2003 BMW M3 COUPE brake

107
Driving notes
Brakes: do not rest your foot on
the brake pedal while driving.
Even light but consistent pedal pres-
sure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake
failure.
Hydroplaning: when driving on wet or
slushy roads, reduce road speed. If you
do not, a wedge of water can form
between tires and road surface. This
phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or com-
plete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness.
Driving through water: do not drive
through water on the road if it is deeper
than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at walk-
ing speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's
engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.
Rear parcel tray: never use it to store
heavy or hard objects; otherwise, occu-
pants could be injured if the vehicle is
braked hard.
Clothes hooks: when suspending cloth-
ing from the hooks, be sure that they
will not obstruct the driver's vision. Do
not hang heavy objects on the hooks. If
you do so, they could cause personal
injury during braking or evasive maneu-
vers.<
Antilock Brake System (ABS)The conceptABS keeps the wheels from locking
during braking, thereby enhancing
active driving safety.Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of the ABS system if you apply maxi-
mum pedal pressure – panic stop.
Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can avoid possible
obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort, despite the full brake application.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
to indicate to the driver that ABS is in
its active mode.Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced engineering
design of the ABS. When braking while
cornering at high speed or braking dur-
ing high lateral acceleration, or when
braking during a lane change, vehicle
stability is improved and steering
response is enhanced.
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108
Brake systemBrake fluid levelLow brake fluid level in the reservoir
combined with longer than usual pedal
travel may indicate a defect in one of
the brake system's hydraulic circuits.
Proceed to the nearest BMW cen-
ter. Higher brake application pres-
sure may be necessary when stopping,
and the vehicle may exhibit a slight ten-
dency to pull to one side. Brake dis-
tances may even be longer. Please
remember to adapt your driving style
accordingly. sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in
operating conditions where brake appli-
cations are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs
because the minimal pressure that must
be exerted by the pads to clean the
rotors by brake applications is not
reached.
Corrosion on brake rotors is signaled by
a running or pulsation during braking;
even extended subsequent braking will
not cure this phenomenon.
It is a good idea to periodically dry the
brakes with a gentle application when
driving in rain and on wet roads. Watch
traffic conditions to ensure that this
maneuver does not endanger other
road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors
to ensure that your brake system will
respond with undiminished efficiency
when you need it.
Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear in which
only minimal periodic brake applica-
tions are required. This helps avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake
system. Stay within the allowable rpm
range. For additional information, refer
to page 74.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the gearshift
lever in idle. Do not coast with the
engine switched off. If you do so the
engine provides no braking effect and
there is no power assist for braking or
steering when the engine is not run-
ning.<
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only
brake pads which BMW has
approved for your specific vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if
they are suitable for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed.<
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117
1Filler neck for headlamp and wind-
shield washer cleaning system118
2Coolant expansion tank120
3Positive terminal connection for
jump-starting – positive terminal139
4Engine oil filler neck119
5Expansion tank for SMG hydraulic
unit, checking and possible refilling
by your BMW center65
6Engine oil dipstick118
7Filler neck for brake fluid121Engine compartment essentials
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121
3. If necessary, add coolant. If the cool-
ant is low, slowly add coolant until
the correct level is reached — do not
overfill.
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the dis-
posal of antifreeze agents with corro-
sion inhibitor.<
Brake fluid
The brake warning lamp comes
on when the parking brake is
not engaged: brake fluid level
too low, refer to page18.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Adding brake fluidFor adding brake fluid or for determin-
ing and correcting the cause of brake
fluid loss, consult your BMW center.
Your BMW center is familiar with the
specifications for factory-approved
brake fluids – DOT 4.
Due to loss in brake fluid, pedal travel
can lengthen and braking efficiency
may be reduced. Refer to the informa-
tion on page 108.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the safety and reli-
ability of the brake system, have the
brake fluid changed every two years by
a BMW center. Refer also to the Service
and Warranty Information Booklet for
US models or in Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
Brake fluid is toxic and damages the
vehicle's paint. You should always store
it in its original container and in a loca-
tion inaccessible to children.
Do not spill the brake fluid and do not
fill the brake fluid reservoir beyond the
MAX mark. The brake fluid could ignite
upon contact with hot engine parts and
cause serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating
the disposal of brake fluid.<
Coolant
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131
Tail lamps1Turn signal indicator
2Backup lamp
3Tail lamp
4Tail lamp/brake lamp
Tail lamps 4: 21/4 watt bulb
Remaining bulbs: 21 watt
The illustration shows the right-hand
luggage compartment opening.
Bulbs in the fender:
All of the bulbs are integrated in a cen-
tral bulb holder.
1. Release the bulb holder – see arrow
2. Take out the bulb holder
3. Unplug the power supply receptacle.
Set the bulb holder aside, on the lug-
gage compartment floor, for example
4. Applying light pressure, turn the bulb
to the left. Remove and exchange the
bulb
5. Plug in the power supply receptacle
6. Reattach the bulb holder until you
hear it snap into place – see arrow.
Lamps and bulbs
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132
Bulbs in the luggage compartment lid
1. Using a screwdriver, loosen the clip
2. Fold the trim panel down – see arrow
1. Disengage the bulb holder – see
arrow 2 – and remove it
3. Applying light pressure, turn the bulb
to the left. Remove and exchange the
bulb
4. Press the bulb holder into position
until you hear it engage
5. Reinstall the trim with the clip.
Center high-mount brake lampLED strip on the rear window. Please
contact your BMW center in case of a
malfunction.
Lamps and bulbs
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133
License plate lamps5 watt bulb
1. Place a screwdriver in the slot and
press toward the left – see arrows –
to release the lens
2. Replace the bulb.
Repairing a flat tire
Precautions in case of a flat tire:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible
from passing traffic; switch on the haz-
ard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position and engage the steering
lock. Shift into 1st or Reverse and
engage the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area – behind a guardrail,
for instance.
If necessary, set up your warning trian-
gle or portable hazard warning lamp on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle.
Comply with all safety guidelines and
regulations.<
M Mobility systemYou will find an M Mobility system in the
BMW M3 for repairing flat tires. With
this system you can apply a sealing liq-
uid to the inside of the tire that seals off
the damaged point and then continue
driving.
The M Mobility system makes trans-
porting a spare wheel superfluous,
thereby reducing the amount of weight
you have to carry around.
Using the M Mobility systemTo repair a flat tire using the M Mobility
system, proceed as follows:
>Preparing the M Mobility system for
use, refer to the next column
>This is part of the M Mobility system,
refer to page 134
>Filling with sealant, refer to page 135
>Distributing sealant, refer to
page 135
>Inflating tire to correct pressure, refer
to page 136.
Lamps and bulbs
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141
Use only a nylon towing strap to tow
the vehicle, since the inherent resil-
ience of this material helps protect both
vehicles from sudden jerking move-
ments.
The towed vehicle should always
be the lighter of the two vehicles.
If this is not the case, it will not be pos-
sible to control vehicle handling. to page 139.
Never attempt to use your vehicle to
push another vehicle, since damage to
the energy-absorbing bumpers could
result.Towing a vehicle1. Gearshift lever in Neutral
2. Towing speed:
max. 45 mph / 70 km/h
3. Towing distance:
max. 95 miles/150 km
4. Leave the ignition key at position 1 to
ensure that the brake lamps, turn sig-
nal indicators, horn and windshield
wipers remain operative, and to pre-
vent the steering lock detent from
engaging
5. Switch on the hazard warning system
– observe applicable legal regula-
tions.
Find some means of identifying the
vehicle in tow, for instance, place a sign
or warning triangle in the rear window.
Make sure that the ignition key
remains in position 1 even when
the electrical system has failed to pre-
vent the steering lock from engaging.
The steering and brakes are without
power-assist when the engine is off.
This means that increased effort is
required for steering and braking.<
Vehicle with sequential M gearbox
SMG II:
To push or tow, engage selector lever
in position 0.
Never work on the vehicle with a
driving position engaged.<
Towing with a commercial tow
truck>Do not tow with sling-type equipment
>Use wheel lift or flatbed equipment
>Please comply with applicable state
towing laws.
Never allow passengers to ride in
a towed vehicle for any reason.
Never attach tie-down hooks, chains,
straps, or tow hooks to tie rods, control
arms, or any other part of the vehicle
suspension, as severe damage to these
components will occur, possibly lead-
ing to accidents.<
Towing the vehicle
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