charging BMW 3 SERIES 2008 E90 Service and warranty information

Battery Care
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 engines charging system will not
maintain the battery. Insufficient use of the vehi-
cle could result in short term starting problems
and in the long term could damage the battery.
In case the car is not operated for several weeks
it is advisable to:
 consider using a proper trickle charger, fol-
lowing the charger manufacturer’s instruc-
tions, to maintain the battery’s state of
charge; or
 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 bat-
tery 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 imple-
mented by BMW now make it possible to offer a
twelve-year unlimited mileage anti-corrosion
warranty against rust perforation on your vehicle
provided that the vehicle is maintained in accor-
dance with the provisions of the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty as outlined in the Warranty
Section of this Booklet (page 32).
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 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 12-year
unlimited mileage anti-corrosion warranty are
outlined in the Warranty Section of this Booklet
(page 34).
Restoring corrosion protection
Please take care that anti-corrosion material is
replaced when your car is repaired after body or
chassis damage.
BMW NA 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 on metal components.
Your BMW center will do this anti-corrosion ser-
vice for you.
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.
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