Navigation System BMW 2010-5 Series

The navigation system in the 2010-5 Series BMW is typically BMW’s iDrive system. It’s a computer-based interface for controlling various vehicle functions including the audio, navigation, and climate control systems. The system uses a central controller, typically a knob or touchpad located on the center console, to input commands. The navigation system displays maps and routing information on a dashboard display and includes features such as turn-by-turn directions, 3D maps, and traffic information. Some models may also offer an optional head-up display which projects navigation information directly onto the windshield.

General information

With the help of satellites, the navigation system is able to ascertain the precise position of the vehicle and guide you reliably to any destination you enter.

⚠ Enter data only when the vehicle is stationary, and always give priority to the applicable traffic regulations in the event of any contradiction between traffic and road conditions and the instructions issued by the navigation system. Failure to take to this precaution can place you in violation of the law and put
vehicle occupants and other road users in danger.

Navigation data

General information

Navigation data are stored in the vehicle and can be updated. Navigation data and authorization codes are
available from your BMW center. Depending on the data volume, a data update may take several hours.

  • The data are updated while you are driving.
  • The update is resumed automatically when a trip is continued after an interruption.
  • All functions are available during the trip.
  • The data are stored in the vehicle.
  • After the update, the system restarts.
  • The medium that holds the navigation data can be removed after the update is completed.
Updating the navigation data
Inserting the navigation DVD
  1. Insert the navigation DVD into the DVD player with the labeled side facing up.
  2. Follow the instructions on the Control Display.
  3. Enter the authorization code of the navigation DVD and change the DVD if needed.

Removing the navigation DVD

Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series
  1. Press button 1. The DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
  2. Remove the DVD.
Displaying information on the version
  1. “Navigation”
  2. Open “Options”.
  3. “Navigation system version”:

Information is displayed on the data version.

Destination entry

In entering your destination you can select from among the following options:

  • Entering a destination manually, see below
  • Selecting destination from address book.
  • Last destinations.
  • Special destinations.
  • Entering a destination on the map.
  • Selecting home address.
  • Entering a destination by voice commands. Destination entry via BMW Assist.

You can also store a navigation destination on the programmable memory buttons.

⚠ Enter data only when the vehicle is stationary, and always give priority to the applicable traffic regulations in the event of any contradiction between traffic and road conditions and the instructions issued by the navigation system. If you do not observe this precaution, you can endanger the vehicle occupants and other road users.

Entering a destination manually

The system’s word-matching principle makes it easier for you to enter the names of streets or towns. This allows you to enter different spellings and completes your entry automatically so that stored names can be called up quickly.

  1. Press the MENU button.
  2. “Navigation”
  3. “Enter address”
Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series1

The system also supports you with the following features:

  • If you do not enter a street, the system will guide you to the downtown area of a town/city.
  • You can skip the entry of country and locality if the current entries should be retained for your new destination.
Entering a state/province
  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Enter address”
  3. Select “State/Province” or the displayed state/province.
Entering a town/city
  1. Select “Town/City/Postal Code” or the displayed town/city.
  1. Select letters, if necessary.

To delete letters:

  • To delete individual letters: Turn the controller to select , and then press the controller.
  • To delete all letters:
  • Turn the controller to select , and then press the controller for an extended period.

To enter spaces:

  • Select the symbol. The list gradually grows smaller each time you enter a new letter.
  1. Move the controller to the right.
  2. Select the name of the town/city from thelist.

If there are several towns/cities with the same
name:

  1. Change to the list of town/city names.
  2. Highlight the town/city: a preview map is displayed.
  3. Select the town/city.
Entering the postal code
  1. Select “Town/City/Postal Code” or the displayed town/city.
  2. Select the symbol.
  3. Select the digits.
  4. Change to the list of postal codes and towns/cities.
  5. Highlight the postal code: a preview map is displayed.
  6. Select the postal code.
Entering street and intersection
  1. Select “Street” or the displayed street.
  2. Enter a street and intersection as you would the town/city.

After the street you can also enter the intersection or the house number. If there are several streets with the same name:

  1. Change to the list of street names.
  2. Highlight the street: a preview map is displayed.
  3. Select the street.
Entering a street without a destination town/city

You can also enter a street without specifying a town/city. In this case all streets of the entered country are offered for selection. The related town/city is displayed after the street name.

If a town/city has already been entered, you can undo this entry. This may be practical if the desired street does not exist in the entered destination, because, for example, it belongs to another part of the town/city.

  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Enter address”
  3. Select “Street” or the displayed street.
  4. Change to the list of street names.
  5. Select “In” with the country currently displayed.
Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series4
  1. Select the letters.
  2. Change to the list of street names.
  3. Highlight the street: a preview map is displayed.
  4. Select the street.
Entering house number

You can enter any house number stored in the navigation data for the street.

  1. “House number”
  2. Select the digits.
  3. Change to the list of house numbers.
  4. Select a house number or range of house numbers.
Starting destination guidance after entering the destination
  1. “Accept destination”
  2. “Start guidance” or “Add as another dest.”
    • Set your “Route preference”.
    • Search for “Points of Interest at loc.”

Address book

Selecting a destination from the address book
  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Address book” Contacts are displayed with addresses if these have been checked as destinations.

If the contacts with addresses from the mobile phone are not displayed, they first need to be checked as destinations.

Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series5
  1. Select a contact from the list or, if necessary, using “A-Z search”.
  2. If necessary, select “Business address” or “Home address”.
Storing a destination in the address book

Store the destination in the address book after entering the destination.

  1. Open “Options”.
  2. “Store as new contact” or “Add to existing contact”.
Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series6
  1. Select an existing contact, if available.
  2. Select “Business address” or “Home address”.
  3. Enter “Last name” and, if necessary, “First name”.
  4. “Store in vehicle”.
Storing the position

Your current position can be stored in the address book.

  1. “Navigation”
  2. Open “Options”.
  3. “Store position as contact” or “Add position to contact”.
Editing or deleting an address
  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Address book”.
  3. Highlight the entry.
  4. Open “Options”.
  5. “Edit in Contacts” or “Delete entry”.
Using home address as destination

The home address must be stored as a destination. Refer to Specifying a contact as the home address.

  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Address book”
  3. “Home”
  1. “Start guidance”
Last destinations

The last destinations are stored automatically. These destinations can be called up and used as a destination for destination guidance.

Opening the last destinations
  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Last destinations”
Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series9
  1. Select the destination.
  2. “Start guidance”.
Editing a destination

Destinations can be edited, for example, to change the house number of an existing entry.

  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Last destinations”
  3. Highlight the destination.
  4. Open “Options”.
  5. “Edit destination”
Deleting the last destinations
  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Last destinations”
  3. Highlight the destination.
  4. Open “Options”.
  5. “Delete entry” or “Delete all last destinations”.

Special destinations

You can search for a special destination, e.g., a hotel or place of interest, and start destination
guidance to this location. The search can be narrowed by entering the location and type of special destination.

▶ The scope of information provided depends on the particular set of navigation data you are using.

Opening the search for special destinations
  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Points of Interest”
Special destination location

Search for a special destination according to its location relative to a locality or route.

  1. “Search area”
Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series10
  1. Select the location where the system is to search for the special destination:
    • “At current location”
    • “At destination”
    • “At a different destination”
    • “Along route”
Special destination category
  1. “Category”
  2. Select “All” or a specific category, e.g., hotels or restaurants.
Category details

For some special destinations, additional details can be displayed that are available in the navigation data, e.g., Italian-style restaurant. “Category details”

Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series11
Starting the search for special destinations
  1. “Start search”
  2. A list of the special destinations is displayed.
    • “At current location” Special destinations are listed according to their distance from the current location and are displayed with a directional arrow pointing to the destination.
    • “At destination”, “At a different destination”, “Along route” Special destinations are listed according to their distance from the location where the search is being performed.
    • Destinations of the selected category are displayed in the map view as symbols. The view depends on the map scale and the category.
  3. Highlight a special destination: The destination is displayed in the preview map.
  4. Select the special destination.
  5. Select the symbol.
  6. “Start guidance” or “Add as another dest.”. If a phone number is available, a connection can be established, if desired.
Destination entry via BMW Assist*

A connection is established to the BMW Concierge service.

  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Enter address”
  3. Open “Options”.
  4. “BMW Assist dest. entry”
Entering special destinations by name
  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Points of Interest”
  3. “Name, A-Z search”
  4. Enter the letters. Depending on the distance, the search may take some time. The list can contain a maximum of 100 entries.
  5. Change to the list of special destinations.
  6. Highlight a special destination: The destination is displayed in the preview map.
  7. Select the special destination.
  8. Select the symbol.
  9. “Start guidance” or “Add as another dest.”.
Displaying special destinations in the map

To display symbols of the special destinations in the map:

  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Map”
  3. Open “Options”.
  4. “Display Points of Interest”
Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series12
  1. Select the settings.
Entering the destination via the map

If you only know the location of the town or street, you can enter the destination using the map.

Opening the map
  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Map”

A map section is displayed on the Control Display. The map shows the current position of the vehicle.

Selecting the destination
  1. Select the symbol. The interactive map is started.
Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series13
  1. Select the destination with the cross-hairs.
    • To change the scale: turn the controller.
    • To shift the map: move the controller in the required direction.
    • To shift the map diagonally: move the controller in the required direction and turn it.
  2. Press the controller to display additional menu items
    • Select the symbol: “Start guidance” or “Add as another dest.”.
    • “Return”: return to the map view.
    • “Find points of interest”: the search for special destinations is started.
Specifying the street

If the system cannot recognize a street, it displays a street name in the vicinity or the coordinates of the destination.

Interactive map

In the interactive map, the scale can be adjusted and the visible map section can be shifted. In addition, pressing the controller makes further functions available:

Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series14
  • Select a symbol and “Start guidance”, 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”.

Entering a destination by voice commands*

General information

You can enter a desired destination via the voice activation system. When entering the destination, it is possible to change between voice command and iDrive at any time. Reactivate the voice command function for this purpose 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. 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 exaggerating the pronunciation and inserting lengthy pauses between the letters.
Entering an address*
  1. Press the button on the steering wheel.
  2. {Enter address}
  3. Wait for a request from the system.
  4. Say the town or city, street and house number 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 navigation data in use and the country and language settings.

  1. {City} or {Spell city}.
  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/cities may be suggested.
  4. Select town/city:
    • Select a recommended town/city: {Yes}
    • Select other town/city: {New entry}
    • Select an entry, e.g., {Entry 2}
    • Spell an entry: {Spell city}

▶ Identical-sounding towns/cities that cannot be distinguished by the system are compiled in a separate list and shown as a town/city followed by three dots. If necessary, select this entry with {Yes}. Then select the desired town/city from this list.

The town/city can also be selected from the list via iDrive: Turn the controller until the town/city is selected and press the controller.

Entering a street or intersection

The street or intersection is entered in the same manner as the town/city.

Entering house number

You can enter house numbers up to 999:

  1. {House number}
  2. Say the house number.
  3. {Yes} to confirm the house number.
  4. {Accept destination}
Starting destination guidance

{Start guidance} Destination guidance starts immediately.

Adding further intermediate destinations

{Add as another destination} Further intermediate destinations can be added.

Saving destination

The destination is automatically added to the list of last destinations.

Planning a trip

New trip

Various intermediate destinations can be entered for a trip.

  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Map”
  3. Move the controller to the left, if necessary.
  4. Select the symbol.
  5. “Enter new destination”
  6. Select the type of destination entry and enter the intermediate destination.
Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series15
Entering further intermediate destinations

A maximum of 30 intermediate destinations can be entered for one trip.

  1. “Enter new destination”
  2. Select the type of destination entry and enter the intermediate destination.
Navigation System BMW 2010 5 Series16
  1. Select “Add as another dest.”.
  2. Select the location where the intermediate destination is to be inserted.
Starting the trip

After all intermediate destinations have been entered: “Start guidance”

Storing a trip

Up to 30 created trips can be stored in the trip list.

  1. Open “Options”.
  2. “Store trip”
  3. Enter the letters.
  4. “OK”
  5. The trip is stored in the trip list under the entered name.
Starting a stored trip
  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Stored trips”
  3. Select the desired trip.
  4. “Start guidance”
Changing trips
Changing the trip direction

Intermediate destinations can be displayed in reverse order after destination guidance is started.

  1. “Map”
  2. “Guidance”
  3. Open “Options”.
  4. “Reverse order of trip dest.”
Rearranging the intermediate destinations
  1. “Map”
  2. “Guidance”
  3. “Display all trip dest.”
  4. Select an intermediate destination.
  5. “Reposition dest. in the trip”
Deleting an intermediate destination
  1. “Map”
  2. “Guidance”
  3. “Display all trip dest.”
  4. Select an intermediate destination.
  5. “Delete dest. in the trip”
Deleting a trip
  1. “Navigation”
  2. “Stored trips”
  3. Select the desired trip.
  4. Open “Options”.
  5. “Delete all trips” or “Delete trip”.
Word-matching principle

The system supports the word matching principle to make it easier for you to enter the names of streets or towns. The system runs ongoing checks, comparing your destination entries with the data stored in the vehicle as the basis for instant response. The user benefits include:

  • Names of specific locations can also vary from the official versions if you are using a spelling that is customary in another country

Example:

Instead of the German spelling “München” you can also enter the English spelling “Munich” or the Italian spelling “Monaco”.

  • When you are entering the names of towns and streets the system will complete them automatically as soon as enough letters are available to ensure unambiguous identification.
  • The system offers only those letters for selection of name entries that are stored in the vehicle. The system will not accept non existent names and addresses.

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