2002 BMW M6 CONVERTIBLE Owners Manual

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
You can drive as with a normal auto-
matic transmission. In addition, you can
also shift manually.
When you move the selector lever from
the "D" position to the left into the M/S
range, the performance-oriented shift
programs of the automatic transmission
are engaged. Steptronic enters the
manual selection mode and executes
the desired shift whenever you tap the
selector lever in the direction indicated
by "+" or "Ð." When you wish to use the
automatic transmission mode again,
move the selector lever to the right into
the "D" position.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S
Starting the engineThe engine can only be started in
selector lever positions P ("Park") or N
("Neutral").390us607
Range selectionA detent prevents inadvertent shifts to
the "Reverse" or "Park" selector lever
positions. To disengage the detent,
press the button on the front side of
the shift knob (arrow).
While the vehicle is stationary and
before shifting out of "Park" or
"Neutral," depress the footbrake in
order to disengage the selector lever's
lock mechanism (Shiftlock).
Hold the footbrake down until starting
off. The vehicle will otherwise "creep"
when a drive position is engaged.< 390de718

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Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
To prevent the vehicle from
starting off on its own, always
move the selector lever to position P or
N and engage the parking brake before
leaving your car with the engine
running. Do not leave the vehicle unat-
tended with the engine running. An
unattended vehicle with a running
engine represents a potential safety
hazard.
P ParkSelect "Park" only when the vehicle is
completely stopped. The transmission
locks to prevent the rear wheels from
turning.R ReverseSelect "Reverse" only when the vehicle
is completely stopped.N NeutralSelect "Neutral" only if your journey is
interrupted for a longer period.
D Drive
(automatic shift program)This position is designed for driving
under all normal operating conditions.
All forward gears are available."Kickdown"In the "kickdown" mode, you achieve
maximum acceleration and top speed
in position D.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the
detent at the full-throttle position.
M/S Manual mode and
Sport ProgramWhen you change from "D" to "M/S,"
the Sport Program is activated. This is
indicated by "D S" in the gear selection
display. The Sport Program is designed
for performance-oriented driving.
With the first brief touch, the automatic
transmission shifts from the Sport
Program to the manual mode. When-
ever you move the selector lever in the
"+" direction, the transmission upshifts,
and when you move it in the "Ð" direc-
tion, the transmission downshifts.
M1...M5 will be displayed in the gear
indicator.390de721

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
ATC executes upshifts and downshifts
only when the new gear will provide a
suitable combination of vehicle and
engine speed, i.e., ATC will not execute
downshifts that would cause the engine
to overrev. The gear selected will
appear briefly in the instrument cluster
followed by the current gear.
If you are driving in the manual
mode and wish to accelerate
rapidly from low road speeds (when
passing, for instance), you must shift
down manually or with the "kickdown"
function.<
You can only change from "S/M" to
selector lever positions "P," "R," and
"N" via the "D" position.
Electronic transmission control
module
If the indicator lamp comes on
or the message "TRANS. FAIL-
SAFE PROG" appears in the
Check Control
*, there is a fault in the
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the
transmission selector lever to "P."
Engage the parking brake and turn the
engine off (ignition key to position 0).
Wait a few seconds, then start the
engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a
few seconds, normal transmission
performance has been restored. You
may continue to drive as usual. If the
indicator lamp does not go out, you can
place the selector lever in all positions.
However, the vehicle will now only drive
forward with limited gear selection.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine
loads and refer the problem to the
nearest BMW center.
Never perform work in the engine
compartment without first
ensuring that the transmission is in
"Park" or "Neutral" as the vehicle could
otherwise start to move off on its own.<
For jump-starting, towing and tow-
starting, refer to pages 162 and 163.

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Indicator/Headlamp flasher
Washer/Wiper system
1 High beams (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher
(blue indicator lamp)
3 Turn signal indicator
(green indicator lamp 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 indicator lamp and the
clicking from the relay are both
faster than normal, one of the turn
signal indicators has failed.<390de722
0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent mode or rain sensor
*
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe
5 Clean the windshield
6 Intensive cleaning
*
7 Rotary dial for controlling sweep
intervals in the intermittent mode and
for setting the rain sensor's sensitivity
level
*
394de730
Intermittent mode or rain sensor
*
Intermittent mode:
You can set the wipe interval to four
stages with rotary dial 7.
In addition, the wipe interval is varied
automatically depending on road
speed.
Rain sensor:
The rain sensor is positioned on the
windshield, directly ahead of the inte-
rior rearview mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
Move the lever to position 1 with the
ignition key in position 1 or higher. The
wipers travel once across the wind-
shield, regardless of the weather
conditions.
You can leave the lever permanently in
position 1. Whenever the ignition key is
in position 1 or 2, all you then need to
do to activate the rain sensor is briefly
turn the rotary dial 7.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain
sensor:
Turn rotary dial 7.
Deactivating the rain sensor:
Move lever to position 0.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Washer/Wiper system
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. Failure to do so
could result in damage caused by
undesired wiper activation.<
Normal wiper speedThe system automatically reverts to
operation in the intermittent mode
whenever the vehicle is stationary (not
on vehicles with rain sensor
*).
Fast wiper speedThe wipers revert to operation at stan-
dard speed when the vehicle stops (not
on vehicles with rain sensor
*).
Clean the windshieldThe system sprays washer fluid against
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
Intensive cleaning
*
As in setting 5. In addition, an intensive-
action washer fluid is first sprayed on
the windshield.
For changing the wiper blades, refer to
page 150.Cleaning headlights
*
When the headlights are on, they are
also cleaned automatically every fifth
time you activate the clean the wind-
shield (5) or intensive cleaning (6)
mode.
Do not use the washers if there is
any danger that the fluid will
freeze on the windshield, as your vision
could be obscured. Always use an anti-
freeze agent. Refer to page 139.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. This could cause damage
to the washer pump.< Windshield washer jetsThe windshield washer jets are warmed
automatically when the ignition key is in
position 2.
Rear window wiper Ð sport wagon0 Retracted (home) position of the rear
window wiper
1 Rear window wiper in intermittent
operation. Automatically switches to
continuos operation when reverse is
engaged
2 Clean the rear window
You can also program the interval:
>Switch briefly from position 0 to posi-
tion 1
>The time until reactivation (from posi-
tion 0 to 1) is the programmed
interval (max. 30 seconds).392de726

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Washer/Wiper system Cruise controlThe programmed interval is deleted
>approx. 10 seconds after the lever is
placed in position 0 or
>after the engine is switched off.
When the rear window is opened, the
rear window wiper is switched off. It
must be switched on again after the
window has been closed.
For changing the wiper blade, refer to
page 150.You can store and automatically main-
tain any desired vehicle speed above
approx. 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control is available whenever
the engine is running and the system
has been activated.
To activate the system From ignition key position 2:
Press the button and the indicator lamp
on the instrument cluster (refer to
page 21) will come on. You can now
use the cruise control.
Do not use cruise control on
twisting roads, when high traffic
density prevents driving at a constant
speed, or when the road surface is slick
(snow, rain, ice) or loose (rocks or
gravel, sand).< To deactivate the systemPress button as often as needed until
the indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Cruise control is also deactivated when
the ignition key is in position 0.
The speed stored in memory is deleted.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cruise controlTo store and maintain speed
or to acceleratePress button (+) briefly:
The system registers and maintains the
current vehicle speed. Every time you
tap the button, the speed increases by
approx. 0.6 mph (1 km/h).
Press and hold button (+):
The vehicle accelerates without pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal. When
you release the button, the system
stores 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 (Ð) briefly:
If you are already driving with active
cruise control, the speed is decreased
by approx. 0.6 mph (1 km/h) every time
you tap the button.
Press and hold button (Ð):
With the cruise control active, the
system automatically reduces the
throttle opening to slow the vehicle.
When you release the button, the
system registers and maintains the
current speed.
To interrupt the cruise control When the system is activated, press the
button. The indicator lamp stays on.
You can use the cruise control again
whenever you want by calling up the
speed that was stored last.
In addition, cruise control is interrupted
automatically:
>When the brakes are applied
>When you depress the clutch pedal
>If you exceed or fall below the
programmed speed for an extended
period (by depressing the acceler-
ator, for example). To recall the stored settingPress button:
The vehicle accelerates to and main-
tains the last speed stored.

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1 Odometer
2 Trip odometer
3 Outside temperature display
Odometer You can activate the displays shown in
the illustration with the ignition key in
position 0 by pressing the button in the
instrument cluster (arrow).
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual vehicle's
equipment.Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero,
press the button (arrow) with the igni-
tion key in position 1 or 2.390us608
Outside temperature displayThe outside temperature appears in the
display at ignition key position 1 and 2.
You can change the units of measure
(7/6) by
1. pressing and holding down the
button (arrow) with the ignition key in
position 1
2. and then turning the ignition key to 0.
Refer also to page 86.
Ice warningIf the outside temperature drops to
approx +37.5 7 (+3 6), a warning
signal sounds and the display flashes
briefly.
The ice warning does not alter the
fact that surface ice can form at
temperatures above +37.5 7 (+3 6),
on bridges and shaded road surfaces,
etc.<
Odometer, outside temperature display