
iDrive
18 Move the controller to the left or right to change 
between the panels.
White arrows pointing to the left or right indi-
cate that additional panels can be opened.
Open the Options menu
Press the OPTION button.
The "Options" menu is displayed.
Additional options: move the controller to the 
right repeatedly until the "Options" menu 
appears.
The "Options" menu contains the following:
>Screen settings, refer to page19.
>Control options for the selected menu.
Adjusting settings
1.Select a field.
2.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is displayed.
3.Press the controller to confirm the setting.
The scroll bar on the right side indicates 
whether additional menu items or set-
tings can be selected that are currently not vis-
ible.<
Example: setting the clock
1.Press the MENU button.
The main menu is displayed.
2.Turn the controller until "Settings" is high-
lighted, and then press the controller.
3.Turn the controller until "Time/Date" is 
highlighted, and then press the controller.
ba8_E90M3_cic.book  Seite 18  Dienstag, 19. August 2008  11:51 11 

At a glance
 19Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
4.Turn the controller until "Time:" is high-
lighted, and then press the controller.
5.Turn the controller to set the hours and 
press the controller.
6.Turn the controller to set the minutes and 
press the controller.
Status information
1Time
2Display for:
>Reception strength of the wireless 
network, depends on the mobile phone
>Incoming, outgoing or missed call
>SMS
* received
3Display for:
>Entertainment:
Radio, CD/DVD, external devices, TV
*
>Telephone*:
Name of the mobile phone paired with 
the vehicle4Sound output is switched off or
 display for traffic bulletins
*:
>"TI": 
Traffic bulletins are switched on.
>No display: 
Traffic bulletins are switched off.
Other displays:
Status information is temporarily hidden during 
Check Control message displays or entries via 
the voice activation system
*.
Switching the Control Display 
off/on
1.Press the OPTION button.
2."Switch off display"
Press the controller to switch on.
Split screen
Additional information can be displayed on the 
right side of the split screen, e.g. information 
from the computer.
In the divided screen view, the so-called split 
screen, this information remains visible even 
when you change to another menu.
Switching the split screen on and off
1.Press the OPTION button.
2."Split screen"
 The split screen is activated.
Selecting the display for the split 
screen content
When the split screen is switched on, you can 
select the content displayed on the screen.
ba8_E90M3_cic.book  Seite 19  Dienstag, 19. August 2008  11:51 11 

Controls
 31Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Locking or unlocking separately
The switch is located in the glove compartment.
1Locking the luggage compartment lid
2Unlocking the luggage compartment lid
Locking separately
Push the switch in the direction of arrow 1. 
The luggage compartment lid is locked and 
cannot be unlocked using the central locking 
system. 
If you give the remote control without the inte-
grated key to someone else while the glove 
compartment is locked, the luggage compart-
ment lid cannot be opened. This is an advan-
tage when valet parking, for example. Locking 
the glove compartment, refer to page98.
Unlocking separately
Push the switch in the direction of arrow 2.
Emergency release
Pull the lever in the cargo bay. The luggage 
compartment lid is unlocked.
Closing
The handle recesses on the interior trim of the 
luggage compartment lid make it easier to pull 
down.Make sure that the closing path of the 
luggage compartment lid is clear, other-
wise injuries may result.<
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the luggage com-
partment lid is opened
>To movements inside the vehicle: Interior 
motion sensor, refer to page32
>When the car's inclination changes, for 
instance if an attempt is made to jack it up 
and steal the wheels or to raise it prior to 
towing away
>When there is an interruption in the power 
supply from the battery
The alarm system signals unauthorized entry 
attempts for a short time by means of:
>An acoustic alarm
>Switching on the hazard warning flashers
>Flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with 
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm 
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
You can open the luggage compartment lid 
using the   button of the remote control even 
if the alarm system is armed, refer to page28. 
The lid is locked and monitored again as soon 
as it is closed.
ba8_E90M3_cic.book  Seite 31  Dienstag, 19. August 2008  11:51 11 

Everything under control
62
Everything under control
Odometer, outside 
temperature display, clock
1Knob in the instrument cluster
2Outside temperature and clock, refer to 
Computer on page63
3Odometer and trip odometer
Knob in the instrument cluster
>To reset the trip odometer while the ignition 
is switched on
>To display the time, outside temperature 
and odometer briefly while the ignition is 
switched off
Units of measure
To select the respective units of measure, miles 
or km for the odometer as well as 7 or 6 for 
the outside temperature, refer to page65.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Time, outside temperature display
Setting the time, refer to page68.
Outside temperature warning
When the displayed temperature sinks to 
approx. +377/+36, a signal sounds and a 
warning lamp lights up. There is an increased 
risk of black ice.
Black ice can also form at temperatures 
above Select the symbol. +377/+36. 
You should therefore drive carefully on bridges and shaded roads, for example, otherwise there 
is an increased risk of an accident.<
Odometer and trip odometer
Resetting trip odometer: 
With the ignition switched on, press button1 in 
the instrument cluster.
When the vehicle is parked
If you still want to view the time, outside tem-
perature and odometer reading briefly after the 
remote control has been taken out of the igni-
tion lock:
Press button 1 in the instrument cluster.
Tachometer
The prewarning field, arrow 1, and the red warn-
ing field, arrow2, change in relation to the 
engine temperature. The permissible engine 
speed increases with increased engine temper-
ature. Avoid engine speeds in the prewarning 
field, if possible.
ba8_E90M3_cic.book  Seite 62  Dienstag, 19. August 2008  11:51 11 

Controls
 65Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Resetting the Trip computer
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Trip computer"3.Select
>"Reset" all values are reset
>"Automatically reset" all values are reset 
approx. 4 hours after the engine is 
switched off
Settings and information
Operating principle
1Button for:
>Selecting display
>Setting values
2Button for:
>Confirming selected display or set val-
ues
>Calling up computer information633When the lights are on: instrument lighting 
brightness87
4Calling up Check Control70
5Setting the time68
6Setting the date69
7Viewing service requirement display66
8Switching Shift Lights
* on/off56
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
Setting the units of measure
You can change the units for fuel consumption, 
route/distance, temperature and pressure.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
ba8_E90M3_cic.book  Seite 65  Dienstag, 19. August 2008  11:51 11 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
78 >"Sport": both LEDs light up.
Each time the engine is started, the program set 
for the remote control in use is active, refer to M 
Key settings on page45.
 You can also set and call up your preferred 
program via MDrive, refer to page44.
Drive-off assistant
The drive-off assistant enables you to drive off 
smoothly on uphill gradients. It is not necessary 
to use the parking brake for this.
1.Hold the car in place by depressing the 
brake.
2.Release the brake and drive off without 
delay.
The drive-off assistant holds the car in 
place for approx. 2 seconds after the 
brake is released. Drive off without delay after 
releasing the brake. Otherwise, the drive-off 
assistant will no longer hold the car in place 
after approx. 2 seconds and the car will start to 
roll backwards.<
Flat Tire Monitor FTM*
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor detects pressure loss in a 
tire by comparing the rotating speeds of the 
individual tires while moving.
In the event of pressure loss, the rolling circum-
ference changes and, thus, the rotating speed 
of the affected wheel. This change is detected 
and is reported as a flat tire.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat 
tire, the system must be initialized for the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure.
The system must be reinitialized each 
time a tire inflation pressure has been cor-
rected or a wheel or tire has been changed.<
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor is unable to warn 
the driver of sudden, severe tire damage 
caused by external factors, nor can it identify 
the gradual loss of pressure that will inevitably 
occur in all four tires over a lengthy period of 
time.<
In the following situations, the system could be 
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Performance-oriented style of driving: slip 
in the drive wheels, high lateral acceleration
>Snow chains are attached
Initializing the system
The initialization is completed during driv-
ing, which can be interrupted at any time. 
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically. 
Do not initialize the system while snow chains 
are attached.<
Using the button in the center console
1.Start the engine, but do not start driving.
2.Press the button for approx. 4 seconds until 
the warning lamp in the instrument cluster 
lights up yellow. Warning lamp, refer to Indi-
cation of a flat tire on page79.
3.Start to drive.
Initialization is completed while the car is 
moving, without any feedback.
Via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
ba8_E90M3_cic.book  Seite 78  Dienstag, 19. August 2008  11:51 11 

Controls
 79Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Reset"
4.Start the engine - do not drive away.
5.Start the initialization using "Reset".
6.Start to drive.
The initialization is completed during the trip. 
"Flat Tire Monitor active" is displayed again on 
the Control Display.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamps come on in yellow 
and red. A message appears on the 
Control Display. In addition, an 
acoustic signal sounds. There is a flat 
tire or substantial loss of tire pressure.
1.Reduce your speed and carefully stop the 
car. Avoid sudden braking and steering 
maneuvers.
2.Identify the damaged tire. To do so, check 
the tire pressure using the M Mobility Sys-
tem, refer to Producing the tire inflation 
pressure on page208.
3.Repair the flat tire with the M Mobility Sys-
tem, refer to page207.
Malfunction
The warning lamps come on in yel-
low. A message appears on the Con-
t r o l  D i s p l a y .  T h e  F l a t  T i r e  M o n i t o r  h a s  
a malfunction or has failed. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible.
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM*
The concept
TPM checks the inflation pressures of the four 
mounted tires. The system notifies you if there 
is a significant loss of pressure in one or more 
tires.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat 
tire, the system must be reset while all tire infla-
tion pressures are correct.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics. Oth-
erwise, the system may malfunction.
Each time a tire inflation pressure has 
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been 
changed, reset the system.<
System limitations
TPM cannot warn you in advance of sud-
den severe tire damage caused by out-
side influences.<
The system does not work correctly if it has not 
been reset; for example, a flat tire may be indi-
cated even though the tire inflation pressures 
are correct.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat 
tire if a wheel without TPM electronics has been 
mounted, or if TPM is temporarily malfunction-
ing due to other systems or devices using the 
same radio frequency.
Status indicator on the Control Display
The color of the wheels represents the status of 
the tires and the system.
TPM takes into account that tire pressures 
change while the vehicle is being driven. The 
tire pressures do not need to be corrected 
unless the TPM instructs you to do so by means 
of color indicators.
Green
The tire inflation pressure corresponds to the 
established target value.
"TPM active" appears on the Control Display.
ba8_E90M3_cic.book  Seite 79  Dienstag, 19. August 2008  11:51 11 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
80
One wheel yellow
There is a flat tire or substantial loss of tire pres-
sure in the indicated tire. A message appears on 
the Control Display.
All wheels yellow
There is a flat tire or substantial loss of tire pres-
sure in several tires. A message appears on the 
Control Display.
Gray
The system cannot detect a puncture.
Possible reasons for this:
>TPM is being reset
>Temporary malfunction caused by systems 
or devices using the same radio frequency
>Malfunction
Resetting the system
Each time a tire inflation pressure has 
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been 
changed, reset the system.<
Using the button in the center console
1.Start the engine, but do not start driving.
2.Press the button for approx. 4 seconds until 
the warning lamp in the instrument cluster 
lights up yellow. Warning lamp, refer to 
Message for low tire inflation pressure on 
page80.
The message "Resetting TPM..." appears 
on the Control Display for several seconds.
3.Start to drive.
After driving a few minutes, the set inflation 
pressures in the tires are accepted as the 
target values to be monitored. The system reset is completed during your drive, and 
can be interrupted at any time. When driving 
resumes, the reset is continued automati-
cally. The indicator lamp goes out after the 
system reset is completed.
Via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Reset TPM"
4.Start the engine - do not drive away.
5.Start the initialization using "Reset TPM".
6.Start to drive.
The tires are shown in gray and "Resetting 
TPM..." is displayed.
After driving a few minutes, the set inflation 
pressures in the tires are accepted as the target 
values to be monitored. The system reset is 
completed during your drive, and can be inter-
rupted at any time. When driving resumes, the 
reset is continued automatically. On the Control 
Display, the tires are shown in green and 
"Status: TPM active" is displayed again.
If a flat tire is detected while the system is 
resetting and determining the inflation 
pressures, all wheels on the Control Display are 
displayed in yellow. The message "Tire low!" is 
shown.<
Message for low tire inflation pressure
The warning lamps come on in yellow 
and red. A message appears on the 
Control Display. In addition, a signal 
sounds. There is a flat tire or substan-
tial loss of tire pressure.
ba8_E90M3_cic.book  Seite 80  Dienstag, 19. August 2008  11:51 11