BMW 3 Owners & Service Manuals

BMW 3: Selector lever positions

Drive mode D

Selector lever position for normal vehicle operation.

All gears for forward travel are activated automatically.

R is reverse

Engage selector lever position R only when the vehicle is stationary.

Neutral N

The vehicle may be pushed or roll without power, for instance in vehicle washes in selector lever position N.

Parking position P

General information

Selector lever position, for instance for parking the vehicle. The transmission blocks the drive wheels in selector lever position P.

Engage selector lever position P only when the vehicle is stationary.

P is engaged automatically

Selector lever position P is engaged automatically in situations such as the following:

  • After the drive-ready state is switched off and selector lever position R, D or M/S is engaged.
  • After the standby state has been switched off when selector lever position N is engaged.
  • If the driver's safety belt is unbuckled, the driver's door is opened, and the brake pedal is not pressed while the vehicle is stationary and selector lever position D, M/S or R is engaged.

Engaging selector lever positions

General information

To prevent the vehicle from creeping after you select a drive mode, maintain pressure on the brake pedal until you are ready to start.

Functional requirements

Only when the drive-ready state is switched on and the brake pedal is depressed is it possible to change from selector lever position P to another selector lever position.

The selection lever position P cannot be changed until all technical requirements are met.

Engaging selector lever position D, N, R

A selector lever lock prevents the following faulty operation:

  • Unintentional shifting into selector lever position R.
  • Unintentional shifting from selector lever position P into another selector lever position.

1. Fasten driver's safety belt.

2. Press and hold the button to release the selector lever lock.

Driving

3. Push the selector lever in the desired direction, past a resistance point, if needed. The selector lever automatically returns to the center position when released.

Driving

Engaging selector lever position P

Driving

Press button P.

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