2001 BMW M3 COUPE wheel

115n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Winter tires Snow chainsChoosing the right tire BMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for operation under inclem-
ent winter driving conditions. While
so-called all season tires (M+S desig-
nation) provide better winter traction
than summer tires with the load ratings
H, V, W, Y and ZR, they generally do
not achieve the performance of winter
tires.
In the interests of safe tracking and
steering response, install radial tires
made by the same manufacturer and
with the same tread configuration on all
four wheels if you elect to mount winter
tires. Do not exceed specified
maximum speedsIn Germany: attach a corresponding
sign in accordance with the Federal
Motor Vehicles Safety Standards in
your field of vision if the maximum
speed of the vehicle is higher. This
sticker is available from the tire dealer
or your BMW center. 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. Your BMW center
will be glad to assist you with both their
expertise and the proper equipment for
your vehicle.<
Tire condition, tire pressureWinter tires display a perceptible loss in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions once the tread wears to
below 0.16 in (4 mm), and should thus
be replaced.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressure and be sure to have the
wheels balanced each time a tire or
wheel is changed. In addition, also have
the Tire Pressure Warning (RDW) reini-
tialized, for details refer to page 78.
The use of narrow-link BMW snow
chains on winter tires is approved only
in pairs and only on the rear wheels.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety
precautions when mounting the chains.
Deactivate the Tire Pressure
Warning (RDW) when using snow
chains. The snow chains can lead to
malfunction warnings and undetected
losses in pressure.
For further information, refer to
page 78.<

116n
Approved wheel and tire specifications BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire size, classifies them as road-
safe and approves them. Consult your BMW center for more information.
Observe any regulations applicable in the country of use, e.g. requiring
entry in the vehicle documents.
Tire specifications Light-alloy
wheels
BMW M3
Summer
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)
225/45 R 17 91 H 7.5Jx17 EH2
Snow chains
*
It is not possible to mount snow chains
on 18 and 19-inch wheels.
Deactivate the tire pressure
control (RDW) when using snow
chains. The snow chains can lead to
malfunction warnings and undetected
losses in pressure.
For further information, refer to 78.<

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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

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Caring for your vehicleCaring for other vehicle
components and materials Light-alloy wheels should be treated
with alloy wheel cleaner, especially
during the winter months. However, do
not use aggressive products contain-
ing acids, strong alkalis or abrasives.
Do not use steam cleaners operating at
temperatures above 140 7 (+60 6).
Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
If your vehicle has chrome parts
* such
as window moldings, door handles or
similar items, clean these parts carefully
with ample clean water, and possibly a
shampoo additive, especially if there is
an accumulation of road salt. Use
chrome polish as an additional treat-
ment.
Plastic components, vinyl upholstery,
headliners, lamp lenses, the clear cover
of the instrument cluster and compon-
ents with a sprayed dull black surface
can be cleaned with water (add plastic
shampoo as required). Do not allow
moisture to soak through the seats or
headliner. Never use solvents such as
lacquer thinner, heavy-duty grease
remover, fuels, or similar substances.
Rubber components should be cleaned
with water only; a rubber treatment or
silicone spray may also be applied. The safety belts should be cleaned with
a mild soap and water solution without
being removed from the vehicle. Never
attempt chemical or dry cleaning, as
damage to the belt fabric could result.
After cleaning, never allow the inertia
reel to retract the belts until they are
completely dry. Dirty safety belts pre-
vent the inertia reel mechanism from
retracting the strap properly, and thus
constitute a safety hazard.
Heavily soiled floor carpets and mats
*
can be cleaned with an interior cleaner.
The floor mats can be removed from
the vehicle for cleaning.
Use only a damp cloth to clean trim
panels made of real wood
* and other
parts constructed of real wood
*. Follow
up by drying with a soft cloth.
Use the cleaning and car-care
products that you can obtain at
your BMW center.<
Care of upholstery materials Depressions in the upholstery that
result from everyday use can be
brushed smooth by brushing against
the nap with a lightly dampened brush.
The tendency of the pile to lie in a par-
ticular direction on velour upholstery is
not a quality defect. Just as with home
textiles or clothing, this cannot be
avoided.
Lint on upholstery materials, textile or
leather remnants that have been worn
into the upholstery may be removed
with a lint brush or a Velcro brush. A
cleaning glove is available for particu-
larly "stubborn" lint. Stains and fairly
large areas of dirt should be cleaned off
without delay, using lukewarm water
and an interior cleaner, stain remover or
appropriate cleaning fluid. Brush the
fabric afterwards to restore its appear-
ance.
If the vehicle will be stored for an
extended period or if it is exposed to
intense sunlight, cover all the seats or
the windows to prevent fading.
Use the cleaning and car-care
products that you can obtain at
your BMW center.<

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Airbags Vehicle storageImportant safety notices
Don't remove the airbag restraint
system's gas generator. Have
testing and service procedures per-
formed by specially-qualified techni-
cians only. In the event of any faults, if
the airbag stops working, or in the
event of function-oriented use (deploy-
ment) of the airbag restraint system,
entrust your BMW center alone with
repair or disassembly.
No modifications may be made to either
the wiring or to individual components.
These include the padded steering
wheel hub, the instrument panel, the
side trim panels of the front or rear
doors and the roof pillars or the sides of
the headliner. Do not apply adhesive
materials to these components, cover
or modify them in any way. Do not
remove or dismantle the steering wheel
yourself.
To ensure compliance with official
safety regulations, entrust disposal of
airbag generators to a BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation,
either of which could result in personal
injury.<
Consult your BMW center regarding
special procedures if you intend to
store the vehicle for more than three
months.

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

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.<