2015 BMW X3 Controls X3

▷When parking in parking spaces on the
driver's side, the corresponding turn signal
must be set where applicable.
Overview
Button in the vehicle
Parking assistant
Ultrasound sensors
The ultrasound sensors for measuring parking
spaces are located on the side of the vehicle.
To ensure full functionality:
▷Keep the sensors clean and free of ice.▷When using high-pressure washers, do not
spray the sensors for long periods and
maintain a distance of at least 12 in/30 cm.▷Do not put stickers over sensors.
Switching on/off
Switching on with the button Press button.
The LED lights up.
The current status of the parking space search
is indicated on the Control Display.
Parking assistant is activated automatically.
Switching on with the reverse gear
Shift into reverse.
The current status of the parking space search
is indicated on the Control Display.
To activate:
"Parking Assistant"
Switch off
The system can be deactivated as follows:
▷Press button.▷Switch off the ignition.
Display on the Control Display
System activated/deactivated
SymbolMeaning Gray: the system is not available.
White: the system is available but
not activated. The system is activated.
System status
▷Colored symbols, see arrows, on the side
of the vehicle illustrated. Parking assistant
is activated and search for parking space
active.Seite 149Driving comfortControls149
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 386 - II/15

▷Control Display shows suitable parking
spaces at the edge of the road next to the
vehicle symbol. When the parking assistant
is active, suitable parking spaces are high‐
lighted.▷The parking procedure is ac‐
tive. Steering control has
been taken over by system.▷Parking space search is always active
whenever the vehicle is moving forward
slow and straight, even if the system is de‐
activated. When the system is deactivated,
the displays on the Control Display are
shown in gray.
Parking using the parking assistant
Check the traffic situation as well
Louds noises outside and inside the ve‐
hicle can drown out the parking assistant's and
PDC's signals.
Check the traffic situation around the vehicle
with your own eyes; otherwise, there is a dan‐
ger of an accident.◀
1.Switch on the parking assistant and acti‐
vate it if needed.
The status of the parking space search is
indicated on the Control Display.2.Follow the instructions on the Control Dis‐
play.
The best possible parking position will
come after gear change on the stationary
vehicle - wait for the automatic steering
wheel move.
The end of the parking procedure is indi‐
cated on the Control Display.3.Adjust the parking position yourself if
needed.
Interrupting manually
The parking assistant can be interrupted at any
time:
▷ "Parking Assistant" Select the symbol
on the Control Display.▷Press button.
Interrupting automatically
The system is interrupted automatically in the
following situations:
▷If the driver grasps the steering wheel or if
he takes over steering.▷If a gear is selected that does not match
the instruction on the Control Display.▷If the vehicle speed exceeds approx.
6 mph/10 km/h.▷Possible on snow-covered or slippery road
surfaces.▷When there are obstacles that are hard to
overcome, such as curbs.▷When there are obstacles that suddenly
arise.▷If the Park Distance Control PDC displays
clearances that are too small.▷If a maximum number of parking attempts
or the time taken for parking is exceeded.▷When switching to another function on the
Control Display.
A Check Control message is displayed.
Resume An interrupted parking procedure can be con‐
tinued if needed.
Follow the instructions on the Control Display
to do this.
System limits
No parking assistance
The parking assistant does not offer assis‐
tance in the following situations:
▷In tight curves.Seite 150ControlsDriving comfort150
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 386 - II/15

Functional limitations
The system may not be fully functional in the
following situations:▷On bumpy road surfaces such as gravel
roads.▷On slippery ground.▷On steep uphill or downhill grades.▷With accumulations of leaves/snow in the
parking space.
Limits of ultrasonic measurement
Ultrasonic measuring might not function under
the following circumstances:
▷For small children and animals.▷For persons with certain clothing, e.g.
coats.▷With external interference of the ultra‐
sound, e.g. from passing vehicles or loud
machines.▷When sensors are dirty, iced over, dam‐
aged or out of position.▷Under certain weather conditions such as
high relative humidity, rain, snowfall, ex‐
treme heat or strong wind.▷With tow bars and trailer couplings of other
vehicles.▷With thin or wedge-shaped objects.▷With moving objects.▷With elevated, protruding objects such as
ledges or cargo.▷With objects with corners and sharp edges.▷With objects with a fine surface structure
such as fences.▷For objects with porous surfaces.
Low objects already displayed, e.g., curbs, can
move into the blind area of the sensors before
or after a continuous tone sounds.
The parking assistant may identify parking
spaces that are not suitable for parking.
Malfunction
A Check Control message is displayed.
The parking assistant failed. Have the system
checked.Seite 151Driving comfortControls151
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 386 - II/15

Climate controlVehicle 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 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.
Automatic climate control
1Vent settings2Air flow3AUTO program4Interior temperature sensor — always keep
clear5Recirculated-air mode6Temperature7Defrosts windows and removes condensa‐
tion8Cooling function9Rear window defroster10Seat heating   55Hints
Sufficient ventilation
When remaining in the vehicle for an ex‐
tended period of time, ensure sufficient exter‐
nal ventilation. Do not continuously use recir‐culated-air mode; otherwise the air quality in
the interior continuously deteriorates and win‐
dow condensation increases.◀Seite 152ControlsClimate control152
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 386 - II/15

Climate control functions in detail
Manual air distribution
Press buttons repeatedly to select a program:▷Windows.▷Upper body region.▷Footwell.
You may combine these programs as needed.
Air flow, manual Turn the ring to set the desired
air volume.
The higher the rate, the more ef‐
fective the heating or cooling
will be.
The air flow of the automatic climate control
may be reduced automatically to save battery
power.
AUTO program Press button.
Air flow, air distribution and tempera‐
ture are controlled automatically.
Depending on the selected temperature and
outside influences, the air is directed to the
windshield, side windows, upper body, and
into the footwell.
The cooling function, refer to page 154, is
switched on automatically with the AUTO pro‐
gram.
Recirculated-air mode
You may respond to unpleasant odors or pollu‐
tants in the immediate environment by tempo‐
rarily suspending the supply of outside air. The
system then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
Press button repeatedly to select an
operating mode:▷LED off: outside air flows in continuously.▷LED on, recirculated-air mode: the supply
of outside air into the vehicle is perma‐
nently blocked.
Recirculated air mode switches off automati‐
cally at low external temperatures after a cer‐
tain amount of time in order to avoid window
fogging.
If the windows fog over, switch off recircu‐
lated-air mode and increase the air flow, if
needed.
Sufficient ventilation
When remaining in the vehicle for an ex‐
tended period of time, ensure sufficient exter‐
nal ventilation. Do not continuously use recir‐
culated-air mode; otherwise the air quality in
the interior continuously deteriorates and win‐
dow condensation increases.◀
Temperature Turn the ring to set the desired
temperature.
The automatic climate control reaches this
temperature as quickly as possible, if needed
by increasing the cooling or heating output,
and then keeps it constant.
Do not rapidly switch between different tem‐
perature settings. Otherwise, the automatic cli‐
mate control will not have sufficient time to ad‐
just the set temperature.
Defrosts windows and removes
condensation
Press button.
Ice and condensation are quickly re‐
moved from the windshield and the front side
windows.
Seite 153Climate controlControls153
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 386 - II/15

Adjust air flow with the program active.
If the windows are fogged over, you can also
switch on the cooling function to dehumidify
the air.
Cooling function
The car's interior can only be cooled with the
engine running.
Press button.
The air will be cooled and dehumidi‐
fied and, depending on the temperature set‐
ting, warmed again.
Depending on the weather, the windshield and
side windows may fog up briefly when the en‐
gine is started.
The cooling function is switched on automati‐
cally with the AUTO program.
When using the automatic climate control,
condensation water, refer to page 177, devel‐
ops that exits underneath the vehicle.
Rear window defroster Press button.
The rear window defroster switches
off automatically after a certain period of time.Switching the system on/off
Switch off
Turn the rotary switch for the air volume, refer
to page 153, to 0. The blower and automatic
climate control are turned off entirely.
Switching on
Set any air volume.
The AUTO program can also be switched on
directly via the AUTO button.
Microfilter
The microfilter removes dust and pollen from
the incoming air.
This filter should be replaced during scheduled
maintenance, refer to page 215, of your vehi‐
cle.Seite 154ControlsClimate control154
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 386 - II/15

Automatic climate control with enhanced features1Temperature, left2AUTO program3Display4Remove ice and condensation5Air flow, residual heat6Display7Vent settings8Maximum cooling9Temperature, right10Seat heating, right  5511Recirculated-air mode12SYNC program13Cooling function14Rear window defroster15Seat heating, left  55Hints
Sufficient ventilation
When remaining in the vehicle for an ex‐
tended period of time, ensure sufficient exter‐
nal ventilation. Do not continuously use recir‐
culated-air mode; otherwise the air quality in
the interior continuously deteriorates and win‐
dow condensation increases.◀Climate control functions in detail
Temperature Turn the ring to set the desired
temperature.
The automatic climate control reaches this
temperature as quickly as possible, if needed
by increasing the cooling or heating output,
and then keeps it constant.Seite 155Climate controlControls155
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 386 - II/15

Do not rapidly switch between different tem‐
perature settings. Otherwise, the automatic cli‐
mate control will not have sufficient time to ad‐
just the set temperature.
AUTO program Press button.
Air flow, air distribution and tempera‐
ture are controlled automatically.
Depending on the selected temperature,
AUTO intensity program and outside influen‐ ces, the air is directed to the windshield, side
windows, upper body, and into the footwell.
The cooling function, refer to page 157, is
switched on automatically with the AUTO pro‐
gram.
At the same time, a condensation sensor con‐
trols the program so as to prevent window
condensation as much as possible.
To switch off the program: press the button
again or manually adjust the air distribution.
Intensity of the AUTO program
With the AUTO program activated, the auto‐
matic intensity control can be changed.
Press the left or right side of the but‐
ton: decrease or increase the inten‐
sity.
The selected intensity is shown on the display
of the automatic climate control.
Defrosts windows and removes
condensation
Press button.
Ice and condensation are quickly re‐
moved from the windshield and the front side
windows.
For this purpose, point the side vents onto the
side windows as needed.
Adjust air flow with the program active.If the windows are fogged over, you can also
switch on the cooling function or press the
AUTO button to utilize the condensation sen‐
sor.
Air flow, manual
To manually adjust air flow turn off AUTO pro‐
gram first.
Press the left or right side of the but‐
ton: decrease or increase air flow.
The selected air flow is shown on the display of
the automatic climate control.
The air flow of the automatic climate control
may be reduced automatically to save battery
power.
Manual air distribution Press button repeatedly to select a
program:▷Upper body region.▷Upper body region and footwell.▷Footwell.▷Windows and footwell.▷Windows, upper body region, and footwell.▷Windows: driver's side only.▷Windows and upper body region.
If the windows are fogged over, press the
AUTO button to utilize the condensation sen‐
sor.
Maximum cooling Press button.
The system is set to the lowest tem‐
perature, optimum air flow and air circulation
mode.
Air flows out of the vents to the upper body re‐
gion. The vents need to be open for this.
The function is available above an external
temperature of approx. 32 ℉/0 ℃ and with the
engine running.
Seite 156ControlsClimate control156
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 386 - II/15