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Under the hood
Do not work on the car unless you pos-
sess the necessary technical knowledge. 
If you are unfamiliar with the statutory guide-
lines, have any work on the vehicle performed 
only by a BMW center or by a workshop that 
work according to BMW repair procedures with 
correspondingly trained personnel. If this work 
is not carried out properly, there is a danger of 
subsequent damage and related safety haz-
ards.<
Hood
Releasing
Pull the lever.
Opening
In order to avoid damage, make sure that 
the wiper arms are against the windshield 
before you open the hood. Do not open the 
engine hood before the engine has cooled 
down; otherwise, injuries may result.<
Press the release handle and open the hood.
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of 
approx. 10 in/25 cm. It must be clearly heard 
to engage.
Make sure that the closing path of the 
hood is clear; otherwise, injuries may 
result. 
If you see any signs while driving your vehicle 
that the hood is not completely closed, stop 
at once and close it securely.< 

Under the hood
226
Important parts of the engine compartment
1Gasoline engine: expansion tank for cool-
ant, refer to page230
Diesel engine: the expansion tank is located 
on the other side of the vehicle
2Washer fluid filler neck for headlamp clean-
ing system and window washer system, 
refer to page623Jump-starting connection, refer to 
page247
4Filler neck for engine oil, refer to 
Adding engine oil
5Dipstick for engine oil, refer to 
Checking oil level 

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Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on 
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking the engine oil level with the 
dipstick*
1.Park the vehicle on a level surface with the 
engine at operating temperature, i.e. after 
an uninterrupted drive of at least 6.2 miles/
10 km.
2.Switch off the engine.
3.After approx. 5 minutes, pull out the 
dipstick5 and wipe it off with a lint-free 
cloth, paper towel or similar material.
4.Carefully push the dipstick 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 between the two markings on 
the dipstick is equivalent to approx. 1 US quart/
1 liter.
The oil level must not be above the upper 
marking of the dipstick. Too much oil will 
harm the engine.<
Checking the engine oil level 
electronically*
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 
operating temperature, i.e. after uninterrupted 
driving for at least approx. 6.2 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 indicator lever. 
The oil level is checked and the reading 
displayed. 

Under the hood
228
Possible displays
1Oil level OK
2Oil 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 car is on the move.
3Oil 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 page229.
4Oil level is too high.
Too much oil will harm the engine. 
Have the vehicle checked without 
delay.<
5The 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 page76. Have the system checked as 
soon as possible.
Display via iDrive
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 minutes 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." 

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Too much oil will harm the engine. 
Have the vehicle checked without 
delay.<
>"Measurement inactive. Have this 
checked."
Do not add engine oil. You can continue 
your journey. Note the newly calculated dis-
tance remaining to the next oil service, refer 
to page76. 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 when 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 page227.
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 y our B MW  c ente r o r a t 
a workshop that works according to BMW 
repair procedures with correspondingly trained 
personnel.
Oil types
Do not use oil additives as this could 
result in engine damage.<
Specified engine oils
Your service center can advise you on which 
engine oils have been approved by the manu-
facturer of your vehicle.
The engine oil quality is critical for the life of the 
engine.
Approved oils can be identified by the following 
specification:
Approved oils belong to the following viscosity 
classes: SAE0W-40, SAE0W-30, SAE5W-40 
and SAE 5W-30.
Alternative oil types
If approved oils are not available, you can use 
quantities of up to 1 US quart/1 liter of another 
oil with the following specifications:
API SM or higher
Gasoline engine
Preferred: BMW Longlife-01
BMW Longlife-01 FE
Alternatively: BMW Longlife-98
Diesel engine
Preferred: BMW Longlife-04 

Under the hood
230
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 available additives are suit-
able for your BMW. Ask your BMW center for 
suitable additives.
Only use suitable additives; otherwise, 
engine damage may result. Because 
additives are harmful to your health, it is impor-
tant to follow the instructions on the contain-
ers.<
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 
engine 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 correct 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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Maintenance
BMW Maintenance System
The BMW Maintenance System supports the 
preservation of the traffic and operating safety 
of your BMW. The objective is to optimize 
efforts with respect to minimal vehicle mainte-
nance costs.
If and when you come to sell your BMW, a com-
prehensive record of servicing will prove a sig-
nificant benefit.
Condition Based Service CBS
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into 
account. Condition Based Service uses this to 
determine the current and future service 
requirements. By letting you define a service 
and maintenance regimen that reflects your 
own individual requirements, the system builds 
the basis for trouble-free driving.
On the Control Display, you can have the 
remaining times or distances for selected main-
tenance tasks and any legally prescribed dates 
displayed, refer to page76:
>Engine oil
>Brake pads: separately for front and rear
>Brake fluid
>Vehicle check
>Legally mandated inspections depending 
on local regulations
>Diesel particulate filter
*
Service data in the remote control
Your vehicle continuously stores service-
requirement information in the remote control 
while you are driving. Your BMW Service Advi-
sor can read out this data from the remote con-
trol unit, and propose an optimized mainte-
nance approach. Whenever you take your car in 
for servicing you should therefore hand your 
BMW Service Advisor the remote control unit 
that you last used.
Make sure that the date is always set cor-
rectly, refer to page80; otherwise, the 
effectiveness of Condition Based Service CBS 
is not assured.<
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 require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service 
and repair operations performed at your 
BMW center. 
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet 
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries 
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.< 

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.