Complete Vehicle

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Complete vehicle
E90





Highlights in brief
Since the market launch of the BMW 1-Series (E87), the BMW 3-Series has no longer been the entry-level vehicle.
Compared to its predecessor (E46), the E90 is sportier, bigger and more innovative.
Many new features of the BMW 1-Series and the BMW 5-Series (E60) have also been incorporated into the E90.

This SI Technical (SBT) offers brief information from the following areas:
- Body
- Passive safety of the body
- Interior
- Passive safety in the passenger compartment
- Luggage compartment
- Electrical system and electronics
- Vehicle circuit structure
- Power supply
- New control units
- Active safety
- Passive safety
- Car Access System
- Comfort Access (optional)
- Cruise control and longitudinal dynamics management
- Instrument cluster
- Integrated heating/air conditioning system or integrated automatic heating/air-conditioning system
- Information and communication systems
- Steering column switch cluster
- Personal Profile
- Suspension
- Front axle
- Rear axle
- Wheels and tyres
- Drive train
- Engine
- Transmission
- Technical data

Body
The E90 is bigger than the E46:
- Length: + 49 mm
- Width: + 78 mm
- Height: + 6 mm
- Wheelbase: + 35 mm
These measurements primarily benefit the occupants.

- Passive safety of the body
The E90 offers a high level of passive safety through high-strength steels. The rigidity of the body was increased through optimised cross-members and longitudinal members.
The E90 achieved the best possible EURO NCAP score for passenger safety (5 stars). The E90 also achieved the best possible results in the high-speed rear impact crash test in the USA.





- Interior
The interior is generous and ergonomically designed, and offers high levels of comfort:
For example, the sports seats have seat back width adjustment.
Depending on the equipment fitted, there is either a seat heating module or a seat module.
The seat module controls both the seat heating and the seat memory.
The seat heating module is controlled by the junction box electronics (JBE).
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 52 01 04 089] Electrically Adjustable Seats
The roller sunblind for the rear window is operated electrically via a button in the switch cluster centre console.





The illustration (above) shows, amongst other things, the control units for the air conditioning in the rear compartment. Beneath the two thumbwheels, there are 2 cigarette lighters* (round, option).
The cigarette lighters can be used as sockets, e.g. for the following equipment:
- Car vacuum cleaner
- Torch
The cigarette lighters offer a maximum output of 200 Watts with 12 volts.










The E90: The cockpit is clearly and conveniently laid out.

- Passive safety in the passenger compartment
The airbags of the E90 are familiar from the E87.





6 airbags protect the occupants:
- Driver's airbag
- Front passenger airbag
- Side airbag for driver and front passenger (integrated in the seat)
- Head airbag: The head airbag is from front to rear along the side.
In the US version, there is also passive knee protection.





The E90 has side upholstery on the rear seats (impact protection).

- The luggage compartment
The E90 has and additional storage compartment in the luggage compartment.





Electrical system and electronics
- Vehicle circuit architecture
In part, the E90 has the same vehicle circuit as the E60 and E87. This means that in many respects the 3-Series has all the technology of the 5-Series.
The E90 has the same bus systems as the E60: K-CAN, MOST, PT-CAN and F CAN.
The difference between it and its predecessor, the E46, is significant: The E46 did not yet have a 2000 vehicle circuit (2000 vehicle circuit is the BMW description for the vehicle circuit on the E65 and higher).
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 61 02 03 015] Bus Diagnosis
- Power supply
The E90 has a similar system for the power supply as the E87 and the E60 (components such as the intelligent battery sensor and software).
- Power management when parked, so that the starting capability of the vehicle is maintained.
- Power management when the engine is running, so that the charge balance is always correct.
The software for the power management is in the DME or in the DDE (DME: Digital Engine Electronics; DDE: Digital Diesel Electronics).
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 61 03 04 092] Power Supply
- New control units
The following control units are new, by comparison with the E87:
- Footwell module (FRM)
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 61 04 04 094]
- Junction box with distribution box with the junction box electronics (JBE) control unit
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 61 05 04 095] Description and Operation
- Roof function centre (FZD)
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 61 02 04 091] Description and Operation
- Longitudinal dynamics management (LDM), see below
- Active steering (AL)
- Active Cruise Control (ACC)
- Active safety
Active safety helps to prevent accidents. The active safety in the E90 has been optimized in many areas:
- Active Steering
The E90 has the active steering from the E60.
The yaw moment compensation of the active steering is new.
The yaw moment compensation prevents the vehicle from skidding when braking on a road with an unequal road surfaces (e.g. ice on the right and rough road surface on the left). Active steering compensates for this yaw moment. Thus, active steering protects against problematic steering movements.
In addition, active steering has an improved interface to the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control).
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 32 01 03 001] Description and Operation
- Dynamic Stability Control
DSC Mk60E5 is a further development of the DSC MK60E in the E87.
The DSC in the E90 has the following new functions:
- Braking readiness through precautionary application of the brake pads in emergency situations
- Optimisation of the friction factor of the brakes: The brake discs are regularly freed from humidity on wet roads (dry brakes).
- In the event of fading, the brake pressure is increased. (Fading: Braking efficiency deteriorates when the brakes are very hot.)
- Soft stop when braking: Even if you brake until the vehicle is at a standstill, there is no jerk when the vehicle stops.
- Pull-away assistance for hill starts
- Optimised interface for Active Cruise Control:
The software in the DSC control unit assesses the requirements of the ACC even quicker (ACC: Active Cruise Control).
- Yaw moment compensation for active steering (integrated in the DSC)
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 34 01 04 107] Dynamic Stability Control Mk60E5
- Lighting: Adaptive headlight
E90 has adaptive headlights based on the AHL E60 (AHL stands for Adaptive Head Lights). The software for the adaptive headlights is integrated in the footwell module (FRM).
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 63 02 03 007] 63 02 03 007 Adaptive Headlight
- Lighting: 2-stage brake lights
The E90 has 2-stage brake lights: The brake lights are brighter when you brake heavily.
- Park Distance Control
In the E90, Park Distance Control (PDC) is only available in the equipment version: front and rear. (On the E87, there is also Park Distance Control for the rear only.)
- Brakes
The rear brake discs are ventilated internally. Internally ventilated brake discs are cooled better and are less susceptible to fading.
- Passive safety
Passive safety helps to keep damage in the event of an accident as low as possible.
- Multiple restraint system 5
The multiple restraint system (MRS) is already known from the E87.
As on the E87, the side airbags are fitted in the seat backs of the driver's seat and the front passenger seat.
The following are new in the US version:
- Airbag front sensors in the engine compartment on the side member
- Airbag sensors: Pressure sensors in the driver's door and the front passenger door
- Seat occupancy mat on the front passenger seat
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 65 04 04 099]

- Car Access System and START-STOP button





There is no longer an ignition key or ignition starter switch. Instead, as with the 7-Series BMW (E65), there is a slot for the remote control and the START-STOP button.
[more in the SI Technical (SBT) 61 03 03 019] Car Access System

- Comfort Access
The E90 has the Comfort Access option. Comfort Access means: The vehicle is unlocked and started or unlocked without the need to have the identification sensor in your hand. Comfort Access is taken from the E87. Of course, the monitoring range of the antenna has been adapted to the body of the E90.
There is a separate antenna in the luggage compartment. (On the E87, the rear interior antenna also monitored the luggage compartment.)
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 66 04 04 093] Comfort Access
- Cruise control and longitudinal dynamics management
Depending on the option, there are 3 equipment variants of the cruise control:
-
- 1. Cruise control option for vehicles with 4-cylinder engines:
Cruise control through engine control: Load increase for acceleration and engine drag torque (engine brake).
The cruise control option does not have longitudinal dynamics management.
2. Cruise control option with brake function for vehicles with 6-cylinder engines:
This cruise control works with engine control and brakes.
This cruise control holds the desired road speed even when driving downhill with a heavy trailer.
The cruise control with brake function option has a new control unit: longitudinal dynamics management (LDM). The LDM control unit evaluates all data for cruise control with brake function.
Example: The ACC sensor reports Vehicle monitored. The LDM control unit evaluates this message. The DME control unit or the DDE control unit controls the engine speed. The DSC control unit controls the brakes.
3. Active cruise control option for vehicles with 6-cylinder engines:
With this cruise control, a (time) interval from the vehicle in front can be set.
This option also has an LDM control unit for longitudinal dynamics management.
Exception: On the E63 and E64, the ACC control unit performs longitudinal dynamics management.
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 66 03 04 086] Description and Operation
- Instrument cluster
The instrument cluster of the E90 is almost identical to the instrument cluster of the E87.
The following is new:
- On the round instrument for the speed display, there is an indicator disc for the desired speed (Set speed) of the cruise control.
- In the instrument cluster, there are 2 new, legally prescribed indicator lights:
- Indicator light for the Active Steering
- Indicator light for the Distance Control
The instrument cluster of the E90 is the same as the E87 in the following areas:
- The on-board computer has further functions. E.g. Petrol engines have an oil level display.
And: The instrument lighting can be dimmed via the on-board computer.
- The fuel reserve is displayed with a Check-Control message.
- Condition Based Service in 4th level of performance
- The instrument cluster control unit is the master control unit for the unit of measure in all displays.
- The instrument cluster control unit is not a gateway (i.e. data interface) to the bus system.
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 62 01 04 074]
An Overview
- Integrated heating/air conditioning system or integrated automatic heating/air-conditioning system
The E90 is equipped with the integrated heating/air-conditioning system (IHKR) as standard.
The integrated automatic heating/air-conditioning system (IHKA) is available as an option (option 534).
With the IHKA, the air-conditioning system can be controlled separately for the left and right side in the front.
Vehicles with diesel engines have an electric auxiliary heater.
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 64 01 04 090] 64 01 04 (090) Integrated Heating Control and Air-Conditioning System
- Information and communication systems
Some information is not only displayed in the instrument cluster, but also in the Central Information Display (CID). Examples:
- Information on the Condition Based Service
- Information on the Check-Control icons or Check-Control messages in the instrument cluster.





iDrive describes the operation and use of information and communication systems:
The menus in the display are selected via a controller in the centre console.
- Navigation systems:
The two BMW navigation systems are available as options: BMW Business Navigation System or BMW Professional Navigation System.
- Telephone:
All services of BMW Assist are offered with the Telephone, TCU Business option:
- Emergency call
- BMW Mobile Service
- BMW Info
- Traffic information
All telephones have a Bluetooth interface.
Telephones with ULF (universal charger and hands-free kit) do not have the support services.
In the US version, it is also possible to make an emergency call without a telephone.
- High Fidelity:
The HiFi System Professional option has more loudspeakers than the E87.

- Steering column switch cluster
The E90 has the steering column switch cluster of the E87. The steering angle and the switch settings of the steering column stalk are detected without contact (optically).
This excludes any mechanical influences. The pressure points of the steering column stalk remain the same for the entire life of the vehicle.
The steering column switch cluster control unit has an additional processor (compared with the E87). The steering column switch cluster can only be programmed via the DSC control unit. Signal path: DSC -> F-CAN -> SZL.
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 61 07 04 103] Description and Operation

- Personal Profile All Car & Key Memory functions are programmed inside the vehicle itself. Please refer to the Personal Profile section in the Owner's Handbook: individual settings for a maximum of 3 remote control units via the display in the instrument cluster or via the Central Information Display
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 00 08 04 108] Description and Operation

Suspension
The suspension design of the E90 is similar to the suspension of the E87.

- Front axle
The front axle is made of aluminium and is therefore very light. Nonetheless, the front axle is very rigid. The steering is a front-mounted rack-and-pinion power-steering system.
The front axle is a double-link, spring-strut front axle.
The wheel is guided as follows:
- by the spring strut
- by 2 links: by a tension strut and a pressure strut





- Rear axle
The rear axle is a five-arm rear axle. This ensures especially good wheel guidance.





- Wheels and tyres
The E90 has steel or alloy wheels.
The tyres are run-flat tyres: In the event of a flat tyre, it is possible to drive for up to a further 250 km at a maximum speed of 80 km/h.
For technical data, see below.

Drive train
- Engine
High engine speed, high performance. The new BMW petrol engines no longer ensure their performance through large engine capacities, but through high engine speeds (with high level of balance).
For the BMW 3-Series, the following engines will be available at the start of series production:
- 4-cylinder engines (petrol engines and diesel engines) with Valvetronic and VANOS.
- 6-cylinder engines: N52B25 and N52B30 (petrol engines)
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 11 03 04 085] 11 03 04 (085) N52 Engine





The illustration shows the N52B25. For technical data, see below.

- Transmission
The following transmissions are available:
- Manual transmission: 6-speed manual transmission is fitted as standard.
- Automatic transmission: For the E90, there are two versions of the 6-speed automatic transmission: GA6HP19Z and GA6HP26Z (also fitted in the E53, E60).
Differences between the automatic transmissions:
- Torque converter
- Clutches with different number of steel and lined plates
[more in SI Technical (SBT) 24 01 03 040]

Technical data





























The E90: a sporty, comfortable, sophisticated saloon.

Subject to change.