2001 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE sensor

Contents

Owner service procedures
Advanced technology
Technical data

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit146
Windshield wiper blades146
Lamps and bulbs146
Repairing a flat tire153
Battery157
Fuses160
Replacing microfilter and
activated-charcoal filter161

In case of electrical
malfunction:

Fuel filler door161
Convertible top162

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting164
Towing the vehicle165Airbags168
Radio reception169
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)170
Safety belt tensioner170
M3 Engine concept171
Rain sensor172
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming
feature173
Xenon lamps174
Rollover protection system175Engine data178
Dimensions179
Weights180
Capacities181
Electrical system182
Drive belts182

27n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Fuel specifications Tire inflation pressuresThe engine uses lead-free gasoline
only.
Required fuel:
>Premium Unleaded Gasoline,
min. 91 AKI.
AKI = Anti Knock Index
Do not use leaded fuels. The use
of leaded fuels will cause perma-
nent damage to the system's oxygen
sensor and the catalytic converter.<
The correct tire inflation pressures are
on a sticker attached to the B-pillar and
visible with the driver's door open.Checking tire pressuresAll tire pressure and ambient air
temperature specifications are stated in
the units usually used in your country
(psi; kilopascal) (also see the following
tire inflation pressure table).
After correcting the tire inflation pres-
sure, re-initialize the Tire Pressure
Warning system (RDW) so that it can
monitor the tire inflation pressure. Refer
to page 81.
Check tire inflation pressures
regularly – at least every two
weeks and before beginning a longer
trip. Otherwise, incorrect tire pressure
can lead to poor handling, tire damage
and accidents.< Comply with tire approval
specifications The inflation pressures in the table
apply to tires made by BMW approved
manufacturers. Your BMW center is
familiar with these pressures. Higher
pressures may be specified for tires
made by other manufacturers. You will
find a list of approved tire sizes on
page 120.
Your vehicle is equipped with tires that
not only meet US standards, but also
European standards. We recommend
the exclusive use of BMW approved
tires.

36n
Opening and closing – via the remote controlTo unlockPress button 1 to unlock the driver's
door only.
Press the button twice to unlock the
entire vehicle.
If you desire you can have this
function programmed into the
selected individual keys of your
choice.<
To lock and secure Press button 2.
Switching on the interior lampsAfter locking the vehicle, press
button 2.To deactivate the tilt alarm
sensor
* and interior motion
sensor*
Press button 2 a second time immedi-
ately after locking.
For additional information, refer to
page 43.

42n
Luggage compartment Alarm system
*
When opening the convertible top,
refer to page 45, make sure that
the luggage compartment is set up
properly, as otherwise damage may
occur.<
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the
luggage compartment lid is opened
>To movement inside the vehicle (inte-
rior motion sensor)
>Altering the vehicle tilt angle, e. g. as
would occur while attempting to steal
the wheels or tow the vehicle (tilt
alarm sensor)
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustical alarm for
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>The high beams flash on and off in
the same rhythm.
To activate and deactivate the
alarm systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
by using a key or with the remote
control, the alarm system is also simul-
taneously armed or disarmed.
The interior motion sensor is activated
approx. 30 seconds after you have
locked the vehicle.
If the alarm system has been armed
correctly, the hazard warning flashers
flash once.
You can have a signal set as
acknowledgment for both setting
and deactivating the alarm.<
You can also open the luggage
compartment lid when the system is
armed by pressing button 3 of the
remote control (refer to page 37). When
it is closed, the lid is once again
secured.

43n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Alarm system
*
Indicator lamp displaysThe indicator lamp is located under the
interior rearview mirror.
>When the indicator lamp flashes
continuously: the system is armed
>If the indicator lamp flashes while the
system is being set: the door(s), the
hood or luggage compartment lid are
not completely closed. Even if you do
not close the alerted area, the
remaining areas are deadlocked, and
the indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously after 10 seconds. However, the
interior motion sensor is not activated
>If the indicator lamp goes out when
the system is disarmed: no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have
been detected in the period since the
system was armed
>If the indicator lamp flashes for
10 seconds when the system is
disarmed: an attempted entry has
been detected in the period since the
system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the
indicator lamp will flash continuously.Avoiding unintentional alarms The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor may be switched off at the same
time. You can do this to prevent any
unwanted alarm, e. g. in garages with
elevator ramps or when the vehicle is
being transported on car trains:
Lock the vehicle twice (= setting the
alarm): press button 2 on the remote
control twice in succession or lock the
vehicle twice with the key. Refer to
page 36.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor
are deactivated as long as the system is
armed. Reset the alarm to reactivate
the tilt alarm sensor and the interior
motion sensor.
Interior motion sensorTransmitter and receiver for the interior
motion sensor are located in the front
part of the center console, invisible to
the driver, and in the back part of the
center console under a rack.
However, be sure to deactivate the
interior motion sensor (see previous
column) if children or animals are to
remain in the vehicle.

69n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp flasher Washer/Wiper system 1 High beams (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator
lamp)
3 Turn signal indicator (green indicator
accompanied by periodic clicking
sound from the relay).To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond
the detent. It then returns to the center
position when released.
When the turn signal indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes and the blinker relay clicks, a
turn indicator lamp has failed.<
0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent operation or rain sensor
*
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe
5 Rotary dial for controlling the wipe
interval or the sensitivity of the rain
sensor
*
Intermittent operation(not on vehicles with rain sensor)
You can set the wipe interval at four
stages with rotary dial 5. In addition, the
wipe interval is varied automatically
depending on road speed.

70n
Washer/Wiper systemRain sensor
*
When the rain sensor is activated, the
windshield wiper is controlled automati-
cally, depending on the degree of
wetness of the windshield (in both snow
and rain). You do not have to be
concerned with switching the wind-
shield wiper on or off or adjusting the
wipe interval between intermittent and
full wipe. Instead, you can concentrate
fully on the traffic conditions. This is
especially important under adverse
weather conditions.
The rain sensor is positioned on the
windshield, directly ahead of the inte-
rior rearview mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
>From ignition key position 1 and up,
move the lever to position 1. The
wipers travel once across the wind-
shield, regardless of the weather
>You can leave the lever permanently
in position 1. It is then only necessary
to activate the rain sensor from igni-
tion key position 1 and up. To do this
give rotary dial 5 a quick turn.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain
sensor: turn rotary dial 5.
Deactivating the rain sensor: put lever
in position 0.Deactivate the rain sensor when
passing through an automatic car
wash. Failure to do so could result in
damage caused by undesired wiper
activation.<
Normal wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers switch automatically to intermit-
tent wipe (not on vehicles with rain
sensor).Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers operate at normal speed (not on
vehicles with rain sensor).
0 Wipers retracted
1 Clean the windshieldClean the windshieldThe system sprays washer fluid against
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
If you pull the lever only briefly, the
system sprays washer fluid onto the
windshield without activating the
wipers.
Do not use the washers if there
is any danger that the fluid will
freeze on the windshield. If you do so,
your vision could be obscured. For this
reason, use an antifreeze agent. Refer
to page 126.

79n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
The conceptThe PDC assists you when you back
into a parking space. A signal warns
you of the distance to an obstacle.
To do this, four ultrasonic sensors in
the rear bumper measure the distance
to the nearest object. The range for the
sensors located at both rear corners
ends approx. 2 ft. (60 cm) behind
the bumpers. The range for the two
middle sensors is approx. 4.9 feet
(1.50 meters).
The system is activated automatically
about one second after you engage
reverse with the ignition key in
position 2. PDC is deactivated when
you shift back out of reverse.
Acoustic signalsThe distance to the nearest object is
indicated by a tone sounding at various
intervals. As the distance between
vehicle and object decreases, the inter-
vals between the tones become
shorter. A continuous tone indicates the
presence of an object less than 1 ft.
(30 cm) away.
The warning signal is interrupted after
approx. three seconds if the distance to
the obstacle remains constant during
this time (if you are moving parallel to
a wall, for instance).
System malfunctions will be indicated
by a continuous high-pitched tone
when the system is activated the first
time. Please refer the problem to your
BMW center.The PDC does not remove the
driver's personal responsibility for
evaluating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstacles. Even when
sensors are involved, there is a blind
spot in which objects cannot be
detected. This applies especially in
those cases where the system
approaches the physical limits of ultra-
sonic measurement, as occurs with tow
bars and trailer couplings, and in the
vicinity of thin and painted objects.
Certain sources of sound, such as a
loud radio, could drown out the PDC
signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free
of ice or snow in order to ensure
that they continue to operate effec-
tively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Always maintain a distance of more
than 4 in (10 cm).<
Park Distance Control (PDC)
*