2011 BMW 3 SERIES steering

Cockpit
Vehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
All around the steering wheel
1Roller sunblinds  43
2Rear window safety switch  42
3Power windows  41
4Exterior mirror operation  52
5Driver assistance systems
Active Blind Spot Detec‐
tion  101
Collision warning  115
Lane departure warning  99
6Lamps
Front fog lamps  89
Parking lamps  86
Low beams  86
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At a glanceCockpit
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Automatic headlamp con‐
trol  87
Daytime running lights  87
Adaptive light control  88
High-beam Assistant  88
Instrument lighting  89
7Steering column stalk, left
Turn signal  64
High beams, head‐
lamp flasher  64
High-beam Assistant  88
Roadside parking lamps  87
Computer  81
8Steering wheel buttons, left
Store speed  119
Resume speed  120
Cruise control on/off, interrupt‐
ing  119
Active Cruise Control on/off, inter‐
rupting  109
Increase distance  111
Reduce distance  111
9Instrument cluster  70
10Steering wheel buttons, right
Entertainment source
Volume
Voice activation  23
Business mobile phone prepara‐
tion package  220
Professional mobile phone prepa‐
ration package  228
11Steering column stalk, right
Windshield wipers  65
Rain sensor  65
Clean the windshields and head‐
lamps  66
12Start/stop the engine and switch
the ignition on/off  60
Auto Start/Stop function  61
13Horn
14Steering wheel heating  53
15Adjust the steering wheel  53
16Unlock hood  273
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CockpitAt a glance
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Voice activation system
Vehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
The concept
▷Most functions that are displayed on the
Control Display can be operated by spoken
commands via the voice activation system.
The system prompts you to make your en‐
tries.
▷Functions that can only be used when the
vehicle is stationary cannot be operated us‐
ing the voice activation system.
▷The system uses a special microphone on
the driver's side.
▷›...‹ Verbal instructions in the Owner's
Manual to use with the voice activation sys‐
tem.
Requirements
Via the Control Display, set a language that is
also supported by the voice activation system
so that the spoken commands can be identified.
Set the language, refer to page 84.
Using voice activation
Activating the voice activation system
1. Press the button on the steering
wheel.
2.Wait for the signal.
3.Say the command.
The command is displayed in the instrument
cluster.
This symbol in the instrument cluster indi‐
cates that the voice activation system is active.
If no other commands are available, operate the
function in this case via iDrive.
Terminating the voice activation
system
Briefly press the button on the steering
wheel or ›Cancel‹.
Possible commands
Most menu items on the Control Display can be
voiced as commands.
The available commands depend on which
menu is currently displayed on the Control Dis‐
play.
There are short commands for functions of the
main menu.
Some list entries, e.g. Phone book entries, can
also be selected via the voice activation system.
Speak these list entries exactly as they are dis‐
played in the respective list.
Having possible commands read aloud
You can have the available commands read out
loud for you: ›Voice commands‹
For example, if the "Settings" menu is displayed,
the commands for the settings are read out loud.
Executing functions using short
commands
Functions on the main menu can be performed
directly by means of short commands, nearly ir‐
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Voice activation systemAt a glance
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respective of which menu item is currently se‐
lected, e.g., ›Vehicle status‹.
List of short commands of the voice activation
system, refer to page 306.
Help dialog for the voice activation
system
Calling up help dialog: ›Help‹
Additional commands for the help dialog:
▷›Help with examples‹: information about the
current operating options and the most im‐
portant commands for them are announced.
▷›Help with voice activation‹: information
about the principle of operation for the voice
activation system is announced.
Example: playing back a CD
1.Switch on the Entertainment sound output
if necessary.
2. Press the button on the steering
wheel.
3.›C D and multimedia‹
The medium last played is played back.
4. Press the button on the steering
wheel.
5.›C D track ...‹ e.g., CD track 4.
Setting the voice dialog
You can set whether the system should use the
standard dialog or a shorter version.
In the shorter variant of the voice dialog, the an‐
nouncements from the system are issued in an
abbreviated form.
On the Control Display:
1."Settings"
2."Language/Units"
3."Speech mode:"
4.Select the setting.
Adjusting the volume
Turn the volume button while giving an instruc‐
tion until the desired volume is set.
▷The volume remains constant even if the
volume of other audio sources is changed.
▷The volume is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Notes on Emergency
Requests
Do not use the voice activation system to initiate
an Emergency Request. In stressful situations,
the voice and vocal pitch can change. This can
unnecessarily delay the establishment of a tel‐
ephone connection.
Instead, use the SOS button, refer to
page 290, in the vicinity of the interior mirror.
Environmental conditions
▷Say the commands, numbers, and letters
smoothly and with normal volume, empha‐
sis, and speed.
▷Always say commands in the language of
the voice activation system.
▷When selecting a radio station, use the com‐
mon pronunciation of the station name:
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Take the used battery to a recycling cen‐
ter or to your service center.
New remote controls
You can obtain new remote controls from your
service center.
Loss of the remote controls
Lost remote controls can be blocked by your
service center.
Emergency detection of remote control
It is possible to switch on the ignition or start the
engine in situations such as the following:
▷Interference of radio transmission to remote
control by external sources.
▷Discharged battery in the remote control.
▷Interference of radio transmission by mobile
devices in close proximity to the remote
control.
▷Interference of radio transmission by
charger while charging items such as mobile
devices in the vehicle.
A Check Control message is displayed if an at‐
tempt is made to switch on the ignition or start
the engine.
Starting the engine in case of
emergency detection of remote control
Automatic transmission: if a corresponding
Check Control message appears, hold the re‐
mote control, as shown, against the marked area
on the steering column and press the Start/Stop
button within 10 seconds while pressing the
brake.
Manual transmission: if a corresponding Check
Control message appears, hold the remote con‐
trol, as shown, against the marked area on the
steering column and press the Start/Stop button
within 10 seconds while pressing the clutch.
Personal Profile
The concept
Personal Profile concept
You can set several of your vehicle's functions
to suit your personal needs and preferences.
▷The settings are automatically saved in the
profile currently activated.
▷When the vehicle is unlocked, the profile that
was last detected and called up with the re‐
mote control is used.
▷Your personal settings will be recognized
and called up again even if the vehicle has
been used in the meantime by someone else
with another remote control.
The individual settings are stored for three Per‐
sonal Profiles and one guest profile.
Transmitting the settings
Your personal settings can be taken with you to
another vehicle equipped with the Personal Pro‐
file function. For more information, contact your
service center.
Transmission takes place via:
▷The USB interface in the glove compart‐
ment or the center console on a USB me‐
dium.
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Opening and closingControls
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1.Pull the head restraint upward as far as pos‐
sible.
2.Press the button, arrow 1, and pull the head
restraint out completely.
Before transporting passengers
Reinstall the head restraint before trans‐
porting anyone in the seat; otherwise, the pro‐
tective function of the head restraint is unavail‐
able.◀
Seat and mirror memory
General information
Two different driver's seat and exterior mirror
positions can be stored and retrieved for each
remote control. Settings for the backrest width
and lumbar support are not stored in memory.
Storing
1.Switch on the ignition.
2.Set the desired position.
3. Press the button. The LED in the
button lights up.
4.Press the desired button 1 or 2. The LED
goes out.
If the M button is pressed accidentally:
Press the button again.
The LED goes out.
Calling up settings
Do not retrieve the memory while driving
Do not retrieve the memory setting while
driving, as an unexpected movement of the seat
or steering wheel could result in an accident.◀
Comfort function
1.Open the driver's door.
2.Switch off the ignition.
3.Briefly press the desired button 1 or 2.
The corresponding seat position is performed
automatically.
The procedure stops when a switch for adjust‐
ing the seat or one of the buttons is pressed.
Safety mode
1.Close the driver's door or switch on the ig‐
nition.
2.Press and hold the desired button 1 or 2 until
the adjustment procedure is completed.
Calling up of a seat position
deactivated
After a brief period, the calling up of stored seat
positions is deactivated to save battery power.
To reactivate calling up of a seat position:
▷Open and close the door or trunk lid.
▷Press a button on the remote control.
▷Press the Start/Stop button.
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AdjustingControls
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Automatic heating
Both exterior mirrors are automatically heated
whenever the engine is running.
Automatic dimming feature
Both exterior mirrors are automatically dimmed.
Photocells are used for control in the Interior rear
view mirror, refer to page 53.
Interior rearview mirror
Reducing the blinding effect
From behind when driving at night: turn the
knob.
Interior rearview mirror, automatic
dimming feature
The concept
Photocells are used for control:
▷In the mirror glass.
▷On the back of the mirror.
Functional requirement
For proper operation:
▷Keep the photocells clean.
▷Do not cover the area between the inside
rearview mirror and the windshield.
Steering wheel
General information
Do not adjust while driving
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving; otherwise, an unexpected movement
could result in an accident.◀
Adjusting
1.Fold the lever down.
2.Move the steering wheel to the preferred
height and angle to suit your seating posi‐
tion.
3.Fold the lever back.
Steering wheel heating
Switching on/off
Press the button.
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Engine stop
General information
Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot start the engine.◀
Set the parking brake and further secure
the vehicle as required
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the vehi‐
cle, for example, by turning the steering wheel in
the direction of the curb. ◀
Before driving into a car wash
In order for the vehicle to be able to roll into a car
wash, heed the information regarding Washing
in automatic car washes, refer to page 296.
Manual transmission
Switching off the engine
1.With the vehicle at a standstill, press the
Start/Stop button.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Set the parking brake.
Automatic-Transmission
Switching off the engine
1.Engage transmission position P with the ve‐
hicle stopped.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
The engine is switched off.
The radio ready state is switched on.
3.Set the parking brake.
Auto Start/Stop function
The concept
The automatic engine start-stop function helps
save fuel. The system switches off the engine
during a stop, e. g., in a traffic congestion or at
traffic lights. The ignition remains switched on.
The engine starts again automatically for driving
off.
Automatic mode
The automatic engine start/stop function is op‐
erational after each engine start.
The function is activated above a certain speed.
▷Manual transmission: above 3 mph, approx.
5 km/h.
▷Automatic transmission: from 5 mph, ap‐
prox. 9 km/h.
Engine stop
The engine is switched off automatically during
a stop under the following conditions:
Manual transmission:
▷Neutral is engaged and the clutch pedal is
not pressed.
▷The driver's safety belt is buckled or the
driver's door is closed.
Automatic transmission:
▷The selector lever is in transmission position
D.
▷Brake pedal remains depressed while the
vehicle is stopped.
▷The driver's safety belt is buckled or the
driver's door is closed.
The air flow of the air conditioner is reduced
when the engine is switched off.
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DrivingControls
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