2004 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE buttons

Contents

Notes

About this Owner's Manual4
Additional sources of
information4
Symbols used4
Your individual vehicle5
Status at time of printing5
For your own safety5
Symbol on vehicle parts6
Service and warranty7
Reporting safety defects7

Overview

Cockpit14
Instrument cluster16
Indicator and warning lamps18
Buttons in steering wheel22
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
Electric power windows38
Convertible top39
Wind deflector*44

To adjust:

Safe seating position46
Seats47
Power seat adjustment47
Head restraints48
Entering the rear49
Safety belts50
Seat and mirror memory51
Seat heating*52
Steering wheel53
Mirrors53

Passenger safety systems:

Airbags55
Transporting children safely58
Rollover protection system62
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory64

20
button or in response to a system mal-
function. In the event of a malfunction,
have the system checked by your near-
est BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 86
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)

●

Malfunction in DBC system.
Conventional braking efficiency
is available and unrestricted.
Have the system checked and repaired
at your BMW center as soon as possi-
ble.
For additional information: refer to
page 114
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Add washer fluid
The washer fluid is too low. Top
off the fluid at the earliest
opportunity.
For additional information: refer to
page 126
SERVICE ENGINE SOON

●

If the indicator lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the emis-
sions-related electronic systems.

Although the vehicle remains opera-
tional, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW center at the
earliest possible opportunity.
For additional information: refer to
page 132
Service Engine Soon indicator
lamp for Canadian models.
Engine electronics

●

There is a fault in the electronic
engine-management system.
You can continue to drive with reduced
engine output or engine speed. Please
have the system inspected at your
BMW center.
Add coolant
Coolant level too low, top up as
soon as possible.
For additional information: refer to
page 128
CHECK GAS CAP*

●

This indicator lamp comes on
when the gas cap is loose or
missing.
Close the gas cap tightly: refer to
page 24

Rollover protection system

●

The rollover protection system is
deactivated due to a malfunc-
tion. Please have the system inspected
immediately at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 62

Green: for your information

Turn signal indicator
Flashes when turn signals are
on. Rapid flashing: indicates a
system malfunction.
For additional information: refer to
page 75
Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise con-
trol is activated. Ready for oper-
ation via the buttons in the steering
wheel.
For additional information: refer to
page 77
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever the fog
lamps are on.
For additional information: refer to
page 93

Indicator and warning lamps

22

Buttons in steering wheel

These buttons let you operate the fol-
lowing functions quickly and without
being distracted from traffic conditions:

>

Selected radio functions

>

The cruise control

>

Selected telephone functions.

*

The controls are active only when
the corresponding systems and
accessories are switched on.

<
Press briefly:
Accept incoming call, start dialing, ter-
minate call.
Switch between phone and radio, cas-
sette and CD.
Forward:
>Radio
Press briefly: next station in station
memory
Extended pressure: station search
>CD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function
in track
>Cassette
Press briefly: jump to next track or
stop fast forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
>Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind: same functions as forward.
Volume.
Cruise control: select a stored setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate +
or decelerate and store –.
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate.

30Opening and closing
KeysThe key set1Master keys with remote control unit
– these keys determine the functions
of the Key Memory. Refer to page 64.
You can mark the individual keys for
subsequent identification by apply-
ing the colored decals that you
received when accepting delivery of
your vehicle
In every master key with remote
control there is an extended-life
battery that is charged automatically in
the ignition lock as you drive.
For this reason, if you have a master
key with remote control that is other-
wise not used, use that key at least
once every year while driving for an
extended period to charge the bat-
tery.<
2Spare key – for storage in a safe
place, such as in your wallet. This key
is not intended for constant use. The
luggage compartment lid and the
glove compartment cannot be locked
and unlocked with this key. This is
useful for valet parking, for example.
Central locking systemThe conceptThe central locking system engages
and releases the following locks at the
same time:
>doors
>luggage compartment lid
>fuel filler door and
>glove compartment.
The central locking system is ready for
operation whenever the driver's door is
closed.
The central locking system can be
operated
>from outside via the door lock and
using the remote control
>from inside via the central locking
system button.
If it is operated from inside, the fuel
filler door will not be locked, refer to
page 34.
Operating it from outside simulta-
neously activates the anti-theft system,
which prevents the doors from being
unlocked via the door lock buttons or
the door release handles.
The central locking system unlocks
automatically in the event of an acci-
dent. In addition, the hazard warning
flashers and interior lamps come on.

34
Opening and closing – from the insideYou can use this button to control the
central locking system whenever the
doors are closed. The doors and lug-
gage compartment lid are unlocked or
locked only. The anti-theft system is not
activated.
If only the driver's door was
unlocked from the outside and
you press the button, then, with the
driver's door still open, the passenger's
door, the luggage compartment lid, the
fuel filler door and the glove compart-
ment will unlock, too.
If the driver's door is closed, it will be
locked.<
If you desire, the central locking
system can be activated automati-
cally as soon as you begin to drive. You
may also have this adjusted so that it is
specific to keys.<
To unlock and open the doors1. Press the button for the central lock-
ing system
2. Pull the release handle above the
armrest on the door you wish to open
or
pull the release handle for any door
twice: to unlock and open the door.To lock>Either use the central locking button
to lock all doors at once
or
>press the individual door lock buttons
down. As an added design feature to
prevent the driver from being inad-
vertently locked out of the vehicle,
the driver's door lock button will not
engage as long as the door is open.
Since passengers or animals
remaining in the vehicle might be
able to lock the doors from the inside,
always take the vehicle's keys with you
so that the vehicle can be opened again
from the outside at any time.<

41
2. Ensure that the convertible top com-
partment panel in the luggage com-
partment is folded down, see
page 37; otherwise, it will not be
possible to open the convertible top
3. Make sure that the luggage compart-
ment lid is closed
4. Press and hold the corresponding
button for convertible top operation.
The luggage compartment lid can-
not be opened while the convert-
ible top is in motion.<
During convertible top operation
the rear window moves toward the
passenger compartment. To prevent
injuries, make sure that the closing path
of the convertible top is unobstructed.<
After having been stored for an
extended period of time in the
convertible top compartment, e.g. dur-
ing the winter months because the
hardtop was being used, you may have
to support the convertible top by hand
when closing it for the first time.
If the convertible top should halt right
before the closing phase is completed,
press against the front part of the con-
vertible top frame from the outside to
help the closing process along. Keep
pressing the button while doing so until
the top starts up again on its own.<
Indicator lamps>The red indicator lamp is lit whenever
the convertible top is in motion. It
goes out as soon as the opening or
closing operation has been com-
pleted
>If the red indicator lamp flashes after
the button is released, the convertible
top has not yet been opened or
closed completely. You can resume
operation in the desired direction by
pressing the button again
>If the yellow indicator lamp lights up
continuously with the button pressed,
the convertible top compartment
panel has been raised and the top
cannot be moved.
The side windows move down slightly
whenever the button for operating the
convertible top is pressed.
They will go back up if you keep holding
the button down for more than
2 seconds after the opening or closing
process has been completed and the
indicator lamp has gone out.InterruptionThe convertible top stops moving
immediately when the button is
released. You can resume operation in
the desired direction by pressing the
button again
Do not close the side windows
using the power window switches
if the convertible top has not been
closed completely. Otherwise, the side
windows may not seal properly with the
rubber seals of the convertible top.<
If the opening or closing operation is
interrupted by releasing the buttons,
the convertible top remains in the
respective position for 15 minutes
before it slowly moves into a stable
position. The operation can be contin-
ued by pressing the buttons.
Convertible top
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

51
Seat and mirror memory You can store and recall three different
driver's seat and outside mirror posi-
tions.
Memory will not retain the adjust-
ment made to the lumbar sup-
port. 2. Adjust your seat and outside mirrors
to the desired position
3. Press the M
EMORY
button: the indica-
tor lamp in the button lights up
4. Press memory button 1, 2 or 3, as
desired. The indicator lamp goes out.
To select a stored setting
Do not select a memory position
while the vehicle is moving. If you
do so, there is a risk of accident from
unexpected seat movement.<
Driver's door open after unlocking or
ignition key in position 1:
>Briefly press memory button 1, 2 or 3,
as desired.
Movement stops immediately when
one of the seat-adjustment or mem-
ory buttons is operated during the
adjustment process.
With the driver's door closed and the
ignition key either removed or in posi-
tion 0 or 2:
>Press and hold the desired memory
button – 1, 2 or 3 – until the adjust-
ment process is completed.
If you press the M
EMORY
button acci-
dentally: press the button again; the
indicator lamp goes out.
You can have this feature pro-
grammed so that when you use
the remote control from your personal-
ized key to unlock your door, your seat
and the exterior mirrors will move into
your own preferred positions.<
Before activating the programmed
adjustment feature, ensure that
the footwell behind the driver's seat is
empty and unobstructed. If you fail to
do so, persons, animals or objects
could be injured or damaged if the seat
should move backward.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

52
Passenger-side exterior mirror tilt
functionAutomatic curb monitor*
1. Move mirror selector switch 1 to the
driver's mirror position
2. When shifting into Reverse, or plac-
ing the selector lever in position R,
the passenger-side mirror tilts down-
ward. This brings the lower area
adjacent to the vehicle – curbs, etc. –
into the driver's field of vision while
parking.
How far the passenger mirror tilts
can be set individually for each
ignition key.<
You can deactivate this automatic fea-
ture by setting the mirror selection
switch to the passenger side position.
Seat heating*The seat cushion and backrest can be
heated with the ignition key in
position 2.
You can call up different heating modes
by repeatedly pressing the buttons.
You can also switch the higher heating
modes off directly:
Press the button and hold it slightly
longer.
Seat and mirror memory