
Things to remember when driving
114
Things to remember when driving
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to 
each other. Please follow the instructions below 
in order to achieve the optimal service life and 
economy of operation for your vehicle.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do 
not exceed an engine speed of 5,500 rpm or a 
road speed of 105 mph/170 km/h.
Do not depress the accelerator all the way.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km to 
3,000 miles/5,000 km
Engine and road speeds can be increased grad-
ually up to a traveling speed of 135 mph/
220 km/h. Use the maximum speed only for 
brief intervals, e. g. when passing.
Transmission
The transmission begins functioning at an opti-
mal level only after a distance of approx. 
300 miles/500 km. Do not exceed engine 
speeds of 5,500 rpm during this period.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their 
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in 
period. Therefore, drive cautiously during the 
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized 
contact and wear patterns between brake pads 
and rotors. Drive cautiously during this break-in 
period.
Clutch
The function of the clutch reaches its optimal 
level only after a distance driven of approx. 
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period, 
engage the clutch gently.
Following part replacement
The same break-in procedures should be 
observed if any of the components mentioned 
above have to be renewed in the course of the 
vehicle's operating life.
General driving notes
Clearance
Mind the limited clearance of the BMW 
M3, e. g. when driving into underground 
parking garages or over obstacles. If equipped 
with EDC
*, select the "Sport" program, refer to 
page84, when driving off curbs to keep clear-
ance as even as possible. Otherwise the vehicle 
may be damaged.<
Close the luggage compartment lid
Operate the vehicle only when the lug-
gage compartment lid is closed. Other-
wise, exhaust fumes could enter the interior of 
the vehicle.<
If the vehicle must be driven with the luggage 
compartment lid open:
1.Close all windows and the glass roof.
2.Greatly increase the air volume of the auto-
matic climate control system, refer to 
page98.
Hot exhaust system
In all vehicles, extremely high tempera-
tures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed 
adjacent to various sections of the exhaust sys-
tem, and never apply undercoating to them. 
When driving, standing at idle and while park- 

Reference 251
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
DVD
– drive for navigation DVD152
DVD for navigation124
"Dynamic route" in 
navigation137
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC
– indicator/warning lamp84
– M Dynamic Mode MDM82
E
"EDC"48,49
EDC, refer to Electronic 
Damper Control84
Eject button, refer to Buttons 
on the CD player152
Electric
– seat adjustment41
Electrical malfunction
– door lock32
– driver's door32
– fuel filler door204
– glass roof39
– luggage compartment lid33
– M dual clutch transmission 
with Drivelogic59
Electric seat41
Electric seat adjustment41
Electric steering wheel lock
– with convenient access36
Electronic brake-force 
distribution82
Electronic Damper Control 
EDC84
– "Comfort"84
– "Normal"84
– "Sport"84
Electronic oil level check219
Electronic Stability Program 
ESP, refer to Dynamic 
Stability Control DSC82
Emergency operation
– fuel filler door, manual 
release204
Emergency operation, refer to 
Closing manually
– glass roof39Emergency operation, refer to 
Manual operation
– door lock32
Emergency release
– luggage compartment lid 
from inside34
Emergency Request230
Emergency services, refer to 
Roadside Assistance230
"Enabled services"198
"Enabled TeleServices"196
"End call"185
Engine
– breaking in114
– data238
– overheated, refer to Coolant 
temperature68
– speed238
– starting55
– starting, convenient 
access35
– switching off55
Engine compartment219
Engine coolant, refer to 
Coolant222
Engine oil
– adding221
– BMW Maintenance 
System212
– checking level219
– intervals between changes, 
refer to Service 
requirements72
– possible displays220
"Engine oil level"221
Engine output, refer to Engine 
data238
Engine speed, refer to Engine 
data238
Engine starting, refer to 
Starting the engine55
"Enter address"127
Entering a destination127
Entering a destination 
country127
Entering a house number or 
intersection129
Entering an intersection128
Entering a street128"Entertainment"152
Entry lamps, refer to Interior 
lamps95
"Equalizer", refer to Tone 
control155
Equalizer, refer to Tone 
control154
Error messages, refer to 
Check Control77
"ESN"162
Event data recorders213
Exhaust system, refer to Hot 
exhaust system114
Exterior mirrors45
– adjusting45
– automatic dimming 
feature46
– automatic heating46
– folding in and out45
External audio device106
External audio device, refer to 
AUX-In port171
Eyes
– for tow-starting and towing 
away232
– for tying down loads117F
Fader, tone control153
Failure messages, refer to 
Check Control77
Failure of an electrical 
consumer229
False alarm
– avoiding unintentional 
alarm35
– switching off an alarm34
Fastening safety belts, refer to 
Safety belts44
Fastest route for 
navigation137
Fast forward
– CD changer169
– CD player169
"Fast route" in navigation137 

Everything from A - Z
258 Roof load capacity240
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack117
Rope, refer to Tow-starting, 
towing away233
Rotary/pushbutton, refer to 
iDrive16
Route137
– arrow display140
– changing143
– display140
– displaying streets and 
towns/cities142
– displaying town142
– list142
– map display141
– selecting137
– selecting criteria137
S
Safety-belt height 
adjustment45
Safety belts44
– damage45
– indicator/warning lamp45
– reminder45
– sitting safely40
Safety systems
– airbags89
– Antilock Brake System 
ABS82
– brake system82
– driving stability control 
systems82
– Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC82
– safety belts44
"SAT"152,162
Satellite radio162
– displaying additional 
information163
– enabling162
– selecting channel163
– storing channel163
"Scan"
– sampling radio stations157
– sampling tracks on CD167Scan
– CD changer167
– CD player167
– radio157
"Scan all" for audio mode167
"Scan directory" for audio 
mode167
Screen, refer to iDrive 
controls16
Screw thread for tow 
fitting232
SDARS, refer to Satellite 
radio162
Sealant, filling227
Seat adjustment
– electric41
– mechanical41
Seat and mirror memory43
Seat belt reminder, refer to 
'Fasten safety belts' 
reminder45
Seat heating43
Seats40
– adjusting electrically41
– adjusting the seats41
– heating43
– memory, refer to Seat and 
mirror memory43
– saving a setting, refer to Seat 
and mirror memory43
– sitting safely40
Securing cargo111
Securing the vehicle
– from inside32
– from outside29
"Select as 
destination"133,197
"Select current speed"79
Selecting a country for 
navigation127
Selecting an audio source152
Selecting menu items19
Selecting new scale for 
navigation141
Selector lever positions57
Sequential M Gearbox with 
Drivelogic
– Drivelogic drive programs60
Sequential mode58Service, refer to Roadside 
Assistance230
Service car, refer to Roadside 
Assistance230
Service data in the remote 
control212
"Service Info"73,195,221
Service Interval Display, refer 
to Condition Based Service 
CBS212
"Service Request"188,195
Service requirement display, 
refer to Condition Based 
Service CBS212
"Service 
requirements"73,195,221
Service requirements72
"Servotronic"48
"Set date"76
"Set time"75
"Settings"199
Settings
– changing settings on the 
Control Display79
– clock, 12h/24h format76
– configuring, refer to 
MDrive48
– date format76
– language79
Settings and information71
"Settings" for MDrive48,49
"Settings" for unlocking30
Settings menu, refer to 
imenu17
Setting times, refer to 
Preselecting switch-on 
times
100
Shifting59
Shifting gears
– manual transmission56
Shift lever57
Shift Lights61
"Shift lights"48
Shiftlock58
Shift paddles on steering 
wheel59
Shift-up display, refer to Shift 
Lights61