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Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat while 
the vehicle is moving. The seat could 
respond with unexpected movement, and the 
ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to an 
accident.
On the front passenger seat as well, do not 
incline the backrest too far to the rear while the 
vehicle is being driven; otherwise, there is a 
danger in the event of an accident of sliding 
under the safety belt, eliminating the protection 
normally provided by the belt.<
Comply with the instructions on head restraint 
height on page45, and on damaged safety 
belts on page49.
Manual adjustment
Observe the adjustment instructions on 
page43 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection.<
Longitudinal direction
Pull lever 1 and slide the seat to the desired 
position.
After releasing the lever, move the seat gently 
forward or back to make sure it engages prop-
erly.
Height
Pull lever 2 and apply your weight to the seat or 
lift it off, as necessary.
Backrest
Pull lever 3 and apply your weight to the back-
rest or lift it off, as necessary.
Tilt*
Pull the lever and apply your weight to the seat 
or lift it off, as necessary.
Thigh support*
Pull the lever and move the thigh support 
forward or back. 

Transporting children safely
52
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger 
themselves and/or other persons by opening 
the doors, for example.<
Children always in the rear
Accident research has shown that the safest 
place for children is on the rear seat.
Children under the age of 13 or smaller 
than 5 ft/150 cm may be transported only 
in the rear in suitable child restraint systems 
appropriate for their age, weight and size. Oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the 
event of an accident.<
Children 13 years of age or older must be buck-
led in with a safety belt as soon as there no 
longer is any child restraint system that is 
appropriate for their age, size and weight.
Children in the front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child 
restraint system on the front passenger 
seat, the front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger must be deactivated. Otherwise, a child 
traveling on that seat will face a significant risk 
of injury if the airbags are triggered off, even 
with a child restraint system.<
For more information on automatic deactivation 
of the front passenger airbags refer to page98.
Installing child restraint 
systems
Observe the child restraint system manu-
facturer's instructions when selecting, 
installing and using child restraint systems. 
Otherwise, the protective effect may be dimin-
ished. <
Standard child restraint systems are designed 
to be secured with a lap belt or with the lap-belt 
section of a lap-and-shoulder belt. Incorrectly or improperly installed child restraint systems 
can increase the risk of injury to children. 
Always follow the installation instructions for 
the system with the greatest care.
On the front passenger seat
After installing a child restraint system on 
the front passenger seat, make sure that 
the front and side airbags for the front passen-
ger are deactivated; otherwise, there is an 
increased risk of injury if the airbags deploy.<
Seat position
Before installing a child restraint system, move 
the front passenger seat as far back and up as 
possible to obtain the best possible position for 
the belt. Do not change the seat position after 
this.
Backrest width*
The backrest width of the front passenger 
seat must be at its widest possible set-
ting. Do not change the setting after installing 
the child seat. Otherwise, the child seat's stabil-
ity on the front passenger seat is limited.<
1.Adjust the backrest width to its widest 
setting, refer to page44.
2.Install the child seat.
Child seat security
The rear safety belts and the front passenger 
safety belt can be prevented from being pulled 
out in order to fasten child restraint systems. 

Practical interior accessories
116
Storage compartments inside 
the vehicle
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you 
will find compartments beside the steering col-
umn
*, in the front doors and in the center con-
sole
*. 
There are nets
* on the front-seat backrests.
Storage compartments in the rear 
console
Depending on your vehicle's equipment ver-
sion, the following storage compartments can 
be found in the rear console:
>Storage tray
>Storage compartment with cover
>Cupholders
Coupe: clothes hooks
Press the upper edge to flip open.
Items of clothing hung from the hooks 
must not obstruct the driver's view. Do 
not hang heavy objects from the hooks; other-
wise, they could endanger the car's occupants, 
e.g. in case of heavy braking or sudden 
swerving.<
Cupholders
Use lightweight and shatterproof contain-
ers and do not transport hot beverages; 
otherwise, there is an increased risk of injury in 
the event of the accident. Do not force contain-
ers that are too large into the cupholders; other-
wise, damage could result.<
Front
Opening
Briefly press the center of the cover.
Closing
Briefly press the cover in the center and push in 
the cupholder.
Coupe: rear
There are two additional cupholders in the rear 
center armrest.
Press the front of the armrest. 

Things to remember when driving
126
Things to remember when driving
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to 
each other. Please follow the instructions below 
in order to achieve the optimal service life and 
economy of operation for your vehicle.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do 
not exceed an engine speed of 4,500 rpm or a 
road speed of 100 mph/160 km/h.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the 
transmission's kickdown mode.
After driving 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually 
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their 
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in 
period. Therefore, drive cautiously during the 
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized 
contact and wear patterns between brake pads 
and rotors. Drive cautiously during this break-in 
period.
Clutch
The function of the clutch reaches its optimal 
level only after a distance driven of approx. 
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period, 
engage the clutch gently.
Following part replacement
The same break-in procedures should be 
observed if any of the components mentioned 
above have to be renewed in the course of the 
vehicle's operating life.
Saving fuel
The fuel consumption of your vehicle depends 
on several factors. You can lower fuel consump-
tion and the environmental impact by taking 
certain measures, adjusting your driving style 
and having the vehicle serviced regularly.
Remove any unneeded cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Remove any mounted parts after you 
have finished using them
Remove unneeded additional mirrors, the roof 
rack and the rear luggage rack after use. 
Mounted parts affect the vehicle's aerodynam-
ics and increase fuel consumption.
Close the windows and glass roof
An open glass roof or window causes higher air 
resistance and thus increases fuel consump-
tion.
Check tire inflation pressure regularly
Check the tire inflation pressure at least twice a 
month and before embarking on a long journey, 
and correct it if necessary.
Low tire inflation pressure causes higher rolling 
resistance and thus increases fuel consumption 
and tire wear.
Set off immediately
Do not let the engine warm up while the car is 
still standing, but set off immediately at moder-
ate engine speed. This is the fastest way for the 
cold engine to reach its operating temperature. 

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Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their 
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage 
develops inside the tires. In some situations, 
this can result in sudden loss of tire pressure.<
Make sure that no liquids are spilled or 
leak from their containers in the cargo 
area, as this could result in damage to the vehi-
cle.<
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your 
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants 
and cargo should never exceed 
XXX kg or YYY lbs. Otherwise, overloading 
can result in damage to the vehicle and 
unstable driving conditions.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers that will be riding in 
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver 
and passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY 
pounds.
4.The resulting figure equals the available 
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. 
For example, if the YYY amount equals 
1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is 
650 lbs: 
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage 
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available 
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated 
in step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of 
the load from your trailer will be transferred 
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for 
transporting a trailer to determine how this 
may reduce the available cargo and luggage 
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permissible load is the total of the weight of 
occupants and cargo/luggage. The greater the 
weight of the occupants, the less cargo/lug-
gage can be transported. 

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Always position and secure the cargo as 
described above, so that it cannot endan-
ger the car's occupants, for example if sudden 
braking or swerving is necessary. 
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle 
weight or either of the approved axle loads, refer 
to page249; otherwise, excessive loads can 
pose a safety hazard, and may also place you in 
violation of traffic safety laws. 
Heavy or hard objects should not be carried 
loose inside the car, since they could be thrown 
around, for example as a result of heavy braking, 
sudden swerves, etc., and endanger the occu-
pants.
Only attach the cargo straps using the lashing 
eyes shown in the illustration. Do not secure 
cargo with the anchors for tether straps, refer to 
page53; otherwise, these could be damaged.
A special rack system is available as an option 
for your BMW. Comply with the directions given 
in the installation instructions.
Mounting points
The mounting points are located in the roof.
Loading roof-mounted luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of 
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on 
vehicle handling and steering response. 
You should therefore always remember not to 
exceed the approved roof load capacity, the 
approved gross vehicle weight or the axle loads 
when loading the rack.
You can find the applicable data under Weights 
on page249.
The roof load must be distributed uniformly and 
should not be too large in area. Heavy items 
should always be placed at the bottom. Be sure 
that adequate clearance is maintained for rais-
ing the glass roof, and that objects do not 
project into the opening path of the trunk lid.
Fasten roof-mounted cargo correctly and 
securely to prevent it from shifting or falling off 
during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration and 
braking maneuvers. Take corners gently. 

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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
Approx. 16.1 US gallons/61 liters, including the 
reserve capacity of 2.1 US gallons/8 liters.
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.<
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:
>328i/xDrive: 87
>335i, 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.< 

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Coupe: tire inflation pressures for the 328i
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa 
Traveling speeds
up to a max. of 
100 mph / 160 km/hTraveling speeds 
including those 
exceeding 
100 mph / 160 km/h
All pressure specifications in the table are 
indicated in psi/kilopascal with cold tires. 
Cold = ambient temperature
Without Sport Package:
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S
225/50 R 16 92 H M+S
225/45 R 17 91 H M+S
225/45 R 17 91 V32/220 38/260 36/250 44/300
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL 32/220 39/270 36/250 44/300
Front: 225/45 R 17 91 V 32/220 - 36/250 -
Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 V - 35/240 - 39/270
Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W 32/220 - 36/250 -
Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W - 39/270 - 42/290
Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL 36/250 - 36/250 -
Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL - 44/300 - 44/300
With Sport Package:
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S 
225/50 R 16 92 H M+S 
225/45 R 17 91 H M+S32/220 38/260 36/250 44/300
225/45 R 17 91 V 32/220 38/260 42/290 49/340
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL 32/220 39/270 42/290 49/340
Front: 225/45 R 17 91 V 32/220 - 42/290 -
Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 V - 35/240 - 44/300
Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W 32/220 - 39/270 -
Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W - 39/270 - 46/320
Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL 36/250 - 39/270 -
Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL - 44/300 - 46/320
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page249.