2003 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE airbag off

Contents

9

Passenger safety systems:

Airbags57
Transporting children safely59
Rollover protection system63
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory65

Driving:

Ignition lock66
Starting engine and driving
off67
Switching off the engine69
Parking brake69
Manual transmission70
Sequential M gearbox
SMG II*71
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher76
Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor*77
Cruise control78

Everything under control:

Odometer80
Tachometer80
Temperature gauge80
Fuel gauge81
Engine coolant temperature
gauge81
Service interval display82
Check Control82
Clock83
Computer84

Technology for safety and
driving convenience:

Park Distance Control (PDC)*86
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)87
Flat Tire Monitor88
M Engine dynamics control91

Lamps:

Parking lamps/Low beams92
Instrument lighting93
High beams/Standing lamps93
Fog lamps94
Interior lamps94
Reading lamps94

Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:

Automatic climate control96

Interior conveniences:

Glove compartment101
Storage compartments101
Cellular phone*102
Ashtray, front*102
Ashtray, rear*103

Loading and transporting:

Ski bag*104
Cargo loading106
Roof-mounted luggage rack for
the hardtop*107

Operation, maintenance

Special operating instructions:

Break-in procedures110
Driving notes111
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)111
Brake system112
Hardtop*113

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressure115
Tire condition115
Tire replacement116
Wheel and tire
combinations118
Winter tires118
Snow chains*119

In the engine compartment:

Hood120
Engine compartment
essentials122
Washer fluids124
Engine oil124
Coolant126
Brake fluid127

Maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System128

Laws and regulations:

California Proposition 65
warning130
OBD interface socket130

Controls and features

handbook.book Page 9 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

18

Indicator and warning lamps

Technology that monitors itself

Indicator and warning lamps that are
identified by

●

are tested for proper
functioning whenever the ignition key is
turned. They each light up once for dif-
ferent periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see how to react to this below.

Red: stop immediately

Battery charge current

●

The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator drive belt or in the
charging circuit of the alternator. please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the drive belt is defective, stop
and switch off the engine immedi-
ately to prevent overheating and seri-
ous engine damage. If the drive belt is
defective, increased steering effort is
also required.

<

Engine oil pressure

●

An alarm sounds at the same
time. Stop vehicle immediately
and switch off engine. Check the
engine oil level and top up as required.
If the oil level is correct, please contact
the nearest BMW center.
Do not continue driving, as the
engine could sustain serious dam-
age from inadequate lubrication.

<

Flat Tire Monitor

●

In addition, an acoustic signal is
sounded: a tire failure has
occurred. To come to an immediate
stop, reduce speed, while avoiding any
sudden, jerky braking or steering
maneuvers.
For additional information: refer to
page 88
Brake warning lamp

●

If the lamp comes on when the
parking brake is not engaged:
check the brake fluid level. Before driv-
ing further, be sure to comply with the
instructions on pages 112 and 127.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.

Red: an important reminder

Brake warning lamp
●
Comes on when the parking
brake is engaged – an additional
acoustic signal sounds when starting
off. For additional information: refer to
page 69
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Lock backrest/Please fasten
safety belts

●

comes on together with an
acoustic signal until the safety belts are
fastened. Flashes when the backrest is
not locked.
For additional information on locking
the backrest, refer to page 51
For additional information on safety
belts: refer to page 52
Airbags

●

Please have the system
inspected at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 57

handbook.book Page 18 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

52
Press against the backrest until you
hear it snap into place. Lever 1 does
not have to be released to fold the seat
back.<
Lock both backrests while driving,
otherwise there is a danger of an
unexpected movement causing an
accident.<
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, when the backrest is
not locked, refer to page 18.
Safety beltsAlways wear your safety beltAlways 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.
Before putting your safety belts on
in the rear, take them out of the
holder.<
Leave the rear safety belts in the
holders if they are not needed, in
order to avoid unwanted movement
from the safety belts at high speeds. the belt buckle.
To release1. Press the red button in the belt
buckle
2. Hold the belt
3. Guide the belt back into its reel.Adjusting safety belt heightThe front safety belt automatically
adjusts your body size via the setting of
the head restraint height, refer to
page 50.
If the safety belt system has been
subjected to the stresses involved
in an accident or otherwise damaged:
have the entire safety belt mechanism
replaced by your BMW center, includ-
ing the safety belt tensioner. In addi-
tion, have your BMW center inspect the
safety belt anchors. If a child-restraint
system was in the vehicle during an
accident, consult the manufacturer's
instructions regarding replacement.<
Entering the rear
handbook.book Page 52 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

Everything from A to ZEngine oil pressure
warning lamp 18
Engine speed 150
Entering the rear 51
Exterior mirrors 55
Eyelet, towing 146
F
False alarm, avoiding 39
Fault displays 82
First-aid kit 23
Flat tire 115
repairing 139
Flat Tire Monitor 88
indicator lamp 18, 19
Fog lamps 94
Fold down convertible top
compartment panel 37
Follow me home lamps 92
Footbrake 112
Footbrake, refer to Driving
notes 111
Footwell lamps 94
Front airbags 57
Front fog lamps 94
indicator lamp 20
Front seat adjustment 49
Frost protection,
radiator 126
Fuel 25
Fuel consumption 85
display 81Fuel filler door 24
release following an elec-
trical malfunction 24
Fuel gauge 81
Fuel specifications 25
Fuel tank capacity 153
Fuel tank display 81
Fuel tank gauge 81
Fuel-injection system 150
Fully automatic convertible
top 41
operation 41
Fuses 144
replacing 144
G
Gasoline 25
Gasoline gauge 81
Gearbox, sequential 71
Gearshift lever 70
Glove compartment 101
Grills 96
Gross vehicle weight 152
H
Hands-free system 102
Hardtop 113
Hazard warning flashers 14
Hazard warning triangle 23
Head restraints 50
Headlamp 92Headlamp cleaning system
122, 124, 153
Headlamp control 92
Headlamp flasher 76, 93
Heated mirror 55
Heated seats 54
Heavy loads 106
High beams 76, 93
indicator lamps 21
Holder for beverages 102
Hood release 120
Horn 14
Hydroplaning 111, 115
I
Ice warning 84
Ignition key 30
positions 66
Ignition lock 66
Imprint 4
Indicator lamps 18
Individual settings, Vehicle
Memory, Key Memory 65
Inflation pressure 25, 115
INSPECTION 82
Instrument cluster 16
Instrument lighting 93
Instrument panel 14, 16
Interface socket for onboard
diagnostics (OBD) 130
Interior lamps 32, 94
remote control 32Interior motion sensor 38
remote control 32
switching off 32, 39
Interior rearview mirror
automatic dimming
feature 56
Interior temperature
adjusting 98
Intermittent mode 77
J
Jump-starting 145
K
Key Memory 65
Keys 30
L
Lamp replacement 135
Lamps
daytime driving lamps 92
fog lamps 94
footwell lamps 94
headlamp flasher 76, 93
high beams 93
instrument lighting 93
interior lamps 94
low beams 92
parking lamps 92
reading lamps 94
standing lamps 93
Lashing fittings 107
handbook.book Page 158 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

Everything from A to ZReading lamps
front 94
rear 95
Rear lamps 137
Rear window defroster 99
Rear-entry assist 51
Rearview mirror 55
Recirculated-air mode 99
Refueling 24
Remote control 31
Remote key 30
Replacement key 30, 31
Reporting safety defects 6
Reserve indicator lamp 81
Restraint system 59
Reverse 70
Rims 118
Rollover protection
system 63
indicator lamp 19
lowering 63
Roof load capacity 152
Roof-mounted luggage
rack 107
S
Safe seating position 48
Safety belts 52
seat-integrated belt sys-
tem (SGS) 51
Seat
rear-entry assist 51Seat adjustment 48, 49
lumbar support 49, 50
power seats 49
Seat heating 54
Seat memory 53
Securing cargo 106
Securing child-restraint sys-
tem 61
Securing devices 107
Sequential M gearbox
SMG II 71
indicator lamp 19, 75
Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet 128
SERVICE ENGINE SOON
warning lamp 19
Service interval display
82, 128
Set clock 83
Side airbags 57
Side turn signals
bulb replacement 136
Size 151
Ski bag 104
SMG gearbox 71
Snow chains 119
Socket 103
Spare key 30
Speedometer 16
Sport mode 91
Standing lamps 93
bulb replacement 135Starting problems 67
Starting the engine 67
Steering wheel lock 66
Steering wheel with multi-
function buttons 22
Steering wheel, adjusting 55
Storage compartments 101
Stroke 150
Summer tires 118
Surface ice warning 84
Switching off the engine 69
Symbols used 4
T
Tachometer 16, 80
Tail lamp assembly
replacing bulb 137
Tail lamps 137
replacing bulb 137
Tank capacity 153
Technical data 150
Technical modifications 5
Telephone hookup 102
Telephone, refer to the sep-
arate Owner's Manual
Temperature adjustment 98
Temperature display
engine coolant 81
ice warning 84
interior temperature 98
outside temperature 84
Temperature gauge 80Temperature layering 99
Thigh support area, adjust-
ing 49
Third brake lamp 138
Tilt alarm
deactivate 32, 39
Tilt alarm sensor
remote control 32
Time 83
Tire code 118
Tire damage 115
Tire inflation pressure
25, 115
checking 25
Tire pressure monitor
(TPM) 88
Tire replacement 116
Tire tread 115
Tools 134
Torque 150
Towing eyelet 146
Towing the vehicle 146
Track 151
Transmission 70
Transporting children
safely 59
Tread depth, tires 115
Tread wear indicator 115
Trip odometer 80
Trunk, see Luggage com-
partment 35, 152
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