Get AT A GLANCE -> iDrive Guide for BMW 4 Series 4 Door First Generation (2013-2020)

iDrive

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iDrive

Vehicle features and

options

Control elements

Overview

This chapter describes all standard, country-spe‐

cific and optional features offered with the series.

It also describes features that are not necessarily

available in your vehicle, e. g., due to the selected

options or country versions. This also applies to

safety-related functions and systems. When us‐

ing these functions and systems, the applicable

laws and regulations must be observed.

1

2

Control Display, with touchscreen depending

on the equipment version

Concept

The iDrive combines the functions of many

switches. These functions can be operated via

the Controller and, depending on the equipment

version, the touchscreen.

Controller with buttons and, depending on

the equipment version, with touchpad

Control Display

General information

To clean the Control Display, follow the care in‐

structions, refer to page 290.

Safety information

WARNING

In the case of very high temperatures on the

Control Display, for instance due to intense solar

radiation, the brightness may be reduced down

to complete deactivation. Once the temperature

is reduced, for instance through shade or air con‐

ditioning, the normal functions are restored.

Operating the integrated information systems

and communication devices while driving can

distract from traffic. It is possible to lose control

of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.

Only use the systems or devices when the traf‐

fic situation allows. As warranted, stop and use

the systems and devices while the vehicle is

stationary.

Safety information

NOTE

Objects in the area in the front of the Control

Display can shift and damage the Control Dis‐

play. There is a risk of damage to property. Do

not place objects in the area in front of the

Control Display.

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Switching on/off automatically

The Control Display is switched on automatically

after unlocking.

In certain situations, the Control Display is

switched off automatically, for instance if no op‐

eration is performed on the vehicle for several

minutes.

Switching on/off manually

The Control Display can also be switched off

manually.

▷ Move in four directions.

1.

Press button.

2. "Turn off control display"

Press the Controller or any button on the Con‐

troller to switch it back on again.

Controller with navigation

system

Buttons on the Controller

General information

Button Function

The buttons can be used to open the menus di‐

rectly. The Controller can be used to select

menu items and enter the settings.

Press once: call up main menu.

Press twice: display all menu items of

the main menu.

Some iDrive functions can be operated using the

touchpad on the Controller, refer to page 45.

Open the Communication menu.

Operation

▷ Turn.

Open the Media/Radio menu.

Open destination input menu for navi‐

gation.

Open navigation map.

Press once: open the previous dis‐

play.

Press and hold: open the menus used

last.

▷ Press.

Open the Options menu.

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Buttons on the Controller

Controller without navigation

system

Button Function

General information

Press once: call up main menu.

The buttons can be used to open the menus di‐

rectly. The Controller can be used to select

menu items and enter the settings.

Press twice: display all menu items of

the main menu.

Open the Communication menu.

Operation

▷ Turn.

Open the Media/Radio menu.

Press once: open the previous dis‐

play.

Press and hold: open the menus used

last.

Open the Options menu.

▷ Press.

Operating with the

Controller

Opening the main menu

Press button.

▷ Move in two directions.

The main menu is displayed.

All iDrive functions can be called up via the main

menu.

Adapting the main menu

1.

Press the button twice.

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All menu items of the main menu are dis‐

played.

Opening recently used menus

The recently used menus can be displayed.

2. Select a menu item.

Press and hold this button.

3. To move the menu item to the desired posi‐

tion, tilt the Controller to the right or left.

Opening the Options menu

Selecting menu items

Highlighted menu items can be selected.

Press button.

1. Turn the Controller until the desired menu

item is highlighted.

The "Options" menu is displayed.

The Options menu consists of various areas:

▷ Screen settings, for instance "Split screen".

▷ Control options for the selected main menu,

for instance for "Media/Radio".

▷ If applicable, further operating options for the

selected menu, for instance "Save station".

Changing settings

1. Select a field.

2. Press the Controller.

2. Turn the Controller until the desired setting is

displayed.

Menu items in the Owner's

Manual

3. Press the Controller.

Activating/deactivating the

functions

Several menu items are preceded by a check‐

box. The checkbox indicates whether the func‐

tion is activated or deactivated. Selecting the

menu item activates or deactivates the function.

In the Owner's Manual, menu items that can be

selected are set in quotation marks, for instance

"iDrive settings".

Changing between displays

After a menu item is selected, for instance

"iDrive settings", a new display appears.

Function is activated.

▷ Move the Controller to the left.

Function is deactivated.

Closes the current display and shows the

previous display.

Entering letters and numbers

General information

▷

Press button.

The previous display opens.

Letters and numbers can be entered via the

Controller.

▷ Move the Controller to the right.

New display is opened.

The keyboard's display changes automatically.

A white arrow indicates that additional displays

can be called up.

Input

1. Turn the Controller: select letters or numbers.

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2.

: confirm entry.

The first entry of the selected letter is dis‐

played.

Symbol Function

Press the Controller: delete letters or

number.

Operating via touchscreen

Hold the Controller down: delete all

letters or numbers.

General information

The Control Display is equipped with a touch‐

screen.

Switching between upper/lower

case, numbers and characters

Touch screen with your fingers. Do not use any

objects.

Depending on the menu, you can switch be‐

tween entering upper and lower case, letters and

numbers.

Opening the main menu

Tap on symbol.

Symbol

Function

Enter the letters.

Enter the numbers.

or

Change between capital and

lower-case letters.

Entry comparison

When entering names and addresses, the choice

is narrowed down with every letter entered and

letters may be added automatically.

The main menu is displayed.

All iDrive functions can be called up via the main

menu.

Entries are continuously compared with data

stored in the vehicle.

Adapting the main menu

▷ Only those letters are offered during entry for

which data is available.

1.

Tap on symbol.

All menu items of the main menu are dis‐

played.

▷ Destination search: place names can be en‐

tered in all languages that are available in

iDrive.

2. Drag the menu item to the desired position

on the right or left.

Using alphabetical lists

For alphabetical lists with more than 30 entries,

the letters for which there is an entry are dis‐

played at the left edge.

Selecting menu items

Tap desired menu item.

1. Turn the Controller to the left or right quickly.

All letters for which there are entries are dis‐

played on the left edge.

2. Select the first letter of the desired entry.

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Entering letters and numbers

General information

Letters and numbers can be entered using the

Controller or the touchscreen.

The keyboard's display changes automatically.

Symbol Function

Tapping the symbol: delete the letter

or number.

Menu items in the Owner's

Manual

In the Owner's Manual, menu items that can be

selected are set in quotation marks, for instance

"iDrive settings".

Tapping and holding the symbol for

an extended period: delete all letters

or numbers.

Switching between upper/lower

case, numbers and characters

Changing between displays

After a menu item is selected, a new display

opens.

Symbol

Function

A white arrow indicates that additional displays

can be called up.

Enter the letters.

Enter the numbers.

▷ Swipe to the left.

▷ Tap on symbol.

New display is opened.

or

Change between capital and

lower-case letters.

Operating navigation map

The navigation map can be moved with the

touchscreen.

Changing settings

Settings such as volumes can be changed via

the touchscreen.

▷ Slide in the selected field to the right or left,

until the desired setting is displayed.

Function

Operation

Enlarge/shrink

map.

Drag in or out with the fin‐

gers.

▷

,

Tap on symbol.

Activating/deactivating the

functions

Several menu items are preceded by a check‐

box. The checkbox indicates whether the func‐

tion is activated or deactivated. Selecting the

menu item activates or deactivates the function.

Touchpad

General information

Some iDrive functions can be operated using the

touchpad on the Controller.

Function is activated.

Function is deactivated.

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Selecting functions

1. "My Vehicle"

Function

Operation

Move map.

Swipe in the appropriate di‐

rection.

2. "iDrive settings"

3. "Touchpad"

Enlarge/shrink

map.

Drag in or out on the touch‐

pad with fingers.

4. Select desired setting:

▷ "Speller": enter letters and numbers.

▷ "Map": using the map.

Display menu.

Tap once.

▷ "Search fields": write letters without se‐

lecting the list field.

Split screen

▷ "Audio feedback": pronounces entered

letters and numbers.

General information

Additional information can be displayed in several

menus on the right side of the split screen, for in‐

stance information from the Onboard Computer.

Entering letters and numbers

Entering letters requires some practice at the be‐

ginning. When entering, pay attention to the fol‐

lowing:

In the divided screen view, the so-called split

screen, this information remains visible even

when switching to another menu.

▷ The system distinguishes between upper

and lower-case letters and numbers. To

make entries, it may be necessary to change

between upper and lower-case letters, num‐

bers and characters, refer to page 43.

Switching the split screen on/off

1.

Press button.

▷ Enter characters as they are displayed on the

Control Display.

2. "Split screen"

▷ Always enter associated characters, such as

accents or periods so that the letter can be

clearly recognized. The set language deter‐

mines what input is possible. Where neces‐

sary, enter special characters via the Control‐

ler.

Selecting the display

The display can be selected in menus, where the

split screen is supported.

1. Move the Controller to the right until the split

screen is selected.

▷ To delete a character, swipe to the left on the

touchpad.

2. Press the Controller.

3. Select the desired setting.

▷ To enter a blank space, swipe to the right in

the center of the touchpad.

Specifying the number of

displays

▷ To enter a hyphen, swipe to the right in the

upper area of the touchpad.

It is possible to specify the number of displays.

▷ To enter an underscore, swipe to the right in

the lower area of the touchpad.

1. Move the Controller to the right until the split

screen is selected.

2. Press the Controller.

3. "Personalize menu"

Using the map

The map in the navigation system can be moved

via the touchpad.

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4. Select the desired setting.

Entertainment

5. Move the Controller to the left.

Symbol

Meaning

CD/DVD player.

Status information

Music collection.

Bluetooth audio.

USB audio interface.

Online Entertainment.

WiFi.

General information

The status field can be found in the upper area of

the Control Display. Status information is dis‐

played in the form of symbols.

Status field symbols

Radio

Additional symbols

Symbol Meaning

Check Control message.

HD Radio station is being received.

Satellite radio is switched on.

The sound output has been

switched off.

Encrypted connection not active.

Telephone

Request for the current vehicle posi‐

tion.

Symbol Meaning

Incoming or outgoing call.

Missed call.

Checking the current vehicle posi‐

tion.

Signal strength of cellular network.

Network search.

Programmable memory

buttons

Cellular network is not available.

The critical charge state of the mo‐

bile phone has been reached.

General information

The iDrive functions can be stored on the pro‐

grammable memory buttons and called up di‐

rectly, for instance radio stations, navigation des‐

tinations, phone numbers and menu entries.

Roaming is active.

SMS text message received.

Message received.

Reminder.

Settings are stored for the driver profile currently

used.

Sending not possible.

Contacts are loaded.

Storing a function

1. Select function via iDrive.

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2.

Press and hold the desired button

until a signal sounds.

Running a function

Press button.

The function will work immediately. This means,

for instance that the number is dialed when a

phone number is selected.

Displaying the key assignment

Touch buttons with finger. Do not wear gloves or

use objects.

The button assignment is displayed at the top

edge of screen.

Deleting the button assignments

1. Press buttons 1 and 8 simultaneously for ap‐

prox. 5 seconds.

2. "OK"

48

AT A GLANCE -> iDrive for Your BMW 4 Series 4 Door First Generation (2013-2020)

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