[xDrive35i]

Does anyone know what these buttons are above the driver's side storage compartment? I have a fully spec'd X3 (every single possible option) and I don't have them. It's not the HUD On/Off because I have the HUD and as far as I know the only way to turn it off is via iDrive. Is it a repositioning of Hill Descent Control or Park Distance Control? I've looked at others' fully spec'd X3s even for 2012 and they don't have these buttons either, like this one. What gives?

PS. I know it shows the rear fog button but this is still the BMWUSA BYO tool. The rear fog button is there on every single BMWUSA BYO page.

The picture is of user GenX3's X3.

[obtix]

The lower left button is for rear fog lights and the right most dial is for the control that adjusts the lighting for weight/passengers. Wish the US models had this... We can add the rear fogs which I plan on doing. I'm not sure if the weight thing is automatic with the US version.

[Dr Stig 2]

Facts:

The two to the left of the lights dial are the front and rear fogs.
One of the two on the right of the lights dial is the instrument light dimmer

Just guessin:

The other on the right of the lights dial might be headlight levelling control
The two buttons above the storage compartment might be for a six disk DVD/CD player.

Note: the pictured car does not have the HUD as it has the executive level instrument cluster, not the professional one. (it does not have the electronic Efficient Dynamics display and the extended instrument information display)

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by obtix

The lower left button is for rear fog lights and the right most dial is for the control that adjusts the lighting for weight/passengers. Wish the US models had this... We can add the rear fogs which I plan on doing. I'm not sure if the weight thing is automatic with the US version.

I'm not talking about that at all...Look below the lighting adjustment panel but above the storage door.

[Dr Stig 2]

Originally Posted by juddholland

I'm not talking about that at all...Look below the lighting adjustment panel but above the storage door.

I only guessed at CD/DVD controls as it looks like a drawer that can slide out on the right of the two buttons.
Might be a fancy extending cupholder and cup warmer button.

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

I only guessed at CD/DVD controls as it looks like a drawer that can slide out on the right of the two buttons.
Might be a fancy extending cupholder and cup warmer button.

An interesting idea...but I wonder as I can't remember, doesn't the X3 have a six CD changer in the center console? It only makes sense because now the NAV is hard-drive based and not DVD based.

[RichardBR]

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

I only guessed at CD/DVD controls as it looks like a drawer that can slide out on the right of the two buttons.
Might be a fancy extending cupholder and cup warmer button.

The left one is opening the electronic tailgate.
The rigth one is the heating of the steering wheel.
The second scrollwheel on the right of the lightswitch is for adjusting height of the non-xenon light. (Xenons are self adjusting)

[paul386]

Originally Posted by RichardBR

The left one is opening the electronic tailgate.
The rigth one is the heating of the steering wheel.
The second scrollwheel on the right of the lightswitch is for adjusting height of the non-xenon light. (Xenons are self adjusting)

I can't agree with you. I found it on RealOEM for the 35i build. Looks like they are adding the rear fog lights to US vehicles and it is some sort of fog light adjuster.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...84&hg=61&fg=35

The other lights look like it toggles the HUD (the deeper switch) and the closer one is a power trunk button. I figured that out based on toggling options on the builder and watching what shows up in the picture.

[TreeSkier]

Originally Posted by RichardBR

The left one is opening the electronic tailgate.
The rigth one is the heating of the steering wheel.

Not sure if the above is true or not, but I have to say the 2011 placement for the trunk release (above the hood release) and the steeting wheel heater button (by the turn signal stalk) is horrible and could use a redesign.

[RSchneider]

That button comes with heated steering wheel. It's a lost-afterthought button and totally crappy integration of switchology. (Like the afterthought-button of the electric tailgate way down in the footwell.)

[powertech83]

Originally Posted by RSchneider

That button comes with heated steering wheel. It's a lost-afterthought button and totally crappy integration of switchology. (Like the afterthought-button of the electric tailgate way down in the footwell.)

Isn't the steering wheel heater button supposed to be located on the side of steering column? near where the tilt/reach adjustment lever is?

Maybe it's a new feature for 2012? Lane keeping assist maybe? or blind spot detection thingy

[paul386]

Based on the configurator it appears the 2 buttons below the light switches are a toggle for the HUD and the power liftgate control.

[xDrive35i]

Must all be new for 2012. My 2011 doesn't have a button for the HUD, my tailgate button is near the footwell, and the steering wheel heater button is on the steering column next to the tilt lever.

These buttons couldn't be for Lane Change or Blind Spot Assist because those options haven't been listed for the X3 yet.

[ricardoyak]

I suspect they have redesigned that area of the car for 2012 as the Extended Storage option now mentions the chrome inserts for the cup holders and the storage area under the light switch. So maybe they had a rethink on switch location too.

[paul386]

Originally Posted by juddholland

Must all be new for 2012. My 2011 doesn't have a button for the HUD, my tailgate button is near the footwell, and the steering wheel heater button is on the steering column next to the tilt lever.

These buttons couldn't be for Lane Change or Blind Spot Assist because those options haven't been listed for the X3 yet.

My 2011 doesn't have them either. I can't find them on real OEM for the US cars. I think it may be European image.

RealOEM does show the light switch though... but it also shows it for my build date and I definitely do not have that.

[thefreeze]

The control for the heated steering wheel is on the steering column, see here:



The clock is for the Auxilairy heating/parking heater (aftermarket system)

[RichardBR]

Originally Posted by thefreeze

The control for the heated steering wheel is on the steering column, see here:

OK, I've done some research on this (Config.tools on different Europeean BMW sites)


Steeringwheel heating button IS on the steering column as thefreeze has stated. See his picture:


The second scrollbutton on the right of the lightswitch IS the height adjuster for the NON-Xenon lights. See picture of X3 with and without Xenons:

Without Xenons:

With Xenons:


The button to the left underneath the lightswitch has something to do with the Multifunction Steeringwheel. See pictures:

Without multifunction wheel:

With multifunction wheel:


The button to the right underneath the lightswitch has something to do with the Head Up Display. See pictures:

With HUD:

Without HUD:


I'm very sorry for the picture sizes. The site images is not very big...

The last picture underneath, is from a X3 with Adaptive Xenons lights. You see the different button on the end of the lever. This is probably to regulate the sensivity.

[colson79]

Originally Posted by juddholland

Must all be new for 2012. My 2011 doesn't have a button for the HUD, my tailgate button is near the footwell, and the steering wheel heater button is on the steering column next to the tilt lever.

These buttons couldn't be for Lane Change or Blind Spot Assist because those options haven't been listed for the X3 yet.

I have a 2012 and the tailgate button is still at the bottom of the footwell.