2008 BMW 3 SERIES maintenance schedule

Table of Contents
Page
2008 3 Series Models Covered in This Booklet ............................ 1
Introduction (for SULEV (PZEV) only) . . . ................................ 1
BMW Ultimate Service™ ............................................ 1
The BMW Maintenance Program ...................................... 2
Coverage ......................................................2
Maintenance Upgrade Option .........................................2
Intervals .......................................................2
Condition Based Service (CBS) ....................................... 3
Service Interval Display . . .......................................... 3
Info Display screen contents .........................................3
Possible displays .................................................4
Supplementary information (vehicles with optional iDrive) ......................4
Control Display screen contents (optional equipment) ........................5
Red Sectors ....................................................5
Yellow Sectors ...................................................5
Green lamps ....................................................6
Symbols .......................................................6
Special Note ....................................................6
Quality Certification I ...............................................7
Maintenance Summary . ............................................ 7
Standard operations ...............................................7
Engine oil ......................................................7
Microfilter (not shown in CBS) ........................................7
Frontbrake .....................................................7
Rearbrake......................................................7
Vehicle Check ...................................................8
Brake fluid ......................................................8
Automatic Transmission ............................................8
Emission Control Maintenance Schedule ................................ 8
Evidence of Maintenance Work ....................................... 8
BatteryCare .................................................... 17
Corrosion Protection ............................................. 17
Restoring corrosion protection .......................................17
Underbody maintenance ...........................................17
Body Inspection ................................................. 18
Customer Assistance Information .................................... 24
Customer Assistance - Notification ....................................24
BBB Auto Line .................................................. 25
California Residents ..............................................25
Special Programs ................................................ 27

The BMW Maintenance Program
The BMW Maintenance Program is a benefit
designed to help reduce the cost of ownership.
This program has been devised with the follow-
ing objectives: to maximize vehicle safety, reli-
ability, and resale value by minimizing
breakdowns resulting from wear, and minimizing
cost and inconvenience by computing mainte-
nance intervals based upon the specific manner
in which each individual vehicle is driven.
2008 3 Series vehicles purchased from any
authorized BMW center in the United States or
Puerto Rico are covered by The BMW Mainte-
nance Program for 48 months or 50,000 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, which-
ever is earlier.
Any authorized BMW center in the United
States or Puerto Rico will perform the sched-
uled maintenance services on your vehicle at no
expense to you.
Coverage
The BMW Maintenance Program covers all fac-
tory recommended maintenance, as determined
by the Condition Based Service (CBS) system.
Additional items that need replacement due to
normal wear and tear, and that are not covered
by the original New Vehicle Limited Warranty -
such as brake pads, brake rotors, and wiper
blades inserts - are included, provided wear and
tear exceeds BMW wear limits. Any adjustments
required due to normal operating conditions are
also included. See pages 7-8 of this booklet for
additional information.
Exclusions from coverage include the following:
 Items reimbursable under your New Vehicle
Limited Warranty
 Gasoline
 Windshield washer additive (except when in
conjunction with scheduled maintenance)
 Tires, wheel alignment, tire balance and
rotation 
Wear and tear of soft trim items, such as:
seats, carpets, moldings, headliner, door pan-
els and all chrome trim
 Damage detected when performing the rust
perforation inspection
 Damage which results from negligence,
improper operation of the vehicle, wear and
tear or deterioration due to driving habits or
conditions, improper repair, environmental
influences, flood, accident or fire damage,
road salt corrosion, alteration, installation of
non-genuine BMW accessories, or use of
improper, poor quality or contaminated fuel
 Altered or unreadable Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) or odometer irregularities or
vehicles where the true mileage cannot be
determined
 Maintenance or repair after the vehicle is
deemed a total loss
 Maintenance or repairs performed by other
than an Authorized BMW center within the
United States or Puerto Rico
 Vehicles used in competitive events
 Oil changes performed outside the recom-
mended maintenance intervals as indicated
by the Service Interval Display
Maintenance Upgrade Option
Please contact your authorized BMW center for
information and availability on the optional Main-
tenance Program Upgrade for coverage up to
6 years and 100,000 miles.
Intervals
Time intervals should be followed using the
maintenance interval as indicated by the BMW
Service Interval Display.
Maintenance intervals on motor vehicles have
conventionally been specified based upon accu-
mulated mileage. However, driving conditions
have a major influence on routine maintenance
requirements; distance traveled is only one of
the significant factors. A vehicle driven for
50,000 miles of short trips in the city with
numerous cold starts, prolonged periods of
idling, stop-and-go driving, and high engine
2

Green lamps
No service is currently required.
You can request more detailed information on
every entry.
Turn the controller to scroll through the list, then
confirm the selected entry.
Confirm to exit the list.
Symbols
No service is currently required.
The deadline for service or a legally man-
dated inspection is approaching. Please
schedule a service appointment.
The service deadline has already passed.
The current service status is automatically
saved in the vehicle’s ignition key. The Service
Advisor at your BMW center has a device called
a key reader. When your Service Advisor inserts
your key into the key reader, all pertinent vehicle
and servicing data will be available, and a cus-
tomized maintenance checklist is printed out
based on the specific operations called for by
the Condition Based Service.
Special Note
The maintenance requirements for your vehicle
are determined dynamically by the Condition
Based Service (CBS) system. The maintenance
items stated herein reflect the latest information
available at the time of the printing of this state-
ment, and are subject to change. The most cur-
rent maintenance recommendations are
available from your authorized BMW center. The performance of certain subsequent mainte-
nance elements, as required by the BMW New
Vehicle Limited Warranty, will be specified at
intervals computed by the BMW Service Interval
Indicator as follows:

Oil Service: Engine oil should be changed
with the engine at operating temperature.
Note: Change oil at least once a year.
All 2008 model year 3 Series vehicles are facto-
ry-filled with BMW High Performance Synthetic
oils. At the time of the printing of this booklet,
the following oils are strongly recommended
and approved by BMW:
 BMW High Performance 5W-30 Synthetic Oil
(BMW part number 07 51 0 017 866)
 Mobil 1 10W-40 Synthetic
BMW is evaluating various synthetic oils for
inclusion in our list of recommended engine oils.
For the most current list of synthetic oils, please
contact your BMW center, or call BMW of North
America, LLC at 1 800 831-1117. You can also
obtain this information from our website,
www.bmwusa.com/.
BMW recommends that you check your engine
oil level whenever you add fuel to your vehicle. If
you need to add oil between oil changes and
are unable to obtain BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil, Mobil 1 or another special oil on
the list, use a synthetic oil with an API rating of
SH or higher.
The following maintenance elements must be
performed at the mileage/time stated (time inter-
vals begin from the vehicles production date):
 Brake Fluid Service: Change brake fluid every
two years, or when specified by CBS.
 Oxygen Sensor Service: The oxygen sensor
deteriorates strictly on a mileage basis and
must therefore be replaced every
120,000 miles to maximize vehicle fuel econ-
omy and minimize exhaust pollution. For the
328i SULEV (PZEV) models, the oxygen sen-
sor must be replaced every 150,000 miles.
The replacement of the oxygen sensor is
required under the terms of the applicable
BMW emission system warranties.
 Spark Plug Service (not shown in CBS).
Replace at the following intervals:
328i versions: 100,000 miles
335i versions: 45,000 miles
6

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

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

California Emission Control
Warranty Statement* Your
Warranty Rights and Obligations
The California Air Resources Board and BMW of
North America, LLC (BMW NA) are pleased to
explain the emission control system warranty on
your 2008 vehicle. In California, new motor vehi-
cles must be designed, built and equipped to
meet the States stringent anti-smog standards.
BMW NA must warrant the emission control
system on your vehicle for the periods of time
listed below provided there has been no abuse,
neglect or improper maintenance of your
vehicle.
Your emission control system may include parts
such as the fuel injection system, the ignition
system, catalytic converter, and engine com-
puter. Also included may be hoses, belts, con-
nectors and other emission-related assemblies.
Where a warrantable condition exists, BMW NA
will repair your vehicle at no cost to you includ-
ing diagnosis, parts and labor.
Manufacturer’s Warranty Coverage:
– For 3 years or 50,000 miles whichever occurs first:
1. If your vehicle fails a Smog Check inspec- tion, all necessary repairs and adjustments
will be made by BMW NA to ensure that
your vehicle passes the inspection. This is
your emission control system PERFOR-
MANCE WARRANTY.
2. If any emission-related part on your vehicle is defective, the part will be repaired or
replaced by BMW NA. This is your short-
term emission control system DEFECTS
WARRANTY.
For 7 years or 70,000 miles whichever occurs
first:
If an emission-related part specially noted on
page 42 as having coverage for 7 years or
70,000 miles is defective, the part will be
repaired or replaced by BMW NA. This is your
long-term emission control system DEFECTS
WARRANTY.
Owners Warranty Responsibilities:
– As the vehicle owner, you are responsible for
the performance of the required maintenance
listed in your Owner’s Manual. BMW NA rec-
ommends that you retain all receipts covering
maintenance on your vehicle, but BMW NA
cannot deny warranty solely for the lack of
receipts or for your failure to ensure the perfor-
mance of all scheduled maintenance.
– You are responsible for presenting your vehicle to an authorized BMW center as soon as a
problem exists. The warranty repairs should be
completed in a reasonable amount of time, not
to exceed 30 days.
– As the vehicle owner, you should also be aware that BMW NA may deny your warranty
coverage if your vehicle or part has failed due
to abuse, neglect, improper maintenance or
unapproved modifications.
If you have any questions regarding your war-
ranty rights and responsibilities, you should
contact: BMW of North America, LLC
Customer Relations and Services Department
PO. Box 1227
Westwood, N.J. 07675-1227
Telephone: 1 800 831-1117
Website: www.bmwusa.com
or the California Air Resources Board
9528 Telstar Avenue
El Monte, CA 91731
*-The California Emissions Control System Lim-
ited Warranty applies to all 2008 U.S. specifica-
tion BMW vehicles sold, leased, and/or
registered in California, Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island or Vermont. This
warranty also applies to SULEV (PZEV) models
sold, leased, and/or registered in Oregon or
Washington. SULEV (PZEV) models registered
in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachu-
setts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and
Vermont have different emissions warranty cov-
erage; please refer to the SULEV (PZEV) section
beginning on page 42.
39

California Emission Control
System Limited Warranty*
This warranty applies to California certified vehi-
cles distributed by BMW of North America, LLC
(BMW NA) or sold through the BMW NA Euro-
pean Delivery Program, registered and operated
primarily in California.
BMW NA warrants to the original purchaser and
each subsequent owner that the vehicle is:
a. designed, built and equipped so as to con- form with the applicable California Air
Resources Board emission standards.
b. free from defects in materials and workman- ship which cause any part that can affect
emissions to fail to conform with applicable
requirements or to fail a California Smog
Check test or EPA approved short test for a
period of 3 years or 50,000 miles, whichever
occurs first.
c. free from defects in materials and workman- ship in emission related parts, which are con-
tained in the California Emission Warranty
Parts List on page 42, for a period of 7 years
or 70,000 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.
To obtain service under this warranty, the vehi-
cle must be brought, upon failure of a Smog
Check test or upon discovery of the defect, to
the workshop of any authorized BMW center,
during normal business hours. The BMW center
will honor or deny your claim within 30 days. If
the claim is denied, the BMW center will notify
you in writing of the reason(s). The BMW center
is required by law to honor the claim if notice is
not given to the owner within 30 days.
The BMW center will, without charge for parts
or labor (including diagnosis), either adjust,
repair or replace the defective part and other
parts affected by the failure of the warranted
part, if any. If your vehicle failed the California
Smog Check test or an EPA approved short test,
then BMW NA will repair your vehicle so that it
will pass this test. Items that require scheduled
replacement are warranted up to the replace- ment interval specified in the Service section of
this Statement. BMW NA may repair a part in
lieu of replacing it when performing warranty
repairs. Parts for which replacements are made
become the property of BMW NA. After 3 years
or 50,000 miles, and in accordance with para-
graph (c) above, such repairs are limited to the
repair or replacement of those parts identified in
the California Emissions Warranty List.
If your California registered vehicle is between
7 and 8 years old and has been driven less than
80,000 miles, then your vehicle is eligible for
additional warranty coverage under the Federal
Emissions Warranty.
A repair performed as the result of a smog check
test failure due to a defect in a part, which is war-
ranted for 7 years/70,000 miles, is covered.
In all cases, a reasonable time, not to exceed
30 days, must be allowed for a warranty repair to
be completed, after the car is received by the
BMW center.
It is the owners responsibility to have all required
maintenance services performed (at the owners
expense), as prescribed in the maintenance sched-
ule for the BMW Emission Control System. Service
intervals are computed by the service interval indi-
cator and displayed on the instrument panel.
However, BMW NA will not deny your warranty
repair claims solely because you do not have
maintenance records or you did not perform the
required maintenance unless BMW NA demon-
strates that such lack of required maintenance is
a direct cause of the emission control system
failure. The instructions for required maintenance
and use can be found in the Owners Manual and
in the Service section of this Statement.
*The California Emissions Control System Lim-
ited Warranty applies to all 2008 U.S. specifica-
tion BMW vehicles sold, leased, and/or
registered in California, Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island or Vermont. This
warranty also applies to SULEV (PZEV) models
sold, leased and/or registered in Oregon or
Washington. SULEV (PZEV) models registered
in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachu-
setts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and
Vermont have different emissions warranty cov-
erage; please refer to the SULEV (PZEV) section
beginning on page 42.
40

California Emission Control
Warranty Statement SULEV
(PZEV)* Your Warranty Rights and
Obligations
The California Air Resources Board and BMW of
North America, LLC (BMW NA) are pleased to
explain the emission control system warranty on
your 2008 vehicle. In California, new motor vehi-
cles must be designed, built and equipped to
meet the States stringent anti-smog standards.
BMW NA must warrant the emission control
system on your vehicle for the periods of time
listed below provided there has been no abuse,
neglect or improper maintenance of your
vehicle.
Your emission control system may include parts
such as the fuel injection system, the ignition
system, catalytic converter, and engine com-
puter. Also included may be hoses, belts, con-
nectors and other emission-related assemblies.
Where a warrantable condition exists, BMW NA
will repair your vehicle at no cost to you includ-
ing diagnosis, parts and labor.
Manufacturers Warranty Coverage:
– For 15 years or 150,000 miles whichever occurs first:
1. If your vehicle fails a Smog Check inspec- tion, all necessary repairs and adjustments
will be made by BMW NA to ensure that
your vehicle passes the inspection. This is
your emission control system PERFOR-
MANCE WARRANTY.
2. If any emission-related part on your vehicle is defective, the part will be repaired or
replaced by BMW NA. This is your emission
control system DEFECTS WARRANTY.
Owners Warranty Responsibilities:
– As the vehicle owner, you are responsible forthe performance of the required maintenance
listed in your Owners Manual. BMW NA rec-
ommends that you retain all receipts covering
maintenance on your vehicle, but BMW NA
cannot deny warranty solely for the lack of
receipts or for your failure to ensure the perfor-
mance of all scheduled maintenance.
– You are responsible for presenting your vehicle to an authorized BMW center as soon as a
problem exists. The warranty repairs should be
completed in a reasonable amount of time, not
to exceed 30 days.
– As the vehicle owner, you should also be aware that BMW NA may deny your warranty
coverage if your vehicle or part has failed due
to abuse, neglect, improper maintenance or
unapproved modifications.
If you have any questions regarding your war-
ranty rights and responsibilities, you should
contact: BMW of North America, LLC
Customer Relations and Services Department
PO. Box 1227
Westwood, N.J. 07675-1227
Telephone: 1 800 831-1117
Website:
www.bmwusa.com
or the California Air Resources Board
9528 Telstar Avenue
El Monte, CA 91731
*-The California Emissions Control System Lim-
ited Warranty SULEV (PZEV) applies to all 2008
U.S. specification BMW SULEV (PZEV) vehicles
sold, leased, and/or registered in California,
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jer-
sey, New York, Rhode Island or Vermont. SULEV
(PZEV) models registered in Oregon or Wash-
ington have different emissions warranty cover-
age; please refer to the California Emissions
Warranty section beginning on page 45.
44