Air bags: driver and right-front passenger, dual-stage, frontal and side impact air bags; first-, second- and third-row side-curtain air bags; for outboard passengers with Passenger Sensing System and rollover protection

Air bags help protect the driver and right front-seat passenger in certain collisions by supplementing the protection provided by safety belts. Side-impact air bags for both the driver and right-front passenger help reduce the risk of injury in certain side-impact collisions. Dual-stage front air bags utilize sensors to detect the severity of a crash, and then determine whether the air bags should be deployed and at what level of force.

The Passenger Sensing System automatically switches the right-front passenger frontal air bag on or off based on the passenger’s weight.

Side-curtain air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of head injuries to front-seat and outboard rear-seat occupants on the near side of certain side-impact collisions.

Brakes: four-wheel antilock disc

The antilock brake system (ABS) is designed to help drivers maintain steering control by reducing wheel lockup during hard braking on most slippery or dry surfaces.

StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System with Rollover Mitigation

The StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System with Rollover Mitigation helps your vehicle respond to your steering commands. During difficult driving conditions, sensors feed data to an onboard computer that adjusts engine speed and brake pressure to any individual wheel to help keep you on track.

Theft-deterrent system: PASS-Key III engine immobilizer with content theft alarm

As an added security feature, this vehicle has the PASS-Key III theft-deterrent system, which includes a special ignition key with up to three trillion possible code variations. If any attempt is made to start your vehicle without the properly coded key, the starter and fuel injectors are temporarily disabled.

Traction Control: full-range

Traction Control reduces engine power and modulates the brakes to help reduce wheel slip during acceleration on many surfaces.

OnStar: one-year Directions & Connections Plan with Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Vehicle Diagnostics and Hands-Free Calling (Click here for important details)

With OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Advisors can send your route directly to the vehicle. As you drive, OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation tells you when the next turn is approaching, and if you miss a turn, automatically offers to get you back on track. OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation lets you keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel - so you can stay focused on driving.

The high-performance brake system requires 17-inch wheels to accommodate larger diameter brake discs which ensure outstanding stopping power and deceleration. Brake performance is further enhanced by BMW’s new-generation Dynamic Stability Control. Introduced on the 3 Series Sedan, this latest DSC system incorporates several new functions. For example, DSC works to counteract the slightest brake fading effect even at extremely high brake temperatures by increasing brake pressure accordingly. This ensures maximum brake power even under the toughest conditions, without requiring the driver to exert any higher pressure on the brake pedal.

If the driver suddenly lifts off the accelerator pedal, Brake Standby positions the brake pads closer to the discs to further reduce stopping distances in an emergency. Brake Drying, in turn, optimizes brake performance in the wet by using the brake pads to periodically dry the brake discs. Dynamic Brake Control automatically maximizes brake pressure whenever required in an emergency stop. Start-off Assistant briefly holds the car when setting off on an uphill grade.

Dynamic Traction Control is another feature of DSC. Activation of DTC raises the threshold for intervention by the brakes, enabling the driver of a BMW 3 Series Coupe to set off smoothly on low friction surfaces such as snow. A benefit of DTC for the enthusiast is that it allows slight, easily controllable slip on the drive wheels even on a dry surface.

Of course, as in all BMWs, the driver has the option to completely deactivate DSC in the new 3 Series Coupe.

The new BMW 3 Series Coupe also comes standard with run flat tires. Featuring the most advanced fail safe running qualities, these tires allow the driver to continue for up to 90 miles at 50 miles per hour even with complete loss of pressure in one tire. The standard Tire Pressure Monitor gives plenty of warning and alerts the driver when the pressure of any tire falls 25 percent or more below the ideal level.

In dangerous driving situations, even a fraction of a second can make a huge difference. The standard Adaptive Brake System is designed to use those valuable split seconds effectively.

When driving under the rain, for example, a film of water can form on the brake discs resulting in a decrease in brake performance. But Adaptive Brake technology is so precise, it can remove this film of water by imperceptibly applying the brakes for an instant. This brake drying function ensuring the brakes are optimized in the wet.

Priming is another ingenious safety measure. If the accelerator pedal is released abruptly, Adaptive Brake anticipates the driver’s intentions and brings the brake pads closer to the brake discs. Should the driver then apply the brakes, the response time is significantly faster, helping to reduce stopping distances.

The Adaptive Brake System also incorporates Hill Start Assist, a support function that prevents the car rolling backwards when moving off on an uphill gradient.

In the event of emergency braking, flashing brake lights are activated warning traffic approaching from behind, resulting in both a reduction in response time and stopping distance. Hazard warning lights are also automatically activated after emergency braking from high speed.