2008 BMW M3 SEDAN brake sensor

Technology for driving comfort and safety
82 until "PDC" is selected and press the con-
troller.
6.Select "PDC display on" and press the con-
troller.
The PDC screen is activated.
The display is shown on the Control Display as
soon as PDC is activated.
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always remains
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind spot in which objects can
no longer be detected. The system is also sub-
ject to the physical limits that apply to all forms
of ultrasonic measurement, such as those
encountered with trailer towbars and hitches,
thin or wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low objects
that have already been displayed, e. g. curbs,
can disappear again from the detection area of
the sensors before or after a continuous tone
sounds. Higher, protruding objects, e.g. ledges,
cannot be detected. Therefore, always drive
cautiously, otherwise there is a risk of personal
injury or property damage. Loud sound sources
outside or inside the car can drown out the PDC
signal. Therefore, always drive cautiously, oth-
erwise there is a risk of personal injury or prop-
erty damage.<
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW has a number of systems that help
to maintain the vehicle's stability even in
adverse driving conditions.
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during
braking. Safe steering response is maintained
even during full braking. Active safety is thus
increased.
The ABS is operational every time you start the
engine. Braking safely, refer to page115.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
Brake assist
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
automatically produces the maximum braking
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. This system exploits all of the benefits pro-
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake for the
duration of the full braking application.
Dynamic Stability Control DSC
DSC optimizes driving stability and traction. In
addition, the system recognizes unstable driv-
ing situations such as understeering and over-
steering, and helps keep the vehicle on a safe
course within physical limits by reducing engine
power and applying the brakes on individual
wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed,
even with DSC. An appropriate driving
style always remains the responsibility of the
driver. Therefore, do not reduce the additional
safety margin again by taking risks, as this could
result in an accident.<
M Dynamic Mode MDM*
M Dynamic Mode is a mode of the Dynamic
Stability Control DSC that permits greater lon-
gitudinal and lateral acceleration when driving
on dry surfaces, yet with reduced driving stabil-
ity. Only at the absolute limit of stability does
the system intervene to stabilize the vehicle by
reducing engine power and applying the brakes
on the wheels. In such situations, additional

Maintenance
212
Maintenance
BMW Maintenance System
The BMW Maintenance System supports the
preservation of the traffic and operating safety
of your BMW. The objective is to optimize
efforts with respect to minimal vehicle mainte-
nance costs.
If and when you come to sell your BMW, a com-
prehensive record of servicing will prove a sig-
nificant benefit.
Condition Based Service CBS
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into
account. Condition Based Service uses this to
determine the current and future service
requirements. By letting you define a service
and maintenance regimen that reflects your
own individual requirements, the system builds
the basis for trouble-free driving.
On the Control Display, you can have the
remaining times or distances for selected main-
tenance tasks and any legally prescribed dates
displayed, refer to page72:
>Engine oil
>Brake pads: separately for front and rear
>Brake fluid
>Vehicle check
>Legally mandated inspections depending
on local regulations
Service data in the remote control
Your vehicle continuously stores service-
requirement information in the remote control
while you are driving. Your BMW Service Advi-
sor can read out this data from the remote con-
trol unit, and propose an optimized mainte-
nance approach. Whenever you take your car in
for servicing you should therefore hand your
BMW Service Advisor the remote control unit
that you last used.
Make sure that the date is always set cor-
rectly, refer to page76; otherwise the
effectiveness of Condition Based Service CBS
is not assured.<
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service
and repair operations performed at your
BMW center.
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.<

Care
214
Care
Care products
Regular cleaning and care contributes signifi-
cantly to the value retention of your BMW.
BMW recommends cleaning and caring for your
vehicle with products that are approved by
BMW for this purpose.
Your BMW center will be happy to advise you on
the products and services available for cleaning
and caring for your BMW.
Original BMW CareProducts have been
material tested, laboratory checked and
proven in the field, and offer optimal care and
protection for your vehicle.<
Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol
or solvents as these may result in dam-
age.<
Cleaning agents can contain substances
that are dangerous or hazardous to your
health. Therefore, follow the warning and safety
instructions on the packaging. When cleaning
inside the vehicle, always open the doors or
windows of the vehicle. In enclosed areas, pro-
vide for sufficient ventilation. Only use products
designed for cleaning vehicles.<
Exterior care
Washing the vehicle
Especially during the winter months,
ensure that the vehicle is washed more
frequently. Heavy soiling and road salt can lead
to vehicle damage.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the
brakes briefly to dry them, otherwise
water can reduce braking efficiency over the
short term and the brake discs can corrode.<
Automatic car washes
Preference should be given to cloth car washes.
Before driving into a car wash, ensure that it is
suitable for your BMW. Check the following:>Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to
page239.
>If necessary: fold in the exterior mirrors,
refer to page45.
>Maximum permissible tire width.
Preparations before driving into an automatic
car wash:
>Deactivate the rain sensor
* to avoid unin-
tentional activation of the wipers.
>Remove additional attachments, e.g.
spoiler or telephone antennas, if there is a
possibility that they could be damaged.
M dual clutch transmission
Before driving into an automatic car wash, per-
form the following steps to ensure that the vehi-
cle can roll:
1.Insert the remote control, even with conve-
nient access, into the ignition lock.
2.Engage transmission position N.
3.Release the parking brake.
4.Switch off the engine.
5.Leave the remote control in the ignition lock
so that the vehicle can roll.
Steam jets / high-pressure washers
When using steam jets or high-pressure
washers, ensure that you maintain a suffi-
cient clearance to the vehicle and do not exceed
a temperature of 1407/606.
Insufficient clearance or excessive pressure or
temperature can lead to component damage or
water penetration. Follow the operating instruc-
tions of the high-pressure washer.<
When using high-pressure washers, do
not spray against the sensors and cam-
eras, e.g. Park Distance Control, for an
extended period and maintain a distance of at
least 12 in/30 cm.<

Everything from A - Z
246
Everything from A - Z
Index
"..." Identifies Control Display
texts used to select
individual functions and
refers you to the page where
these texts can be found.
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System82
Acceleration assistant, refer to
Launch Control62
Accident, refer to Sending an
Emergency Request230
Activated-charcoal filter for
automatic climate
control100
"Activation time"100
Adaptive Head Light94
"Add digits" on the mobile
phone186
Additives
– coolant222
"Address book" in
navigation134
Address for navigation
– deleting136
– entering126,134
– selecting135
– storing134
– storing current position135
"Add to destination list"129
Adjusting temperature inside
the car, refer to Automatic
climate control97
Adjusting the thigh support41
Adjusting the tone during
audio operation, refer to
Tone control153
Airbags89
– indicator/warning lamp91
– sitting safely40Air conditioning mode
– automatic climate control97
– ventilation99
Air distribution
– automatic98
– individual97
Air flow rate98
Airing, refer to Ventilation99
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure206
Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air mode98
"Air recirculation on / off"47
Air supply
– automatic climate control97
– ventilation99
Air vents96
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications204
Alarm system34
– avoiding unintentional
alarms35
– interior motion sensor35
– switching off an alarm34
– tilt alarm sensor35
"All channels" for satellite
radio163
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires
210
"All stations", displaying with
the radio156
"AM", waveband152,156
Ambient air, refer to
Recirculated-air mode98
Antenna for mobile phone178
Antifreeze
– coolant222
– washer fluid65
Antilock Brake System
ABS82
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system34
Anti-theft system29Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights240
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights240
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest106
Arrival time, refer to
Computer69
Arrival time, refer to Starting
destination guidance139
Arrow display for
navigation140
"Arrow display" in
navigation140
Ashtray
– front107
– rear108
Assist193
Assistance systems, refer to
Driving stability control
systems82
Assistance window20
– refer to iDrive20
"Assist profile"199
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control98
"Audio"155,159
Audio152
– controls152
– switching on/off152
– tone control153
– volume153
"Audio", refer to Tone
control153
Audio device, external106
Automatic
– air distribution98
– air flow rate98
– BMW Teleservice Call195
– cruise control65
– headlamp control92
– storing of stations157
Automatic car washes214

Everything from A - Z
248 Brightness of the Control
Display80
"Brightness" on the Control
Display80
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps
and bulbs223
Button for starting the engine,
refer to Start/stop button54
Buttons on the steering
wheel11
C
California Proposition 65
warning6
"Call"186,197
Call
– accepting184
– displaying accepted186
– ending185
– missed186
– starting185
Calling
– from phone book185
– from Top 8 list186
– redialing186
Can holders, refer to Cup
holders107
Capacities241
Capacity of the cargo bay240
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery228
Car care, refer to Care214
"Car Data"69Care214
– automatic car washes214
– care products214
– carpets216
– CD/DVD drives216
– chrome parts215
– displays216
– exterior214
– fine wood parts216
– headlamps215
– high-pressure washer214
– interior216
– leather216
– light-alloy wheels215
– paintwork215
– plastic parts216
– rubber seals215
– safety belts216
– sensors and cameras216
– upholstery and cloth
trim216
– washing the car
manually215
– windows215
– wiper blades215
Cargo, securing117
Cargo bay
– capacity240
– convenient access36
– folding up the floor
panel110
– lamp, refer to Interior
lamps95
– opening from inside33
– opening from outside
33
Cargo loading
– securing cargo117
– stowing cargo117
– vehicle116
Car jack
– jacking points228
Car key, refer to Remote
control28
Car phone178
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest106
– refer to Mobile phone178
– refer to separate Owner's
ManualCar radio, refer to Radio156
Car shampoo216
Car wash
– before driving into56
Catalytic converter, refer to
Hot exhaust system114
"Categories" for satellite
radio163
CBS Condition Based
Service212
"CD"152,165
CD changer165
– compressed audio files165
– controls152
– fast forward/reverse169
– installation location169
– playing a track167
– random order168
– repeating a track168
– selecting a CD165
– selecting a track166
– switching on/off152
– tone control153
– volume153
CD player165
– compressed audio files165
– controls152
– fast forward/reverse169
– playing a track167
– random order168
– repeating a track168
– selecting a track166
– switching on/off152
– tone control153
– volume153
Center armrest106
Center brake lamp, replacing
bulb226
Center console, refer to
Around the center
console14
"Central locking"
30
Central locking
– from inside32
– from outside29
Central locking system29
– convenient access35
– hotel function33

Reference 253
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Heating and ventilation, refer
to Climate96
Heating while at a standstill,
refer to Using residual
heat99
Heavy loads, refer to Stowing
cargo117
Height, refer to
Dimensions239
Height adjustment
– seats41
– steering wheel46
High beams94
– headlamp flasher94
– indicator lamp13
High Definition Radio159
High-pressure
washer214,215
High water, refer to Driving
through water115
Highways, refer to Route
criteria137
Hills115
Holders for cups107
Home address136
"Home address" in
navigation137
Homepage BMW4
Hood218
Hooks for shopping bags109
Horn10,11
Hotel function33
Hot exhaust system114
"Hour memo"76
"House number" in
destination entry129
Hydraulic brake assist, refer to
Brake assist82
Hydroplaning115
I
IBOC, refer to High Definition
Radio159
Ice warning, refer to Outside
temperature warning67
ID3 tag, refer to Information
about the track167Identification marks, tire
coding208
iDrive16
– adjusting brightness80
– assistance window20
– automatic climate control97
– changing language79
– changing units of measure
and display format71
– confirming selection or
entry19
– controls16
– displays, menus17
– menu guidance17
– operating principle16
– overview16
– selecting a menu item19
– setting the date and time74
– start menu17
– status information20
– switching menu pages19
– symbols18
iDrive operating principle16
Ignition54
– switched off55
– switched on54
Ignition key, refer to Remote
control28
Ignition key position 1, refer to
Radio readiness54
Ignition key position 2, refer to
Ignition on54
Ignition lock54
i menu18
Imprint2
Indicator and warning
lamps13
– MDrive49
– M Dynamic Mode83
– Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM88
Individual air distribution97
Individually programmable
buttons on steering
wheel47
Inflation pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure206Inflation pressure monitoring,
refer to Tire Pressure
Monitor TPM86
Information
– on another location132
– on country132
– on current position132
– on destination location132
Information menu, refer to
i menu18
"Information on
destination"134
"Info sources"73
Initializing
– after power failure228
– compass, refer to Digital
compass, calibrating104
– Flat Tire Monitor FTM85
– glass roof39
"Input map"131
Installation location
– CD changer169
– navigation DVD drive124
– telephone106
Instructions for navigation
system, refer to Voice
instructions142
Instrument cluster12
Instrument lighting94
Instrument panel, refer to
Cockpit10
Integrated key28
Integrated universal remote
control102
Interesting destination for
navigation132
"Interim time"79
Interior lamps95
– remote control30
Interior motion sensor35
Interior rearview mirror46
– automatic dimming
feature46
– compass104
Intermittent mode of the
wipers64

Everything from A - Z
260 Switching on the hour
signal75
Switching the cooling function
on and off99
Switch-on times of parked car
ventilation, preselecting100
Symbols4
– navigation system146
– status information20
– traffic info for navigation
system143
T
Tachometer67
Tail lamps225
– replacing bulb225
Tank contents, refer to
Capacities241
Technical data238
– capacities241
– dimensions239
Technical modifications, refer
to For your own safety5
Telematics, refer to BMW
TeleServices, BMW
Assist193
Telephone
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest106
– refer to separate Owner's
Manual
Telephone, refer to Mobile
phone178
"Telephone list"47
Temperature
– automatic climate control97
– changing unit of measure71
– coolant, refer to Coolant
temperature68
Temperature display
– outside temperature67
– outside temperature
warning67
– setting the units71
Tempomat, refer to Cruise
control65
Tensioning straps, refer to
Securing cargo117"Text language"80
"Theater" for Tone
control154
The individual vehicle5
Third brake lamp, refer to
Center brake lamp226
Through-loading system108
Tilt alarm sensor35
Tilt function, passenger-side
mirror46
"Time"75
"Time / Date"75,76
"Time format"76
Timer, refer to Preselecting
switch-on times100
"Timer 2" for parked car
ventilation101
"Timer 1" for parked car
ventilation101
Tire inflation pressure206
– loss86
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor84
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM86
– resetting the system87
– system limitations86
– warning lamp88
Tire puncture, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor86
Tire Quality Grading208Tires
– age208
– air loss88
– breaking in114
– changing, refer to Changing
wheels228
– condition209
– damage209
– inflation pressure206
– labels208
– minimum tread depth209
– new wheels and tires209
– pressure monitoring, refer to
Flat Tire Monitor84
– pressure monitoring, refer to
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM86
– puncture86
– replacing209
– size208
– storage210
– tread depth209
– wear indicators, refer to
Minimum tread depth209
– wheel/tire combination, refer
to Correct wheels and
tires210
– winter tires210
TMC station, refer to Traffic
information143
"Tone"153
Tone in audio mode
– adjusting153
– middle setting155
Tools, refer to Onboard tool
kit223
"Top 8" for mobile phone186
Torque, refer to Engine
data238
Touch tone dialing188
Tow bar233
Tow fitting232
– screw thread232
Tow fittings for tow-starting
and towing away232