2003 BMW M3 COUPE maintenance

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. Therefore, we have one request:
Read the information contained in this Owner's Manual before driving your new
BMW M3 for the first time. It contains important information on vehicle operation
that will enable you to make full use of the advanced technical equipment of your
BMW M3. In addition, you will receive information on vehicle maintenance to ensure
operating and traffic safety as well as the best possible value retention of your vehi-
cle.
For more detailed information refer to the Supplemental Manuals.
BMW M also makes decisive contributions 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.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW M

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5

Notes

Status at time of printing

BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development that is conceived
to ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced,
state-of-the-art technology. For this
reason, the features described in this
Owner's Manual could differ from those
in your vehicle. Nor can errors and
omissions be entirely ruled out. You are
therefore asked to appreciate that no
claims can be recognized on the basis
of the data, illustrations or descriptions
in this Owner's Manual.

For your own safety

Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including
10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with
up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight – that is,
15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent – will
not void the applicable warranties
respecting defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel
quality – volatility, composition, addi-
tives, etc. among gasolines offered for
sale in the United States and Canada.
The use of poor quality fuels may result
in driveability, starting and stalling
problems especially under certain envi-
ronmental conditions, such as high
ambient temperature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using, we
recommend that you respond by
switching to a recognized high-quality
brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Obey pertinent safety rules when you
are handling gasoline.

<

Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Original
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure opti-
mum performance when installed on
your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damages resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made
by other manufacturers to verify if it can
be used on a BMW safely and without
risk to either the vehicle, its operation,
or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on
using these items, are available from all
BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake

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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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13

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

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15
1Parking lamps/Low beams86
2

>

Turn signal indicators70

>

Standing lamps87

>

High beams87

>

Headlamp flasher70

>

Computer78
3Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor71
4Hazard warning flashers
5Rear window defroster93
6Central locking system30
7Steering wheel51
8Horn: the entire surface
9Fog lamps88

Cockpit

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

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17
1Fuel gauge75
2Turn signal indicators20
3Speedometer
4Indicator and warning
lamps18 to 21
5Tachometer and engine oil temper-
ature gauge74
6Engine coolant temperature
gauge75
7Indicator and warning
lamps18 to 21
8Control button for

>

Clock77

>

Unit of measure of outside tem-
perature display78
9Display for sequential M gearbox
SMG II66
10 Indicator lamp for Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC)81
11 Display for

>

Trip odometer/Odometer74

>

Clock77

>

Service interval76

>

Computer78
12 Check Control76
13 Trip odometer, reset to zero74
14 Indicator and warning
lamps18 to 21

Instrument cluster

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

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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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21

Blue: for your information

High beams
Comes on when the high beams
are on or the headlamp flasher
is actuated.
For additional information: refer to
pages 70, 87

Indicator and warning lamps

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

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