General driving notes
Closing the trunk lid Drive with the trunk lid closed
Only drive with the tailgate closed; other‐
wise, in the event of an accident or braking and
evasive maneuvers, passengers and other traf‐
fic may be injured, and the vehicle may be
damaged. In addition, exhaust fumes may en‐
ter the vehicle interior.◀
If driving with the tailgate open cannot be avoided:▷Close all windows and the glass sunroof.▷Greatly increase the air flow from the vents.▷Drive moderately.
Hot exhaust system
Hot exhaust system
High temperatures are generated in the
exhaust system.
Do not remove the heat shields installed and
never apply undercoating to them. Make sure
that flammable materials, e. g. hay, leaves,
grass, etc. do not come in contact with the hot
exhaust system while driving, while in idle po‐
sition mode, or when parked. Such contact
could lead to a fire, resulting in an increased
risk of serious personal injury as well as prop‐
erty damage.
Do not touch hot exhaust pipes; otherwise,
there is a danger of getting burned.◀
Mobile communication devices in the
vehicle
Mobile communication devices in the ve‐
hicle
It is not recommended to use mobile phones,
such as mobile phones, in the vehicle interior
without a direct connection to an external aer‐
ial. Otherwise, the vehicle's electronics and
mobile communication devices can interfere
with each other. In addition, there is no assur‐
ance that the radiation generated during trans‐
mission will be conducted away from the vehi‐
cle interior.◀
Hydroplaning Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads, re‐
duce your speed to prevent hydroplaning.◀
On wet or slushy roads, a wedge of water can
form between the tires and road surface.
This phenomenon is referred to as hydroplan‐
ing. It is characterized by a partial or complete
loss of contact between the tires and the road
surface, ultimately undermining your ability to
steer and brake the vehicle.
Driving through water Observe water level and speed
Do not exceed the maximum water level
and maximum speed; otherwise, the vehicle's
engine, the electrical systems and the trans‐
mission may be damaged.◀
Drive though calm water only and only if it is
not deeper than 9.8 inches/25 cm and at this
height, no faster than walking speed, up to 3 mph/5 km/h.
Braking safely
Your vehicle is equipped with ABS as a stand‐
ard feature.
Applying the brakes fully is the most effective
way of braking in situations needed.
Steering is still responsive. You can still avoid
any obstacles with a minimum of steering ef‐
fort.
The pulsing of the brake pedal indicates that
ABS is in its active mode.
In certain braking situations, the perforated
brake discs can cause functional problems.
However, this has no effect on the perform‐
ance and operational reliability of the brake.Seite 157Things to remember when drivingDriving tips157
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sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds
to a level of performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades Band
A represent higher levels of performance on
the laboratory test wheel than the minimum re‐
quired by law.
Temperature grade for this tire
The temperature grade for this tire is es‐
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla‐
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
If necessary, have the vehicle towed.◀
M+S
Winter and all-season tires with better cold
weather performance than summer tires.
Tire tread Summer tires Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than
0.12 in/3 mm.
There is an increased danger of hydroplaning if
the tire tread depth is less than 0.12 in/3 mm.
Winter tires
Do not drive with a tire tread depth of less than
0.16 in/4 mm.
Below a tread depth of 0.16 in/4 mm, tires are
less suitable for winter operation.Minimum tread depth
Wear indicators are distributed around the
tire's circumference and have the legally re‐
quired minimum height of 0.063 in/1.6 mm.
They are marked on the side of the tire with
TWI, Tread Wear Indicator.
Tire damage
General information
Inspect your tires often for damage, foreign
objects lodged in the tread, and tread wear.
Hints
Driving over rough or damaged road surfaces,
as well as debris, curbs and other obstacles
can cause serious damage to wheels, tires and
suspension parts. This is more likely to occur
with low-profile tires, which provide less cush‐
ioning between the wheel and the road. Be
careful to avoid road hazards and reduce your
speed, especially if your vehicle is equipped
with low-profile tires.
Indications of tire damage or other vehicle de‐
fects:
▷Unusual vibrations while driving.▷Unusual handling such as a strong ten‐
dency to pull to the left or right.
Damage can, e. g., be caused by driving over
curbs, road damage, or similar things.
Seite 175Wheels and tiresMobility175
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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 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.
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 be
found 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.
Seite 210ReferenceTechnical data210
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15Dimensions
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 M3 SedanWidth with mirrorsinches/mm80.2/2,037Width without mirrorsinches/mm73.9/1,877Heightinches/mm56.1/1,424Lengthinches/mm184.5/4,687Wheelbaseinches/mm110.7/2,812Smallest turning radius diam.ft/m40.0/12.2
Eyes for securing cargo 161
F
Failure message, see Check Control 77
False alarm, refer to Uninten‐ tional alarm 45
Fan, refer to Air flow 136
Filler neck for engine oil 184
Fine wood, care 206
First aid kit 199
Fitting for towing, see Tow fit‐ ting 202
Flat tire, changing wheels 195
Flat tire, Tire Pressure Moni‐ tor TPM 101
Flat tire, warning lamp 102
Flooding 157
Floor carpet, care 207
Floor mats, care 207
Fold down the rear seat back‐ rest, see Though-loading
system 145
Fold-out position, wiper 69
Foot brake 157
Front airbags 98
Front-end collision warning with City Braking func‐
tion 105
Front lights 191
front-seat passenger airbags, automatic deactivation 100
Front-seat passenger airbags, indicator lamp 100
Fuel 170
Fuel consumption, current 82
Fuel consumption, refer to Average fuel consump‐
tion 87
Fuel filler flap 168
Fuel gauge 80
Fuel lid 168
Fuel quality 170
Fuel recommendation 170 Fuel, tank capacity 211
Fuse 196
G
Garage door opener, refer to Universal Integrated Remote
Control 139
Gasoline 170
Gear change 72
Gear shift indicator 84
General driving notes 157
Glare shield 143
Glass sunroof, powered 47
Glove compartment 147
Gross vehicle weight, ap‐ proved 211
Ground clearance 158
H
Handbrake, refer to parking brake 66
Hand-held transmitter, alter‐ nating code 140
Hazard warning flashers 198
Head airbags 98
Headlight control, auto‐ matic 94
Headlight courtesy delay fea‐ ture 93
Headlight flasher 67
Headlight glass 191
Headlights 191
Headlights, care 205
Headlight washer system 67
Head restraints 50
Head restraints, front 54
Head-up Display 90
Head-up Display, care 207
Head-up display, M view 91
Head-up display, standard view 90
Heavy cargo, stowing 161
Height, vehicle 210
High-beam Assistant 95 High beams 67
High beams/low beams, refer to High-beam Assistant 95
High-performance en‐ gine 154
Hills 158
Hill start assistant, refer to Drive-off assistant 118
Hints 6
Holder for beverages 149
Homepage 6
Hood 181
Horn 14
Hotel function, trunk lid 41
Hot exhaust system 157
HUD Head-up Display 90
Hydroplaning 157
I Ice warning, see External temperature warning 81
Icy roads, see External tem‐ perature warning 81
Identification marks, tires 173
Identification number, see ve‐ hicle identification num‐
ber 9
iDrive 18
Ignition key, refer to Remote control 34
Ignition off 62
Ignition on 62
Indication of a flat tire 102
Indicator and alarm lamps, see Check Control 77
Indicator lamp, see Check Control 77
Individual air distribution 136
Individual settings, refer to M Drive 114
Individual settings, refer to Personal Profile 35
Inflation pressure, tires 172
Info display, refer to On- Board computer 86 Seite 215Everything from A to ZReference215
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