2001 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE Owner's Manual

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Hardtop
*
It is not necessary to remove the fabric
top even in the winter, when the
hardtop is generally in constant use.
But you can also remove it at any time
with no problem. Before the fabric top
is stored in the convertible top
compartment, it must be absolutely dry
in order to prevent water spots and
mildew from forming.
The hardtop is equipped with reading
lamps in the rear and clothes hooks
operated simply by pressing. In addi-
tion, a roof-rack assembly is available.
In this regard, please contact your
BMW center.
When suspending clothing from
the hooks, ensure that they will
not obstruct the driver's vision. Do not
hang heavy objects on the hooks. If you
do so, they could cause personal injury
during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
Two people are required for installation
or removal. Work with extreme caution
in order to avoid paint damage and
damage to the body or hardtop.
To facilitate hardtop installation or
removal, you can obtain a specially
designed hardtop lift
* or hardtop rack
*
at your BMW center.
Storage
Storing the hardtop on the floor:
shove the styrofoam block that
came with the hardtop forward to its
center. The arrow on top of the styro-
foam block has to be pointing upward
when you are doing this.<
Installation1 Lower the side windows completely
and flip the sun visors down. If
necessary, remove the antenna rod
to avoid any damage
2 Open the convertible top compart-
ment lid slightly with the button for
convertible top operation, refer to
page 46
3 Remove the trim pieces on both
sides by pulling them off toward the
back (arrow), and reclose the
convertible top compartment lid

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Hardtop
*
4 Open the two front locking levers on
the hardtop by pressing the buttons
(arrow). The levers will release
slightly. Raise the levers as far as the
stop will allow
5 Before installing, first flip down the
cover panels that are located under-
neath the left and right interior lamps.
To do this, press on the slight bump
on the cover panel. There is a holder
in the cover panel to securely store
the covers 1 that have been removed
6 Open the red release lever 2 as far as
the stop will allow
7 Position the hardtop onto the
supports with the help of a second
person. Be sure to put the mountings
exactly into the proper brackets
Lift the hardtop carefully. Be
extremely careful not to shift the
seals. Seals that have accidentally been
shifted or pulled out cause leaks.<
8 In the back, close the red locking
lever by turning to the inside as far as
the stop located behind the trim will
allow. Flip the cover panels back into
place
9 To lock the hardtop in the front, keep
pressing on the front locking levers
until you hear them engage.RemovalReverse the installation sequence to
install the hardtop.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Information for your safetyThe factory-approved radial tires are
matched to the vehicle and have been
selected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort on your vehicle.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – above all
else – driving safety that depend on the
condition of the tires and the mainte-
nance of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a frequent
cause of tire damage. It also signifi-
cantly influences the roadholding ability
of your BMW.
Check tire inflation pressures on a
regular basis (refer to page 27), at
least every two weeks and before
beginning a longer trip. If this is not
done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire
damage, ultimately resulting in acci-
dents.<
Tire tread – tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 0.12 in (3 mm), even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is only 0.063 in (1.6 mm). At a
tread depth of 0.063 in (1.6 mm), tread
depth indicators (arrow) in the tread-
groove base will indicate that the legally
permissible wear limit has been
reached. Below 0.12 in (3 mm) tread
depth, there is an increased risk of
aquaplaning, even at relatively
moderate speeds and with only small
amounts of water on the road.
Do not drive on a deflated (flat)
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not
exceeded. Overloading can lead to
overheating and increases the rate at
which damage develops inside the
tires. You could have a blowout as a
result.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate a
flat tire or some other vehicle defect.
This is also true for irregularities in the
vehicle's handling characteristics, such
as a pronounced tendency to pull to the
left or right. Should this occur, respond
by immediately reducing your speed
and carefully proceeding to the nearest
BMW center or professional tire center,
or having the vehicle towed in to have it
and its tires inspected.
Tire damage (up to and including
sudden and complete air loss) can
endanger the lives of both the vehicle
occupants and other road users.<
Tire inflation pressures Tire condition

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To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer. BMW tests and approves
wheel and tire combinations. Refer to
page 120.
DOT Quality Grades Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger vehicle tires must
conform to Federal Safety
Requirements in addition to these
grades. rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half (1 g) times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.TractionThe traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.< TemperatureThe temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all
passenger vehicle tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance
on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.< Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
Tire replacement

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Tire replacement Tire rotation
Do not use retreaded tires. Driving
safety may be impaired by their
use. The reason for this are possible
variations in tire casing structures and,
in part, because they are already quite
old, which can lead to a deterioration in
their durability.<
Tire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT ... 1101 means that the tire was
produced in the 11th week of the year
2001.
BMW recommends replacing all tires
after 6 years at the latest, even if a tire
life of 10 years is possible.
Spare tires over 6 years old should be
used only in case of emergency. A tire
in this condition should be replaced by
a new tire immediately, and should not
be mounted together with new tires.
Re-initialize the Tire Pressure Warning
(RDW) after rotating the tires. Refer to
page 81 for further information.Summer tires
Due to different tire sizes on the
front and rear axles (refer to
page 120), the tires may not be rotated
from one axle to the other.<
Winter tiresThe wheels are designed specifically
for use at the front or rear only.
Because the front and rear wheels
feature different rim depths (refer to
page 120), you should never attempt to
switch wheels from the front to rear or
vice versa.

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Wheel and tire combinations The right choice
Only use wheels and tires that
have been approved by BMW for
the corresponding vehicle model, as
otherwise body contact and serious
accidents can result despite the use of
the same nominal size, e.g. due to
tolerances. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved wheels and tires to determine
if they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed.<
For wheel and tire sizes approved by
BMW, refer to page 120.
Failure to use the specified wheel
and tire combinatons can have an
adverse effect on the performance of
various systems such as ABS and DSC.
For this reason, use only tires made by
the same manufacturer and that have
the same tread configuration on the
vehicle. And after a flat tire, for
instance, restore the approved wheel
and tire combination as soon as
possible.<
Codes on the tires and wheels The marking on the tire has the
following meaning.
The codes on radial tires:
The speed rating indicates the
approved maximum speed for the tire.
Summer tires:
S = up to 112 mph (180 km/h)
T = up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H = up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V = up to 150 mph (240 km/h)
W = up to 167 mph (270 km/h)
Y = up to 187 mph (300 km/h)
ZR = over 150 mph (240 km/h) Example:
Nominal width
in mm
Aspect
ratio in %
Radial tire ID code
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating
(not on ZR tires)
Speed rating
(before R on ZR tires)
225/45 R
1892W
Winter tires:
Q M+S = up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
T M+S = up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H M+S = up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
Codes stamped on light-alloy wheels:
Protect tire valve from dirt by using
screw-on valve stem caps. Dirt in the
valves frequently leads to slow leaks. Storage Always store tires in a cool, dry place.
Store them away from light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against
contact with oil, grease and fuel. Example:
Rim width
in inches
Code letter for
flange type
Symbol for full-drop
center rim
Rim diameter in inches
Hump on the 2 rim shoulders
8 x 18 H 2
J

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Use narrow-link BMW snow chains on
winter tires in pairs only and only on the
rear wheels. Comply with all manufac-
turer's safety precautions when
mounting the chains.
Deactivate the Tire Pressure
Warning system (RDW) when
using snow chains. Malfunction warn-
ings and undetected losses in pressure
are a possibility when driving with snow
chains.
For further information, refer to
page 81.<
Tire condition, tire pressureOnce winter tires wear to a tread depth
of less than 0.16 in (4 mm), their perfor-
mance under winter driving conditions
deteriorates noticeably. Worn tires
should therefore be replaced to ensure
continued safety.
Inflate tires to specified pressure and
have the wheels balanced every time
the tires or wheels have been rotated;
re-initialize the Tire Pressure Warning
system (RDW) as well. Refer to page 81

for further information.
Special features of winter tires Snow chains
*
Choosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for driving in adverse winter
road conditions. So-called all-season
tires with the M+S identification mark
do indeed possess better winter trac-
tion than summer tires that have the H,
V, W, Y and ZR speed ratings, but they
generally fail to provide the same levels
of performance as winter tires.
In the interest of safe tracking and
steering response, install winter tires
made by the same manufacturer with
the same tread configuration on all four
wheels. Do not exceed specified
maximum speeds
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the tires are
rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<

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Approved wheel and tire specifications Depending on the tire size, certain tire brands tested by BMW have been
classified and approved as safe in traffic. Contact your BMW center for a list
of these tires.
Observe any country-specific regulations, e.g. on making a corresponding
entry in the vehicle documents.
Tire specifications Light-alloy wheel
BMW M3 convertible
Summer tires
Front: 225/45 ZR 18 8J x 18 EH2
Rear: 255/40 ZR 18 9J x 18 EH2
Front: 225/40 ZR 19 8J x 19 EH2
Rear: 255/35 ZR 19 9.5J x 19 EH2
Winter tires (M+S)
Front: 225/45 R 17 91 H
Rear: 225/45 R 17 91 H7.5J x 17 EH2 IS47
7.5J x 17 EH2 IS25
Snow chains
*
It is not possible to mount snow chains
on tires with 18-/19-inch wheels.
Deactivate the Tire Pressure
Warning system (RDW) when
using snow chains. Malfunction warn-
ings and undetected losses in pressure
are a possibility when driving with snow
chains.
For further information, refer to
page 81. When selecting winter tires,
always remember the different rim
depths on the front and rear wheels.
Failure to mount the tires approved for
each wheel can lead to damage.<