2009 BMW 3 SERIES adding oil

Under the hood
212
Important parts of the engine compartment
1Gasoline engine: expansion tank for cool-
ant, refer to page 215
Diesel engine: the expansion tank is located
on the other side of the vehicle
2 Washer fluid filler neck for headlamp clean-
ing system and window washer system, re-
fer to page 59 3
Jump-starting connection, refer to
page 231
4 Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding en-
gine oil
5 Diesel engine: dipstick for engine oil, refer
to Checking oil level
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on
driving style and driving conditions.
Diesel engine: checking engine oil level
1.Park the vehicle on a level surface with the
engine at operating temperature, i.e. after
an uninterrupted drive of at least 6.5 miles/
10 km.
2. Switch off the engine.
3. After approx. 5 minutes, pull out the
dipstick 5 and wipe it off with a lint-free
cloth, paper towel or similar material.
4. Carefully push the dips tick all the way back
into the measuring tube and pull it out
again. The oil level must be between the two
markings on the dipstick.
The oil quantity betwee n the two markings on
the dipstick is equivale nt to approx. 1 US quart/
1 liter.
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Mobility
213Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
The oil level must not be above the upper
marking of the dipstick. Too much oil will
harm the engine. <
Gasoline engine: checking engine 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 op-
erating temperature, i.e. after uninterrupted
driving for at least appr ox. 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. Push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up
or down repeatedly until the appropriate
symbol is shown in the display, accompa-
nied by the word "OIL".
2. Press button 2 in the turn in dicator lever.
The oil level is checke d and the reading dis-
played.
Possible displays
1 Oil level OK
2 Oil 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 ca r is on the move.
3 Oil level down to minimum:
Add engine oil as soon as possible, but no
more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to
Adding engine oil on page 214.
4 Oil level is too high.
Too much oil will harm the engine.
Have the vehicle checked without de-
lay. <
5 The 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 page 71. Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
Display via iDrive
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
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Under the hood
214
1.
"Vehicle Info"
2. "Vehicle status"
3. "Engine oil level"
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level OK."
> "Measurement not possible at this time."
> "Measuring engine oil level...":
This can take about 3 min utes if the car is at
a standstill on a level surface and the engine
is running, and about 5 minutes while the
car is moving.
If engine oil was added, it may take up to
30 minutes to obtain an oil level reading.
> "Engine oil level below minimum. Add 1
quart!"
Add engine oil as soon as possible, but no
more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to
Adding engine oil below.
If the oil level is below the minimum value,
add engine oil immediately to avoid engine
damage.
> "Engine oil level too high! Have this
checked."
Too much oil will harm the engine.
Have the vehicle checked without de-
lay. < >
"Measurement inactive. Have this
checked."
Do not add engine oil. You can continue
your journey. Note the newly calculated dis-
tance remaining to the ne xt oil service, refer
to page 71. Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
Add a maximum of 1 US quart/1 liter of engine
oil no earlier than wh en a corresponding mes-
sage appears on the Control Display or, if the
car has a diesel engine, when the oil level has
dropped to just above the lower marking on the
dipstick, refer to page 212.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km,
otherwise the engine could be dam-
aged.<
Keep oils, greases, etc. out of the reach of
children and comply with the relevant
warnings on the containers. Otherwise, health
hazards may result. <
Oil change
Have oil changed only at your BMW center or at
a workshop that works according to BMW re-
pair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel.
Specified engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical
significance for the oper ation and service life of
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after testing them extensively.
Your BMW center will be glad to answer
any questions regarding the approved
oils. <
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Mobility
215Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit the website
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.Do not use oil additives, as these may
cause engine damage. <
Alternative oil types
If exceptionally none of the approved oils hap-
pens to be available, sm all quantities of other
oils may be used when adding oil between oil
changes. However, the corresponding con-
tainer must be labeled with one of the following
oil specifications:
Gasoline engines
> Preferred: BMW Longlife-01,
BMW Longlife-01 FE or BMW Longlife-04
> Alternatively: BMW Longlife-98, API SM or
higher
Diesel engines
BMW Longlife-04
Viscosity ratings
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and
is categorized in SAE classes.
Selecting the appropriate SAE class depends
on the regional climatic conditions in which you
normally drive your BMW.
Approved oils belong to the 0W-40,
0W-30, 5W-40 and 5W-30 SAE
classes. <
These oils can be used fo r driving at all outside
temperatures.
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling system
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant
can cause burns. <
Coolant consists of half water and half additive.
Not all commercially availa ble additives are suit-
able for your BMW. Ask your BMW center for
suitable additives. Only use suitable additives, otherwise en-
gine damage may re
sult. Because addi-
tives are harmful to your health, it is important to
follow the instructions on the containers. <
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when dis-
posing of coolant additives. <
Checking coolant level
1.Do not open the engine hood before the en-
gine has cooled down.
2. Turn the cap of the expansion tank a little
counterclockwise to allow any accumulated
pressure to escape, then continue turning
to open.
3. The coolant level is corr ect if it is between
the maximum and minimum marks in the
filler neck, refer also to the diagram next to
the filler neck.
4. If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to
the specified level; do not overfill.
5. Turn the cap until there is an audible click.
6. Have the reason for the coolant loss elimi-
nated as soon as possible.
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Everything from A - Z
254
Display lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting 92
Displays
– on the Control Display 16
Displays, refer to Instrument
cluster 12
Displays and controls 10
Disposal
– coolant 215
– remote control battery 35
– vehicle battery 229
Distance control, refer to Active cruise control 61
Distance remainin g to service,
refer to Service
requirements 71
Distance warning, refer to Park Distance Control
PDC 80
Door key, refer to Remote control with integrated
key 26
Door lock 29
Doors, emergency operation 29
DOT Quality Grades 207
Draft-free ventilation 97
Drinks holders, refer to Cup
holders 104
Drive-off assistance, refer to Dynamic Stability Control
DSC 81
Drive-off assistant 83
Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams 90
Driving notes 114
Driving off on hills, refer to
Drive-off assistant 83
Driving stability control systems 81
Driving through water 116
Driving tips, refer to Driving notes 114
Dry air, refer to Cooling function 96
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control 81 DTC Dynamic Traction
Control 81
– indicator/warning lamp 81
DVD
– country codes 152
– settings 153
– video playback 152
DVD menu 153
DVD video 152
Dynamic Brake Control DBC 81
Dynamic Stability Control DSC
– indicator/warning lamp 81
Dynamic Traction Control DTC
– indicator/warning lamp 82
E
Eject button, refer to Buttons
on the CD player 142
Electrical malfunction
– door lock 29
– driver's door 29
– fuel filler door 190
– glass roof 37
– luggage compartment lid 31
– panorama glass roof 39
Electric seat adjustment 42
Electric steering wheel lock
– with convenient access 34
Electronic brake-force distribution EBV 81
Electronic oil level check 213
Electronic Stability Program ESP, refer to Dynamic
Stability Control DSC 81
Emergency actuation, automatic transmission,
refer to Overriding selector
lever lock 57
Emergency operation
– fuel filler door, manual release 190
Emergency operation, refer to
Closing manually
– glass roof 37
– panorama glass roof 39Emergency operation, refer to
Manual operation
– door lock 29
Emergency release
– luggage compartment lid
from inside 32
Emergency Request 230
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside Assistance 230
Energy, saving
– saving fuel 114
Energy-conscious driving, refer to Energy Control 68
Energy Control 68
Engine
– breaking in 114
– data 238
– overheated, refer to Coolant temperature 68
– speed 238
– starting 53
– starting, convenient
access 34
– switching off 54
Engine compartment 212
Engine coolant, refer to Coolant 215
Engine oil
– adding 214
– alternative oil types 215
– BMW Maintenance
System 216
– capacity 242
– checking level 212
– dipstick 212
– intervals between changes, refer to Service
re

quirements 71
Engine output, refer to Engine data 238
Engine speed, refer to Engine data 238
Engine starting, refer to
Starting the engine 53
Entry lamps, refer to Interior lamps 93
Entry map for destination 128
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