Central Information Display (CID): Controller

The controller is the central operating control for all comfort functions and selected options for some vehicle functions that are displayed on the Central Information Display.

The controller is located in the center console immediately behind the gear selector lever, within reach of the user (driver and front passenger).

For the first time, the controller will be available in the following two variants for the E60:

Variant A - The base variant has a mechanical latch system with 24 latches per full turn.
Variant B - On the high-end version, the tactile feedback for the rotational movement of the controller is generated electrically. The tactile feedback for the rest position, the main directions of movement and the depressed position is created by mechanical means.

The operating principle of the controller is identical with that of the E65.

The controller is slid from a rest position (center position) to which it always returns again when it is released.

Fig 1: Identifying Controller

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

The main features of the operating principle are:

The center is the rest position (center position)
Slide to select the four main directions of movement
Turn to select the function
Press to select or confirm entry.

There is also a panel of buttons immediately behind the controller. There are two variants, as follows:

Basic variant - This version comprises a menu button which is used to call up the main menu in the Central Information Display.
High-end variant - This version has two buttons. In addition to the menu button, there is a button for activating/deactivating the voice input system (SVS). The button signals are read into the controller and converted into K-CAN telegrams.

The four menu items are displayed in a cross pattern on the Central Information Display corresponding to the four main directions in which the controller can be moved.

In addition to these four main menu items, there is a fifth menu item used exclusively for individual user settings. The screen can also be switched on and off from this menu.