2008 BMW 3 SERIES maintenance

The engine coolant has a lifetime rating and
does not need to be changed except for sys-
tem repairs.
For your convenience, you may also wish to have
your BMW center perform any necessary opera-
tions to fulfill any state inspection requirements in
your area concurrent with the maintenance ele-
ments specified above during other repairs.
Should you request more frequent mainte-
nance service, the cost of these services will
not be covered by the Maintenance Program.
BMW has applied the most modern technological
advances not only to the design and production of
your vehicle, but also to computing of the opti-
mum maintenance interval for your type of opera-
tions and driving style. Your BMW center has
made a substantial investment in unique BMW
special service tools to enable BMW factory
trained service technicians to perform quality
repairs on your BMW in minimal time. Your service
technician looks forward to serving your every ser-
vice need and to help maximize your satisfaction
with your BMW, its longevity, and resale value.
Quality Certification I
For a detailed list of items inspected, refer to the
Quality Certification I form provided to the
Owner at time of delivery. A copy of the form is
on file at the selling BMW center.
Maintenance Summary
The Condition Based Service (CBS) system will
determine the requirement for performance of
the maintenance services described on this and
the following page. These services may be
required either individually or in conjunction with
other maintenance services.
Standard operations
Maintenance work:
 Brief diagnostic test
 Verify Check Control messages.
 Check indicator and warning lights.
 Reset CBS display.
 Inspect tires, adjust tire pressures and reset
Tire Pressure Monitor.
Engine oil
Maintenance work:
 Change the engine oil and oil filter. We rec-
ommend BMW High Performance 5W-30
Synthetic Oil P/N 07 51 0 017 866.
 After every 3rd engine oil change: Intake air
cleaner: replace air filter element (reduce
replacement interval in dusty operating
conditions).
 Parking brake: Check function and
pre-burnish.
Microfilter (not shown in CBS)
Maintenance work:
 Replace ventilation microfilter.
Front brake
Maintenance work:
 Replace brake pads, clean brake pad contact
points in calipers.
 Brake discs: Check surface and thickness, if
necessary replace at extra charge.*
Rear brake
Maintenance work:
 Replace brake pads, clean brake pad contact
points in calipers.
 Brake discs: Check surface and thickness, if
necessary replace at extra charge.*
 Parking brake: Check condition, brake lining
thickness and function, if necessary replace
at extra charge.*
*Unless covered by Maintenance Program
7

Vehicle Check
Maintenance work:
 Check operation of horn, headlight flasher
and hazard warning flashers.
 Check instrument and control lighting and
heater/air-conditioning blower.
 Check lighting system: turn signals, back-up,
license plate, interior (incl. map, reading
lights), glovebox, flashlight, luggage area
lights.
 Safety belts: Check condition and function.
 Check windshield wiper and washer jet
positions.
 Body: Check for corrosion (except cavities).
 Tires: Check tread depth, wear pattern, outer
condition, inflation pressure. If necessary, cor-
rect pressure.
 Reset Tire Pressure Monitor.
 Battery: Check state of charge (magic eye)
and charge if required.
 Power steering reservoir: Check fluid level.
 Visually inspect all SRS airbag units for torn
covers, obvious damage or attachment of
stickers.
 Rear-view mirrors
 Coolant: Check fluid level and concentration.
 Windshield washer and intensive cleaning
system: Check protection level, fluid level, top
if necessary.
 Brake system connections and lines: Check
for leaks, damage and correct positioning.
 Underbody, incl. all visible parts (i.e. transmis-
sion, rear axle, fuel lines, exhaust system):
Check for damage, leaks and corrosion.
 Steering components: Check for clearance,
leaks, damage and wear.
 Final Inspection: Road test with check of
– Brakes, including burnishing of parking
brake pads
– Steering
– Shock absorbers (visual)
– Transmission
Brake fluid
Maintenance work:
 Replace brake fluid.
Automatic Transmission
Maintenance work:
 Replace ATF at intervals of 100,000 miles.
Emission Control Maintenance
Schedule
The maintenance schedule as shown is required
for the proper functioning of the emission con-
trol systems for optimum vehicle performance
and fuel economy.
Basic Engine
Engine oil As specified by CBS
Engine oil filter As specified by CBS
Fuel System
Air filter As specified by CBS
Ignition System
Spark plugs (328i
versions) 100,000 miles
Spark plugs (335i
versions) 45,000 miles
Emission Control
Components
Oxygen sensor (except
SULEV) 120,000 miles
Oxygen sensor: SULEV
(PZEV) 150,000 miles
Evidence of Maintenance Work
This BMW Service and Warranty Information
Booklet should be presented to your BMW cen-
ter when maintenance is required. Make sure
that confirmation of maintenance work is always
entered in this Service and Warranty Information
Booklet. You may need this for any warranty
claims that become necessary, and later on as
evidence that your car has been given the cor-
rect and regular maintenance that justifies its
resale or trade-in value.
8

Battery Care
If your car is driven only for short distances of
less than 10 miles over a prolonged period of
time, without an occasional drive at highway
speeds, the engines charging system will not
maintain the battery. Insufficient use of the vehi-
cle could result in short term starting problems
and in the long term could damage the battery.
In case the car is not operated for several weeks
it is advisable to:
 consider using a proper trickle charger, fol-
lowing the charger manufacturer’s instruc-
tions, to maintain the battery’s state of
charge; or
 consult your BMW center regarding battery
removal. Once removed, the battery must be
charged and stored in a cool, dry place where
it can be protected from freezing. If the bat-
tery will be stored for over 3 months, it must
be recharged every 3 months, or else it will
become damaged and useless.
Please consult with your BMW center for further
guidance and information.
Corrosion Protection
Extensive corrosion protection measures imple-
mented by BMW now make it possible to offer a
twelve-year unlimited mileage anti-corrosion
warranty against rust perforation on your vehicle
provided that the vehicle is maintained in accor-
dance with the provisions of the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty as outlined in the Warranty
Section of this Booklet (page 32).
The major degree of corrosion protection is due
to the electrophoretic dip painting process
which cathodically deposits paint particles on all
body parts, attracting paint particles into the
minutest cavities or seams. Body parts are
designed to provide optimum corrosion
protection. During manufacture, exterior body parts receive
an additional corrosion protection coat. Hood,
trunk, doors and other body parts are coated
with PVC and sealed from the outside.
All floor panels receive a resilient coating of PVC
for maximum protection against damage due to
stones, etc.
Corrosion protection materials tested over many
years are applied to the surfaces of cavities and
to the entire underside of the vehicle during and
after assembly.
Requirements for maintaining the 12-year
unlimited mileage anti-corrosion warranty are
outlined in the Warranty Section of this Booklet
(page 34).
Restoring corrosion protection
Please take care that anti-corrosion material is
replaced when your car is repaired after body or
chassis damage.
BMW NA will not accept any liability for any
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
Underbody maintenance
The underbody has to be cleaned at least once
a year, in spring, with plain water in order to
remove mud, chemical sediments and other
deposits. If those materials are not removed,
corrosion (rust) will occur on metal components.
Your BMW center will do this anti-corrosion ser-
vice for you.
Do not apply additional undercoating or
rust-proofing on or near the exhaust
manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or
heat shields. During driving, the substance used
for undercoating could overheat and cause a
fire.
17

New Vehicle Limited Warranty —
2008 Models (Valid Only in the
U.S.A. and Puerto Rico)
Warrantor
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) war-
rants 2008 U.S. specification vehicles distrib-
uted by BMW NA or sold through the BMW NA
European Delivery Program against defects in
materials or workmanship to the first retail pur-
chaser, and each subsequent purchaser.
Warranty Period
The warranty period is 48 months or
50,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
Warranty Begins
Coverage begins on the date of first retail sale
or the date the vehicle is first placed into service
as a sales demonstrator, service loaner (SLP) or
company vehicle, whichever is earlier.
Warranty Coverage
To obtain service under this warranty, the vehi-
cle must be brought, upon discovery of a defect
in material or workmanship, to the workshop of
any authorized BMW center in the United States
or Puerto Rico, during normal business hours.
The BMW center will, without charge for parts
or labor, either repair or replace the defective
part(s) using new or authorized remanufactured
parts. The decision to repair or replace said
part(s) is solely the prerogative of BMW NA.
Parts for which replacements are made become
the property of BMW NA.
In all cases, a reasonable time must be allowed
for warranty repairs to be completed after the
vehicle is received by the BMW center.
Safety Belt Warranty - Kansas
Safety belts are covered under the BMW New
Vehicle Limited Warranty for defects in material
or workmanship for a period of 10 years, unlim-
ited mileage from the date of purchase. In order
to be eligible for this coverage, the vehicle must
be a new car retailed in the State of Kansas and
the repair performed by an authorized BMW
center in Kansas.
Other Items
Wheel alignment, balancing and wiper blade
inserts are covered up to 2,000 miles.
Items which are subject to wear and tear or
deterioration due to driving habits or condi-
tions, such as brake pads/linings, brake
discs, clutch disc, pressure plate, filters,
upholstery, trim and chrome items, paint fin-
ish, drive belts, glass, and similar items, are
specifically limited to defects in material or
workmanship.
This warranty does not apply to the
following:
Damage which results from negligence,
improper operation of the vehicle, improper
repair, lack of or improper maintenance, environ-
mental influences, flood, accident or fire dam-
age, road salt corrosion, or use of improper or
contaminated fuel.
Damage to the engine, transmission or any
related component caused by improper shifting
of the transmission.
Maintenance services and parts when replaced
during maintenance such as spark plugs, lubri-
cants, fluids, engine tuneup parts, replacement
of filters, coolant, and refrigerant.
Failure to maintain the vehicle properly in accor-
dance with the instructions in the Owners Man-
ual or the Service section of this Statement, that
results in the failure of any part of the vehicle.
32

Modification of the vehicle or installation of any
performance accessories or components
attached to the vehicle which alters the original
engineering and/or operating specifications or
which result in damage to the other original
components, electrical interference, electrical
short, radio static, water leaks and wind noise.
Tires are warranted by their respective manufac-
turer as detailed in the applicable tire manufac-
turers warranty statements. Instructions for
proper tire care and maintenance are contained
in the Owners Manual. Should you experience
difficulty in obtaining warranty service from a tire
manufacturer, your authorized BMW center will
assist you in resolving the difficulty.
Non-genuine BMW Parts — While you may
elect to use non-genuine BMW parts for mainte-
nance or repair services, BMW NA is not obli-
gated to pay for repairs that include non-
genuine BMW parts or for any damage resulting
from the use of non-genuine parts.
BMW NA will not accept any liability for any
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
This warranty shall be null and void if the
vehicle identification number has been
altered or cannot be read, if the odometer
has been replaced or altered and the true
mileage cannot be determined, if the vehicle
has been declared a total loss or sold for sal-
vage purposes, or if the vehicle has been
used in any competitive event.General
These warranties give you specific legal rights,
and you may also have other rights which vary
from state to state.
THE DURATION OF ANY IMPLIED WARRAN-
TIES, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY, IS LIMITED TO THE
DURATION OF THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES
HEREIN. BMW NA HEREBY EXCLUDES INCI-
DENTAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES,
INCLUDING LOSS OF TIME, INCONVENIENCE,
OR LOSS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE, FOR ANY
BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTY, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WAR-
RANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, APPLICABLE
TO THIS PRODUCT.
Some states do not allow limitations on how
long an implied warranty lasts, or the exclusion
or limitation of incidental or consequential dam-
ages, so the above limitations and exclusions
may not apply to you.
33

Limited Warranty — Rust
Perforation 2008 Models
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) war-
rants this original vehicle against defects in
materials or workmanship which will result in
rust perforation of the vehicle body for a period
of 12 years unlimted mileage. Coverage begins
on the date of first retail sale or the date the
vehicle is first placed into service as a sales
demonstrator, service loaner (SLP) or company
vehicle, whichever is earlier.
To obtain service under this warranty, the vehi-
cle must be brought, upon discovery of any rust
perforation, to the workshop of any authorized
BMW center. This BMW center will, without
charge for parts or labor, either repair or replace
the defective part(s). The decision to repair or
replace said part(s) is solely the prerogative of
BMW NA. Parts for which replacements are
made become the property of BMW NA.
REQUIRED MAINTENANCE:
In order to keep this warranty in effect, the vehi-
cle must be inspected at least every two years.
Any areas requiring preventative maintenance
must be repaired.
The Inspection/Maintenance consists of:
a. Washing the chassis before inspection, if necessary, due to dirt accumulation.
b. Repairing any damages to undercoating or paint due to stone chips, gravel erosion,
scratches, or other external influences.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) makes
no other express warranty on this product
except the new car warranty or the warranty as
to the emission control system. THE DURATION
OF ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING
THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANT-
ABILITY, IS LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF
THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES HEREIN. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC (BMW NA)
HEREBY EXCLUDES INCIDENTAL AND CON-
SEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS
OF TIME, INCONVENIENCE, OR LOSS OF USE
OF THE VEHICLE, FOR ANY BREACH OF ANY
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUD-
ING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MER-
CHANTABILITY, APPLICABLE TO THIS
PRODUCT.
Some states do not allow limitations on how
long an implied warranty lasts, or the exclusion
or limitation of incidental or consequential dam-
ages, so the above limitations and exclusions
may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and
you may also have other rights which vary from
state to state. Any legal claim or action arising
from any express or implied warranty contained
herein must be brought within 12 months of the
date it arises.
This warranty does not apply to the
following:
a. Damage caused by negligence, improper
accident damage repairs, or improper use.
b. Damage attributable to failure to perform required inspections/maintenance at the
specified intervals or in accordance with the
BMW rust inspection/maintenance program
instructions. Proof must be provided by a
paid invoice or filling in the appropriate boxes
in the Service Section of this Statement.
BMW NA will not accept any liability for any
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
This warranty shall be null and void if the
vehicle identification number has been
altered or cannot be read, if the odometer
has been replaced or altered and the true
mileage cannot be determined, if the vehicle
has been declared a total loss or sold for sal-
vage purposes, or if the vehicle has been
used in any competitive event.
34

Federal Emissions System Defect
Warranty (Valid only in the U.S.A.
and Puerto Rico)
This warranty applies only to U.S. specification
vehicles distributed by BMW of North America,
LLC (BMW NA) or sold through the BMW NA
European Delivery Program.
In accordance with the defect warranty provi-
sions of section 207(b) of the Clean Air Act,
BMW NA warrants to the first retail purchaser,
and each subsequent purchaser, that the car (a)
was designed, built and equipped so as to con-
form, at the time of sale, with all regulations of
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency appli-
cable at the time of manufacture and (b) is free
from defects in materials and workmanship
which would cause it to fail to conform with
applicable regulations for a period of 2 years or
24,000 miles, whichever occurs first, except for
specific emission control components (as listed
on page 38), for which the warranty period is
8 years or 80,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
Coverage begins on the date of first retail sale
or the date the vehicle is first placed into service
as a sales demonstrator, service loaner (SLP) or
company vehicle, whichever is earlier.
Warranty claims must be made as soon as rea-
sonably possible after a defect is discovered. To
make a claim, the car must be brought to any
authorized BMW center during normal business
hours.
The BMW center will, without charge for parts
or labor (including diagnosis), either repair or
replace the defective part, if any. The decision
whether to repair or replace said parts is solely
the prerogative of BMW NA and must be
expected to correct the failure of the warranted
part. Parts for which replacements are made
become the property of BMW NA. In all cases, a
reasonable time must be allowed for warranty
repairs to be completed after the car is received
by the BMW center.
For assistance in determining which specific
parts or components of your vehicle are covered
under this warranty, please contact your BMW
center. It is the owners responsibility to have all sched-
uled inspection and maintenance services per-
formed (at the owners expense), as prescribed
in the maintenance schedule for the BMW Emis-
sion Control System. Service intervals are com-
puted by the onboard BMW service interval
indicator and displayed on the instrument panel.
The instructions for proper maintenance and
use can be found in the Owners Manual. It is
strongly recommended that any replacement
parts used for maintenance, repair or replace-
ment of emission control systems be certified
BMW Service Parts or BMW Authorized
Remanufactured Parts. Without invalidating this
warranty, the owner may elect to have mainte-
nance, repair or replacement of the emission
control systems performed by any automotive
repair establishment, or elect to use parts other
than certified BMW Service Parts. However, the
cost of such service or parts will not be covered
under this warranty, except in emergency situa-
tions. In an emergency situation, where an
authorized BMW center or a warranty replace-
ment part is not reasonably available (within
30 days), repairs may be performed at any avail-
able service establishment using any equivalent
part. BMW NA will reimburse the owner for such
emergency repairs (including labor, parts and
diagnosis not to exceed BMW NA rates for labor,
parts, and diagnosis in said area) that are cov-
ered under this warranty. Replaced parts and
paid invoices must be presented at a BMW cen-
ter as a condition of reimbursement for emer-
gency repairs not performed by a BMW center.
The use of replacement parts, which are not of
equivalent quality, may impair the effectiveness
of the emission control system. If other than cer-
tified BMW Service Parts or Authorized Remanu-
factured Parts are used for maintenance, repair
or replacement of components affecting emis-
sion control, the owner should obtain assurances
that such parts are warranted by their manufac-
turer to be equivalent to genuine BMW parts in
performance and durability. BMW NA assumes
no liability under this warranty with respect to
parts other than genuine BMW parts.
However, the use of non-genuine BMW replace-
ment parts or non-EPA certified parts does not
invalidate the warranty on other components,
unless non-genuine BMW parts or non-EPA cer-
tified parts cause damage to warranted parts.
35

What is not covered
This warranty does not cover malfunctions
caused by any of the following: accident, flood,
misuse, improper adjustment, modification,
alteration, tampering, disconnection, improper
or inadequate maintenance, use of leaded fuel
or fuels containing more than 10% ethanol, or
other oxygenates with more than 2.8% oxygen
by weight (i.e., more than 15% MTBE or more
than 3% methanol plus an equivalent amount of
co-solvent).
The replacement of maintenance parts, such as
spark plugs, filters and similar items used in
required maintenance services, the repair or
replacement of maintenance parts beyond the
first required inspection/maintenance, or if the
part has been replaced earlier for reasons other
than it being defective.
The car or any part of the car unless a failure
causes the car to fail to conform to applicable
emission regulations.
Any car on which the odometer has been
replaced or altered and the true mileage cannot
be determined.
The car, if the vehicle identification number is
altered or cannot be read, or if the car has been
declared a total loss or sold for salvage
purposes.
General
These warranties give you specific legal rights,
and you may also have other rights which vary
from state to state.
THE DURATION OF ANY IMPLIED WARRAN-
TIES, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY, IS LIMITED TO THE
DURATION OF THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES
HEREIN.
BMW NA HEREBY EXCLUDES INCIDENTAL
AND CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUD-
ING LOSS OF TIME, INCONVENIENCE, OR
LOSS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE, FOR ANY
BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTY, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WAR-
RANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, APPLICABLE
TO THIS PRODUCT.
Some states do not allow limitations on how
long an implied warranty lasts, or the exclusion
or limitation of incidental or consequential dam-
ages, so the above limitations and exclusions
may not apply to you. Additionally, if you are a
California, Maine, Massachusetts or Vermont
resident and your vehicle is registered in that
state, your vehicle is eligible for California Emis-
sions Warranty coverage.
These federal warranty provisions also apply to
all vehicles sold in all U.S. states and territories
regardless of whether a state has enacted state
warranty provisions that differ from the federal
provisions.
36