Get At a glance Guide for BMW 5 Series 4 Door Fifth Generation (2004-2010)

At a glance

This overview of buttons, switches and displays

is intended to familiarize you with your vehicle's

operating environment. The section will also

assist you in becoming acquainted with the

control concepts and options available for

operating the various systems.

Cockpit

Around the steering wheel: controls and displays

1

2

3

4

Rear window safety switch 41

6

Turn signals 67

Sedan: sun blind* for rear window 122

Opening and closing windows 40

High beams,

headlamp flasher 110

Adjusting exterior mirrors 53

Automatic curb monitor* 53

High-beam assistant* 110

Roadside parking lamps 110

Check Control 83

5

Folding exterior mirrors in and out* 53

Computer 79

10

7

Buttons on steering wheel

12 Horn, entire surface

Mobile phone* 194:

13

Steering wheel heater* 54

>

Press: accepting and ending

call, starting dialing* for

selected phone number and

redialing if no phone number is

selected

Steering wheel adjustment 54

>

Press and hold: redialing

14

Cruise control* 69

Active cruise control 70

Volume

15 Releasing hood 230

Activating/deactivating voice

command system* 23

Opening luggage compartment lid/

16

Changing radio station 172

Selecting music track 183

Scrolling in phone book and in

lists with stored phone numbers

tailgate 33, 35

17

Head-Up Display* 102

BMW Night Vision* 104

Individually programmable* 54

Leaving lane warning* 106

Parking lamp 108

Daytime running lamps* 109

Low beams 108

18

Welcome lamps 108

8

9

Instrument cluster 12

Automatic headlamp control* 108

Daytime running lamps* 109

Welcome lamps 108

Adaptive Head Light* 110

High-beam assistant* 110

Windshield wipers 68

Rain sensor 68

Sports Wagon: rear window

wiper 69

19

Instrument lighting 112

Starting/stopping engine and

Switching ignition on/off 61

10

Fog lamps* 112

11 Ignition lock 61

11

Instrument cluster

1

2

3

4

Indicator lamps for turn signals

Speedometer

8

Display for

>Odometer and trip odometer 78

>Computer 79

Indicator and warning lamps 13

Displays for

>Date and remaining travel distance

for service requirements 81

>Active cruise control* 70

>Leaving lane warning* 106

Tachometer 78

>Automatic transmission with

Steptronic* 63

5

6

7

>Sport automatic transmission* 66

>HDC Hill Descent Control* 93

>High-beam assistant* 110

Energy Control 79

Display for

>Clock/date 78

>

Check Control message present 83

Fuel gauge 79

10 Resetting trip odometer 78

>Outside temperature 78

>Indicator and warning lamps 83

>Speed of cruise control* 69

9

>Desired speed for active cruise

control* 70

12

In urgent cases, this information will be shown

as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.

Indicator and warning lamps

The concept

Indicator lamps without text messages

The following indicator lamps signal particular

functions:

High beams/headlamp flasher 110

Fog lamps* 112

Handbrake applied 63

The indicator and warning lamps can light up in

different combinations and colors.

Handbrake applied for Canadian

models

Some lamps are tested for proper function by

briefly lighting up during starting of the engine

or when the ignition is switched on.

Lamp flashes:

DSC or DTC controls the drive and

braking forces for maintaining vehicle

stability 92

Explanatory text messages

DTC Dynamic Traction Control 93

Engine malfunction with deteriorating

emissions levels 236

Text messages at the bottom edge of the

Control Display explain the meaning of the

displayed indicator and warning lamps.

Additional information, e.g. on the cause of a

malfunction and on the corresponding need to

take action can be displayed via the Check Con-

trol, refer to page 83.

13

Around the center console: controls and displays

14

1

Microphone for hands-free mode for

telephone*

and for voice command system* 23

14 Drive for navigation DVDs

15 Drive for audio CDs 168

*

142

16 Switching Entertainment sound output

2

3

4

5

Reading lamps 113

on/off and adjusting volume 168

SOS: initiating an emergency request 247

Interior lamps 112

17

Heated seats* 51

Glass sunroof*, electric 41

Panorama glass sunroof 43

Passenger airbag status lamp 101

Active seat ventilation* 52

6

7

Adjusting active backrest

width* 47

Control Display 16

Displays for menu navigation

Active seat* 52

8

9

Hazard warning flashers

Central locking system 32

PDC Park Distance Control* 90

DTC Dynamic Traction Control 92

10 Automatic climate control 114

Temperature setting,

left/right 115

Opening luggage compartment lid/

Automatic air distribution and

volume 115

tailgate* 33, 35

18 Controller 16

Cooling function 117

Turn, press or move horizontally in four

directions

AUC Automatic recirculated-air

control 117

19 Opening start menu on Control Display 17

Recirculated-air mode 117

Maximum cooling 117

Air volume 116

Defrosting windows and removing

condensation 116

Rear window defroster 114

11 Changing

>radio station 168

>track 168

12 Ejecting

>navigation DVD* 142

>audio CD 168

13 Programmable memory/direct selection

buttons 21

15

iDrive

iDrive combines the functions of a large number

of switches. This allows these functions to be

operated from a central position. The following

section provides an introduction to basic menu

navigation. The control of the individual func-

tions is described in connection with the rele-

vant equipment.

Controls

1

2

Control Display

button

Opening start menu

3

Controller

With the controller you can select menu

items and make settings:

>move in four directions, arrows 4

>turn, arrow 5

>press, arrow 6

To avoid posing an unnecessary hazard

due to inattention, both to your own vehi-

cle's occupants and to other road users: never

attempt to use the controls or make entries

unless traffic and road conditions allow.<

16

Menu overview

Operating principle

From radio readiness, refer to page 61, the fol-

lowing message is shown on the Control Dis-

play:

Communication

>

Telephone*

>

BMW Assist* or TeleService*

Navigation or onboard information

>

Navigation system*

>

Onboard information, e.g. for displaying

the average fuel consumption

Entertainment

>

Radio

To hide the message:

Press the controller.

This displays the start menu.

CD player and CD changer*

AUX-In connection

USB/audio interface*

The message is automatically hidden after

approx. 10 seconds.

Climate

>

Vent settings

Start menu

Automatic programs

Seat heater distribution*

Parked car operation*

menu

>

Switching off Control Display

Tone and display settings

Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central

locking system

You can call up all the functions of iDrive using

five menu items.

>

Display of maintenance intervals and dead-

lines for legally mandated inspections

Settings for telephone

Opening start menu

Press the

To open the start menu from the menu:

Press the button twice.

button.

17

Opening menu items of start menu

Displays in menu

With the start menu you can open the menu

items Communication, Navigation, Entertain-

ment and Climate by moving the controller to

the left, right, front or rear.

1

2

Each menu is divided into fields.

The respective active field is highlighted.

A symbol indicates the last selected menu

item of the start menu:

You can open the menu by pressing the con-

troller.

Communication

Navigation or onboard information

Entertainment

Climate

Comfort opening of menu items

Comfort opening offers you:

>

Opening of a menu item of the start menu in

the last display shown

Direct changing between Communication,

Navigation, Entertainment and Climate

menu

without pressing the

button

To do so, move the controller in the corre-

sponding direction and hold it for approx. 2 sec-

onds.

1

2

Menu items are usually grouped in horizon-

tal or vertical lists.

In these lists, arrows indicate the possibility

of accessing other menu items that are not

currently visible.

3

Settings are displayed graphically or

numerically.

18

Operating principle at a glance

Basic operation via iDrive is described in this

view.

You can view the individual steps under

Settings on Control Display, Setting time,

refer to page 86.

1

2

3

Selecting menu item:

4

5

Changing between fields:

>Turn the controller; the highlight moves

>Briefly move the controller left, right,

forward or back

>Menu items shown in white can be

selected by highlighting

>Release controller

>Active field appears lighter

Adjusting settings:

Activating menu item:

>Press the controller

>New menu items are displayed or the

>Turn controller

function is carried out

>Graphic display, numerical value or text

Selecting menu item: refer to 1

displays can be changed

>Confirmation by changing field

19

Status information

Assistance window*

1

Display for:

Additional information appears in the assis-

tance window:

>Entertainment:

Radio, CD

>

The computer or the trip computer*

>Telephone* in "Communication":

Name of linked mobile phone, network

search or no network

The arrow or map view with a navigation

system*

>

The current position

>"BMW Assist"*:

Existing voice connection with a service

from BMW Assist

Selecting display

1. Move the controller to the right to change to

the assistance window and press the con-

troller.

2

3

Entertainment sound output off

Station that transmits traffic information is

received*:

"TI":

Reception of traffic information for the nav-

igation system is possible and activated

4

5

Display for:

>

New entries present in "Missed calls"*

Roaming active

Telephoning* is possible if the mobile

phone is paired in the vehicle

2. Select a menu item.

3. Press the controller.

Reception strength of mobile phone

network, dependent on mobile phone

6

Time

Other displays:

The status information is temporarily hidden

when there are Check Control instructions or

inputs via the voice command system*.

20

Switching assistance window off/on

Programmable memory/

direct selection buttons

You can save and run certain functions of iDrive

on the programmable memory/direct selection

buttons:

1. Move the controller to the right to change to

the assistance window and press the con-

troller.

2. Select "Assist. window off" and press the

controller.

>

Destinations of navigation

Telephone, phone numbers

Entertainment:

>radio station

>CD

>CD compartment of CD changer*

>AUX

The assignment of the programmable memory/

direct selection buttons is stored for the remote

control currently in use.

To switch on, change to the assistance window

and press the controller.

Saving function

Switching Control Display

off/on

Destinations of navigation

1. Select navigation destination, e.g. in the

destination list or the address book.

1. Press the

button.

This opens the start menu.

2. Press the

than 2 seconds.

Special features:

...

button longer

2. Press the controller to open the menu.

3. Select "Display off" and press the control-

ler.

>

With the destination guidance system and

the map view started, the current destina-

tion is stored.

>

During destination entry via a map, the

coordinates at the cursor are stored, not the

current destination.

Telephone, phone numbers

1. Enter the phone number or select it in a list

of the stored phone numbers, e.g. of the

A-Z list.

To switch on, press the controller.

2. Press the

than 2 seconds.

...

button longer

If a name is assigned to the phone number, the

name will also be stored.

21

Entertainment

Displaying detailed information

In the Entertainment menu, the sound source

currently heard, e.g. a radio station, is stored,

regardless of the selection on the Control Dis-

play.

Touch the

...

button longer.

Deleting button assignments

1. Press the

button.

1. Select the desired function, e.g. radio sta-

tion or CD.

This opens the start menu.

2. Press the controller to open the menu.

3. Select "Settings" and press the controller.

2. Press the

than 2 seconds.

...

button longer

4. Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-

troller.

If the vehicle is equipped with two drives,

the current track is stored for CDs with

compressed audio files.<

5. Select "Programmable Memory Keys" and

press the controller.

Run function

Press the

...

button.

When selecting a phone number, the connec-

tion is also established, or the destination guid-

ance is started when a navigation destination is

selected.

Displaying button assignment

You can display the assignment of the buttons

by touching them with your finger. Please do

not wear gloves when doing so. Touching with

an object, e.g. a pen, does not function.

6. Select "Delete assignment of all memory

keys" and press the controller.

7. Acknowledge with "Yes".

Displaying short info

Touch the

...

button.

The assignment of the buttons is displayed.

Destination of navigation system

Entertainment source

Telephone, phone number

Not assigned

22

Voice command system*

The concept

Voice commands

The voice command system allows you to con-

trol operation of various vehicle systems with-

out taking your hands off the steering wheel.

Activating voice command system

1. Press the

button.

Individual menu items on the Control Display

can be spoken as commands. This frees you of

having to use the controller.

The voice command system transforms your

oral commands into control signals for the

selected systems and provides support in the

form of instructions or questions.

The voice command system uses a special

microphone located in the area of the interior

rearview mirror, refer to page 14.

This symbol on the Control Display and

an acoustic signal tell you that the voice

command system can respond to com-

mands.

Precondition

Via iDrive, set the language that applies for the

voice command system in order to enable iden-

tification of the spoken commands. To set the

language of iDrive, refer to page 88.

Symbols in Owner's Manual

{...}Say the specified commands word for

word.

{{...}}Indicates responses of the voice

command system.

2. Say the command.

The command is displayed on the Control

Display.

This symbol is shown on the Control Display

when you can input additional commands.

23

If no other commands are possible, then oper-

ate the equipment via iDrive.

Example: selecting a track

1. Switch on Entertainment sound output if

necessary.

Terminating or canceling voice

command system

2. Press the

button on the steering wheel.

3. {Entertainment}

Press the

or

button on the steering wheel

The system says:

{Cancel}

Commands

Having possible commands read aloud

You can have the system read aloud the possi-

ble commands related to the selected menu

item on the Control Display.

To have the system list the possible com-

mands:

{Options}

4. {CD}

The system says:

For example, if you have selected "CD", the

system will read aloud the possible commands

for operating the CD player and the CD

changer*.

Opening help

{Help}

Using alternative commands

There are often a number of commands to run a

function, e.g.:

5. Press the

button on the steering wheel.

{Radio on}or {Turn radio on}

6. Select track, e.g.:

{Track 1}

Running functions directly with short

commands

The system says:

With short commands you can run certain func-

tions directly, regardless of which menu item is

selected, refer to page 259.

Opening start menu

{Main menu}

24

Notes

The mobile phone can also be operated

with voice commands, refer to

page 205.<

For voice commands, bear the following in

mind:

>

Say the commands and numbers smoothly

and at normal volume, avoiding excessive

emphasis and pauses. This also applies to

spelling when entering the destination.

>

Always issue commands in the language of

the voice command system.

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 command system and do not use

abbreviations.

>

Keep the doors, windows and glass sun-

roof* or panorama glass sunroof* closed to

prevent interference from ambient noise.

Avoid making other noise in the vehicle

while speaking.

25

At a glance for Your BMW 5 Series 4 Door Fifth Generation (2004-2010)

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