towing capacity BMW 3 SERIES 2009 Owners Manual

Driving tips
117Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the automatic cli-
mate control is in operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water
under the vehicle are therefore normal.
Before driving into a car wash
General information on caring for your BMW
can be found on page218.
Sports Wagon: re ar window wiper
Driving through an automatic car wash can
result in damage to the rear window wiper. If
necessary, ask the operator of the car wash
about protective measures you should take.
With convenient access and automatic
transmission
Insert the remote control into the ignition
switch.
The engine can be switched off when the selec-
tor lever is in position N. Refer also to page 218.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overlo ading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. This can ultimately
result in a sudden blow-out. <
Make sure that no liquids are spilled or
leak from their containers in the cargo
bay, as this could result in damage to the vehi-
cle. <
Determining loading limit
1. Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or YYY lbs. Otherwise, overloading
can result in damage to the vehicle and
unstable driving conditions.<
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY
pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals
1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs:
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of
the load from your tra iler will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for
transporting a trailer to determine how this
may reduce the availa ble cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
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Reference 251
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
AUX-IN
– port103
AUX-IN port 161
Average fuel consumption 69
– setting the units 71
Average speed 69
Avoid highways in navigation 133
Avoiding unintentional alarms 34
Axle loads, refer to
Weights 241
B
Backrest contour, refer to
Lumbar support 43
Backrests, refer to Seat adjustment 42
Backrest width adjustment 43
Back seats
– refer to Rear seats 44
Backup lamps
– replacing bulb 227
Backup lamps, refer to Tail
lamps 226
Band-aids, refer to First-aid pouch 231
Bar, refer to Towing methods 233
Base plate for telephone or
mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter 177
– refer to Snap-in adapter in
the center armrest storage
compartment 103
Bass, tone setting 142
Battery 228
– charging 229
– disposal 35,229
– jump starting 231
– remote control 26
– temporary power failure 229
Battery for mobile phone 177
Battery renewal
– remote control 35
– remote control for vehicle 35
Being towed 233
Belts, refer to Safety belts 46Belt tensioner,
refer to Safety
belts 46
Beverage holders, refer to Cup holders 104
Blower, refer to Air flow
rate 95
Bluetooth, activating/ deactivating 170
Bluetooth, refer to separate Owner's Manual
BMW
– car shampoo 220
BMW Assist, activating 182
BMW Advanced Diesel 192
BMW Assist 181
BMW center 186
BMW Homepage 4
BMW Maintenance System 216
BMW Search 182
BMW webpage 4
Bottle holders, refer to Cup
holders 104
Brake assist, refer to Dynamic Brake Control DBC 81
Brake fluid, refer to Service requirements 71
Brake force display 87
Br

ake lamps
– brake force display 87
– replacing bulb 227
Brake pads 114
– breaking in 114
Brake rotors 116
– brakes 114
– breaking in 114
Brakes
– ABS 81
– BMW Maintenance System 216
– brake force display 87
– breaking in 114
– parking brake 54
– service requirements 71
Brakes, refer to Braking safely 116 Brake system
114
– BMW Maintenance
System 216
– breaking in 114
– disc brakes 116
Breakdown services, refer to Roadside Assistance 230
Breaking in the clutch 114
Breaking in the differential, refer to Engine and
differential 114
Break-in period 114
Brightness of Control
Display 78
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps and bulbs 223
Button for starting the engine, refer to Start/stop button 53
Buttons on the steering
wheel 11
C
California Proposition 65
warning 6
Call
– accepting 171
– ending 172
– rejecting 172
Calling, refer to Phone numbers, dialing 172
Can holders, refer to Cup holders 104
Capacities 242
Capacity of the cargo bay 241
Car battery, refer to Vehicle battery 228
Car care, refer to Care 218
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Everything from A - Z
252
Care
218
– automatic car washes 218
– care products 218
– carpets 220
– CD/DVD drives 221
– chrome parts 219
– displays 220
– exterior 218
– fine wood parts 220
– headlamps 219
– high-pressure washer 218
– interior 220
– leather 220
– light-alloy wheels 219
– paintwork 219
– plastic parts 220
– rubber seals 219
– safety belts 220
– sensors and cameras 220
– upholstery and cloth trim 220
– washing the car
manually 219
– windows 219
– wiper blades 219
Cargo, securing 118
Cargo bay 107
– capacity 241
– convenient access 35
– folding up the floor panel 109
– lamp, refer to Interior lamps 93
– opening from inside 30
– opening from outside 31
– partition net 107
– roll-up cover 107
Cargo bay lid, refer to Luggage compartment lid/
tailgate 30
Cargo bay net, refer to Partition net 107
Cargo loading 117
– securing cargo 118
– stowing cargo 118
– vehicle 117
Car jack
– jacking points 228 Car key, refer to Integrated
key/remote control 26
Car phone
– installation location, refer to Center armrest 103
– refer to separate Owner's Manual
Car phone, refer to
Telephone 168
Car radio, refer to Radio 145
Car s

hampoo 220
Car wash 117
Catalytic converter, refer to
Hot exhaust system 115
CBS Condition Based Service 216
CD, audio playback 150
CD changer 150
– controls 142
– fast forward/reverse 152
– installation location 154
– random play sequence 151
– selecting a track 150
– switching on/off 142
– tone control 142
– volume 142
CD player 150
– controls 142
– fast forward/reverse 152
– random play sequence 151
– selecting a track 150
– switching on/off 142
– tone control 142
– volume 142
Center armrest 103
Center brake lamp
– replacing bulb 228
Center console, refer to Around the center
console 14
Central locking
– from inside 30
– from outside 27
Central locking system 27
– convenient access 34
– hotel function 32
– setting unlocking characteristics 27 Changes, technical, refer to
For your own safety 5
Changing bulbs, refer to Lamps and bulbs 223
Changing the measurement
units on the Control
Display 71
Changing wheels 228
Chassis number, refer to Engine compartment 212
Check Control 75
Check Gas Cap 190
Child-restraint fixing system
LATCH 50
Child-restraint systems 49
Child-safety lock 52
Child seats, refer to Transporting children
safely 49
Chrome parts 220
Chrome polish 220
Cigarette lighter, refer to
Ligh
ter104
Cleaning headlamps 58
– washer fluid 59
Cleaning your BMW, refer to Care 218
Clock 67
– 12h/24h mode 74
– setting the time and date 74
– setting time 73
Closing
– from inside 30
– from outside 27
Clothes hooks 103
Cockpit 10
Cold start, refer to Starting the
engine 53
Combined instrument, refer to Instrument cluster 12
Comfort access, refer to Convenient access 34
Comfort area, refer to Around
the center console 14
Compartment for remote control, refer to Ignition
lock 53
Compass 101
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Reference 255
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Environmentally friendly driving, refer to Energy
Control 68
Equalizer, tone setting 143
Error messages, refer to
Check Control 75
Event data recorders 217
Exhaust system, refer to Hot
exhaust system 115
Expanding the cargo bay 107
Exterior mirrors 47
– adjusting 47
– automatic dimming
feature 48
– automatic heating 47
– folding in and out 47
External audio device 103
Eyes
– for tow-starting and towing
away 233
– for tying down loads 118
F
Failure messages, refer to
Check Control 75
Failure of an electrical consumer 229
False alarm
– avoiding unintentional alarm 34
– switching off an alarm 33
Fastening safety belts, refer to Safety belts 46
Fastest route for navigation 133
Fast forward
– CD changer 152
– CD player 152
Filter
– refer to Microfilter/activated- charcoal filter for automatic
climate control 97
First aid pouch 231
Fixture for remote control, refer to Ignition lock 53
Flash when locking/ unlocking 28 Flat tire
– Run-Flat Tires
209
– Tire Pressure Monitor TPM 84
Flat Tire Monitor FTM 83
– indicating a flat tire 84
– indicator/warning lamp 84
– initializing the system 83
– malfunction 84
– snow chains 83,210
– system limits 83
Flat tires, refer to Tire condition 208
Fluid reservoir, refer to Washer fluid reservoir 59
FM, waveband 145
Fog lamps 92
– indicator lamp 13,92
Folding rear seat backrest 107
Folding up the floor panel 109
Footbrake, refer to Braking safely 116
Footwell lamps, refer to Interior lamps 93
For your own safety 5
Four-wheel drive, refer to xDrive 82
Free memory capacity, music
collection 159
Front airbags 88
FTM, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 83
Fuel 191
– additives 192
– average consumption 69
– gauge 68
– high-qu
ality brands 191
– quality 191
– specifications 191
– tank contents, refer to
Capacities 242
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel gauge 68
Fuel display, refer to Fuel gauge 68
Fuel-efficient driving, refer to
Energy Control 68 Fuel filler door
190
– releasing in the event of
electrical malfunction 190
Fuses 229
G
Garage door opener, refer to
Integrated universal remote
control 99
Gasoline
– refer to Average consumption 69
Gasoline, refer to Required
fuel 191
Gasoline display, refer to Fuel
gauge 68
Gear indicator, automatic transmission with
Steptronic 55
Gearshift lever
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic 56
– manual transmission 55
Gearshifts
– automatic transmission with Steptronic 56
– manual transmission 55
General driving notes 115
Glass roof, electric 37
– closing after electrical
malfunction 37
– convenient operation 28,29
– initializing 37
– opening, closing 37
– pinch protection system 37
– power failure 37
– raising 37
– remote control 28
Glove compartment 102
GPS navigation, refer to Navigation system 122
Grills 94
Gross vehicle weight, refer to Weights 241
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Everything from A - Z
260
Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints
44
– folding 107
– folding down backrests 106,107
– folding head restraint down and up 44
Rear ventilation 97
Rearview mirror, refer to Mirrors 47
Rear window
– cleaning 59
– opening 32
Rear window blind, refer to Roller sun blinds 102
Rear window defroster 97
Rear window safety switch 36
Rear window wiper 59
– changing rear wiper
blade 223
Receiving level of mobile phone, refer to Status
information 19
Reception
– quality 146
– radio station 146
Recirculated-air mode 96
Recirculation of air, refer to
Recirculated-air mode 96
Reclining seat, refer to Backrest 42
Refueling 190
Releasing
– hood 211
Remaining distance, refer to Cruising range 69
Remote control 26
– battery renewal 35
– convenient access 34
– garage door opener 99
– luggage compartment lid 28
– malfunction 29,35
– removing from the ignition
lock 53
– service data 216
– tailgate 28
Replacement remote control 26 Replacing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs 223
Replacing tires 209
Replacing tires, refer to New wheels and tires 209
Reporting safety defects 6
Reserve warning, refer to Fuel gauge 68
Reset, refer to Resetting tone settings 144
Residual heat 96
Restraint systems
– for children 49
– refe

r to Safety belts 46
Reverse
– CD changer 152
– CD player 152
Reverse gear
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic 56
– manual transmission 55
RME, refer to
Rapeseed-oil methyl
ester 191
Road map 135
Roadside Assistance 181,230
Roadside parking lamps 92
– replacing bulbs 223,225
Roadworthiness test, refer to Service requirements 71
Roller blind
– sun blinds 102
Roof load capacity 241
Roof-mounted luggage rack 119
Rope, refer to Tow-starting,
towing away 233
Rotary/pushbutton, refer to iDrive 16
Route 133,134
– bypassing sections 134
– changing 133,134
– changing criteria 133
– displaying streets or towns/ cities 134
– map display 135
– selecting 133 Route instructions, refer to
Destination guidance
through voice
instructions 134
Route map, refer to Map
display 135
Route section, changing 134
Route selection 133
RSC Runflat System Component, refer to Run-
Flat Tires 209
Runflat System Component RSC, refer to Run-Flat
Tires 209
Run-Flat Tires 209
– continuing driving with a
damaged tire 84
– flat tire 84
– Flat Tire Monitor 84
– new tires 209
– replacing 209
– tire inflation pressure 195
– winter tires 210
S
Safety-belt height
adjustment 46
Safety belts 46
– damage 46
– indicator/warning lamp 46
– reminder 46
– sitting safely 41
Safety systems
– airbags 88
– Antilock Brake System ABS 81
– brake system 81
– driving stability control systems 81
– Dynamic Stability Control DSC 81
– safety belts 46
Safety tires, refer to Run-Flat Tires 209
Satellite radio 148
– enabling channel 148
– selecting channel 149
– storing channel 149
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