2015 BMW 3 SERIES ACTIVE HYBRID Owners Manual

▷When locking the vehicle, and when the
low beams are activated.▷Shortly before the battery is discharged
completely, so that the engine can still be
started. This function is only available
when the low beams are turned off.▷When opening and closing the driver door,
if the driver's safety belt is unbuckled and
the low beams are turned off.▷While the driver's safety belt is unbuckled
with driver's door open and low beams off.
The low beams switch to parking lights after
approx. 15 minutes of no use.
When the ignition is switched off automatically
by opening or closing the driver's door, un‐
buckling the driver's safety belt or by the auto‐
matic switching of the low beams to parking
lights, the radio-ready state remains active.
Drive readiness
When drive readiness is activated, the vehicle
is operational. Activated drive readiness is the
equivalent of a running engine in conventional
vehicles. Deactivated engine readiness is
equivalent to switching the ignition off.
Drive readiness in detail
The concept
The following are the different drive readiness
variants:
▷Electric drive readiness, Silent Start, refer
to page 69
The vehicle is powered by the electric mo‐
tor.▷Starting the combustion engine, refer to
page 70
The vehicle is powered by the combustion
engine.Hints
Awareness of vehicle reduced when
driven in electric mode
When driving in electric mode, note that due to
the lack of engine noise pedestrians and other traffic might pay less attention to the vehicle
due to missing engine noises. Please take spe‐
cial care when parking or leaving a parking
space.◀
Do not leave the vehicle unattended
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
drive readiness active; otherwise, it may pose a
risk.◀
Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, e.g., can‐
not start the engine.◀
Apply parking brake and further secure
the vehicle if needed.
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the ve‐
hicle, e.g., by turning the steering wheel in the
direction of the curb.◀
Activating drive readiness1.Close the driver's door.2.Depress the brake pedal.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
Drive readiness is activated:
▷Electric drive readiness, Silent Start or▷Starting the combustion engine.
Electric drive readiness, Silent Start The vehicle is ready for driving without starting
the combustion engine.
Silent Start is possible if the requirements for
Electric driving, refer to page 71, are met.
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DisplayREADY indicates drive readi‐
ness.
Starting the combustion engine Enclosed areas
Do not let the engine run in enclosed
areas, since breathing in exhaust fumes may
lead to loss of consciousness and death. The
exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, an
odorless and colorless but highly toxic gas.◀
Unattended vehicle
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running; doing so poses a risk of
danger.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning, set the parking brake and place the trans‐
mission in selector lever position P or N to pre‐
vent the vehicle from moving.◀
Repeated starting in quick succession
Avoid trying to start the vehicle repeat‐
edly and in quick succession. Otherwise, the
fuel is not burned or is inadequately burned,
posing a risk of overheating and damage to the
catalytic converter.◀
The combustion engine is started with Acti‐
vate drive, refer to page 69, readiness under
the following conditions:▷The drive system is not at operating tem‐
perature.▷The temperature of the hybrid system is
too high.▷The high-voltage battery has an insuffi‐
cient charge.
Driving away
1.Activate drive readiness.2.Engage selector lever position D, M/S or R.3.Release the parking brake.4.Drive away.
Deactivating drive readiness
After stopping the vehicle:
1.Engage selector lever position P.2.Press the Start/Stop button.3.Set the parking brake.
After parking the vehicle, you may hear noises
due to operation of the hybrid system, such as
for cooling of the high-voltage battery.
Before driving into a car wash So that the vehicle can roll into a car wash ob‐
serve instructions for going into an automatic
car wash, refer to page 228.
Auto Start/Stop function
The concept The Auto Start/Stop function helps save fuel.
The system switches off the combustion en‐
gine when conditions for electric driving have
been met. The ignition or drive readiness re‐
mains switched on.
READY appears on the tachometer. If neces‐
sary, the combustion engine starts automati‐
cally.
The combustion engine is also stopped during
the trip when rolling out or braking. This driving
condition, in which the vehicle is travelling
without power and energy recovery is not ac‐
tive, is referred to as coasting, refer to
page 71.
Note The combustion engine is not switched off au‐
tomatically in the following situations:
▷The combustion engine is not at operating
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▷The transmission selector lever is in posi‐
tion M/S.▷High-voltage battery is heavily discharged
or vehicle electrical system is heavily bur‐
dened.▷High stress of the automatic climate con‐
trol in the heating or cooling phase.▷The engine compartment lid is unlocked.▷The vehicle is being optimized for the cur‐
rent driving style, for instance during the
break-in period or after a service appoint‐
ment.▷The hybrid system is malfunctioning.
Safety mode
An automatically stopped combustion engine
does not start independently when:
▷The driver's door is open and neither the
brake nor accelerator pedal are depressed.▷Unlocked hood.
The indicator lights come on. The combustion
engine can only be started via the Start/Stop
button.
Switching off the vehicle during an automatic engine stop
During an automatic engine stop, the vehicle
can be switched off permanently, e. g., when
leaving it.
1.Press the Start/Stop button.▷The ignition is switched off.▷The radio-ready state is activated.▷The Auto Start/Stop function is deacti‐
vated.▷Transmission position P is engaged
automatically.2.Set the parking brake.
Malfunction
The Auto Start/Stop function no longer
switches of the combustion engine automati‐
cally in the event of a malfunction. A message is displayed. It is possible to continue driving.
Have the system checked.
Electric driving: eDRIVE
Requirements Electric driving is possible:▷The high-voltage battery is sufficiently
charged.▷Transmission position D or R is set.▷The drive system is at operating tempera‐
ture.▷The accelerator pedal is only slightly de‐
pressed.▷The driver's door is closed.
Possible up to speed of approx. 35 mph, ap‐
prox. 60 km/h.
In ECO PRO mode, a speed up to approx.
45 mph, approx. 75 km/h is possible.
Possible cruising range
Depending on the charge of the high-voltage
battery, the vehicle can be driven using electric
power constantly for up to 2-2.5 miles/3-4 km.
CoastingThe combustion engine is automatically stop‐
ped and disengaged from the drivetrain. This
driving condition of rolling is referred to as
coasting.
Requirements Coasting is possible:
▷The high-voltage battery is sufficiently
charged.▷Transmission position D or R is set.▷The drive system is at operating tempera‐
ture.▷The driver's door is closed.Seite 71DrivingControls71
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▷In COMFORT mode: when rolling at
speeds exceeding 35 mph, approx.
60 km/h or when braking at speeds above
50 mph, approx. 80 km/h.▷In ECO PRO: mode, when coasting, with‐
out operating the brake, at speeds below
100 mph, approx. 160 km/h.
After the coasting, the combustion or electric
motor restarts depending on the operating
state.
Driving with combustion
engine: DRIVE
The combustion engine provides the primary
performance to move the vehicle. If necessary,
the high-voltage battery is charged at the
same time.
Automatic start while driving The combustion engine is automatically
started under the following conditions while
driving:
▷By pressing the accelerator pedal beyond
the resistance point at the full throttle posi‐
tion, kickdown.▷Transmission position M/S is set.▷The speed for electric driving is exceeded
while accelerating.▷The high-voltage battery has an insuffi‐
cient charge.▷High-voltage battery is completely
charged, e.g., when driving downhill.▷During intense accelerations or on inclines.▷System-related requirement for hybrid
components.▷Adapting to the course of the road when
destination guidance is activated.Automatic parking while driving
When reducing speed, the combustion engine
is switched off when the conditions for electric
driving, refer to page 71, are met.
Assistance for the
combustion engine
The combustion engine provides the primary
performance to move the vehicle.
The electric motor provides assistance as
needed with additional propulsive power.
ASSIST
During normal vehicle operation, the electric
motor assists the combustion engine, depend‐
ing on the situation.
eBOOST
Accelerating quickly, such as when passing,
requires the maximum available power from
the electric motor. To do this, apply extra force
to the accelerator pedal.
Energy recovery: CHARGEThe hybrid system makes it possible to con‐
vert kinetic energy into electrical power when
braking and coasting. This recovered energy
charges the high-voltage battery. If necessary,
this stored electrical energy is output to the
electric motor.
The following conditions must be met to re‐
cover kinetic energy:▷The vehicle is moving.▷Transmission position D, M/S is set.▷The high-voltage battery is not fully
charged.
Energy recovery displays in the instrument
cluster, refer to page 83.
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Parking brake
Applying The lever automatically engages after being
pulled up.
The indicator lamp lights up red. The
parking brake is set.
Lower lamp: indicator lamp in Canadian
models
Releasing
Raise lever slightly, press the button and guide
the lever down.
Hints Use while driving
On rare occasions if it is necessary to use
the parking brake while driving, do not use ex‐
cessive force when applying it. When using it,
keep the button on the lever depressed.
Otherwise, using excessive force when apply‐
ing the parking brake may cause the rear
wheels to lock, resulting in fishtailing.◀
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brake ac‐
tion, lightly apply the parking brake periodically
while coasting, if traffic conditions permit.
The brake lights will not light up if the parking
brake is set.
Turn signal, high beams,
headlight flasher
Turn signal
Hints Do not adjust the exterior mirrors
Do not adjust the exterior mirror while
driving and when turn signals/hazard warning
flashers are on, or else the additional turn sig‐
nal lights in the exterior mirror are out of posi‐ tion and can't be seen.◀
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To switch off manually, press the lever to the
resistance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator lamp
indicates that a turn signal bulb has failed.
Triple turn signal activation Press the lever to the resistance point.
The turn signal flashes three times.
The function can be activated or deactivated.
On the Control Display:
1."Settings"2."Lighting"3."Triple turn signal"
Settings are stored for the profile currently in
use.
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Signaling briefly
Press the lever to the resistance point and hold
it there for as long as you want the turn signal
to flash.
High beams, headlight flasher▷High beams, arrow 1.▷Headlight flasher, arrow 2.
Washer/wiper system Switching the wipers on/off and brief
wipe
Hints Do not activate wipers if frozen to wind‐
shield
Do not switch on the wipers if they are frozen
to the windshield; otherwise, the wiper blades
and the wiper motor may be damaged.◀
Do not activate wipers on dry windshield
Do not use the wipers if the windshield is
dry, as this may damage the wiper blades or
cause them to become worn more quickly.◀
Do not activate wipers with wipers folded
away
Do not switch on the wipers if they are folded
away, otherwise the hood or the wipers may be
damaged.◀
Switching on
Push wiper lever up.
The lever automatically returns to its initial po‐
sition when released.
▷Normal wiper speed: push up once.
The wipers switch to intermittent operation
when the vehicle is stationary.▷Fast wiper speed: press up twice or press
once beyond the resistance point.
Wipers change to normal speed when ve‐
hicle comes to standstill.
Switch off and brief wipe
Push wiper lever down.
The lever automatically returns to its initial po‐
sition when released.
▷Single wipe: press down once.▷To switch off normal wipe: press down
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Interval mode or rain sensor
The concept The rain sensor automatically controls the time
between wipes depending on the intensity of the rainfall. The sensor is located on the wind‐
shield, directly behind the interior rearview mir‐
ror.
Activating/deactivating
Press button on the wiper lever.
Wiping is started. If the vehicle is equipped
with a rain sensor: LED in wiper lever lights up.
When wipers are frozen to windshield, wiper
operation is deactivated.
Deactivate the rain sensor in car washes
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through an automatic car wash; otherwise, un‐
intentional wiping can cause damages.◀
Setting the frequency or sensitivity of
the rain sensor
Turn the thumbwheel.
Clean the windshield, headlights
Pull the wiper lever towards you.
The system sprays washer fluid on the wind‐
shield and activates the wipers briefly.
In addition, the headlights are cleaned at regu‐
lar intervals when the vehicle's lights are acti‐
vated.
Do not use the washer system at freezing
temperatures
Do not use the washers if fluid could freeze
onto the windshield which might impede your
viewing field. Therefore use antifreeze fluid.
Avoid using the washer when the reservoir is
empty; operation might damage pump.◀
Windshield washer nozzles The windshield washer nozzles are automati‐
cally heated while the ignition is switched on.
Fold-out position of the wipers Fold wipers back when you want to change the
blades or with pending low temperatures.
1.Switch the ignition on and off again.2.With icy conditions make sure that blades
are not frozen to the windshield.3.Press the wiper lever up beyond the point
of resistance and hold it for approx. 3 sec‐
onds, until the wiper remains in a nearly
vertical position.
After the wipers are folded back down, the
wiper system must be reactivated.
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Folding wipers back down
Before switching the ignition on, fold the
wipers back down to the windshield; other‐
wise, the wipers may become damaged when
they are activated.◀1.Switch on the ignition.2.Push wiper lever down. Wipers move to
their resting position and are ready again
for operation.
Washer fluid
Hints Antifreeze for washer fluid
Antifreeze is flammable and can cause
injury if it is used incorrectly.
Therefore, keep it away from possible sources of ignition.
Only keep it in the closed original container and inaccessible to children.
Follow the notes and instructions on the con‐
tainer.
United States: The washer fluid mixture ratio is
regulated by the U.S. EPA and many individual
states; do not exceed the allowable washer
fluid dilution ratios limits that apply. Follow the
usage instructions on the washer fluid con‐
tainer. Use BMW’s Windshield Washer Con‐
centrate or the equivalent.◀
Adding washer fluid
Only add washer fluid when the engine is
cool, and then close the cover completely to
avoid contact between the washer fluid and
hot engine parts.
Otherwise, there is a danger of fire and a risk to
personal safety if the fluid is spilled.◀
Washer fluid reservoir
All washer nozzles are supplied from one res‐
ervoir.
Fill with a mixture of windshield washer con‐
centrate and tap water and – if required – with a
washer antifreeze, according to the manufac‐
turer's recommendations.
Mix the washer fluid before adding to find the
right mixture.
Do not add windshield washer concentrate and
antifreeze undiluted and do not fill with pure
water; this could damage the wiper system.
Do not mix window washer concentrates of dif‐
ferent manufacturers because they can clog
the windshield washer nozzles.
Recommended minimum fill quantity:
0.2 US gal/1 liter.
Steptronic transmission
Selector lever positions
D Drive
Selector lever position for normal vehicle oper‐
ation. All gears for forward travel are activated
automatically.
R is Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral: The vehicle may roll. Use in automatic car
washes, e.g.
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