2010 BMW M3 ignition

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
11
8Instrument cluster12
11Ignition lock4612Buttons on the steering wheel
14Horn, entire surface
15Adjusting the steering wheel40
17Releasing the hood136
18Opening the tailgate/trunk lid23 7
Turn signals50
High beams, headlamp flasher81
High-beam assistant
*81
Roadside parking lamps
*81
Computer63
Settings and information about the
vehicle64
9
Windshield wipers51
Rain sensor
*52
Sports Wagon:
Rear window wiper52
10Switching the ignition on/off and
starting/stopping the engine46
Telephone*:
Accepting and ending a call; dial-
ing
* the selected phone number;
redialing if no phone number is
selected
Volume
Changing the radio station
Interrupting a traffic bulletin
Selecting a music track
Scrolling through the redial list
Next entertainment source
Recirculated-air mode88
13
Steering wheel heating
*41
16
Cruise control
*53
Active cruise control
*55

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
13
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in a
variety of combinations and colors.
Several of the lamps are checked for proper
functioning and light up temporarily when the
engine is started or the ignition is switched on.
What to do in case of a malfunction
A list of all indicator and warning lamps, as well
as notes on possible causes of malfunctions
and on how to respond, can be found starting
on page160.

Opening and closing
18
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 Comfort
Access
*, the remote control contains a
replaceable battery, refer to page28.
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, next column.
In addition, information about service require-
ments is stored in the remote control, refer to
Service data in the remote control, page141.
Integrated key
Press button1 to release the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
>Glove compartment, refer to page94
>Driver's door, refer to page21
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 Comfort Access
* is in
use.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer
to the specified pages.
>Response of the central locking system
when the car is unlocked, refer to page19
>Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to
page22
>Automatic call-up
* of the driver's seat posi-
tion, refer to page37
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to
page51

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
19
>Settings for the display in the instrument
cluster:
>12h/24h format of the clock, refer to
page64
>Date format, refer to page64
>Units of measure, refer to page64
>Light settings:
>Pathway lighting, refer to page79
>Daytime running lights, refer to page80
>High-beam assistant, refer to page81
>Automatic climate control
*: AUTO pro-
gram, cooling function and automatic recir-
culated-air control activated/deactivated,
temperature, air volume and distribution,
refer to page87 ff
>Entertainment:
>Speed-dependent volume control, refer
to separate Owner's Manual
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
>Trunk lid/tailgate
>Fuel filler flap
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
*
>In cars with Comfort Access*, via the han-
dles on the driver's and front passenger
doors
In addition, if the remote control is used, the
interior lamps and the door's courtesy lamps
*
are also switched on or off. The alarm system*
is also armed or disarmed.
For further details of the alarm system,
refer to
page25.
Operating from inside
By means of the button for central locking, refer
to page22.
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.
For operating principle, refer to page64.
1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page46.
2.Lightly push button1 in the turn indicator
lever up or down repeatedly until the sym-
bol appears in the display accompanied by
the word "SET".
3.Press button 2.

Opening and closing
20 4.Lightly push button1 in the turn indicator
lever down repeatedly until the symbol
appears in the display.
5.Press button 2.
6.Use button 1 to select:
>
Press the button once to unlock only
the driver's door and the fuel filler flap.
Press the button twice to unlock the
entire vehicle.
>
Press the button once to unlock the
entire vehicle.
7.Press button 2.
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Convenient opening
Hold the button down.
The windows and the glass roof
*/panorama
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.
Sedan:
Unlocking the trunk lid
Press the button for approx. 1 second.
The trunk lid opens a short distance, regardless
of whether it was locked or unlocked.The trunk lid swings back and up when
opened. Ensure that there is sufficient
clearance. To avoid locking yourself out by
accident, do not place the remote control in the
cargo area. A previously locked trunk lid is
locked again after closing.
Before and after each trip, check that the trunk
lid has not been inadvertently unlocked.<
Sports Wagon:
Unlocking the tailgate
Press the button for approx. 1 second.
The tailgate opens a short distance, regardless
of whether it was locked or unlocked.
The tailgate swings back and up when
opened. Ensure that there is sufficient
clearance. To avoid locking yourself out by
accident, do not place the remote control in the
cargo area. A previously locked tailgate is
locked again after closing.
Before and after each trip, check that the tail-
gate has not been inadvertently unlocked.<
Confirmation signals
You can activate or deactivate the confirmation
signals.
For operating principle, refer to page64.
1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page46.
2.Lightly push button1 in the turn indicator
lever up or down repeatedly until the sym-
bol appears in the display accompanied by
the word "SET".
3.Press button 2.

Opening and closing
22 1.With the doors closed, lock the vehicle
using the button for the central locking sys-
tem in the interior, refer to page22.
2.Unlock and open the driver's or front pas-
senger door, refer to page23.
3.Lock the vehicle.
>Lock the driver's door using the inte-
grated key in the door lock, or
>press down the lock button of the front
passenger door and close the door from
the outside.
Convenient operation
If the vehicle is equipped with an alarm system*
or Comfort Access*, you can also operate the
windows and the glass roof
*/panorama 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 trunk lid/tailgate, but does not activate the
anti-theft system. The fuel filler flap remains
unlocked.
Automatic locking
You can also set the situations in which the car
locks:
For operating principle, refer to page64.
1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page46.
2.Lightly push button1 in the turn indicator
lever up or down repeatedly until the sym-
bol appears in the display accompanied by
the word "SET".
3.Press button 2.
4.Lightly push button1 in the turn indicator
lever down repeatedly until the symbol
appears in the display.
5.Press button 2.
6.Use button 1 to select:
>
The central locking system automati-
cally locks the vehicle after some time if
no door has been opened.
>
The central locking system automati-
cally locks the vehicle as soon as you
drive off.
>
The central locking system automati-
cally locks the vehicle after some time if

Opening and closing
26
Switching off an alarm
>Unlock the car with the remote control, refer
to page19.
>Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the inside rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
doors, hood, trunk lid/tailgate or rear win-
dow are not properly closed. Even if you do
not close the alerted area, the system
begins to monitor the remaining areas, and
the indicator lamp flashes continuously
after approx. 10 seconds. The interior
motion sensor and the tilt alarm sensor are
not activated.
>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
your vehicle has not been disturbed while
you were away.
>If the indicator lamp flashes after unlocking
until the remote control is inserted in the
ignition, but for no longer than approx.
5 minutes: your vehicle has been disturbed
while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm
system reacts, e.g. to attempts to steal a wheel
or tow the vehicle.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass roof must
be completely closed
*.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following
situations:
>In duplex garages
>During transport on car-carrying trains,
boats/ships or on a trailer
>When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and
interior motion sensor
Press the button on the remote control
again as soon as the vehicle is locked.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and
the interior motion sensor are switched off until
the next time the vehicle is unlocked and subse-
quently locked again.
Comfort Access*
Comfort Access enables you to enter your vehi-
cle without needing to hold the remote control
in your hand. All you need to do is wear the
remote control close to your body, e.g. in your
jacket pocket. The vehicle detects the corre-
sponding remote control within the immediate
vicinity or in the passenger compartment.
Comfort Access supports the following func-
tions:
>Unlocking/locking the vehicle
>Unlocking the trunk lid/tailgate separately
>Engine starting
>Convenient closing
Functional requirement
>The vehicle or the trunk lid/tailgate can only
be locked when the vehicle detects that the
remote control currently in use is outside of
the vehicle.
>The vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked
again until after approx. 2 seconds.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
27
>The engine can only be started when the
vehicle detects that the remote control cur-
rently in use is inside the vehicle.
Comparison to the standard remote
control
In general, there is no difference between using
Comfort Access or pressing the buttons on the
remote control to carry out the functions men-
tioned above. You should therefore first famil-
iarize yourself with the instructions on opening
and closing starting on page18.
Special features regarding the use of Comfort
Access are described below.
If you notice a brief delay while opening or
closing windows or the glass roof/pan-
orama glass roof, the system is checking
whether a remote control is inside the vehicle.
Please repeat the opening or closing proce-
dure, if necessary.<
Unlocking
Grasp the handle on the driver's or front pas-
senger door completely, arrow 1. This corre-
sponds to pressing the button.
Locking
Touch the surface, arrow 2, with your finger for
approx. 1 second. This corresponds to pressing
the button.
To preserve the battery, please make
sure that the ignition and all electrical
consumers are switched off before locking the
vehicle.<
Convenient closing
For Convenient closing, keep your finger on the
surface, arrow 2.
Unlocking the trunk lid/tailgate
separately
Press the button on the outside of the trunk lid/
tailgate. This corresponds to pressing the
button.
If the vehicle detects that a remote con-
trol has been accidentally left inside the
locked vehicle's cargo area after the trunk lid/
tailgate or rear window is closed, the lid will
reopen. The hazard warning flashers flash and
an acoustic signal
* sounds.<
Switching on radio readiness
Radio readiness is switched on by pressing the
start/stop button, refer to page46.
Do not depress the brake or the clutch;
otherwise, the engine will start.<
Starting the engine
You can start the engine or switch on the igni-
tion when a remote control is inside the vehicle.
It is not necessary to insert a remote control into
the ignition lock, refer to page46.
Switching off the engine in cars with
automatic transmission
The engine can only be switched off when the
selector lever is in position P, refer to page47.
T o s w i t c h t h e e n g i n e o f f w h e n t h e s e l e c t o r l e v e r
is in position N, the remote control must be in
the ignition lock.
Malfunction
Comfort Access may malfunction due to local
radio waves. If this happens, open or close the
vehicle via the buttons on the remote control or
using the integrated key. To start the engine
afterward, insert the remote control into the
ignition lock.