CD changer BMW 530I SEDAN 2006 E60 Owner's Manual
Page 5 of 259
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to use 
the index, refer to page236.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
22Voice command system
Controls
28Opening and closing
45Adjustments
54Transporting children safely
58Driving
74Everything under control
85Technology for comfort, convenience 
and safety
101Lamps
105Climate
111Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
124Things to remember when driving
Navigation
132Starting navigation system
133Destination entry
144Destination guidance
149What to do if …
Entertainment
152On/off and tone
156Radio
165CD player and CD changer
171External audio device
Communications
174Telephoning
187TeleService, BMW Assist
Mobility
194Refueling
196Wheels and tires
204Under the hood
209Maintenance
211Replacing components
219Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
226Technical data
231Short commands of voice command 
system
236Everything from A to Z 
Page 19 of 259
At a glance
 17Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Menu overview
Communication
>Telephone*
>BMW Assist* or TeleService*
Navigation or onboard information
>Navigation system*
>Onboard information, e.g. for displaying 
the average fuel consumption
Entertainment
>Radio
>CD player and CD changer
*
>External audio device
Climate
>Air distribution
>Seat air conditioning
*
>Automatic program
>Parked car ventilation
*
 menu
>Switching off Control Display
>Tone and display settings
>Settings for your vehicle, e.g. for the central 
locking system
>Display of service requirements and dates 
for statutory emission and vehicle inspec-
tions
>Settings for telephone
Operating principle
From radio readiness, refer to page58, the fol-
lowing message is shown on the Control Dis-
play:
To clear the message:
Press the controller.
This displays the start menu.
On vehicles with a single drive, the message 
automatically disappears after approx. 10 sec-
onds.
Start menu
You can call up all the functions of iDrive using 
five menu items.
Opening start menu
Press the   button.
To open the start menu from the   menu:
Press the   button twice. 
Page 25 of 259
At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
If no other commands are possible, then oper-
ate the equipment using iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice 
command system
Press the   button on the steering wheel or in 
the center console
or
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:
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
Using alternative commands
There are often a number of commands to run a 
function, e.g.: 
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 page231.
Opening start menuExample: selecting a track
1.Switch on Entertainment sound output if 
necessary.
2.Press the   button on the steering wheel 
or in the center console.
5.Press the   button on the steering wheel 
or in the center console. {Cancel}
{Options}
{Help}
{Radio on} or {Turn radio on}
{Main menu}
3.{Entertainment} 
The system says: 
{{Entertainment}}
4.{CD} 
The system says: 
{{CD drive switched on}}
6.Select track, e.g.: 
{Track 1} 
The system says: 
{{Track 1}} 
Page 154 of 259
On/off and tone
152
On/off and tone
The following audio sources have shared con-
trols and setting options:
>Professional radio
* or 
Business radio
>CD player
>CD changer
*
Controls
The audio sources can be operated using:
>Buttons in the area of the CD player
>iDrive
>Buttons on steering wheel, refer to page11
Buttons in area of CD player
The layout of the buttons can vary depending 
on your vehicle's equipment.
Single drive:
Two drives:1Entertainment sound output on/off, volume
>Press: switch on/off.
When you switch on, the last set radio 
station or CD track is played.
>Turn: adjust volume.
2Drive for audio CDs
3 Eject CD
4 Station scan/track search
>Change radio station.
>Select track for CD player and 
CD changer.
5Drive for navigation DVDs
Operation via iDrive
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to 
page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to open 
"Entertainment".
You have the following choices:
>"FM" and "AM": radio reception
>"WB": Weather Band station
>"SAT": satellite radio
>"CD": CD player or CD changer
>"Audio Aux": external audio device
>"Set": depending on the audio source, 
other adjustments can be made, e.g. with 
the radio: update station with strongest 
reception, save station, tone control, sam-
ple stations. 
Page 167 of 259
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 165Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
CD player and CD changer
Listening to CDs
Compressed audio files*
CDs with compressed audio files, i.e. MP3, can 
be played by the CD player, but not by the CD 
changer.
CD player: starting CD
When equipped with two drives:
The upper drive is for audio CDs.
Insert the CD into the drive with the labeled side 
up. The CD is automatically pulled in.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is on. For CDs with compressed audio files, 
it can take up to approx. 1 minute to read in the 
data depending on the directory structure.
To start playback when there is already a CD in 
the drive:
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to 
page16.
1.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the controller backwards to open 
"Entertainment".3.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "CD" is selected and press 
the controller.
4.On vehicles with a CD changer, change to 
the second field from the top and turn the 
controller until "CD" is selected and press 
the controller.
The CD player is started.
Playback starts automatically if the sound out-
put is switched on.
To eject the CD, press the   button on the 
CD player.
The CD emerges slightly from the drive.
CD changer: starting CD
1.Fill the CD magazine and insert, refer to 
page169.
2.Press the   button.
This opens the start menu.
3.Move the controller backwards to open 
"Entertainment".
4.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "CD" is selected and press 
the controller.
* 
Page 168 of 259
CD player and CD changer
166 5.Change to the second field from the top if 
necessary. Turn the controller until the 
desired CD, CD 1 - 6, is selected and press 
the controller.
At the end of the last track, the next CD will be 
selected.
If new CDs have been placed in the CD maga-
zine, playback starts with the lowest CD, e. g. 
CD 1, track 1.
The CD magazine's load status is indicated on 
the Control Display.
Selecting a track
Buttons next to CD player
Press the  button for the corresponding 
direction repeatedly until you reach the desired 
track.
The CD will start play at the start of the track. 
The track is displayed on the Control Display.
You can also change the track with buttons on 
the steering wheel, refer to page11.
Via iDrive
Select a track by turning the controller.
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the directory if necessary and press 
the controller.
2.Select the track and press the controller.
3.Select "Play" and press the controller.
To change the directory:
Select the directory and press the controller. 
Page 170 of 259
CD player and CD changer
168
Repeating a track
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
2.Select "Repeat" and press the controller.
The current track on the CD is repeated.
To stop repeating:
1.Press the controller again.
2.Select "Repeat" and press the controller.
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2.Select the desired menu item:
>To repeat the selected track, select 
"Repeat track" and press the controller.
>To repeat all tracks of the current direc-
tory, select "Repeat directory" and press 
the controller.
To stop repeating:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Repeat track" or "Repeat directory" 
and press the controller.
Random play sequence
In this mode, the tracks on the current CD are 
played once in a random sequence.
1.Select "Set" and press the controller.
Other menu items are displayed.
2.Select "Random" and press the controller.
Stop random function:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Random" and press the controller. 
Page 171 of 259
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
 169Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Compressed audio files*
1.Select the current track and press the con-
troller.
2.Select the desired menu item:
>To play all tracks of the current directory 
in random order, select "Random direc-
tory" and press the controller.
>To play all tracks of the CD in random 
order, select "Random all" and press the 
controller.
Stop random function:
1.Press the controller.
2.Select "Random directory" or "Random all" 
and press the controller.
Fast forward/reverse
Buttons next to CD player:
Press and hold the   button for the corre-
sponding direction.
CD magazine
The BMW CD changer for six CDs is installed in 
the glove compartment.
Removing CD magazine
To insert CDs into the CD magazine 1 or 
remove them from it, you must first remove the 
magazine from the CD changer:
Press button2 to eject the CD magazine1.
Wait at least 2 seconds before pushing in the 
magazine again so that the inserted CDs can be 
read in again.
Inserting/removing CDs into/from 
CD magazine
When inserting or removing CDs, remember to 
hold them by their edges, taking care to avoid 
touching the data side with its reflective CD 
memory surface.
Inserting CDs:
Insert one CD into each compartment of the 
magazine with the labeled side up.
Removing CDs:
Pull out the desired tray and remove the CD.
Inserting CD magazine
Push in the CD magazine as far as possible in 
the direction of the arrow.
The CD changer automatically reads in the 
loaded CDs and is then ready for operation. 
Page 172 of 259
CD player and CD changer
170
Notes
BMW CD/DVD players and changers are 
officially designated Class 1 laser prod-
ucts. Do not operate if the cover is damaged, 
otherwise severe eye damage can result.
Do not use self-recorded CDs/DVDs with labels 
applied as these can become detached during 
playback due to heat build-up and can cause 
irreparable damage to the device.
Only use round CDs/DVDs with a standard 
diameter of 4.7 in/12 cm and do not play CDs/
DVDs with an adapter, e.g. Single-CDs, other-
wise the CDs or the adapter can jam and may no 
longer be ejected.
Do not use a combined CD/DVD, e. g. DVD
Plus, 
otherwise the CD/DVD can jam and will no 
longer eject.<
General malfunctions
BMW CD/DVD changers and players have been 
optimized for performance in vehicles. In some 
instances they may be more sensitive to faulty 
CDs/DVDs than stationary devices would be.
If a CD/DVD cannot be played, first check if it 
has been inserted correctly.
Humidity
High levels of humidity can lead to condensa-
tion on the CD/DVD or the laser's scan lens and 
temporarily prevent playback.
Malfunctions with individual CDs/DVDs
If malfunctions only occur with individual CDs/
DVDs, one of the following factors may be the 
cause.
Self-recorded CDs/DVDs
Possible reasons for malfunctions with self-
recorded CDs/DVDs are, e.g., inconsistent 
data-creation or recording processes, or poor 
quality or high age of the CD/DVD blank.
Only label CDs/DVDs on the upper side with a 
pen intended for this purpose.
Damaged CDs/DVDs
Avoid fingerprints, dust, scratches and mois-
ture. 
Store CDs/DVDs in a sleeve.
Do not subject CDs/DVDs to temperatures over 
1227/506, high levels of humidity or direct 
sunlight.
CDs/DVDs with copy protection
CDs/DVDs are often provided with a copy pro-
tection feature by the manufacturer. This can 
m e a n  t h a t  s o m e  C D s / D V D s  c a n n o t  b e  p l a y e d  o r  
can only be played to a limited extent.
Care
If necessary, clean the reflective scanning side 
of the CDs/DVDs with a commercially available 
cleaning cloth by wiping in straight lines from 
the center outward. 
Page 235 of 259
Reference 233
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Entertainment
FunctionCommand
Tone control153{Audio}
To switch on radio156{Radio on},
{FM on} or
{AM on}
To open "FM"156{FM menu}
To open "AM"156{AM menu}
To open "All stations"156{FM All stations}
To select radio station156{Station ...} or
{Choose station}
To open "Presets"156{FM presets} or
{AM presets}
To select stored radio station156{Choose preset}
To open "Manual"157{FM manual},
{AM manual} or
{Choose frequency}, 
{Frequency ... Megahertz}
To open strongest radio stations157{AM Autostore}
To open "WB"160{Weatherband menu}
To switch on weatherband 160{Weatherband on}
To select a weatherband station160{Choose weatherband station}
To open "SAT"162{SAT radio menu}
To switch on satellite radio162{
SAT radio}
To open "Presets" of satellite radio163{SAT radio presets}
To open "All channels" of satellite radio162{SAT radio all channels}
To open "Categories" of satellite radio162{SAT radio categories}
To open CD player165{CD menu}
To switch on CD player165{CD}
To open CD changer165{CD-changer menu}
To switch on CD changer165{CD-changer}
To select CD165{CD 1...6}
To select music track166{CD track ...}
To select CD and music track166{CD 1...6 track ...}