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EnglishAT A GLANCE -> iDrive for your BMW 4 Series 2013-2020
iDrive
AT A GLANCE
iDrive
Vehicle features and
options
Control elements
Overview
This chapter describes all standard, country-spe‐
cific and optional features offered with the series.
It also describes features that are not necessarily
available in your vehicle, e. g., due to the selected
options or country versions. This also applies to
safety-related functions and systems. When us‐
ing these functions and systems, the applicable
laws and regulations must be observed.
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2
Control Display, with touchscreen depending
on the equipment version
Concept
The iDrive combines the functions of many
switches. These functions can be operated via
the Controller and, depending on the equipment
version, the touchscreen.
Controller with buttons and, depending on
the equipment version, with touchpad
Control Display
General information
To clean the Control Display, follow the care in‐
structions, refer to page 290.
Safety information
WARNING
In the case of very high temperatures on the
Control Display, for instance due to intense solar
radiation, the brightness may be reduced down
to complete deactivation. Once the temperature
is reduced, for instance through shade or air con‐
ditioning, the normal functions are restored.
Operating the integrated information systems
and communication devices while driving can
distract from traffic. It is possible to lose control
of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only use the systems or devices when the traf‐
fic situation allows. As warranted, stop and use
the systems and devices while the vehicle is
stationary.
Safety information
NOTE
Objects in the area in the front of the Control
Display can shift and damage the Control Dis‐
play. There is a risk of damage to property. Do
not place objects in the area in front of the
Control Display.
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Switching on/off automatically
The Control Display is switched on automatically
after unlocking.
In certain situations, the Control Display is
switched off automatically, for instance if no op‐
eration is performed on the vehicle for several
minutes.
Switching on/off manually
The Control Display can also be switched off
manually.
▷ Move in four directions.
1.
Press button.
2. "Turn off control display"
Press the Controller or any button on the Con‐
troller to switch it back on again.
Controller with navigation
system
Buttons on the Controller
General information
Button Function
The buttons can be used to open the menus di‐
rectly. The Controller can be used to select
menu items and enter the settings.
Press once: call up main menu.
Press twice: display all menu items of
the main menu.
Some iDrive functions can be operated using the
touchpad on the Controller, refer to page 45.
Open the Communication menu.
Operation
▷ Turn.
Open the Media/Radio menu.
Open destination input menu for navi‐
gation.
Open navigation map.
Press once: open the previous dis‐
play.
Press and hold: open the menus used
last.
▷ Press.
Open the Options menu.
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iDrive
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Buttons on the Controller
Controller without navigation
system
Button Function
General information
Press once: call up main menu.
The buttons can be used to open the menus di‐
rectly. The Controller can be used to select
menu items and enter the settings.
Press twice: display all menu items of
the main menu.
Open the Communication menu.
Operation
▷ Turn.
Open the Media/Radio menu.
Press once: open the previous dis‐
play.
Press and hold: open the menus used
last.
Open the Options menu.
▷ Press.
Operating with the
Controller
Opening the main menu
Press button.
▷ Move in two directions.
The main menu is displayed.
All iDrive functions can be called up via the main
menu.
Adapting the main menu
1.
Press the button twice.
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All menu items of the main menu are dis‐
played.
Opening recently used menus
The recently used menus can be displayed.
2. Select a menu item.
Press and hold this button.
3. To move the menu item to the desired posi‐
tion, tilt the Controller to the right or left.
Opening the Options menu
Selecting menu items
Highlighted menu items can be selected.
Press button.
1. Turn the Controller until the desired menu
item is highlighted.
The "Options" menu is displayed.
The Options menu consists of various areas:
▷ Screen settings, for instance "Split screen".
▷ Control options for the selected main menu,
for instance for "Media/Radio".
▷ If applicable, further operating options for the
selected menu, for instance "Save station".
Changing settings
1. Select a field.
2. Press the Controller.
2. Turn the Controller until the desired setting is
displayed.
Menu items in the Owner's
Manual
3. Press the Controller.
Activating/deactivating the
functions
Several menu items are preceded by a check‐
box. The checkbox indicates whether the func‐
tion is activated or deactivated. Selecting the
menu item activates or deactivates the function.
In the Owner's Manual, menu items that can be
selected are set in quotation marks, for instance
"iDrive settings".
Changing between displays
After a menu item is selected, for instance
"iDrive settings", a new display appears.
Function is activated.
▷ Move the Controller to the left.
Function is deactivated.
Closes the current display and shows the
previous display.
Entering letters and numbers
General information
▷
Press button.
The previous display opens.
Letters and numbers can be entered via the
Controller.
▷ Move the Controller to the right.
New display is opened.
The keyboard's display changes automatically.
A white arrow indicates that additional displays
can be called up.
Input
1. Turn the Controller: select letters or numbers.
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iDrive
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2.
: confirm entry.
The first entry of the selected letter is dis‐
played.
Symbol Function
Press the Controller: delete letters or
number.
Operating via touchscreen
Hold the Controller down: delete all
letters or numbers.
General information
The Control Display is equipped with a touch‐
screen.
Switching between upper/lower
case, numbers and characters
Touch screen with your fingers. Do not use any
objects.
Depending on the menu, you can switch be‐
tween entering upper and lower case, letters and
numbers.
Opening the main menu
Tap on symbol.
Symbol
Function
Enter the letters.
Enter the numbers.
or
Change between capital and
lower-case letters.
Entry comparison
When entering names and addresses, the choice
is narrowed down with every letter entered and
letters may be added automatically.
The main menu is displayed.
All iDrive functions can be called up via the main
menu.
Entries are continuously compared with data
stored in the vehicle.
Adapting the main menu
▷ Only those letters are offered during entry for
which data is available.
1.
Tap on symbol.
All menu items of the main menu are dis‐
played.
▷ Destination search: place names can be en‐
tered in all languages that are available in
iDrive.
2. Drag the menu item to the desired position
on the right or left.
Using alphabetical lists
For alphabetical lists with more than 30 entries,
the letters for which there is an entry are dis‐
played at the left edge.
Selecting menu items
Tap desired menu item.
1. Turn the Controller to the left or right quickly.
All letters for which there are entries are dis‐
played on the left edge.
2. Select the first letter of the desired entry.
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Entering letters and numbers
General information
Letters and numbers can be entered using the
Controller or the touchscreen.
The keyboard's display changes automatically.
Symbol Function
Tapping the symbol: delete the letter
or number.
Menu items in the Owner's
Manual
In the Owner's Manual, menu items that can be
selected are set in quotation marks, for instance
"iDrive settings".
Tapping and holding the symbol for
an extended period: delete all letters
or numbers.
Switching between upper/lower
case, numbers and characters
Changing between displays
After a menu item is selected, a new display
opens.
Symbol
Function
A white arrow indicates that additional displays
can be called up.
Enter the letters.
Enter the numbers.
▷ Swipe to the left.
▷ Tap on symbol.
New display is opened.
or
Change between capital and
lower-case letters.
Operating navigation map
The navigation map can be moved with the
touchscreen.
Changing settings
Settings such as volumes can be changed via
the touchscreen.
▷ Slide in the selected field to the right or left,
until the desired setting is displayed.
Function
Operation
Enlarge/shrink
map.
Drag in or out with the fin‐
gers.
▷
,
Tap on symbol.
Activating/deactivating the
functions
Several menu items are preceded by a check‐
box. The checkbox indicates whether the func‐
tion is activated or deactivated. Selecting the
menu item activates or deactivates the function.
Touchpad
General information
Some iDrive functions can be operated using the
touchpad on the Controller.
Function is activated.
Function is deactivated.
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Selecting functions
1. "My Vehicle"
Function
Operation
Move map.
Swipe in the appropriate di‐
rection.
2. "iDrive settings"
3. "Touchpad"
Enlarge/shrink
map.
Drag in or out on the touch‐
pad with fingers.
4. Select desired setting:
▷ "Speller": enter letters and numbers.
▷ "Map": using the map.
Display menu.
Tap once.
▷ "Search fields": write letters without se‐
lecting the list field.
Split screen
▷ "Audio feedback": pronounces entered
letters and numbers.
General information
Additional information can be displayed in several
menus on the right side of the split screen, for in‐
stance information from the Onboard Computer.
Entering letters and numbers
Entering letters requires some practice at the be‐
ginning. When entering, pay attention to the fol‐
lowing:
In the divided screen view, the so-called split
screen, this information remains visible even
when switching to another menu.
▷ The system distinguishes between upper
and lower-case letters and numbers. To
make entries, it may be necessary to change
between upper and lower-case letters, num‐
bers and characters, refer to page 43.
Switching the split screen on/off
1.
Press button.
▷ Enter characters as they are displayed on the
Control Display.
2. "Split screen"
▷ Always enter associated characters, such as
accents or periods so that the letter can be
clearly recognized. The set language deter‐
mines what input is possible. Where neces‐
sary, enter special characters via the Control‐
ler.
Selecting the display
The display can be selected in menus, where the
split screen is supported.
1. Move the Controller to the right until the split
screen is selected.
▷ To delete a character, swipe to the left on the
touchpad.
2. Press the Controller.
3. Select the desired setting.
▷ To enter a blank space, swipe to the right in
the center of the touchpad.
Specifying the number of
displays
▷ To enter a hyphen, swipe to the right in the
upper area of the touchpad.
It is possible to specify the number of displays.
▷ To enter an underscore, swipe to the right in
the lower area of the touchpad.
1. Move the Controller to the right until the split
screen is selected.
2. Press the Controller.
3. "Personalize menu"
Using the map
The map in the navigation system can be moved
via the touchpad.
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iDrive
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4. Select the desired setting.
Entertainment
5. Move the Controller to the left.
Symbol
Meaning
CD/DVD player.
Status information
Music collection.
Bluetooth audio.
USB audio interface.
Online Entertainment.
WiFi.
General information
The status field can be found in the upper area of
the Control Display. Status information is dis‐
played in the form of symbols.
Status field symbols
Radio
Additional symbols
Symbol Meaning
Symbol Meaning
Check Control message.
HD Radio station is being received.
Satellite radio is switched on.
The sound output has been
switched off.
Encrypted connection not active.
Telephone
Request for the current vehicle posi‐
tion.
Symbol Meaning
Incoming or outgoing call.
Missed call.
Checking the current vehicle posi‐
tion.
Signal strength of cellular network.
Network search.
Programmable memory
buttons
Cellular network is not available.
The critical charge state of the mo‐
bile phone has been reached.
General information
The iDrive functions can be stored on the pro‐
grammable memory buttons and called up di‐
rectly, for instance radio stations, navigation des‐
tinations, phone numbers and menu entries.
Roaming is active.
SMS text message received.
Message received.
Reminder.
Settings are stored for the driver profile currently
used.
Sending not possible.
Contacts are loaded.
Storing a function
1. Select function via iDrive.
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2.
Press and hold the desired button
until a signal sounds.
Running a function
Press button.
The function will work immediately. This means,
for instance that the number is dialed when a
phone number is selected.
Displaying the key assignment
Touch buttons with finger. Do not wear gloves or
use objects.
The button assignment is displayed at the top
edge of screen.
Deleting the button assignments
1. Press buttons 1 and 8 simultaneously for ap‐
prox. 5 seconds.
2. "OK"
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