Passive occupant protection includes standard seat-mounted side-impact for front seat passengers, an improvement over last year's door-mounted restraints. BMW also includes a new side-curtain airbag system that protects both front and rear occupants, and all outboard seatbelts are equipped with pretensioners and force-limiters. Side airbags for rear seat occupants are no longer available on the 3-Series - the company says protection has improved to the point that these would be redundant.

Active safety is managed through BMW's Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with traction control. DSC operates through a bigger four-wheel, vented-disc, antilock braking system equipped with electronic brake proportioning. For 2006, several new braking features have been added to 3-Series including brake standby, fading compensation, brake drying, soft stop, and start-off assistant features. Brake standby prepares for a panic stop when the driver's foot is abruptly released from the accelerator, under the assumption that rapid braking is going to be required. Fading compensation reacts to rising brake temperatures, and accordingly adjusts hydraulic pressure relative to pedal force. Brake drying removes wetness from the brake rotors in the rain, based on sensor readings from the standard rain-sensing wiper system. Soft-stop automatically helps generate smoother "limo stops," and start-off assistant holds a 3-Series with a manual transmission in place on a hill until the clutch is released and the accelerator is depressed.

Additionally, the braking system works with the standard dynamic cruise control to help maintain pre-set speeds. Active cruise control is optional, ensuring proper following distances with traffic ahead. Standard adaptive brake lights illuminate more brightly the harder the brake pedal is depressed, and adaptive xenon headlights are available to illuminate the road ahead.

BMW offers an optional Park Distance Control (PDC) system to keep children out of harm's way and the bumpers in good shape during parking maneuvers by warning the driver when objects are close to the 2006 BMW 3-Series, and the optional BMW Assist telematics service includes automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, and instant access to both roadside assistance and a concierge service.