2011 BMW 3 SERIES light

Driving
Vehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
Start/Stop button
The concept
Pressing the Start/Stop button
switches the ignition on or off and
starts the engine.
Automatic transmission: the en‐
gine starts if the brake is de‐
pressed when the Start/Stop button is pressed.
Manual transmission: the engine starts if the
clutch is depressed when the Start/Stop button
is pressed.
Ignition on
Automatic transmission: press the Start/Stop
button, and do not press on the brake pedal at
the same time.
Manual-shift transmission: press the Start/Stop
button, and do not press on the clutch pedal at
the same time.
All vehicle systems are ready for operation.
Most of the indicator and warning lamps in the
instrument cluster light up for varying lengths of
time.
To save battery power when the engine is off,
switch off the ignition and any unnecessary
electronic systems/power consumers.
The ignition switches off automatically:
▷When the vehicle is locked, if the low beams
are switched on.
▷Shortly before the battery is discharged
completely, so that the engine can still be
started.
▷If the engine is switched off and the ignition
is switched on, the system automatically
switches to the radio ready state when the
door is opened if the lights are switched off
or the daytime running lights are switched
on.
If the engine is switched off and the ignition
is switched on, the system automatically
switches to the radio ready state when the
door is opened if the lights are switched off.
Ignition off
Automatic transmission: press the Start/Stop
button again, and do not press on the brake
pedal at the same time.
Manual-shift transmission: press the Start/Stop
button again, and do not press on the clutch
pedal at the same time.
All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster go
out.
To save battery power when the engine is off,
switch off the ignition and any unnecessary
electronic systems/power consumers.
Transmission position P with the ignition
off
When the ignition is switched off, position P is
engaged automatically. When in an automatic
car wash, for example, ensure that the ignition is
not switched off accidentally.◀
Ignition automatically cuts off while the vehicle
is stationary and the engine is stopped:
▷During locking, also with the low beams ac‐
tivated.
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Engine stop
General information
Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot start the engine.◀
Set the parking brake and further secure
the vehicle as required
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the vehi‐
cle, for example, by turning the steering wheel in
the direction of the curb. ◀
Before driving into a car wash
In order for the vehicle to be able to roll into a car
wash, heed the information regarding Washing
in automatic car washes, refer to page 296.
Manual transmission
Switching off the engine
1.With the vehicle at a standstill, press the
Start/Stop button.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Set the parking brake.
Automatic-Transmission
Switching off the engine
1.Engage transmission position P with the ve‐
hicle stopped.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
The engine is switched off.
The radio ready state is switched on.
3.Set the parking brake.
Auto Start/Stop function
The concept
The automatic engine start-stop function helps
save fuel. The system switches off the engine
during a stop, e. g., in a traffic congestion or at
traffic lights. The ignition remains switched on.
The engine starts again automatically for driving
off.
Automatic mode
The automatic engine start/stop function is op‐
erational after each engine start.
The function is activated above a certain speed.
▷Manual transmission: above 3 mph, approx.
5 km/h.
▷Automatic transmission: from 5 mph, ap‐
prox. 9 km/h.
Engine stop
The engine is switched off automatically during
a stop under the following conditions:
Manual transmission:
▷Neutral is engaged and the clutch pedal is
not pressed.
▷The driver's safety belt is buckled or the
driver's door is closed.
Automatic transmission:
▷The selector lever is in transmission position
D.
▷Brake pedal remains depressed while the
vehicle is stopped.
▷The driver's safety belt is buckled or the
driver's door is closed.
The air flow of the air conditioner is reduced
when the engine is switched off.
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Display in the instrument cluster
The READY display in the tach‐
ometer signals that the Auto
Start/Stop function is ready to
start the engine automatically.
Note
The engine is not switched off automatically in
the following situations:
▷External temperature below approx. +37 ℉/
+3 ℃.
▷The external temperature is high and auto‐
matic climate control is running.
▷The passenger compartment has not yet
been heated or cooled to the required level.
▷The engine is not yet at operating tempera‐
ture.
▷The wheels are at a sharp angle or the steer‐
ing wheel is being turned.
▷After driving in reverse.
▷Fogging of the windows when the automatic
climate control is switched on.
▷The vehicle battery charge is very low.
▷The engine compartment lid is unlocked.
▷The parking assistant is activated.
▷Stop-and-go traffic.
▷The transmission selector lever is in position
N or S/M.
Starting the engine
The engine starts automatically under the fol‐
lowing conditions:
▷Manual transmission:
The clutch pedal is pressed.
▷Automatic transmission:
By releasing the brake pedal.
After the engine starts, accelerate as usual.
Safety mode
After the engine switches off automatically, it
will not start again automatically if any one of the
following conditions are met.
▷The driver's safety belt is unbuckled and the
driver's door is open.
▷The hood was unlocked.
Some indicator lamps light up for varying
lengths of time.
The engine can only be started via the Start/
Stop button.
Note
Even if driving away was not intended, the de‐
activated engine starts up automatically in the
following situations:
▷Excessive warming of the passenger com‐
partment when the cooling function is
switched on.
▷The steering wheel is turned.
▷Automatic transmission: the transmission
position is changed from D to N, R, or M/S.
▷Automatic transmission: the transmission
position is changed from P to N, D, R, or M/
S.
▷The vehicle begins rolling.
▷Fogging of the windows when the automatic
climate control is switched on.
▷The vehicle battery charge is very low.
▷Excessive cooling of the passenger com‐
partment when the heating is switched on.
▷Low brake vacuum pressure; this can occur,
for example, if the brake pedal is depressed
a number of times in succession.
Preventing an automatic engine stop
with automatic transmission
The concept
To make it possible to drive away very quickly,
such as at an intersection, the automatic engine
stop can be actively prevented.
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Preventing an engine stop using the
brake pedal
The engine stop can be actively prevented
within one second after the vehicle comes to a
standstill.
▷Immediately after the vehicle comes to a
standstill, briefly press the brake pedal
forcefully.
▷Then press the brake pedal with normal
braking force.
Activating/deactivating the system
manually
Using the button
Press the button.
▷LED comes on: Auto Start Stop function is
deactivated.
The engine is started during an automatic
engine stop.
The engine can only be stopped or started
via the Start/Stop button.
▷LED goes out: Auto Start Stop function is
activated.
Switching off the vehicle during an
automatic engine stop
During an automatic engine stop, the vehicle
can be switched off permanently, e.g., when
leaving it.
1.Press the Start/Stop button. The ignition is
switched off. The Auto Start/Stop function
is deactivated.
Automatic transmission: the transmission
position P is engaged automatically.
2.Set the parking brake.
Engine start as usual via start/stop button.
Automatic deactivation
In certain situations, the Automatic Engine Start/
Stop Function is deactivated automatically for
safety reasons, such as when the driver is de‐
tected to be absent.
Malfunction
The automatic engine start/stop function no lon‐
ger switches of the engine automatically. A
Check Control message is displayed. It is pos‐
sible to continue driving. Have the system
checked.
Parking brake
Applying
The lever automatically engages after being
pulled up.
Releasing
Raise lever slightly, press the button and guide
the lever down.
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Notes
Use while driving
If on a rare occasion it is necessary to use
the parking brake while driving, do not use ex‐
cessive force when applying it. When using it,
keep the button on the lever depressed.
Otherwise, using excessive force when applying
the parking brake may cause the rear wheels to
lock, resulting in fishtailing.◀
To prevent corrosion and braking control on one
side only, lightly apply the parking brake period‐
ically while coasting, if traffic conditions permit.
The brake lamps will not light up if the parking
brake is engaged.
Turn signal, high beams,
headlamp flasher
Turn signal
Do not fold in the exterior mirrors
During driving and during the operation of
the turn signals/warning flashers, do not fold in
the exterior mirror, or else the additional flasher
lights in the exterior mirror do not have the pre‐
scribed position and can only be poorly de‐
tected.◀
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To switch off manually, press the lever to the re‐
sistance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator lamp in‐
dicates that a turn signal bulb has failed.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever to the resistance point.
The turn signal flashes three times.
The function can be activated or deactivated:
1."Settings"
2."Lighting"
3."Triple turn signal"
Signaling briefly
Press the lever to the resistance point and hold
it there for as long as you want the turn signal to
flash.
High beams, headlamp flasher
▷High beams, arrow 1.
▷Headlamp flasher, arrow 2.
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Washer/wiper system
Switching the wipers on/off and brief
wipe
Do not switch on the wipers if frozen
Do not switch on the wipers if they are fro‐
zen onto the windshield; otherwise, the wiper
blades and the windshield wiper motor may be
damaged.◀
Switching on
Press the wiper levers up.
The lever automatically returns to its initial po‐
sition when released.
▷Normal wiping speed: press up once.
The wipers switch to intermittent operation
when the vehicle is stationary.
▷Fast wiping speed: press up twice or press
once beyond the resistance point.
The wipers switch to normal speed when the
vehicle is stationary.
Switching off and brief wipe
Press the wiper levers down.
The lever automatically returns to its initial po‐
sition when released.
▷Brief wipe: press down once.
▷To switch off normal wipe: press down once.
▷To switch off fast wipe: press down twice.
Intermittent operation or rain sensor
The concept
The rain sensor automatically controls the time
between wipes depending on the intensity of
the rainfall. The sensor is located on the wind‐
shield, directly behind the interior rearview mir‐
ror.
Activating/deactivating
Press the button on the wiper lever.
The LED in the steering column stalk lights up.
Deactivate the rain sensor in car washes
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through an automatic car wash; otherwise, dam‐
age could be caused by undesired wiper activa‐
tion.◀
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Setting the frequency or sensitivity of
the rain sensor
Turn the thumbwheel.
Clean the windshield, headlamps
Pull the lever.
The system sprays washer fluid on the wind‐
shield and activates the wipers briefly.
In addition, the headlamps are cleaned at regular
intervals when the vehicle lights are switched
on.
Do not use the washer system at freezing
temperatures
Do not use the washers if there is any danger
that the fluid will freeze on the windshield; oth‐
erwise, your vision could be obscured. For this
reason, use antifreeze.
Avoid using the washer when the reservoir is
empty; otherwise, you could damage the
pump.◀
Windshield washer nozzles
The washer jets are automatically heated when‐
ever the ignition is switched on.
Fold-out position of the wipers
Required when changing the wiper blades or
under frosty conditions, for example.
1.Switch off the ignition.
2.Under frosty conditions, ensure that the
wiper blades are not frozen onto the wind‐
shield.
3.Press the wiper lever up beyond the point of
resistance and hold it for approx. 3 seconds,
until the wiper remains in a nearly vertical
position.
After the wipers are folded back down, the wiper
system must be reactivated.
Fold the wipers back down
Before switching the ignition on, fold the
wipers back down to the windshield; otherwise,
the wipers may become damaged when they are
switched on.◀
1.Switch on the ignition.
2.Press the wiper levers down. The wipers
move to their resting position and are ready
for operation.
Washer fluid
General information
Antifreeze for washer fluid
Antifreeze is flammable. Therefore, keep
it away from sources of ignition.
Only keep it in the closed original container and
inaccessible to children.
Follow the instructions on the container.◀
Washer fluid reservoir
Adding washer fluid
Only add washer fluid when the engine is
cool, and then close the cover completely to
avoid contact between the washer fluid and hot
engine parts.
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Otherwise, there is the danger of fire and a risk
to personal safety if the fluid is spilled.◀
All washer nozzles are supplied from one reser‐
voir.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer
antifreeze, according to the manufacturer's rec‐
ommendations.
Mix the washer fluid before adding to maintain
the correct mixing ratio.
Manual transmission
Shifting
Shifting into 5th or 6th gear
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, push
the gearshift lever to the right; otherwise inad‐
vertent shifting into the 3rd or 4th gear could
lead to engine damage.◀
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. When
the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, a slight
resistance needs to be overcome.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
Transmission positions
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for‐
ward gears are available.
R is Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N is Neutral
Use in automatic car washes, for example. The
vehicle can roll.
When the ignition is switched off, refer to
page 59, position P is engaged automatically.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
drive wheels are blocked.
P is engaged automatically:
▷After the engine is switched off, if the car is
in radio ready state, refer to page 60, or if the
ignition is switched off, refer to page 59, and
if position R or D is engaged.
▷With the ignition is off, if position N is en‐
gaged.
▷If the safety belt is unbuckled, the driver's
door is opened, and the brake pedal is not
pressed while the vehicle is stationary and
transmission position R or D is engaged.
Before exiting the vehicle, make sure that posi‐
tion P of the automatic transmission is engaged.
Otherwise, the vehicle may begin to roll.
Kickdown
Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving
performance. Press on the gas pedal beyond the
resistance point at the full throttle position.
Engaging the transmission position
▷Transmission position P can only be disen‐
gaged if the engine is running and the brake
pedal is pressed.
▷With the vehicle stationary, press on the
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N;
otherwise, the shift command will not be
executed: shift lock.
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