2011 BMW 3 SERIES service

Coolant
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.
General information
Danger of burns from hot engine
Do not open the cooling system while the
engine is hot; otherwise, escaping coolant may
cause burns.◀
Suitable additives
Only use suitable additives; otherwise, en‐
gine damage may occur. The additives are
harmful to your health.◀
Coolant consists of water and additives.
Not all commercially available additives are suit‐
able for your vehicle. Ask your service center for
suitable additives.
Coolant level
Checking
1.Let the engine cool.
2.The coolant level is correct if it lies between
the minimum and maximum marks. The
marks are on the side of the coolant reser‐
voir.
Adding engine oil
1.Let the engine cool.
2.Turn the cap of the coolant reservoir slightly
counterclockwise to allow any excess pres‐
sure to dissipate, and then open it.
3.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to
the specified level; do not overfill.
4.Turn the cap until there is an audible click.
5.Have the cause of the coolant loss elimi‐
nated as soon as possible.
Disposal
Comply with the relevant environmental
protection regulations when disposing
of coolant and coolant additives.
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Maintenance
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.
BMW Maintenance System
The maintenance system directs you to re‐
quired maintenance measures and thereby sup‐
ports you in maintaining road safety and the op‐
erational reliability of the vehicle.
Condition Based Service CBS
Sensors and special algorithms take into ac‐
count the driving conditions of your vehicle.
Based on this, Condition Based Service deter‐
mines the maintenance requirements.
The system makes it possible to adapt the
amount of maintenance you need to your user
profile.
Detailed information on service requirements,
refer to page 77, can be displayed on the Control
Display.
Service data in the remote control
Information on the required maintenance is con‐
tinuously stored in the remote control. Your
service center will read out this data and suggest
the right array of service procedures for your ve‐
hicle.
Therefore, hand your service specialist the re‐
mote control that you used most recently.
Storage periods
Storage periods during which the vehicle bat‐
tery was disconnected are not taken into ac‐
count.
If this occurs, have a service center update the
time-dependent maintenance procedures,
such as checking brake fluid and, if necessary,
changing the engine oil and the microfilter/acti‐
vated-charcoal filter.
Service history
Perform maintenance work at the service center
and have them recorded in the vehicle data. The
entries are like a service booklet of the docu‐
mentation of regular maintenance.
Displaying entered maintenance work on the
Control Display, refer to page 78.
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 requirements.
Maintenance and repair should be performed by
your service center. Make sure to have regular
maintenance procedures recorded in the vehi‐
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models, and in the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for Canadian models. These en‐
tries are proof of regular maintenance.
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Socket for OBD Onboard
Diagnosis
Position
There is an OBD socket on the driver's side for
checking the primary components in the vehicle
emissions.
Emissions
▷The warning lamp lights up:
Emissions are deteriorating. Have
the vehicle checked as soon as pos‐
sible.
Canadian model: warning light indi‐
cates the engine symbol.
▷The warning lamp flashes under certain cir‐
cumstances:
This indicates that there is excessive misfir‐
ing in the engine.
Reduce the vehicle speed and have the sys‐
tem checked immediately; otherwise, seri‐
ous engine misfiring within a brief period can
seriously damage emission control compo‐
nents, in particular the catalytic converter.
Fuel cap
The indicator lamp lights up.
If the fuel cap is not properly tightened,
the OBD system may conclude that fuel
vapor is escaping. If the cap is then tightened,
the display should go out in a short time.
Data memory
Your vehicle records data relating to vehicle op‐
eration, faults and user settings. These data are
stored in the remote control and can be read out
with suitable devices, particularly when the ve‐
hicle is serviced. The data obtained in this way
provide valuable information for service proc‐
esses and repair or for optimizing and develop‐
ing vehicle functions further.
In addition, if you signed a service contract for
BMW Assist, certain vehicle data can be sent
directly from the vehicle to facilitate the desired
services.
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Replacing components
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.
Onboard vehicle tool kit
The onboard vehicle tool kit is located on the
right side in the cargo area in a storage com‐
partment. Open the cover.
Wiper blade replacement
General information
Do not fold down the wipers without wiper
blades
Do not fold down the wipers if wiper blades have
not been installed; this may damage the wind‐
shield.◀
Replacing the wiper blades
1.To change the wiper blades, fold up, refer to
page 66, the wiper arms.
2.Fold up and hold the wiper arm firmly.
3.Squeeze the retainer spring, arrow 1, and
fold up the wiper blade, arrow 2.
4.Remove the wiper blade forward from the
catch.
5.Insert the new wiper blade in reverse order
of removal until it locks in place.
Risk of damage
Before opening the hood, ensure that the
wiper arms with the wiper blades are against the
windshield to prevent damage.◀
Lamp and bulb replacement
General information
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribution
to vehicle safety.
The manufacturer of the vehicle recommends
that you entrust corresponding procedures to
the service center if you are unfamiliar with them
or they are not described here.
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs
at the service center.
Danger of burns
Only change bulbs when they are cool;
otherwise, there is the danger of getting
burned.◀
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Working on the lighting system
When working on the lighting system, you
should always switch off the lights affected to
prevent short circuits.
To avoid possible injury or equipment damage
when replacing bulbs, observe any instructions
provided by the bulb manufacturer.◀
Do not perform work/bulb replacement on
xenon headlamps
Have any work on the xenon lighting system, in‐
cluding bulb replacement, performed only by a
service center. Due to the high voltage present
in the system, there is the danger of fatal injuries
if work is carried out improperly.◀
Do not touch the bulbs
Do not touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare hands, 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.◀
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Light-emitting diodes installed behind a cover
serve as the light source for controls, display el‐
ements and other equipment.
These light-emitting diodes, which are related
to conventional lasers, are officially designated
as Class 1 light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers
Do not remove the covers, and never stare
into the unfiltered light for several hours; other‐
wise, irritation of the retina could result.◀
Headlamp glass
Condensation can form on the inside of the ex‐
ternal lamps in cool or humid weather. When
driving with the light switched on, the conden‐
sation evaporates after a short time. The head‐
lamp glasses do not need to be changed.
If the headlamps do not dim despite driving with
the light switched on, increasing humidity forms,
e. g. water droplets in the light, have the service
center check this.
Front lamps, bulb replacement
Halogen headlamps
1Parking lamps
2High beams/headlamp flasher
3Low beams
4Turn signal
5Daytime running lights
Accessing the turn signals and low beams
Follow the General instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 279.
1.In the wheel house, loosen the two brackets
and remove the cover.
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Daytime running lights
24-watt bulb, PW24W
1.If necessary, remove the high beam bulb
connector.
2.Remove the bulb holder.
3.Remove the bulb from the bulb holder.
4.To insert the new bulb, proceed in reverse
order of removal. During insertion, the bot‐
tom of the bulb holder must be facing down‐
ward. Make sure that the bulb holder snaps
into place.
5.Attach the high beam bulb connector.
6.Close the headlamp housing with the cap.
Make sure that the cap engages.
Xenon headlamps
Xenon headlamps
Because of the long life of these bulbs, the like‐
lihood of failure is very low. Switching the lamps
on and off frequently shortens their life.
If a xenon bulb fails, switch on the front fog lamps
and continue the trip with great care. Comply
with local regulations.
Do not perform work/bulb replacement on
xenon headlamps
Have any work on the xenon lighting system, in‐
cluding bulb replacement, performed only by a
service center. Due to the high voltage present
in the system, there is the danger of fatal injuries
if work is carried out improperly.◀
For checking and adjusting headlamp aim,
please contact your BMW center.
Headlamps
1Parking lamps/daytime running lights
2Low beams/high beams/headlamp flasher
3Turn signal
Low beams and high beams are designed with
xenon technology.
The parking lamps and daylight running lights
are made using LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Turn signal
Follow the General instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 279.
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21-watt bulb, PY21W
1.In the wheel house, loosen the two brackets
and remove the cover.
2.If necessary, pull the inside trim of the wheel
house slightly inward. Turn the bulb holder
counterclockwise and remove.
3.Press the bulb gently into the socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.
4.Install the new bulb and bulb holder in re‐
verse order of removal.
5.Attach the cover to the wheel house.
Front fog lamps
Follow the General instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 279.
35-watt bulb, H8
1.Use the back side of the screwdriver from
the onboard vehicle tool kit to remove the
three wheel house panel screws, arrow 1.
Carefully raise the wheel house panel, ar‐
row 2.
2.Pull off the bulb connector, arrow 1.
Turn the bulb, arrow 2.
Left side of vehicle: turn clockwise.
Right side of vehicle: turn counterclockwise.
Remove the bulb.
3.Insert the new bulb, connect the connector
and screw on the wheel house panel.
Turn signal in exterior mirror
Follow the General instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 279.
The turn signals feature LED technology. Con‐
tact your service center in the event of a mal‐
function.
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Tail lamps, bulb replacement
At a glance
1Turn signal
2Reversing lamp
3Inside brake lamp
4Tail lamps
5Outside brake lamp
Bulb replacement, exterior tail lamps
General information
Follow the General instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 279.
Turn signal: 21-watt bulb, P21W
Exterior brake lamp: 21-watt bulb, P21W
The tail lamps feature LED technology. Contact
your service center in the event of a malfunction.
Use caution when replacing the bulb
Use caution and proceed one step at a
time when replacing the bulbs to prevent dam‐
age to the tail lamps or vehicle.◀
Removing the exterior tail lamp
1.Open trunk lid.
2.Use the screwdriver from the onboard vehi‐
cle tool kit to loosen the screw, arrow 1, and
remove the cover, arrow 2.
3.Use the screwdriver handle to loosen the
two nuts, arrows 1 and 2, and remove. The
tail lamp is still attached to a rubber mount
on the outside.
4.Grasp the inner edge of the tail lamp and
carefully swing it back and out of the rubber
mount, arrow 1. Use your free hand to hold
it in place in order to prevent the tail lamp
from coming loose suddenly. Make sure that
the foam rubber sealing ring is on the cen‐
tering pin, arrow 2.
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