29
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Replacing the battery1.Remove integrated key from remote con‐
trol.2.Push in the catch with the key, arrow 1.3.Remove the cover of the battery compart‐
ment, arrow 2.4.Insert a battery of the same type with the
positive side facing up.5.Press the cover closed.
Take the used battery to a recycling
center or to your service center.
New remote controls New remote controls are available from the
service center.
Loss of the remote controls Lost remote controls can be disabled by your
service center.
Emergency detection of remote
control
It is possible to switch on the ignition or start
the engine in situations such as the following:
▷Interference of radio transmission to re‐
mote control by external sources e.g., by
radio masts.▷Empty battery in remote control.▷Interference from radio transmissions
through mobile devices in close proximity
to remote control.▷Interference of radio transmission by
charger while charging items such as mo‐
bile devices in the vehicle.
A Check Control message is displayed if an at‐
tempt is made to switch on the ignition or start
the engine.
Starting the engine with emergency
detection of the remote control
Steptronic transmission: if a corresponding
Check Control message appears, hold the re‐
mote control, as shown, against the marked
area on the steering column and press the
Start/Stop button within 10 seconds while
pressing the brake.
Manual transmission: if a corresponding Check
Control message appears, hold the remote
control, as shown, against the marked area on
the steering column and press the Start/Stop
button within 10 seconds while pressing the
clutch pedal.
If the remote control is not recognized: slightly
change the height position of the remote con‐
trol and repeat the procedure.
Personal Profile
The concept Personal Profile provides three profiles, using
which personal vehicle settings can be stored.
Every remote control has one of these profiles
assigned.
If the vehicle is unlocked using a remote con‐
trol, the assigned personal profile will be acti‐
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The windows and the glass sunroof are
opened, as long as the button on the remote
control is pressed.
Locking Locking from the outside
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside
with people inside the car, as the vehicle can‐
not be unlocked from inside without special knowledge.◀
The driver's door must be closed. Press button on the remote control.
All doors, the tailgate, and the fuel filler flap are
being locked.
The alarm system, refer to page 46, is armed.
Switching on interior lights and
courtesy lights
Press button on the remote control with
the vehicle locked.
This function is not available, if the interior
lamps were switched off manually.
If the button is pressed again within 10 sec‐
onds after vehicle was locked, the interior mo‐
tion sensor and tilt alarm sensor of the anti-
theft warning system, refer to page 47, are
turned off. After locking, wait 10 seconds be‐
fore pressing the button again.
Panic mode
You can trigger the alarm system if you find
yourself in a dangerous situation.
Press button on the remote control for
at least 3 seconds.
To reel off the alarm: press any button.Opening the tailgate Note the opening height of the tailgate
The tailgate swings back and up when it
opens. Ensure that there is sufficient clearance
when the tailgate opens; otherwise, damage
may result.◀
Press button on the remote control for
approx. 1 second.
The closed tailgate is automatically opened,
whether or not the vehicle is locked or un‐
locked.
Depending on the features and the country
version, it is also possible to have door un‐
locked. Create the settings, refer to page 45.
If the doors were not unlocked, the tailgate is
locked again as soon as it closes.
Do not place the remote control in the
cargo area
Take the remote control with you and do not
leave it in the cargo area; otherwise, the re‐
mote control is locked inside the vehicle when
the tailgate is closed.◀
Provide edge protection
Sharp objects or those with edges can
hit the rear window while driving and damage the heat conductors of the rear window. Pro‐
vide edge protection.◀
Malfunction
Remote control detection by the vehicle can
among others be malfunctioning under the fol‐
lowing circumstances:▷The battery of the remote control is dis‐
charged. Replace the battery, refer to
page 35.▷Interference of the radio connection from
transmission towers or other equipment
with high transmit power.▷Shielding of the remote control due to
metal objects.Seite 38ControlsOpening and closing38
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From the inside
Unlocking and locking
Pressing the central locking system button
locks or unlocks the vehicle with the front
doors closed.
The vehicle is not secured against theft when
locking.
The fuel filler flap remains unlocked.
In the event of a severe accident, the vehicle is
automatically unlocked. The hazard warning
system and interior lights come on.
Unlocking and opening
▷Press the central locking system button to
unlock the doors together, and then pull
the door handle above the armrest.▷On the door to be opened, pull the door
handle twice: the first time unlocks the
door, the second time opens it. The other
doors remain locked.Tailgate
Automatic tailgate operation
Adjusting the opening height
You can set how far the tailgate should open.
Adjusting the opening height
When adjusting the opening height, en‐
sure that there is a clearance of at least
4 in/10 cm above the tailgate. Otherwise, the
ceiling may not be high enough for the open
tailgate if the loading situation changes.◀1."Settings"2."Tailgate"3.Turn the controller until the desired open‐
ing height is selected.
Opening
Note the opening height of the tailgate
The tailgate swings back and up when it
opens. Ensure that there is sufficient clearance
when the tailgate opens; otherwise, damage
may result.
Adjust the opening height of the tailgate ac‐
cording to the given situation.◀
▷Press button on tailgate's exterior▷Press button on the remote con‐
trol for approx. 1 second.
As the case may be, the doors are also un‐
locked. Opening with the remote control,
refer to page 38.Seite 40ControlsOpening and closing40
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▷Push the button in the driver's
footwell.
If the vehicle is stationary, the tailgate opens
automatically to the adjusted opening height.
The opening procedure is interrupted:
▷By pressing a button again.▷When starting the engine.▷When the vehicle starts moving.▷By pressing the button on the inside of the
tailgate.
Closing
Keep the closing path clear
Make sure that the closing path of the
tailgate is clear; otherwise, injuries may re‐
sult.◀
Monitor closing
Monitor closing to ensure that no one
becomes trapped.◀
Do not place the remote control in the
cargo area
Take the remote control with you and do not
leave it in the cargo area; otherwise, the re‐
mote control is locked inside the vehicle when the tailgate is closed.◀
Provide edge protection
Sharp objects or those with edges can
hit the rear window while driving and damage the heat conductors of the rear window. Pro‐
vide edge protection.◀
The floor panel in the trunk must be closed,
otherwise the tailgate cannot be closed.
Without Comfort Access:
▷Press button on the inside of the tailgate.
With Comfort Access:
▷Press button, arrow 1, on the inside of the
tailgate.
Pressing the button again stops the mo‐
tion.▷Press button, arrow 2.
The vehicle will be locked after closing the
tailgate. The driver's door must be closed
for this purpose and the remote control
must be outside of the vehicle in the area
of the tailgate.
Pressing the button again stops the mo‐
tion.▷Press button on tailgate's exteriorSeite 41Opening and closingControls41
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Pressing the button again stops the mo‐
tion.
An acoustic signal sounds and the tailgate
closes.
The closing operation is interrupted:
▷When starting the engine.▷The vehicle starts off with jerks.
Manual operation
Do not operate the tailgate manually if it
is blocked
If the tailgate is blocked, do not operate it man‐
ually as the tailgate may otherwise become
damaged and injury may result.
Contact your service center.◀
In the event of an electrical malfunction, oper‐
ate the unlocked tailgate manually with a slow
and smooth motion.
Locking separately The tailgate can be locked separately, using
the switch in the front center armrest.
▷The tailgate is locked, ar‐
row 1.
The small and large tailgates
are locked.▷The tailgate is unlocked, ar‐
row 2.
Slide the switch into the arrow 1 position. This
secures the tailgate and disconnects it from
the central locking system.
When the center armrest is locked, the tailgate
cannot be accessed. This is beneficial when
the vehicle is parked using valet service. The
infrared remote control can be handed out
without the key.
Emergency unlocking
Pull the handle inside the trunk.
The tailgate is unlocked.
Comfort Access
The concept The vehicle can be accessed without activat‐
ing the remote control.
All you need to do is to have the remote con‐ trol with you, such as in your pants pocket.
The vehicle automatically detects the remote
control when it is in close proximity or in the
car's interior.
Comfort Access supports the following func‐
tions:
▷Unlocking/locking of the vehicle.▷Convenient closing.▷Separate unlocking of the tailgate.▷Open/close tailgate with no-touch activa‐
tion.▷Start the engine.
Functional requirements
▷There are no external sources of interfer‐
ence nearby.▷To lock the vehicle, the remote control
must be located outside of the vehicle.▷The next unlocking and locking cycle is not
possible until after approx. 2 seconds.Seite 42ControlsOpening and closing42
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