Steering Wheel Buttons
These buttons allow you to quickly control the following without taking your attention off the road:
► some audio functions;
► air conditioning recirculation mode or steering wheel heating;
► cruise control system;
► some telephone functions and
► voice control system.
Control using these buttons is only possible if the corresponding systems are switched on.

Short press:
answer a call, start dialing a number, end a call.
Long press:
switch the voice control system on and off

Browse the telephone directory.
The directory can be scrolled using the fast forward/rewind buttons.

Forward:
► Radio: Short press: next preset station. Long press: scan the band
► CD/MD: Short press: skip track. Long press: fast search within the current track
► Cassette player: Short press: skip track or stop fast winding. Long press: fast wind
► Telephone: scroll through the telephone directory

Back: same as the "Forward" button

Volume

Cruise control: resume the stored speed

Cruise control: memorise and accelerate (+), memorise and decelerate (–)

Cruise control: switching on / interrupting / switching off

Recirculated-air mode and automatic air quality control (AUC) or steering wheel heating: switching on and off
Test yourself
A quick BMW X3 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.