2001 BMW M3 COUPE Owner's Manual

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
145n
Repairing a flat tire
Precautions in case of a flat tire:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible
from passing traffic; switch on the
hazard warning flashers.
Switch on the hazard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position, remove the key and
engage the steering lock. Shift into 1st
or reverse gear and engage the parking
brake.
All passengers should be outside the
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area (behind a guardrail,
for instance).
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is available, set it up on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle.
Comply with all safety guidelines and
regulations.<
M Mobility system With the BMW M3, you will find an
M Mobility system for fixing flat tires.
With the aid of this system, you can
apply a liquid sealant to the inside of
the tire, thereby sealing off the
damaged area, and then continue
driving.
The M Mobility system makes trans-
porting a spare wheel superfluous,
thereby reducing the amount of weight
you have to carry around.
The M Mobility system is located in the
luggage compartment under the floor
panel:
1 Lift up the floor panel
2 Loosen the M Mobility system from
its storage location.
Note that the fluid bottle in the
system's sealant container must
be replaced every 3 years by your BMW
center if the system is not used.<

146n
Repairing a flat tireThe components of the M Mobility
system1 On/Off switch
2 Connection hose with pressure
gauge for connecting the compressor
with the sealant container or to
connect the compressor to the wheel
3 Pressure gauge for indicating the tire
pressure
4 Connector hose from the sealant
container to the wheel
5 Sticker for maximum speed
6 Plug and cable for the cigarette
lighter socket
7 Protective gloves (not shown).
Use the M Mobility system
If possible, leave the foreign
object in the tire.<
Do not exceed the maximum
speed limits described below,
otherwise accidents could result.
Before you use the M Mobility system,
read the warnings and danger notices
on the device carefully.<
1 Pull sticker 5 off for speed limit and
affix it to the steering wheel
2 Remove the round cover and take out
hose 4. Unscrew the valve stem
cover from the defective wheel and
screw the hose to the valve

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
147n
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 the plug 6 and insert it into
the cigarette lighter socket in the
passenger compartment (refer to
page 93)
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 three minutes to elapse to let
the sealant flow in. It does not matter
afterward what the tire's inflation
pressure is
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 Then immediately 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

148n
Repairing a flat tire Battery 8 Take out the hose with the pressure
gauge and screw it onto the valve.
Take out the plug and plug it into the
cigarette lighter socket in the
passenger compartment
9 Inflate the tire pressure:
>To increase the tire pressure: turn
on the M Mobility system
(position I). To check the new tire
pressure briefly turn off the device
>To reduce the tire pressure: turn
the screw on the back of the pres-
sure gauge; this will open the air
release valve
If the air pressure won't hold, still
carry out step 10 and then repeat
steps 7 through 10 again.
The use of the M Mobility system may
be ineffective if the damaged area in
the tire is larger than approx. 0.16 in
(4 mm). Please consult the nearest
BMW center if the tire cannot be
temporarily repaired with the M Mobility
system.<
10 Unscrew the hose from the valve
and stow the M Mobility system in
the luggage compartment.
After the flat tire has been fixed and you
start driving again, do not exceed a
maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
You will find corresponding instructions
for using the M Mobility system on the
device.
Replace the defective tire as soon as
possible and have the new wheel/tire
balanced. Re-initialize the Tire Pressure
Warning system (RDW), refer to
page 78 for further information. Have
the M Mobility system refilled. Contact
your BMW center for this.
Battery locationThe battery is located at the right-rear
of the luggage compartment. Raise the
luggage compartment floor panel (refer
to page 39). Using a screwdriver or a
coin and f turn, release both of the
caps as shown in the illustration, taking
them out along with an additional cap in
the top center of the right side trim
panel. Remove the fasteners. In order
to remove the storage tray, slide the
side trim panel slightly upward.
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds. Wash hands after
handling.<

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
149n
BatteryCharge conditionYou can read the charge condition of
the battery with the "Magic Eye
*" (a
hydrometer):
>Green: adequate charge
>Black: not charged adequately. The
battery must be recharged. Please
contact your BMW center for addi-
tional information
>Yellow: replace the battery.
The projected service life of the
battery can only be reached if the
battery is fully-charged at all times. If
the vehicle is primarily used for stop-
and-go traffic, be sure to check the
charge state often.<
MaintenanceThe battery is completely maintenance-
free. That means that the original
battery acid will normally last for the
service life of the battery under
moderate climate conditions.
For all questions that regard the
battery, please consult your BMW
center. Since the battery is absolutely
maintenance-free, the following infor-
mation is for your use only.<
SymbolsYou will find the following symbols on
your car battery. For your safety, please
be cautious whenever you work with or
near the battery.
Before handling the battery,
please read the following
information.
A highly-explosive gas is
generated when the battery is
charged.
Never allow sparks or open
flame near the battery. Do not
smoke in the vicinity of the
battery. Avoid creating sparks when
working around electrical cables or
equipment. Turn the key to position 0 in
the ignition when disconnecting or
connecting the battery. Don't short-
circuit the battery terminal. If you do so,
you could be injured by electrical
sparks.
In order to protect the battery
case from ultraviolet radiation,
do not place it in direct sunlight.
A discharged battery can freeze. Store
the battery in areas where temperature
remains above freezing.

150n
Battery
Battery acid is extremely corro-
sive. Wear eye protection and
protective gloves. Do not tip the
battery. Battery acid can leak from the
ventilation openings.
Be sure that children keep well
away from batteries and battery
acid.
Wear eye protection. Do not
allow particles containing
battery acid or lead to come into
contact with your eyes, your skin, or
your clothing.
If you happen to get acid in your
eyes, rinse thoroughly for
15 minutes with clear water.
Following that, consult a physician
immediately. If your skin or clothing are
splashed with acid, rinse immediately
with plenty of soap and water. If acid is
accidentally swallowed, consult a
physician immediately.
Removal and installation
Do not disconnect the battery
when the engine is running.
Disconnecting the battery cable when
the engine is running will cause a
voltage surge which will damage the
vehicle's onboard electronics. Do not
make any modifications in the wires to
the positive terminal. If you do so, the
protective function of the safety battery
terminal is no longer ensured. Repairs
and disposal may only be performed by
specially-trained personnel.<
When removing the battery, disconnect
the cable on the negative terminal first,
then the cable on the positive terminal.
Loosen the center adjusting screw on
the battery retaining strap (use the
screwdriver included with the onboard
tool kit) and disconnect the strap.
When installing a battery, connect the
positive terminal first, then connect the
negative terminal.
When installing a battery, be sure
that it is mounted properly and
that the retaining bracket is installed
with the center adjustment screw. If this
is not done, the battery will not be
adequately secured in case of an acci-
dent.<
Charging the battery Charge the battery in the vehicle only
when the engine is not running.
Before performing any work on
the electrical system, disconnect
the cable from the negative terminal. If
you do not, short circuits can create the
risk of fire or personal injury.<
If you plan to park the vehicle for longer
than 4 weeks, disconnect the battery
from the vehicle electrical system by
disconnecting the cable at the negative
terminal. Then recharge the battery with
an appropriate battery charger.
If you intend to store the vehicle for
longer than 12 weeks, remove the
battery, charge it and store it in a cool
and dust-free room where there is no
danger of freezing. During storage,
have the battery recharged every 3
months. Also, recharge the battery
before it is reinstalled. If this is not
done, the battery will not be service-
able. Every time the battery is drained,
especially over extended periods, its
service life is reduced.

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
151n
Battery Fuses
Return used batteries to a recy-
cling point or your authorized
BMW center. Maintain the battery in an
upright position for transport and
storage. Secure the battery against
tilting in transit.<
Storage periods during which the
battery is disconnected are not
taken into consideration by the Service
Interval Display for changing the brake
fluid.
For this reason, be sure that the brake
fluid is changed every two years,
regardless of the information displayed.
Please read the information on
page 126.<
If an electrical accessory should fail,
switch it off and check the fuse. In glove compartment1 Open the glove compartment and
turn the two white quick-release
fasteners outward. Spare fuses and
plastic tweezers are located on the
fuse holder
2 Use the plastic tweezers to remove
the fuse for the accessory or equip-
ment that has stopped working
3 Replace a blown fuse, recognizable
by its melted metal strip, with a new
fuse that has the same color or
ampere rating.
A list of fuses, their respective ampere
ratings and the equipment in their
circuits is provided below the fuse
holder.
To close the fuse holder, snap it into
position at the top and turn the two
fasteners inward.
Do not attempt to repair a burned
fuse or replace it with a fuse
having a different color or ampere
rating. To do this could cause a fire in
the vehicle resulting from a circuit
overload.<
If the fuse continues to burn through,
have the problem taken care of by a
BMW center.

152n
Microfilter/Activated-charcoal filter Fuel filler door1 Open the hood
2 Release the three fasteners (arrow)
with a f turn
3 Remove the filter cover
4 Remove the filter by pulling toward
the front and install a new one
5 Position the filter cover and secure it
with the three fasteners.
Manual release Pull the knob with the fuel pump symbol
(arrow) on the right trim panel of the
luggage compartment.