steering BMW 128I 2010 E81 Owner's Guide

Things to remember when driving
110
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Use the parking brake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle for a
lengthy period using the clutch; use the
parking brake instead. Otherwise, greater
clutch wear will result.<
For more information about the drive-off assis-
tant, refer to page77.
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. Applying the brakes fully is the most
effective way of braking in situations in which
this is necessary. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal
every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure
that full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mode of the automatic trans-
mission, refer to page58.
Never drive with the clutch held down,
with the transmission in neutral or with
the engine switched off; otherwise, engine
braking action will not be present or there will be
no power assistance to the brakes or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals, otherwise, pedal function could be
impaired.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the automatic cli-
mate control is in operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water
under the vehicle are therefore normal.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. This can ultimately
result in a sudden blowout.<
Make sure that no liquids are spilled or
leak from their containers in the cargo

Things to remember when driving
112
Securing cargo
>Secure smaller and lighter items using
retaining straps
*, a cargo area net* or draw
straps
*.
>Heavy-duty cargo straps
* for securing
larger and heavier objects are available at
your BMW center. To attach the cargo
straps, there are two lashing eyes, arrows 1,
on the inside wall of the cargo area.
Depending on your vehicle's equipment,
there may be two additional lashing eyes,
arrows2, on the cargo area sidewalls.
Follow the information included with the
cargo straps.
Always position and secure the cargo as
described above, so that it cannot endan-
ger the car's occupants, for example if sudden
braking or swerving is necessary.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle
weight or either of the approved axle loads, refer
to page225, as excessive loads can pose a
safety hazard, and may also place you in viola-
tion of traffic safety laws.
Heavy or hard objects should not be carried
loose inside the car, since they could be thrown
around, for example as a result of heavy braking,
sudden swerves, etc., and endanger the occu-
pants.
Only attach the cargo straps using the lashing
eyes shown in the illustration. Do not secure
cargo with the anchors for tether straps, refer to
page53, otherwise, these could be damaged.<
Coupe: roof-mounted
luggage rack*
A special rack system is available as an option
f o r y o u r B M W . C o m p l y w i t h t h e d i r e c t i o n s g i v e n
in the installation instructions.
Mounting points
Fold open the cover.
Loading roof-mounted luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on
vehicle handling and steering response.
You should therefore always remember not to
exceed the approved roof load capacity, the
approved gross vehicle weight or the axle loads
when loading the rack.
You can find the applicable data under Weights
on page225.
The roof load must be distributed uniformly and
should not be too large in area. Heavy items
should always be placed at the bottom. Be sure
that adequate clearance is maintained for rais-
ing the glass roof, and that objects do not
project into the opening path of the trunk lid.
Fasten roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or falling off
during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration and
braking maneuvers. Take corners gently.
Rear luggage rack*
A rear luggage rack is available as a special
accessory for your BMW. Comply with the
directions given in the installation instructions.

Navigation
Driving tips
123Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
addition, pressing the controller makes further
functions available:
>Select the symbol and "Start guid-
ance", if necessary.
>"Exit interactive map"
>Map view
>"Display destination"
The map section around the destination
is displayed.
>"Display current location"
The map section around your current
location is displayed.
>"Find points of interest", refer to
page120.
Entering a destination by
voice commands*
General information
You can enter a desired destination via the
voice activation system. During the destination
input, you can switch between voice entry and
entry via iDrive at any time. To do so, reactivate
the voice activation system if necessary.
You can have the possible commands
read aloud via {Voice commands}.<
Saying the entries
>Countries, towns and cities, streets and
intersections can be said as whole words or
spelled in the system language, refer to
page73.
Example: to enter a destination in a US state
as a complete word, the system language
must be English.>The town/city, street and house number
can be said as a single sentence.
*
>Spell the entry if the language region and
the system language differ.
>Say the letters smoothly, and avoid exag-
gerating the pronunciation and inserting
lengthy pauses between the letters.
Entering an address*
1.Press the button on the steering wheel.
3.Wait for a request from the system.
4.Say the town or city, street and house num-
ber in a single sentence.
5.Continue making the entry as prompted by
the system.
6.If necessary, individually name the separate
components of the address, e.g. the town/
city.
Entering a town/city
The town/city can be spelled or entered as a
complete word
*.
The methods of entry depend on the nav-
igation data in use and the country and
language settings.<
2.Wait for the system to prompt you for the
town/city.
3.Say the name of the town/city, or name at
least the first three letters.
Depending on the entry, up to 20 towns/cit-
ies may be suggested.
Identical-sounding towns/cities that can-
not be distinguished by the system are
compiled in a separate list and shown as a town/
2.{Enter address}
1.{City} or {Spell city}
4.Select a location:
>To select a recommended town/city:
{Yes}
>To select other town/city: {New
entry}
>To select an entry: e. g. {Entry 2}
>To spell an entry: {Spell city}

On/off and tone
136
On/off and tone
The following audio and video sources share
the same control elements and adjustments:
>Radio
>CD/DVD player
>CD changer
*
>Video*
>External devices, e.g. MP3 player
Controls
The audio and video sources can be controlled
using the:
>Buttons near the CD/DVD player
>iDrive
>Buttons on the steering wheel, refer to
page10
>Programmable memory keys, refer to
page20
>Voice activation system
Buttons in the area of the CD/DVD
player
1Sound output for entertainment on/off, vol-
ume
>Press: switch on/off
When you switch on the unit, the last set
radio station or track is played.
>Turn: adjust volume
2 Eject the CD/DVD
3CD/DVD drive
*
4FM/AM: change the radio station wave-
band
5MODE: change the audio and video
sources
6 Station scan/track search
>Change the radio station
>Select the track for the CD/DVD player,
CD changer and certain multimedia
devices
Switching on/off
To switch the entertainment audio output on or
off:
Press button1 next to the CD / DVD player.
This symbol on the Control Display indicates
that sound output is switched off.
The sound output is available for approx.
20 minutes after the ignition was switched off.
For sound output, switch the unit back on.
Adjusting volume
Turn button1 next to the CD / DVD player until
the desired volume is obtained.
You can also adjust the volume with buttons on
the steering wheel, refer to page10.
Tone control
You can alter various tone settings, e.g. treble
and bass or the speed-dependent volume
increase.
The tone settings are applied to all audio
sources.
The settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Treble, bass, balance, fader
>"Balance": left/right volume distribution

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
139Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Radio
Your radio is designed for reception of the fol-
lowing stations:
>FM and AM
>HD Radio
*
>Satellite radio*
Selecting a station
Press the button if the sound output is switched
off.
1."Radio"
2."FM" or "AM"
3.Select the desired station.The selected station is stored for the remote
control currently in use.
Changing stations
Turn the controller and press it
or
press the button for the corresponding
direction
or
press the buttons on the steering wheel, refer to
page10.
Selecting a station manually
Station selection using the frequency.
1."Radio"
2."FM" or "AM"
3."Manual"
4.Select the frequency: turn the controller.
To store the station: press the controller for an
extended period.
Storing stations
Via iDrive
1."Radio"
2."FM" or "AM"

Music collection
156 4.Select the desired category.
5.To select the desired entry:
>Open "A-Z search" and enter the
desired entry.
or
>select the desired entry from the list.
6.Select additional categories if desired.
The tracks found are listed in alphabetical
order.
Not all categories need to be selected. For
example, to search for all tracks by a certain
artist, call up that artist only. All of the tracks
by that artist are then displayed.
7."Start play"
Restarting the music search
"New search"
Music search by voice*
For instructions on the voice activation system,
refer to page22.
1.Press the button on the steering wheel.
To select a track directly:
Say the voice command and the name of the
desired track in one sentence.
Current playback
The list of tracks that was generated last by the
music search or the album selected last.
1."Current playback"
2.Select the desired track, if necessary.
Top 50
List of the 50 most frequently played tracks.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3."Top 50"
4.Select the desired track, if necessary.
Albums
All stored albums, listed in order of their storage
dates. Symbols indicate the format.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3.Select the desired album. 2.{Music search}
3.Open the desired category, e.g. {Select
artist}.
4.Say the desired entry in the list.
5.Select additional categories if desired.
{Title …}
SymbolFormat
Audio CD
Compressed audio files

Telephone
166
Telephone
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with a full preparation
package mobile phone. After pairing a suitable
mobile phone with the vehicle once, you can
operate the mobile phone via the iDrive, the
buttons on the steering wheel or using voice
commands
*.
Once a mobile phone has been paired with your
vehicle, it is automatically recognized as soon
as it is inside the vehicle while the engine is run-
ning or the ignition is switched on. You can
store the pairing data for up to four mobile
phones simultaneously. If several mobile
phones are detected at the same time, the
mobile phone last paired can be operated via
the vehicle.
Using the telephone inside
the vehicle
Using the snap-in adapter*
The so-called snap-in adapter, a holder for
mobile phones, allows you to charge the mobile
phone's battery and connect the mobile phone
to your vehicle's outside antenna. This ensures
better network reception and consistent repro-
duction quality. Please contact your
BMW center to find out for which mobile
phones there are snap-in adapters available.
For your safety
A car phone makes life more convenient in
many ways, and can even save lives in an emer-
gency. While you should consult your mobile
phone's separate operating instructions for a
detailed description of safety precautions and
information, we request that you direct your
particular attention to the following:
Only make entries when the traffic situa-
tion allows you to do so. Do not hold the
mobile phone in your hand while you are driving;
use the hands-free system instead. If you do not observe this precaution, your being dis-
tracted can endanger vehicle occupants and
other road users.<
Suitable mobile phones
Please ask your BMW center which mobile
phones with Bluetooth interface are supported
by the mobile phone preparation package and
which mobile phones are compatible with the
snap-in adapter. By virtue of their particular
software versions, these mobile phones sup-
port the functions described in this Owner's
Manual. Malfunctions may occur with other
mobile phones.
Operating options
You can operate the mobile phone using:
>Buttons on the steering wheel, refer to
page10
>iDrive, refer to page16
>Voice commands
*, refer to page173
>Programmable memory keys, refer to
page20
Avoid operating a mobile phone recognized by
the vehicle via the mobile phone's keypad; oth-
erwise, malfunctions may result.
Start-up
Pairing the mobile phone with the
vehicle
The following prerequisites must be met:
>Compatible mobile phone: the mobile
phone is supported by the full preparation
package mobile phone. You can obtain
information on the Internet at:
www.bmw.com/bluetooth
>The mobile phone is ready to operate.
*

169
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
can be used in combination with the mobile
phone, e.g. a laptop.<
To temporarily deactivate the Bluetooth link
between the vehicle and your mobile phone:
1."Telephone"
2.Open "Options".
3."Bluetooth"
Adjusting the volume
Turn the knob during a call to select the desired
volume.
This volume for the hands-free system is main-
tained, even if the other audio sources are set to
minimum volume.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Operation via iDrive
You can operate the following functions using
iDrive:
>Accepting/rejecting calls
>Dialing phone numbers
>Selecting phone numbers from the phone
book>Selecting stored phone numbers, e.g. from
the list of received calls
>Ending a call
When the ignition is switched off or in radio
readiness, e.g. after taking the remote control
out of the ignition lock, you can continue an
ongoing call via the hands-free system for sev-
eral minutes.
Voice quality
If the person you are talking to is having difficul-
ties understanding you, this may be due to
excessive background noise. The full prepara-
tion package mobile phone can compensate for
these noises to a certain extent. To optimize
voice quality during a call, we recommend that
you:
>Reduce background noise, e.g. by closing
the windows, reducing air flow from the
automatic climate control or pointing the
open front air vents downward.
>Reduce the volume of the hands-free sys-
tem.
Requirements
>The mobile phone's pairing data are stored
by the vehicle and the mobile phone is oper-
ational.
>The engine is running or the ignition is
switched on.
>The mobile phone is recognized by the
vehicle.
Receiving calls
If you have the phone number of the caller
stored in the phone book and the phone num-
ber has been transmitted, the name of the entry
is displayed.
Accepting a call
Press the button on the steering wheel

Telephone
170 or
"Accept"
Rejecting a call
"Reject"
The caller is diverted to your mailbox if the mail-
box was activated.
Ending a call
Press the button on the steering wheel
or
1."Telephone"
2."Active calls"
3.Select an active call.
Dialing phone numbers
1."Telephone"
2."Dial number"
3.Select the digits individually.4. Select this symbol to establish the con-
nection
or
press the button on the steering wheel.
The phone number can also be entered using
voice commands
*, refer to page173.
For your phone number to be displayed to the
person you are talking to, the display of phone
numbers must be enabled by your provider.
Calls with multiple parties
You can switch between calls and combine two
calls to a single conference call. These func-
tions must be supported by the mobile phone
and the service provider.
Accepting a call while speaking to
another party
This function may need to be enabled by the
service provider, and the mobile phone may
have to be set up accordingly.
If a second call comes in during an active call,
you will hear a call waiting signal.
"Accept"
The call is accepted and the existing call is put
on hold.
Establishing a second call
Establish another call during an active call.
1."Telephone"
2."Active calls"

173
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
My Info
To start destination guidance:
1.Select the message that contains the
desired destination.
2. "Start guidance" or "Add as another
dest.".
To dial the number in the message:
1.Select the message that contains the
desired number.
2. "Call"
Messages from the concierge service
To use the address in destination guidance*:
1.Select the message.
2. "Start guidance" or "Add as another
dest.".
3.Start destination guidance, if necessary.
To dial a phone number:
1.Select the message.
2. "Call"
To save an address:
1.Select the message.
2.Open "Options".
3."Store contact in vehicle"
Deleting messages
1.Select the message to be deleted.
2.Open "Options".
3."Delete message"
Switching between mobile
phone and hands-free system
From mobile phone to hands-free
system*
You can continue ongoing calls outside of the
vehicle's Bluetooth range via the hands-free
system as long as the engine is running or the
ignition is switched on. Depending on your
mobile phone, the system automatically
switches to hands-free mode.
With mobile phones that do not automatically
switch to hands-free mode:
Depending on the type of mobile phone you are
using, it may be possible to continue the con-
versation via the hands-free system. Refer to
the display on your mobile phone and/or your
mobile phone's operating instructions.
From hands-free system to mobile
phone
If you are making a call via the hands-free sys-
tem, it may be possible to continue the call via
the mobile phone, depending on your mobile
phone model. Refer to the display on your
mobile phone and/or your mobile phone's oper-
ating instructions.
Alternatively, you can deactivate the Bluetooth
link, refer to page168.
Depending on the type of mobile phone you are
using, it may occur that calls are switched from
the hands-free system to the mobile phone if
reception of the wireless network is poor.
Operation by voice
commands*
The concept
>You can operate your mobile phone without
having to take a hand off the steering wheel.
>Most menu items on the Control Display
can be voiced as commands. The voice
activation system supports you by making
announcements and asking questions.