Deutsch
EnglishAt a glance for your BMW 3 Series 2006-2013
At a glance
This overview of buttons, switches and displays
is intended to familiarize you with your vehicle's
operating environment. The section will also
assist you in becoming acquainted with the
control concepts and options available for
operating the various systems.
Cockpit
Around the steering wheel: controls and displays
Safety switch for electric rear
windows 36
1
2
5
Parking lamps 92
Low beams 92
Opening and closing windows 36
Automatic headlamp control* 92
Adaptive light control* 93
High-beam assistant* 94
3
4
Folding exterior mirrors in and out* 47
Adjusting exterior mirrors, automatic curb
monitor* 47
6
Fog lamps 95
10
12 Buttons on the steering wheel
Telephone*:
7
Turn signals 58
Accepting and ending a call; dial-
High beams, headlamp flasher 94
High-beam assistant* 94
Roadside parking lamps* 94
Computer 71
ing* the selected phone number;
redialing if no phone number is
selected
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice acti-
vation system* 22
Settings and information about the
vehicle 72
Changing the radio station
Interrupting a traffic bulletin
Selecting a music track
8
9
Instrument cluster 12
Windshield wipers 59
Scrolling through the redial list
Next entertainment source
Recirculated-air mode 99
Rain sensor* 59
Sports Wagon:
Rear window wiper 60
Switching the ignition on/off and
starting/stopping the engine 54
10
13
Steering wheel heating* 49
11 Ignition lock 54
14 Horn, entire surface
15 Adjusting the steering wheel 48
16
Cruise control* 61
Active cruise control* 62
17 Releasing the hood 218
18 Opening the tailgate/trunk lid 30
11
Instrument cluster
1
2
3
4
5
6
Speedometer
8
Display for
Indicator lamps for turn signals
Indicator and warning lamps 13
Displays for active cruise control* 62
Tachometer 69
> Position of automatic transmission* 56
> Computer 71
> Date of next scheduled service, and
remaining distance to be driven 73
> Odometer and trip odometer 69
> High-beam assistant* 94
Engine oil temperature* 70
Energy Control* 70
7
Display for
> Checking engine oil level* 219
> Settings and information 72
> Clock 69
> Outside temperature 69
> Indicator and warning lamps 77
>
There is a Check Control
message 77
9
Fuel gauge 70
10 Resetting the trip odometer 69
12
In urgent cases, this information will be shown
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps notify you that
certain functions are active:
High beams/headlamp flasher 94
Fog lamps 95
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC is regulating the propul-
sive forces in order to maintain driving
stability 83
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in a
variety of combinations and colors.
Several of the lamps are checked for proper
functioning and light up temporarily when the
engine is started or the ignition is switched on.
Parking brake applied 56
Canada: parking brake applied 56
Engine malfunction with adverse
effect on emissions 224
Text messages
Canada: engine malfunction with
adverse effect on emissions 224
Text messages at the top edge of the Control
Display describe the meanings of the indicator
and warning lamps.
Supplementary text messages
You can call up more information on the Control
Display, e.g. on the cause of a malfunction and
on how to respond, via Check Control, refer to
page 77.
13
Around the center console: controls and displays
14
1
2
Microphone for voice activation system*
and for telephone* in hands-free mode
15 Changing
> Radio station 147
> Track 155
SOS: initiating an Emergency Request
call* 237
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Reading lamps 96
16
Park Distance Control PDC* 81
Glass roof/panorama glass roof* 37
Interior lamps 96
Sedan:
Roller sun blind* 105
Passenger airbag status lamp* 91
Control Display 16
Hill Descent Control HDC* 83
Hazard warning flashers
17 Controller 16
Dynamic Traction Control DTC 82
Can be turned, pressed, or moved in four
directions
10 Central locking system 30
11 Automatic climate control
18 Buttons on the controller 16
Selecting menus directly
Air distribution to the
windshield 98
19 Programmable memory keys 20
20 Switching entertainment audio sources on/
Air distribution to the upper body
off and adjusting volume 144
area 98
21 Ejecting a CD/DVD
*
155
Air distribution to the footwell 98
Automatic air distribution and flow
rate 98
Cooling function 99
Automatic recirculated-air control
AUC and recirculated-air mode 99
Maximum cooling 98
ALL program 99
Air volume 98
Defrosting windows 99
Rear window defroster 99
Heated seats* 45
12 CD/DVD drive
*
155
13 Changing the audio and entertainment
sources
14 Selecting AM or FM waveband
15
iDrive
iDrive integrates the functions of a large num-
ber of switches. This allows these functions to
be operated from a single central position. The
following section provides an introduction to
basic menu navigation. The control of the indi-
vidual functions is described in connection with
the relevant equipment.
Controls
1
2
Control Display
Controller with buttons
You can use the buttons to open the menus
directly. The controller can be used to
select the menu items and create settings.
> Move in four directions, arrow 3
> Turn, arrow 4
> Push, arrow 5
Operate the controller only when traffic
and road conditions allow this, to avoid
endangering the car's occupants and other
road users by being distracted.<
16
Buttons on the controller
Button
MENU
RADIO
CD
Function
Open the main menu
Open the Radio menu
Open the CD/Multimedia menu
Open the Navigation menu
Open the Telephone menu
Display the previous menu
Open the Options menu
NAV
TEL
BACK
OPTION
All iDrive functions can be called up via the main
menu.
Operating principle
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond,
refer to page 54, the following message is dis-
played on the Control Display:
Selecting a menu item
The menu items shown in white can be
selected.
1. Turn the controller until the desired menu
item is highlighted.
To hide the message:
Press the controller.
The main menu is displayed.
The message is automatically hidden after
approx. 10 seconds.
2. Press the controller.
A new menu is displayed or the function is exe-
cuted.
Opening the main menu
Press the MENU button.
The main menu is displayed.
Menu items in the Owner's Manual
In the Owner's Manual, menu items that can be
selected are set in quotation marks, e.g. "Set-
tings".
Changing between panels
After selecting a menu item, e.g. "Radio", a new
menu is displayed on a panel. The panels can
overlap.
17
Move the controller to the left or right to change
between the panels.
Adjusting settings
1. Select a field.
2. Turn the controller until the desired setting
is displayed.
White arrows pointing to the left or right indi-
cate that additional panels can be opened.
3. Press the controller to confirm the setting.
Opening the Options menu
The scroll bar on the right side indicates
whether additional menu items or set-
tings can be selected that are currently not vis-
ible.<
Press the OPTION button.
The "Options" menu is displayed.
Example: setting the clock
1. Press the MENU button.
The main menu is displayed.
2. Turn the controller until "Settings" is high-
lighted, and then press the controller.
Another possibility: move the controller to the
right repeatedly until the "Options" menu
appears.
The "Options" menu contains the following:
>
>
Screen settings, refer to page 19.
Control options for the selected menu.
3. Turn the controller until "Time/Date" is
highlighted, and then press the controller.
18
4. Turn the controller until "Time:" is high-
lighted, and then press the controller.
4
Sound output is switched off or
display for traffic bulletins*:
> "TI":
Traffic bulletins are switched on.
> No display:
Traffic bulletins are switched off.
Other displays:
Status information is temporarily hidden during
Check Control message displays or entries via
the voice activation system*.
5. Turn the controller to set the hours and
press the controller.
Switching theControlDisplay
off/on
6. Turn the controller to set the minutes and
press the controller.
1. Press the OPTION button.
2. "Switch off Control display"
Status information
Press the controller to switch on.
1
2
Time
Professional navigation system: split
screen
Display for:
Additional information, e.g. from the computer,
can be displayed on the right side of the split
screen.
>
Reception strength of the wireless
network, depends on the mobile phone
> Incoming, outgoing or missed call
> SMS* received
On the split screen, this information remains
visible even when you change to another menu.
3
Display for:
> Entertainment:
Switching the split screen on and off
1. Press the OPTION button.
2. "Split screen"
Radio, CD/DVD, external devices
> Telephone*:
Name of the mobile phone paired with
the vehicle
The split screen is activated.
Selecting the display for the split
screen content
When the split screen is switched on, you can
select the content displayed on the screen.
19
1. Move the controller to the right repeatedly
until the split screen content is selected.
Displaying brief information
...
Touch the button.
2. Select the display.
The key assignment is displayed at the top
edge of the screen.
Programmable memory keys
Displaying detailed information
...
Touch the button for an
Certain iDrive functions can be stored on the
programmable memory keys and called up
directly, e.g. radio stations, navigation destina-
tions, phone numbers and entry points into the
menu.
extended period.
Storing functions
1. Highlight the function via the iDrive.
2.
...
Press the desired key for
longer than two seconds.
Example for programmable memory
keys
Switch the voice instructions for the navigation
on/off.
1. "Navigation"
2. "Map"
3. Select the
4. ...
symbol using the controller.
Press the desired key for
longer than two seconds.
Executing a function
...
Press the button.
The function is executed immediately. This
means, for example, that the number is dialed
when a phone number is selected.
Displaying memory key assignments
Touch the button with a finger. Do not wear
gloves or use objects.
20
Letters and numbers
Entering letters and numbers
1. Turn the controller: select the letters or
numbers.
2. Select additional letters or numbers if
needed.
3. "OK": confirm the entry.
Symbol
Function
Press the controller: delete
one letter or number
Press the controller for an
extended period: delete all
letters or numbers
Enter a blank space
Switching between letters and
numbers
Depending on the menu, you can switch
between entering letters and numbers:
Symbol
Function
Entering letters
Entering numbers
Wordmatch concept during navigation
Entry of names and addresses: the selection is
narrowed down every time a letter is entered
and letters may be added automatically.
Destination search: the entries are continuously
compared to the data stored in the vehicle.
>
The only letters offered for entering
addresses are those for which data are
available.
>
Town/city names can be entered with the
spelling used in any of the languages avail-
able on the Control Display.
21
*
Voice activation system
This symbol on the Control Display and
The concept
an acoustic signal indicate that the voice
activation system is ready to receive spo-
ken commands.
The voice activation 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 activation system transforms your
oral commands into control signals for the
selected systems and provides support in the
form of instructions or questions.
The voice activation system uses a special
microphone located in the area of the interior
rearview mirror, refer to page 14.
2. Say the command.
The command appears on the Control Dis-
play.
This symbol appears on the Control Display
when you can enter additional commands.
If no further commands are possible, continue
by operating the item of equipment via iDrive.
Precondition
Via iDrive, select the language in which the
voice activation system is operating, so that the
spoken commands can be identified. Selecting
the language for iDrive, refer to page 79.
Terminating or canceling voice
activation system
Symbols in the Owner's Manual
Press the
or
button on the steering wheel
{...} Say the specified commands word for
word.
{{...}} Indicates responses of the voice acti-
vation system.
{Cancel}
In dialogs that call for a text of your choice, the
procedure can only be canceled using the but-
ton on the steering wheel.
Saying commands
Possible commands
Activating voice activation system
The commands available in each case depend
on the menu item selected on the Control Dis-
play.
1. Press the
button on the steering wheel.
To have the available commands read aloud:
{Voice commands}
For example, if "CD/DVD" is selected, the com-
mands for operating CD/Multimedia are read
aloud.
22
>
>
Do not use the voice activation system to
initiate an Emergency Request. In stressful
situations, the voice and vocal pitch can
change. This can unnecessarily delay the
establishment of a telephone connection.
Calling up functions immediately via
short commands
Short commands enable you to perform certain
functions immediately, irrespective of which
menu item is selected, refer to page 249.
Pronounce the commands and digits
smoothly and at normal volume, avoiding
excessive emphases and pauses. This also
applies when spelling out and saying a full
word during destination entry.
Example: selecting the track of a CD
1. If necessary, switch on entertainment audio
output.
2. Press the
button on the steering wheel.
>
>
When selecting a radio station, use the
standard pronunciation of the station name.
3. Select the music track, e.g.:
{C D track 4}
System says:
{{Track 4}}
For entries in the voice-activated phone
book, only use names in the language of the
voice activation system and no abbrevia-
tions.
Setting the voice dialog
>
>
Keep the doors, windows and glass roof/
panorama glass roof closed to prevent
interference from outside noise.
You can set whether the system should use the
standard dialog or a shorter variant. In the
shorter variant of the voice dialog, the prompts
and responses from the system are abbrevi-
ated.
Avoid ambient noise in the vehicle while
speaking.
1. "Settings"
2. "Language/Units"
3. "Speech mode:"
4. To select the setting:
> "Default"
> "Short"
Notes
To operate the phone by voice, refer to
page 181.<
For voice commands, bear in mind the follow-
ing:
23
