2003 BMW M3 COUPE flat tire

Contents

Notes

About this Owner's Manual4
Symbols used4
Your individual vehicle4
Status at time of printing5
For your own safety5
Symbol on vehicle parts6
Service and warranty6
Reporting safety defects6

Overview

Cockpit14
Instrument cluster16
Indicator and warning lamps18
Steering wheel with multifunction
buttons22
Hazard warning triangle*23
First-aid kit*23
Refueling24
Fuel specifications25
Tire inflation pressure25

Controls and features

Opening and closing:

Keys30
Central locking system30
Opening and closing – via the
remote control31
Opening and closing – via the
door lock33
Opening and closing – from the
inside34
Luggage compartment lid35
Luggage compartment37
Alarm system*38
Electric power windows40
Sliding/tilt sunroof*40

To adjust:

Safe seating position43
Seats44
Manual seat adjustment44
Power seat adjustment*45
Head restraints46
Entering the rear47
Safety belts47
Seat and mirror memory*49
Seat heating*50
Steering wheel51
Mirrors51

Passenger safety systems:

Airbags53
Transporting children safely55
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory59

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Contents

9

Driving:

Ignition lock60
Starting the engine and driving
off61
Switching off the engine63
Parking brake63
Manual transmission64
Sequential M gearbox
SMG II*65
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher70
Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor*71
Cruise control72

Everything under control:

Odometer74
Tachometer74
Temperature gauge74
Fuel gauge75
Engine coolant temperature
gauge75
Service interval display76
Check Control76
Clock77
Computer78

Technology for safety and
driving convenience:

Park Distance Control (PDC)*80
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)81
Flat Tire Monitor82
M Engine dynamics control85

Lamps:

Parking lamps/Low beams86
Instrument lighting87
High beams/Standing lamps87
Fog lamps88
Interior lamps88

Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:

Automatic climate control90
Roller sun blind*94

Interior conveniences:

Premium sound system*95
Glove compartment95
Storage compartments96
Cellular phone*97
Ashtray, front*98
Ashtray, rear*98
Clothes hooks99

Loading and transporting:

Through-loading system100
Ski bag*101
Cargo loading102
Roof-mounted luggage
rack*103

Controls and features

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Contents

Operation, maintenance

Special operating instructions:

Break-in procedures106
Driving notes107
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)107
Brake system108

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressure109
Tire condition109
Tire replacement110
Wheel and tire
combinations112
Winter tires112
Snow chains*113

In the engine compartment:

Hood114
Engine compartment
essentials116
Washer fluids118
Engine oil118
Coolant120
Brake fluid121

Maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System122

Laws and regulations:

California Proposition 65
warning124
OBD interface socket124

Owner service procedures

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit128
Windshield wiper blades128
Lamps and bulbs129
Repairing a flat tire133
Battery137
Fuses138

Giving and receiving
assistance:

Jump-starting139
Towing the vehicle140

Technical data

Engine data144
Dimensions145
Weights146
Capacities147

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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 82
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 108 and 121.
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 63
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Please fasten safety belts

●

Comes on together with an
acoustic signal until the safety
belts are fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts: refer to page 47
Airbags

●

Please have the system
inspected at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 53

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19

Red and yellow: continue driving
cautiously

The brake warning lamp lights
up together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS

●

and
DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC and DSC
control system has failed. Con-
tinue to drive; drive cautiously
and defensively and avoid full
brake applications. Please have the
system checked by your BMW center
as soon as possible.
For additional information: refer to
pages 81, 107
ABS, CBC and DSC indicator
and warning lamps for Canadian
models.

Orange: consult the nearest BMW
center

Sequential M gearbox SMG II
If the indicator lamp fails to go
out after the engine has been
started, or if it comes on during normal
driving: this indicates a malfunction in
the system. Please consult the nearest
BMW center.
Indicator lamp flashes: a system over-
load has occurred.
For additional information: refer to
page 69

Yellow: check as soon as possible

Engine oil level
Comes on while driving and is
accompanied by an alarm: the
engine oil level has fallen to the abso-
lute minimum; refill as soon as possible.
Do not drive more than 30 miles/50 km
before refilling.
For additional information: refer to
page 118

Engine oil level
Comes on after the engine has
been shut off and is accompa-
nied by an alarm: add engine oil at your
earliest opportunity, such as when you
stop to refuel.
For additional information: refer to
page 118
Brake pads

●

Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information: refer
to page 108
Flat Tire Monitor

●

The Flat Tire Monitor has been
deactivated, either at the button
or in response to a system malfunction.
In the event of a malfunction, have the
system checked by your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
pages 25, 82

Indicator and warning lamps

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

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25
Close the fuel filler cap carefully
after refueling until a click is
heard. While closing, be sure not to
squeeze the strap which is fastened to
the cap. A loose or missing cap will
activate the CHECK FILLER CAP
lamp.<
Fuel tank capacity>Approx. 16.6 gal./63 liters, of which
>approx. 2.1 gal./8 liters are reserve
capacity.
Do not drive to the last drop of
fuel. This can prevent the engine
from operating properly and result in
damage.<
Fuel specificationsUse unleaded gasolineThe engine uses lead-free gasoline
only.
Required fuel:
>Premium Unleaded Gasoline,
min. 91 AKI
AKI = Anti Knock Index
Never use leaded fuel, as it would
cause permanent and irreversible
damage to the oxygen sensor and the
catalytic converter.<
Tire inflation pressureThe specified inflation pressures are
provided on a sticker attached to the
B-pillar and are visible with the driver's
door open.Checking tire pressuresAll pressures are specified in the stan-
dard units or pressure, psi and kilopas-
cal, and apply to cold tires, that is tires
at ambient temperature, refer to tire
pressure table at the end of this chap-
ter.
After correcting the tire inflation pres-
sure, reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor so
that it can monitor the tire inflation
pressure, refer to page 82.
Refueling
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26
Check the tire pressures on a reg-
ular basis – at least twice a month
– and before every extended journey.
Incorrect tire pressure can otherwise
lead to driving instability, tire damage
and accidents.<
Comply with tire approval
specificationsThe inflation pressures in the table
apply to BMW-approved tire sizes and
tire manufacturers. Your BMW center
will be glad to supply this information.
Higher pressures may be required for
tires made by other manufacturers.
Your vehicle is equipped with tires
which not only meet US standards, but
also European standards. We recom-
mend the exclusive use of BMW-
approved tires.Tire inflation pressure
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27
BMW Tires
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires –
cold = ambient temperature
225/45 ZR 18 33/230 - 41/280 -
255/40 ZR 18 - 35/240 - 48/330
M3 coupe 225/45 ZR 18
225/40 ZR 1933/230 - 41/280 -
255/35 ZR 19 - 35/240 - 48/330
225/45 R 17 91 Q/T/H M+S 33/230 38/260 36/250 46/320Tire inflation pressure
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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