2006 BMW 323I SEDAN engine light

Practical interior accessories
108
Emptying
Lift out the insert.
Lighter
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, press in the cigarette lighter.
The lighter can be removed as soon as it pops
back out.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette lighter by
the knob only. Holding or touching it in
other areas could result in burns.
When leaving the car, always remove the
remote control so that children cannot operate
the cigarette lighter and possibly burn them-
selves.<
Ashtray, rear
Opening
Push the ridge on the cover.
Emptying
Lift out the insert.
Connecting electrical
appliances
In your BMW, you can use electrical devices
such as a flashlight, car vacuum cleaner, etc., up
to approx. 200 watts at 12 volts, as long as one
of the following sockets is available. Avoid dam-
aging the sockets by attempting to insert plugs
of unsuitable shape or size.
Cigarette lighter socket*
Pull the cigarette lighter out of the socket, refer
to page108.
Socket in the center armrest
External audio device, refer to page107.
Sockets in the rear center console*
Remove corresponding cover.

Driving tips
117Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
nection to an outside antenna. Otherwise, the
vehicle electronics and mobile communication
device can influence one another. In addition,
there is no assurance that the radiation which
results from transmission will be dissipated
from the vehicle interior.<
Interior and exterior mirrors, automatic
dimming feature*
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.
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.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This situation, known as hydroplaning,
means that the tire can completely lose contact
with the road surface, so that neither the car can
be steered nor the brake be properly applied.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases with declin-
ing tread depth on the tires, refer also to Mini-
mum tread depth on page195.
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Use the handbrake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with
the clutch; use the handbrake. Otherwise
greater clutch wear will result.<
Sequential manual gearbox SMG
On uphill slopes, drive off without delay.
Do not hold the vehicle in place by
depressing the accelerator pedal; apply the
handbrake instead. Otherwise, the transmis-
sion could overheat.<
Also use the drive-off assistant, refer to
page87.
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. Applying the brakes fully is the most
effective way of braking in situations in which
this is necessary. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal
every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure
that full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<

Refueling
186
Refueling
Always switch off the engine before refu-
eling, otherwise, fuel cannot be added to
the tank and a message will be displayed.<
Take all precautionary measures and
observe all applicable regulations when
handling fuel. Do not carry any spare fuel con-
tainers in your vehicle. They can develop a leak
and cause an explosion or cause a fire in the
event of an accident.<
Gas cap
Opening
1.Open fuel filler door. To do so, lightly press
the rear edge.
2.Turn the gas cap counterclockwise.
3.Place the gas cap in the bracket attached to
the fuel filler door.
Closing
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you clearly
hear a click.
Do not jam the strap attached to the gas
cap between the gas cap and the vehicle.
A message will be displayed if the gas cap is
loose or missing.<
Manually releasing the fuel filler door
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can
release the fuel filler door manually:1.Remove the cover from the right-hand side
panel of the luggage compartment.
2.Pull the knob with the fuel pump symbol.
The fuel filler door is released.
Observe the following when refueling
When handling fuels always observe any
safety guidelines posted at the service
station.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Lifting the filler nozzle
during refueling leads to
>premature pump shutoff
>a reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor
recovery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 16.1 US gallons/61 liters, including the
reserve capacity of 2.1 US gallons/8 liters.
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur.<
Fuel specifications
Do not fill the tank with leaded fuel, as this
would cause permanent damage to the
catalytic converter.<

Mobility
199Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Important parts of the engine compartment
1Expansion tank for coolant, refer to
page201
2Washer fluid reservoir for headlamp clean-
ing system and window washer system,
refer to page603Jump-starting connection, refer to
page212
4Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding
engine oil
5Reservoir for brake fluid, under the cover of
the microfilter
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking oil level
Your car is equipped with an electronic oil-level
monitor.
For a precise measurement and display of the
oil level, it is necessary that the engine be at
operating temperature, e.g. after uninterrupted
driving for at least approx. 6.5 miles/10 km. You
can have the oil level displayed while you are
driving, or while the vehicle is at a standstill on a
level surface and the engine is running.
Display in the instrument cluster
1.Lightly push button 1 in the turn indicator
stalk up or down repeatedly until the appro-
priate symbol is shown in the display,
accompanied by the word "OIL".
2.Press button 2 in the turn indicator stalk.
The oil level is checked and the reading dis-
played.

Under the hood
200
Possible displays
1Oil level OK
2Oil level is being checked.
This can take about 3 minutes if the car is at
a standstill on a level surface, or about
5 minutes while the car is on the move.
3Oil level down to minimum:
Add 1 US quart/1 liter of engine oil as soon
as possible, refer also to Adding engine oil.
4Oil level is too high.
Too much oil will harm the engine.
Have the vehicle checked without
delay.<
5The oil level sensor is defective.
Do not add engine oil. You can continue
your journey. Note the newly calculated dis-
tance remaining to the next oil service, refer
to page203. Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
Display via iDrive
iDrive concept, refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.3.Select "Service" and press the controller.
4.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Turn the controller
until "Service requirements" is selected and
press the controller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the second field from the top. Turn the con-
troller until "Engine oil level" is selected and
press the controller. The oil level is dis-
played.
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level O.K."
>"No measured value available: Updating
engine oil level measurement..."
The engine oil level is measured. This can
take about 3 minutes if the car is at a stand-
still on a level surface and the engine is run-
ning, and about 5 minutes while the car is on
the move.
>"Oil level at the minimum! Refill with 1 quart
engine oil."
Add engine oil as soon as possible, but no
more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to
Adding engine oil below.
>"Engine oil level too high"

Maintenance
204
Socket for On-Board
Diagnosis OBD
Primary components that make up exhaust
emissions can be checked by a device via the
OBD socket.
This socket is located on the driver's side to the
left, on the bottom of the instrument panel
underneath a cover.
Exhaust emission values
The warning lamps come on. The
exhaust emission values have wors-
ened. Have the car checked as soon
as possible.
Canadian models display these warn-
ing lamps.
The lamps flash under certain condi-
tions. This indicates excessive misfiring in the
engine. If this happens, you should reduce your
speed and visit your nearest BMW Center as
soon as possible. Severe engine misfiring can
quickly lead to serious damage of emissions-
related components, especially the catalytic
converter.
If the gas cap is not properly tightened, the OBD
system will assume that fuel vapor is escaping.
An indicator will then light up. If the gas cap is
then tightened, the indicator will go out within a
few days.
Event data recorders
Your vehicle may be equipped with one or sev-
eral measuring or diagnostic modules or a
device for recording or sending certain vehicle data or information. In addition, if you have
signed a subscription contract for BMW Assist,
certain vehicle data may be transmitted or
recorded in order to facilitate the corresponding
services.
Care
Important information on the care and mainte-
nance of your BMW is contained in the Caring
for your vehicle brochure.

Mobility
205Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Replacing components
Onboard tool kit
The onboard tool kit is stored in a compartment
on the right-hand side of the luggage compart-
ment. Remove the cover.
Wiper blades
1.Fold up the wiper arm.
2.Remove the cover. To do so, press the hook
on the bottom, see arrow.
3.Fold the wiper blade upwards.
4.Remove the wiper blade in the direction of
the windshield, see arrow.In order to avoid damage, make sure that
the wiper arms are against the windshield
before you open the engine compartment.<
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribu-
tion to vehicle safety. They should, therefore,
be handled carefully. BMW recommends hav-
ing your BMW Center perform any work that
you do not feel competent to perform yourself
or that is not described here.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a
clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or hold
the bulb by its base.<
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs
at your BMW Center.
When working on electrical systems,
always begin by switching off the con-
sumer in question, otherwise short-circuits
could result. To avoid possible injury or equip-
ment damage when replacing bulbs, observe
any instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<
For care and maintenance of the headlamps,
please follow the instructions in the separate
Caring for your vehicle brochure.
If the routine for changing a particular
bulb is not described here, please contact
your BMW Center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.<
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu-
c e n t l e n s e s s e r v e a s t h e l i g h t s o u r c e f o r m a n y o f
the controls and displays in your vehicle. These
light-emitting diodes, which operate using a
concept similar to that applied in conventional

Replacing components
206 lasers, are officially designated as Class 1 light-
emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers or expose the
eyes directly to the unfiltered light source
for several hours at a time, otherwise this could
cause irritation to the retina.<
Xenon lamps*
The service life of these bulbs is very long and
the probability of a failure is very low, provided
that they are not switched on and off an unusual
number of times. If a xenon lamp fails neverthe-
less, switch on the fog lamps and continue the
journey with great care, provided that local leg-
islation does not prohibit this.
Have work on the xenon lighting system
performed only by your BMW Center or a
workshop that works according to BMW repair
procedures with correspondingly trained per-
sonnel. Due to the high electrical voltages
present, there is a risk of potentially fatal acci-
dents if work is performed inappropriate.<
Parking lamps, roadside parking lamps
In the event of a malfunction, please contact
your BMW Center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.
Halogen lamps
H7 bulb, 55 watts
Always wear gloves and eye protection;
the atmosphere within the H7 bulb is
pressurized. Otherwise there is a risk of injury if
the bulb is damaged.<
There are separate headlamp covers for low-
beam headlamps and high-beam headlamps.
Be careful when installing the covers, oth-
erwise leaks could occur and cause dam-
age to the headlamp system.<
For checking and adjusting headlamp
aim, please contact your BMW Center.<
Access to the lamps
The high-beam headlamp can be accessed
from the engine compartment, whereas the low-beam headlamp is accessed through a flap
in the wheel well.
1Cover for high-beam headlamp
2Cover for low-beam headlamp
3Turn signal bulb socket
To remove the covers:
1.Fold the respective wire bracket to the side,
see arrows.
2.Flip open the cover and take it out of the
guide.
Follow the same steps in reverse order to reat-
tach the covers.
Access through the wheel well
Only for low-beam headlamps and turn signals:
1.Turn the wheel inwards.
2.Open the flap in the wheel well. To do so,
turn the fastener counterclockwise using a
coin, for example.
Changing low-beam and high-beam
bulbs
1.Remove the relevant cover for the head-
lamp.
2.Disconnect the plug from the lamp.