BMW 128I 2010 E81 Owner's Guide
Manufacturer: BMW, Model Year: 2010, Model line: 128I, Model: BMW 128I 2010 E81Pages: 250, PDF Size: 8.24 MB
Page 21 of 250

At a glance
 19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
4.Turn the controller until "Time:" is high-
lighted, and then press the controller.
5.Turn the controller to set the hours and 
press the controller.
6.Turn the controller to set the minutes and 
press the controller.
Status information
1Time
2Display for:
>Reception strength of the wireless 
network, depends on the mobile phone
>Incoming, outgoing or missed call
>SMS
* received3Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD/DVD, external devices
>Telephone
*:
Name of the mobile phone paired with 
the vehicle
4Sound output is switched off or
 display for traffic bulletins
*:
>"TI": 
Traffic bulletins are switched on.
>No display: 
Traffic bulletins are switched off.
Other displays:
Status information is temporarily hidden during 
Check Control message displays or entries via 
the voice activation system
*.
Switching the Control Display 
off/on
1.Press the OPTION button.
2."Switch off Control display"
Press the controller to switch on.
Professional navigation system: split 
screen
Additional information, e.g. from the computer, 
can be displayed on the right side of the split 
screen.
On the split screen, this information remains 
visible even when you change to another menu.
Switching the split screen on and off
1.Press the OPTION button.
2."Split screen" 
Page 22 of 250

iDrive
20  The split screen is activated.
Selecting the display for the split 
screen content
When the split screen is switched on, you can 
select the content displayed on the screen.
1.Move the controller to the right repeatedly 
until the split screen content is selected.
2.Select the display.
Programmable memory keys
Certain iDrive functions can be stored on the 
programmable memory keys and called up 
directly, e.g. radio stations, navigation destina-
tions, phone numbers and entry points into the 
menu.
Storing functions
1.Highlight the function via the iDrive.
2. ...   Press the desired key for 
longer than two seconds.
Example for programmable memory 
keys
Switch the voice instructions for the navigation 
on/off.
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
3.Select the   symbol using the controller.
4. ...   Press the desired key for 
longer than two seconds.
Executing a function
 ...   Press the button.The function is executed immediately. This 
means, for example, that the number is dialed 
when a phone number is selected.
Displaying memory key assignments
Touch the button with a finger. Do not wear 
gloves or use objects.
Displaying brief information
 ...   Touch the button.
The key assignment is displayed at the top 
edge of the screen.
Displaying detailed information
 ...   Touch the button for an 
extended period. 
Page 23 of 250

At a glance
 21Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Letters and numbers
Entering letters and numbers
1.Turn the controller: select the letters or 
numbers.
2.Select additional letters or numbers if 
needed.
3."OK": confirm the entry.
Switching between letters and 
numbers
Depending on the menu, you can switch 
between entering letters and numbers:
Wordmatch concept during navigation
Entry of names and addresses: the selection is 
narrowed down every time a letter is entered 
and letters may be added automatically.
Destination search: the entries are continuously 
compared to the data stored in the vehicle.
>The only letters offered for entering 
addresses are those for which data are 
available.
>Town/city names can be entered with the 
spelling used in any of the languages avail-
able on the Control Display.
SymbolFunction
Press the controller: delete 
one letter or number
Press the controller for an 
extended period: delete all 
letters or numbers
Enter a blank space
SymbolFunction
Entering letters
Entering numbers 
Page 24 of 250

Voice activation system
22
Voice activation system
The concept
The voice activation system allows you to con-
trol operation of various vehicle systems with-
out removing your hands from the steering 
wheel.
Individual menu items on the Control Display 
can be spoken as commands. It is not neces-
sary to use the controller.
The voice activation system transforms your 
oral commands into control signals for the 
selected systems and provides support in the 
form of instructions or questions.
The voice activation system uses a special 
microphone located in the area of the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to page14.
Precondition
Via iDrive, select the language in which the 
voice activation system is operating, so that the 
spoken commands can be identified. Selecting 
the language for iDrive, refer to page73.
Symbols in the Owner's Manual
Saying commands
Activating voice activation system
1.Press the   button on the steering wheel.
 This symbol on the Control Display and 
an acoustic signal indicate that the voice 
activation system is ready to receive spo-
ken commands.
2.Say the command.
The command appears on the Control Dis-
play.
 This symbol appears on the Control Display 
when you can enter additional commands. 
If no further commands are possible, continue 
by operating the item of equipment via iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice 
activation system
Press the   button on the steering wheel
or
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for 
word. 
{{...}} Indicates responses of the voice acti-
vation system.
{Cancel} 
Page 25 of 250

At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
In dialogs that call for a text of your choice, the 
procedure can only be canceled using the but-
ton on the steering wheel.
Possible commands
The commands available in each case depend 
on the menu item selected on the Control Dis-
play.
To have the available commands read aloud:
For example, if "CD/DVD" is selected, the com-
mands for operating CD/Multimedia are read 
aloud.
Calling up functions immediately via 
short commands
With short commands you can run certain func-
tions directly, regardless of which menu item is 
selected, refer to page227.
Example: selecting the track of a CD
1.If necessary, switch on entertainment audio 
output.
2.Press the   button on the steering wheel.
Setting the voice dialog
You can set whether the system should use the 
standard dialog or a shorter variant. In the 
shorter variant of the voice dialog, the prompts 
and responses from the system are abbrevi-
ated.
1."Settings"
2."Language/Units"3."Speech mode:"
4.Select a setting:
>"Default"
>"Short"
Notes
To operate the telephone by voice, refer 
to page173.<
For voice commands, bear in mind the follow-
ing:
>Do not use the voice activation system to 
initiate an Emergency Request. In stressful 
situations, the voice and vocal pitch can 
change. This can unnecessarily delay the 
establishment of a telephone connection.
>Pronounce the commands and digits 
smoothly and at normal volume, avoiding 
excessive emphases and pauses. This also 
applies when spelling out and saying a full 
word during destination entry.
>When selecting a radio station, use the 
standard pronunciation of the station name.
>For entries in the voice-activated phone 
book, only use names in the language of the 
voice activation system and no abbrevia-
tions.
>Keep the doors, windows and glass sun-
roof
* or panorama glass sunroof* closed to 
prevent interference from ambient noise.
>Avoid ambient noise in the vehicle while 
speaking. {Voice commands}
3.Select the music track, e.g.: 
{C D track 4}
System says: 
{{Track 4}} 
Page 26 of 250

Page 27 of 250

Controls
This chapter is intended to provide you with
information for complete control of your vehicle.
All features and accessories that are useful for
driving and your safety, comfort and
convenience, are described here.
Controls 
Page 28 of 250

Opening and closing
26
Opening and closing
Remote control
Each remote control contains a rechargeable 
battery that is automatically recharged when it 
is in the ignition lock while the car is being 
driven. Use each remote control at least twice a 
year for longer road trips in order to maintain the 
batteries' charge status. In cars with Comfort 
Access
*, the remote control contains a 
replaceable battery, refer to page34.
The settings called up and implemented when 
the car is unlocked depend on which remote 
control is used to unlock the car, refer to Per-
sonal Profile, next column.
In addition, information about service require-
ments is stored in the remote control, refer to 
Service data in the remote control, page203.
Integrated key
Press button1 to release the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
>Driver's door, refer to page29
>Convertible: glove compartment, refer to 
page99
New remote controls
Your BMW center can supply new remote con-
trols with integrated keys as additional units or 
as replacements in the event of loss.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set many of your BMW's functions to 
suit your personal needs and preferences. 
Without any action on your part, Personal Pro-
file ensures that most of these settings are 
stored for the remote control currently in use. 
When you unlock the car, the remote control 
used for the purpose is recognized and the set-
tings stored for it are called up and imple-
mented.
This means that your personal settings will be 
activated for you, even if in the meantime your 
car was used by someone else with another 
remote control and the corresponding settings. 
The individual settings are stored for a maxi-
mum of four remote controls. They are stored 
for two remote controls if Comfort Access
* is in 
use.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer 
to the specified pages.
>Programming the Programmable memory 
keys, refer to page20
>Response of the central locking system 
when the car is unlocked, refer to page27
>Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to 
page30
>Automatic call-up
* of the driver's seat posi-
tion, refer to page48
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page60 
Page 29 of 250

Controls
 27Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play and in the instrument cluster:
>12h/24h format of the clock, refer to 
page69
>Date format, refer to page71
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page74
>Language of the Control Display, refer to 
page73
>Units of measure for fuel consumption, 
distance covered/remaining distances, 
and temperature, refer to page67
>Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC, refer to page75
>Light settings:
>Welcome lamps, refer to page86
>Pathway lighting, refer to page87
>Daytime running lights, refer to page87
>High-beam assistant
*, refer to page88
>Automatic climate control: activating/deac-
tivating AUTO program, cooling function 
and automatic recirculated-air control, set-
ting temperature, air volume and distribu-
tion, refer to page92 ff
>Entertainment:
>Tone control, refer to page136
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer 
to page136
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system functions when the 
driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Trunk lid
>Fuel filler flap
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control>Via the door lock
*
>In cars with Comfort Access*, via the han-
dles on the driver's and front passenger 
doors
In addition, if the remote control is used, the 
welcome lamps
*, interior lamps and the door's 
courtesy lamps
* are switched on or off. The 
alarm system
* is also armed or disarmed.
For further details on the alarm system
*, refer 
to page32.
Operating from inside
By means of the button for central locking, refer 
to page30.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the 
central locking system unlocks automatically. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing:
Using the remote control
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle 
could lock the doors from the inside. You 
should therefore take the remote control with 
you when you leave the vehicle so that the latter 
can be opened from outside.<
Convertible: to operate the convertible 
top with the remote control, the doors and 
trunk lid must be closed and the cargo area par-
tition must be folded down and engaged on 
both sides. Refer also to page40.<
Unlocking
Press the   button.
The interior lamps, the courtesy lamps
* and the 
welcome lamps come on.
Setting unlocking characteristics
You can set whether only the driver's door or 
the entire vehicle is to be unlocked when the 
button is pressed for the first time.
1."Settings"
2."Door locks" 
Page 30 of 250

Opening and closing
28 3."Unlock button"
4.Select a menu item:
>"All doors"
Press the   button once to unlock the 
entire vehicle.
>"Driver's door only"
Pressing the  button once unlocks 
the driver's door and fuel filler flap.
Press the button twice to unlock the 
entire vehicle.
5.Press the controller.
Coupe: Convenient opening
Hold the   button down. 
The windows and the glass roof
* are opened.
Convertible: Convenient opening*
When you are close to the vehicle, the remote 
control for Comfort Access can be used to open 
the convertible top and windows.
Hold the   button down. 
The windows and the convertible top are 
opened provided that the doors are closed.
If you continue pressing the   button, the win-
dows move up.
Watch during the opening process to 
ensure that no one is injured. Releasing 
the button interrupts the opening process.<
Locking
Press the   button.
Convertible: Convenient closing*
When you are close to the vehicle, the remote 
control for Comfort Access can be used to 
close the convertible top and windows.Hold the   button down.
The convertible top and the windows are 
closed.
Watch during the closing process to 
ensure that no one is injured. Releasing 
the button interrupts the closing process.<
Switching on interior lamps
While the car is locked: 
Press the   button. 
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Unlocking the trunk lid
Press the   button for a longer period.
The trunk lid opens a short distance, regardless 
of whether it was locked or unlocked.
The trunk lid swings backward and up 
when opened. Ensure that there is suffi-
cient clearance.
To avoid locking yourself out by accident, do 
not place the remote control in the cargo area. 
A previously locked trunk lid is locked again 
after closing.
Before and after each trip, check that the trunk 
lid has not been inadvertently unlocked.<
Confirmation signals
You can activate or deactivate the confirmation 
signals.
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"
3."Flash when lock/unlock"
4.Press the controller.
 Flashing when locking/unlocking the vehi-
cle is switched on.