
X3Owner's Manual for Vehicle
Thank you for choosing a BMW.
The more familiar you are with your vehicle, the better control
you will have on the road. We therefore strongly suggest:
Read this Owner's Manual before starting off in your new BMW.
Also use the Integrated Owner's Manual in your vehicle. It con‐
tains important information on vehicle operation that will help
you make full use of the technical features available in your
BMW. The manual also contains information designed to en‐
hance operating reliability and road safety, and to contribute to
maintaining the value of your BMW.
Any updates made after the editorial deadline for the printed or
Integrated Owner's Manual are found in the appendix of the
printed Quick Reference for the vehicle.
Supplementary information can be found in the additional bro‐
chures in the onboard literature.
We wish you a safe and enjoyable ride.
BMW AG
The Owner's Manual is available in many countries as an app.
For more information, go to
www.bmw.com/bmw_drivers_guide
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ContentsThe fastest way to find information on a partic‐
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page 236.6Notes
At a glance
14Cockpit18iDrive26Voice activation system29Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicle
Controls
34Opening and closing51Adjusting61Transporting children safely65Driving79Displays94Lights99Safety121Driving stability control systems128Driving comfort150Climate control158Interior equipment166Storage compartments
Driving tips
172Things to remember when driving176Loading179Saving fuelMobility188Refueling190Fuel195Wheels and tires203Engine compartment205Engine oil208Coolant210Maintenance212Replacing components221Breakdown assistance226Care
Reference
232Technical data236Everything from A to Z
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Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicleVehicle features and optionsThis chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
Integrated Owner's Manual
in the vehicle
The Integrated Owner's Manual can be dis‐
played on the Control Display. It specifically
describes features and functions found in the
vehicle.
Components of the Integrated Owner's Manual
The Integrated Owner's Manual consists of
three parts, which offer various levels of infor‐
mation or possible access.
Quick Reference Guide
The Quick Reference Guide provides informa‐
tion how to operate the car, how to use basic
vehicle functions or what to do in case of a
breakdown. This information can also be dis‐
played while driving.
Search by images
Image search provides information and de‐
scriptions. This is helpful when the terminol‐
ogy for a feature is not at hand.
Owner's Manual
Search for information and descriptions by en‐
tering terms selected from the index.Select components1. Press button.2.Turn the controller: open "Vehicle info".3.Press the controller.4.Selecting desired range:▷"Quick reference"▷"Search by pictures"▷"Owner's Manual"
Leafing through the Owner's Manual
Page by page with link access
Turn the controller until the next or previous
page is displayed.
Page by page without link access
Scroll through the pages directly while skip‐
ping the links.
Highlight the symbol once. Now simply press
the controller to browse from page to page.
Scroll back.
Scroll forward.
Seite 29Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicleAt a glance29
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Context help - Owner's Manual to the
temporarily selected function
You may open the relevant information di‐
rectly.
Opening via the iDrive
To move directly from the application on the
Control Display to the Options menu:1. Press button or move the controller
to the right repeatedly until the "Options"
menu is displayed.2."Display Owner's Manual"
Opening when a Check Control
message is displayed
Directly from the Check Control message on
the Control Display:
"Display Owner's Manual"
Changing between a function and the
Owner's Manual
To reel from a function, e. g., radio, to the
Owner's Manual on the Control Display and to
alternate between the two displays:
1. Press button or move the controller
to the right repeatedly until the "Options"
menu is displayed.2."Display Owner's Manual"3.Select the desired page in the Owner's
Manual.4. Press button again to return to last
displayed function.5. Press button to return to the page of
the Owner's Manual displayed last.
To alternate permanently between the last dis‐
played function and the Owner's Manual re‐
peat steps 4 & 5. Opens a new display every
time.
Programmable memory buttons
General information
The Owner's Manual can be stored on the pro‐
grammable memory buttons and called up di‐
rectly.
Storing1."Owner's Manual" Select via the iDrive.2. Press selected button for more
than 2 seconds.
Executing
Press button.
The Owner's Manual is displayed im‐
mediately.
Seite 30At a glanceIntegrated Owner's Manual in the vehicle30
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Seite 31Integrated Owner's Manual in the vehicleAt a glance31
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Opening and closingVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
Remote control/key
General information The vehicle is supplied with two remote con‐
trols with integrated key.
Every remote control holds a replaceable bat‐
tery.
You may set the key functions depending on
the optional features and country-specific ver‐
sion. For Settings, refer to page 45.
The vehicle stores personal settings for every
remote control. Personal Profile, refer to
page 35.
The remote controls hold information on re‐
quired maintenance. Service data in the re‐
mote control, refer to page 210.
At a glance1Unlocking2Locking3Unlock the tailgate4Press briefly: headlight courtesy delay fea‐
ture
Press and hold: Panic mode
Integrated key
Press button on the back of the remote con‐
trol, arrow 1, and pull out the key, arrow 2.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
▷Driver's door.▷Glove compartment on the front passenger
side.
Replacing the battery
1.Remove integrated key from remote con‐
trol.2.Push in the catch with the key, arrow 1.3.Remove the cover of the battery compart‐
ment, arrow 2.Seite 34ControlsOpening and closing34
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▷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.
Without remote control
From the outside Locking from the outside
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside
with people inside the car, as the vehicle can‐
not be unlocked from inside without special
knowledge.◀
Remove the key before pulling the door
handle
Before pulling the outside door handle, remove
the key to avoid damaging the paintwork and
the key.◀
Unlock or lock the driver's door via the door
lock using the integrated key, refer to page 34.
The other doors must be unlocked or locked
from the inside.
Alarm system
The alarm system is not armed if the vehicle is
locked with the integrated key.
The alarm system is triggered when the door is
opened, if the vehicle was unlocked via the door lock.
In order to terminate this alarm, unlock vehicle
with the remote control or reel on the ignition,
if needed, through emergency detection of the
remote control, refer to page 35.
From the inside
Unlocking and locking
Via the buttons for the central locking system.
▷ By pressing the button, the vehicle
is locked with the doors closed.▷ Pressing the button unlocks the
vehicle.
The vehicle is not secured against theft when
locking.
The fuel filler flap remains unlocked.
In the event of a severe accident, the vehicle is
automatically unlocked. The hazard warning
system and interior lights come on.
Unlocking and opening
▷Press the central locking system
button to unlock the doors to‐
gether, and then pull the door handle
above the armrest.▷On the door to be opened, pull the door
handle twice: the first time unlocks the
door, the second time opens it. The other
doors remain locked.Seite 39Opening and closingControls39
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ately pull it back. With this movement, the
leg must pass through the ranges of both
sensors.
Opening
The tailgate opens, regardless of whether it
was previously locked or unlocked.
The tailgate swings back and up when it
opens. Ensure that adequate clearance is
available before opening.
Before the opening, the hazard warning sys‐
tem flashes.
Preventing inadvertent opening
In situations where the tailgate should
not be opened with no-touch activation, en‐
sure that the remote control is located beyond
the range of the sensor, at least 5 ft/1.50 m
from the rear of the car.
Otherwise, the tailgate may be opened inad‐
vertently, for example by an unintentional or
misinterpreted movement of the foot.◀
ClosingThe hazard warning system flashes on and an
acoustic signal sounds before the tailgate
closes.
When closing, the tailgate pivots back and
down.
The closing of the tailgate has no effect on the
locking of the vehicle.
Another foot movement can interrupt the clos‐
ing operation.
Avoiding unintentional closing
In situations in which the opened tailgate
should not to be closed with no-touch activa‐
tion, ensure that the remote control is located
beyond the range of the sensor, at least
5 ft/1.50 m from the rear of the car.
Otherwise, the tailgate may be closed inadver‐
tently, for example by an unintentional or mis‐
interpreted movement of the foot.◀
Keep the closing path clear
Make sure that the closing path of the
tailgate is clear; otherwise, injuries may re‐
sult.◀
Do not place the remote control in the
cargo area
Take the remote control with you and do not
leave it in the cargo area; otherwise, the re‐
mote control is locked inside the vehicle when
the tailgate is closed.◀
Malfunction
Remote control detection by the vehicle can
among others be malfunctioning under the fol‐
lowing circumstances:▷Interference of the radio connection from
transmission towers or other equipment
with high transmit power.▷Shielding of the remote control due to
metal objects.▷Interference of the radio connection from
mobile phones or other electronic devices
in direct proximity.
Do not transport the remote control together
with metal objects or electronic devices.
In the case of a malfunction, unlock and lock
the vehicle using the buttons of the remote
control or using the integrated key, refer to
page 39.
Seite 44ControlsOpening and closing44
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