2001 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE inflation pressure

115n
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

140n
Storing your vehicle
If you intend to store the vehicle
for more than 3 months, be sure to
follow the maintenance instructions on
this page.<
Storage preparationsHave your BMW center perform the
following procedures:
1 Clean and apply a rustproofing agent
or other treatment to the engine,
engine compartment, undercarriage,
axles and major components in
accordance with approved repair
procedures. First wash the vehicle
surface, then clean the interior,
following up with paint- and chrome
care, after which you clean the
rubber seals for the hood and doors.
2 Change the engine oil and oil filter
with the engine warm. As an addi-
tional corrosion protection measure,
an anticorrosive agent can be added
to the engine in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions.
3 Check the coolant level and concen-
tration, top up if necessary.
4 Check the fluid level of the wind-
shield washer fluid reservoir; top up if
necessary.
5 Fill the fuel tank completely to
prevent the formation of condensa-
tion.
6 Increase the tire inflation pressure to
51 psi (350 Kilopascal).Before parking the vehicle1 To prevent the brake discs and
drums from corroding, dry the
parking and footbrake by applying
the brakes.
2 Park the vehicle in a covered, dry,
and well-ventilated area. Place the
transmission in first gear or, if neces-
sary, chock the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from rolling. Do not set the
parking brake.
3 Remove the battery, charge it
completely and store it in a cool (but
frost-free) room.
4 Remove the hardtop and store it
separately. Refer to page 114.
5 Close the convertible top.During storageRecharge the battery every six months.
If it is not recharged, it will not be
useable. Every time the battery is
discharged, especially over extended
periods, its service life is reduced.
Removing the vehicle from
storageRecharge the battery if the "Magic
Eye
*" turns black. Refer to page 157.
Then have Inspection I performed by
your BMW center, including a brake
fluid replacement if necessary.

155n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Repairing a flat tire3 Flip open the cover and pull out the
enclosed protective gloves. Take out
hose 2 with the pressure gauge and
screw it to the terminal for the sealant
container as shown in the illustration.
4 Make sure that the system has been
switched off (position 0).
Take out plug 6 and insert it into the
cigarette lighter socket in the
passenger compartment (refer to
page 97).
5 Make sure that the screw on the rear
of pressure gauge 3 is tightened
down. Turn on the M Mobility system
(position I, refer to illustration) and
allow 3 minutes to elapse, to let the
sealant flow in. The tire's inflation
pressure is insignificant at this stage.
6 Turn the device off.
Disconnect the connector hose from
the sealant container and the tire
valve. Stow the M Mobility system in
the luggage compartment.
7 Right afterward, drive at least
1.2 miles (2 km), so that the liquid
sealant distributes evenly throughout
the inside of the tire.
Do not exceed 40 mph (60 km/h), and
if possible, do not drop below 10 mph
(20 km/h).
Stop at an appropriate spot.

Everything from A to Z
189n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Headlamp flasher69, 85
Headlamp washer
system125, 126, 181
Heated mirror52
Heated seats93
Heater and ventilation88
Heavy loads100
Height50, 179
High beam lamps69, 85
indicator lamps23
High Performance Synthetic
Oils128
High-speed engine171
Holder for beverage
cans, refer to Beverage
holder
Hood121
opening121
unlocking121
Horn17IIce warning77
Identification number,
vehicle130
Identification, tires118, 120
Ignition key32
Ignition key position66
Ignition lock66
Imprint4
Indicator lamps20tIndividual settings
car memory, key
memory55
Inflation pressures115t
INSPECTION75
Instrument cluster18
Instrument lighting84
Instruments18
Interference
cellular phone112
Interior lamps36, 86
bulb replacement151t
remote control36
Interior mirror
automatic dimming
feature53
Interior motion sensor42
disarm43t
Interior rearview mirror
automatic dimming
feature53, 173
Intermittent operation69
JJump-starting164KKey Memory55
Keys32
with remote control32
LLamp switch84
Lamps
footwell lamps86
high beam headlamps85
instrument lighting84
interior lamps86
parking lamp85
reading lamps86
Lamps and bulbs146
LAMPS ON warning84
Lashing eyes101
LATCH attachment for child
seat59
Leather care136
Length179
License plate lamp
bulb replacement151t
Lighter97
Load-securing devices101
Low beam headlamps84
lamp malfunction147t
Lower rollover protection
system64t
Luggage
compartment40, 41
capacity180
emergency release39t
enlarging41
floor mat41
floor panel41fold down convertible top
compartment base41
remote control37
Luggage compartment
lamps39
bulb replacement152t
Luggage compartment
lid39
emergency release39t
Luggage rack101
Lumbar support49
MM Engine dynamics
control83
M Mobility system153
M+S-tires119
M3 engine concept171
Maintenance75, 131
Make-up mirror53
Malfunction of ABS107
Manual convertible
top operation in case of
electrical defect162t
Manual transmission68
Manual-shift gear lever68
Master key32
Maximum speed181
Memory54
MFL (Multifunction steering
wheel)24

Everything from A to Z
191n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
SSafety belt tensioner170
Safety belts57
seat-integrated safety
belts (SGS)51
Safety buttons38
Safety defects, reporting7
Seat heating93
Seat memory54
Seat-integrated safety belts
(SGS)51
Seats, adjusting48
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet131
Service Interval
Display75, 131
Service Manual131
Side airbags61
Side impact61
Side marker lamps84
lamp malfunction147t
Side turn signals, bulb
replacement148t
Ski bag98
Snow chains110, 119, 120
Socket97
Spark plugs182
Speaker96
Special features of winter
tires119
Speedometer18Sport mode
identification83
Sports seat49
Starting
problems67t, 105
Starting the engine66
Steering112
Steering lock66
Steering wheel
adjusting55
refer also to Multifunction
steering wheel (MFL)24
Stopping the vehicle67
Storage compartments95
Storing your vehicle140
Stowing cargo100
Stroke178
Summer tires118, 120
Sun visors53
Surface ice warning77
Switching off the engine67
Symbols, used4
Synthetic oils128
TTachometer73
Tail lamps149
replacing bulbs149t
Tank capacity181
Technical data178
Technical
modifications6, 141Telephone hookup96
Temperature display
ice warning77
interior temperature90
outside temperature77
Temperature gauge
engine coolant74
Temperature layering92
Tilt alarm36, 43
remote control36
Tire
codes118, 120
condition115
damage115t
failure, repairing153
inflation pressure28, 115
pressure monitor81
pressure
specifications28
replacement116
rotation117
summer117
treads115
wear indicator115
winter117
Tire and wheel
specifications120
Tire Pressure Warning
(RDW)81
indicator lamp22
Tire Quality Grading116
Tires and wheels118Tools146t
Torque178
Tow fittings165t
Towing eyelets165
Towing the vehicle165t
Track179
Traction Control System
refer to DSC80
Transmission68
Transporting children
safely58
Tread depth, tire115
Trip odometer73
Trunk, refer to luggage
compartment40
Turn signal indicator23, 69
bulb replacement148t
Turning radius179
Two-way radios112
UUniform Tire Quality
Grading116
Used batteries,
disposal159t
Used engine oil,
disposal128tVVacuum cleaner97
Vehicle battery157

So that you will have important
specifications available when you
stop to refuel, we recommend
that you supplement this table
with data which apply to your
vehicle.
Fuel
Engine oil The oil volume between the
two marks on the oil dipstick
corresponds to approx.
1.4 US quarts (1.3 liters). Designation Premium Unleaded
Gasoline
AKI: minimum 91
QualityTire inflation pressures
Summer Winter
Front Rear Front Rear
2 persons
4 persons plus luggage
Refueling
BMW recommends Castrol