
328i
328i xDrive 335i
335i xDrive 335isM3Owner's Manual for Vehicle
Congratulations, and than k you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your  vehicle will provide you with 
enhanced control and security when you drive it. We therefore 
have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize 
yourself with the information  that we have compiled for you 
before starting off in your new ve hicle. It contains important data 
and instructions intended to a ssist you in gaining maximum use 
and satisfaction from your BMW' s unique range of technical fea-
tures. The manual also contai ns information on maintenance 
designed to enhance operating sa fety and contribute to main-
taining the value of your BMW th roughout an extended service 
life.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet for US models or  a Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models.
Please also read the other booklets of vehicle literature, e.g. the 
Supplementary Owner's Handbook for the BMW M3.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW Group
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iDrive
At a glance
Programmable memory keys
General information
iDrive functions can be stored on the program-
mable memory keys and called up directly, e.g. 
radio stations, navigation destinations, phone 
numbers and entry points into the menu.
The settings are stored 
for the remote control 
currently in use.
Storing functions
1. Highlight the function via the iDrive.
2.  ...   Press the desired button for 
longer than two seconds.
Executing a function
 ...  Press the button.
The function is executed immediately. This 
means, for example, that the number is dialed 
when a phone number is selected.
Displaying memory  key assignments
Touch the button with a  finger. Do not wear 
gloves or use objects.
The key assignment is displayed at the top 
edge of the screen.
> Displaying brief information:
Press the button.
> Displaying detailed information:
Press and hold the button
Entering letters and numbers
1.Turn the controller: se lect the letters or 
numbers.
2. Select additional letters or numbers if 
needed.
3. "OK": confirm entry.
Switching between letters and 
numbers
Depending on the menu, you can switch 
between entering letters and numbers:
Switching between uppercase and 
lowercase letters
Depending on the menu, you can switch 
between entering upperc ase letters and lower-
case letters:
SymbolFunction
Press the controller: delete 
one letter or number
Press the controller for an 
extended period: delete all 
letters or numbers
Enter a blank space
SymbolFunction
Entering letters
Entering numbers
SymbolFunction
Move the controller toward 
the front: to switch from 
uppercase letters to lower-
case letters
Move the controller toward 
the front: to switch from low-
ercase letters to uppercase 
letters
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Opening and closing
Controls
Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>
When a door, the hood or the trunk lid is 
opened
> To movements inside the vehicle: Interior 
motion sensor, refer to page 38
> When the car's inclination changes, for 
instance if an attempt is made to jack it up 
and steal the wheels or to raise it prior to 
towing away
> When there has been an interruption of 
power supply from the battery
The alarm system signals unauthorized entry 
attempts for a short time by means of:
> An acoustic alarm
> Switching on the hazard warning flashers
> Flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming
General information
When you lock or unlock  the vehicle, either with 
the remote control or at  the door lock, the alarm 
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
Door lock with armed alarm system
In some national-market versions, unlocking via 
the door lock tr iggers the alarm.
To switch off this alarm, unlock the vehicle with 
the remote control or sw itch on the ignition.
Trunk lid with the alarm system armed
The trunk lid can be opened via the remote con-
trol even when the alarm system is armed.
Press the  button on th e remote control for 
approx. 1 second.
The trunk lid is locked and monitored again as 
soon as it is closed.
Panic mode
You can trigger the alarm system if you find 
yourself in a dangerous situation:
Press the  button for at  least three seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Switching off an alarm
> Unlock the car with the  remote control, refer 
to page 32.
> Insert the remote contro l all the way into the 
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp on inside mirror
> The indicator lamp fl ashes continuously:
The system is armed.
> The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
The doors, hood, or trunk lid are not prop-
erly closed, the remaining components are 
secured.
Then the indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously after approx. 10 seconds. The interior 
motion sensor and tilt  sensor are not active.
> The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
The vehicle has not been tampered with.
> If the indicator lamp flashes after unlocking 
until the remote contro l is inserted in the 
ignition, but for no longer than approx. 
5minutes: 
The vehicle has been tampered with.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm 
system reacts, e.g. to attempts to steal a wheel 
or tow the vehicle.
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ControlsTransporting children safely
Keep key pushed in and turn it until reaching the 
stop at the   position. Pull key out at this stop.
Make sure that the passenger belt is 
unlocked; otherwise, the front passenger 
may become trapped by  the safety belt.<
Installing child restraint 
systems
Observe the child restraint system manu-
facturer's instructio ns 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 be lt or with the lap-belt 
section of a lap-and-shou lder belt. Incorrectly 
or improperly installed  child restraint systems 
can increase the risk of  injury to children. 
Always follow the installa tion 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 airb ags for the front passen-
ger are deactivated; ot herwise, 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 set-
ting, refer to page 49.
2. Install the child seat.
Child seat security
The rear safety belts  and the front passenger 
safety belt can be prev ented from being pulled 
out in order to fasten child restraint systems.
To lock the safety belt
1. Secure the child restraint system with the 
belt.
2. Pull the belt strap all the way out.
3. Allow the belt strap to  retract and pull it taut 
against the child restraint system.
The safety belt is locked.
To unlock the safety belt
1. Open the belt buckle.
2. Remove the child restraint system.
3. Allow the safety belt st rap to retract all the 
way.
LATCH child restraint fixing 
system
LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHil-
dren.
To install and use the LATCH child 
restraint system, follow the operating and 
safety instructions pr ovided by the manufac-
turer of the system; otherwise, the protective 
function of the seat  may be compromised. <
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Transporting children safely
Controls
Mounts for the lower LATCH anchors
Mounts for lower LATCH anchors
Before installing the child
 seat, pull the belt out 
of the area for the child restraint fixing system.
Ensure that both  lower LATCH anchors 
are correctly engaged  and that the child 
restraint system is resting firmly against the 
backrest; otherwise, the protective function of 
the seat may be compromised. <
The mounts for the lower LATCH anchors are 
located behind the labe led protective caps.
Installing LATCH child restraint 
systems
1Installing child restrain t system, refer to the 
system operating instructions.
2 Make sure that both LATCH anchors are 
correctly locked in position.
Child restraint system with tether strap
Convertible
For Canadian Customers Only.
The following statement is required by Trans-
port Canada.
This vehicle is not equipped with user-ready 
tether anchorages. As such neither a child 
restraint system, nor a booster cushion, requir-
ing the use of a tether  strap can be properly 
secured in the vehicle.
Coupe
Use the tether strap  anchors to secure 
child restraint systems only; otherwise, 
the anchors could be damaged. <
For child restraint system s with tether straps 
there are two additional anchors, see arrows.
Placement of the tether strap
Coupe
Make sure the upper  retaining strap does 
not run over sharp edges and is not 
twisted as it passes to  the top anchor. Other-
wise, the strap will not pr operly secure the child 
restraint system in the event of an accident. <
1 Direction of travel
2 Head restraint
3 Hook for upper retaining strap
4 Anchor
5 Rear window shelf
6 Seat backrest
7 Upper retaining strap of  child restraint sys-
tem
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Driving
Controls
R Reverse
Select this only when th
e vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
You can select this in a car wash, for example. 
The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are selected automatically.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con-
sumption is lowest when you are driving in posi-
tion D.
Kickdown
Kickdown enables you to achieve maximum 
performance. 
Press the accelerator  pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Move selector lever from position D toward the 
left into the M/S shifting slot; the Sport program 
is activated. This positi on is recommended for a 
performance-oriented driving style.
DS is displayed in the instrument cluster.
To deactivate the spor t program or manual 
mode M/S, move the sele ctor lever to the right 
into position D.
Shifting gears via the selector lever
Move selector lever from position D toward the 
left into the M/S shifting slot: When you press the selector lever forwards or 
backwards, the manual 
mode is activated and 
Steptronic changes gear.
The engaged gear, e.g. M1 is displayed in the 
instrument cluster.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only 
when they will result in  a plausible combination 
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example, 
a downshift that would  cause the engine to 
overrev will not be executed by the system.
The gear selected is br iefly displayed in the 
instrument cluster, follo wed again by the gear 
actually in use.
Changing gears using shifting paddles 
on steering wheel
The shift paddles allow you to shift gears 
quickly since both hand s can remain on the 
steering wheel.
> When you use the shift paddles on the 
steering wheel to shift gears in automatic 
mode, the transmission switches to manual 
mode.
> If you do not accelerate  or shift gears using 
the shift paddles for  a certain amount of 
time, the transmission switches back to 
automatic mode.
If the selector lever is in the M/S gear 
plane, manual mode remains active. <
> To upshift, briefly pull the right shift 
paddle +.
> To downshift, briefly  pull the left shift pad-
dle –.
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ControlsDriving
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only 
when they will result in a plausible combination 
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example, 
a downshift that would cause the engine to 
overrev will not be exec uted by the system.
The gear selected is briefly displayed in the 
instrument cluster, followed again by the gear 
actually in use.
Overriding selector lever lock
Should the selector lever  refuse to move out of 
position P even though the ignition is switched 
on, the brake is depressed and the button on 
the selector lever is pre ssed, the selector lever 
lock can be overridden:
1. Switch off ignition.
2. Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.
3. Pull the sleeve up over  the selector lever 
until the sleeve is inside out.
4. Using the screwdriver from the onboard 
vehicle tool kit, refer to page 270, press the 
red lever and with the button pressed, 
simultaneously move th e selector lever to 
the desired position.
7-gear Spor t automatic 
transmission with double 
clutch
The concept
The 7-gear Sport automa tic transmission with 
double clutch is an automated manual trans-
mission with two clutches and secondary gear  sets in which the clutch
ing and shifting is han-
dled by an electrohydraulic system.
With the 7-gear Sport automatic transmission 
with double clutch, the gears are shifted without 
an interruption in driving power.
You operate the 7-gear Sport automatic trans-
mission with double clutch using the selector 
lever and two shift paddles on the steering 
wheel.
It offers you the following functions:
> Either manual or au tomatic mode: sequen-
tial mode or drive mode
> Automatic downshifting and protection 
against incorrect gear selection, even in 
sequential mode
> Acceleration assistan t, Launch Control, 
refer to page 70
> Automatic intermediate  throttle application
System limitations
The 7-gear Sport automatic transmission with 
double clutch has an overheating protection 
that protects the clutch from extreme loads.
The indicator lamp lights up in yellow if 
the transmission becomes too warm. 
Avoid high engine loads and frequent 
accelerations from zero. If the transmission is 
overheated, the indicator lamp lights up in red 
and the power flow to the  motor is interrupted. It 
is only possible to continue driving once the 
transmission has cooled down.
Avoid frequent powerful accelerations from 
zero and do not hold the  vehicle on inclines by 
pressing lightly on the  accelerator while letting 
the clutch slip, as this may cause the transmis-
sion to overheat.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
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Driving
Controls
Displays in the instrument cluster
The selector lever position and the engaged 
gear are displayed, e.g. M4.
Engaging selector lever positions
>
The selector lever can be moved out of 
position P only with the engine running: 
interlock.
> Before moving the lever away from P or N 
with the vehicle statio nary, first depress the 
brake; otherwise, the desired shift will not 
be executed: shiftlock.
Shifting into N, D, R
Briefly push the selector  lever in the desired 
direction, overcoming a resistance point if nec-
essary. When shifting out of P or into R, simul-
taneously press the button 1 .
The engaged selector lever position is also dis-
played on the selector lever.
When you release the sele ctor lever, it returns 
to its center position.
Shifting into P
Press the button P.
P Park
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary. 
The rear wheels are locked.
The transmission is shifted into P if, with 
the engine running, you open the driver's 
doo r, do not have  yo ur sa fety belt fastened, and 
subsequently actuate neither the brake pedal 
nor the accelerator. Befo re leaving the vehicle, 
make sure that the au tomatic transmission 
selector lever is in the park position. Otherwise, 
the vehicle may begin to move. <
The transmission is shifted into P as soon 
as you switch off th e engine, unless the 
transmission is in N and the remote control is in 
the ignition lock, refer to page 267. As soon as 
you remove the remote control from the ignition 
lock, then the transmission is shifted into P. <
R Reverse
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
You can select this in a car wash, for example. 
The vehicle can roll.
After the engine is switched off, the trans-
mission remains in N if you leave the 
remote control in the ignition lock. You can use 
this function at a car wash, for example, refer to 
page 267.<
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG