check engine BMW 3 SERIES CONVERTIBLE 2013 E93 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: BMW, Model Year: 2013, Model line: 3 SERIES CONVERTIBLE, Model: BMW 3 SERIES CONVERTIBLE 2013 E93Pages: 311, PDF Size: 7.05 MB
Page 142 of 311

137
Things to remember when driving
Driving tips
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.
Drive defensively
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking 
maneuvers. To do so, keep an adequate dis-
tance between you and th e vehicle in front of 
you. A defensive and smooth driving style 
keeps fuel consumption down.
Avoid high engine speeds
Only use first gear when setting off. In second 
and higher gears, accele rate without hesitation 
or pauses. When accelera ting, shift up before 
reaching high engine speeds.
When you reach the desi red speed, shift into 
the highest applicable ge ar and drive with the 
engine speed as low as possible and at a 
constant speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers 
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Coasting
When approaching a red lig ht, take your foot off 
the accelerator and coast to a stop in the high-
est applicable gear.
On a downhill slope, take your foot off the 
accelerator and coast in a suitable gear.
The fuel supply is interrupted when coasting.
Switch off the engine during lengthy 
stops
Switch off the engine when stopping for lengthy 
periods, e.g. at traffic lights, railroad crossings 
or in traffic congestions.
Switch off functions you do not need at 
the moment
Functions such as the air conditioner, seat 
heating or rear window defroster draw large 
amounts of power and consume additional fuel. 
Especially in city traffic and in stop-and-go driv-
ing they have a considerable impact. Therefore, 
switch these functions  off when they are not 
really needed.
Have the vehicle serviced
Have the vehicle serviced regularly to achieve 
good economy and a long vehicle life. BMW 
recommends having the vehicle serviced at 
your BMW center. Also note the BMW Mainte-
nance System, refer to page 260.
General driving notes
Close the trunk lid
Only drive with the trunk closed. Failure to 
do so may endanger passengers or other 
road users or may damage the vehicle in the 
event of an accident or a braking and evasive 
maneuver. In addition, exhaust gas may flow 
into the passenger compartment. <
If special circumstance s make it absolutely 
necessary to drive wi th the trunk open:
1. Close all windows and the glass roof.
2. Greatly increase the air volume of the 
automatic climate cont rol system, refer to 
page 117.
3. Drive cautiously.
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003  
Page 261 of 311

256
MobilityEngine compartment
Releasing
Pull the lever.
Opening
In order to avoid damage, make sure that 
the wiper arms are against the windshield 
before you open the hood. Do not open the 
engine hood before the engine has cooled 
down; otherwise, injuries may result. <
Press the release handle and open the hood.
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of approx. 10 in/
25 cm. It must be clearly heard to engage. Make sure that the  closing path of the 
hood is clear; otherwise, injuries may 
result.  If you see any signs while driving your vehicle 
that the hood is not comp
letely closed, stop at 
once and close it securely. <
Engine oil
General information
The engine oil consumption is dependent on 
driving style and operating conditions; for 
example, the engine oil consumption is signifi-
cantly higher with a very sporty driving style.
For this reason, regularly check the oil level 
after each time you refuel.
Checking oil level
Your car is equipped with  an electronic oil-level 
monitor.
For a precise measurement and display of the 
oil level, it is necessar y that the engine be at 
operating temperature, i.e. after uninterrupted 
driving for at least approx. 6.2 miles/10 km. You 
can have the oil level  displayed while you are 
driving, or while the vehicle is at a standstill on a 
level surface and the  engine is running.
Display in the instrument cluster
1.Push button 1 in the turn signal/high beam 
lever up or down repe atedly until the appro-
priate symbol is shown in the display, 
accompanied by the word "OIL".
2. Press button 2 in the turn signal/high beam 
lever. 
The oil level is chec ked and the reading 
displayed.
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003  
Page 262 of 311

257
Engine compartment
Mobility
Possible displays
1
Oil level OK
2 Oil level is  being checked.
This can take about 3 min utes if the car is at 
a standstill on a level surface, or about 
5 minutes while the car is on the move.
3 Oil level down to minimum:
Add engine oil as soon as possible, but no 
more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to 
Adding engine oil on page 258.
4 Oil level is too high.
Too much oil will harm the engine. 
Have the vehicle checked without 
delay. <
5 The oil level sens or is defective.
Do not add engine oil. You can continue 
your journey. Note the newly calculated dis-
tance remaining to the ne xt oil service, refer 
to page 88. Have the system checked as 
soon as possible.
Display via iDrive
1. "Vehicle Info"
2. "Vehicle status"
3. "Engine oil level"
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level OK"
> "Measurement not possible at this time."
> "Measuring engine oil level...":
This can take about 3 minutes if the car is at 
a standstill on a level surface and the engine 
is running, and about 5 minutes while the 
car is moving.
If engine oil was added,  it may take up to 
30 minutes to obtain an oil level reading.
> "Engine oil level below minimum. Add 1 
quart!"
Add engine oil as soon as possible, but no 
more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to 
Adding engine oil below.
If the oil level is below the minimum value, 
add engine oil immediately to avoid engine 
damage.
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003  
Page 263 of 311

258
MobilityEngine compartment
>"Engine oil level too high! Have this 
checked."
Too much oil will harm the engine. 
Have the vehicle  checked without 
delay. <
> "Measurement inactive. Have this 
checked."
Do not add engine oil. You can continue 
your journey. Note the newly calculated 
distance remaining to the next oil service, 
refer to page 88. Have the system checked 
as soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
Add up to 1 US quart/1 liter  of engine oil only 
after a corresponding message is shown on the 
Control Display.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km; 
otherwise, the engine could be 
damaged. <
If the engine oil is  too high, have the 
vehicle checked immediately; failure to do 
so may result in engine damage. <
Keep oils, greases, etc. out of the reach of 
children and comply with the relevant 
warnings on the containers. Otherwise, health 
hazards may result. <
Oil grades to add
Do not use oil additives as this could 
result in engine damage.<
When selecting an engi ne oil, make sure 
to use one from the SAE viscosity classes 
0W-40, 0W-30, 5W-40 or 5W-30; failure to 
do so may result in malfunctions or engine 
damage. <
The engine oil quality is critical for the life of the 
engine.
Some oil grades may no t be available in all 
countries.
Approved oil grades
Additional information about approved oil 
grades is available at your BMW center.
Alternative oil types
If approved oils are not available, you can add 
quantities of up to 1 US quart/1 liter of another 
oil with the following specifications:
Oil change
Oil changes should only be performed by a 
BMW center.
Gasoline engine
BMW High Performance SAE 5W-30
BMW Longlife-01
BMW Longlife-01 FE
Diesel engine
BMW Longlife-04
Gasoline engine
API SM or higher
Diesel engine
API ILSAC GF-5
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003  
Page 264 of 311

259
Engine compartment
Mobility
Coolant
Coolant consists of half water and half additive. 
Not all commercially availa
ble additives are suit-
able for your BMW. Ask your BMW center about 
suitable additives.
Only use suitable a dditives; otherwise, 
engine damage may result. Because 
additives are harmful to your health, it is 
important to follow the instructions on the 
containers. <
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when 
disposing of coolant additives. <
Coolant temperature
If the coolant and therefore the engine over-
heats, a warning lamp lights up. A message 
appears on the Control Display.
Checking coolant level
Do not add coolant to the cooling system 
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant 
can cause burns. <
1. Do not open the engine hood before the 
engine has cooled down.
2. Turn the cap of the expansion tank a little 
counterclockwise to  allow any accumulated 
pressure to escape, then continue turning 
to open.
3. The level indicator 1 in the coolant filler 
neck indicates the le vel of coolant. The 
coolant level is correct when it is between 
the arrows of the resp ective inscription on 
the reservoir 2. 4.
If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to 
the specified level; do not overfill.
5. Turn the cap until there is an audible click.
6. Have the reason for the coolant loss 
eliminated as soon as possible.
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003  
Page 265 of 311

260
MobilityMaintenance
Maintenance
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all pr oduction, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. For this reason, descrip-
tions will be given of some equipment that may 
not be available in a vehi cle, for example due to 
the special options or  national-market version 
selected. This also app lies to safety related 
functions and systems.
BMW Maintenance System
The BMW Maintenance System advises you of 
necessary maintenance measures and helps 
you maintain the traffic  and operating safety of 
the vehicle.
Condition Based Service CBS
Sensors and special al gorithms take the 
different driving conditions of your BMW into 
account. Condition Based Service uses this to 
determine the current  and future service 
requirements. By letting  you define a service 
and maintenance regimen that reflects your 
own individual requirem ents, the system builds 
the basis for trouble-free driving.
On the Control Display, you can have the 
remaining times or distances for selected main-
tenance tasks and any legally prescribed dates 
displayed, refer to page 88: >
Engine oil
> Brake pads: separately  for front and rear
> Brake fluid
> Vehicle check
> Legally mandated in spections depending 
on local regulations
Service data in the remote control
Your vehicle continuously stores service-
requirement information in the remote control 
while you are driving. Your dealership Service 
Advisor can read out this data from the remote 
control unit, and propose an optimized mainte-
nance approach. Whenever  you take your car in 
for servicing you should therefore give your 
dealership Service Advisor the remote control 
unit that you last used.
Make sure that the  date is always set 
correctly, refer to page 92; otherwise, the 
effectiveness of Condit ion Based Service CBS 
is not assured. <
Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models and Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet for 
Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US  models and Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models 
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service 
and repair operations performed at your 
BMW center. 
Take the time to ensu re that these service 
procedures are confirmed by entries in your 
vehicle's Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models and Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide Booklet for  Canadian models. These 
entries verify that your vehicle has received the 
specified regula r maintenance.<
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003  
Page 266 of 311

261
Maintenance
Mobility
Socket for Onboard 
Diagnosis OBD
The socket for onboard diagnosis should 
only be used by your BMW center or at a 
workshop that works according to BMW repair 
procedures with corres pondingly trained per-
sonnel and by otherwise  authorized personnel; 
otherwise, use can result  in malfunctioning of 
the vehicle. <
On the  drive r's side is a n OBD so cket f or check-
ing components relevant to the composition of 
the vehicle's emissions.
Emissions
The warning lamp lights up:
The vehicle is producing higher emis-
sions. The trip can be continued. Have 
the car checked as soon as possible.
Canadian models display this warning 
lamp.
The lamp flashes under ce rtain conditions. This 
indicates excessive misfiring in the engine. If 
this happens, you should reduce your speed 
and visit your nearest BMW center as soon as 
possible. Severe engine misfiring can quickly 
lead to serious damage of emissions-related 
components, especially the catalytic converter.
The warning lamp lights up if the fuel 
cap is not properly tightened and the 
OBD system assumes that fuel vapor 
is escaping. Make sure that the fuel cap is cor-
rectly positioned and close it until it audibly 
clicks.
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003  
Page 279 of 311

274
MobilityGiving and receiving assistance
Jump starting
If the car's own battery is flat, your BMW's 
engine can be starte d by connecting two 
jumper cables to another vehicle's battery. You 
can also use the same  method to help start 
another vehicle. Only use jumper cables with 
fully-insulated clamp handles.
Do not touch any electrically live parts 
when the engine is running, or a fatal 
accident may occur. Ca refully adhere to the 
following sequence, both  to prevent damage 
to one or both vehicles, and to guard against 
possible personal injuries. <
Preparation
1.Check whether the ba ttery of the other 
vehicle has a voltage of 12 volts and 
approximately the same capacitance in Ah. 
This information can be found on the 
battery.
2. Switch off the engine of the assisting 
vehicle.
3. Switch off any consumers in both vehicles.
There must not be  any contact between 
the bodies of the two  vehicles; otherwise, 
there is a danger of shorting. <
Connecting jumper cables
Connect the jumper cables in the correct 
order, so that no sparks which could 
cause injury occur. <
Your BMW has a jump-starting connection in 
the engine compartment  which acts as the bat-
tery's positive terminal,  refer also to the Engine 
compartment overview on page 255. The cap is 
marked with +. 1.
Pull the cap of the BMW jump-starting 
connection up to remove.
2. Attach one terminal  clamp of the plus/+ 
jumper cable to the positive terminal of the 
battery or a starting-a id terminal of the 
vehicle providing assistance.
3. Attach the second terminal clamp of the 
plus/+ jumper cable to  the positive terminal 
of the battery or a star ting-aid terminal of 
the vehicle to be started.
4. Attach one terminal clamp of the minus/– 
jumper cable to the nega tive terminal of the 
battery or to an engine  or body ground of 
the assisting vehicle. 
Your BMW has a special nut as body ground 
or negative pole.
5. Attach the second te rminal clamp of the 
minus/– jumper cable to  the negative termi-
nal of the battery or to  the engine or body 
ground of the vehicle to be started.
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003  
Page 280 of 311

275
Giving and receiving assistance
Mobility
Starting the engine
1.
Start the engine of the donor vehicle and 
allow it to run for a fe w minutes at slightly 
increased idle speed.
2. Start the engine on the other vehicle in the 
usual way. 
If the first start attempt is not successful, 
wait a few minutes be fore another attempt 
in order to allow the  discharged battery to 
recharge.
3. Let the engines run for a few minutes.
4. Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing 
the above connecting sequence.
If necessary, have th e battery checked and 
recharged.
Never use spray fluids to start the 
engine. <
Tow-starting, towing away
Observe the applicable laws and 
regulations for tow-starting and towing 
vehicles.<
Do not transport any passengers other 
than the driver in a vehicle that is being 
towed. <
Using a tow fitting
The screw-in tow fitting must always be carried 
in the car. It can be sc rewed in at the front or 
rear of the BMW.
Coupe: it is stored in the onboard vehicle tool kit 
underneath the cover on  the right-hand side of 
the trunk, refer to page 266.
Convertible: it is stored in the onboard vehicle 
tool kit underneath the  trunk floor, refer to 
page 266.
Use only the tow fitting provided with the 
vehicle and screw it a ll the way in. Use the 
tow fitting for towing on paved roads only. Avoid 
lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift 
the vehicle by the tow  fitting. Otherwise, the 
tow fitting and the vehicle could be damaged. <
Access to screw thread
Release the cover panel in the bumper:
Press on the upper part of the cover panel.
Front
Rear
Being towed
Make sure that the ignition is switched on, 
refer to page62; otherwise, the low-beam 
headlamps, tail lamps, turn  signal indicators and 
windshield wipers may be unavailable.
Power steering assistance is not available when 
the engine is not running. Thus, braking and 
steering will require in creased effort. Active 
steering is not active an d it will be necessary to 
turn the steering wheel further. <
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in neutral position.
Automatic transmission
Selector lever in position N.
Changing selector lever positions, refer to 
page65.
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003  
Page 282 of 311

277
Giving and receiving assistance
Mobility
With a tow truck: vehicle with xDrive
Do not tow a BMW with xDrive with just 
the front or rear axle raised; otherwise, the 
wheels could lock up and the transfer case 
could be damaged. <
Have the BMW transported on a flatbed surface 
only.
Tow-starting
Avoid tow-starting the  vehicle whenever possi-
ble; instead, jump start the engine, refer to 
page 274. Vehicles with a catalytic converter 
should only be tow-star ted when the engine is 
cold, vehicles with an automatic transmission or 
Sport automatic transmission with double 
clutch cannot be tow-started at all.
1. Switch on hazard warning flashers, comply 
with local regulations.
2. Switch on the ignition, refer to page 62.
3. Shift into 3rd gear.
4. Have the vehicle tow-st arted with the clutch 
depressed and slowly release the clutch. 
After the engine starts, immediately 
depress the clutch completely again.
5. Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow 
bar or rope and switch off the hazard 
warning flashers.
6. Have the vehicle checked.
With xDrive: do not  activate Hill Descent 
Control HDC when the vehicle is being 
tow-started, page 99.<
00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003