BMW M3 SEDAN 2009 E90 Owner's Manual
Page 111 of 246
Driving tips
109Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Load
The permissible load is the total of the weight of
occupants and cargo/luggage. The greater the
weight of the occupants, the less cargo/lug-
gage can be transported.
Stowing cargo
>Position heavy objects as low and as far for-
ward as possible, ideally directly behind the
respective seat backrests.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
>For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is
not occupied, secure each safety belt in the
opposite buckle.
Securing cargo
>Secure smaller and lighter items using
retaining straps, a cargo bay net
* or draw
straps
*.>Heavy-duty cargo straps
* for securing
larger and heavier objects are available at
your BMW center. Four lashing eyes are
provided for attaching the cargo straps.
Two are located on the cargo bay
sidewalls1, two more are on the rear cargo
bay panel2.
Please comply with the information sup-
plied with the cargo straps.
Position and secure the cargo as
described above, so that it cannot endan-
ger the car's occupants, for example if sudden
braking or swerving is necessary.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle
weight or either of the approved axle loads, refer
to page220, as excessive loads can pose a
safety hazard, and may also place you in viola-
tion of traffic safety laws.
Heavy or hard objects should not be carried
loose inside the car, since they could be thrown
around, for example as a result of heavy braking,
sudden swerves, etc., and endanger the occu-
pants.
Only attach the cargo straps using the lashing
eyes shown in the illustration. Do not secure
cargo with the anchors for tether straps, refer to
page47, otherwise these could be damaged.<
Roof-mounted luggage rack*
A luggage rack mounted on the roof
changes vehicle aerodynamics and han-
dling. Exercise restraint when driving with a
roof-mounted luggage rack to avoid the risk of
an accident.<
A special rack system is available as an option
for your BMW. Comply with the directions given
in the installation instructions.
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Page 112 of 246
Things to remember when driving
110
Mounting points
The mounting points are located in the roof.
Loading roof-mounted luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on
vehicle handling and steering response.
You should therefore always remember not to
exceed the approved roof load capacity, the
approved gross vehicle weight or the axle loads
when loading the rack.
You can find the applicable data under Weights
on page220.
The roof load must be distributed uniformly and
should not be too large in area. Heavy items
should always be placed at the bottom. Be sure
that adequate clearance is maintained for rais-
ing the glass roof, and that objects do not
project into the opening path of the luggage
compartment lid.
Fasten roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or falling off
during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid taking corners rapidly
and sudden acceleration and braking maneu-
vers.
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Page 113 of 246
Driving tips
111Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
BMW M3 engineering
High performance V8 engine
The high-revving V8 engine draws a maximum
power of 420 hp/309 kW and a peak torque of
295 lb ft/400 Nm from a displacement of
244 cu in/4 liters. Its spontaneous response
results in a very wide effective rpm range. The
maximum engine speed lies at 8,400 rpm and is
electronically controlled. Due to the high engine
dynamics, the maximum engine speed is lim-
ited to 7,000 rpm when the vehicle is standing.
Warming up the engine
During the warm-up phase, the high-perfor-
mance V8 engine runs a little more roughly due
to its emissions control system.
For technical reasons, the exhaust system
sounds slightly metallic when the engine is
cold.
For further information on warming up the
engine, refer to Tachometer on page62 and
Engine oil temperature on page63.
Compound brake
Your BMW M3 is equipped with a high-perfor-
mance brake system with perforated com-
pound brake discs.
Due to special design features of the perforated
compound brake discs, operating noise is audi-
ble during braking. However, this does not
affect the brake's performance, safe operation
or stability under load.
Braking correctly
To keep the brake system in optimal condition,
it is advisable to apply the brakes at regular
intervals as appropriate for the character of the
vehicle.
Refer also to Corrosion on brake rotors on
page107.
Drive train
In your BMW M3, special emphasis was placed
on the direct connection between the engine
and drive. The torsionally rigid execution of the
drive train results in acoustic feedback of the
torque, as is typical in sports cars. Clacking
sounds can arise during load changes. They do
not impair functionality or shorten the lifespan
of any component.
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Page 114 of 246
BMW M3 engineering
112
Driving on a race track
BMW recommends the following measures
before driving on a race track:
>Participate in a BMW driver training course
>Have the vehicle checked by your BMW
center
Operation on race tracks results in a
higher rate of wear. The BMW M3 is not
designed for use in competitive motorsports.
This wear is not covered by the vehicle war-
ranty.<
The series brake pads and wear indicator are
not designed for operation on a race track. Your
BMW center will be glad to advise you.
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Page 115 of 246
Driving tips
113Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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Page 116 of 246
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Page 117 of 246
Navigation
This chapter describes how you can
enter destinations and specify your route
so that your navigation system guides you
reliably to your destination.
Navigation
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Page 118 of 246
Navigation system
116
Navigation system
General information
With the help of satellites, the navigation sys-
tem is able to ascertain the precise position of
the vehicle and guide you reliably to any desti-
nation you enter.
The navigation data is stored in the vehicle and
can be updated using navigation DVDs.
Make all entries while the vehicle is sta-
tionary
Enter data only when the vehicle is stationary,
and always give priority to the applicable traffic
regulations in the event of any contradiction
between traffic and road conditions and the
instructions issued by the navigation system.
Failure to take to this precaution can place you
in violation of the law and put vehicle occupants
and other road users in danger.<
Updating the navigation data
The navigation data is stored in the vehicle and
can be updated using a navigation DVD. Please
contact the BMW center if you have any ques-
tions.
Inserting navigation DVD
1.Insert the navigation DVD into the DVD
player with the labeled side facing up.
2.Follow the instructions on the display.
3.Enter the authorization code of the naviga-
tion DVD and change the DVD if needed.
Displaying information on the version
1."Navigation"
2.Open "Options".
3."Navigation system version". Information
on the data version is displayed.
Removing navigation DVD
1. Press button 1.
The DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
2.Remove the DVD.
If the DVD is not ejected, the drive may be
blocked. In this case, a message will appear on
the Control Display.
*
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Page 119 of 246
Navigation
Driving tips
117Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Destination entry
In entering your destination you can select from
the following options:
>Entering a destination manually, see below
>Selecting destination from address book,
refer to page119
>Last destinations, refer to Last destinations,
page120
>Special destinations, refer to page120
>Entering a destination on the map, refer to
page122
>Selecting home address, refer to page120
>Entering a destination by voice com-
mands*, refer to page123
You can also store a navigation destination on
the programmable memory keys, refer to
page20.
Enter data only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary, and always give priority to the
applicable traffic regulations in the event of any
contradiction between traffic and road condi-
tions and the instructions issued by the naviga-
tion system. Otherwise, vehicle occupants and
other road users may be endangered.<
Entering a destination
manually
The system's word-matching principle makes it
easier for you to enter the names of towns or
streets. This allows you to enter different spell-
ings and completes your entry automatically so
that stored names can be called up quickly.1."Navigation"
2."Enter address"
The system also supports you with the follow-
ing features:
>If you do not enter a street, the system will
guide you to the downtown a r e a o f a t o w n o r
city.
>You can skip the entry of state/province and
locality if the current entries should be
retained for your new destination.
Entering a state/province
1."Navigation"
2."Enter address"
3.Select "State/Province" or the displayed
state/province.
Entering a town/city
1.Select "Town/City/Zip Code" or the dis-
played town/city, or select letters.
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Page 120 of 246
Destination entry
118 Delete letters, if necessary:
>To delete individual letters:
Turn the controller to select , and
then press the controller.
>To delete all letters:
Turn the controller to select , and
then press the controller for an extended
period.
>To enter spaces:
Select the symbol.
The list gradually grows smaller each time
you enter a new letter.
2.Move the controller to the right.
3.Select the name of the town/city from the
list. The three destinations stored last are
displayed.
If there are several towns/cities with the same
name:
1.Change to the list of town/city names.
2.Highlight the town/city: a preview map is
displayed.
3.Select the town/city.
Entering the postal code
1.Select "Town/City/Zip Code" or the dis-
played town/city.
2.Select the symbol.
3.Select the digits.
4.Change to the list of postal codes and
towns/cities.
5.Highlight the postal code. A preview map is
displayed in the assistance window.
6.Select the postal code.
Entering street and intersection
1.Select "Street" or the displayed street.
2.Enter a street and intersection as you would
the town/city.
After the street you can also enter the intersec-
tion or the house number.
If there are several streets with the same name:1.Change to the list of street names.
2.Highlight the street: a preview map is dis-
played.
3.Select the street.
Entering a street without a destination
town/city
You can also enter a street without specifying a
town/city. In this case, all streets of the same
name in the specified state/province are
offered. The corresponding town/city is dis-
played after the street name.
If a town/city has already been entered, you can
negate this entry. This could be helpful in
instances where the desired street does not
exist in the entered town/city because it
belongs to another suburb, for example.
1."Navigation"
2."Enter address"
3.Select "Street" or the displayed street.
4.Change to the list of street names.
5."Find streets in" the state/province cur-
rently displayed.
6.Select the letters.
7.Change to the list of street names.
8.Highlight the street. A preview map is dis-
played in the assistance window.
9.Select the street.
Entering a house number
You can enter any house number stored in the
navigation data for the street.
1."House number"
2.Select the digits.
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