BMW 3 SERIES ACTIVE HYBRID 2015 Owner's Guide

Voice activation systemVehicle 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.
The concept▷Most functions displayed on the Control
Display can be operated by voice com‐
mands via the voice activation system. The
system supports you with announcements
during input.▷Functions that can only be used when the
vehicle is stationary cannot be used via the
voice activation system.▷The system uses a special microphone on
the driver's side.▷›...‹ Verbal instructions in the Owner's
Manual to use with the voice activation
system.
Requirements
Via the Control Display, set a language that is
also supported by the voice activation system
so that the spoken commands can be identi‐
fied.
Set the language, refer to page 95.
Using voice activation
Activating the voice activation system1. Press button on the steering
wheel.2.Wait for the signal.3.Say the command.
A command that is recognized by the voice
activation system is announced and dis‐
played in the instrument cluster.
This symbol in the instrument cluster indi‐
cates that the voice activation system is active.
If no other commands are available, use func‐
tion via iDrive.
Terminating the voice activation
system
Briefly press the button on the steer‐
ing wheel or ›Cancel‹.
Possible commands Most menu items on the Control Display can
be voiced as commands.
The available commands depend on the menu
that is currently displayed on the Control Dis‐
play.
There are short commands for many functions.
You may select lists such as phone lists via
voice activation. Read these lists out loud ex‐
actly as they show in the respective list.
Having possible commands read aloud You can have available commands read out
loud for you: ›Voice commands‹
E. g. if the "Settings" menu is displayed, the
commands for the settings are read out loud.
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Executing functions using short
commands
Execute functions on the main menu via short
commands. It almost doesn't matter which
menu item is selected, e.g., ›Vehicle status‹.
List of short commands for the voice activation
system, see Navigation, Entertainment, Com‐
munication Owner's Manual.
Help dialog for the voice activation
system
Calling up help dialog: ›Help‹
Additional commands for the help dialog:▷›Help with examples‹: announces informa‐
tion about the current operating options
and the most important commands for
them.▷›Help with voice activation‹: information
about the principle of operation for the
voice activation system is announced.
One example: open the tone
settings
Via the main menu The commands of the menu items are spoken
just as they are selected via the controller.
1.Turn on the Entertainment sound output if
needed.2. Press button on the steering
wheel.3.›Radio‹4.›Tone‹
Via short command
The desired tone settings can also be started
via a short command.
1.Turn on the Entertainment sound output if
needed.2. Press button on the steering
wheel.3.›Tone‹
Setting the voice dialog
Set system to standard dialog or use a short
version.
The short version of the voice dialog plays
back short messages in abbreviated form.
1."Settings"2."Language/Units"3."Speech type:"4.Select setting.
Adjusting the volume
Turn the volume button while giving an in‐
struction until the desired volume is set.
▷The volume remains constant even if the
volume of other audio sources is changed.▷The volume is stored for the profile cur‐
rently in use.
Hints on Emergency
Requests
Do not use the voice activation system to ini‐
tiate an Emergency Request. In stressful situa‐
tions, the voice and vocal pitch can change.
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This can unnecessarily delay the establish‐
ment of a phone connection.
Instead, use the SOS button, refer to
page 222, close to the interior mirror.
Environmental conditions▷Say the commands, numbers, and letters
smoothly and with normal volume, empha‐
sis, and speed.▷Always say commands in the language of
the voice activation system.▷Keep the doors, windows, and glass sun‐
roof closed to prevent noise interference.▷Avoid making other noise in the vehicle
while speaking.Seite 29Voice activation systemAt a glance29
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Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicleVehicle features and optionsThis 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.
Integrated Owner's Manual
in the vehicle
The Integrated Owner's Manual can be dis‐
played on the Control Display. It specifically
describes features and functions found in the
vehicle.
Components of the Integrated
Owner's Manual
The Integrated Owner's Manual consists of
three parts, which offer various levels of infor‐
mation or possible access.
Quick Reference Guide The Quick Reference Guide provides informa‐
tion how to operate the car, how to use basic
vehicle functions or what to do in case of a
breakdown. This information can also be dis‐
played while driving.
Search by images
Image search provides information and de‐
scriptions. This is helpful when the terminol‐
ogy for a feature is not at hand.
Owner's Manual Search for information and descriptions by en‐
tering terms selected from the index.Select components1. Press button.2.Turn the controller: open "Vehicle info".3.Press the controller.4.Selecting desired range:▷"Quick reference"▷"Search by pictures"▷"Owner's Manual"
Leafing through the Owner's Manual
Page by page with link access
Turn the controller until the next or previous
page is displayed.
Page by page without link access
Scroll through the pages directly while skip‐
ping the links.
Highlight the symbol once. Now simply press
the controller to browse from page to page.
Scroll back.
Scroll forward.
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Context help - Owner's Manual to the
temporarily selected function
You may open the relevant information di‐
rectly.
Opening via the iDrive
To move directly from the application on the
Control Display to the Options menu:1. Press button or move the controller
to the right repeatedly until the "Options"
menu is displayed.2."Display Owner's Manual"
Opening when a Check Control
message is displayed
Directly from the Check Control message on
the Control Display:
"Display Owner's Manual"
Changing between a function and the
Owner's Manual
To reel from a function, e. g., radio, to the
Owner's Manual on the Control Display and to
alternate between the two displays:
1. Press button or move the controller
to the right repeatedly until the "Options"
menu is displayed.2."Display Owner's Manual"3.Select the desired page in the Owner's
Manual.4. Press button again to return to last
displayed function.5. Press button to return to the page of
the Owner's Manual displayed last.
To alternate permanently between the last dis‐
played function and the Owner's Manual re‐
peat steps 4 & 5. Opens a new display every
time.
Programmable memory buttons
General information
The Owner's Manual can be stored on the pro‐
grammable memory buttons and called up di‐
rectly.
Storing1."Owner's Manual" Select via the iDrive.2. Press selected button for more
than 2 seconds.
Executing
Press button.
The Owner's Manual is displayed im‐
mediately.
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BMW ActiveHybridVehicle 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.
Hybrid system Special features of the hybrid system
High-voltage system
This BMW is a hybrid vehicle. In addition to the
combustion engine, the vehicle features a
high-voltage system that consists of an elec‐
tric motor and a high-voltage battery among
other things.
Overview1Combustion engine2Electric motor3Control-system electronics4High-voltage cables (orange)5High-voltage battery6Auxiliary battery, combustion engineThe conceptThe hybrid system makes it possible to opti‐
mize fuel consumption and driving characteris‐
tics.
An electric motor assists the combustion en‐
gine. In certain driving situations, the vehicle
can also be driven using only electric power,
thereby reducing fuel consumption.
In addition to this, the electric motor acts like
an alternator: during braking and coasting, it
converts the vehicle's kinetic energy into elec‐ tricity. The current is stored in the high-voltage
battery and is used to drive the electric motor.
Functions
Electric driving: eDRIVE Under certain conditions, refer to page 71,
the vehicle is powered only by the electric mo‐
tor.
Acceleration boost Driving off and accelerating require a lot of en‐
ergy.
To optimize acceleration and to reduce fuel
consumption, the electric motor boosts the
combustion engine, refer to page 72. To do
this, the electric motor uses the energy saved
in the high-voltage battery.
Auto Start/Stop function The Auto Start/Stop function, refer to
page 70, switches the combustion engine off
when coasting, braking and while the vehicle is
stopped. Convenience functions such as the
automatic climate control are supplied by the
high-voltage battery and can remain switched
on.Seite 32At a glanceBMW ActiveHybrid32
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Driving with combustion engine:
DRIVE
The combustion engine, refer to page 72,
provides the primary performance to move the
vehicle. If necessary, the high-voltage battery is charged at the same time.
The hybrid system always starts the combus‐
tion engine automatically.
Energy recovery: CHARGE The high-voltage battery of the hybrid system
is charged through energy recovery while driv‐
ing.
The electric motor acts as a generator and
converts the kinetic energy of the vehicle into
electric current.
Charging can take place in various situations:▷When the vehicle is coasting if the acceler‐
ator pedal is not pressed.▷During vehicle braking.
When exerting gentle pressure on the brakes,
the vehicle is only braked by the electric motor.
When the brake pedal is depressed further, the
brake system is activated additionally. This is
why only part of the brake energy is used to
charge the high-voltage battery when exerting
firm pressure on the brake.
Foresighted driving and the early reduction of
speed are important to make full use of the hy‐
brid characteristics of the vehicle.
Coasting The engine is automatically switched off. This
driving condition of rolling is referred to as
coasting, refer to page 71.
Auxiliary functions of the automatic
climate control
The hybrid system makes it possible to oper‐
ate the automatic climate control prior to driv‐
ing off and with the combustion engine
switched off.
Using the auxiliary air conditioning and residual
cooling functions, the vehicle interior can be
cooled immediately prior to departure and if
the trip is interrupted.▷Residual cooling, refer to page 155.▷Auxiliary air conditioning, refer to
page 155
Adapting to the course of the road
When the navigation system destination guid‐
ance is active, the hybrid system uses the ex‐
isting navigation data. Hybrid operation adapts
to the specific route sections. These may be:
▷Steep gradients.▷Arrival in the destination zone.
Pay attention to the notes in Adapting to the
course of the road, refer to page 84.
Display
The displays of the hybrid system, refer to
page 82, provide information about the cur‐
rent state of hybrid operation and show the
system activity in a chart.
Energy-saving driving To save energy while driving, read the follow‐
ing information:
▷Saving fuel, refer to page 180.▷Using the hybrid system efficiently, refer to
page 172▷ECO PRO mode, refer to page 181.▷Adapting to the course of the road, refer to
page 84.
Safety information
Read the information on safe handling of the
high-voltage system, refer to page 34.
Long-term
Follow the instructions for vehicle storage and
for longer idle periods, refer to page 231
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Safety of the high-voltage systemHybrid system work
Your vehicle's hybrid system is a self-con‐
tained system. Safety is ensured as long as no
work is performed on the technical compo‐
nents.
Thus, have work on the vehicle, for instance retrofitting accessories, performed by the
service center or a workshop that works ac‐
cording to BMW specifications with appropri‐
ately trained personnel.
Maintenance and repairs
Have maintenance and repair work per‐
formed only by a service center or a workshop
that works according to BMW specifications
with appropriately trained personnel. Other‐
wise, there is the risk of fatal injury from elec‐
trocution due to the high-voltage system's
high voltage.◀
Hybrid system: contact with
water
The hybrid system is typically safe even in the
following example situations:▷Water in the footwell, for instance after a
rainstorm when sunroof was kept open.▷Vehicle is in water but only up to the al‐
lowed height.▷Liquid escapes in the trunk.
In these cases there is no risk of injury from
electrocution. Other damage to the vehicle is
possible.
Hybrid system: automatic
deactivation
If an accident occurs, the hybrid system is
switched off automatically to prevent risk of
danger to occupants and other traffic.
Read the information on What to do after an
accident, refer to page 226.Seite 34At a glanceSafety of the high-voltage system34
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