Overview for your BMW X3 2011-2017

Overview  
This summary of buttons, switches and displays  
serves as an initial guide.  
In addition, it gives you an insight into the  
principles behind the various ways in which  
functions can be performed.  
 
Overview  
Cockpit  
Cockpit  
lected special equipment or national version.  
This also applies to safety-relevant functions  
and systems. Comply with the relevant na‐  
tional regulations when using the correspond‐  
ing functions and systems.  
Vehicle equipment  
This chapter describes all standard, national  
and special equipment provided in the model  
series. Equipment not available in the vehicle is  
therefore also described, for example the se‐  
Around the steering wheel  
1
Safety switch for window in rear passenger  
compartmentꢀꢁ45  
Front fog lightsꢀꢁ103  
Rear fog lightsꢀꢁ103  
Side lightsꢀꢁ99  
2
3
4
Power windowsꢀꢁ46  
Exterior mirror operationꢀꢁ57  
Opening and closing tail‐  
gateꢀꢁ38  
5
Unlock central lockingꢀꢁ37  
Lock central lockingꢀꢁ37  
Low-beam headlightsꢀꢁ99  
6
Lights  
12  
 
Cockpit  
Overview  
Automatic driving lights con‐  
trolꢀꢁ100  
Increase distanceꢀꢁ134  
Daytime driving lightsꢀꢁ100  
Adaptive Headlightsꢀꢁ100  
High-beam assistanceꢀꢁ101  
Paddle for Cruise Controlꢀꢁ134,ꢀꢁ141  
Instrument clusterꢀꢁ83  
9
10 Buttons on steering wheel, right  
Headlight beam throw adjust‐  
mentꢀꢁ101  
Entertainment source  
Instrument lightingꢀꢁ103  
Volume control  
7
Steering-column lever, left  
Voice controlꢀꢁ24  
Turn indicatorꢀꢁ75  
Telephone, see Owner's  
Handbook for Navigation, Enter‐  
tainment, Communication  
High-beam headlights, headlight  
flasherꢀꢁ75  
Knurled wheel for selection listsꢀꢁ93  
High-beam assistanceꢀꢁ101  
11 Steering-column lever, right  
Wiperꢀꢁ76  
Parking lightsꢀꢁ100  
Rain sensorꢀꢁ76  
On-board computerꢀꢁ93  
Cleaning the windows and head‐  
lightsꢀꢁ77  
8
Buttons on steering wheel, left  
Set speedꢀꢁ134,ꢀꢁ141  
Rear wipersꢀꢁ77  
Resume speedꢀꢁ134,ꢀꢁ141  
12  
Start/stop engine and switch igni‐  
tion on/offꢀꢁ69  
Cruise Control on/off, inter‐  
ruptꢀꢁ141  
Auto Start Stop functionꢀꢁ70  
Active Cruise Control on/off, in‐  
terruptꢀꢁ134  
13 Horn, total area  
Reduce distanceꢀꢁ134  
14  
Steering wheel heatingꢀꢁ60  
15 Steering wheel adjustmentꢀꢁ59  
16 Unlock bonnetꢀꢁ212  
13  
 
Overview  
Cockpit  
Around the centre console  
1
2
3
4
Control displayꢀꢁ16  
Glove boxꢀꢁ173  
Ventilationꢀꢁ162  
10  
Park Distance Control,  
PDCꢀꢁ143  
Rear-view cameraꢀꢁ145  
Top Viewꢀꢁ148  
hazard warning lightsꢀꢁ230  
Park assistantꢀꢁ152  
Side Viewꢀꢁ150  
Intelligent Safetyꢀꢁ113  
Hill Descent Control HDCꢀꢁ129  
Drive experience switchꢀꢁ131  
5
6
Automatic air conditioningꢀꢁ156  
Radio/Multimedia, see Owner's Handbook  
for Navigation, Entertainment, Communi‐  
cation  
11  
12  
7
8
Controller with buttonsꢀꢁ16  
Parking brakeꢀꢁ72  
Dynamic Stability Control,  
DSCꢀꢁ127  
13 Manual gearboxꢀꢁ78  
9
Auto Holdꢀꢁ73  
Steptronic transmissionꢀꢁ79  
14  
 
Cockpit  
Overview  
Around the headlining  
1
2
3
Intelligent emergency callꢀꢁ230  
4
5
Reading lightsꢀꢁ104  
Interior lightꢀꢁ103  
Panorama Glass Roofꢀꢁ47  
Front passenger airbag indicator  
lampꢀꢁ107  
15  
 
Overview  
iDrive  
iDrive  
Control Display  
Information  
Vehicle equipment  
This chapter describes all standard, national  
and special equipment provided in the model  
series. Equipment not available in the vehicle is  
therefore also described, for example the se‐  
lected special equipment or national version.  
This also applies to safety-relevant functions  
and systems. Comply with the relevant na‐  
tional regulations when using the correspond‐  
ing functions and systems.  
To clean the Control Display, comply with  
the information regarding care.  
To avoid risk of damage to the Control Dis‐  
play, do not place objects in front of it.  
At very high temperatures on the Control  
Display, for example because of intensive  
sunshine, there may be a reduction in  
brightness and the Control Display may  
even switch itself off. Normal functions will  
be restored when the temperature is re‐  
duced, for example by shading or using the  
air conditioning system.  
Principle  
iDrive integrates the functions of a large num‐  
ber of switches. These functions can therefore  
be controlled from one central point.  
Switching on  
Operate iDrive while the vehicle is in mo‐  
tion  
1. Switch on ignition.  
2. Press the Controller.  
Only make adjustments if the traffic conditions  
are appropriate. Otherwise, you may become  
distracted and endanger the vehicle occupants  
and other road users.◀  
Switching off  
1.  
Press the button.  
2. "Switch off control display"  
Overview of controls  
Control functions  
Controller with navigation system  
The buttons can be used to call up menus di‐  
rectly. The Controller can be used to select  
menu items and alter settings.  
1
2
Control Display  
Controller with buttons and touchpad, de‐  
pending on equipment  
Some of the functions of the iDrive can be op‐  
erated with the touchpad of the Controller.  
16  
 
iDrive  
Overview  
1. Turning.  
Press the but‐ Function  
ton  
TEL  
Calls up the Telephone  
menu.  
BACK  
Displays the previous screen.  
Calls up the Options menu.  
OPTION  
Controller without navigation system  
The buttons can be used to call up menus di‐  
rectly. The Controller can be used to select  
menu items and alter settings.  
2. Pressing.  
1. Turning.  
3. Tilting in four directions.  
2. Pressing.  
Buttons on the Controller  
Press the but‐ Function  
ton  
3. Tilting in four directions.  
MENU  
RADIO  
MEDIA  
Calls up the main menu.  
Calls up the Radio menu.  
Calls up the multimedia  
menu.  
NAV  
Calls up the Navigation  
menu.  
17  
 
Overview  
iDrive  
Buttons on the Controller  
Selecting a menu item  
Menu points raised can be selected.  
Press the  
button  
Function  
1. Turn the Controller until the desired menu  
item is highlighted.  
MENU  
AUDIO  
Calls up the main menu.  
Calls up last heard audio  
menu, change between audio  
menus.  
TEL  
Calls up the Telephone  
menu.  
BACK  
Call up previous table.  
OPTION  
Calls up the Options menu.  
2. Press the Controller.  
Menu items in the Owner's Handbook  
Operating principle  
In this Owner's Handbook, the menu items that  
are to be selected are shown in quotation  
marks, for example "Settings".  
Calling up the main menu  
Press the button.  
Switching between screens  
After a menu item has been selected, for ex‐  
ample "Radio", a new screen is displayed.  
Screens can appear one on top of the other.  
Tilt the Controller to the left.  
The current screen is closed and the previ‐  
ous screen is displayed.  
Pressing the BACK button reopens the  
previous screen. The current screen is not  
closed.  
The main menu is displayed.  
Tilt the Controller to the right.  
All iDrive functions can be called up via the  
main menu.  
A new screen is opened and overlaid.  
18  
 
iDrive  
Overview  
White arrows to the left or right indicate that  
other screens can be called up.  
2. Turn the Controller until the desired set‐  
ting is displayed.  
View of an opened menu  
In general, when a menu is called up, the  
screen that was last selected in this menu is  
displayed. To display the first screen of the  
menu:  
Tilt the Controller repeatedly to the left un‐  
til the first screen is displayed.  
Press the menu button on the Controller  
twice.  
3. Press the Controller.  
Calling up the Options menu  
Enabling/disabling functions  
Some menu items are preceded by a check‐  
box. This indicates whether the function is en‐  
abled or disabled. Selecting the menu item en‐  
ables or disables the function.  
Press the button.  
The "Options" menu is displayed.  
Function is enabled.  
Function is disabled.  
Touchpad  
Some of the functions of the iDrive can be op‐  
erated with the touchpad of the controller:  
Alternatively, tilt the Controller repeatedly to  
the right until the "Options" menu is displayed.  
Select functions  
1. "Settings"  
2. "Touchpad"  
Options menu  
The "Options" menu consists of various areas:  
3. Select desired functions.  
"Write": entering letters and digits.  
Screen settings, for example "Split  
screen".  
"Interactive map": operate interactive  
card.  
Area remains unchanged.  
"Browser": enter Internet addresses.  
Operating options for the selected main  
menu, for example for "Radio".  
"Audio feedback": the letters and digits  
entered are read out.  
If applicable, other operating options for  
the selected main menu, for example  
"Save station".  
Entering letters and digits  
Entering letters requires a bit of practice to be‐  
gin with. Pay attention to the following when  
entering:  
Adjusting the settings  
1. Select a field.  
19  
 
Overview  
iDrive  
To enter small and capital letters and num‐  
bers, it may be necessary to change input  
mode, see page 23, for example, when  
identically writing small and capital letters.  
Example: setting the clock  
Setting the clock  
On the Control Display:  
Enter symbols as they are displayed on the  
control display.  
1.  
Press the button. The main menu is  
displayed.  
Relevant symbols, such as accents or full  
stops, for example, are always known am‐  
biguously with the letter. Options to input  
these depends on the language set. You  
may need to enter special characters using  
the controller.  
2. Turn the Controller until "Settings" is high‐  
lighted and press the Controller.  
To delete a character, stroke the touchpad  
towards the left.  
To enter a space, stroke towards the right  
in the middle of the touchpad.  
To enter a hyphen, stroke towards the right  
in the upper area of the touchpad.  
To enter an underscore, stroke towards  
the right in the upper area of the touchpad.  
3. If necessary, tilt the Controller to the left to  
display "Time/date".  
4. Turn the Controller until "Time/date" is  
highlighted and press the Controller.  
Operating interactive map and  
Internet  
The Interactive map of the navigation system  
and websites can be moved using the touch‐  
pad.  
Function  
Controls  
Move interactive map or Gesture in the ap‐  
web pages. propriate direction.  
Enlarge/reduce interac‐ Pinch or open up  
tive map or web pages. your fingers on the  
touchpad.  
5. Turn the Controller until "Time:" is high‐  
lighted and press the Controller.  
Show menu or open a  
link on the Internet.  
Tap once.  
Adjusting the settings  
Settings on the control display, such as vol‐  
ume, for example, can be made using the  
touchpad. To do this gesture left or right as ap‐  
propriate.  
20  
 
iDrive  
Overview  
6. Turn the Controller to set the hour and  
press the Controller.  
Symbol Meaning  
Data transfer active.  
Roaming active.  
7. Turn the Controller to set the minutes and  
press the Controller.  
Text message received.  
SIM card check.  
Status information  
SIM card disabled.  
SIM card not found.  
PIN required.  
Status field  
The following items of information are dis‐  
played in the status field on the top right:  
Time.  
Current entertainment source.  
Sound output on/off.  
Symbols for entertainment  
Reception level of mobile telephone net‐  
work.  
Symbol Meaning  
CD/DVD player.  
Phone status.  
Music collection.  
Gracenote® database.  
AUX-IN port.  
Reception of traffic reports.  
Symbols in the status field  
The symbols are combined in the following  
groups.  
USB audio interface.  
Mobile telephone audio interface.  
Symbols for radio  
Symbol Meaning  
Other functions  
TP  
Traffic Information switched on.  
Symbol Meaning  
Spoken instructions switched off.  
Symbols for telephone  
Symbol Meaning  
Split-screen  
Incoming or outgoing call.  
Missed call.  
General  
In the split-screen view, additional information  
can be displayed on the right-hand side of the  
screen, for example information from the on-  
board computer.  
Reception level of mobile telephone  
network.  
Symbol flashes: network search.  
No mobile telephone network avail‐  
able.  
This information remains visible in the split-  
screen view even if a switch is made to another  
menu.  
Bluetooth switched on.  
21  
 
Overview  
iDrive  
Switching the split-screen view on  
and off  
Saving a function  
1. Highlight the function using the iDrive.  
On the Control Display:  
2.  
Press and hold the desired button  
until a signal sounds.  
1.  
Press the button.  
2. "Split screen"  
Performing a function  
Press the button.  
Selecting display  
The function is carried out immedi‐  
On the Control Display:  
ately. If you have selected a telephone number,  
for example, the connection will also be estab‐  
lished.  
1.  
Press the button.  
2. "Split screen"  
3. Tilt the Controller until the split-screen is  
selected.  
Displaying assignment of buttons  
Touch the buttons with your finger. Do not  
wear gloves or use objects.  
4. Press the Controller or select"Split screen  
content"  
The assignment of the buttons is displayed at  
the top edge of the screen.  
5. Select the desired menu item.  
Clearing assignment of buttons  
1. Press buttons 1 and 8 simultaneously for  
approximately five seconds.  
Favourites buttons  
General  
2. "OK"  
iDrive functions can be saved on the favourites  
buttons and called up directly, for example  
radio stations, navigation destinations, tele‐  
phone numbers and shortcuts into the menu.  
Deleting personal data in  
vehicle  
The settings are stored for the current profile.  
Principle  
Without navigation system and  
telephone  
Only radio stations can be stored on the but‐  
tons, see Owner's Handbook for Navigation,  
Entertainment and Communication.  
Vehicle stores personal data, depending on  
how it is used, such as stored radio stations.  
This personal data can be permanently deleted  
using iDrive.  
22  
 
iDrive  
Overview  
General  
Symbol Function  
Following data can be deleted, depending on  
equipment:  
Press the Controller: deletes a letter  
or digit.  
Personal Profile settings.  
Stored radio stations.  
Press and hold down the Controller:  
deletes all numbers or letters.  
Stored favourite buttons.  
Trip and on-board computer values.  
Music collection.  
Change between upper/lower case,  
numbers and symbols  
Depending on the menu, you can switch be‐  
tween the input of lower case or upper case  
letters, numbers and symbols:  
Navigation, for example stored destina‐  
tions.  
Phone book.  
Online data, for example favourites, cook‐  
ies.  
Symbol  
Function  
Enter letters.  
Enter digits.  
Voice memos.  
Login accounts.  
RemoteApp smartphone pairing.  
or  
Tilt the Controller up.  
It can take up to 30 minutes in total to delete  
data.  
Without navigation system  
Select the symbol.  
Operating requirements  
Data can only be deleted at a standstill.  
Entry comparison  
Input of names and addresses: the selection is  
gradually narrowed down and possibly supple‐  
mented with every subsequent letter that you  
enter.  
Deleting data  
Follow the instructions on the Control Display.  
1. Switch on ignition.  
2. "Settings"  
Inputs are continuously compared with the  
data saved in the vehicle.  
3. Calling up "Options".  
4. "Delete personal data"  
5. "Continue"  
Only letters that are present in the data is  
offered for entry.  
Destination search: place names can be  
entered in the writing of any language  
available on the Control Display.  
6. "OK"  
Entering letters and digits  
General  
On the Control Display:  
1. Turn Controller and select letters or digits.  
2. If applicable, select other letters or digits.  
3. Select "OK" to confirm the input.  
23  
 
Overview  
Voice control system  
Voice control system  
Vehicle equipment  
Issuing voice commands  
This chapter describes all standard, national  
and special equipment provided in the model  
series. Equipment not available in the vehicle is  
therefore also described, for example the se‐  
lected special equipment or national version.  
This also applies to safety-relevant functions  
and systems. Comply with the relevant na‐  
tional regulations when using the correspond‐  
ing functions and systems.  
Activating the voice control system  
1.  
Press the button on the steering  
wheel.  
2. Wait for acoustic signal.  
3. Issue the command.  
Command detected by voice control sys‐  
tem is announced and displayed in instru‐  
ment cluster.  
Symbol in the instrument cluster indicates  
that the voice control system is active.  
Principle  
Through the voice control system most  
functions shown in the Control Display can  
be operated by spoken commands. The  
system supports spoken input.  
If no further spoken commands are possible,  
switch to iDrive to control the function in this  
case.  
Switching off the voice control system  
Functions that can only be used when the  
vehicle is stationary cannot be operated via  
the voice control system.  
Press the button on the steering  
wheel or say ›Cancel‹.  
The system has a special microphone on  
the driver's side.  
›...‹ Indicates commands for the voice con‐  
trol system in the Owner's Handbook.  
Possible commands  
Most of the menu items on the Control Display  
can be called up using spoken commands.  
Requirements  
The possible commands depend on which  
menu is currently displayed on the Control Dis‐  
play.  
On the control display set a language that is  
also supported by the voice control system, so  
that the vehicle can identify spoken com‐  
mands.  
For various functions there are short com‐  
mands.  
Several list entries, for example telephone  
book entries, can also be selected using the  
voice control system. When doing this, list en‐  
tries are to be spoken exactly as they are  
shown in the relevant list.  
Setting the language, see page 96.  
Having possible commands read aloud  
Possible commands can be read aloud: ›Voice  
commands‹.  
24  
 
Voice control system  
Overview  
If, for example, the menu"Settings" is dis‐  
played, the commands for the settings are an‐  
nounced.  
Through short command  
Desired sound setting can also be started us‐  
ing a shortcut.  
1. If necessary, switch on entertainment au‐  
dio output.  
Running functions using short  
commands  
Main menu functions can be performed imme‐  
diately using short commands, almost irre‐  
spective of which menu item is selected, for  
example ›Vehicle status‹.  
2.  
Press the button on the steering  
wheel.  
3. ›Sound‹  
List of short commands of the voice control  
system, see Owner's Handbook for Navigation,  
Entertainment and Communication.  
Setting the speech dialogue  
You can set whether the system uses the  
standard dialogue or the short variant,  
Help dialogue to voice control system  
Call up help dialogue: ›Help‹.  
With the short variants of the speech dialogue,  
the system announcements are played in  
shortened form.  
Further commands for help dialogue:  
›Help with examples‹: information on the  
current possible operations and the most  
important commands for this are read out.  
1. "Settings"  
2. "Language/units"  
3. "Voice contr.:"  
4. Select the setting.  
›Help with voice input‹: information on the  
operating principle of the voice control sys‐  
tem is read out.  
An example: call up sound  
settings  
Using main menu  
Commands on the menu are read out so they  
can also be selected using the controller.  
1. If necessary, switch on entertainment au‐  
dio output.  
Adjusting volume  
2.  
Press the button on the steering  
Turn the volume knob during the voice instruc‐  
tions until the desired volume is obtained.  
wheel.  
3. ›Radio‹  
4. ›Sound‹  
The volume is retained even if you change  
the volume of other audio sources.  
The volume is stored for the currently used  
profile.  
25  
 
Overview  
Voice control system  
Information regarding  
emergency calls  
The voice control system should not be used  
for emergency calls. Under stress, the spoken  
language and voice pitch can change, which  
could unnecessarily delay the connection of  
your call.  
Instead, use the SOS button, see page 230, in  
the area of the interior mirror.  
Operating conditions  
Commands, digits and letters should be  
pronounced fluently, with the usual em‐  
phasis, and at a normal volume and speed.  
Always speak the commands in the lan‐  
guage of the voice control system.  
When selecting the radio station, use the  
customary pronunciation of the station  
name as it is displayed on the Control Dis‐  
play.  
›Station ...‹, for example, Classic Radio sta‐  
tion.  
Doors, windows and the Glass Roof should  
be kept closed to avoid noise interference.  
Avoid background noises in the vehicle  
while you are speaking.  
26  
 
Integrated Owner’s Handbook in the vehicle  
Overview  
Integrated Owner’s Handbook in the  
vehicle  
Owner's Handbook  
Vehicle equipment  
Here, information and descriptions can be  
This chapter describes all standard, national  
searched via the index by directly entering a  
and special equipment provided in the model  
search term.  
series. Equipment not available in the vehicle is  
therefore also described, for example the se‐  
lected special equipment or national version.  
Selecting components  
This also applies to safety-relevant functions  
1.  
Press the button.  
and systems. Comply with the relevant na‐  
tional regulations when using the correspond‐  
ing functions and systems.  
2. Turn the Controller and select "Vehicle  
information".  
3. Press the Controller.  
4. Select desired area:  
Integrated Owner’s  
"Quick reference"  
"Picture search"  
Handbook in the vehicle  
The integrated Owner's Handbook can be  
shown in the control display. It particularly de‐  
scribes the equipment and functions present  
in the vehicle.  
"Owner's Handbook"  
Components of the integrated  
Owner's Handbook  
The integrated Owner's Handbook consists of  
three parts, which provide various levels of in‐  
formation or access possibilities.  
Quick Reference  
Browsing within the Owner’s  
Handbook  
Important information is found in the quick ref‐  
erence for the operation of the vehicle, the op‐  
eration of fundamental vehicle functions or in  
case of breakdown. This information can also  
be displayed when driving.  
Page by page with link access  
Turn the controller until the next or previous  
page is displayed.  
Search by pictures  
Page by page without link access  
Browse the pages directly, skipping links.  
Using the search by pictures, information and  
descriptions can be searched using pictures.  
For example, this is particularly helpful when  
the description of a piece of equipment is nee‐  
ded, which cannot be named.  
Highlight the symbol once. Then simply press  
the controller to browse from page to page.  
27  
 
Overview  
Integrated Owner’s Handbook in the vehicle  
Browse back.  
Browse forward.  
4.  
5.  
Press the button again to switch back  
to the last displayed function.  
Press the button again to switch back  
to the last displayed page of the Owner's  
Handbook.  
Context-sensitive help - Owner's  
Handbook for the currently selected  
function  
To switch continuously between the last dis‐  
played function and the last displayed page of  
the Owner's Handbook, repeat steps 4 and 5.  
As you do so, new screens are opened.  
Suitable information can be displayed directly.  
Calling up with iDrive operation  
Switch to the Options menu directly from the  
application on the Control Display:  
Favourites buttons  
General  
The Owner's Handbook can be stored in the  
favourite buttons and called up directly.  
1.  
Press the button or tilt the Controller  
repeatedly to the right until the "Options"  
menu appears.  
Saving  
1. Select "Owner's Handbook" using the  
iDrive.  
2. "Show Owner's Handbook"  
Calling up with display of a check  
control message  
Directly from the check control message on  
the Control Display:  
2.  
Press the desired button for longer  
than two seconds.  
Use  
"Show Owner's Handbook"  
Press the button.  
Switching between function and  
Owner's Handbook  
The Owner's Handbook is displayed  
immediately.  
You can use the Control Display to switch from  
a function, for example radio, to the Owner's  
Handbook, and then back and forth between  
the two displays:  
1.  
Press the button or tilt the Controller  
repeatedly to the right until the "Options"  
menu appears.  
2. "Show Owner's Handbook"  
3. Select the desired page in the Owner's  
Handbook.  
28  
 
Integrated Owner’s Handbook in the vehicle  
Overview  
29