THE ORIGIN OF EMISSION-FREE
DRIVING: POWER FROM RENEWABLE
RESOURCES.
With zero local emissions while driving, the BMW i3 helps reduce air
pollution in urban areas. When charged with clean power – generated
from renewables – the positive impact is greater still. This is because,
throughout the entire product life cycle, driving the new BMW i3 on
energy from renewable sources can potentially reduce emissions (CO2
equivalents) by up to 50%, when compared to a highly efficient vehicle
of the same class with a combustion engine. That’s why BMW i rec-
ommends clean energy producers, to help make an even bigger differ-
ence. Further details can be found online at bmw-i.com/sustainability.
As if that weren’t enough, the innovative eDrive technology of the
BMW i3 also features all sorts of efficiency enhancers: from state-of-
the-art brake energy recuperation to range-increasing ECO PRO+
driving mode, which can boost the driving range by up to 40km at the
touch of a button.
03. UTILIZATION
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Executing functions using short
commands
Execute functions on the main menu via short
commands. It almost doesn't matter which
menu item is selected, e.g., ›Vehicle status‹.
Help dialog for the voice activationsystem
Calling up help dialog: ›Help‹
Additional commands for the help dialog:▷›Help with examples‹: announces informa‐
tion about the current operating options
and the most important commands for
them.▷›Help with voice activation‹: information
about the principle of operation for the
voice activation system is announced.
One example: open the tone
settings
Via the main menu The commands of the menu items are spoken
just as they are selected via the controller.
1.Turn on the Entertainment sound output if
needed.2. Press button on the steering
wheel.3.›Radio‹4.›Tone‹
Via short command
The desired tone settings can also be started
via a short command.
1.Turn on the Entertainment sound output if
needed.2. Press button on the steering
wheel.3.›Tone‹Setting the voice dialog
Set system to standard dialog or use a short
version.
The short version of the voice dialog plays
back short messages in abbreviated form.1."Settings"2."Language/Units"3."Speech type:"4.Select setting.
Adjusting the volume
Turn the volume button while giving an in‐
struction 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 profile cur‐
rently in use.
Hints on Emergency
Requests
Do not use the voice activation system to ini‐
tiate an Emergency Request. In stressful situa‐
tions, the voice and vocal pitch can change.
This can unnecessarily delay the establish‐
ment of a phone connection.
Instead, use the SOS button, refer to
page 196, close to 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.▷Keep the doors, windows, and glass sun‐
roof closed to prevent noise interference.Seite 27Voice activation systemAt a glance27
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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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during unlocking. These settings are also re‐
stored, if the vehicle has been used in the
meantime by a person with a different remote
control.
Changes to the settings are automatically
saved in the personal profile.
Three personal profiles and a guest profile can
be created.
Adjusting
The settings for the following systems and
functions are saved in the active profile. The
scope of storable settings is country- and
equipment-dependable.▷Unlocking and locking.▷Lights.▷Climate control.▷Radio.▷Instrument cluster.▷Programmable memory buttons.▷Volumes, tone.▷Control Display.▷Navigation.▷Park Distance Control PDC.▷Rearview camera▷Driving Dynamics Control.▷Cruise control.▷Intelligent Safety.
Profile management
Opening profiles Regardless of the remote control in use a dif‐
ferent profile may be activated.
1."Settings"2."Profiles"3.Select a profile.▷All settings stored in the called-up profile
are automatically applied.▷The called-up profile is assigned to the re‐
mote control being used at the time.▷If the profile is already assigned to a differ‐
ent remote control, this profile will apply to
both remote controls. It cannot be differen‐
tiated anymore between the settings for
the two remote controls.
Renaming profiles
A personal name can be assigned to every pro‐
file to avoid confusion between the profiles.
1."Settings"2."Profiles"3."Options"4."Rename current profile"
Resetting profiles
The settings of the active profile are reset to
their default values.
1."Settings"2."Profiles"3."Options"4."Reset current profile"
Exporting profiles
Most settings of the active profile can be ex‐
ported.
This can be helpful for securing and retrieving
personal settings, before delivering the vehicle
to a workshop, e.g. Profiles can be taken to an‐
other vehicle equipped with the Personal Pro‐
file function.
The following export options are available:
▷Via BMW Online.▷Via the USB port to a USB device.
Popular file systems for USB devices are
supported. FAT32 and exFAT are the rec‐Seite 40ControlsOpening and closing40
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2.Unlock or lock door lock.
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 establish radio-
ready state, if needed, through emergency de‐
tection of the remote control, refer to page 39.
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 vehicle locks automatically after you drive
off.
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.▷Pull the door opener on the door to be
opened. The other door remain locked.
Rear doors
The rear doors can only be opened using the
handle on the inside, arrow. The correspond‐
ing front door must be opened.
To better reach the front door's handle fold the
front seat's backrests, refer to page 54,
down.
Before exiting the vehicle, make sure that the
front safety belt is completely wound up.
When closing, make sure that the correspond‐
ing front door is far enough open.
Hood
Unlocking from the outside Press button on the remote control for
approx. 1 second.
The hood is unlocked and slightly raised.
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Transporting children safelyVehicle 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 tothe selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
The right place for children
Note
Children in the vehicle
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger them‐
selves and other persons, e.g., by opening the
doors.◀
Children should always be in the rear Accident research shows that the safest place
for children is in the back seat.
Transporting children in the rear
Only transport children younger than
13 years of age or shorter than 5 ft/150 cm in
the rear in child restraint systems provided in
accordance with the age, weight and size of
the child; otherwise, there is an increased risk
of injury in an accident.
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint
system can no longer be used due to their age,
weight and size.◀
Children on the front passenger seat
Should it ever be necessary to use a child re‐
straint system in the front passenger seat,
make sure that the front, knee and side airbags
on the front passenger side are deactivated.
Automatic deactivation of front-seat passen‐
ger airbags, refer to page 95.Note
Deactivating the front-seat passenger
airbags
If a child restraint system is used in the front
passenger seat, deactivate the front-seat pas‐
senger airbags; otherwise, there is an in‐
creased risk of injury to the child when the air‐
bags are activated, even with a child restraint
system.◀
Installing child restraint
systems
Hints Manufacturer's information for child re‐straint systems
To select, mount and use child restraint sys‐
tems, observe the information provided by the
system manufacturer; otherwise, the protec‐
tive effect can be lost.◀
Ensuring the stability of the child seat
When installing child restraint systems,
make sure that the child seat is securely fas‐
tened to the backrest of the seat. Angle and
headrest of the backrest might need to be ad‐
justed or possibly be removed. Make sure that
all backrests are securely locked. Otherwise
the stability of the child seat can be affected,
and there is an increased risk of injury becauseSeite 60ControlsTransporting children safely60
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of unexpected movement of the seat back‐
rest.◀
On the front passenger seat
Deactivating airbags Deactivating the front-seat passenger
airbags
If a child restraint system is used in the front
passenger seat, deactivate the front-seat pas‐
senger airbags; otherwise, there is an in‐
creased risk of injury to the child when the air‐
bags are activated, even with a child restraint
system.◀
After installing a child restraint system in the
front passenger seat, make sure that the front,
knee and side airbags on the front passenger
side are deactivated.
Deactivate the front-seat passenger airbags automatically, refer to page 95.
Seat position and height
Before installing a child restraint system, move
the front passenger seat as far back as possi‐
ble and adjust its height to the highest and
thus best possible position for the belt and to
offer optimal protection in the event of an acci‐
dent.
If the upper anchorage of the safety belt is lo‐
cated in front of the belt guide of the child seat,
move the passenger seat carefully forward un‐
til the best possible belt guide position is
reached.Child seat security
The rear safety belts and the front passenger
safety belt can be permanently locked to fas‐
ten child restraint systems.
The front passenger safety belt can be perma‐
nently locked to fasten child restraint systems.
Locking the safety belt
1.Pull out the strap completely.2.Secure the child restraint system with the
belt.3.Allow the strap to be pulled in and pull it
tight against the child restraint system.
The safety belt is locked.
Unlocking the safety belt
1.Unbuckle the belt buckle.2.Remove the child restraint system.3.Allow the strap to be pulled in completely.
LATCH child restraint system
LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tether for Chil‐
dren.Note
Follow manufacturer's information for
LATCH child restraint systems
To mount and use the LATCH child restraint
systems, observe the operating and safety in‐
formation from the system manufacturer; oth‐Seite 61Transporting children safelyControls61
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erwise, the level of protection may be re‐
duced.◀
Mounts for the lower LATCH anchors The lower anchors may be used to attach the
CRS to the vehicle seat up to a combined child
and CRS weight of 65 lb/30 kg when the child
is restrained by the internal harnesses.
Note Properly engage the lower LATCH an‐
chors
Make sure that the lower LATCH anchors have
properly engaged and that the child restraint
system is resting snugly against the backrest; otherwise, the degree of protection may be re‐duced.◀
Position The corresponding symbol shows the
mounts for the lower LATCH anchors.
Seats equipped with lower anchors are
marked with a pair, 2, of LATCH sym‐
bols. It is not recommended to use the
inner lower anchors of standard outer
LATCH positions to fasten a child restraint
system on the middle seat. Use the vehicle
seat belt instead for the middle seat.
Before installing LATCH child
restraint systems
Pull the belt away from the area of the child re‐
straint system.
Assembly of LATCH child restraint
systems1.Mount the child restraint system; refer to
the user's manual of the system.2.Ensure that both LATCH anchors are prop‐
erly connected.Child restraint fixing system with a
tether strap
Mounting points The respective symbol shows the an‐
chor for the upper retaining strap.
Seats with an upper Top Tether are
marked with this symbol. It can be found on
the rear seat backrest or the rear window shelf.
Note Mounting eyelets
Use the mounting eyes only for the up‐
per retaining strap to secure child restraint
systems; otherwise, the mounting eyes could
be damaged.◀
Retaining strap guide Retaining strap
Make sure that the upper retaining strap
is not passed over the head restraints or sharp
edges and is not twisted up to the upper
mounting points; otherwise, the belt cannot
properly secure the child restraint system in an
accident.◀1Direction of travel2Head restraint3Hook for upper retaining strap4Mounting point/eye5Seat backrest6Upper retaining strapSeite 62ControlsTransporting children safely62
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