At a glance -> iDrive for your BMW X3 2018-2024
At a glance
iDrive
iDrive
Control Display
Hints
Vehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
▷
To clean the Control Display, follow the
care instructions.
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Do not place objects close to the Control
Display; otherwise, the Control Display can
be damaged.
▷
In the case of very high temperatures on
the Control Display, e.g. due to intense so‐
lar radiation, the brightness may be re‐
duced down to complete deactivation.
Once the temperature is reduced, e.g.
through shadow or climate control system,
the normal functions are re-established.
The concept
The iDrive combines the functions of many
switches. Thus, these functions can be oper‐
ated from a central location.
Switching on
Using the iDrive during a trip
1. Switch on the ignition.
2. Press the controller.
To avoid becoming distracted and pos‐
ing an unnecessary hazard to your vehicle's
occupants and to other traffic, never attempt
to use the controls or enter information unless
traffic and road conditions allow it.◀
Switch off
1.
Press button.
2. "Turn off control display"
Control elements at a glance
Control elements
Controller with navigation system
The buttons can be used to open the menus
directly. The controller can be used to select
menu items and enter the settings.
1
2
Control Display
Controller with buttons and, depending on
the equipment version, with touchpad
Some iDrive functions can be operated using
the touchpad on the controller.
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iDrive
At a glance
1. Turn.
Press button Function
BACK
Displays the previous panel.
Opens the Options menu.
OPTION
Controller without navigation system
The buttons can be used to open the menus
directly. The controller can be used to select
menu items and enter the settings.
1. Turn.
2. Press.
2. Press.
3. Move in four directions.
3. Move in two directions.
Buttons on controller
Press button Function
MENU
RADIO
MEDIA
NAV
Open the main menu.
Opens the Radio menu.
Opens the Multimedia menu.
Opens the Navigation menu.
Opens the phone menu.
TEL
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iDrive
Buttons on controller
Selecting menu items
Highlighted menu items can be selected.
Press button Function
1. Turn the controller until the desired menu
item is highlighted.
MENU
Audio
Open the main menu.
Open audio menu last listened
to, switch between audio me‐
nus.
TEL
Opens the phone menu.
Open previous panel.
BACK
OPTION
Opens the Options menu.
2. Press the controller.
Operating concept
Menu items in the Owner's Manual
Opening the main menu
In the Owner's Manual, menu items that can be
selected are set in quotation marks, e.g.,
"Settings".
Press button.
Changing between panels
After a menu item is selected, e.g., "Radio", a
new panel is displayed. Panels can overlap.
▷
Move the controller to the left.
Closes current display and shows previous
display.
Reopens previous display by pressing
BACK button. In this case, the current
panel is not closed.
The main menu is displayed.
All iDrive functions can be called up via the
main menu.
▷
Move the controller to the right.
Opens new display on top of previous
screen.
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iDrive
At a glance
White arrows pointing to the left or right indi‐
cate that additional panels can be opened.
2. Turn the controller until the desired setting
is displayed.
Display of an opened menu
When selecting a menu, it generally opens with
the panel that was last selected in that menu.
To display the first panel of a menu:
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Move the controller to the left repeatedly
until the first panel is displayed.
▷
Press the menu button on the controller
twice.
3. Press the controller.
Opening the Options menu
Activating/deactivating the functions
Press button.
Several menu items are preceded by a check‐
box. It indicates whether the function is acti‐
vated or deactivated. Selecting the menu item
activates or deactivates the function.
The "Options" menu is displayed.
Function is activated.
Function is deactivated.
Touchpad
Some iDrive functions can be operated using
the touchpad on the controller:
Additional options: move the controller to the
right repeatedly until the "Options" menu is
displayed.
Selecting functions
1. "Settings"
2. "Touchpad"
Options menu
The "Options" menu consists of various areas:
3. Select the desired function.
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"Speller": enter letters and numbers.
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Screen settings, e.g., "Split screen".
This area remains unchanged.
"Interactive map": viewing the interac‐
tive map.
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Control options for the selected main
menu, e.g., for "Radio".
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"Browser": enter Internet addresses.
"Audio feedback": pronounces entered
letters and numbers.
If applicable, further operating options for
the selected menu, e.g., "Store station".
Entering letters and numbers
Changing settings
1. Select a field.
Entering letters requires some practice at the
beginning. When entering, pay attention to the
following:
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iDrive
▷
For the input of upper/lower case letters
and numbers, it may be necessary to reel
via the controller to the corresponding In‐
put mode, refer to page 25, e.g. when the
spelling of upper and lower case letters is
identical.
Example: setting the clock
Setting the clock
On the Control Display:
1.
Press button. The main menu is dis‐
played.
▷
▷
Enter characters as they are displayed on
the Control Display.
2. Turn the controller until "Settings" is high‐
lighted, and then press the controller.
Always enter associated characters, such
as accents or periods so that the letter can
be clearly recognized. Possible input de‐
pends on the set language. Where neces‐
sary, enter special characters via the con‐
troller.
▷
▷
▷
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To delete a character, slide to the left on
the touchpad.
To enter a blank space, slide to the right in
the center of the touchpad.
To enter a hyphen, slide to the right in the
upper area of the touchpad.
3. If necessary, move the controller to the left
to display "Time/Date".
To enter an underscore, swipe to the right
in the lower area of the touchpad.
4. Turn the controller until "Time/Date" is
highlighted, and then press the controller.
Using interactive map and Internet
Via touch-pad move the interactive map in the
navigation system and Internet sites.
Function
Controls
Move interactive map or Swipe into re‐
Internet sites.
spective direc‐
tion.
Enlarge/shrink interactive Drag in or out on
5. Turn the controller until "Time:" is high‐
lighted, and then press the controller.
map or Internet sites.
the touchpad with
fingers.
Display the menu or open Tap once.
a link in the Internet.
Changing settings
You may change control display settings via
touchpad. Swipe left or right accordingly.
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iDrive
At a glance
6. Turn the controller to set the hours and
press the controller.
Symbol Meaning
Text message was received.
Check the SIM card.
SIM card is blocked.
SIM card is missing.
Enter PIN.
7. Turn the controller to set the minutes and
press the controller.
Status information
Status field
The following information is displayed in the
status field at the top right:
Entertainment symbols
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▷
▷
Time.
Symbol Meaning
CD/DVD player.
Current entertainment source.
Sound output, on/off.
Wireless network reception strength.
Phone status.
Music collection.
Gracenote® database.
AUX-IN port.
Traffic bulletin reception.
Status field symbols
The symbols are grouped as follows.
USB audio interface.
Mobile phone audio interface.
Radio symbols
Additional symbols
Symbol Meaning
Symbol Meaning
Spoken instructions are turned off.
HD Radio station is being received.
Satellite radio is switched on.
Telephone symbols
Split screen
Symbol Meaning
Incoming or outgoing call.
Missed call.
General information
Additional information can be displayed on the
right side of the split screen, e.g., information
from the on-board comupter.
Wireless network reception
strength.
In the divided screen view, the so-called split
screen, this information remains visible even
when you change to another menu.
Symbol flashes: network search.
Wireless network is not available.
Bluetooth is switched on.
Roaming is active.
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iDrive
Switching the split screen on and off
On the Control Display:
Without navigation system and
telephone
Only radio stations can be stored on the but‐
tons, refer to user's manual for Navigation, En‐
tertainment, Communication.
1.
Press button.
2. "Split screen"
Saving a function
1. Highlight the function via the iDrive.
Selecting the display
On the Control Display:
2.
Press and hold the desired button,
until a signal sounds.
1.
Press button.
2. "Split screen"
Running a function
3. Move the controller until the split screen is
selected.
Press button.
4. Press the controller or select "Split screen
content".
The function will work immediately.
This means, e.g., that the number is dialed
when a phone number is selected.
5. Select the desired menu item.
Displaying the button assignment
Touch buttons with bare fingers. Do not wear
gloves or use objects.
The key assignment is displayed at top edge of
screen.
Programmable memory
buttons
General information
The iDrive functions can be stored on the pro‐
grammable memory buttons and called up di‐
rectly, e.g., radio stations, navigation destina‐
tions, phone numbers and menu entries.
Deleting the button assignments
1. Press buttons 1 and 8 simultaneously for
approx. five seconds.
Settings are stored for the profile currently in
use.
2. "OK"
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iDrive
At a glance
Deleting personal in the
vehicle
Entering letters and numbers
General information
The concept
On the Control Display:
Depending on the usage, the vehicle saves
personal data, such as stored radio stations.
These personal data can be permanently de‐
leted through iDrive.
1. Turn the controller: select letters or num‐
bers.
2. Select additional letters or numbers if
needed.
3. "OK": confirm the entry.
General information
Depending on the equipment package, the fol‐
lowing data can be deleted:
Symbol Function
Press the controller: delete the let‐
ter or number.
▷
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▷
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▷
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Personal Profile settings.
Stored radio stations.
Stored Favorites buttons.
Travel and computer information.
Music collection.
Press the controller for an extended
period: delete all letters or numbers.
Switching between cases, letters and
numbers
Depending on the menu, you can reel between
entering upper and lower case, letters and
numbers:
Navigation, e.g. stored destinations.
Phone book.
Online data, e.g. Favorites, cookies.
Voice notes.
Login accounts.
Symbol
Function
RemoteApp smartphone tethering.
Enter the letters.
Enter the numbers.
Tip controller up.
Altogether, the deletion of the data can take up
to 30 minutes.
or
Functional requirement
Data can only be deleted while stationary.
Without navigation system
Select the symbol.
Deleting data
Heed and follow the instructions on the Con‐
trol Display.
Entry comparison
Entering names and addresses: choice is nar‐
rowed down with every letter entered and let‐
ters may be added automatically.
1. Switch on the ignition.
2. "Settings"
3. Open "Options".
4. "Delete personal data"
5. "Continue"
Entries are continuously compared with data
stored in the vehicle.
▷
Only those letters are offered during input
for which data is available.
6. "OK"
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iDrive
▷
Target search: names of locations may be
entered in languages available through
Control Display.
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