
Controls overview
72
Coolant temperature
A warning lamp will come on if the coolant, 
and therefore the engine, becomes too hot. 
In addition, a message will appear on the 
Control Display.
Check coolant level, refer to page230.
Energy Control*
Displays the current fuel consumption. This 
allows you to see whether your current driving 
style is conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions.
Engine oil temperature*
When the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature, the engine oil temperature is between 
approx. 2107/1006 and approx. 3007/
1506.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, a 
message appears on the Control Display.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 16.1 gallons/
61 liters.
You can find information on refueling on 
page203.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period, 
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for 
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
Once the fuel level has fallen to the reserve 
zone, a message briefly appears on the Control 
Display and the cruising range for the remaining 
amount of fuel is displayed on the computer. 
Under a cruising range of approx. 30 miles/
50 km, the message remains in the Control Dis-
play.
Refuel as soon as possible once your 
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km; otherwise, engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.< 

Refueling
202
Refueling
Always switch off the engine before refu-
eling; otherwise, fuel cannot be added to 
the tank and a message will be displayed.<
Take all precautionary measures and 
observe all applicable regulations when 
handling fuel. Do not carry any spare fuel con-
tainers in your vehicle. They can develop a leak 
and cause an explosion or cause a fire in the 
event of an accident.<
Fuel filler flap
Opening
1.Open the fuel filler flap. To do so, lightly 
press the rear edge.
2.Turn the gas cap counterclockwise.
3.Place the gas cap in the bracket attached to 
the fuel filler flap.
Closing
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you clearly 
hear a click.
Do not pinch the band attached to the 
cap; otherwise, the cap cannot be closed 
properly and fuel vapors can escape. A mes-
sage will be displayed if the gas cap is loose or 
missing.<
Manually releasing the fuel filler flap
In the event of a malfunction, you can release 
the fuel filler flap manually:
Sedan
1.Remove the cover from the right-hand side-
wall of the cargo area.
2.Pull the knob with the fuel pump symbol. 
The fuel filler flap is released.
Sports Wagon
1.Fold up the cargo area floor panel.
2.Remove the cover from the right-hand side-
wall of the cargo area. To do so, turn the 
screws, arrows 1, 90° and take out the 
cover, arrow 2.
3.Pull the knob with the fuel pump symbol. 
The fuel filler flap is released. 

Mobility
 203Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Observe the following when refueling
When handling fuels, follow the safety 
instructions provided at filling stations; 
otherwise, there is a risk of personal injury or 
property damage.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Avoid lifting the filler 
nozzle while filling the tank, as that would lead 
to
>Premature pump shutoff
>Reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor recov-
ery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks 
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
Refuel as soon as possible once your 
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km; otherwise, engine functions are not 
ensured and damage can occur.<
Gasoline engine
Approx. 16.1 US gallons/61 liters, including the 
reserve capacity of 2.1 US gallons/8 liters.
Diesel engine
Approx. 16.1 US gallons/61 liters, including the 
reserve capacity of 1.7 US gallons/6.5 liters.
Fuel specifications
Gasoline engine: required fuel
Do not refuel with leaded fuel; otherwise, 
the catalytic converter will be damaged.
Do not fill the tank with E85, i.e. fuel containing 
85Ξ ethanol, nor with FlexFuel. Otherwise, the 
engine and fuel supply system will be dam-
aged.<
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less 
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
>323i, 328i/xDrive: 87
>335i/xDrive: 89.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds 
when starting at high outside temperatures. 
This has no effect on the engine life.
Do not use any gasoline below the speci-
fied minimum fuel grade. Otherwise, the 
engine could be damaged.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, 
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale 
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10Ξ ethanol or other 
oxygenates with up to 2.8Ξ oxygen by weight, 
that is, 15Ξ MTBE or 3Ξ methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of cosolvent, will not void the 
applicable warranties with respect to defects in 
materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in 
drivability, starting and stalling problems 
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and 
high altitude. 
Should you encounter drivability problems 
which you suspect could be related to the fuel 
y o u  a r e  u s i n g ,  w e  r e c o m m e n d  t h a t  y o u  r e s p o n d  
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand 
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier 
Detergent Gasoline. 
Failure to comply with these recommendations 
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.< 

Mobility
 205Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Diesel exhaust fluid at the 
minimum level
Even if the display indicates -- mls, the engine 
continues running if it is not switched off and if 
all other requirements continue to be met, e.g. a 
sufficient supply of fuel.
Do not drive to the end of the indicated 
distance. Otherwise, it will not be possible 
to start the engine again after switching it off.<
Wrong fluid
A warning lamp lights up:
The wrong fluid was filled into the res-
ervoir.
Please contact your BMW center.
Having the diesel exhaust fluid refilled
Diesel exhaust fluid is refilled by your BMW 
center during regular service. If the service 
intervals are adhered to, it generally does not 
need to be refilled between service appoint-
ments.
Under certain conditions, e.g. especially fre-
quent accelerations or operation of the vehicle 
at high altitudes, it may become necessary to 
refill the fluid between service appointments.
When this reserve display appears in the instru-
ment cluster, have diesel exhaust fluid refilled to 
avoid not being able to start the engine.
You can have the fluid refilled by a BMW center.
Diesel exhaust fluid at low 
temperatures
Because of its physical properties, it may 
be necessary to refill diesel exhaust fluid 
between regular service appointments at tem-
peratures below +237/-56.
The need to add fluid is indicated by the reserve 
display in the instrument cluster, refer to 
page204.<
Refilling diesel exhaust fluid in 
exceptional cases
To be able to reach the next BMW center, you 
can refill diesel exhaust fluid yourself while 
adhering to the following warnings.
Do not come into contact with diesel 
exhaust fluid as it can lead to skin or eye 
irritations. Wear goggles and gloves, if neces-
sary. Follow the safety instructions on the bot-
tle.
Vapors with a sharp odor can escape from the 
bottle or container when it is opened. Before 
refilling, completely close the windows and 
doors of the vehicle to prevent the vapors from 
intruding into the interior. If handling diesel 
exhaust fluid in an enclosed area, ensure that 
the room is well ventilated.
After handling diesel exhaust fluid, wash your 
hands thoroughly; otherwise, for example, inad-
vertently touching your eyes may lead to eye 
irritations.
If eye irritations occur, rinse the eyes thoroughly 
with water and consult a physician if necessary.
If diesel exhaust fluid comes into contact with 
the surface of your vehicle, rinse the affected 
areas with water to prevent surface damage.
Keep diesel exhaust fluid away from children.<
Suitable diesel exhaust fluid
>Preferred: BMW Diesel Exhaust Fluid.
Diesel exhaust fluid can be refilled conve-
niently with this bottle and its special 
adapter.
>Alternatively: NOx reduction agent AUS 32
You can obtain diesel exhaust fluid from your 
BMW center. 

Refueling
206
Refilling quantity
Refilling quantity when the reserve display first 
appears:
Approx. 1 US gallon/3.7 liters
Opening the diesel exhaust fluid 
reservoir
1.Remove the cover in the bumper by press-
ing on it, see arrow.
2.Place the handle of the screwdriver from the 
onboard vehicle tool kit, page237, onto the 
bottom cap and open the cap, arrow.
Refilling BMW Diesel Exhaust Fluid
1.Attach the bottle and screw it all the way on, 
see arrow. The line on the bottle should 
point upward.
Hold the attached bottle to prevent 
the thread on the vehicle from becoming damaged by the weight of the 
bottle.<
2.Press the bottle toward the vehicle, see 
arrow.
The reservoir in the vehicle is filled.
3.The reservoir is full when the filling level in 
the bottle stops changing. It is not possible 
to overfill the reservoir. 
Pull back the bottle, see arrow, and unscrew 
it.
Closing the reservoir
After refilling, close the reservoir again using 
the handle of the screwdriver. 

Wheels and tires
224
Recommended tire brands
Certain makes of tire are recommended by 
BMW for each tire size. They are marked with a 
clearly visible BMW designation on the sidewall 
of the tire.
When properly used, these tires meet the high-
est standards in terms of safety and handling 
characteristics.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for driving on 
winter roads or at temperatures below +45 7/
+7 6. Although all-season M+S tires provide 
better winter traction than summer tires, they 
generally fail to provide the same levels of cold-
weather performance as winter tires.
Pay attention to speed
Always comply with the speed limit for the 
winter tires mounted on your car; failure 
to do so could result in tire damage and acci-
dents.<
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that 
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the 
maximum permitted speed for the mounted 
tires must be displayed in your field of view. 
Specialist tire dealers and your BMW center 
can supply these labels.
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry 
place with as little exposure to light as possible. 
Always protect tires against all contact with oil, 
grease and fuels. Do not exceed the maximum 
tire inflation pressure indicated on the sidewall 
of the tire.
Swapping wheels between axles
BMW advises against swapping wheels 
between the front and rear axles, even if all tires 
have the same size, as this could impair driving 
characteristics. If the tires are of mixed sizes, 
swapping wheels between the axles is not per-
missible.
Snow chains*
Only certain fine-link snow chains have been 
tested by BMW, classified as safe for use and 
recommended. Consult your BMW center for 
more information. 
Snow chains must be mounted in pairs and on 
the rear wheels only. Observe the manufac-
turer's instructions when mounting snow 
chains. Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph or 
50 km/h.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if 
snow chains are mounted; otherwise, the 
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.
When driving with snow chains, you may find it 
helpful to activate DTC temporarily, refer to 
page86.< 

Maintenance
232
Socket for Onboard 
Diagnosis OBD
On the driver's side is an OBD socket for check-
ing components relevant to the composition of 
the vehicle's emissions.
Emissions
The warning lamp lights up:
The vehicle is producing higher emis-
sions. The trip can be continued. Have 
the car checked as soon as possible.
Canadian models display this warning 
lamp.
The lamp flashes under certain conditions. This 
indicates excessive misfiring in the engine. If 
this happens, you should reduce your speed 
and visit your nearest BMW center as soon as 
possible. Severe engine misfiring can quickly 
lead to serious damage of emissions-related 
components, especially the catalytic converter.
The warning lamp comes on if the gas 
cap is not properly tightened and the 
OBD system assumes that fuel vapor 
is escaping. Make sure that the gas cap is cor-
rectly positioned and close it until it audibly 
clicks.
Data memory
Your vehicle records data about the operation, 
faults, and user settings. These data are stored 
in the vehicle and in extract form, in the remote 
control, and can be read out using suitable 
devices at your BMW center. The data that are 
read out are used to support service proce-
dures and repairs or to optimize and expand 
vehicle functions. If you have a BMW Assist 
contract, certain vehicle data can also be trans-
mitted directly from the vehicle in order to 
enable the desired services. 

Technical data
258
Sports Wagon
Never exceed either the approved axle loads or 
the gross vehicle weight.
Capacities
328i328i
xDrive
Approved gross weight
>with manual transmission lbs/kg 4,630/2,100 4,872/2,210
>with automatic transmission  lbs/kg 4,696/2,130 4,916/2,230
Load lbs/kg 1,058/480 1,058/480
Approved front axle load lbs/kg 2,127/965 2,326/1,055
Approved rear axle load lbs/kg 2,646/1,200 2,646/1,200
Approved roof load capacity  lbs/kg 165/75 165/75
Cargo area capacity cu ft/liters 16.2-48.9/460-1,385 16.2-48.9/460-1,385
Notes
Fuel tank US gal/liters approx. 16.1/61 Fuel grade: page203
including reserve of
>Gasoline engine US gal/liters approx. 2.1/8.0
>Diesel engine US gal/liters approx. 1.7/6.5
Window washer system For more details: page62
including headlamp washers  US qt/liters approx. 6.3/6.0