BMW 3 SERIES 2011 User Guide

At a glance
These overviews of buttons, switches and
displays are intended to familiarize you with your
vehicle. You will also become quickly acquainted
with the available control concepts and options.
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Cockpit
Vehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
All around the steering wheel
1Roller sunblinds  43
2Rear window safety switch  42
3Power windows  41
4Exterior mirror operation  52
5Driver assistance systems
Active Blind Spot Detec‐
tion  101
Collision warning  115
Lane departure warning  99
6Lamps
Front fog lamps  89
Parking lamps  86
Low beams  86
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Automatic headlamp con‐
trol  87
Daytime running lights  87
Adaptive light control  88
High-beam Assistant  88
Instrument lighting  89
7Steering column stalk, left
Turn signal  64
High beams, head‐
lamp flasher  64
High-beam Assistant  88
Roadside parking lamps  87
Computer  81
8Steering wheel buttons, left
Store speed  119
Resume speed  120
Cruise control on/off, interrupt‐
ing  119
Active Cruise Control on/off, inter‐
rupting  109
Increase distance  111
Reduce distance  111
9Instrument cluster  70
10Steering wheel buttons, right
Entertainment source
Volume
Voice activation  23
Business mobile phone prepara‐
tion package  220
Professional mobile phone prepa‐
ration package  228
11Steering column stalk, right
Windshield wipers  65
Rain sensor  65
Clean the windshields and head‐
lamps  66
12Start/stop the engine and switch
the ignition on/off  60
Auto Start/Stop function  61
13Horn
14Steering wheel heating  53
15Adjust the steering wheel  53
16Unlock hood  273
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All around the center console
1Headliner  15
2Control Display  16
3Ventilation  139
4Hazard warning system  290
Central locking system  33
5Glove compartment  148
6Radio  190
CD/multimedia  198
7Climate control  134
8Controller with buttons  16
9Parking brake  63
10PDC Park Distance Control  121
Backup camera  123
Parking assistant  130
Surround View  123
11Driving Experience Switch  106
DSC Dynamic Stability Con‐
trol  104
12Transmission selector lever  67  67
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All around the headliner
1Emergency Request  290
2Glass sunroof  43
3Indicator lamp, front passenger
airbag  93
4Reading lamps  90
5Interior lamps  90
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iDrive
Vehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
The concept
The iDrive combines the functions of a multitude
of switches. Thus, these functions can be oper‐
ated from a central location.
Using the iDrive during a trip
To avoid becoming distracted and posing
an unnecessary hazard to your vehicle's occu‐
pants and to other road users, never attempt to
use the controls or enter information unless traf‐
fic and road conditions allow this.◀
Controls at a glance
Controls
1Control Display
2Controller with buttons
The buttons can be used to open the menus
directly. The controller can be used to select
menu items and create the settings.
Control Display
Notes
▷To clean the Control Display, follow the care
instructions.
▷Do not place objects close to the Control
Display; otherwise, the Control Display can
be damaged.
Switching off
1. Press the button.
2."Switch off control display"
Switching on
Press the controller again to switch the screen
back on.
Controller with navigation system
Select menu items and create settings.
1.Turn.
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2.Press.
3.Move in four directions.
Buttons on controller
Press the button Function
MENUOpen the main menu.
RADIOOpens the Radio menu.
MEDIAOpens the CD/Multimedia
menu.
NAVOpens the Navigation
menu.
TELOpens the Telephone
menu.
BACKDisplays the previous
panel.
OPTION Opens the Options menu.
Controller without navigation system
Select menu items and create settings.
1.Turn.
2.Press.
3.Move in two directions.
Buttons on controller
Press the button Function
MENUOpen the main menu.
AudioOpen audio menu last lis‐
tened to, switch between
audio menus.
TELOpens the Telephone
menu.
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Press the button Function
BACKOpen previous panel.
OPTION Opens the Options menu.
Operating concept
Opening the main menu
Press the button.
The main menu is displayed.
All iDrive functions can be called up via the main
menu.
Selecting menu items
Menu items shown in white can be selected.
1.Turn the controller until the desired menu
item is highlighted.
2.Press the controller.
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.,
"Settings".
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.
The current panel is closed and the previous
panel is displayed.
The previous panel is opened again by
pressing the BACK button. In this case, the
current panel is not closed.
▷Move the controller to the right.
A new panel is opened on top of the previous
display.
White arrows pointing to the left or right indicate
that additional panels can be opened.
View of an opened menu
When a menu is opened, it generally opens with
the panel that was last selected in that menu. To
display the first panel of a menu:
▷Move the controller to the left repeatedly
until the first panel is displayed.
▷Press the menu button on the controller
twice.
Opening the Options menu
Press the button.
The "Options" menu is displayed.
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Additional options: move the controller to the
right repeatedly until the "Options" menu is dis‐
played.
Options menu
The "Options" menu consists of various areas:
▷Screen settings, e.g., "Split screen".
This area remains unchanged.
▷Control options for the selected main menu,
e.g., for "Radio".
▷If applicable, further operating options for
the selected menu, e.g., "Store station".
Changing settings
1.Select a field.
2.Turn the controller until the desired setting
is displayed.
3.Press the controller.
Activating/deactivating the functions
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 function is activated.
The function is deactivated.
Example: setting the clock
Setting the clock
1. Press the button. The main menu is
displayed.
2.Turn the controller until "Settings" is high‐
lighted, and then press the controller.
3.If necessary, move the controller to the left
to display "Time/Date".
4.Turn the controller until "Time/Date" is high‐
lighted, and then press the controller.
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5.Turn the controller until "Time:" is high‐
lighted, and then press the controller.
6.Turn the controller to set the hours and
press the controller.
7.Turn the controller to set the minutes and
press the controller.
Status information
Status field
The following information is displayed in the sta‐
tus field at the top right:
▷Time.
▷Current entertainment source.
▷Sound output, on/off.
▷Wireless network reception strength.
▷Telephone status.
▷Traffic bulletin reception.
Status field symbols
The symbols are grouped as follows.
Radio symbols
Symbol Meaning
Satellite radio is switched on.
Telephone symbols
Symbol Meaning
Incoming or outgoing call.
Missed call.
Wireless network reception
strength Symbol flashes: searching
for network.
Wireless network is not available.
Bluetooth is switched on.
Roaming is active.
Text message was received.
Check the SIM card.
SIM card is blocked.
SIM card is missing.
Enter the PIN.
Entertainment symbols
Symbol Meaning
CD/DVD player.
Music collection.
Gracenote® database.
AUX-IN port.
USB audio interface/mobile phone
audio interface.
USB audio interface.
Mobile phone audio interface.
Additional symbols
Symbol Meaning
Spoken instructions are switched off.
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