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9n
Overview
Controls
Maintenance
Repairs
Data
Index
Your individual vehicle
In selecting your BMW you have
decided to purchase a specific model
with its own individual range of equip-
ment. This Owner's Manual will
describe all of the equipment that the
BMW M3 has to offer you.
We therefore request your under-
standing for the fact that this manual
describes equipment and features that
you might not have chosen for your
vehicle. You can easily identify any
differences with the aid of the asterisk
*
used to identify all optional equipment
and accessories.
If your BMW features equipment that is
not described in this Owner's Manual (a
car radio or telephone, for instance), we
have enclosed Supplementary Owner's
Manuals. We ask you to read these
manuals as well.
Status at time of printing
BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development that is conceived
to ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced,
state-of-the-art technology. It is there-
fore possible that some of your own
vehicle's equipment and features may
vary from those described in this
manual. Nor can errors and omissions
be entirely ruled out. We must therefore
request your understanding for the fact
that we are unable to recognize legal
claims based on discrepancies
between the data, descriptions and
illustrations in this manual and your own
vehicle's equipment.
Status at time of printing
For your own safety
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Steering wheel with multifunction buttons
The buttons integrated in the multi-
function steering wheel (MFL) are
provided so that you can operate a
number of accessories quickly and
without being distracted from traffic
conditions. You may operate:
>
selected radio functions
>
the cruise control
>
selected cellular phone functions
*
>the voice entry system
*.
The buttons are active only when
the corresponding systems and
accessories are switched on.<
Press briefly:
Receive a phone call, initiate dialing,
terminate a call.
Extended pressure:
Activate/deactivate voice entry.
Switch between phone and radio,
cassette, CD or MD.
Forward:
>Radio
Press briefly: station search in FM
band
Extended pressure: search function
>CD/MD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function
in track
>Cassette
Press briefly: stop jump to next track
or fast forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
>Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind: functions as forward.
Volume
Cruise control: to select a stored
setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate (+)
or decelerate and store (Ð).
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate.
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
The conceptPDC provides extra safety and conve-
nience during parking maneuvers by
providing an acoustic signal to indicate
the distance to an object. To do this,
four ultrasonic sensors in the rear
bumper measure the distance to the
nearest object.The monitoring range for
the two rear sensors extends outward
roughly 2 ft (60 cm). The range for the
two center sensors is approx. 4.9 ft
(1.50 m) wide.
The system starts to operate automati-
cally about one second after you select
reverse with the ignition key in
position 2. PDC is deactivated when
you shift back out of reverse.
Acoustic signalsThe distance to the nearest object is
indicated by a tone sounding at various
intervals. As the distance between
vehicle and object decreases, the inter-
vals between the tones become
shorter. A continuous tone indicates the
presence of an object less than 1 ft
(30 cm) away.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. three seconds if the distance to
the obstacle remains constant during
this time (if you are moving parallel to a
wall, for instance).
System malfunctions will be indicated
by a continuous high-pitched tone
when the system is activated the first
time. Please have your BMW center
resolve the problem.The PDC does not remove the
driver's personal responsibility
for evaluating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstacles. Even when
sensors are involved, there is a blind
spot in which objects cannot be
detected. This applies especially in
those cases where the system
approaches the physical limits of ultra-
sonic measurement, as occurs with tow
bars and trailer couplings, and in the
vicinity of thin or wedge-shaped
objects.
Certain sources of sound, such as a
loud radio, could drown the PDC signal
tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free
of ice or snow in order to ensure
that they continue to operate effec-
tively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Always maintain a distance of more
than 4 in (10 cm).<
Park Distance Control (PDC)
*
Page 143 of 151

Everything from A to Z
143n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Caring for headlamp covers,
refer to the "Caring for your
vehicle" manual
Caring for your vehicle's
paintwork, refer to the
"Caring for your vehicle"
manual
CBC (Cornering Brake
Control)101
warning lamp18
Cellular phone92
refer also to the separate
Owner's Manual
Center (high-mount) brake
lamp125
Center armrest91
Central locking system28
key33
Check Control72
Checking
engine coolant112t
engine oil level110t
tire inflation
pressures24t
Child seat security54
Child-restraint systems52
Cigarette lighter93
Clean the headlamps67 Clean the windshield67
Clock72
also refer to the "Radio
Owner's Manual"
Clothes hooks93
Cockpit14
Coin box91
Combination switch65
Compression136
Computer72
refer also to the "Onboard
Computer Owner's
Manual"
Configuring individual
settings with Vehicle and
Key Memory55
Connecting car vacuum
cleaner93
Consumption74
Consumption display71
Control elements14
Coolant112
Coolant system,
capacity139
Coolant temperature
gauge71
Copyright4 Cornering Brake Control
(CBC)101
warning lamp18
Cover, sun blinds89
Cruise control68
Cruising range74
Curb weight138
D
Data
dimensions137
engine136
technical136
weights138
Daytime driving lamps80
DBC (Dynamic Brake
Control)77
Deep water101
Defrostable rear window88
Defroster, rear window84
Defrosting windows87
Dimensions137
Dipstick, engine oil110
Disc brakes102
Displacement136
Display lighting81
Distance warning75
Divided rear backrest94
Door key28 Doors
electrical
malfunction29t
manual operation29t
operating manually29
remote control30
unlocking and
locking29, 30
Draft-free ventilation85, 88
Driving notes
aquaplaning101
brakes101
DSC (Dynamic Stability
Control)76
indicator lamp19
Dynamic Brake Control
(DBC)77
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)76
indicator lamp19
E
Electric power windows39
Electrical malfunction
doors29t
fuel filler door22t
luggage compartment
lid34
sliding/tilt sunroof41t