At a glance
11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
7Instrument cluster12
10Ignition lock49
11Buttons on the steering wheel12Horn: the entire surface
13Adjusting the steering wheel43
15Releasing the hood192
16Opening the luggage compartment lid30 6
Turn signals58
High beams, headlamp flasher87
Roadside parking lamps
*87
Computer63
Settings and information about the
vehicle65
Instrument lighting87
8
Windshield wipers59
Rain sensor
*59
9Switching the ignition on/off and
starting/stopping the engine49
Telephone
*:
>Press: accepting and ending a
call, starting dialing
* selected
phone numbers. Redialing if
no phone number is selected
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice acti-
vation system
*22
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling through phone book and
lists with stored phone numbers
MDrive
*, calling up individual
settings44
Recirculated-air mode91
14
Cruise control60
ba8_E90M3_cic.book Seite 11 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 11:51 11
Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Indicator lamps for turn signals
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Tachometer62
5Shift Lights
*56
6Engine oil temperature63
7Display for
>Clock62
>Outside temperature62
>Indicator and warning lamps70
>With dual clutch transmission:
Computer638Display for
>Gear display M dual clutch transmission
with Drivelogic
*52
>With manual transmission:
Computer63
>Date of next scheduled service, and
remaining distance to be driven66
>Odometer and trip odometer62
>Checking oil level193
>Settings and information65
> There is a Check Control
message70
9Fuel gauge63
10Resetting the trip odometer62
ba8_E90M3_cic.book Seite 12 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 11:51 11
At a glance
15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Microphone for voice activation system*
and for telephone in hands-free mode*
2SOS: initiating an Emergency Request
call
*210
3Reading lamps88
4Glass roof, electric
*35
5Interior lamps87
6Passenger airbag status lamp
*83
7Control Display16
8Hazard warning flashers
9Flat Tire Monitor FTM
*78
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM
*79
10Central locking system29
11Automatic climate control
12CD/DVD drive136
13Changing the audio and entertainment
sources14Selecting AM or FM waveband
15Changing
>Radio station139
>Track144
17Controller16
Can be turned, pressed, or moved in four
directions
18Opening start menu on Control Display17
19Dynamic Stability Control DSC76
20Electronic Damper Control EDC
*77
21M Engine Dynamics Control POWER58
22Programmable memory keys20
23Switching audio sources on/off and adjust-
ing volume136
24Ejecting CD/DVD136 Air distribution to the
windshield90
Air distribution to the upper body
area90
Air distribution to the footwell90
Automatic air distribution and flow
rate90
Cooling function91
Automatic recirculated-air control
AUC91
Recirculated-air mode91
Maximum cooling90
Residual heat mode91
Air flow rate91
Defrosting windows91
Rear window defroster92
16
Heated seats*40
Roller sun blind
*97
ba8_E90M3_cic.book Seite 15 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 11:51 11
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
Opening and closing
26
Opening and closing
Remote control
Each remote control contains a rechargeable
battery that is automatically recharged when it
is in the ignition lock while the car is being
driven. Use each remote control at least twice a
year for longer road trips in order to maintain the
batteries' charge status. In cars with convenient
access
*, the remote control contains a replace-
able battery, refer to page34.
The settings called up and implemented when
the car is unlocked depend on which remote
control is used to unlock the car, refer to Per-
sonal Profile below.
In addition, information about service require-
ments is stored in the remote control, refer to
Service data in the remote control, page197.
Integrated key
Press button1 to release the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
>Glove compartment, refer to page97
>Driver's door, refer to page29
New remote controls
Your BMW center can supply new remote con-
trols with integrated keys as additional units or
as replacements in the event of loss.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set many of your BMW's functions to
suit your personal needs and preferences.
Without any action on your part, Personal Pro-
file ensures that most of these settings are
stored for the remote control currently in use.
When you unlock the car, the remote control
used for the purpose is recognized and the set-
tings stored for it are called up and imple-
mented.
This means that your personal settings will be
activated for you, even if in the meantime your
car was used by someone else with another
remote control and the corresponding settings.
The individual settings are stored for a maxi-
mum of four remote controls. They are stored
for two remote controls if convenient access
* is
in use.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer
to the specified pages.
>Assignment of programmable memory
keys, refer to page20
>Response of the central locking system
when the car is unlocked, refer to page27
>Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to
page29
>Automatic call-up of the driver's seat posi-
tion after unlocking, refer to page40
>Programming buttons on the steering
wheel, refer to page44
>MDrive
*, refer to page44
ba8_E90M3_cic.book Seite 26 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 11:51 11
Controls
27Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Calling up the preferred program of the M
Engine Dynamics Control POWER and
Electronic Damper Control EDC
* when
starting the vehicle, refer to Configuring
settings on page44
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to
page58
>Settings for the displays on the Control Dis-
play and in the instrument cluster:
>12h/24h format of the clock, refer to
page69
>Date format, refer to page70
>Brightness of Control Display, refer to
page73
>Language on the Control Display, refer
to page73
>Units of measure, refer to page65
>Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC
*, refer to page75
>Light settings:
>Welcome lamps, refer to page85
>Pathway lighting, refer to page86
>Daytime running lamps, refer to page86
>Automatic climate control: activating/deac-
tivating AUTO program, cooling function
and automatic recirculated-air control, set-
ting temperature, air flow rate and distribu-
tion, refer to page90 ff
>Entertainment:
>Audio volume, refer to page136
>Tone control, refer to page136
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer
to page137
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system functions when the
driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors>Luggage compartment lid
>Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
*
>In cars with convenient access*, via the
handles on the driver's and front passen-
ger's doors
In addition, if the remote control is used, the
welcome lamps, interior lamps and the door's
courtesy lamps
* are switched on or off. The
alarm system
* is also armed or disarmed.
For further details of the alarm system,
refer to
page31.
Operating from inside
By means of the button for central locking, refer
to page29.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the
central locking system unlocks automatically. In
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing:
Using the remote control
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle
could lock the doors from the inside. You
should therefore take the remote control with
you when you leave the vehicle so that the latter
can be opened from outside.<
Unlocking
Press the button.
The interior lamps, the courtesy lamps
* and the
welcome lamps come on.
Setting unlocking characteristics
You can set whether only the driver's door or
the entire vehicle is to be unlocked when the
button is pressed for the first time.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"
ba8_E90M3_cic.book Seite 27 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 11:51 11
Opening and closing
28 3."Unlock button"
4.Select a menu item:
>"All doors"
Press the button once to unlock the
entire vehicle.
>"Driver's door only"
Pressing the button once unlocks
the driver's door and fuel filler door.
Press the button twice to unlock the
entire vehicle.
>"Comfort opening", refer to page28
5.Press the controller.
Convenient opening
Hold the button down.
The windows and the glass roof
* are opened.
Locking
Press the button.
Switching on interior lamps
While the car is locked:
Press the button.
You can also use this function to locate your
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Unlocking the luggage compartment
lid
Press the button for approx. 1 second.
The luggage compartment lid opens a short
distance, regardless of whether it was locked or
unlocked.
The luggage compartment lid swings
backwards and up when opened. Ensure
that there is sufficient clearance. To avoid lock-
ing yourself out by accident, do not place the remote control in the cargo bay. A previously
locked luggage compartment lid is locked again
after closing.
Before and after each trip, check that the lug-
gage compartment lid has not been inadvert-
ently unlocked.<
Setting confirmation signals
You can activate or deactivate the confirmation
signals.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"
3."Flash when lock./unlock."
4.Press the controller.
Flashing when locking/unlocking the vehi-
cle is switched on.
Malfunctions
The remote control may malfunction due to
local radio waves. If this occurs, unlock and lock
the car at the door lock with the integrated key.
In vehicles without an alarm system
* or conve-
nient access
*, only the driver's door can be
locked and unlocked with the integrated key via
the door lock.
If the car can no longer be locked with a remote
control, the battery in the remote control is dis-
charged. Use the remote control on an
extended trip to recharge the battery, refer to
page26. The remote control for convenient
access
* contains a battery that may have to be
changed, refer to page34.
ba8_E90M3_cic.book Seite 28 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 11:51 11
Controls
29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communications
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8766S
LX8766E
LX8CAS
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful inter-
ference, and
>This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or
changes to these devices could void the
user's authority to operate this equipment.<
Opening and closing:
Using the door lock
You can set the way in which the car is
unlocked, refer to page27.
In vehicles without an alarm system
* or
convenient access
*, only the driver's
door can be locked via the door lock.<
To lock all doors, the fuel filler door and the lug-
gage compartment lid at once:1.With the doors closed, lock the vehicle
using the button for the central locking sys-
tem in the interior, refer to page29.
2.Unlock and open the driver's or front pas-
senger's door, refer to page30.
3.Lock the vehicle.
>Lock the driver's door via the door lock
using the integrated key, or
>push down the locking knob on the front
passenger's door and close the door
from the outside.
Convenient operation
if the vehicle is equipped with an alarm system*
or convenience access*, you can also operate
the windows and the glass roof
* via the door
lock.
Hold the key in the position for unlocking or
locking.
Watch during the closing process to
ensure that no one is injured. Releasing
the key stops the operation.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can
lock and unlock the driver's door by turning the
integrated key to the corresponding limit posi-
tions in the door lock.
Opening and closing:
From inside
This button serves to unlock or lock doors and
the luggage compartment lid when the doors
are closed, but does not activate the anti-theft
system. The fuel filler door remains unlocked.
ba8_E90M3_cic.book Seite 29 Dienstag, 19. August 2008 11:51 11