2008 BMW M3 Owners Manual

Controls
71Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Settings and information
Operating principle
1Button for:
>Selecting display
>Setting values
2Button for:
>Confirming selected display or set val-
ues
>Calling up computer information683When the lights are on: instrument lighting
brightness94
4Calling up Check Control77
5Setting the time74
6Setting the date76
7Viewing service requirement display72
8Switching Shift Lights
* on/off61
Exiting displays
The outside-temperature reading and the time
reappear when you press button2 or if you
make no entries within approx. 15 seconds. If
required, complete the current setting first.
Units of measure
You can set units of measure.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.4.Select "Language / Units" and press the
controller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Units" is selected and press the con-
troller.

Everything under control
72 6.Select the desired menu item and press the
controller.
7.Select the desired measurement unit and
press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Service requirements
The remaining driving distance and the date of
the next scheduled service are displayed briefly
immediately after you start the engine or switch
on the ignition.The extent of service work required can
be read out from the remote control by
your BMW Service Advisor.<
For certain maintenance operations, you can
view the respective distance remaining or due
date individually in the instrument cluster.
1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page54.
2.Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up
or down repeatedly until the appropriate
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the words "SERVICE-INFO".
3.Press button 2.
4.Use button 1 to scroll through the individual
service items.
Possible displays
1Button for selecting functions2Service requirements

Controls
73Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
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Mobility
3Engine oil
4Roadworthiness test
*
5Front brake pads
6Rear brake pads7Brake fluid
The sequence of displayed service items may
vary. The data for the next service appointment
is shown first.
Supplementary information
You can call up detailed information about the
maintenance regimen on the Control Display.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Info sources" and press the control-
ler.
4.Select "Service Info" and press the control-
ler.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Service requirements" is selected and
press the controller.
6.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the second field from the top. Turn the con-
troller until "Status" is selected and press
the controller.A list of selected maintenance operations and, if
applicable, inspections required by law is dis-
played.
You can request more detailed information on
every entry:
Select the entry and press the controller.
To exit from the menu:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
Symbols
No service is currently required.
The deadline for service or a legally man-
dated inspection is approaching. Please
schedule a service appointment.
The service deadline has already passed.
Entering deadlines for legally required
inspections*
Make sure the date on the Control Display is
always set correctly, refer to page76, otherwise
the effectiveness of Condition Based Service
CBS is not ensured.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.

Everything under control
74 3.Select "Info sources" and press the control-
ler.
4.Select "Service Info" and press the control-
ler.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Service requirements" is selected and
press the controller.
6.Select "Status" and press the controller.
7.Select "State inspection" and press the
controller.
8.Select "Set service date" and press the
controller. The month is highlighted.
9.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
10.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The year is highlighted.
11.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
12.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The date entry is stored.
To exit from the menu:
Select and press the controller.
More information on the BMW Maintenance
System can be found on page212.
Clock
The settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use, refer also to Personal Profile on
page28.
Setting the time
In the instrument cluster
To set the 12h/24h format, refer to Setting the
12h/24h format below.
1.Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up
or down repeatedly until the appropriate
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the time and the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.
3.Use button 1 to set the hours.
4.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
5.Use button 1 to set the minutes.
6.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.
7.Press button 2.
The system accepts the new time.
Via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.

Controls
75Reference
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Communications
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Mobility
1.Press the button once or twice until
the start menu appears.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Time / Date" is
selected and press the controller.5.If necessary, move the controller forwards
to move the highlight marker to the upper-
most field.
6.Turn the controller until "Time" is selected
and press the controller.
7.Turn the controller until "Set time" is
selected and press the controller.
Adjusting settings
8.Turn the controller to set the hours and
press the controller.
9.Turn the controller to set the minutes and
press the controller.
The system accepts the new time.
Switching on the hour signal*
You will hear three tones just before each full
hour.

Everything under control
76 Select "Hour memo" and press the controller.
The hour signal is activated.
Setting the 12h/24h format
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Time / Date" is
selected and press the controller.
5.Select "Time format" and press the control-
ler.
6.Select the desired format and press the
controller.
Date
The settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use, refer also to Personal Profile on
page28.
Setting the date
In the instrument cluster
To set the dd/mm or mm/dd date format, refer
to Setting the date format below.
1.Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up
or down repeatedly until the appropriate
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the date and the word "SET".
2.Press button 2.
3.Use button 1 to set the day of the month.
4.Press button 2 to confirm the entry.5.Set the month and the year in the same way.
6.Press button 2.
The system stores the new date.
Via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is
selected and press the controller.
4.Select "Date" and press the controller.
5.Select "Set date" and press the controller.
The first date display setting is selected.
6.Turn the controller to make the adjustment.
7.Press the controller to apply the setting.
The next setting is highlighted.
8.Make the remaining adjustments. After the
last adjustment, the date is stored.
Setting the date format
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Settings" is
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Time / Date" is
selected and press the controller.
5.Select "Date format" and press the control-
ler.
6.Select the desired format and press the
controller.

Controls
77Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors vehicle functions
and alerts you to any malfunctions in the sys-
tems monitored. Such a Check Control mes-
sage includes indicator and warning lamps in
the instrument cluster and, in some circum-
stances, an acoustic signal as well as text mes-
sages at the bottom of the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in a
variety of combinations and colors.
indicates that Check Control messages have
been stored. You can view the Check Control
messages whenever it is convenient for you.
Explanatory text messages
Text mess ages at the lo wer edge of the Control
Display explain the meaning of the displayed
indicator and warning lamps.
For most Check Control messages, you can
view more information later, e.g. regarding the
cause of a malfunction and how to respond,
refer to page78.
In urgent cases, this information will be shown
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
To exit the displayed information:
Select the arrow and press the controller.
Hiding Check Control messages
Press the button in the turn indicator lever.
Some Check Control messages are displayed
until the malfunctions have been rectified. They
cannot be hidden. If several malfunctions occur

Everything under control
78 at the same time, they are displayed in succes-
sion.
They are marked with the symbol shown
here.
Other messages are automatically hidden after
approx. 20 seconds, but are kept in memory.
They are marked with the symbol shown
here.
Viewing stored Check Control
messages
1.Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up
or down repeatedly until the appropriate
symbol appears in the display, accompa-
nied by the words "CHECK CONTROL".
2.Press button 2.
"CHECK OK" appears if there are no Check
Control messages.
If a Check Control message has been
stored, the corresponding lamp comes on.
It is accompanied by a text message on the
Control Display.
3.Push button 1 to check for other messages.
4.Press button 2.
The display again shows the outside tem-
perature and the time.
Viewing more information later
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.3.Select "Info sources" and press the control-
ler.
4.Select "Service Info" and press the control-
ler.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Check Control messages" is selected
and press the controller.
6.Select a text message and press the con-
troller.
To exit the display:
Select and press the controller.
Speed limit
You can enter a speed, and a Check Control
message will indicate when you reach this
speed. This enables you, for example, to