BMW 3 Series 2013-2023 Personal settings Car Owner Manuals

BMW 3 Series Personal Settings

The BMW 3 Series allows drivers to configure personal settings and manage data transfer to BMW or authorized service providers. This ensures your vehicle operates according to your preferences while maintaining privacy and security.

Data Protection and Transfer

The BMW 3 Series offers services that require data transfer. Some services can be deactivated, but when data transfer is off, the corresponding service cannot be used. You can configure data transfer individually via:

1. "MENU"
2. "Vehicle apps"
3. "System settings"
4. "Data privacy"
5. Select the desired setting

Deleting Personal Data

The BMW 3 Series stores personal data like radio stations, navigation destinations, and driver profiles. This data can be permanently deleted using iDrive. Deleting personal data may take up to 15 minutes and removes the vehicle from the BMW app and ConnectedDrive portal.

• BMW IDs or driver profiles
• Stored radio stations
• Stored shortcuts
• Navigation data
• Phone book entries
• Online data (Favorites, cookies)
• Office data (voice memos)
• Login accounts and Digital Key

Reset Vehicle Data

All individual settings in the BMW 3 Series can be reset to factory settings when the vehicle is stationary and the key is present. To reset:

1. "MENU"
2. "Vehicle apps"
3. "System settings"
4. "Reset vehicle data"
5. Confirm "Reset vehicle data"

BMW ID and Driver Profiles

In ConnectedDrive countries, the BMW ID is used to store personal vehicle settings. A driver profile can also be created. Each vehicle can store up to three BMW IDs or driver profiles. The settings can be synchronized with the BMW Cloud, making them available in any BMW 3 Series where the same ID is used.

Welcome Window

After unlocking the vehicle, a Welcome window appears depending on whether a BMW ID or driver profile is assigned. If none is assigned, a neutral welcome appears with the option to add a new BMW ID or driver profile. Personalized settings are applied automatically if an ID/profile is linked.

Registering Your BMW ID

To register and add a BMW ID to your BMW 3 Series:

1. Register your BMW ID via the BMW app or authorized service center
2. Activate the BMW ID
3. Add or confirm the BMW ID in the vehicle
4. Scan the QR code displayed on the control display
5. Confirm settings and synchronization with BMW Cloud

Using BMW App Functions

Once a BMW ID is added, the vehicle is automatically connected to the BMW app, enabling remote functions and services. In rare cases, some app functions may be restricted, and information about limitations is displayed on the control display.

Creating a Driver Profile in BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series allows each driver to create a personal profile that stores individual settings such as seat position, media preferences, and navigation destinations. This ensures every driver experiences the vehicle exactly as they like.

Steps to Create a Driver Profile

1. Tap the icon or personal picture in the status bar
2. Select "Add driver profile"
3. Enter the name for the driver profile
4. Select the desired setting, e.g., "Transfer settings" to apply guest profile settings

Primary User

The primary user is the first person who enters a BMW ID into the BMW 3 Series and registers the vehicle in the BMW app. The primary user can:

• Remove BMW IDs stored in the vehicle
• Transfer primary user role to another BMW ID
• Change vehicle-wide data protection settings
• Create the digital master key

Specifying Driver Detection

Driver detection and a PIN can be set up for a BMW ID or driver profile. This ensures automatic activation of personal settings while keeping them secure from other users. Prior to driver detection setup, a PIN must be created.

• Set PIN: Used to activate BMW ID or profile if the assigned key is not available
• Vehicle Key: The recognized vehicle key is assigned to the profile
• Digital Key: The recognized digital key is assigned to the profile

Automatic Driver Recognition

The BMW 3 Series automatically activates the driver profile or BMW ID when:

• Unlocking the vehicle using the assigned vehicle key
• Using the external door handle with the assigned key
• Automatic unlocking when approaching the vehicle

If multiple keys or Digital Keys are nearby, the vehicle prioritizes which profile to activate. If no key is assigned to a BMW ID or profile, the guest profile is activated.

Setting Synchronization

When enabled, settings from the following areas are continuously synchronized across the BMW 3 Series and BMW Cloud:

• BMW ID profile picture
• Navigation (recent destinations, home address, map settings)
• Media (favorites, radio stations)
• iDrive configuration (menu, language, units)
• Personal Assistant preferences
• Exterior lighting settings

Certain settings, like seating and climate comfort, are synchronized only during the first login.

Selecting BMW ID or Driver Profile

1. Tap the icon or personal picture in the status bar
2. Select "Change BMW ID" or "Change driver profile"
3. Choose the desired BMW ID or driver profile
4. Enter the PIN if required; the stored settings are then loaded

Guest Profile

The guest profile can be used by anyone. It is automatically active if no BMW ID or driver profile has been added or assigned to the vehicle key or digital key. Some limitations include:

• Functions that edit personal data are unavailable
• Cannot rename the guest profile
• PIN and driver detection cannot be assigned
• Synchronization with BMW Cloud is not available in ConnectedDrive countries

To select the guest profile, use the Welcome screen or iDrive menu and choose "Continue as guest".

Deleting BMW ID / Driver Profile in BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series allows you to delete a BMW ID or driver profile, which removes the associated data from the vehicle and the BMW app. Data stored in the BMW Cloud remains if synchronization was active.

Steps to Delete a BMW ID or Driver Profile

1. Tap the icon or personal picture in the status bar
2. Select "Change BMW ID" or "Change driver profile"
3. Tap the icon of the desired BMW ID or driver profile to delete

If the currently active BMW ID is removed, the guest profile is automatically activated. Removing a BMW ID also removes the vehicle from the BMW app. If removed from the primary user’s app, it is removed from all other users’ apps as well.

Transfer of the Vehicle Key

A vehicle key assigned to a BMW ID or driver profile can be used to view or modify stored settings. Before transferring the key, any driver detection should be canceled. The BMW 3 Series also supports transferring digital keys via the BMW Digital Key system.

Modifying Settings

Settings added when creating a BMW ID or driver profile can be updated anytime:

1. Tap the icon or personal picture in the status bar
2. Select "Settings"

Available settings for BMW ID include:

• Type of driver detection
• Profile picture
• Synchronization with BMW Cloud
• Personal salutation

Available settings for driver profiles include:

• Type of driver detection
• Profile picture
• Profile name

Selecting a Profile Picture

1. Tap the icon or personal picture in the status bar
2. Select "Settings"
3. Choose "Manage profile picture"
4. Select a predefined picture or synchronize with BMW app

For BMW ID, the personal profile picture can be taken from the BMW app if synchronization is activated. Once applied, only predefined pictures can be selected if app synchronization is disabled or the picture is deleted.

System Limits

In the BMW 3 Series, clear driver detection may be limited in certain scenarios:

• When the driver changes without locking/unlocking the vehicle
• Multiple vehicle keys or digital keys with assigned IDs are near the driver side
• Vehicle is unlocked from the BMW app

Personal settings stored for a BMW ID may not transfer to other vehicles if the system is not available or not compatible.