steering wheel controls BMW X3 2011 F25 Owner's Manual

7Instrument cluster  138Steering wheel buttons, rightEntertainment sourceVolumeVoice activation*  25Telephone*  1769Steering column stalk, rightWindshield wipers   62Rain sensor*  63Clean the windshields and head‐
lamps*   63Rear window wiper   6310Start/stop the engine and switch
the ignition on/off   5811Horn12Steering wheel heating*   5413Adjust the steering wheel   5414Open the tailgate*  3915Unlocking the hood
Instrument cluster
1Fuel gauge  672Speedometer3Indicator/warning lamps4Tachometer   685Engine oil temperature   686Electronic displays  15Seite 1313
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

Voice activation system*The concept▷The voice activation system can be used to
operate functions by means of spoken com‐
mands.▷Most menu items on the Control Display can
be voiced as commands. The system
prompts you to make your entries.▷Functions that can only be used when the
vehicle is stationary cannot be operated us‐
ing 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 sys‐
tem.
Requirements
Via the Control Display, set a language that is
also supported by the voice activation system
so that the spoken commands can be identified.
Set the language, refer to page 73.
Using voice activation
Activating the voice activation system
1. Press the button on the steering
wheel.2.Wait for the signal.3.Say the command.
The command is displayed 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, continue
operating the function via iDrive.
Terminating the voice activation
system
Briefly press the button on the steering wheel
or ›Cancel‹.
Possible commands
Having possible commands read aloud
The commands available in each case depend
on the menu item selected on the Control Dis‐
play.
To have the available commands read out
loud: ›Voice commands‹
For example, if the "Settings" menu is displayed,
the commands for the settings are read out loud.
Help on the voice activation system
To have the information in the help system read
out loud: ›Help‹
Executing functions using short
commands
Functions on the main menu can be performed
directly by means of short commands, irrespec‐
tive of which menu item is currently selected,
e.g., ›Vehicle status‹.
List of short commands of the voice activation
system, refer to page 243.
Example: playing back a CD1.Switch on the Entertainment sound output
if necessary.2. Press the button on the steering
wheel.3.›C D and multimedia‹
The medium last played is played back.Seite 2525
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

Frequent starting in quick succession
Avoid repeated futile attempts at starting
the car and avoid starting the car frequently in
quick succession. Otherwise, the fuel is not
burned or is inadequately burned, and there is
the danger of overheating and damaging the
catalytic converter.◀
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving at mod‐
erate engine speeds.
Automatic transmission*
Starting the engine Press on the brake pedal and
press the Start/Stop button.
The ignition is activated automat‐
ically for a brief period and is
stopped as soon as the engine
starts.
Engine stop
General information Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot operate the windows and injure them‐
selves.◀
Set the parking brake and further secure
the vehicle as required
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the vehi‐
cle, for example, by turning the steering wheel in
the direction of the curb. ◀
Automatic transmission*
Switching off the engine1.Engage transmission position P with the ve‐
hicle stopped.2.Press the Start/Stop button.The engine is switched off.
The radio ready state is switched on.3.Set the parking brake.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle is able to roll when the following
steps are adhered to:
1.Depress the brake pedal.2.Engage transmission position N.3.Release the parking brake or deactivate Au‐
tomatic Hold.4.Switch the engine off.
Transmission position P with the ignition
off
When the ignition is switched off, position P is
engaged automatically. When in an automatic
car wash, for example, ensure that the ignition is
not switched off accidentally.◀
Transmission position P is engaged automati‐
cally:
▷When the ignition is switched off.▷After approx. 15 minutes if the vehicle is not
moved.
Parking brake
The concept
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre‐
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it
brakes the rear wheels.
In cars with automatic transmission*:
The parking brake can be set manually or auto‐
matically:
▷Manual: by pulling and pushing the switch.▷Automatic: by activating Automatic Hold.Seite 5959
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

▷Brief wipe: press down once.▷To switch off normal wipe: press down once.▷To switch off fast wipe: press down twice.
Rain sensor*
The concept
The time between wipes is controlled automat‐
ically and depends on the intensity of the rainfall.
The sensor is located on the windshield, directly
in front of the interior rearview mirror.
Activating/deactivating the rain sensor
Press the button on the wiper lever.
When activated, the wipers move over the wind‐
shield once.
The LED in the steering column stalk lights up.
Deactivate the rain sensor in car washes
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through an automatic car wash; otherwise, dam‐
age could be caused by undesired wiper activa‐
tion.◀
Rain sensor sensitivity
Turn the thumbwheel.
Clean the windshield, headlamps*
Pull the lever.
The system sprays washer fluid on the wind‐
shield and activates the wipers briefly.
In addition, the headlamps are cleaned at regular
intervals when the vehicle lights are switched
on.
Do not use the washer system at freezing
temperatures
Do not use the washers if there is any danger
that the fluid will freeze on the windshield; oth‐
erwise, your vision could be obscured. For this
reason, use antifreeze.
Avoid using the washer when the reservoir is
empty; otherwise, you could damage the
pump.◀
Windshield washer nozzles
The washer jets are automatically heated*
whenever the ignition is switched on.
Switching on the rear window wiper
Press the lever forward: intermittent wipe. When
reverse gear is engaged, the system switches to
continuous operation.
Seite 6363
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

Resetting the trip odometerPress the knob.▷The odometer is displayed
when the ignition is switched
off.▷When the ignition is switched
on, the trip odometer is reset.
External temperature
External temperature warning If the display drops to +37 ℉/
+3 ℃, a signal sounds.
A Check Control message is dis‐
played.
There is the increased danger of
ice.
Ice on roads
Even at temperatures above +37 ℉/+3 ℃,
there can be a risk of ice on roads.
Therefore, drive carefully on bridges and shady
roads, for example, to avoid the increased dan‐
ger of an accident.◀
Time The time is displayed in the in‐
strument cluster.
Date The date is displayed in the in‐
strument cluster.
Selection lists in the
instrument cluster
The concept
The following can be operated using the buttons
and the thumbwheel on the steering wheel and
the display in the instrument cluster:
▷Current audio source.▷Redial on telephone*.▷Activation of the voice activation system*.
Activating a list and creating the
setting
Press a button on the right side of the steering
wheel or turn the thumbwheel to activate the re‐
quired list.
Create the setting using the thumbwheel.
Seite 6969
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

▷Keep the dashboard and window on the
front passenger side clear, i.e., do not cover
with adhesive labels or coverings, and do not
attach holders such as for navigation instru‐
ments and mobile phones.▷Make sure that the front passenger is sitting
correctly, i.e., keeps his or her feet and legs
in the footwell; otherwise, leg injuries can
occur if the front airbag is triggered.▷Do not place slip covers, seat cushions or
other objects on the front passenger seat
that are not approved specifically for seats
with integrated side airbags.▷Do not hang pieces of clothing, such as jack‐
ets, over the backrests.▷Make sure that occupants keep their heads
away from the side airbag and do not rest
against the head airbag; otherwise, injuries
can occur if the airbags are triggered.▷Do not remove the airbag restraint system.▷Do not remove the steering wheel.▷Do not apply adhesive materials to the air‐
bag cover panels, cover them or modify
them in any way.▷Never modify either the individual compo‐
nents or the wiring in the airbag system. This
also applies to steering wheel covers, the
dashboard, the seats, the roof pillars and the
sides of the headliner.◀
Even when all instructions are followed closely,
injury from contact with the airbags cannot be
ruled out in certain situations.
The ignition and inflation noise may lead to
short-term and, in most cases, temporary hear‐
ing impairment in sensitive individuals.
In the case of a malfunction, deactivation
and after triggering of the airbags
Do not touch the individual components imme‐
diately after the system has been triggered; oth‐
erwise, there is the danger of burns.
Only have the airbags checked, repaired or dis‐
mantled and the airbag generator scrapped by
your service center or a workshop that has the
necessary authorization for handling explosives.
Non-professional attempts to service the sys‐
tem could lead to failure in an emergency or un‐
desired triggering of the airbag, either of which
could result in injury.◀
Warnings and information on the airbags are
also found on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger airbags
The system determines whether the front pas‐
senger seat is occupied by measuring the re‐
sistance of the human body.
The front, knee, and side airbag on the front
passenger side are activated or deactivated ac‐
cordingly.
Leave feet in the footwell
Make sure that the front passenger keeps
his or her feet in the footwell; otherwise, the front
passenger airbags may not function properly.◀
Child restraint fixing system in the front
passenger seat
Before transporting a child on the front passen‐
ger seat, see the safety notes and instructions
under Children on the front passenger seat.◀
Malfunction of the automatic
deactivation system
When transporting older children and adults, the
front passenger airbags may be deactivated in
certain sitting positions. In this case, the indica‐
tor lamp for the front passenger airbags lights
up.
In this case, change the sitting position so that
the front passenger airbags are activated and
the indicator lamp goes out.
If it is not possible to activate the airbags, have
the person sit in the rear.
To make sure that the occupied seat cushion
can be evaluated correctly▷Do not attach covers, cushions, ball mats or
other items to the front passenger seat un‐
less they are specifically recommended by
the manufacturer of your vehicle.Seite 8181
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

System limitsSudden tire damage
Sudden serious tire damage caused by
external influences cannot be indicated in ad‐
vance.◀
The system does not operate correctly if it has
not been reset. For example, a flat tire may be
indicated despite correct tire inflation pres‐
sures.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat
tire:▷For a mounted wheel without TPM electron‐
ics.▷When the TPM is disturbed by other sys‐
tems or devices with the same radio fre‐
quency.
Status display
The current status of the Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM can be displayed on the Control Display,
e.g., whether or not the TPM is active.
1."Vehicle Info"2."Vehicle status"3. "Tire Pressure Monitor - TPM"
The status is displayed.
Resetting the system
Reset the system after each correction of the
tire inflation pressure and after every tire or
wheel change.
1."Vehicle Info"2."Vehicle status"3. "Reset TPM"4.Start the engine - do not drive away.5.Reset the tire pressure using "Reset".6.Drive away.
The tires are shown in gray and "Resetting
TPM..." is displayed.
After driving for a few minutes, the set tire infla‐
tion pressures are applied as set values. The re‐
setting process is completed automatically dur‐
ing driving. The tires are shown in green and
"TPM active" is shown on the Control Display.
The trip can be interrupted at any time. If you
drive away again, the process resumes auto‐
matically.
If a flat tire is detected during a reset, all tires are
displayed in yellow.
Low tire pressure message The yellow warning lamp lights up. A
Check Control message is displayed.▷There is a flat tire or a major loss in
tire inflation pressure.▷The system was not reset after a wheel
change and thus warns based on the infla‐
tion pressures initialized last.1.Reduce your speed and stop cautiously.
Avoid sudden braking and steering maneu‐
vers.2.Check whether the vehicle is fitted with reg‐
ular tires* or run-flat tires*.
Run-flat tires, refer to page 213, are labeled
with a circular symbol containing the letters
RSC marked on the tire sidewall.
When a low inflation pressure is indicated, DSC
Dynamic Stability Control is switched on if nec‐
essary.
Actions in the event of a flat tire
Normal tires*
1.Identify the damaged tire.
Do this by checking the air pressure in all
four tires.
If the tire inflation pressure in all four tires is
correct, the Tire Pressure Monitor may not
have been initialized. In this case, initialize
the system.
If an identification is not possible, please
contact the service center.2.Rectify the flat tire on the damaged wheel.
Use of tire sealant, e.g., the Mobility System,
may damage the TPM wheel electronics. In
this case, have the electronics checked atSeite 8383
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

The system ensures maximum forward momen‐
tum on special road conditions, e.g., unplowed
snowy roads, but driving stability is limited.
It is therefore necessary to drive with appropri‐
ate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC un‐
der the following special circumstances:▷When driving in slush or on uncleared,
snow-covered roads.▷When rocking the vehicle or driving off in
deep snow or on loose surfaces.▷When driving with snow chains.
Deactivating/activating DTC Dynamic
Traction Control
Activating the Dynamic Traction Control DTC
provides maximum traction on loose ground.
Driving stability is limited during acceleration
and when driving in bends.
Activating DTC Press the button.
TRACTION is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster and the indicator lamp for DSC
lights up.
Deactivating DTC Press the button again.
TRACTION and the DSC indicator lamp
go out.
Performance Control*
Performance Control enhances the agility of
your vehicle.
To enhance performance during sporty driving,
the rear wheel on the inside of the curve is
braked while the resulting braking effect is
largely compensated by engine intervention.
xDrive
xDrive is the all-wheel-drive system of your ve‐
hicle. Concerted action by the xDrive and DSC
further optimize traction and driving dynamics.
The xDrive all-wheel-drive system variably dis‐
tributes the drive forces to the front and rear
axles as demanded by the driving situation and
road surface.
HDC Hill Descent Control
The concept
HDC is a downhill driving assistant that auto‐
matically controls vehicle speed on steep down‐
hill gradients. Without requiring brake applica‐
tion, the vehicle moves at slightly more than
twice walking speed.
You can activate the Hill Descent Control at
speeds below approx. 22 mph/35 km/h. When
driving downhill, the vehicle reduces its speed
to approx. twice walking speed and then keeps
its speed constant.
While you are actively braking, the system is on
standby. The system does not brake the vehicle
during this time.
Use HDC in low gears or in transmission position
D or R only.
Changing the speed
The speed can be changed in the range from
roughly twice walking speed to approx. 15 mph/
25 km/h by lightly pressing the accelerator.
To set the speed: buttons* on the
steering wheel
The desired speed can be specified in the range
from roughly twice walking speed to approx.
15 mph/25 km/h using the rocker switch of the
cruise control on the steering wheel.Seite 8787
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

It also varies the steering force required to turn
the wheels in accordance with the vehicle
speed.
This results in a sporty steering response. In ad‐
dition, it becomes easier to steer during parking
and maneuvering.
Dynamic Driving Control*
The concept
Dynamic Driving Control can be used to adjust
the driving dynamics of the vehicle. Several pro‐
grams are available for this purpose; they can be
activated using the two Dynamic Driving Control
buttons.
Operating the programsPress the buttonProgramDSC OFF
TRACTIONSPORT+
SPORT
NORMAL
Automatic program change
The system automatically switches to NORMAL
in the following situations:
▷Failure of Dynamic Damping Control*.▷The vehicle has a flat tire.
DSC OFF
When DSC OFF, refer to page 86, is active, driv‐
ing stability is limited during acceleration and
when driving in bends.
TRACTION
When TRACTION is active, the vehicle has max‐
imum traction on loose road surfaces. DTC Dy‐
namic Traction Control, refer to page 87, is ac‐
tivated. Driving stability is limited during
acceleration and when driving in bends.
SPORT+
Sporty driving with optimized chassis and sus‐
pension during limited driving stabilization.
Dynamic Traction Control is switched on.
The driver handles several of the stabilization
tasks.
Activating SPORT+ Press the button repeatedly until
SPORT+ appears in the instrument
cluster and the DSC indicator lamp lights up.
Indicator/warning lamps
SPORT+ is displayed in the instrument cluster.
The indicator lamp lights up: DTC Dy‐
namic Traction Control is activated.
SPORT
Consistently sporty tuning of the suspension for
greater driving agility with maximum driving sta‐
bilization.
The program can be configured to individual
specifications.
The configuration is stored for the remote con‐
trol currently in use.
Activating SPORT Press the button. SPORT+ is displayed
in the instrument cluster.
Configuring SPORT
When the display is activated on the Control
Display, refer to page 90, the sport program
can be set to individual specifications.
After the sport program is activated, select
"Configure SPORT mode" on the displayed
panel and configure the program.
Optionally, the sport program can be configured
before it is activated:1."Settings"Seite 8989
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

Driving comfortCruise control
The concept
The system is functional at speeds beginning at
approx. 20 mph/30 km/h.
It maintains the speed that was set using the
control elements on the steering wheel.
The system brakes on downhill gradients if en‐
gine braking action is insufficient.
Unfavorable conditions
Do not use the system if unfavorable con‐
ditions make it impossible to drive at a constant
speed, for instance:▷On curvy roads.▷In heavy traffic.▷On slippery roads, in fog, snow or rain, or on
a loose road surface.
Otherwise, you could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident.◀
Controls
Buttons at a glance
1System on/off, interrupt2Resume speed3Store speed4Store, maintain/change speed
Switching on Press the button on the steering wheel.
The marking in the speedometer is set to the
current speed.
Cruise control can be used.
Switching off Deactivated or interrupted system
If the system is deactivated or interrupted,
actively intervene by braking and, if necessary,
with evasive maneuvers; otherwise, there is the
danger of an accident occurring.◀
Press the button.▷If active: press twice.▷If interrupted: press once.
The displays go out. The stored desired speed
is deleted.
Interrupting When active, press the button.
The system is automatically interrupted if:
▷The brakes are applied.▷Transmission position D is disengaged.▷DTC Dynamic Traction Control is activated
or DSC is deactivated.▷DSC is actively controlling stability.▷HDC is activated.
Maintaining/storing the current speed
Press the button.
Seite 9191
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance