2002 BMW M3 COUPE steering

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cargo loading Roof-mounted luggage rack
*
Securing the cargo in the luggage
compartment >For small, light items, use the rubber-
lined non-skid side of the floor mat or
secure with a luggage compartment
net
* or elastic straps, refer to
page 36
>For large, heavy pieces, see your
BMW center for load-securing
devices
*. Lashing eyes (arrow) are
provided at the inner corners of the
luggage compartment for attaching
these load-securing devices.
Read and comply with the information
enclosed with the load-securing
devices.
A special luggage system is available
as an option for your BMW. Please
observe the precautions included with
the installation instructions.AnchorsAccess to the anchors:
To fold up the covers (arrow), please
use the tool which is provided with the
luggage system.Loading and driving notesBecause roof racks raise the center of
gravity of the vehicle when loaded, they
exercise a major effect on its handling
and steering response.
When loading, be sure to remember not
to exceed the approved roof weight,
the approved gross vehicle weight or
the axle loads. You will find the specifi-
cations under "Technical Data" on
page 138.
Make sure that the load is not too
heavy, and attempt to distribute it
evenly. Always load the heaviest pieces
first (on the bottom). Be sure that
adequate clearance is maintained for
raising the sliding/tilt sunroof, and that
objects do not project into the opening
path of the luggage compartment lid.
Secure the roof luggage correctly
and securely to prevent it from
shifting or being lost during driving
(danger for following traffic).<
Drive smoothly and avoid sudden
acceleration or braking. Do not corner
at high speeds.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Brakes:
Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light but
consistent pedal pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and
possibly even brake failure.
Aquaplaning:
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water may form between the
tires and the road surface. This
phenomenon is referred to as aqua-
planing, or hydroplaning, and can lead
to partial or complete loss of traction,
vehicle control and braking effective-
ness.
Driving through water:
Do not drive through water on the road
if it is deeper than 1 foot (30 cm), and
then only at walking speed. Otherwise,
the vehicle's engine, the electrical
systems and the transmission may be
damaged.
Rear parcel tray:
Never use it to store heavy or hard
objects, otherwise, occupants could be
injured if the vehicle is braked hard.
Clothes hooks:
When suspending clothing from the
hooks, be sure that they will not
obstruct the driver's vision. Do not hang
heavy objects on the hooks. If you do
so, they could cause personal injury
during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
The conceptThe Antilock Brake System (ABS) keeps
the wheels from locking while braking,
thereby enhancing active driving safety.Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of the ABS system if you apply
maximum brake pressure ("panic
stop"). Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can
nevertheless avoid possible obstacles
with a minimum of steering effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
to indicate to the driver that ABS is in
its active mode.Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced engineering
design of the ABS. When braking while
cornering at high speed or braking
during high lateral acceleration, or
when braking during a lane change,
vehicle stability is improved and
steering response is enhanced.
Driving notes Antilock Brake System

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Brake system Brake fluid level Low brake fluid level in the reservoir
combined with longer than usual pedal
travel may indicate a defect in one of
the brake system's hydraulic circuits.
Proceed to the nearest BMW
center. Higher brake application
pressure may be necessary when stop-
ping, and the vehicle may exhibit a
slight tendency to pull to one side.
Brake distances may even be longer.
Please remember to adapt your driving
style accordingly.<
Disc brakesWhen the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in
operating conditions where brake appli-
cations are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs
because the minimal pressure that must
be exerted by the pads to clean the
rotors by brake applications is not
reached.
Corrosion on brake rotors is signaled by
a pulsation during braking; even
extended subsequent braking will not
cure this phenomenon.
It is a good idea to periodically dry the
brakes with a gentle brake application
when driving in rain and on wet roads.
Monitor traffic conditions to ensure that
this maneuver does not endanger other
road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors
to ensure that your brake system will
respond with undiminished efficiency
when you need it.Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear in which
only minimal periodic brake applica-
tions are required. This helps avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake
system. Stay within the allowable rpm
range. For additional information, refer
to page 70.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the gearshift
lever in idle. Do not coast with the
engine switched off. If you do so the
engine provides no braking effect and
there is no power assist for braking or
steering when the engine is not
running.<
Brake pads
For your own safety: Use only
brake pads which BMW has
approved for your specific vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if
they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed.<

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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 Ð above all else
Ð driving safety that depend on the
condition of the tires and the mainte-
nance of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressures are a
frequent cause of tire problems
and tire damage. Tire pressure also has
a major effect on your BMW's handling
response. Check tire inflation pressures
on a regular basis (refer to page 25), at
least every two weeks and before
beginning a longer trip. Failure to
observe these precautions can result in
incorrect tire pressures, which cause
instable handling response as well as
tire damage, and can ultimately lead to
an accident.<
Tire tread Ð tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread pattern 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). Tread wear indi-
cators (arrow) are embedded in the base
of the tire's tread. Their locations are
indicated by the legend "TWI" Ð Tread
Wear Indicator Ð at various points on the
tire's shoulder. When the tread reaches a
depth of 0.063 in (1.6 mm), these indica-
tors appear to signal that the tires have
worn to the minimum legal level. 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 leads to over-
heating and causes damage inside the
tires. You could have a blowout as a
result.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect.
The type of problem can be caused by
contact with curbs, etc. 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.
Proceed carefully to the nearest BMW
center or professional tire center, or
have the vehicle towed in to have it and
its wheels and tires inspected.
Tire damage (up to and including blow-
outs) can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
Tire inflation pressure Tire condition

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Special characteristics of winter tires Snow chainsChoosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for operation under adverse
winter driving conditions. So-called all-
season tires with the M+S identification
mark do indeed possess better winter
traction than summer tires that have the
H, V, W, Y and ZR speed ratings, they
generally fail to provide the same levels
of performance as snow tires.
In the interest of safe tracking and
steering response, install winter tires
made by the same manufacturer having
the same tread configuration on all four
wheels. Do not exceed specified
maximum speeds
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which winter tires are
rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<
Tire condition, tire pressureOnce winter tires wear to a tread depth
of less than 0.16 in (4 mm), their perfor-
mance under winter driving conditions
deteriorates noticeably. Worn tires
should therefore be replaced for safety
considerations.
Inflate tires to specified pressure and
have the wheels balanced every time
the tires or wheels have been replaced.Use narrow-link BMW snow chains
* on
winter tires in pairs only and only on the
rear wheels. Comply with all manufac-
turer's safety precautions when
mounting the chains. Do not exceed a
maximum speed of 30 mph (50 km/h)
with snow chains.
After mounting or removing snow
chains, always reinitialize the sequential
M gearbox
* SMG II, refer to page 65.
It is not possible to mount snow
chains on tires with 18- and
19-inch wheels.
Deactivate the Flat Tire Monitor when
using snow chains. Malfunction warn-
ings and undetected losses in pressure
are a possibility when driving with snow
chains.
For additional information, refer to
page 77.<

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Engine oil
BMW engines are designed to
operate without oil additives; the
use of additives could lead to damage
in some cases. This is also true for the
manual transmission, the differential,
and the power steering system.<
Recommendation: have the oil changed
by your BMW center only.
Continuous exposure to used oil
has caused cancer in laboratory
testing. For this reason, thoroughly
wash any areas of skin that come into
contact with oil using soap and water.
Always store oils, grease and similar
materials so that they are inaccessible
to children. Comply with warning labels
and information on containers.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the
disposal of used oil.<
Prescribed engine oilThe quality of the engine oil is
extremely important for the function
and life of an engine. Based on exten-
sive testing, BMW has approved only
certain types of engine oils.
Use only oils approved for your vehicle
model.
Ask your BMW center for details
concerning oils that have been
approved. You can also call BMW of
North America at 1-800-831-1117 or
visit this website: www.bmwusa.com
to obtain this information.< Alternative oil typesShould it not be possible to purchase
an oil approved by BMW, you can also
use other oils for adding smaller quanti-
ties between oil changes as an excep-
tion. The following information must be
specified on the package:
1. Viscosity
preferred: SAE 10W-60
or as an alternative: SAE 5W-40 or
SAE 10W-40
2. Specification
preferred: API SJ/CF
or as an alternative: API SJ
(also SK, SL, S etc.).
Low ambient temperaturesThe oils used by BMW at the factory for
your vehicle model can be used at virtu-
ally any ambient temperature.
However, if the vehicle is exposed to
temperatures below Ð4 7 (Ð20 6) for
extended periods, please have your
BMW center recommend a suitable oil.

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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.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position and engage the steering
lock. Shift into 1st or reverse 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 systemWith 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. Using the M Mobility systemTo repair a flat tire using the M Mobility
system, proceed as follows:
>Prepare the M Mobility system for
use, refer to the next column
>This is part of the M Mobility system,
refer to page 127
>Filling with sealant, refer to page 127
>Distributing sealant, refer to
page 128
>Inflating tire to correct pressure, refer
to page 129.
Preparing the M Mobility system
for useThe 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.
Before you use the M Mobility
system, read the warnings and
danger notices on the device care-
fully.<
If possible, leave the foreign object in
the tire.
Pull off the sticker 5 (refer to the second
column on the right) for the speed limit
and apply it to the steering wheel.

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Towing the vehicleTowing a vehicle1. Shift lever in Neutral
2. Towing speed:
Max. 45 mph (70 km/h)
3. Towing distance:
Max. 95 miles (150 km)
4. Leave the ignition key at position 1 to
ensure that the brake lamps, turn
signal indicators, horn and wind-
shield wipers remain operative, and
to prevent the steering lock detent
from engaging
5. Switch on the hazard-warning
system (observe applicable legal
regulations).
Find some means of identifying the
vehicle in tow, for instance, place a sign
or warning triangle in the rear window.
Make sure that the ignition key
remains in position 1 even when
the electrical system has failed to
prevent the steering lock from
engaging.
The steering and brakes are without
power assist when the engine is off.
This means that increased effort is
required for steering and braking.c
Vehicles with sequential M gearbox
*
SMG II:
To push or tow, engage selector lever
in position 0.
Never work on the vehicle with a
driving position engaged.c
Towing with a commercial tow
truck>Do not tow with sling-type equipment
>Use wheel lift or flatbed equipment
>Please comply with applicable state
towing laws.
Never allow passengers to ride in
a towed vehicle for any reason.
Never attach tie-down hooks, chains,
straps, or tow hooks to tie rods, control
arms, or any other part of the vehicle
suspension, as severe damage to these
components will occur, leading to
possible accidents.c