Get Controls -> Adjustments Guide for BMW M3 4 Door Fourth Generation (2007-2013)

Adjustments

Head restraint

Sitting safely

The ideal sitting position can make a vital con-

tribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In con-

junction with the safety belts, the head

restraints and the airbags, the seated position

has a major influence on your safety in the event

of an accident. To ensure that the safety sys-

tems operate with optimal efficiency, we

strongly urge you to observe the instructions

contained in the following section.

A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the

risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.

Adjust the head restraint in such a way

that its center is at approx. ear level. Oth-

erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the

event of an accident.<

Head restraints, refer to page 47.

Safety belt

For additional information on transporting chil-

dren safely, refer to page 57.

Before every drive, make sure that all occupants

wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the

safety belt as an additional safety device, but

they do not represent a substitute.

Airbags

Always maintain an adequate distance

between yourself and the airbags. Always

grip the steering wheel on the rim, with your

hands in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions,

to minimize the risk of injury to the hands or

arms in the event of the airbag being triggered

off.

Your vehicle has four seats, each of which is

equipped with a safety belt.

Never allow more than one person to

wear a single safety belt. Never allow

infants or small children to ride in a passenger's

lap. Make sure that the belt in the lap area sits

low across the hips and does not press against

the abdomen.

The safety belt must not rest against the throat,

run across sharp edges, pass over hard or frag-

ile objects or be pinched. Fasten the safety belt

so that it sits as snugly as possible against the

lap and shoulder without being twisted. Other-

wise the belt could slide over your hips and

injure your abdomen in the event of a frontal

collision.

No one and nothing is to come between the air-

bags and the seat occupant.

Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the

front passenger side as a storage area. Make

sure that the front passenger is sitting correctly,

e.g. not resting feet or legs on the dashboard,

otherwise leg injuries can occur if the front air-

bag is triggered.

Make sure that passengers do not lean their

heads against the side or head airbags, other-

wise serious injuries could result if the airbags

suddenly deployed.<

Avoid wearing bulky clothing and regularly pull

the belt in the upper-body area taut, otherwise

its restraining effect could be impaired.<

Even if you follow all the instructions, injuries

resulting from contact with airbags cannot be

fully excluded, depending on the circum-

stances. The ignition and inflation noise may

provoke a mild hearing loss in extremely sensi-

tive individuals. This effect is usually only tem-

porary.

Safety belts, refer to page 50.

Seats

Note before adjusting

Never attempt to adjust your seat while

the vehicle is moving. The seat could

respond with unexpected movement, and the

ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to an

For airbag locations and additional information

on airbags, refer to page 95.

45

accident.

On the front passenger seat as well, do not

incline the backrest too far to the rear while the

vehicle is being driven, otherwise there is a dan-

ger in the event of an accident of sliding under

the safety belt, eliminating the protection nor-

mally provided by the belt.<

Comply with the instructions on head restraint

height on page 47, and on damaged safety

belts on page 50.

4

Backrest

The head restraints are adjusted manually, refer

to Head restraints below.

Manual adjustment

Observe the adjustment instructions

above to ensure the best possible per-

sonal protection.<

Lumbar support*

Thigh support

You can also adjust the contour of the backrest

to obtain additional support in the lumbar

region.

Pull the lever and move the thigh support for-

ward or back.

The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-

plementary support to help you maintain a

relaxed, upright sitting position.

Electrical adjustment

>

Increase or decrease curvature: press the

switch at the front or rear, respectively.

Observe the adjustment instructions on

page 45 to ensure the best possible per-

sonal protection.<

>

Shift curvature up or down: press the switch

at the top or bottom, respectively.

1

2

3

Longitudinal direction

Height

Angle

46

Backrest width*

Front seats

Coupe: height adjustment

You can change the width of the backrest to suit

your individual preferences by adjusting the lat-

eral-support pads.

>

To raise: pull up.

Press the front or rear end of the switch.

Backrest width decreases or increases accord-

ingly.

To lower: press the button, arrow 1, and

slide the head restraint down.

Coupe: removing

Longitudinal adjustment from outside/

behind

1. Pull up as far as it will go.

2. Press the button, arrow 1, and pull the head

restraint all the way out.

Convertible: height adjustment

To move the front seats forward or backward

from outside or from one of the rear seats: with

the door open, press the front end 1 or rear end

2 of the switch.

>

To raise: press the button upward.

To lower: press the button downward.

Head restraints

A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the

risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.

Adjust the head restraint in such a way

that its center is at approx. ear level. Oth-

erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the

event of an accident. Only remove a head

restraint if no one will be sitting on the seat in

question. Reinstall the head restraint before

transporting anyone on that seat. Otherwise,

the passenger will be without protection from

the head restraint.<

47

Coupe: rear seats

Height adjustment

Convenient entry

The convenient entry feature includes a mem-

ory function for the longitudinal adjustment and

backrest angle.

>

To raise: pull up.

To lower: press the button, arrow 1, and

slide the head restraint down.

1. Pull lever 1 and swing the backrest forward.

2. Press the front end 2 of the switch until the

seat has moved into the desired position.

Removing

1. Pull up as far as it will go.

Previous position

2. Press the button, arrow 1, tilt the rear seat

backrest slightly forward and pull the head

restraint all the way out.

Press the rear end 3 of the switch until the seat

automatically stops in its previous position, and

fold the backrest back. If you release the switch

before the previous seat position is reached,

the seat will stop at its current position.

Only remove the head restraints if no pas-

sengers will be sitting in the rear. Reinstall

head restraints before transporting passengers

in the rear.<

When sliding the seat backward, make

sure no one is injured and no objects are

damaged.

Before driving off, engage both seats and back-

rests so that they are locked in place. Otherwise

there is a risk of accident due to an unexpected

movement.<

Entering the rear seats

Coupe

Heated seats*

Convertible

Seat backrest warning lamp:

Comes on when a seat backrest is not

engaged. In addition, a message

appears on the Control Display.

Press once for each temperature level.

Three LEDs indicate the highest temperature.

48

To switch off:

Press button longer.

Convenience mode

1. Unlock and open the driver's door or switch

on radio readiness, refer to page 59.

If you continue driving within approx.

15 minutes, the seat heating is automatically

activated at the previously set temperature.

2. Briefly press the desired memory button 1

or 2.

The temperature is lowered or the heating is

switched off entirely to save on battery power.

The LEDs stay lit.

The adjusting procedure is halted immediately

when you touch a seat adjustment switch or

one of the memory buttons.

Safety feature

Seat and mirror memory

You can store and call up two different combi-

nations of driver's-seat and exterior-mirror

positions.

1. Close the driver's door and switch the igni-

tion on or off, refer to page 59.

2. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2

and keep it pressed until the adjustment

process has been completed.

Settings for the backrest width and lumbar sup-

port are not stored in memory.

If the

button was pressed accidentally:

Press the button again; the LED goes out.

Storing

Call-up with the remote control

The driver's seat position last stored is stored

for the remote control currently in use.

You can select the occasion on which the seat is

reset to that position.

>

Call-up when the vehicle is unlocked.

Call-up when the driver's door is opened.

When this Personal Profile function is

used, first make sure that the footwell

behind the driver's seat is free of obstacles.

Failure to do so could cause injury to persons or

damage to objects as a result of a rearward

movement of the seat.<

1. Switch on radio readiness or the ignition,

refer to page 59.

2. Adjust the seat and exterior mirrors to the

desired positions.

3. Press the

button.

The adjusting procedure is halted immediately

when you touch a seat adjustment switch or

one of the memory buttons.

The LED in the button lights up.

4. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2: the

LED goes out.

Selecting automatic call-up

The driver's seat and exterior mirror posi-

tions are stored for the remote control cur-

rently in use.

iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.

1. Press the

button.

This opens the start menu.

Call-up

2. Press the controller to open the menu.

3. Select "Settings" and press the controller.

Do not call up memory while you are driv-

ing, otherwise unexpected seat move-

ment could result in an accident.<

4. Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-

troller.

49

5. If necessary, move the highlight marker to

the uppermost field. Turn the controller

until "Door locks" is selected and press the

controller.

Closing

Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in

the belt buckle.

The upper belt anchor is suitable for adults of

any stature as long as the seat is adjusted prop-

erly, refer to page 45.

6. Select "Central locking" and press the con-

troller.

7. Select "Last seat pos." and press the con-

troller.

Opening

8. Select "After unlocking" or "After door

opened".

1. Grasp the belt firmly.

2. Press the red button in the buckle.

3. Guide the belt into its reel.

'Fasten safety belts' reminder for front

seats

The indicator lamps come on and an

acoustic signal sounds. In addition, a

message appears on the Control Dis-

play. Check whether the safety belt

has been fastened correctly.

9. Press the controller.

The 'Fasten safety belts' reminder is issued as

long as the driver's safety belt has not been fas-

tened. The 'Fasten safety belts' reminder is also

activated at road speeds above approx. 5 mph

or 8 km/h if the front passenger's safety belt is

not fastened, if objects are placed on the front

passenger seat, or if driver or front passenger

unfasten their safety belts.

Switching off automatic call-up

Select "Deactivated" and press the controller.

Safety belts

Observe the adjustment instructions on

page 45 to ensure the best possible per-

sonal protection.<

Damage to safety belts

If the safety belts are damaged or

stressed in an accident: have the belt sys-

tem, including any belt tensioners or child-

restraint systems, replaced and the belt

anchors checked. Have this work done only by

your BMW center or at a workshop that works

according to BMW repair procedures with cor-

Before every drive, make sure that all occupants

wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the

safety belt as an additional safety device, but

they do not represent a substitute.

50

respondingly trained personnel. Otherwise, it is

not guaranteed that the safety devices will func-

tion properly.<

Although there is a pinch protection sys-

tem, always check that the maneuvering

area of the belt hand-over is clear. Otherwise it

cannot be ensured that the system will stop

moving in certain extreme situations.<

Coupe: belt hand-over

The concept

Mirrors

The belt hand-over makes it easier for you to

fasten your safety belt. When you close the

door and switch on radio readiness or the igni-

tion, the belt hand-over extends automatically

and presents the safety belt in a position that is

convenient for fastening it around you. After

you have fastened your safety belt, the belt

hand-over retracts to its original position.

Exterior mirrors

The front passenger's mirror is more con-

vex than the driver's mirror. The objects

seen in the mirror are closer than they appear.

Do not gauge your distance from traffic behind

you on the basis of what you see in the mirror;

otherwise there is an increased risk of an acci-

dent.<

Even if you have not yet fastened your safety

belt, the belt hand-over will retract if you:

1

2

Adjustments

>

Wait for more than approx. one minute

Open the corresponding door

Start to drive.

Switching to the other mirror or automatic

curb monitor*

3

Folding mirrors in and out*

Closing the respective door reactivates the belt

hand-over if the ignition or radio-readiness is

on.

The setting for the exterior mirrors is stored for

the remote control currently in use. The stored

position is called up automatically when the

vehicle is unlocked.

Front passenger's seat

The belt hand-over will extend only if the seat is

occupied and after the front passenger's door is

closed.

Manual adjustment

The mirrors can also be adjusted manually:

press the edge of the glass.

Pinch protection system

Folding mirrors in and out*

If the belt hand-over encounters resistance on

moving in or out, it moves back slightly in the

opposite direction and stops in this position. To

reactivate the belt hand-over: open and close

the door or switch the ignition off and on.

At driving speeds up to approx. 12 mph/

20 km/h, you can fold the mirrors in and out by

pressing button 3. This can be beneficial in nar-

row streets, for example, or for moving mirrors

that were folded in by hand back out into their

correct positions. Mirrors that were folded in are

51

folded out automatically at a speed of approx.

25 mph/40 km/h.

Interior and exterior mirrors*,

automatic dimming feature

Before entering an automatic car wash,

fold in the exterior mirrors by hand or with

button 3, to prevent them from being damaged

due to the width of the vehicle.<

Automatic heating

Depending on the outside temperature, both

exterior mirrors are heated automatically when

the engine is running or the ignition is switched

on.

The automatic dimming feature of the interior

and exterior mirrors* is controlled by two photo

cells in the interior rearview mirror. One photo

cell is in the mirror frame, see arrow; the other is

on the back of the mirror.

Passenger-side mirror tilt function –

automatic curb monitor*

Activating

In order to ensure that the system functions

correctly, keep the photo cells clean, do not

cover the area between the interior rearview

mirror and windshield, and do not affix adhesive

labels or stickers of any kind to the windshield

directly in front of the mirror.

1. Push the switch to the position for the

driver's-side mirror, arrow 1.

Steering wheel

Adjustments

Do not adjust the steering wheel position

while the car is in motion, otherwise there

is a risk of accident due to an unexpected move-

ment.<

2. Engage reverse gear or transmission posi-

tion R.

The glass of the mirror on the passenger

side tilts slightly down. This allows the

driver to see the area immediately adjacent

to the vehicle, e.g. a curb, when backing into

a parking space.

Deactivating

Push the switch to the position for the passen-

ger-side mirror, arrow 2.

1. Fold the lever down.

2. Move the steering wheel to the preferred

height and angle to suit your seated posi-

tion.

3. Swing the lever back up.

52

Do not use force to swing the lever

back up, otherwise the mechanism

A list showing various functions is dis-

played:

will be damaged.<

> "Navigation voice instructions"

Voice messages from the navigation

system*

Programmable buttons on the steering

wheel

> "Air recirculation on / off"

Permanent shut-off of outside air, refer

to Automatic recirculated-air control

AUC on page 105

Depending on the equipment, you can individu-

ally program either one or two buttons:

> "Mute on / off"

To mute the audio sources

> "Monitor on / off"

To switch the Control Display on/off

> "Telephone list"*

To show/hide the phone book or last dis-

played list of stored phone numbers

> "Next entertainment source"

This setting is stored for the remote control cur-

rently in use.

To change the audio source

5. Select the desired function and press the

controller.

iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.

1. Press the

button.

6. With two programmable buttons: select the

button and press the controller.

This opens the start menu.

2. Press the controller to open the menu.

3. Select "Settings" and press the controller.

Operating a function

Briefly press the button on the steering wheel.

4. Select "Steering wheel buttons" and press

the controller.

If you have programmed "Navigation voice

instructions" for one button:

>

Switch voice instructions on/off:

Press the button for a longer period.

To repeat the last voice instruction:

Press the button briefly.

To cancel a voice instruction during an

announcement:

Press the button briefly.

53

ogic: shift modes and Drivelogic drive

programs, refer to page 65

MDrive*

With MDrive you can configure several individ-

ual settings for your vehicle on the Control Dis-

play and activate them using the

the steering wheel.

> "EDC"

Programs of the Electronic Damper

Control EDC*, refer to page 90

button on

> "DSC"

Dynamic Stability Control and

M Dynamic Mode, refer to page 88

Configuring settings

You can set MDrive on the Control Display

when the ignition is switched on.

> "POWER"

Programs of the M Engine Dynamics

Control, refer to page 68

iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.

1. Press the

button.

> "Servotronic"

This opens the start menu.

Programs of the Servotronic, refer to

page 95

> "Shift lights"

Shift Lights, refer to page 66

You can reset all MDrive settings to their

default values:

> "Reset to default"

5. Select the desired function.

2. Press the controller to open the menu.

3. Select "M settings" and press the control-

ler.

4. Select "MDrive" and press the controller.

6. Press the controller.

7. Turn the controller to select the desired set-

ting.

The functions contained in MDrive are dis-

played:

> "M DKG Drivelogic"

M dual clutch transmission with Drivel-

"Unchanged" retains the current setting

made outside of MDrive.

8. Press the controller.

54

The setting is stored for the remote control cur-

rently in use.

4. Select "Key-dependent settings" and press

the controller.

Activating the settings

Press the

button on the steering wheel.

The indicator lamp in the instrument

cluster comes on. The settings made

on the Control Display for the functions

in MDrive are active.

Pressing the button again deactivates MDrive.

If the indicator lamp flashes after the but-

ton was pressed, MDrive was unable to

respond because the Antilock Brake System

ABS or Dynamic Stability Control DSC are cur-

rently regulating driving stability. Press the

button again when the indicator lamp is no

longer flashing.<

The available functions are displayed:

> "POWER"

Programs of the M Engine Dynamics

Control, refer to page 68

> "EDC"

Programs of the Electronic Damper

Control EDC*, refer to page 90

You can change individual settings outside of

MDrive even when MDrive is activated, e.g.

using the buttons on the center console. To

reactivate all settings made on the Control Dis-

> "Shift lights"

Shift Lights, refer to page 66

5. Select the desired function.

play for MDrive: press the

button twice.

Key-dependent settings

For the remote control currently in use, you can

set your preferred program for the M Engine

Dynamics Control and Electronic Damper Con-

trol EDC. These presettings are called up when

the engine is started.

iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.

6. Press the controller.

1. Press the

button.

7. Turn the controller to select the desired set-

ting.

This opens the start menu.

2. Press the controller to open the menu.

8. Press the controller.

3. Select "M settings" and press the control-

ler.

55

The setting is stored for the remote control cur-

rently in use.

56

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