weight BMW 3 SERIES 2009 Owners Manual

Adjustments
42
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat while
the vehicle is moving. The seat could
respond with unexpected movement, and the
ensuing loss of vehicle co ntrol could lead to an
accident.
On the front passenger seat as well, do not
incline the backrest too far to the rear while the
vehicle is being driven, otherwise there is a dan-
ger in the event of an accident of sliding under
the safety belt, eliminating the protection nor-
mally provided by the belt. <
Comply with the instructions on head restraint
height on page 43, and on damaged safety
belts on page 46.
Manual adjustment
Observe the adjustment instructions on
page 42 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection. <
Longitudinal direction
Pull lever 1 and slide the seat to the desired
position.
After releasing the lever, move the seat gently
forward or back to make sure it engages prop-
erly.
Height
Pull lever 2 and apply your weight to the seat or
lift it off, as necessary.
Backrest
Pull lever 3 and apply your we ight to the back-
rest or lift it off, as necessary.
Tilt*
Pull the lever and apply your weight to the seat
or lift it off, as necessary.
Thigh support*
Pull the lever and move the thigh support for-
ward or back.
Electrical adjustment
Observe the adjustment instructions on
page 42 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection. <
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Controls
49Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger
themselves and/or other persons by opening
the doors, for example. <
The rear center seat is not suitable for installing
child-restraint systems for all age groups,
approved for the age group in question.
Children always in the rear
Accident research has shown that the safest
place for children is on the rear seat.
Children under the age of 13 or smaller
than 5 ft/150 cm may be transported only
in the rear in suitable child-restraint systems
appropriate for their age, weight and size. Oth-
erwise there is an increase d risk of injury in the
event of an accident. <
Children 13 years of age or older must be buck-
led in with a safety belt as soon as there no
longer is any child-restraint system that is
appropriate for their age, size and weight.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessa ry to use a child-
restraint system on the front passenger
seat, the front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger must be deactiva ted. Otherwise, a child
traveling on that seat w ill face a significant risk
of injury if the airbags are triggered off, even
with a child-restraint system. <
For more information on automatic deactivation
of the front passenger airbags refer to page 88.
Installing child-restraint
systems
Observe the child-restraint system man-
ufacturer's instructio ns when selecting,
installing and using child -restraint systems.
Otherwise the protective effect may be dimin-
ished. < Standard child-restraint systems are designed
to be secured with a lap be
lt or with the lap-belt
section of a lap-and-shoulder belt. Incorrectly
or improperly installed child-restraint systems
can increase the risk of injury to children.
Always follow the installation instructions for
the system with the greatest care.
On the front passenger seat
After installing a child-restraint system on
the front passenger seat, make sure that
the front and side airbags for the front passen-
ger are deactivated, ot herwise there is an
increased risk of injury if the airbags deploy. <
Backrest width*
The backrest width of the front passen-
ger's seat must be at its widest possible
setting. Do not change the setting after install-
ing the child seat. Othe rwise the child seat's
stability on the front passenger's seat is lim-
ited. <
1. Adjust the backrest width to its widest set-
ting, refer to page 43.
2. Install the child seat.
Child seat security
The rear safety belts and the front passenger's
safety belt can be prevented from being pulled
out in order to fasten child-restraint systems.
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Practical interior accessories
104
Items of clothing hung from the hooks
must not obstruct the driver's view. Do
not hang heavy objects from the hooks, other-
wise they could endanger the car's occupants,
e.g. in case of heavy braking or sudden swerv-
ing. <
Cup holders
Use lightweight and shatterproof contain-
ers and do not transport hot beverages,
otherwise there is an incr eased risk of injury in
the event of the accident . Do not force contain-
ers that are too large into the cup holders, oth-
erwise damage could result. <
Front
Opening
Briefly press the center of the cover.
Closing
Briefly press the cover in the center and push in
the cup holder.
Ashtray, front
Opening
Push the ridge on the cover.
Emptying
Lift out the insert.
Lighter
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, press in the cigarette lighter.
The lighter can be pulled out as soon as it pops
back out.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette lighter by
the knob only. Holding or touching it in
other areas could result in burns.
When leaving the car, always remove the
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Things to remember when driving
114
Things to remember when driving
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to
each other. Please follow the instructions below
in order to achieve the optimal service life and
economy of operation for your vehicle.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds but do
not exceed:
> Gasoline engine
4,500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h
> Diesel engine
3,500 rpm or 93 mph/150 km/h
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kick-down mode.
After driving 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do no t achieve their full trac-
tion potential until afte r an initial break-in
period. Therefore, drive cautiously during the
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and rotors. Drive cautiously during this break-in
period.
Clutch
The function of the clut ch reaches its optimal
level only after a distan ce driven of approx.
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period,
engage the clutch gently.
Following part replacement
The same break-in procedures should be
observed if any of the components mentioned
above have to be renewe d in the course of the
vehicle's operating life.
Saving fuel
The fuel consumption of your vehicle depends
on several factors. You can lower fuel consump-
tion and the environmental impact by taking
certain measures, adjusting your driving style
and having the vehicle serviced regularly.
Remove any unneeded cargo
Additional weight incr eases fuel consumption.
Remove any mounted parts after you
have finished using them
Remove unneeded additional mirrors, the roof
rack and the rear luggage rack after use.
Mounted parts affect th e vehicle's aerodynam-
ics and increase fuel consumption.
Close the windows and glass roof
An open glass roof or window causes higher air
resistance and thus increases fuel consump-
tion.
Check tire inflation pressure regularly
Check the tire inflation pr essure at least twice a
month and before embarking on a long journey,
and correct it if necessary.
Low tire inflation pressure causes higher rolling
resistance and thus increases fuel consumption
and tire wear.
Set off immediately
Do not let the engine wa rm up while the car is
still standing, but set off immediately at moder-
ate engine speed. This is the fastest way for the
cold engine to reach its operating temperature.
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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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Things to remember when driving
118
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.
Sedan
Sports Wagon
> Use the partition net to protect passengers,
refer to page 107. Make sure that objects
cannot penetrate the partition net.
> Do not stack cargo hi gher than the upper
edge of the backrests.
> Place protective material around any
objects which could bump against the rear
window while the vehicle is in motion.
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
sidewalls 1, two more are on the rear cargo
bay panel 2.
Please comply with the information sup-
plied with the cargo straps.
Always 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 a pproved axle loads, refer
to page 241, as excessive loads can pose a
safety hazard, and may al so 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.
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Driving tips
119Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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
page 50, otherwise these could be damaged. <
Roof-mounted luggage rack*
A special rack system is available as an option
for your BMW. Comply with the directions given
in the installation instructions.
Mounting points
The mounting points are located in the roof/
along the roof rails
*.
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 applicab le data under Weights
on page 241.
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/tailgate.
Fasten roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or falling off
during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration and
braking maneuvers. Ta ke corners gently.
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Mobility
191Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Observe the following when refueling
When handling fuels, follow the safety in-
structions provided at filling stations, oth-
erwise there is a risk of personal injury or prop-
erty damage. <
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe . Avoid lifting the filler
nozzle while filling the ta nk, as that would lead
to
> premature pump shutoff
> reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor recov-
ery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not en-
sured and damage can occur. <
Gasoline engine
Approx. 16.1 US gallons/61 liters, including the
reserve capacity of 2.1 US gallons/8 liters.
Diesel engine
Approx. 16.1 US gallons/61 liters, including the
reserve capacity of 1.7 US gallons/6.5 liters.
Fuel specifications
Gasoline engine: required fuel
Do not refuel with leaded fuel; otherwise,
the catalytic conver ter will be damaged.
Do not fill the tank with E85, i.e. fuel containing
85 Ξ ethanol, nor with Fl exFuel. Otherwise the
engine and fuel suppl y system will be dam-
aged. <
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is hi ghly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
> 323i, 328i/xDrive: 87 >
335i/xDrive: 89.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds
when starting at high outside temperatures.
This has no effect on the engine life.
Do not use any gasoline below the speci-
fied minimum fuel grade. Otherwise the
engine could be damaged. <
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition,
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10Ξ ethanol or other
oxygenates with up to 2.8 Ξ oxygen by weight,
that is, 15 Ξ MTBE or 3 Ξ methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void
the applicable warrantie s with respect to de-
fects in materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in
driveability, starting and stalling problems
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and
high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability problems
which you suspect could be related to the fuel
y o u a r e u s i n g , w e r e c o m m e n d t h a t y o u r e s p o n d
by switching to a recogn ized high-quality brand
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier
Detergent Gasoline.
Failure to comply with these recommendations
may also result in un scheduled maintenance. <
BMW Advanced Diesel: required fuel
Ultra-low sulfur diesel
The engine of your BMW is designed for diesel
with low sulfur content:
Ultra-low sulfur diesel ASTM D 975-07a.
Refuel with ultra-low sulfur diesel only.
The percentage of biodiesel in the fuel
may not exceed 5 %; this type of fuel is referred
to as B5. Do not refuel with gasoline. After refu-
eling with the wrong fuel, e.g. with gasoline, do
not start the engine; otherwise, engine damage
may occur. <
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Refueling
194
Refilling BMW Diesel Exhaust Fluid
1.Attach the bottle and sc rew it all the way on,
see arrow. The line on the bottle should
point upward.
Hold the attached bottle to prevent
the thread on the vehicle from be-
coming damaged by the weight of the bot-
tle. <
2. Press the bottle toward the vehicle, see ar-
row.
The reservoir in the vehicle is filled.
3. The reservoir is full wh en the filling level in
the bottle stops changing. It is not possible
to overfill the reservoir.
Pull back the bottle, see arrow, and unscrew
it.
Closing the reservoir
After refilling, close the reservoir again using
the handle of the screwdriver.
After refilling diesel exhaust fluid
Wrong fluid
If you add the wrong fluid, e.g. antifreeze
for washer fluid, do not start the engine;
otherwise, there is a danger of fire. <
Contact your BMW center.
Disposing of the bottle
You can dispose of the bottles for diesel
exhaust fluid at your BMW center.
Only dispose of empty bottles in household
refuse if local regulations allow. <
Reserve display-
After refilling, the reserv e display continues to
be displayed after the engi ne is started. It goes
out after the vehicle has been driven for several
minutes.
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Wheels and tires
196
Sedan: tire inflation pressures for the 323i, for Canada only
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
Traveling speeds up to a max. of
100 mph / 160 km/h Traveling speeds
including those exceeding 100 mph / 160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in
psi/kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
without Sports package
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S 32/220 35/240 32/220 36/250 35/240 42/290
225/50 R 16 92 V
225/50 R 16 92 H M+S 32/220 35/240 32/220 33/230 32/220 39/270
225/45 R 17 91 H M+S
225/45 R 17 91 V 32/220 36/250 32/220 36/250 35/240 42/290
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL 32/220 38/260 32/220 36/250 35/240 42/290
Front: 225/45 R 17 91 V 32/220 - 32/220 - 35/240 -
Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 V - 33/230 - 32/220 - 38/260
Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W 32/220 - 32/220 - 35/240 -
Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W - 38/260 - 35/240 - 41/280
Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL 35/240 - 32/220 - 35/240 -
Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL - 42/290 - 36/250 - 42/290
with Sports package
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S
225/50 R 16 92 V
225/50 R 16 92 H M+S 32/220 35/240 32/220 36/250 35/240 42/290
225/45 R 17 91 V
225/45 R 17 91 H M+S 32/220 36/250 33/230 41/280 41/280 48/330
225/45 R 17 94 V M+S XL 32/220 38/260 33/230 41/280 41/280 48/330
Front: 225/45 R 17 91 V 32/220 - 33/230 - 41/280 -
Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 V - 33/230 - 36/250 - 42/290
Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W 32/220 - 33/230 - 38/260 -
Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W - 38/260 - 39/270 - 45/310
Front: 225/35 R 19 88 Y XL 35/240 - 33/230 - 38/260 -
Rear: 255/30 R 19 91 Y XL - 42/290 - 39/270 - 45/310
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page241.
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