2001 BMW M3 COUPE Owner's Manual

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp flasher Washer/Wiper system1 High beam (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator
lamp)
3 Turn signal indicator (green indicator
accompanied by periodic clicking
sound from the relay)To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond
the detent. It then returns to the center
position when released.
If the flashing indicator lamp and
the clicking from the relay are
both faster than normal, one of the turn
signal indicators has failed.<
0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent mode or rain sensor
2 Normal wiper speed
3 Fast wiper speed
4 Brief wipe
5 Rotary dial for control of the wipe
interval or the sensitivity of the rain
sensorIntermittent mode(not on vehicles with rain sensor)
You can set the wipe interval at four
stages with rotary dial 5. In addition, the
wipe interval is varied automatically
depending on road speed.

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Washer/Wiper system/Rain sensorRain sensor
*
When the rain sensor is activated, the
windshield wiper is controlled automati-
cally, depending on the degree of
wetness of the windshield (in both snow
and rain). You do not have to be
concerned with switching the wind-
shield wiper on or off or adjusting the
wipe interval between intermittent and
full wipe. Instead, you can concentrate
fully on the traffic conditions. This is
especially important under adverse
weather conditions.
The rain sensor is positioned on the
windshield, directly ahead of the inte-
rior rearview mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
>From ignition key position 1, move
the lever to position 1. The wipers
travel once across the windshield,
regardless of the weather.
>You can leave the lever permanently
in position 1. It is then only necessary
to activate the rain sensor from igni-
tion key position 1. To do this
>give rotary dial 5 a quick turn or
>clean the windshield 5, refer to
page 66.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain
sensor: turn rotary dial 5.Deactivating the rain sensor: put lever
in position 0.
Deactivate the rain sensor when
passing through an automatic car
wash. Failure to do so could result in
damage caused by undesired wiper
activation.<
Normal wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers switch automatically to intermit-
tent wipe (not on vehicles with rain
sensor).Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers operate at normal speed (not on
vehicles with rain sensor).
0 Wipers retracted
1 Clean the windshieldClean the windshieldThe system sprays washer fluid onto
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
If you only pull the lever briefly, the
system sprays washer fluid onto the
windshield without activating the
wipers.
Do not use the washers if there is
any danger that the fluid will
freeze on the windshield. If you do so,
your vision could be obscured. For this
reason, use an antifreeze agent. Refer
to page 122.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Washer/Wiper system Rear window defroster Cruise control Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty, since this could cause
damage to the washer pump. *
When the vehicle's lighting system is
switched on, the headlamps will also be
cleaned every fifth time the automatic
windshield washer is activated.Windshield washer jetsThe windshield washer jets are warmed
automatically when the ignition key is in
position 2.
To activatePress the button: as long as the indi-
cator lamp remains on, the rear window
defroster continues at high output
(rapid thaw).
After the indicator lamp goes out, the
defroster continues operating at
reduced power for a limited period
before deactivating automatically. To deactivateIf the indicator lamp is still on, press the
button.
Starting at about 20 mph (30 km/h), you
can maintain and store any vehicle
speed that you specify.
You can use cruise control whenever
the system is active while the engine is
running.
1 Accelerate and store
2 Decelerate and store
3 Activate/interrupt/deactivate the
system
4 Recall the stored speed.To activate the system From ignition key position 2.
Press switch 3 and the indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster (refer to page 22)
will come on. You can now use the
cruise control.

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Cruise control
Do not use cruise control on
winding roads, when high traffic
density prevents driving at a constant
speed, when the road surface is slick
(snow, rain, ice), or when the road
surface is loose (rocks, sand).<
To deactivate the system Press switch 3 repeatedly until the indi-
cator lamp in the instrument cluster
goes out.
The cruise control is also deactivated
when the ignition key is in position 0.
The speed stored in the memory is
deleted.To store and maintain speed as
well as to acceleratePress button 1 briefly:
The system registers and maintains the
current vehicle speed. Each additional
tap on the button increases the speed
by approx. 0.6 mph (1 km/h).
Press and hold button 1:
The vehicle accelerates without pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal. When
you release the button, the system
records and maintains the current
speed.
If, on a downhill gradient, the
engine braking effect is not suffi-
cient, the controlled speed can be
exceeded. Speed can drop on uphill
grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.<
To deceleratePress button 2 briefly:
Whenever cruise control is active,
your speed will reduce by approx.
0.6 mph (1 km/h) each time you tap
the button.
Press and hold button 2:
With the cruise control active, the
system automatically reduces the
throttle opening to slow the vehicle.
When you release the button, the
system records and maintains the
current speed.To cancel the cruise control When the cruise control is on, press
and hold button 3. The indicator lamp
will stay on.
You can use the cruise control again
whenever required by calling up the
speed that was stored last.
In addition, the cruise control is
canceled automatically:
>If the brakes are applied
>When pressing down the clutch pedal
>If the cruise speed is either exceeded
or not met for an extended length of
time (if you depress the accelerator
pedal and exceed the set speed, for
example).Recal the stored speedPress button 4:
The vehicle accelerates to and main-
tains the last speed stored.

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IndexDataTechnol-RepairsCar careControlsOverview
1 Odometer
2 Trip odometerOdometerYou can activate the displays shown in
the illustration with the ignition key in
position 0 by pressing the button in the
instrument cluster (arrow).Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero,
press the button (arrow) with the igni-
tion key in position 1 or higher.
Variable pre-warning zoneThe orange pre-warning zone displays
current permissible engine speeds,
depending on the engine temperature.
As the engine temperature climbs,
some of the sectors of this pre-warning
zone will go out one after the other.
Avoid engine speeds in the early
warning zone if possible.Warning zone
Be sure to avoid engine sppeds in
the red warning zone, as other-
wise, the engine can be damaged.<
In this range the fuel supply will be
interrupted to protect the engine; the
resulting effect resembles that associ-
ated with a sudden loss of power.
The general operating temperature is
between 175 7 (80 6) and 250 7
(120 6). During performance-oriented
driving, do not exceed the maximum
temperature of 300 7 (150 6).
Odometer Tachometer Engine oil temperature

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Fuel gauge Coolant temperature gauge Once the indicator lamp stays on
continuously, there are still approx.
2 gallons (8 liters) of fuel in the fuel
tank.
For fuel tank capacity, refer to
page 169.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies (when you
are driving in mountainous areas, for
example), the needle may fluctuate
slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving
to the last drop of fuel can result in
damage to the engine and/or catalytic
converter.<
When the ignition is turned on, the indi-
cator lamp in the fuel display will light
up briefly as a functional check.
BlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at
moderate engine and vehicle speeds. RedTo check the function, the warning
lamp in the coolant temperature gauge
will light up briefly when the ignition is
turned on.
If the lamp comes on while operating
the vehicle, the engine has overheated.
Switch the engine off immediately and
allow it to cool down.
Checking coolant level, refer to
page 125.
Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. It is not
unusual for the needle to rise as far as
the edge of the red zone in response to
high outside temperatures or severe
operating conditions.

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IndexDataTechnol-RepairsCar careControlsOverview
Service Interval Display Remaining distance for serviceThe displays shown in the illustration
appear for a few seconds when the
ignition key is in position 1 or after the
engine is started.
The next service due appears with the
message OILSERVICE or INSPECTION,
together with the distance remaining
before the next scheduled service.
The computer bases its calculations of
the remaining distance on the previous
driving style.
A flashing message and a "Ð" in front of
the number mean that the service
interval has already been exceeded by
the distance shown on the display.
Please contact your BMW center for an
appointment.

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DisplayThe following information or conditions
are displayed from ignition key posi-
tion 2 until the cause has been
corrected:
1 Inspect the low beam and high beam
headlamps, as well as the side lamps
2 Door open
3 Luggage compartment lid open
4 Check brake and tail lamps.
After completion of a trip and upon
opening the driver's door, an acoustic
signal will sound yet not be displayed, if
the low beam headlamps have not been
turned off.
Mode selectionWith the ignition key in position 1 and
higher, you can use the button in the
turn signal lever to retrieve information
from the computer for display in the
instrument cluster. By pressing the
button briefly in the direction of the
steering column, you can call up a
new function for display.
The displays appear in the following
order:
Time of day, outside temperature,
average fuel consumption, cruising
range, average vehicle speed.
Starting with ignition key position 1, the
last active setting is displayed.
ClockIf you wish to have a permanent time
display, you can make this adjustment
in the radio display (refer to the Radio
Owner's Manual).
You can set the time of day, including
for the car radio display, as follows.
Check Control Computer