2002 BMW M3 COUPE tow

We are pleased you have decided on a BMW M3.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with enhanced control and
security when you drive it. We therefore have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize yourself with the
information that we have compiled for you before starting off in your new BMW M3.
The manual contains important data and instructions intended to assist you in
obtaining maximum satisfaction from your BMW M3 unique array of advanced tech-
nical features. In addition, you will receive information on vehicle maintenance, that
help ensure operating and traffic safety, as well providing for the best possible value
retention of your BMW.
For more detailed information refer to the Supplemental Manuals.
BMW M also makes decisive contribution toward greater safety in traffic through its
BMW driver training.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent part of this vehicle. It
should stay with the vehicle when sold to provide the next owner with important
operating, safety and maintenance information.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty Information Booklet
(US models) or a Warranty and Service Guide Booklet (Canadian models). We
recommend that you read this publication thoroughly.
Your BMW M3 is covered by the following warranties:
Ð New Vehicle Limited Warranty
Ð Limited Rust Perforation Warranty
Ð Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
Ð Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
Ð California Emission Control System Limited Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is listed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models) or in the Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models).
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW M

Foreword

Contents

Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit120
Windshield wiper blades120
Lamps and bulbs120
Repairing a flat tire126
Battery130
Fuses130

Giving and receiving
assistance:

Jump-starting131
Towing the vehicle132Engine data136
Dimensions137
Weights138
Capacities139Everything from A to Z142

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Alarm system
*
The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the
luggage compartment lid are opened
>To movement inside the vehicle (inte-
rior motion sensor)
>To variations in the vehicle tilt, as
would occur while attempting to steal
the wheels or tow the vehicle (tilt
alarm sensor)
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustic alarm for
30 seconds
>Activating the hazard warning
flashers for approx. five minutes
>Flashing the high beams on and off in
rhythm with the hazard warning
flashers.
To arm and disarm the alarm
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
by using a key or the remote control,
the alarm system is also simultaneously
armed or disarmed.
You can have a signal set as
acknowledgment for both arming
and disarming the alarm.<
You can also open the luggage
compartment lid when the system is
armed by pressing the button of the
remote control, refer to page 31. When
it is closed, the lid is once again
secured.
Indicator lamp displaysThe indicator lamp is located under the
interior rearview mirror.
>When the indicator lamp flashes
continuously: the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes when it is
armed: the door(s), the hood or
luggage compartment lid are not
completely closed. Even if you do not
close the alerted area, the remaining
areas are secured, and the indicator
lamp flashes continuously after
10 seconds. However, the interior
motion sensor is not activated
>If the indicator lamp goes out when
the system is disarmed: no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have
been detected in the period since the
system was armed

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Entering the rear Safety belts Unlocking backrestPull up on the lever and push the back-
rest toward the front.
The outer levers hold the safety belt to
enable it to be reached more easily.
Lock both backrests while driving,
otherwise there is a danger of an
unexpected movement causing an
accident.<
Drive with your safety belt onAlways fasten your safety belt before
starting off. As supplemental restraint
devices, the airbags are designed to
enhance the effectiveness of the safety
belts, and not to replace them.To fastenMake sure you hear the catch engage in
the belt buckle. To release1. Press red button in the belt buckle
2. Hold the belt
3. Guide belt back into the inertia reel.
In the rear, the belt buckle with
the word "CENTER" is provided
exclusively for the passenger sitting in
the middle.<
Safety belt height adjustmentUse the height adjustment mechanism
to adapt the safety belt to the ideal
position for your own body:
1. Press the button
2. Slide the entire assembly up or
down.
Also observe the instructions on
adjusting the seats on page 42.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Sequential M gearbox* SMG IIThe warning stops after approx.
10 seconds. If you move the selector
lever into a forward or reverse position
during this time, a gear is automatically
engaged.
The SMG II has no park position
for securing the vehicle against
rolling.
The ignition key can be removed in any
selector lever position.<
Always engage the parking brake
when parking on downhill roads.
Engaging a gear may not sufficiently
secure the vehicle against rolling.<
Display in instrument clusterThe selector lever position, currently
engaged gear and selected driving
program are displayed in the instrument
cluster.
1 Engaged gear
2 Selected driving program
(corresponds to the number of illumi-
nated fields), refer to page 64
3 Tapping the selector lever to the right
switches over into the displayed shift
mode
4 "A" indicates an activated automated
mode.
R Ð Reverse positionOnly engage with the vehicle stopped
or at low speed, e.g. for "rocking free"
in deep snow.0 Ð Position 0Always engage before starting the
engine.
If the driving situation requires, e.g.
when downshifting on slippery roads,
the SMG II automatically disengages
and reengages the clutch, i.e. it is not
necessary to manually engage
position 0. S Ð Sequential modeIn the sequential mode all forward
gears are to be shifted by the driver.
Changeover from automated to
sequential mode:
>Tap the selector lever to the right
toward "S"
or
>change gears with the selector lever
or the shift paddles on the steering
wheel.
You do not need to reduce the throttle
for shifting.

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Sequential M gearbox* SMG IIShifting gears with shift paddles on
steering wheel:
>To upshift, briefly pull the right
paddle "+"
>To downshift, briefly pull the left
paddle "Ð."
Shift paddles with various widths
matched to the shape of your
hand are available from your BMW
center.<
Shifting gears with selector lever:
>To upshift, pull the selector lever
backward "+"
>To downshift, push the selector lever
forward "Ð".
No automatic upshifting is carried out in
the sequential mode.
You accelerate from higher gears, e.g.
during passing, by manually down-
shifting.
In the following situations the SMG II
helps you "think" in the sequential
mode:
>Upshifts and downshifts are only
executed when the new gear will
provide a suitable combination of
vehicle and engine speed, i.e., down-
shifts that would cause the engine to
overrev will not be executed
>During a stop the gearbox is auto-
matically downshifted into the first
gear so that, e.g. before a traffic light,
it is only necessary to accelerate to
continue driving
>When the speed is reduced, the
gearbox is automatically down-
shifted shortly before a gear-depen-
dent minimum speed is reached
without you taking any action.
A Ð Automated modeEach time the engine is started, the
automated mode is activated as soon
as you move the selector lever into the
forward driving position.
In the automated mode all forward
gears are automatically shifted.
Changeover from sequential to auto-
mated mode: tap the selector lever to
the right toward "A." Watch the display
in the instrument cluster, refer to
page 61.
For rapid acceleration, e.g. during
passing, depress the accelerator pedal
completely (kick-down). The gearbox
now downshifts in dependence on the
selected driving program.
Even in the automated mode, you can
help specify the shifting point: if a gear-
dependent minimum speed is
exceeded, you can upshift by slowly
reducing pressure on the accelerator
pedal. In the process, the respective
driving situation is detected by sensors
and taken into account.

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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)
*

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Air conditionerAir supply (blower)
You can select blower speeds
from 1 to 4. The heating and
ventilation become more and
more effective as the air
supply settings are increased. In posi-
tion 0, the blower and the heater are
switched off. By using position 0, you
can totally block the air supply by
pressing the button for the recirculated-
air mode.
Temperature
In order to increase the
temperature of the passenger
compartment, turn it to the
right (red). Temperature regu-
lation will keep the interior temperature
you have selected constant.
Air distribution
You can direct air to flow onto
the windows , toward the
upper body and into the
footwell . All intermediate
settings are possible. In the setting,
there is a low flow of air onto the
windows to keep them free of conden-
sation.
Rear window defroster
When the rear window defroster
is activated, the indicator lamp
comes on. The rear window defroster
switches off automatically.
The rear window defroster auto-
matically assumes operation
within 5 minutes after the engine is
started at outside temperatures below
40 7 (4 6).<
Air conditioner
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and Ð depending on the
temperature setting Ð warmed again
when the air conditioner system is
switched on.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started.
Condensation forms in the air
conditioner system during opera-
tion, which then exits under the vehicle.
Traces of condensed water of this kind
are thus normal.<
Recirculated-air mode
You can respond to unpleasant
external odors by temporarily
excluding the supply of outside air. The
system then recirculates the air
currently within the vehicle.
If the windows fog over in the
recirculated-air mode, switch the
recirculated-air mode off and increase
the air supply as required.<