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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.Do not use high-pressure car washes,
otherwise water may drip into the vehicle
around the windows.<
Before driving into a car wash, ensure that it is
suitable for your BMW. Check the following:
>Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to
page229
>If necessary: fold in the exterior mirrors,
refer to page49
>Maximum permissible tire width
Preparations before driving into an automatic
car wash:
>Deactivate the rain sensor
* to prevent unin-
tentional wiping.
>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 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-
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Light-alloy wheels
For technical reasons, dust is generated during
braking that is deposited on the light-alloy
wheels. Remove the dust regularly using acid-
free rim cleaner.
Do not use aggressive, acidic, strongly
alkaline and abrasive cleaning agents or
steam jets over 1407/606, otherwise dam-
age may occur.<
Outside sensors / cameras
Keep the sensors and cameras on the
outside of the vehicle, e.g. Park Distance
Control, clean and free of ice to ensure that they
remain fully functional.<
Interior care
Upholstery / cloth trim
Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner to
remove superficial dirt.
To treat severe stains, e.g. from beverages, use
a soft sponge or lint-free microfiber cloth in
combination with suitable interior cleaners. Fol-
low the instructions on the packaging.
Clean the upholstery down to the seams
using a sweeping motion. Avoid strong
rubbing.<
Opened Velcro fasteners on pants or
other articles of clothing can damage the
seat covers. Ensure that Velcro fasteners are
closed.<
Leather / leather trim
The leather used by BMW is a high quality
natural product. Slight irregularities in the
leather are a typical characteristic of natural
leather.<
Dust and road grit in the pores and folds of the
leather have an abrasive effect, leading to
increased wear and causing the leather surface
to become brittle prematurely. Therefore, fre-
quently clean the leather of dust using a cloth or
vacuum cleaner.In particular, ensure that light-colored leather is
cleaned regularly as it has a tendency to soil
more easily.
Treat the leather twice a year using a leather
lotion as dirt and grease will gradually attack the
leather's protective layer.
Carpets / cargo bay
You can vacuum the carpets and floor mats or
clean them with interior cleaner if heavily soiled.
The floor mats can be removed for cleaning.
When replacing the mats, ensure that the seat
rails do not extend over the floor mats, as this
may damage the mats.
Lint on the floor mats occurs for technical rea-
sons and can be removed by vacuuming
repeatedly.
Interior plastic parts
>Imitation leather surfaces
>Lamp glasses
>Display pane of instrument cluster
>Matt parts
Clean with water and, if necessary, with sol-
vent-free plastic cleaner.
Fine wood parts
Clean fine wood trim and fine wood parts with a
damp cloth. Wipe dry with a soft cloth.
Safety belts
Do not clean with cleaning agents as
these may destroy the fabric.<
Interior sensors / cameras
To clean interior sensors and cameras, use a
lint-free cloth moistened with glass cleaner.
Displays
To clean the displays, e.g. of the radio or instru-
ment cluster, use a display cleaning cloth or a
soft, non-abrasive, lint-free cloth.
Avoid applying excessive pressure when
cleaning the displays, otherwise damage
may occur.<
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Replacing components
Onboard tool kit
Coupe
The onboard tool kit is stored in a compartment
on the right-hand side of the cargo bay.
Remove the cover.
Convertible
The onboard tool kit is stored in a pouch under
the cargo bay floor panel.
Wiper blades
1.Fold up the wiper arm.
2.Remove the cover. To do so, press the hook
on the bottom, see arrow.3.Fold the wiper blade upwards.
4.Remove the wiper blade in the direction of
the windshield, see arrow.
To avoid damage, make sure that the
wiper arms are against the windshield
before you open the engine compartment.<
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribu-
tion to vehicle safety. They should, therefore,
be handled carefully. BMW recommends hav-
ing your BMW center perform any work that you
do not feel competent to perform yourself or
that is not described here.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a
clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or hold
the bulb by its base.<
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs
at your BMW center.
Only change bulbs while they are cool to
the touch, otherwise you could suffer
burns.<
When working on electrical systems,
always begin by switching off the con-
sumer in question, otherwise short-circuits
could result. To avoid possible injury or equip-
ment damage when replacing bulbs, observe
any instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<
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3.Push the wire bracket out of the anchor
towards the right and fold it up.
4.Disconnect the plug, change the bulb and
reconnect the plug.
5.Insert the bulb.
6.Fold the wire bracket down and engage it.
7.Reattach the cover.
Turn signals, front
PY24W Silver Vision bulb, 24 watts
The turn signal bulb can be changed via a cover
in the wheel arch.
1.Turn the respective wheel inwards.
2.Using a coin, turn both locks of the cover all
the way to the left, arrows 1, and remove the
cover.
3.Turn the bulb holder to the left, arrow2, and
take it out.
4.Turn the bulb socket in the bulb holder to
the right for removal and replacement.
5.Insert the bulb holder and lock it by turning
it to the right.
6.Attach the cover by positioning the bottom
edge first and then turning both locks all the
way to the right using a coin.
Tail lamps
>Turn signal:
PY21W bulb, 21 watts
>Brake lamp in the luggage compartment lid:
H21W bulb, 21 watts
>Other bulbs:
W16W bulb, 16 watts
The tail lamps are divided in two parts. One part
is in the luggage compartment lid, the other is in
the fender.
1Turn signal
2Roadside parking lamp/tail lamp, LED
3Backup lamp
4Brake lamp, consisting of two individual
bulbs
5Brake force display
6Roadside parking lamp/tail lamp, LED
If the bulbs 2 and 6 malfunction, please contact
your BMW center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.
Fender-mounted lamps
Coupe
1.Left-hand side: use a screwdriver to pry off
the cover in the cargo bay and remove the
cover.
Right-hand side: remove the cover from the
right-hand side panel of the cargo bay.
2.Loosen the bulb holder at the clip, see
arrow, and pull out.
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Convertible
1.Take the warning triangle out of its holder,
refer to page222. Unscrew the holder using
the screwdriver from the onboard tool kit.
2.Pry out the plastic plugs in the trim of the
luggage compartment lid using a screw-
driver and remove the trim.
3.Release the bulb holder, see arrow, and
remove.
4.Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while
turning it to the left for removal and replace-
ment.
5.Attach the bulb holder.
6.Reattach the trim of the luggage compart-
ment lid and the holder for the warning tri-
angle.
License plate lamp, center brake lamp,
parking/tail lamp and side turn signal
indicators
These lamps use LED technology for operation.
In the event of a malfunction, please contact
your BMW center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.
Repairing a flat tire with the
M Mobility System
To repair a flat tire, your BMW M3 includes an
M Mobility System. With this system you can
apply a sealant to the inside of the tire to seal
the damaged section, restore the tire inflation
pressure and continue on your trip.
Safety measures in the event of a flat tire:
Park the vehicle as far away from moving traffic as possible and on a firm surface. Switch
on the hazard warning flashers.
Apply the parking brake and engage first gear
or reverse. Have all occupants leave the vehicle
and move beyond the danger zone, e. g. behind
the guard rails.
If necessary, erect a warning triangle
* or warn-
ing flasher
* at a suitable distance. Adhere to
country-specific regulations.<
Preparations
The M Mobility System is located in the cargo
bay under the floor board.
If possible, leave any foreign bodies that have
penetrated the tire in place.
Instructions on how to use the M Mobility
System can also be found on the device
itself.<
Before using the M Mobility System, fol-
low the instructions on the sealant bot-
tle.<
Remove the label with the speed restriction
from the sealant bottle and apply it to the steer-
ing wheel.
Please note the expiry date on the sealant
bottle.<
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Do not exceed a speed of 35 mph/
60 km/h. If possible, do not fall below a
speed of 12 mph/20 km/h.<
Producing the tire inflation pressure
1.After driving approx. 2 miles/3 km, stop at a
suitable location.
2.Connect connection hose9 of the com-
pressor directly to the tire valve.
3.Insert connector 3 into the cigarette lighter
socket/power socket in the interior of the
vehicle.
4.Adjust the tire inflation pressure to 29 psi/
200 kPa. With the ignition switched on, pro-
ceed as follows:
>To increase the inflation pressure:
Switch on the compressor, position I. To
check the current inflation pressure set-
ting, briefly switch off the compressor.
Do not let the compressor run for
more than 10 minutes, otherwise the
device will overheat and may be dam-
aged.<
>To reduce the inflation pressure: turn
screw 8 on the pressure gauge.
If the inflation pressure is not maintained,
drive the vehicle a second time, refer to
Distributing the sealant. Then repeat steps 1 to
4.
Use of the M Mobility System may be ineffec-
tual for tire damage larger than approx. 0.16 in/
4 mm. Please contact the nearest BMW center,
refer to page221, or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel if the tire can-
not be made roadworthy with the M Mobility
System.<
The tire inflation pressure must be at least
29 psi/200 kPa. If it is not, do not continue
driving.<
Continuing your trip
Do not exceed the maximum allowable
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h to avoid the risk
of an accident.
Have the faulty tire and the sealant bottle of the
M Mobility System replaced as soon as possi-
ble.<
Changing wheels
The tools for changing wheels are avail-
able as optional accessories from your
BMW center.<
Jack mounting points
The jacking points are at the positions shown in
the illustration.
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, the
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW center will be glad to advise in
all matters concerning the battery.
Charging the battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via the
terminals in the engine compartment with the
engine off. Connections, refer to Jump starting
on page222.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of by your
BMW center or hand them in to a recy-
cling center. Maintain the battery in an upright
position for transport and storage. Always
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Giving and receiving assistance
Emergency Request*
Conditions for an Emergency Request:
>Equipment version with Full preparation
package mobile phone. This equipment
makes it possible to send an Emergency
Request even if no mobile phone is paired
with the vehicle.
>BMW Assist is activated. Activating
BMW Assist, refer to page186.
>Radio readiness is on.
>The BMW Assist system is logged on to a
wireless network.
>The Emergency Request system is opera-
ble.
Once your service contract for BMW Assist
expires, the BMW Assist system can be deacti-
vated by a BMW center without you having to
visit a workshop. Once the BMW Assist system
has been deactivated, Emergency Requests
are not possible. The BMW Assist system can
be reactivated by a BMW center after a new
contract has been signed.
Sending an Emergency Request
1.Briefly press the cover flap to open.
2.Press the SOS button until the LED in the
button lights up.
As soon as the voice connection to the BMW
Assist Response Center has been established,
the LED flashes.
Once the BMW Assist Response Center has
received your Emergency Request, the BMW Assist Response Center contacts you
and takes further steps to help you. Even if you
are unable to respond, the BMW Assist
Response Center will be able to initiate further
steps to assist you under certain conditions.
If the circumstances allow this, remain in the
vehicle until the connection has been estab-
lished. You will then be able to provide a
detailed description of the situation.
Data for determining the necessary rescue
measures are transmitted to the BMW Assist
Response Center, e.g. the current position of
your vehicle, if it can be determined.
If the LED is flashing but the BMW Assist
Response Center cannot be heard over the
hands-free system, it is possible that the
hands-free system is malfunctioning. You may
still be heard by the BMW Assist Response
Center, however.
Under certain conditions, an Emergency
Request is sent automatically immediately after
a severe accident. This Automatic Collision
Notification is not affected by the button being
pressed.
For technical reasons, the Emergency
Request service cannot be guaranteed
for the most unfavorable conditions.<
Roadside Assistance
The BMW Roadside Assistance is there to
assist you around the clock in the event of a
breakdown, including on weekends and public
holidays.
The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-
tance in your home country can be found in the
Contact brochure.
In vehicles equipped with BMW Assist, you can
establish contact with BMW Roadside Assis-
tance for breakdown assistance directly via
iDrive, refer to page185.
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Preparation
1.Check whether the battery of the other
vehicle has a voltage of 12 volts and
approximately the same capacitance in Ah.
This information can be found on the bat-
tery.
2.Switch off the engine of the assisting vehi-
cle.
3.Switch off any consumers in both vehicles.
There must not be any contact between
the bodies of the two vehicles, otherwise
there is a danger of shorting.<
Connecting jumper cables
Connect the jumper cables in the correct
order, so that no sparks which could
cause injury occur.<
Your BMW has a jump-starting connection in
the engine compartment which acts as the bat-
tery's positive terminal, refer also to the Engine
compartment overview on page203. The cap is
marked with +.
1.Pull the cap of the BMW jump-starting con-
nection up to remove.
2.Attach one terminal clamp of the plus/+
jumper cable to the positive terminal of the
battery or a starting-aid terminal of the vehi-
cle providing assistance.
3.Attach the second terminal clamp of the
plus/+ jumper cable to the positive terminal
of the battery or a starting-aid terminal of
the vehicle to be started.
4.Attach one terminal clamp of the minus/–
jumper cable to the negative terminal of the
battery or to an engine or body ground of
the assisting vehicle. Your BMW has a special nut as body ground
or negative pole.
5.Attach the second terminal clamp of the
minus/– jumper cable to the negative termi-
nal of the battery or to the engine or body
ground of the vehicle to be started.
Starting the engine
1.Start the engine of the donor vehicle and
allow it to run for a few minutes at slightly
increased idle speed.
2.Start the engine on the other vehicle in the
usual way.
If the first start attempt is not successful,
wait a few minutes before another attempt
in order to allow the discharged battery to
recharge.
3.Let the engines run for a few minutes.
4.Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing
the above connecting sequence.
If necessary, have the battery checked and
recharged.
Never use spray fluids to start the
engine.<
Tow-starting, towing away
Observe the applicable laws and regula-
tions for tow-starting and towing vehi-
cles.<
Do not transport any passengers other
than the driver in a vehicle that is being
towed.<
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