2013 BMW 3 SERIES SEDAN Start

Avoid high engine speeds
Use 1st gear to get the vehicle in motion. Be‐
ginning with 2nd gear, accelerate rapidly.
When accelerating, shift up before reaching
high engine speeds.
When you reach the desired speed, shift into
the highest applicable gear and drive with the
engine speed as low as possible and at a con‐
stant speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
The gear shift indicator of your vehicle indi‐
cates the most fuel efficient gear.
Use coasting When approaching a red light, take your foot
off the accelerator and let the vehicle coast to
a halt.
On a downhill gradient, take your foot off the
accelerator and let the vehicle roll.
The flow of fuel is interrupted while coasting.
Switch off the engine during longer stops
Switch off the engine during longer stops, e.g.,
at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in traffic
congestion.
Auto Start/Stop function The Auto Start/Stop function of your vehicle
automatically switches off the engine during a
stop.
If the engine is switched off and then restarted
rather than leaving the engine running con‐
stantly, fuel consumption and emissions are
reduced. Savings can begin within a few sec‐
onds of switching off the engine.
Using this system can cause certain compo‐
nents of the vehicle to become worn prema‐
turely.In addition, fuel consumption is also deter‐
mined by other factors, such as driving style,
road conditions, maintenance or environmental
factors.
Switch off any functions that
are not currently needed
Functions such as seat heating and the rear
window defroster require a lot of energy and
reduce the range, especially in city and stop-
and-go traffic.
Therefore, switch off these functions if they
are not actually needed.
The ECO PRO driving program supports the
energy conserving use of comfort functions.
These functions are automatically deactivated
partially or completely.
Have maintenance carried
out
Have vehicles maintained regularly to achieve
optimal vehicle economy and operating life.
The maintenance should be carried out by
your service center.
Also note the BMW Maintenance System, refer
to page 204.
ECO PRO
The concept ECO PRO supports a driving style that saves
on fuel consumption. For this purpose, the en‐
gine control and comfort functions, e. g. the
climate control output, are adjusted.
In addition, context-sensitive instructions can
be displayed that assist in driving in a manner
that optimizes fuel consumption.
In the instrument display, the extension of the
range achieved by this can be displayed as a
bonus range.Seite 173Saving fuelDriving tips173
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Mark in the CHARGE area, arrow 1: display for
energy recovered by coasting or when braking.
Mark in the POWER area, arrow 2: display
when accelerating.
The efficiency of the driving style is shown by
the color of the bar:▷Blue display: efficient driving style as long
as the mark moves within the blue range.▷Gray display: adjust driving style, e. g. by
backing off the accelerator pedal.
The display switches to blue as soon as all
conditions for fuel-economy-optimized driving
are met.
ECO PRO Tip - driving instruction The arrow indicates that the
driving style can be adjusted to
be more fuel efficient by backing off the accelerator for instance.
Note The driving style display and ECO PRO tips in
the instrument cluster appear when the ECO
PRO display is activated.
Activating driving style and ECO PRO tips:
1."Settings"2."Info display"3."ECO PRO Info"
ECO PRO tip - Symbols An additional symbol and a text instruction are
displayed.
SymbolMeasureFor efficient driving style, back off
the accelerator or delay accelerating
to allow time to assess road condi‐
tions.Reduce speed to the selected ECO
PRO speed.SymbolMeasureAutomatic transmission: switch
from M/S to D and avoid manual
shift interventions.Manual shift transmission: follow
shifting instructions.Manual shift transmission: engage
neutral for engine stop.
Indications on the Control Display
EfficientDynamics Information on fuel consumption and technol‐
ogy can be displayed during driving.
1."Vehicle Info"2."EfficientDynamics"
Displaying fuel consumption history
The average fuel consumption can be dis‐
played within an adjustable time frame.
Vertical bars show consumption for the se‐
lected time frame.
Trip interruptions are represented below the
bar on the time axis.
"Consumption history"
Adjusting fuel consumption history time frame
Select the symbol.
Resetting fuel consumption history
1.Open "Options".2."Reset consumption history"
Displaying EfficientDynamics info
The current efficiency can be displayed.
"EfficientDynamics info"
The following systems are displayed:
▷Automatic engine start-stop function.Seite 175Saving fuelDriving tips175
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FuelVehicle equipmentAll standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equip‐
ment is also described that is not available in a
vehicle, e. g., because of the selected optional
equipment or country variant. This also applies
for safety-related functions and systems.
Fuel recommendation Note General fuel quality
Even fuels that conform to the specifica‐
tions can be of low quality. Switch gas stations
or use fuel from brand name producers having
a higher octane level; otherwise, engine prob‐
lems, such as poor engine starting perform‐
ance, poorer handling characteristics or driving
performance may occur.◀
Gasoline For the best fuel economy, the gasoline should
be sulfur-free or very low in sulfur content.
Fuels that are marked on the gas pump as con‐
taining metal must not be used.
Refuel only with unleaded gasoline with‐out metallic additives.
Do not refuel with any leaded gasoline or gaso‐
line with metallic additives, e. g. manganese or
iron, or permanent damage to the catalytic
converter and other components.◀
Fuels with a maximum ethanol content of
10 %, i. e., E10, may be used for refueling.
Ethanol should satisfy the following quality
standards:
US: ASTM 4806–xx
CAN: CGSB-3.511–xxxx: comply with the current standard in each
case.
Do not refuel with Ethanol above the
maximum Ethanol proportion
Do not refuel with Ethanol above the maximum
Ethanol proportion, that is, refueling with fuel
that contains more than 10 % Ethanol, flex fuel
or other alcohols; otherwise, damage to the
engine and fuel supply could result.◀
Gasoline quality BMW recommends AKI 91.
Minimum fuel grade
BMW recommends AKI 89.
Minimum fuel grade
Do not use any gasoline below the mini‐
mum fuel grade as this may impair engine per‐
formance.◀
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.
Fuel quality
The use of poor-quality fuels may result
in harmful engine deposits or damage. Addi‐
tionally, problems relating to drivability, start‐
ing and stalling, especially under certain envi‐
ronmental conditions such as high ambient
temperature and high altitude, may occur.
If drivability problems are encountered, we rec‐
ommend switching to a high quality gasoline
brand and a higher octane grade — AKI num‐
ber — for a few tank fills. To avoid harmful en‐
gine deposits, it is highly recommended to
purchase gasoline from BP or Top Tier retail‐
ers.Seite 182MobilityFuel182
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Failure to comply with these recommendations
may result in the need for unscheduled main‐
tenance.◀
Diesel
Low-Sulfur Diesel
The engine of your BMW is designed for diesel
with low sulfur content:
Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel ASTM D 975-xx.
xx: comply with the current standard in each
case.
Use only Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel.
The fraction of biodiesel in the fuel must
not exceed 5 %, referred to as B5. Do not use
gasoline. If you do fill the tank with the wrong
fuel, e.g., gasoline, do not start the engine as
this may damage the engine.◀
After adding the wrong fuel, contact your serv‐
ice center or roadside assistance.
If the fuel pump nozzle does not fit in the filler
pipe of your BMW, please check to ensure that you are refueling at a diesel fuel pump that is
equipped with a diesel fuel pump nozzle.
In the event the Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel fuel
cannot be fully inserted into the fuel filler neck,
please contact BMW Roadside Assistance for
instructions on how to add fuel. For more infor‐
mation on BMW Roadside Assistance, refer to
page 218.
Winter diesel To ensure that the diesel engine remains op‐
erational in the winter, use winter diesel.
It is available at gas stations during winter
months.
The fuel filter heating system, included as a
standard feature, prevents disruption of the
fuel supply while driving.
Do not add any diesel additives
Do not add additives, including gasoline;
otherwise, engine damage may occur.◀
BMW Advanced Diesel
The concept BMW Advanced Diesel reduces nitrogen ox‐
ides in the diesel emissions by injecting diesel
exhaust fluid reducing agent into the exhaust
system. A chemical reaction takes place inside
the catalytic converter that minimizes nitrogen
oxides.
The vehicle has a tank that can be refilled.
To be able to start the engine as usual, there
must be an adequate reducing agent.
Reducing agent is added by the service center.
Warming up the systemIn order to warm the engine up to its operating
temperature after a cold start, the automatic
transmission may subsequently shift up to the
next higher gear.
Displays in the instrument cluster
Reserve display
This display in the instrument cluster provides
information about the distance that can still be
driven with the current reserve level.
The reserve indication is dis‐
played starting at approx.
1,000 miles/1,600 km remaining
range.
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Refill in good time
The reducing agent must be replenished
as soon as the Reserve display appears, other‐
wise the engine cannot be restarted.◀
Diesel exhaust fluid on minimum The engine will continue to runeven when the display shows --,
as long as it is not switched off
and all other operating condi‐
tions are satisfied, sufficient fuel
for example.
Engine does not start
Do not continue driving to the limit of the
remaining travel distance. Otherwise, you will
not be able to restart the engine after switch‐
ing it off.◀
Filling with incorrect fuel A Check Control message is displayed when
the tank is filled with the incorrect fuel.
After adding the wrong fuel, contact your serv‐
ice center.
System defect
A Check Control message is displayed when
there is a system defect.
Have the diesel exhaust fluid
replenished
The reducing agent is added by the service
center within the context of regular mainte‐
nance. Provided you observe this maintenance
schedule, it is normally necessary to replenish
the fluid once between maintenance appoint‐
ments.
It may be necessary to have the fluid replen‐
ished several times under particular circum‐
stances, for example, if the vehicle is driven in
a particularly sporty style or if it is driven at
high altitudes.The reducing agent must be replenished as
soon as the reserve display appears in the in‐
strument cluster to avoid not being able to re‐
start the engine.
Diesel exhaust fluid at low
temperatures
Due to its physical properties, it is possible that reducing agent may also need to be re‐
plenished between regular maintenance ap‐
pointments if it is exposed to temperatures be‐
low + 23 ℉/- 5 ℃. In this case, add reducing
agent only immediately before starting to drive.
The need to replenish it is indicated by the Re‐
serve display in the instrument cluster.
At temperatures below + 12 ℉/- 11 ℃ the fill
level in some cases cannot be measured.
After adding reducing agent, the reserve dis‐
play is displayed only until the fill level can be
measured again.
Replenishing Diesel exhaust fluid
yourself in exceptional cases
You can replenish reducing agent yourself in
exceptional cases, e.g., to get to the service
center.
Avoid contact with Diesel exhaust fluid
Do not come into contact with the reduc‐
ing agent. Otherwise, skin or eye irritations
may result.◀
Handling Diesel exhaust fluid
When working with reducing agent in
closed spaces, ensure good ventilation. When
the bottle or container is opened, acrid smell‐
ing fumes may escape.◀
Keeping Diesel exhaust fluid out of reach
of children
Keep reducing agent out of reach of children◀
Avoid contact with surfaces
Avoid contact of reducing agent with sur‐
faces of the vehicle. Damage could result.◀Seite 184MobilityFuel184
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Suitable Diesel exhaust fluid▷Preferred: BMW Diesel Exhaust Fluid. With
this bottle and its special adapter, Diesel
exhaust fluid can be replenished simply
and safely.▷Alternative: NOx reduction agent AUS 32
Diesel exhaust fluid can be purchased at your
Service Center.
Refill quantity
When the Reserve display starts, add at least 2
bottles of reducing agent.
This corresponds to approx. 1 gallon.
Tank for reducing agent
The tank for the reducing agent is located next
to the fuel tank.
Adding engine oil
1.Open the fuel filler flap, refer to page 180.2.Turn the fuel cap counterclockwise and re‐
move.3.Place the bottle on it and turn it as far as it
will go, see arrow.4.Press the bottle down, see arrow.
The vehicle container will be filled.
The container is full when the fill level in
the bottle no longer changes. It is not pos‐
sible to overfill.5.Pull back the bottle, see arrow, and un‐
screw it.6.Replace the fuel cap and turn it clockwise.7.Close the fuel filler flap.
After adding Diesel exhaust fluid
Note Incorrect fluids
After filling with incorrect fluids, such as
antifreeze for washer water, do not start the
engine, otherwise there is risk of fire.◀
Contact your service center.
Disposing of bottles You take your empty Diesel exhaust
fluid bottles to your Service Center for
disposal.
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Do not dispose of empty bottles with house‐
hold waste unless this is permitted by local
regulations.
Reserve display The Reserve display will still ap‐
pear along with the remaining
range after refilling.
Engine can be started.
After several minutes of driving,
the Reserve indication goes out.
Diesel exhaust fluid on minimum After filling, the indication -- is
still displayed.
Only after the display goes out
can the engine -- be started.1.Switch on the ignition.
Display -- goes out after approx. 1 minute.2.Engine can be started.Seite 186MobilityFuel186
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Engine compartmentVehicle equipmentAll standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equip‐ment is also described that is not available in a
vehicle, e. g., because of the selected optional
equipment or country variant. This also applies
for safety-related functions and systems.
Important features in the engine compartment
1Jump-starting, negative terminal2Vehicle identification number3Washer fluid reservoir4Jump-starting, positive terminal5Engine compartment fuse box6Oil filler neck7Coolant reservoir
The coolant reservoir for 6-cylinder and
diesel engines is located on the opposite
side of the engine compartment.Seite 198MobilityEngine compartment198
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