Too much engine oil
Have the vehicle checked immediately;
otherwise, surplus engine oil can lead to en‐
gine damage.◀
Detailed measurement
The concept In the detailed measurement the engine oil
level is checked and displayed via a scale.
Gasoline engine:
If the engine oil level reaches the minimum
level, a check control message is displayed.
Diesel engine:
If the engine oil level reaches the minimum
level or an overfilling is detected, a check con‐
trol message is displayed.
During the measurement, the idle speed is in‐
creased somewhat.
General information A detailed measurement is only possible with
certain engines.
Requirements▷Vehicle is on level road.▷Manual transmission: shift lever in neutral
position, clutch and accelerator pedals not
depressed.▷Steptronic transmission: selector lever in
selector lever position N or P and accelera‐
tor pedal not depressed.▷Engine is running and is at operating tem‐
perature.
Performing a detailed measurement
In order to perform a detailed measurement of
the engine oil level:
1."Vehicle info"2."Vehicle status"3. "Measure engine oil level"4."Start measurement"
The engine oil level is checked and displayed
via a scale.
Time: approx. 1 minute.
Adding engine oil General information
Switch off the ignition and safely park the vehi‐
cle before engine oil is added.
Oil filler neck
Only add engine oil when the message is dis‐
played in the instrument cluster. The quantity
to be added is indicated in the message dis‐
played in the instrument cluster.
Adding engine oil
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km;
otherwise, this may cause engine damage.◀
Do not add too much engine oil
When too much engine oil is added, im‐
mediately have the vehicle checked, otherwise,
this may cause engine damage.◀
Protect children
Keep oil, grease, etc., out of reach of chil‐
dren and observe the warnings on the contain‐
ers to prevent health risks.◀
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Engine oil types to addHints No oil additives
Oil additives may lead to engine dam‐
age.◀
Viscosity grades for engine oils
When selecting an engine oil, ensure that
the engine oil belongs to one of the viscosity
grades SAE 0W-40, SAE 0W-30, SAE 5W-40,
and SAE 5W-30 or malfunctions or engine
damage may occur.◀
The engine oil quality is critical for the life of
the engine.
Suitable engine oil types
You can add engine oils that meet the follow‐
ing oil rating standards:Gasoline engineBMW Longlife-01.BMW Longlife-01 FE.Diesel engineBMW Longlife-04.
Further information regarding the oil specifica‐
tions and viscosities of engine oils can be in‐
quired with the service center.
Alternative engine oil types If an engine oil suitable for continuous use is
not available, up to 1 US quart/liter of an en‐
gine oil with the following oil rating can be
added:
Gasoline engineAPI SM or superior oil rating.Diesel engineAPI CJ-4.
Engine oil change:
The vehicle manufacturer recommends that
you let the service center change the motor oil.
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MaintenanceVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
BMW maintenance system The maintenance system indicates required
maintenance measures, and thereby provides
support in maintaining road safety and the op‐
erational reliability of the vehicle.
In some cases scopes and intervals may vary
according to the country-specific version. Re‐
placement work, spare parts, fuels and lubri‐
cants and wear materials are calculated sepa‐
rately. Additional information is available from
the service center.
Condition Based Service
CBS
Sensors and special algorithms take into ac‐
count the driving conditions of your vehicle.
Based on this, Condition Based Service recog‐
nizes the maintenance requirements.
The system makes it possible to adapt the
amount of maintenance corresponding to your
user profile.
Detailed information on service requirements,
refer to page 83, can be displayed on the Con‐
trol Display.Service data in the remote control
Information on the required maintenance is
continuously stored in the remote control. Your service center will read out this data and
suggest the right array of service procedures for your vehicle.
Therefore, hand your service specialist the re‐
mote control with which the vehicle was driven
most recently.
Storage periods Storage periods during which the vehicle bat‐
tery was disconnected are not taken into ac‐
count.
If this occurs, have a service center update the
time-dependent maintenance procedures,
such as checking brake fluid and, if needed,
changing the engine oil and the microfilter/
activated-charcoal filter.
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models and Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty In‐
formation Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian mod‐
els for additional information on service re‐
quirements.
Maintenance and repair should be performed
by your service center. Make sure to have reg‐
ular maintenance procedures recorded in the
vehicle's Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models, and in the Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian mod‐
els. These entries are proof of regular mainte‐
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CareVehicle features and optionsThis chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
Car washes General information
Regularly remove foreign objects such as
leaves in the area below the windshield when
the hood is raised.
Wash your vehicle frequently, particularly in
winter. Intense soiling and road salt can dam‐
age the vehicle.
Hints Steam jets or high-pressure washers
When using steam jets or high-pressure
washers, hold them a sufficient distance away
and use a maximum temperature of
140 ℉/60 ℃.
If the vehicle has a glass sunroof, ensure that a
distance of at least 31.5 inches/80 cm is main‐
tained. Holding them too close or using exces‐
sively high pressures or temperatures can
cause damage or preliminary damage that may
then lead to long-term damage.
Follow the user's manual for the high-pressure
washer.◀Cleaning sensors/camera lenses with
high-pressure washers
When using high-pressure washers, do not
spray the sensors and camera lenses on the
outside of the vehicle for long periods and
maintain a distance of at least 12 in/30 cm.◀
Automatic car washes
Hints▷Give preference to cloth car washes or
those that use soft brushes in order to
avoid paint damage.▷Make sure that the wheels and tires are not
damaged by the transport mechanisms.▷Fold in the exterior mirrors; otherwise, they
may be damaged, depending on the width
of the vehicle.▷Deactivate the rain sensor, refer to
page 70, to avoid unintentional wiper acti‐
vation.▷In some cases, an unintentional alarm can
be triggered by the interior motion sensor
of the alarm system. Follow the instruc‐
tions on avoiding an unintentional alarm,
refer to page 45.
Guide rails in car washes
Avoid car washes with guide rails higher
than 4 in/10 cm; otherwise, the vehicle body
could be damaged.◀
Before driving into a car wash In order to ensure that the vehicle can roll in a
car wash, take the following steps:
Manual transmission:
1.Drive into the car wash.2.Shift to neutral.Seite 229CareMobility229
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3.Switch the engine off.4.Switch on the ignition.
Steptronic transmission:
1.Drive into the car wash.2.Engage selector lever position N.3.Switch the engine off.
In this way, the ignition remains switched
on, and a Check-Control message is dis‐
played.
Do not turn off the ignition in the car
wash
Do not turn off the ignition in the car wash;
otherwise, selector lever position P is en‐
gaged and damages can result.◀
The vehicle cannot be locked from the outside
when in selector lever position N. A signal
sounds when an attempt is made to lock the
vehicle.
To start the engine with manual transmission:
1.Press on the clutch pedal.2.Press the Start/Stop button.
To start the engine with Steptronic transmis‐
sion:
1.Depress the brake pedal.2.Press the Start/Stop button.
Pressing the Start/Stop button without step‐
ping on the brake turns the ignition off.
Selector lever positionSelector lever position P is engaged automati‐
cally:
▷When the ignition is switched off.▷After approx. 15 minutes.
Headlights
▷Do not rub dry and do not use abrasive or
acidic cleansers.▷Soak areas that have been dirtied e. g.,
from insects, with shampoo and wash off
with water.▷Thaw ice with de-icing spray; do not use an
ice scraper.
After washing the vehicle
After washing the vehicle, apply the brakes
briefly to dry them; otherwise, braking action
can be reduced and corrosion of the brake
discs can occur.
Completely remove all residues on the win‐
dows, to minimize loss of visibility due to
smearing and to reduce wiper noises and
wiper blade wear.
Vehicle care
Car care products BMW recommends using care and cleaning
products from BMW, since these have been
tested and approved.
Car care and cleaning products
Follow the instructions on the container.
When cleaning the interior, open the doors or
windows.
Only use products intended for cleaning vehi‐
cles.
Cleansers can contain substances that are
dangerous and harmful to your health.◀
Vehicle paint
Regular care contributes to driving safety and
value retention. Environmental influences in
areas with elevated air pollution or natural con‐
taminants, such as tree resin or pollen can af‐
fect the vehicle's paintwork. Tailor the fre‐
quency and extent of your car care to these
influences.
Aggressive substances such as spilled fuel, oil,
grease or bird droppings, must be removed im‐
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mediately to prevent the finish from being al‐
tered or discolored.
Leather care Remove dust from the leather often, using a
cloth or vacuum cleaner.
Otherwise, particles of dust and road grime
chafe in pores and folds, and lead to increased
wear and premature degradation of the leather
surface.
To guard against discoloration, such as from
clothing, provide leather care roughly every
two months.
Clean light-colored leather more frequently be‐
cause soiling on such surfaces is substantially
more visible.
Use leather care products; otherwise, dirt and
grease will gradually break down the protective
layer of the leather surface.
Suitable care products are available from the
service center.
Upholstery material care Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner.
If upholstery is very dirty, e.g., with beverage
stains, use a soft sponge or microfiber cloth
with a suitable interior cleaner.
Clean the upholstery down to the seams using
large sweeping motions. Avoid rubbing the
material vigorously.
Damage from Velcro® fasteners
Open Velcro® fasteners on pants or
other articles of clothing can damage the seat
covers. Ensure that any Velcro® fasteners are
closed.◀
Caring for special components
Light-alloy wheels
When cleaning the vehicle, use only neutral
wheel cleaners having a pH value from 5 to 9.
Do not use abrasive cleaning agents or steamjets above 140 ℉/60 ℃. Follow the manufac‐
turer's instructions.
Aggressive, acidic or alkaline cleaning agents
can destroy the protective layer of adjacent
components, such as the brake disk.
Chrome surfaces
Carefully clean components such as the radia‐
tor grille or door handles with an ample supply
of water, possibly with shampoo added, partic‐
ularly when they have been exposed to road
salt.
Rubber components Aside from water, treat only with rubber
cleansers.
When cleaning rubber seals, do not use any
silicon-containing car care products in order to
avoid damage or noises.
Fine wood partsClean fine wood facing and fine wood compo‐
nents only with a moist rag. Then dry with a
soft cloth.
Plastic components
These include:▷Imitation leather surfaces.▷Roofliner.▷Lamp lenses.▷Instrument cluster cover.▷Matt black spray-coated components.▷Painted parts in the interior.
Clean with a microfiber cloth.
Dampen cloth lightly with water.
Do not soak the roofliner.
No cleansers that contain alcohol or sol‐
vents
Do not use cleansers that contain alcohol or
solvents, such as lacquer thinners, heavy-duty
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Technical dataVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due tothe selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
Note
The technical data and specifications in this
Owner's Manual are used as guidance values.
The vehicle-specific data can deviate from this,
for example, due to the selected special equip‐
ment, country version or country-specific
measurement method. Detailed values can befound in the approval documents, on informa‐
tion signs on the vehicle or can be obtained
from the service center.
The information in the vehicle documents al‐
ways has priority.
Dimensions
The dimensions can vary depending on the
model version, equipment or country-specific
measurement method.
The specified heights do not take into account
attached parts, for example, a roof antenna,roof racks or spoiler. The heights can deviate,
for example, due to the selected special equip‐
ment, tires, load and chassis version. BMW 3 Series LimousineWidth with mirrorsinches/mm80.0/2,031Width without mirrorsinches/mm71.3/1,811Heightinches/mm56.3–56.5/1,429–
1,434Lengthinches/mm182.2/4,627Wheelbaseinches/mm110.6/2,810Smallest turning radius diam.ft/m37.1–38.4/11.3–11.7
Weights
The values preceding the slash apply to vehi‐
cles with manual transmission; the values fol‐lowing the slash apply to vehicles with Step‐
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Everything from A to Z
IndexA ABS, Antilock Brake Sys‐ tem 119
ACC, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go 124
Acceleration Assistant, refer to Launch Control 75
Accessories and parts 7
Activated-charcoal filter 150
Active Blind Spot Detec‐ tion 116
Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, ACC 124
Adaptive brake lights, refer to Brake force display 118
Adaptive Light Control 93
Additives, oil 208
Adjustments, seats/head re‐ straints 50
After washing vehicle 230
Airbags 97
Airbags, indicator/warning light 98
Air circulation, refer to Recir‐ culated-air mode 146, 149
Air, dehumidifying, refer to Cooling function 146, 149
Air distribution, manual 146, 149
Air flow, air conditioner 146
Air flow, automatic climate control 149
Air pressure, tires 189
Air vents, refer to Ventila‐ tion 150
Alarm system 44
Alarm, unintentional 45
All around the center con‐ sole 16
All around the roofliner 17 All around the steering
wheel 14
All-season tires, refer to Win‐ ter tires 198
All-wheel-drive 120
Alternating-code hand-held transmitter 153
Alternative oil types 208
Ambient light 96
Antifreeze, washer fluid 71
Antilock Brake System, ABS 119
Anti-slip control, refer to DSC 119
Approved axle load 236
Approved engine oils, see Suitable engine oil
types 208
Arrival time 88
Ash tray 156
Assistance when driving off 123
Assist system information, on Control Display 90
Attentiveness assistant 118
AUTO intensity 148
Automatic car wash 229
Automatic climate con‐ trol 145
Automatic climate control with enhanced features 147
Automatic Cruise Control with Stop & Go 124
Automatic Curb Monitor 58
Automatic deactivation, front- seat passenger airbags 99
Automatic headlight con‐ trol 93
Automatic locking 44
Automatic recirculated-air control 149 Automatic transmission, see
Steptronic transmission 72
AUTO program, automatic cli‐ mate control 148
AUTO program, climate con‐ trol 146
AUTO program, intensity 148
Auto Start/Stop function 66
Average fuel consumption 87
Average speed 87
Axle loads, weights 236
B Backrest curvature, refer to Lumbar support 52
Backrest, width 52
Band-aids, refer to First aid kit 224
Bar for tow-starting/ towing 227
Battery replacement, vehicle battery 221
Battery replacement, vehicle remote control 35
Battery, vehicle 220
Belts, safety belts 53
Beverage holder, cu‐ pholder 162
Blinds, sun protection 47
BMW Advanced Diesel 185
BMW Assist, see user's manual for Navigation, En‐
tertainment and Communi‐
cation
BMW Driver’s Guide App 6
BMW Homepage 6
BMW Internet page 6
BMW maintenance sys‐ tem 210
Bonus range, ECO PRO 174 Seite 242ReferenceEverything from A to Z242
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