How to Switch Between Full Screen and Split Screen on BMW 525?

[LeLeo]

Open the driver's side door of the BMW 5 Series. Press the brake pedal to prepare to start the engine. Press the one-touch start button to start the engine and let it idle. The multifunction display will light up, and the vehicle's power will be fully connected. Press the central control display start button. After pressing the button, the multifunction display system will be ready for use. There are three options in the settings menu. Press the second option to enable split screen.

[AlexaDella]

I've been driving a BMW 525 for several years, and switching between full-screen and split-screen is particularly simple. While driving, use the iDrive knob to select the menu bar at the bottom of the screen, move the cursor to the 'Split Screen' icon, and press the confirm button—the interface will then divide into left and right sections. The left side defaults to showing navigation, while the right displays entertainment information. Want to return to full-screen? Just tap the double-arrow symbol on the vertical divider line in the middle. A common scenario is when navigation requires full-screen to display complex road conditions—here, a quick one-finger swipe down from the top of the screen opens the quick-access menu, where selecting 'Full-Screen View' takes just a couple of seconds. The most fun part of split-screen is the customizable combinations, such as replacing the right side with the tire pressure monitoring page, which is especially useful on long trips. However, it's important to note that operating the system while driving should never exceed 10 seconds—safety always comes first.

[VictoriaLynn]

Just picked up my 525Li recently, and its screen switching feature is genuinely intelligent. After starting the system, simply say ‘Turn on split-screen mode’ to the voice assistant, and the screen automatically splits in half. The multifunction button on the left side of the steering wheel can also toggle it: hold the ‘VIEW’ button for one second to bring up display options, then use the scroll wheel to select the split-screen layout. I prefer showing real-time fuel consumption data on the left half while keeping the music player open on the right, making my commute more efficient. The switching process is smooth and seamless—just a light tap on the small triangle in the middle of the divider instantly switches to full-screen navigation. BMW’s system also has a thoughtful design—night mode automatically reduces split-screen brightness to avoid distracting glare while driving.

[SanKinsley]

During last week's test drive of the 525, I focused on experiencing the screen operations. The split-screen switching is actually handled on the main interface of the central touchscreen: use three fingers to swipe left simultaneously to bring up the quick panel, then tap the third split-screen icon to complete the switch. Returning to full screen is even simpler—just tap the book-closing symbol in the upper right corner. Discovered a neat trick—the system automatically switches to full screen to display the camera feed when reversing. Beginners might initially struggle to find the settings option, but you can actually lock the default split-screen combination in the vehicle settings menu. The dealership salesperson also demonstrated switching via steering wheel shortcuts, though in actual driving, the touchscreen remains the most intuitive.