engine BMW 3 SERIES 2004 E46 Service and warranty information

The maintenance schedule as shown
is required for the proper functioning
of the emission control systems for
optimum vehicle performance and fuel
economy.
Abbreviations:
I - Inspect
R - Replace part(s) and/or fluid listed
Basic Engine
Engine oil....................................................
Engine oil filter..........................................
Fuel System
Air filter.......................................................
Ignition System
Spark plugs...............................................
Emission Control Components
Oxygen sensor..........................................
Emission Control Maintenance Schedule 3 Series
Oxygen Sensor Service: The oxygen sensor deteriorates strictly on a mileage basis and must
therefore be replaced to maximize vehicle fuel economy and minimize exhaust pollution.
The mileage interval varies according to individual driving conditions and is determined by the
service interval indicator.
13
Oil Service
Inspection I
Oil Service
Inspection II
RRR R
RRR R
R
Replace at intervals of
100,000 miles
Replace at intervals of
120,000 miles3 Series

If your car is driven only for short distances of
less than 10 miles over a prolonged period of
time, without an occasional drive at highway
speeds, the engine’s charging system will not
maintain the battery. Insufficient use of the
vehicle could result in short term starting
problems and in the long term could damage
the battery.
In case the car is not operated for more than
four weeks it is advisable to:
a) consider using a proper trickle charger,
following the charger manufacturer’s
instructions, to maintain the battery’s state of
charge; or
b) consult your BMW center regarding battery
removal. Once removed, the battery must be
charged and stored in a cool, dry place
where it can be protected from freezing. If
the battery will be stored for over 3 months, it
must be recharged every 3 months, or else it
will become damaged and useless.
Please consult with your BMW center for
further guidance and information.
Corrosion Protection
Extensive corrosion protection measures
implemented by BMW now make it possible to
offer a six-year limited anti-corrosion warranty
against rust perforation on your vehicle
provided that the vehicle is maintained in
accordance with the provisions of the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty as outlined in the
Warranty Section of this Statement (page 29).
The major degree of corrosion protection is
due to the electrophoretic dip painting process
which cathodically deposits paint particles on
all body parts, attracting paint particles into the
minutest cavities or seams. Body parts are
designed to provide optimum corrosion
protection.During manufacture, exterior body parts
receive an additional corrosion protection coat.
Hood, trunk, doors and other body parts with
metal folds are coated with PVC and sealed
from the outside.
All floor panels receive a resilient coating of
PVC for maximum protection against damage
due to stones, etc.
Corrosion protection materials tested over
many years are applied to the surfaces of
cavities and to the entire underside of the
vehicle during and after assembly.
Requirements for maintaining the six-year
limited anti-corrosion warranty are outlined in
the Warranty Section of this Statement (page
31).
Restoring corrosion protection
Please take care that anti-corrosion material is
replaced when your car is repaired after body
or chassis damage.
BMW will not accept any liability for any
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
Underbody maintenance
The underbody has to be cleaned at least
once a year, in spring, with plain water in order
to remove mud, chemical sediments and other
deposits. If those materials are not removed,
corrosion (rust) will occur.
Your BMW center will do this anti-corrosion
service for you.
WARNING
Do not apply additional undercoating or rust-
proofing on or near the exhaust manifold,
exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or heat
shields. During driving, the substance used
for undercoating could overheat and cause
a fire.
Battery Care
14

As a BMW owner, you will experience BMW
quality first hand. Our dedication to excellence
in design, engineering, and service is among
the best in the world. And we invest heavily
every year in our people and facilities to
ensure that our quality standards are consis-
tently applied from the factory to the BMW
center. Par t of that investment program is
devoted to our multi-million-dollar
Import Processing Centers staffed by our
highly trained specialists.
At these state-of-the-art facilities, each BMW is
given a thorough inspection after its trans-
atlantic shipment to the United States.
Imperfections in the mechanical and electrical
systems or damage to the sheet metal, paint,
trim or other components of the vehicle which
may occur during transportation from the
factory to the United States are normally
detected and corrected at the Import
Processing Centers in the United States.
Any defect in material or workmanship which
occurs during the warranty period is covered
under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
BMW Import Processing Center
Special Programs
SOMETIMES BMW OF NORTH AMERICA
OFFERS A SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT
PROGRAM TO PAY ALL OR PART OF THE
COST OF CERTAIN REPAIRS BEYOND THE
TERMS OF THE WARRANTY. CHECK WITH
YOUR BMW CENTER TO DETERMINE
WHETHER ANY ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM
IS APPLICABLE TO YOUR MOTOR
VEHICLE. During a specific period (usually the earlier of
12 months or 12,000 miles, though this
period varies by state), some states
require us or our authorized BMW center,
to repair in a reasonable number of attempts,
any defect or condition which substantially
impairs the use, value, or safety of a new
vehicle sold, leased or registered in that
state.
A “reasonable number of attempts” is gener-
ally defined as (i) two or more attempts to
repair the same defect (the number of attempts
may vary by state) or (ii) that the same defect
has caused the vehicle to be out of service by
reason of repair for more than 30 days (this
period may vary by state), except for delays
created by conditions beyond our control.
If we are unable to correct a defect or condition
covered by these statutes in a reasonable
number of attempts, we may be obligated
either to replace the vehicle or reimburse the
owner/lessee in an amount equal to the
purchase price or lease payments paid by the
owner/lessee, less the amount directly
attributable to use of the vehicle by the owner/
lessee.
YOU SHOULD SEND WRITTEN NOTIFICA-
TION DIRECTLY TO BMW OF NORTH
AMERICA OF THE EXISTENCE OF AN
ALLEGED DEFECT. SEND WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION TO THE NATIONAL
CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
ADDRESS LISTED BELOW.
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA
CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
P.O. BOX 1227
WESTWOOD, NEW JERSEY 07675-1227
Telephone: 1-800-831-1117
Customer Assistance -
Notification
22

27
Warrantor
BMW NA warrants 2004 U.S. specification
vehicles distributed by BMW NA or sold through
the BMW NA European Delivery Program
against defects in materials or workmanship to
the first retail purchaser, and each subsequent
purchaser.
Warranty Period
The warranty period is 48 months or 50,000
miles, whichever occurs first.
Warranty Begins
This warranty begins on the date of first
retail sale, or the date the vehicle is first
placed in service as a demonstrator or
company vehicle, whichever is earlier.
Warranty Coverage
To obtain service under this warranty, the
vehicle must be brought, upon discovery of a
defect in material or workmanship, to the
workshop of any authorized BMW center,
during normal business hours. The BMW
center will, without charge for parts or labor,
either repair or replace the defective part(s)
using new or authorized remanufactured parts.
The decision to repair or replace said part(s) is
solely the prerogative of BMW NA. Parts for
which replacements are made become the
property of BMW NA.
In all cases, a reasonable time must be
allowed for warranty repairs to be completed
after the vehicle is received by the BMW
center.
Safety Belt Warranty - Kansas
Safety belts are covered under the BMW New
Vehicle Limited Warranty for defects in material
or workmanship for a period of 10 years,unlimited mileage from the date of purchase. In
order to be eligible for this coverage, the vehicle
must be a new car retailed in the State of
Kansas and the repair performed by an
authorized BMW center in Kansas.
Towing/Other Owner Benefits
A 24-hour Roadside Assistance Program is
available to every BMW owner during the new
vehicle warranty period.
Roadside assistance and other owner benefits
are available by calling:
1-800-332-4269
For additional details on towing and other
owner benefits please refer to the BMW
Roadside Assistance section of this Statement
(page 23).
Other Items
Wheel alignment, balancing and wiper blade
inserts are covered up to 2,000 miles.
Items which are subject to wear and tear or
deterioration due to driving habits or condi-
tions, such as brake pads/linings, brake discs,
clutch disc, pressure plate, filters, upholstery,
trim and chrome items, paint finish, drive belts,
glass, and similar items, are specifically
limited to defects in material or workmanship.
This warranty does not apply to the
following:
Damage which results from negligence,
improper operation of the vehicle, improper
repair, lack of or improper maintenance,
environmental influences, flood, accident or
fire damage, road salt corrosion, or use of
improper or contaminated fuel.
Maintenance services and parts when
replaced during maintenance such as spark
plugs, lubricants, fluids, engine tuneup parts,
replacement of filters, coolant, and refrigerant.
Failure to maintain the vehicle properly in
accordance with the instructions in the
Owner’s Manual or the Service section of this
Statement, that results in the failure of any
part of the vehicle.
New Vehicle Limited Warranty -
2004 Models
(Valid only in the U.S.A. and
Puerto Rico)

Modification of the vehicle or installation of any
performance accessories or components
attached to the vehicle which alters the
original engineering and/or operating
specifications or which result in damage to the
other original components, electrical interfer-
ence, electrical short, radio static, water leaks
and wind noise.
Tires are warranted by their respective
manufacturer as detailed in the applicable
tire manufacturer’s warranty statements.
Instructions for proper tire care and mainte-
nance are contained in the Owner’s Manual.
Should you experience difficulty in obtaining
warranty service from a tire manufacturer, your
authorized BMW center will assist you in
resolving the difficulty.
Non-BMW Parts – While you may elect to use
non-genuine BMW parts for maintenance or
repair services, BMW NA is not obligated to
pay for repairs that include non-genuine BMW
parts or for any damage resulting from the use
of non-genuine parts.
BMW will not accept any liability for any
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
This warranty shall be null and void if the
vehicle identification number has been
altered or cannot be read, if the odometer
has been replaced or altered and the true
mileage cannot be determined, if the vehicle
has been declared a total loss or sold for
salvage purposes, or if the vehicle has been
used in any competitive event.General
These warranties give you specific legal rights,
and you may also have other rights which vary
from state to state.
THE DURATION OF ANY IMPLIED WAR-
RANTIES, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED
WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, IS
LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF THE
EXPRESS WARRANTIES HEREIN. BMW
NA HEREBY EXCLUDES INCIDENTAL AND
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING
LOSS OF TIME, INCONVENIENCE, OR
LOSS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE, FOR ANY
BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTY, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED
WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY,
APPLICABLE TO THIS PRODUCT.
Some states do not allow limitations on how
long an implied warranty lasts, or the exclu-
sion or limitation of incidental or consequential
damages, so the above limitations and
exclusions may not apply to you.
The BMW Certified Pre-Owned Limited
Warranty:
The BMW Certified Pre-Owned limited
warranty is applicable to the retail purchaser
and each subsequent retail purchaser (not for
resale purposes) of the CPO vehicle sold
through an authorized BMW center for 2 years
or 50,000 miles from the effective date,
whichever occurs first.
28

33 You may obtain fur ther information concerning
the emission warranties, or report violations of
warranty terms, by contacting the Manager,
Certification and Compliance Division (6405J),
Warranty Claims, Environmental Protection
Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylva-
nia Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
The following systems are covered by the
Federal Emission Performance Warranty for a
period of two years or 24,000 miles, whichever
occurs first. The specific systems may vary
according to model, therefore, all of the
systems listed may not be used on your
vehicle. For assistance in determining which
systems and specific components within these
systems apply to your vehicle, please contact
your BMW center.
AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM
FUEL METERING SYSTEM
IGNITION SYSTEM
POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION
SYSTEM (PCV)
FUEL EVAPORATIVE CONTROL SYSTEM
EXHAUST SYSTEM
ENGINE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
SENSORS/DEVICES
ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (OBD)
RELATED PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
ABOVE SYSTEMS
The following components and/or system are/
is covered under the Federal Emission
Performance Warranty for a period of 8 years
or 80,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER
ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (INCLUDING
ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM)For assistance in determining coverage of the
specific components of the on-board
diagnostic system, please contact your BMW
center.

The California Air Resources Board and BMW
of North America (BMW NA) are pleased to
explain the emission control system warranty
on your 2004 vehicle. In California, new motor
vehicles must be designed, built and
equipped to meet the State’s stringent anti-
smog stan-dards. BMW NA must warrant the
emission control system on your vehicle for the
periods of time listed below provided there has
been no abuse, neglect or improper
maintenance of your vehicle.
Your emission control system may include
parts such as the fuel injection system, the
ignition system, catalytic converter, and engine
computer. Also included may be hoses, belts,
connectors and other emission-related
assemblies.
Where a warrantable condition exists, BMW NA
will repair your vehicle at no cost to you
including diagnosis, parts and labor.
Manufacturer’s Warranty Coverage:
– For 3 years or 50,000 miles whichever
occurs first:
1. If your vehicle fails a Smog Check inspec-
tion, all necessary repairs and adjustments
will be made by BMW NA to ensure that
your vehicle passes the inspection. This is
your emission control system PERFOR-
MANCE WARRANTY.
2. If any emission-related part on your vehicle
is defective, the part will be repaired or
replaced by BMW NA. This is your short-
term emission control system DEFECTS
WARRANTY.
– For 7 years or 70,000 miles whichever
occurs first:
If an emission-related part, specially noted on
page 40 as having coverage for 7 years or
70,000 miles is defective, the part will berepaired or replaced by BMW NA. This is your
long-term emission control system DEFECTS
WARRANTY.
Owner’s Warranty Responsibilities:
– As the vehicle owner, you are responsible
for the performance of the required mainte-
nance listed in your Owner’s Manual. BMW
NA recommends that you retain all receipts
covering maintenance on your vehicle, but
BMW NA cannot deny warranty solely for
the lack of receipts or for your failure to
ensure the performance of all scheduled
maintenance.
– You are responsible for presenting your
vehicle to an authorized BMW center as
soon as a problem exists. The warranty
repairs should be completed in a reason-
able amount of time, not to exceed 30 days.
– As the vehicle owner, you should also be
aware that BMW NA may deny your
warranty coverage if your vehicle or part has
failed due to abuse, neglect, improper
maintenance or unapproved modifications.
If you have any questions regarding your
warranty rights and responsibilities, you should
contact:
BMW of North America
Customer Relations Department
PO. Box 1227
Westwood, N.J. 07675-1227
Telephone: 1-800-831-1117
Website: www.bmwusa.com
or the
California Air Resources Board
9528 Telstar Avenue
P.O. Box 8001
El Monte, CA 91731
*The California Emissions Control System
Limited Warranty applies to all 2004 U.S.
specification BMW vehicles sold, leased, and/or
registered in California, Maine, Massachusetts
or Vermont.
California Emission Control
Warranty Statement*
Your Warranty Rights and
Obligations
34

37 For assistance in determining which parts are
covered by this warranty, please contact your
authorized BMW center or the BMW NA
Customer Relations Department at
1-800-831-1117 or through our website at
www.bmwusa.com. You may obtain further
information concerning the emissions warranty
or report violations of warranty terms, by
contacting Air Resources Board (ARB), Mobile
Source Division, 9528 Telstar Avenue, P.O. Box
8001, El Monte, CA 91731. Please include the
title of the BMW service department head and
telephone number.
California Emission Warranty
Parts List
The following components are covered for
defects by the California Emission Control
System Limited Warranty for a period of 7
years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes
first.
COMPONENT 3 Series
INTAKE MANIFOLD 
VANOS CAMSHAFT POSITION CONTROLLER 
ENGINE CONTROL MODULE 
FUEL TANK 
EXHAUST MANIFOLD 
EXHAUST MANIFOLD WITH CATALYST 
THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER 
TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE 
SMG CONTROL MODULE 
TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE