oil level BMW M3 SEDAN 2009 E90 Owner's Manual

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Indicator lamps for turn signals
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Tachometer62
5Shift Lights
*56
6Engine oil temperature63
7Display for
>Clock62
>Outside temperature62
>Indicator and warning lamps70
>With dual clutch transmission:
Computer638Display for
>Gear display M dual clutch transmission
with Drivelogic
*52
>With manual transmission:
Computer63
>Date of next scheduled service, and
remaining distance to be driven66
>Odometer and trip odometer62
>Checking oil level193
>Settings and information65
> There is a Check Control
message70
9Fuel gauge63
10Resetting the trip odometer62
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Controls
63Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Never drive at engine speeds in the red warning
field. In this range, the engine speed is limited to
protect the engine.
Coolant temperature
A warning lamp will come on if the coolant, and
therefore the engine, becomes too hot. In addi-
tion, a message will appear on the Control Dis-
play.
Check coolant level, refer to page196.
Engine oil temperature
When the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature, the engine oil temperature is between
approx. 1757/806 and approx. 2507/
1206.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 16.6 US gal/
63 liters.You can find information on refueling on
page184.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period,
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
Once the fuel level has fallen to the reserve
zone, a message briefly appears on the Control
Display and the cruising range for the remaining
amount of fuel is displayed on the computer.
Under a cruising range of approx. 30 miles/
50 km, the message remains in the Control Dis-
play.
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur.<
Computer
Displays in the instrument cluster
Calling up information
Press the button in the turn indicator lever.
The following items of information are dis-
played in the order listed:
>Cruising range
>Oil level, refer to Checking oil level on
page193
>Average fuel consumption
>Speed
>No information
M dual clutch transmission:
Outside temperature, time, cruising
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Everything under control
64 range, oil level, average fuel consumption and
speed appear in the top display.<
To set the corresponding units of measure,
refer to Units of measure on page65.
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cruising range available
with the remaining fuel. The range is calculated
on the basis of the way the car has been driven
over the last 18 miles/30 km and the amount of
fuel currently in the tank.
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur.<
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for
the time during which the engine is running.
You can have the average consumption for
another trip displayed, refer to Displays on the
Control Display below.
To reset average fuel consumption: press the
button in the turn indicator lever for approx.
2seconds.
Displays on the Control Display
You can also call up the computer via iDrive; for
operating principle refer to page16.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Onboard info" or "Trip computer"Displays on the "Onboard info":
>Cruising range
>Distance from destination
>Estimated time of arrival if:
>A distance was manually entered into
the computer, refer to information
below.
>A destination was entered in the naviga-
tion system
*, refer to page117.
Displays on the "Trip computer":
>Departure time
>Trip duration
>Trip distance
Both displays show:
>The average speed and
>the average fuel consumption.
Resetting the fuel consumption and
speed
You can reset the values for average speed and
average consumption:
1.Select the respective menu item and press
the controller.
2.Press the controller again to confirm your
selection.
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Wheels and tires
190 work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related safety
hazards. Make sure that the new wheels are bal-
anced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW recommends that you do not use
retreaded tires, since driving safety may
be impaired. The causes for this include poten-
tially different tire casing structures and often
wide variations in tire age, which can result in a
limited service life.<
Correct wheels and tires
BMW recommends that you use only
wheel and tire combinations that BMW
has tested and approved for your particular
vehicle. Variations in factors such as manufac-
turing tolerances mean that even wheels and
tires with identical official size ratings could
actually have different dimensions, which could
lead to body contact and thus to severe acci-
dents. When selecting tires, also take their load
capacity into account. If non-approved wheels
and tires are used, BMW cannot evaluate their
suitability, and therefore cannot guarantee their
driving safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of
various vehicle systems such as ABS or DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single brand and
tread configuration. After a tire has been dam-
aged, mount the previous wheel and tire combi-
nation again as soon as possible.
Wheels with Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM electronics
When mounting new tires or changing over
from summer to winter tires, or vice versa, only
use wheels with TPM electronics; otherwise the
Tire Pressure Monitor may not be able to detect
a puncture, refer to page79. Your BMW center
will be glad to advise you.
Recommended tire brands
Certain makes of tire are recommended by
BMW for each tire size. They are marked with a
clearly visible BMW designation on the sidewall
of the tire.
When properly used, these tires meet the high-
est standards in terms of safety and handling
characteristics.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for winter roads
or at temperatures below +457/+76.
Although all-season M+S tires provide better
winter traction than summer tires, they gener-
ally fail to provide the same levels of cold-
weather performance as winter tires.
Pay attention to speed
Always comply with the speed limit for the
winter tires mounted on your car; failure
to do so could result in tire damage and acci-
dents.<
Storage
Store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place with
as little exposure to light as possible. Always
protect tires against all contact with oil, grease
and fuels. Do not exceed the maximum tire
inflation pressure indicated on the sidewall of
the tire.
Swapping wheels between axles
BMW advises against swapping wheels
between the front and rear axles, even if all tires
have the same size, as this could impair driving
characteristics. With standard-equipment tires
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Mobility
193Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Important parts of the engine compartment
1Expansion tank for coolant, refer to
page196
2Washer fluid filler neck for headlamp clean-
ing system and window washer system,
refer to page603Jump-starting connection, refer to
page211
4Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding
engine oil
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking oil level
Your car is equipped with an electronic oil-level
monitor.
The oil level can be displayed when the engine
is warm. Continuous short distance travel or a
very sporty driving style may make measure-
ment impossible.
Display in the instrument cluster
1Oil level
2Maximum mark
3Minimum mark
4Computer button
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Under the hood
194 Press button 4 in the turn indicator lever repeat-
edly until the oil level display appears in the
instrument cluster.
M dual clutch transmission
*: the oil level
appears in the top display.<
The oil level must be between the two mark-
ings.
A new measurement is taken automatically
each time the engine is started.
Possible displays
1Oil level OK.
2Oil level is being checked.
This can take about 1 minute if the car is at
a standstill on a level surface, or about
5 minutes while the car is moving.
If engine oil was added, it can take up to
30 minutes to get an oil level reading.
3Oil level down to minimum:
Add engine oil at the next opportunity, but
no more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to
Adding engine oil on page195. Add at least
0.5 US quart/0.5 liters, otherwise the oil-
level monitor will be unable to display the
new value reliably.
If the oil level is below the minimum value, add engine oil immediately to avoid engine
damage.
4Oil level is too high.
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise the excess oil may
lead to engine damage.<
5A value cannot be read at this time. The
engine is not yet warm.
Quick measurement
In addition to the automatic measurement, you
can also determine the current oil level manu-
ally, e. g. after adding engine oil, but such mea-
surements are less accurate.
1.Park the vehicle with a warm engine, i.e.
after an uninterrupted drive of at least
6 miles/10 km, on a horizontal surface.
2.Let the engine idle.
3.Press the computer button in the turn indi-
cator lever repeatedly until the oil level dis-
play appears in the instrument cluster.
4.Press the computer button for at least
2seconds.
The oil level is determined. A clock symbol
appears during measurement.
5.After approx. 1 minute, the current oil level
is displayed.
Display via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
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Mobility
195Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
3."Engine oil level"
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level OK"
>"Measurement not possible at this time."
>"Measuring engine oil level...":
This can take about 1 minute if the car is at a
standstill on a level surface, or about
5 minutes while the car is moving.
If engine oil was added, it can take up to
30 minutes to get an oil level reading.
>"Engine oil level below minimum. Add 1
quart!"
Add engine oil at the next opportunity, but
no more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to
Adding engine oil on page195. Add at least
0.5 US quart/0.5 liters, otherwise the oil-
level monitor will be unable to display the
new value reliably.
If the oil level is below the minimum value,
add engine oil immediately to avoid engine
damage.
>"Engine oil level too high! Have this
checked."
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise the excess oil may
lead to engine damage.<
>"Measurement inactive. Have this
checked."
Do not add engine oil. Before resuming your
trip, note the newly calculated distance
remaining to the next oil service, refer to
page66. Have the system checked as soon
as possible.
Adding engine oil
Do not add 1 US quart/1 liter of engine oil until a
corresponding message is shown on the Con-
trol Display.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km,
otherwise the engine could be damaged.
Add no more than 1 US quart/1 liter of oil, oth-
erwise too much engine oil can lead to engine
damage. Add at least 0.5 US quart/0.5 liters,
otherwise the oil-level monitor will be unable to
display the new value reliably.<
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 change
Have oil changed only at y our B MW c ente r o r a t
a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel.
Specified engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical
significance for the operation and service life of
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after confirming their suitability for use
in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Do not use oil additives as these may
cause engine damage.<
Your BMW center will be glad to answer
any questions regarding BMW High Per-
formance Synthetic Oil or approved synthetic
oils.<
You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit the website
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.
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Under the hood
196
Viscosity ratings
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and
is categorized in SAE classes.
Approved oils belong to the 10W-60 SAE
class.<
Alternative oil types
If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is not
available, you can add small quantities of other
synthetic oils in between oil changes. Only use
oils with the following specifications:
>Viscosity:
preferred: SAE 10W-60;
alternative: SAE 10W-40, SAE 5W-50 or
SAE 10W-50
>Specification:
API SJ/CF, API SK/CF or higher
Low ambient temperatures
The oils used at BMW factories for your vehicle
type are suitable for virtually any ambient tem-
perature. However, if the vehicle is operated at
temperatures below –47/–206 for extended
periods, your BMW center will be glad to rec-
ommend an optimal oil.
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling system
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant
can cause burns.<
Coolant consists of half water and half additive.
Not all commercially available additives are suit-
able for your BMW. Ask your BMW center for
suitable additives.
Only use suitable additives, otherwise
engine damage may result. Because
additives are harmful to your health, it is impor-
tant to follow the instructions on the contain-
ers.<
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when dis-
posing of coolant additives.<
Checking coolant level
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 coolant level is correct if it is between
the maximum and minimum marks in the
filler neck, refer also to the diagram next to
the filler neck.
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.If the loss of coolant is substantial, have the
cause eliminated as soon as possible.
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Everything from A - Z
232 Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams85
Driving notes106
Driving off on hills, refer to
Drive-off assistant78
Driving stability control
systems76
Driving through water107
Driving tips, refer to Driving
notes106
Dry air, refer to Cooling
function91
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control76
DVD
– country codes146
– settings147
– video playback146
DVD menu147
DVD video146
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC
– indicator/warning lamp77
– M Dynamic Mode MDM76
E
EDC, refer to Electronic
Damper Control77
Eject button, refer to Buttons
on the CD player136
Electric
– seat adjustment38
Electrical malfunction
– door lock29
– driver's door29
– fuel filler door184
– glass roof36
– M dual clutch transmission
with Drivelogic54
Electric seat38
Electric seat adjustment38
Electric steering wheel lock
– with convenient access33
Electronic brake-force
distribution76
Electronic Damper Control
EDC77
Electronic oil level check193Electronic Stability Program
ESP, refer to Dynamic
Stability Control DSC76
Emergency operation
– fuel filler door, manual
release184
Emergency operation, refer to
Closing manually
– glass roof36
Emergency operation, refer to
Manual operation
– door lock29
Emergency release
– luggage compartment lid
from inside31
Emergency Request210
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside Assistance210
Engine
– breaking in106
– data218
– overheated, refer to Coolant
temperature63
– speed218
– starting50
– starting, convenient
access32
– switching off50
Engine compartment193
Engine coolant, refer to
Coolant196
Engine oil
– adding195
– BMW Maintenance
System197
– checking level193
– intervals between changes,
refer to Service
requirements66
– possible displays194
Engine output, refer to Engine
data218
Engine speed, refer to Engine
data
218
Engine starting, refer to
Starting the engine50
Entry lamps, refer to Interior
lamps87
Entry map for destination122Equalizer, tone setting137
Error messages, refer to
Check Control70
Event data recorders198
Exhaust system, refer to Hot
exhaust system106
Exterior mirrors42
– adjusting42
– automatic dimming
feature43
– automatic heating43
– folding in and out42
External audio device98
Eyes
– for tow-starting and towing
away212
– for tying down loads109
F
Failure messages, refer to
Check Control70
Failure of an electrical
consumer209
False alarm
– avoiding unintentional
alarm32
– switching off an alarm32
Fastening safety belts, refer to
Safety belts41
Fastest route for
navigation127
Fast forward
– CD changer146
– CD player146
Filter
– refer to Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter for automatic
climate control92
First aid pouch211
Fixture for remote control,
refer to Ignition lock49
Flash when locking/
unlocking28
Flat tire
– Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM79
Flat tire, repairing206
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Reference 233
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Flat Tire Monitor FTM78
– indicating a flat tire79
– indicator/warning lamp79
– initializing the system78
– malfunction79
– snow chains78,191
– system limits78
Flat tires, refer to Tire
condition189
Fluid reservoir, refer to
Washer fluid reservoir60
FM, waveband139
Folding up the floor panel101
Footbrake, refer to Braking
safely107
Footwell lamps, refer to
Interior lamps87
Forward position, engaging,
refer to Selector lever
positions52
For your own safety5
Free memory capacity, music
collection154
Front airbags82
FTM, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor78
Fuel184
– average consumption64
– gauge63
– high-quality brands184
– quality184
– specifications184
– tank contents, refer to
Capacities220
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel
gauge63
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge63
Fuel filler door184
– releasing in the event of
electrical malfunction184
Fuses209
G
Garage door opener, refer to
Integrated universal remote
control94Gasoline
– refer to Average
consumption64
Gasoline, refer to Required
fuel184
Gasoline display, refer to Fuel
gauge63
Gasoline engine, checking
engine oil level193
Gear
– neutral53
Gear display, refer to Displays
in the instrument cluster54
Gearshift lever
– manual transmission51
Gearshifts
– manual transmission51
General driving notes106
Glass roof, electric35
– closing after electrical
malfunction36
– convenient operation28,29
– initializing36
– opening, closing35
– operation with convenient
access33
– pinch protection system36
– power failure36
– raising35
– remote control28
Glove compartment97
GPS navigation, refer to
Navigation system116
Grills89
Gross vehicle weight, refer to
Weights220
H
Handbrake, refer to Parking
brake51
Hands-free system14
Hazard warning flashers14
HD radio, refer to High
Definition Radio140
Head airbags82
Headlamp control,
automatic85Headlamp flasher58
– indicator lamp11,13
Head restraints39
– rear, removing39
– sitting safely37
Heated
– mirrors43
– rear window92
– seats40
Heating
– mirrors43
– rear window92
– residual heat91
– seats40
Heating and ventilation, refer
to Climate89
Heating while at a standstill,
refer to Using residual
heat91
Heavy loads, refer to Stowing
cargo109
Height, refer to
Dimensions219
Height adjustment
– seats38
– steering wheel43
High beams87
– headlamp flasher87
– indicator lamp13
High Definition Radio140
High-pressure
washer199,200
High water, refer to Driving
through water107
Highways, refer to Route
criteria127
Hills107
Holders for cups99
Homepage BMW4
Hood192
Hooks for shopping bags101
Horn10,11
Hotel function31
Hot exhaust system106
Hydraulic brake assist, refer to
Brake assist76
Hydroplaning107
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