Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic-
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page238.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
6Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
21Letters and numbers
22Voice activation system
Controls
26Opening and closing
42Adjustments
53Transporting children safely
55Driving
68Everything under control
81Technology for driving comfort and
safety
92Lamps
96Climate
101Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
116Things to remember when driving
121BMW M3 engineering
Navigation
126Navigation system
127Destination entry
137Destination guidance
143What to do if …
Entertainment
146On/off and tone
149Radio
152Satellite radio
154CD player and CD changer
161Music collection
165AUX-IN port
166USB-audio interface/mobile phone audio
interface
Communications
172Telephone
183Contacts
185BMW Assist
Mobility
194Refueling
196Wheels and tires
202Under the hood
207Maintenance
209Care
213Replacing components
221Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
228Technical data
232Short commands for the voice activation
system
238Everything from A - Z
ba8_E9293M3_cic.book Seite 3 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 12:01 12
Controls
97Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Automatic climate control
Comfortable interior climate
AUTO program7 offers the ideal air distribution
and air flow rate for almost all conditions, refer
to AUTO program below. All you need to do is
select an interior temperature which is comfort-
able for you.
The following sections inform you in detail
about how to adjust the settings.
Most settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use, refer also to Personal Profile
settings on page26.
Adjusting air distribution manually
The air distribution can be
switched on and off manually. The
air is directed to the windshield, to
the upper body area and to the
footwell. Automatic air distribution adjustment
is deactivated.
The current setting is briefly displayed on the
Control Display when a button is pressed.
You can switch the automatic air distribution
back on by pressing the AUTO button. This
automatically switches on the cooling function
as well.
Temperature
Set the desired temperatures indi-
vidually for the driver's and front
passenger's sides.
The automatic climate control
achieves this temperature as quickly as possi-
ble regardless of the season, using maximum
cooling or heating power if necessary, and then
maintains it.
When you switch between different tem-
perature settings in quick succession, the
automatic climate control does not have
enough time to achieve the set temperature.<
You can achieve maximum heating power with
the highest setting, regardless of the outside
temperature.
The lowest setting effects continuous cooling.
Maximum cooling
At outside temperatures above
327/06 and when the engine is
running, you obtain a maximum
cooling effect as soon as possible.
The automatic climate control goes into recir-
culated-air mode at the lowest temperature. Air
flows at maximum rate from the vents for the
upper body area. You should therefore open
them for maximum cooling.
AUTO program
The AUTO program adjusts the air
distribution to the windshield and
side windows, towards the upper
body area and into the footwell for you. The air
flow rate and your temperature specifications
will be adapted to outside influences as a result
of seasonal changes, e.g. sunlight or window
condensation.
The cooling is switched on automatically with
the AUTO program.
Intensity of the AUTO program
Press the AUTO button repeatedly to set the
intensity of the AUTO program. The current
setting is displayed on the Control Display
when the button is pressed.
Select the intensity of the AUTO program:
>Low
>Medium
>High
Convertible program
The Convertible program is active when the
hardtop is open and the AUTO program is
ba8_E9293M3_cic.book Seite 97 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 12:01 12
Controls
99Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
Quickly removes ice and conden-
sation from the windshield and
front side windows.
Switch on the cooling function as well.
Switching cooling function on/off
The cooling function cools and
dehumidifies the incoming air
before reheating it as required,
according to the temperature setting. This
function is only available while the engine is
running.
The cooling function helps prevent condensa-
tion on the windows or removes it quickly.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
Pressing the AUTO button automatically
switches on the cooling function.
Rear window defroster
The defroster is switched off auto-
matically after a certain time.
Depending on your vehicle's
equipment, the upper wires serve as an antenna
and are not part of the rear window defroster.
Ventilation
1Use the knurled wheels to smoothly open
and close the air vents
2Use the lever to change the direction of the
airflow
3Knurled wheel for more or less cool air from
the vents for the upper body area
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the vent outlets to direct the flow of cool
air in your direction, for instance if it has become
too hot in the car.
Draft-free ventilation
Set the vent outlets so that the air flows past
you and not straight at you.
Ventilation in the rear
1Use the knurled wheel to adjust the temper-
ature
>Turn toward blue: colder
>Turn toward red: warmer
2Use the knurled wheel to smoothly open
and close the air vents
3Use the lever to change the direction of the
airflow
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The microfilter traps dust and pollen in the
incoming air. The activated-charcoal filter pro-
vides additional protection by filtering gaseous
pollutants from the outside air. Your BMW cen-
ter replaces this combined filter during routine
maintenance.
Parked car ventilation
The concept
The parked car ventilation provides ventilation
to the passenger compartment and lowers its
temperature, if necessary.
It is ready for use at any outside temperature
during parked car operation.
ba8_E9293M3_cic.book Seite 99 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 12:01 12
Driving tips
117Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
ing, take care to avoid possible contact
between the hot exhaust system and any highly
flammable materials such as hay, leaves, grass,
etc. Such contact could lead to a fire, with the
risk of serious personal injuries and property
damage. Do not touch hot exhaust pipes, e. g.
when loading the cargo bay, otherwise there is a
risk of burn injuries.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This situation, known as hydroplaning,
means that the tire can completely lose contact
with the road surface, so that neither the car can
be steered nor the brake be properly applied.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases with declin-
ing tread depth on the tires, refer also to Mini-
mum tread depth on page199.
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Use the parking brake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle for a
lengthy period using the clutch; use the
parking brake instead. Otherwise greater clutch
wear will result.<
For more information about the drive-off assis-
tant, refer to page84.
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. Applying the brakes fully is the most
effective way of braking in situations in which
this is necessary. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal
every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure
that full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system.
M dual clutch transmission: never drive
with the transmission in neutral or with
the engine switched off; otherwise, engine
braking action will not be present or there will be
no power assistance to the brakes or steering.
Manual transmission: never drive with the
clutch held down, with the transmission in neu-
tral or with the engine switched off; otherwise,
engine braking action will not be present or
there will be no power assistance to the brakes
or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals, otherwise pedal function could be
impaired.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
ba8_E9293M3_cic.book Seite 117 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 12:01 12
Navigation system
126
Navigation system
General information
With the help of satellites, the navigation sys-
tem is able to ascertain the precise position of
the vehicle and guide you reliably to any desti-
nation you enter.
The navigation data is stored in the vehicle and
can be updated using navigation DVDs.
Make all entries while the vehicle is sta-
tionary
Enter data only when the vehicle is stationary,
and always give priority to the applicable traffic
regulations in the event of any contradiction
between traffic and road conditions and the
instructions issued by the navigation system.
Failure to take to this precaution can place you
in violation of the law and put vehicle occupants
and other road users in danger.<
Updating the navigation data
The navigation data is stored in the vehicle and
can be updated using a navigation DVD. Please
contact the BMW center if you have any ques-
tions.
Inserting navigation DVD
1.Insert the navigation DVD into the DVD
player with the labeled side facing up.
2.Follow the instructions on the display.
3.Enter the authorization code of the naviga-
tion DVD and change the DVD if needed.
Displaying information on the version
1."Navigation"
2.Open "Options".
3."Navigation system version". Information
on the data version is displayed.
Removing navigation DVD
1. Press button 1.
The DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
2.Remove the DVD.
If the DVD is not ejected, the drive may be
blocked. In this case, a message will appear on
the Control Display.
*
ba8_E9293M3_cic.book Seite 126 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 12:01 12
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
153Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Selecting a channel
Selecting a channel
1."Satellite radio"
2.Select "All Channels" or the desired cate-
gory.
3.Select the desired channel.
Storing a channel
1."Satellite radio"
2.Open "All Channels" or the desired cate-
gory.
3."Store Channel".
4.Call up the desired memory location.
The channel is stored. The channels of the last
selection criterion are displayed again after a
short time.
Displaying information about another
channel
Information about a track currently being played
on another channel can be displayed.
1.Highlight the channel on which you wish to
display information.
2.Open "Options".
3."Channel info"
Changing the channel using the
buttons below the CD / DVD drive
Press the button for the corresponding
direction.
The system switches to the next enabled chan-
nel.
Notes
If more than 4 seconds go by and no signal is
received, a message appears on the Control
Display.
Under some circumstances, e.g. depend-
ing on environmental or topographic con-
ditions, it may not be possible to receive a sig-
nal. The satellite radio cannot influence this.
A signal may not be available in tunnels or
underground garages, next to high-rise build-
ings, in the vicinity of trees, mountains or other
strong sources of radio interference.
Reception usually resumes as soon as the sig-
nal becomes available again.<
ba8_E9293M3_cic.book Seite 153 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 12:01 12
175
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips Communications
Navigation
Mobility
can be used in combination with the mobile
phone, e.g. a laptop.<
To temporarily deactivate the Bluetooth link
between the vehicle and your mobile phone:
1."Telephone"
2."Bluetooth"
All paired mobile phones are listed.
3.Open "Options".
4."Bluetooth"
Adjusting volume
Turn the knob during a call to select the desired
volume.
This volume for the hands-free system is main-
tained, even if the other audio sources are set to
minimum volume.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Operation via iDrive
You can operate the following functions using
iDrive:
>Accepting/rejecting calls
>Dialing phone numbers>Selecting phone numbers from the phone
book
>Selecting stored phone numbers, e.g. from
the list of received calls
>Ending a call
When the ignition is switched off or in radio
readiness, e.g. after taking the remote control
out of the ignition lock, you can continue an
ongoing call via the hands-free system for sev-
eral minutes.
Voice quality
If the person you are talking to is having difficul-
ties understanding you, this may be due to
excessive background noise. The Full prepara-
tion package mobile phone can compensate for
these noises to a certain extent. To optimize
voice quality during a call, we recommend that
you:
>Reduce background noise, e.g. by closing
the windows, reducing air flow from the
automatic climate control or pointing the
open front air vents downward
>Reduce the volume of the hands-free sys-
tem
Requirements
>The mobile phone's pairing data are stored
by the vehicle and the mobile phone is oper-
ational.
>The engine is running or the ignition is
switched on.
>The mobile phone is recognized by the
vehicle.
Receiving calls
If you have the phone number of the caller
stored in the phone book and the phone num-
ber has been transmitted, the name of the entry
is displayed.
Accepting a call
Press the button on the steering wheel.
or
"Accept"
ba8_E9293M3_cic.book Seite 175 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 12:01 12
Reference 247
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
P
Paintwork care210
Park assistant, refer to Park
Distance Control81
Park Distance Control PDC81
Parked car ventilation99
– preselecting switch-on
times100
– switching on and off
directly100
Parking
– vehicle56
Parking aid, refer to Park
Distance Control PDC81
Parking brake57
– indicator lamp57
Parking lamps92
Parking lamps/low beams92
Passenger-side mirror tilt
function49
Pathway lighting93
Personal Profile26
Phone book175
Phone numbers
– dialing176
Pinch protection system
– glass roof, electric37
– windows36
Placing a call, refer to
telephone owner's manual
Polish211
Pollen
– refer to Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter for automatic
climate control99
Position, refer to Current
position, displaying143
Postal code, entering for
navigation128
Power failure220
Power windows35
Power windows, refer to
Windows35
Pressure, tires196
Pressure monitoring, tires84
– Flat Tire Monitor84Pressure monitoring of tires,
refer to Tire Pressure
Monitor TPM85
Programmable buttons on the
steering wheel11
Protection function, refer to
Pinch protection system
– glass roof, electric37
– windows36
Providing medical assistance,
refer to First aid pouch222
Puncture
– Flat Tire Monitor84
R
Radio
– controls146
– High Definition Radio150
– satellite radio152
– selecting a waveband149
– storing stations149
– switching on/off146
– tone control146
– volume146
Radio-operated key, refer to
Remote control26
Radio position, refer to Radio
readiness55
Radio readiness55
– switched off56
– switched on55
Rain sensor65
Reading lamps95
Rear lamps, refer to Tail
lamps215
– replacing bulb215
Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints45
– folding down backrests108
Rear turn signals
– replacing bulb215
Rear ventilation99
Rearview mirror, refer to
Mirrors48
Rear window defroster99
Rear window roller blind, refer
to Roller sun blinds104Receiving level of mobile
phone, refer to Status
information19
Reception
– quality150
– radio station150
Recirculated-air mode98
Recirculation of air, refer to
Recirculated-air mode98
Reclining seat, refer to
Backrest43
Refueling194
Releasing
– hood202
Remaining distance, refer to
Cruising range70
Remote control26
– battery renewal35
– convenient access34
– garage door opener101
– luggage compartment lid28
– malfunction29,35
– removing from the ignition
lock55
– service data207
Replacement remote
control
26
Replacing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs213
Replacing tires199
Replacing tires, refer to New
wheels and tires199
Reporting safety defects6
Reserve warning, refer to Fuel
gauge69
Reset, refer to Resetting tone
settings148
Residual heat98
Restraint systems
– for children53
– refer to Safety belts47
Retractable hardtop38
– convenient operation28
– opening and closing39
– remote control28
Reverse
– CD changer156
– CD player156
ba8_E9293M3_cic.book Seite 247 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 12:01 12