2001 BMW M3 COUPE headlamp

82n
High beams/Parking lamp Fog lamps

Interior lamps
1 High beams (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator
lamp)
3 Parking lampsParking lamp, left or rightAs an additional feature, you can illumi-
nate your vehicle on either side for
parking, if you wish to do so:
With the ignition key in position 0,
engage the lever in the appropriate turn
signal position.
Front fog lamps
A green indicator lamp appears
in the instrument cluster to indi-
cate that the front fog lamps are
on.
The interior lamps operate automati-
cally.Switching the interior lamps on
and offPress the button briefly.
If you want the interior lamps to remain
off all the times, press and hold the
button for approx. 3 seconds.
Press the button briefly to revert to
normal operation.Footwell lampsThe footwell lamps operate in the same
way as the interior lamps.

121n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Engine compartment 1 Filler neck for headlamp and wind-
shield washer cleaning system122
2 Coolant expansion tank125
3 Positive terminal connection (for jump
starting) (positive terminal)154
4 Engine oil filler neck123
5 Engine oil dipstick123
6 Filler neck for brake fluid126

122n
Washer fluids Washer nozzlesHeadlamp and windshield washer
system Capacity: approx. 5.6 US quarts
(5.3 liters).
Fill with water and Ð if required Ð with a
washer antifreeze (according to manu-
facturer's recommendations).
We recommend that you mix the
washer fluid before adding it to
the reservoir.<
Antifreeze for the washer systems
is flammable. For this reason,
keep them away from sources of flame
and store them only in their original
containers. Store them so that they are
inaccessible to children. Comply with
the instructions on the containers.<
Headlamp washer system
*
Have this system adjusted by your
BMW center as required.Windshield washer systemWindshield:
The spray nozzles are permanently set
and ensure effective cleaning even at
high speeds.

128n
Washing your vehicle You can have your BMW washed in an
automatic car wash, even when it is
new. Car wash systems that do not
employ brushes are preferable.
Wipe away tough dirt and loosen and
remove dead insects before washing
the vehicle.
To prevent spots, avoid washing when
the hood is still warm, or immediately
after and during exposure to strong
sunlight.
When using an automatic car wash, be
sure that:
>The car wash system is suited for the
dimensions of your vehicle
>No damage will occur on vehicles
with attached body accessories (such
as spoilers or antennas). Consult the
car wash operator if necessary
>The wheels and tires of your vehicle
cannot be damaged by the convey-
ance devices of the car wash system
>The vehicle is cleaned with minimum
brush pressure, and that plenty of
water is available for washing and
rinsing. Vehicles with rain sensor:
Clean the windshield regularly. Wax
from automatic car washes or insects
can cause malfunctions in the rain
sensor function.
Turn the rain sensor off (refer to
page 66) when going through an
automatic car wash, otherwise, damage
could occur from unintended wiper
activation.<
Parts of the vehicle which are inacces-
sible to the automatic washer Ð such
as door sills, door and hood edges, etc.
Ð should be cleaned by hand.
In the winter months, it is especially
important to ensure that the vehicle is
washed on a regular basis. Large
quantities of dirt and road salt are
difficult to remove, and they also cause
damage to the vehicle.
If spray wands or high-pressure
washers are used, be sure to
maintain an adequate distance between
the spray source and the vehicle's
surface. Inadequate distance and
excessive pressure can damage or
weaken the finish, making it more
susceptible to subsequent attack. In
addition, moisture could penetrate to
vehicle components, leading to long-
term damage.<
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following:
Do not wipe dry with a cloth
(scratches). Never use abrasives or
strong solvents. Remove dirt and
contamination (such as insects) by
soaking with BMW Car Shampoo and
then rinsing with plenty of water.
Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow Ð never use
a scraper.<
After washing the vehicle, apply
the brakes briefly to dry them.
Braking efficiency might otherwise be
reduced by the moisture and the brake
rotors could also corrode.<
Caring for your vehicle

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
139n
Lamps and bulbsLow/high beam headlamps>Low beams: H7 bulb, 55 watts
>High beams: H7 bulb, 55 watts
The H7 bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and
protective gloves. Failure to comply
with this precaution could lead to injury
if the bulb is damaged during replace-
ment.<
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.Parking lamps5-watt bulb
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following: do
not wipe dry with a cloth (this causes
scratches). Never use abrasives or
strong solvents to clean the covers.
Remove dirt and contamination (such
as insects) by soaking with BMW Car
Shampoo and then rinsing with ample
water. Always use a deicer spray to
remove accumulated ice and snow Ð
never use a scraper.<
Xenon lamps
*
The service life of these bulbs is very
long and the probability of a failure is
very low, provided that they are not
switched on and off an unusual number
of times. If one of these bulbs should
nevertheless fail, it is possible to
continue driving with great caution
using the fog lamps, provided traffic
laws in your area do not prohibit this.
Because of the extremely high
voltages involved, any work on the
xenon lighting system including bulb
replacement should be carried out by
technically-qualified personnel only.
Otherwise, there is a risk of fatal
injury.<

163n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Xenon lamps
*
The xenon lamp provides forward illu-
mination with significantly more bright-
ness and uniformity than the traditional
halogen lamp.
In a xenon lamp, an electric arc
replaces the filament in order to
generate intense illumination. A gas
mixture in a quartz glass tube with
metal vapor is ignited by a high electric
voltage. The arc that is generated is
then sustained by a lower voltage.
When the lamp is turned, on there is a
brief warm-up period. Maximum bright-
ness is attained in approx. 15 seconds.
Xenon lamps improve the driver's visi-
bility and orientation to the road, espe-
cially in adverse weather conditions
and driving situations (driving at night in
heavy rain or through road repair areas
where there are no lane markers, for
instance).
Vehicles with xenon lamps are
equipped with automatic headlamp
range control. As a result, the highway
is always optimally lighted, regardless
of load conditions, and drivers in
oncoming traffic are not blinded.
Xenon lamps make a significant contri-
bution to highway safety since other
highway users, bicyclists and motorcy-
clists in the right lane, and pedestrians
are more easily detected.

169n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Capacities
Notes
Fuel tank
Reserve gal. (liters)
gal. (liters)approx. 16.6 (approx. 63)
approx. 2.1 (approx. 8)Fuel specification: page 26
Windshield washer system/
Headlamp washer system quarts (liters) approx. 5.6 (approx. 5.3)For details: page 122
Cooling system including heater
circuitquarts (liters) approx. 6.3 (approx. 6.0) For details: page 125
Engine oil and filter change quarts (liters) approx. 6.9 (approx. 6.5) BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil
For details: page 124
Manual transmission and differential Ð Ð Changing the oil during the
breaking-in inspection, after which
it is considered permanently filled
and not changed again

Everything from A to Z
175n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Caring for the vehicle
finish129
Cassette operation, refer to
the radio Owner's Manual
Catalytic converter103
starting problems103
CBC (Cornering Brake
Control)21, 104
CD operaton, refer to the
radio Owner's Manual
Cellular phone110
refer also to the separate
Owner's Manual
Center armrest91
Center (high-mount) brake
lamp143
Central locking system31
key36
Check Control72t
Checking air pressure26t
Checking engine oil
level123t
Child restraint
system55, 59
Child seat safety55, 60
Cigarette lighter93
Clean the headlamps67
Clean the windshield66
Clock73
Clothes hooks94
Cockpit16Code, refer to the radio
Owner's Manual
Coin box91
Combination switch65
Compression166
Computer72
Configuring the settings52
Consumption74
Consumption display70
Control elements16
Coolant108, 121t, 125
antifreeze108
Coolant temperature
gauge70
Cooling system169
Copyright4
Cornering Brake Control
(CBC)21, 104
Cruise control67
Cruising range74
Cup holder, refer to
beverage holder91
Curb weight168
DDashboard16
Data
dimensions167
engine166
technical166
weights168Daytime-driving lamp
switch81
Deep water103
Defrost position87t
Defrostable rear window88
Defrosting the
windows87t
Difficult steering110t
Digital clock73
Dimensions167
Dipstick123
Disk brakes106
Displacement166
Display lighting81
Displays18
Disposal
used batteries151
used engine oil124
Distance warning75
Diversity Antenna159
Door key30
Door locks, care108
Doors
emergency
actuation32t
operating manually32
remote control33
unlocking and
locking32, 33
DOT Quality Grades112
Draft-free ventilation88
Drive belts170Driving in winter108
Driving lamps81
Driving notes
aquaplaning103
brakes103
disk brakes106
sliding109
slippery roads108
DSC (Dynamic Stability
Control)22, 76, 159
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)22, 76, 159
EElectric power windows42
Electrical accessories,
failure151t
Electrical failure
fuel filler door152t
sliding/tilt sunroof153t
Electrical system170
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer31
Emergency actuation
doors32t
fuel filler door152t
sliding/tilt sunroof153t
Engine
compartment120
coolant125, 169
data166
displacement166