service BMW M3 SEDAN 2015 Owner's Guide

MaintenanceVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
BMW maintenance system The maintenance system indicates required
maintenance measures, and thereby provides
support in maintaining road safety and the op‐
erational reliability of the vehicle.
In some cases scopes and intervals may vary
according to the country-specific version. Re‐
placement work, spare parts, fuels and lubri‐
cants and wear materials are calculated sepa‐
rately. Additional information is available from
the service center.
Condition Based Service
CBS
Sensors and special algorithms take into ac‐
count the driving conditions of your vehicle.
Based on this, Condition Based Service recog‐
nizes the maintenance requirements.
The system makes it possible to adapt the
amount of maintenance corresponding to your
user profile.
Detailed information on service requirements,
refer to page 83, can be displayed on the Con‐
trol Display.Service data in the remote control
Information on the required maintenance is
continuously stored in the remote control. Your service center will read out this data and
suggest the right array of service procedures for your vehicle.
Therefore, hand your service specialist the re‐
mote control with which the vehicle was driven
most recently.
Storage periods Storage periods during which the vehicle bat‐
tery was disconnected are not taken into ac‐
count.
If this occurs, have a service center update the
time-dependent maintenance procedures,
such as checking brake fluid and, if needed,
changing the engine oil and the microfilter/
activated-charcoal filter.
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models and Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty In‐
formation Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian mod‐
els for additional information on service re‐
quirements.
Maintenance and repair should be performed
by your service center. Make sure to have reg‐
ular maintenance procedures recorded in the
vehicle's Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models, and in the Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian mod‐
els. These entries are proof of regular mainte‐
nance.Seite 188MobilityMaintenance188
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15

Socket for OBD Onboard
Diagnosis
Note Socket for Onboard Diagnosis
The socket for onboard diagnostics may
only be used by the service center or a work‐
shop that operates in accordance with the
specifications of the vehicle manufacturer with
correspondingly trained personnel and other
authorized persons. Otherwise, use may result
in operating problems for the vehicle.◀
Position
There is an OBD socket on the driver's side for
checking the primary components in the vehi‐
cle's emissions.
Emissions
▷The warning lamp lights up:
Emissions are deteriorating. Have
the vehicle checked as soon as
possible.▷The warning lamp flashes under certain
circumstances:
This indicates that there is excessive mis‐
firing in the engine.
Reduce the vehicle speed and have the
system checked immediately; otherwise,
serious engine misfiring within a brief pe‐
riod can seriously damage emission con‐
trol components, in particular the catalytic
converter.Seite 189MaintenanceMobility189
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15

Replacing componentsVehicle features and optionsThis chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
Onboard vehicle tool kit
The onboard vehicle tool kit is located on the
right side in the trunk in a storage compart‐
ment. Open the cover.
Wiper blade replacement
Note Do not fold down the wipers without
wiper blades
Do not fold down the wipers if wiper blades
have not been installed; this may damage the
windshield.◀
Replacing the wiper blades1.To change the wiper blades, fold up, refer
to page 69, the wiper arms.2.Fold up and hold the wiper arm firmly.3.Squeeze the retainer spring, arrow 1, and
fold up the wiper blade, arrow 2.4.Remove the wiper blade forward from the
catch.5.Insert the new wiper blade in reverse order
of removal until it locks in place.6.Fold down the wipers.
Folding down wipers before opening the hood
Before opening the hood, ensure that the
wiper arms with the wiper blades are against
the windshield to prevent damage.◀
Lamp and bulb replacement
Hints
Lights and bulbs Lights and bulbs make an essential contribu‐
tion to vehicle safety.
The manufacturer of the vehicle recommends
that you entrust corresponding procedures to
the service center if you are unfamiliar those or
if they have not been described here.
Seite 190MobilityReplacing components190
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15

You can obtain a selection of replacement
bulbs at the service center.
Danger of burns
Only change bulbs when they are cool;
otherwise, there is a danger of getting
burned.◀
Working on the lighting system
When working on the lighting system,
you should always reel off the lights affected to
prevent short circuits.
To avoid possible injury or equipment damage
when replacing bulbs, observe any instructions
provided by the bulb manufacturer.◀
Do not perform work/bulb replacement
on xenon headlights
Have any work on the xenon lighting system,
including bulb replacement, performed only by
a service center. Due to the high voltage
present in the system, there is a danger of fatal
injuries if work is carried out improperly.◀
Do not touch the bulbs
Do not touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare hands, as even minute amounts of
contamination will burn into the bulb's surface
and reduce its service life.
Use a clean tissue, cloth or something similar,
or hold the bulb by its base.◀
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Some items of equipment use light-emitting
diodes installed behind a cover as a light
source.
These light-emitting diodes, which are related
to conventional lasers, are officially designated as Class 1 light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers
Do not remove the covers, and never
stare into the unfiltered light for several hours;
otherwise, irritation of the retina could result.◀Headlight glass
Condensation can form on the inside of the ex‐
ternal lights in cool or humid weather. When
driving with the light switched on, the conden‐
sation evaporates after a short time. The head‐
light glass does not need to be changed.
If the headlights do not dim despite driving
with the light switched on, increasing humidity
forms, e. g. water droplets in the light, have the service center check this.
Headlight setting The headlight adjustments can be affected by
changing lights and bulbs. Have the head‐
lights' settings checked and corrected by serv‐
ice after a replacement.
Front lights, bulb replacement
Xenon headlights
Xenon headlights
Because of the long life of these bulbs, the
likelihood of failure is very low. Switching the
lights on and off frequently shortens their life.
Do not perform work/bulb replacement
on xenon headlights
Have any work on the xenon lighting system,
including bulb replacement, performed only by
a service center. Due to the high voltage present in the system, there is a danger of fatal
injuries if work is carried out improperly.◀
For checking and adjusting headlamp aim,
please contact your BMW center.Seite 191Replacing componentsMobility191
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15

Headlights1Parking lights / daytime running lights2Low beams/high beams/headlight flasher3Turn signal
Low beams and high beams are designed with
xenon technology.
The parking lights and daylight running lights
are made using LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Turn signal
Follow general instructions, refer to page 190.
21-watt bulb, PY21W
1.In the wheel house, unscrew three screws
using the screwdriver from the onboard ve‐
hicle tool kit, arrow 1.2.Lift the wheel house panel and firmly hold
it, arrow 2.3.Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and
remove.4.Press the bulb gently into the socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.5.Install the new bulb and bulb holder in re‐
verse order of removal.6.Refasten the wheel house panel.
LED headlights
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
With LED headlights, all front lights and side
indicators are designed with LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Headlights
1Cornering light2Low beams/headlight flasher3High beams/headlight flasher4Parking lights / daytime running lights5Turn signal6Side marker lightsSeite 192MobilityReplacing components192
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15

Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Turn signal in exterior mirrorFollow general instructions, refer to page 190.
The turn signals in the exterior mirrors feature
LED technology. Contact your service center in the event of a malfunction.
Tail lights, bulb replacement
At a glance1Turn signal2Reversing lamp3Inside brake lamp4Tail lights5Outside brake lamp
Bulb replacement, exterior tail lights General information
Follow general instructions, refer to page 190.
Turn signal: 21-watt bulb, P21WLL.
Outer brake lamp: 21-watt bulb, H21W.
The tail lights feature LED technology. Contact
your service center in the event of a malfunc‐
tion.
Use caution when replacing the bulb
Use caution and proceed one step at a
time when replacing the bulbs to prevent dam‐
age to the tail lights or the vehicle.◀
Removing the exterior tail lamp1.Open trunk lid.2.Use the screwdriver from the onboard ve‐
hicle tool kit to loosen the screw, arrow 1,
and remove the cover, arrow 2.3.Use the screwdriver handle to loosen the
two nuts, arrows 1 and 2, and remove. The
tail lamp is still attached to a rubber mount
on the outside.4.Grasp the inner edge of the tail lamp and
carefully swing it back and out of the rub‐
ber mount, arrow 1. Use your free hand to
hold it in place in order to prevent the tail
lamp from coming loose suddenly. Make
sure that the foam rubber sealing ring is on
the centering pin, arrow 2.Seite 193Replacing componentsMobility193
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15

the area around the recessed grips. Make
sure that the trim does not become stuck.4.Carefully swing out the trim.
Replacing the reversing lamp and inner
brake lamp
1.Loosen the two holders, arrow 1 and pull
down on the lamp holder to remove, ar‐
row 2.2.Unscrew the defective bulb of the revers‐
ing or brake lamp from its socket counter‐
clockwise.3.Insert the new bulb.
Installing the bulb holder
1.Slide the bulb holder onto the two guide
pins, arrow 1. Insert the two contacts, ar‐
row 2, into the connections, arrow 3.2.Press on the bulb holder. Make sure that
the two exterior holders latch into place.3.Swing the trim back onto the trunk lid and
secure.Rear lamp, license plate lamp and
central brake lamp
Follow general instructions, refer to page 190.
These lights are made using LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Changing wheels
Hints When sealants are used, an immediate wheel
change when there is a loss of tire inflation
pressure in the event of a flat tire is unneces‐
sary.
Which is why no spare tire is available.
The tools for changing wheels are available as
accessories from your service center.
Jacking points for the vehicle jack
The jacking points for the vehicle jack are lo‐
cated at the positions shown.
Vehicle battery Maintenance
The battery is maintenance-free.
Further information about the battery can be
obtained from your service center.
Seite 195Replacing componentsMobility195
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15

Battery replacementUse approved vehicle batteries only
Only use vehicle batteries that have been
approved for your vehicle by the manufacturer;
otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged and
systems or functions may not be fully availa‐
ble.◀
After a battery replacement, have the battery registered on the vehicle by the service center
to ensure that all comfort features are fully
available and that any Check Control mes‐
sages of these comfort features are no longer
displayed.
Charging the battery
General information Make sure that the battery is always suffi‐
ciently charged to guarantee that the battery
remains usable for its full service life.
The battery may need to be charged in the fol‐
lowing cases:▷When making frequent short-distance
drives.▷If the vehicle is not used for prolonged pe‐
riods, longer than a month.
Hints
Use approved chargers only
Only use chargers that have been ap‐
proved by the manufacturer of your vehicle, otherwise your vehicle may be damaged. Do
not exceed the maximum charge voltage of
14.4 Volt.◀
Do not connect charging devices to the
12 volt socket in the vehicle
Do not connect battery chargers to the fac‐
tory-installed 12 volt sockets in the vehicle as
this may damage the vehicle battery due to an
increased power consumption.◀
Starting aid terminals
In the vehicle, only charge the battery via the
starting aid terminals, refer to page 200, in the
engine compartment with the engine off.
Power failure After a temporary power loss, some equipment
needs to be newly initialized or individual set‐
tings updated, e. g.:▷Seat and mirror memory: store the posi‐
tions again.▷Time: update.▷Date: update.▷Glass sunroof and sliding visor: initialize
the system, refer to page 48.
Disposing of old batteries
Have old batteries disposed of by your
service center or bring them to a recy‐
cling center.
Fuses Hints Replacing fuses
Never attempt to repair a blown fuse and
do not replace a defective fuse with a substi‐
tute of another color or amperage rating; this could lead to a circuit overload, ultimately re‐
sulting in a fire in the vehicle.◀
Plastic tweezers and information on the fuse
types and locations are stored in the fuse box
in the trunk.
Seite 196MobilityReplacing components196
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15

When the emergency request is received
at the BMW Response Center, the BMW
Response Center contacts you and takes
further steps to help you.
Even if you are unable to respond, the
BMW Response Center can take further
steps to help you under certain circum‐
stances.
For this, data are transmitted to the BMW
Response Center which serve to deter‐
mine the necessary rescue measures. E. g.
the current position of the vehicle, if it can
be established.▷If the LED is flashing green, but the BMW
Response Center can no longer be heard
via the speaker, you can nevertheless still
be heard at the BMW Response Center.
Initiating an Emergency Request
automatically
Under certain conditions, an Emergency Re‐
quest is automatically initiated immediately af‐
ter a severe accident. Automatic Collision Noti‐
fication is not affected by pressing the SOS
button.
Warning triangle
The warning triangle is located on the inside of
the trunk lid.
To remove, loosen the bracket.
First aid kit
Note
Some of the articles have a limited service life.
Check the expiration dates of the contents
regularly and replace any expired items
promptly.
Storage
The first aid kit is located in the trunk in a stor‐
age compartment.
Jump-starting General information
If the battery is discharged, the engine can be
started using the battery of another vehicle
and two jumper cables. Only use jumper ca‐
bles with fully insulated clamp handles.
Hints Do not touch live parts
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal in‐
jury, always avoid all contact with electrical
components while the engine is running.◀
To prevent personal injury or damage to both
vehicles, adhere strictly to the following proce‐
dure.
Seite 199Breakdown assistanceMobility199
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15

Tow-starting and towingNote Tow-starting and towing
For tow-starting or towing, switch off the
Intelligent Safety systems; otherwise malfunc‐
tions of the individual braking systems might
lead to accidents.◀
Manual transmission Gearshift lever in neutral position.
Towing Follow the towing instructions
Follow all towing instructions; otherwise,
vehicle damage or accidents may occur.◀▷Make sure that the ignition is switched on;
otherwise, the low beams, tail lights, turn
signals, and wipers may be unavailable.▷Do not tow the vehicle with the rear axle
tilted, as the front wheels could turn.▷When the engine is stopped, there is no
power assist. Consequently, more force
needs to be applied when braking and
steering.▷Larger steering wheel movements are re‐
quired.▷The towing vehicle must not be lighter
than the vehicle being towed; otherwise,
it will not be possible to control the vehi‐
cle's response.Tow truck
With rear-wheel drive
Your vehicle should be transported with a tow
truck with a so-called lift bar or on a flat bed.
Do not lift the vehicle
Do not lift the vehicle by the tow fitting or
body and chassis parts; otherwise, damage
may result.◀
M double clutch transmission:
transporting your vehicle
Note Your vehicle is not permitted to be towed.
Therefore, contact a service center in the
event of a breakdown.
Do not have the vehicle towedHave your vehicle transported on a load‐
ing platform only; otherwise, damage may oc‐
cur.◀
Seite 201Breakdown assistanceMobility201
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 960 759 - II/15