language BMW 128I CONVERTIBLE 2008 E88 Owner's Manual

At a glance
23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Voice command system
The concept
The voice command 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 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 page14.
Precondition
Via iDrive, select the language in which the
voice command system is operating, so that the
spoken commands can be identified. Selecting
the language for iDrive, refer to page80.
Symbols in the Owner's Manual
Saying commands
Activating voice command system
1.Press the button on the steering wheel.
This symbol on the Control Display and a sig-
nal indicate that the voice command system is
ready to receive spoken commands.
2.Say the command.
Text or digits that are understood by the
voice command system are displayed on
the Control Display.
This symbol appears on the Control Display
when you can enter additional commands.
*
{...} Say the specified commands word for
word.
{{...}} Indicates responses of the voice
command system.

At a glance
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5.Press the button on the steering wheel.
Notes
For information on voice control of the
telephone, refer also to the separate
Owner's Manual.<
For voice commands, bear in mind the follow-
ing:
>Pronounce the commands and digits
smoothly and at normal volume, avoiding
excessive emphases and pauses. The same
applies to spelling when entering a destina-
tion for navigation.
>Always speak the commands in the lan-
guage of the voice command system.
>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 command system and no abbrevia-
tions.
>Keep the doors, windows and glass roof
closed to prevent interference from outside
noise.
>Avoid ambient noise in the vehicle while
speaking.6.Select a track, e.g.:
{Track 1}.
The system says:
{{Track 1}}

Controls
29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to
page63
>Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play and in the instrument cluster:
>12h/24h format of the clock, refer to
page76
>Date format, refer to page77
>Brightness of Control Display, refer to
page80
>Language of Control Display, refer to
page80
>Units of measure for fuel consumption,
distance covered/remaining distances,
and temperature, refer to page71
>Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC, refer to page81
>Light settings:
>Welcome lamps, refer to page92
>Pathway lighting, refer to page93
>Daytime running lamps, refer to page93
>Automatic climate control: AUTO program,
cooling function and automatic recircu-
lated-air control activation/deactivation,
temperature, air flow rate and distribution,
refer to page98
>Entertainment:
>Audio volume, refer to page151
>Tone control, refer to page151
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer
to page151
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
>Luggage compartment lid
>Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
>In cars with convenient access
*, via the
handles on the driver's and front passen-
ger's doors
The anti-theft system is also operated at the
same time. It prevents the doors from being
unlocked using the lock buttons or door han-
dles. 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 page34.
Operating from inside
By means of the button for central locking, refer
to page32.
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.<
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.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.

Controls
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Settings and information
Operating principle
1Button for:
>Selecting display
>Setting values
2Button for:
>Confirming selected display or set val-
ues
>Calling up computer information68
3When the lights are on: instrument lighting
brightness95
4Calling up Check Control775Checking oil level213
6Setting the time75
7Setting the date76
8Viewing service requirement display72
Exiting displays
The outside-temperature reading and the time
reappear when you press button2 or if you
make no entries within approx. 15 seconds. If
required, complete the current setting first.
Units of measure
You can set units of measure.
Adjusting the units of measure
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.4.Select "Language / Units" and press the
controller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller

Everything under control
80 All of the remaining functions remain
available at all times while the stopwatch
is running. The stopwatch continues operation
in the background.<
Altering settings
Language on the Control Display
The language of the Control Display can be set.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Language / Units" and press the
controller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Languages" is selected and press the
controller.
6.Select "Text language" and press the con-
troller. You can switch to another language
for the display texts and navigation mes-
sages.
7.Select and activate the desired language by
pressing the controller.
Brightness of the Control Display
The brightness is automatically adapted to the
ambient lighting conditions. Note, however,
that you can change the basic setting while the
low beams are switched on. The setting is
stored for the remote control currently in use.iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Display settings" and press the
controller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Brightness" is selected and press the
controller.
6.Turn the controller until the desired setting
is reached.

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Digital compass*
1Adjustment button
2Display
The display shows you the main or secondary
compass direction in which you are driving.
Operating principle
You can call up various functions by pressing
the adjustment button with a pointed object
such as a pen or similar item. The following
adjustment options are displayed one after the
other, depending on how long you keep the
adjustment button pressed:>Press briefly: switch display on/off
>3 to 6 seconds: set the compass zone
>6 to 9 seconds: calibrate the compass
>9 to 12 seconds: set left-hand/right-hand
steering
>12 to 15 seconds: set the language
Setting compass zones
Set the compass zone corresponding to your
vehicle's geographic location so that the com-
pass can function correctly; refer to the world
map with compass zones.
To set the compass zone, press the adjustment
button for approx. 3-4 seconds. The number of
the compass zone set is shown in the display.
To change the zone setting, briefly press the
adjustment button repeatedly until the display
shows the number of the compass zone corre-
sponding to your current location.
The compass is operational again after approx.
10 seconds.

Practical interior accessories
106
Calibrating the digital compass
The digital compass must be calibrated in the
following situations:
>An incorrect compass direction is shown.
>The compass direction shown does not
change although the direction of travel
does.
>Not all compass directions are shown.
Procedure
1.Make sure that no large metal objects or
overhead power lines are in the vicinity of
your vehicle and that you have enough
space to drive in a circle.
2.Set the currently valid compass zone.
3.Press the adjustment button for approx.
6-7 seconds to call up C. Then drive in at
least one full circle at a speed of no more
than 4mph or 7km/h.
If calibration is successful, the display
changes from C to a compass direction.
Setting right-hand/left-hand steering
Your digital compass is factory-set to right-
hand or left-hand steering, in accordance with
your vehicle.
Setting the language
You can set the language of the display:
Press the adjustment button for approx.
12-13 seconds. Briefly press the adjustment
button again to switch between English, "E",
and German, "O".
The setting is automatically saved after approx.
10 seconds.
Glove compartment
Opening
Pull the handle.
The light in the glove compartment comes on.
To prevent injury in the event of an acci-
dent while the vehicle is being driven,
close the glove compartment immediately after
use.<
Closing
Fold cover up.
Locking
To lock the glove compartment, use the inte-
grated key of the remote control, refer to
page28.
LED hand lamp
Coupe
The LED hand lamp is stored in the glove com-
partment.
Convertible
The LED hand lamp is located in a holder inside
the glove compartment on the left side.
Insert the hand lamp into the holder with
the lens pointing toward the passenger
compartment to ensure that the lamp cannot be
switched on accidentally.<

Navigation
Driving tips
127Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
the controller.
The destination is stored in the destination
list, refer to page130.
Entering a destination by
voice commands*
You can enter a desired destination via the
voice command system. During the destination
input, you can switch between voice entry and
entry via iDrive at any time. To do so, reactivate
the voice command system if necessary.
You can have the possible commands
read aloud via {Options}.<
1.Press the button on the steering wheel
or in the center console.
Selecting country
1.Wait for the system to ask for the country of
destination.
Say the name of the destination country in the
language of the voice command system.
Entering a destination
The destination can be spelled or entered as an
entire word.
Spelling the destination
To enter a destination, spell it in the way it is
commonly spelled in the destination country.
Pronounce the letters smoothly and at normal volume, avoiding excessive emphases and
pauses.
The system can suggest up to 20 destina-
tions that meet your entries. Up to 6 entries
at a time appear on the Control Display.
The town/city can also be selected from the list
via iDrive:
Turn the controller until the destination is
selected and press the controller.
Entering the destination as an entire
word*
The names of towns/cities and streets located
in the region in which the language of the voice
command system is spoken can be entered as
an entire word.
Example: to enter a U.S. destination as an entire
word, the system language must be English.
Speak smoothly and at normal volume, and
avoid excessive emphases and pauses. 2.{Enter address}
2.Say the name of the destination coun-
try.
1.To spell the name of a town/city:
Say at least the first three letters of the
town/city. The more letters you say, the
more accurately the system will recog-
nize the town/city.
The system suggests a location.
2.Select location:
>To select highlighted town/city:
{Yes}
>To select other town/city: {No}
>To select an entry, e.g. {Entry 3}
>To show other entries in the list:
{Next page}
>To respell the town/city: {Repeat}

Destination guidance
138 1Street name for change of direction
2Distance to change of direction
3Change of direction
To exit from the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
Map display
You can have your current position displayed on
a map. After starting the destination guidance,
the planned route is shown on the map.
1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
2.Move the highlight marker to the fourth field
from the top. Turn the controller until the
desired map display is selected:
>"Map facing north"
>"Map direction of travel"
>"Perspective"
3.Press the controller.1Switching voice instructions on/off
2Starting/stopping destination guidance
3Map-guided destination selection
4Displaying the menu in which the informa-
tion last selected can be shown/hidden,
refer to Selecting destination using infor-
mation, page129
5Changing map display
> "Map facing north"
> "Map direction of travel"
> "Perspective"
6Changing route criteria
7Calling up traffic information
* manually
8Arrow to destination as the crow flies
The projected time of arrival and distance to the
destination is displayed in the bottom line of the
Control Display.
To exit from the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
At scales of less than 250 miles/500 km, you
can have the map shown facing north or toward
your current direction of travel, or in perspec-
tive. At scales of 250 miles/500 km or greater,
the map is always north-oriented.
To display the combined map/arrow view:
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Language / Units"
is selected and press the controller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller

Navigation
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until "Languages" is selected and press the
controller.
6.Select "Display arrow view" and press the
controller.
1Switching voice instructions on/off
2Starting/stopping destination guidance
3Map-guided destination selection
4Displaying the menu in which the informa-
tion last selected can be shown/hidden,
refer to Selecting destination using infor-
mation, page129
5Changing map display
> "Map facing north"
> "Map direction of travel"
6Changing route criteria
7Calling up traffic information
* manually
8Arrow to destination as the crow flies
The projected time of arrival and distance to the
destination is displayed in the bottom line of the
Control Display.
To exit from the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
At scales of less than 250 miles/500 km you can
have the map shown facing north or in the cur-
rent direction of travel. At scales of 250 miles/500 km or greater, the map is always north-ori-
ented.
Changing the map display

Select the corresponding symbol and press the
controller.
The next map display is displayed.
Changing the scale
Turn the controller to adjust the scale.
Displaying towns/cities and streets
along the route
You can have the roads and towns along the
route displayed during destination guidance.
The distances remaining to be traveled within
each section of the route are also displayed.
1.Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
2.Move the highlight marker to the third field
from the top. Turn the controller until
"Route list" is selected and press the con-
troller.
To exit from the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.