2004 BMW M3 COUPE service indicator

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
Alarm system*38
Electric power windows40
Glass sunroof, electric*41

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 safely56
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory60

Contents

9

Driving:

Ignition lock62
Starting the engine and driving
off63
Switching off the engine65
Parking brake65
Manual transmission66
Sequential M gearbox with
Drivelogic*67
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher72
Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor*73
Cruise control74

Everything under control:

Odometer76
Tachometer76
Engine oil temperature76
Fuel gauge77
Engine coolant temperature
gauge77
Service interval display78
Check Control78
Clock79
Computer80

Technology for safety and
driving convenience:

Park Distance Control (PDC)*82
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)83
Flat Tire Monitor84
M Engine dynamics control87
Brake force display87

Lamps:

Parking lamps/Low beams88
Instrument lighting89
High beams/Standing lamps89
Fog lamps90
Interior lamps90

Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:

Automatic climate control92
Roller sun blind*96

Interior conveniences:

Premium sound system*97
Glove compartment97
Storage compartments98
Cellular phone*99
Ashtray, front*100
Ashtray, rear*100
Clothes hooks101

Loading and transporting:

Through-loading system102
Ski bag*103
Cargo loading104
Roof-mounted luggage
rack*106

Controls and features

15
1Parking lamps/Low beams88
2

>

Turn signal indicators72

>

Standing lamps89

>

High beams89

>

Headlamp flasher72

>

Computer80
3Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor73
4Hazard warning flashers
5Rear window defroster95
6

>

Initiating an emergency call142

>

Mobile Service142
7Central locking system30
8Adjusting the steering wheel51
9Horn: the entire surface
10 Fog lamps90

Cockpit

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17
1Fuel gauge77
2Turn signal indicators20
3Speedometer
4Indicator and warning
lamps18 to 21
5Tachometer and engine oil temper-
ature gauge76
6Engine coolant temperature
gauge77
7Indicator and warning
lamps18 to 21
8Control button for

>

Clock79

>

Unit of measure of outside tem-
perature display80
9Display for sequential M gearbox
with Drivelogic68
10 Indicator lamp for Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC)83
11 Display for

>

Trip odometer/Odometer76

>

Clock79

>

Service interval78

>

Computer80
12 Check Control78
13 Trip odometer, reset to zero76
14 Indicator and warning
lamps18 to 21

Instrument cluster

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20
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)

●

The indicator lamp flashes and
an acoustic signal sounds: the system
is active and governs drive and braking
force.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine has been started, or if it
comes on during normal driving and
stays on:
DSC has been deactivated, either at the
button or in response to a system mal-
function.
In the event of a malfunction, have the
system checked by your nearest BMW
center.
For additional information: refer to
page 83
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 112
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 122
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 128
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 124
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

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 72
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 74
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever the fog
lamps are on.
For additional information: refer to
page 90

Indicator and warning lamps

83
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)The conceptDSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, it recognizes
unstable vehicle conditions, such as
understeering or oversteering, and,
within physically feasible limits, helps
keeping the vehicle on a steady course
by reducing the engine speed and
brake applications to the individual
wheels.
DSC starts up automatically each time
you start the engine.The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. The
results of driving irresponsibly rest with
the driver. We therefore urge you to
avoid using the additional safety margin
of the system as an excuse for taking
risks.
Do not make any modifications to the
DSC system. Allow only authorized
technicians to perform service proce-
dures on the DSC. At first, you may
need some time to become accus-
tomed to this system's intervention.
However, it guarantees optimum drive
force and at the same time, the best
possible vehicle stability.<
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly
after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to page 20.
>Indicator lamp flashes: DSC is active
and is controlling the drive torque
based on driving conditions
>If the indicator lamp fails to go out
after the engine has been started, or
if it comes on during normal driving
and stays on: DSC has been deacti-
vated via the button or is defective.
Please consult your BMW center for
repairs.
You can continue to drive the vehicle
normally without DSC.
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114Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressureInformation for your safetyThe factory-approved tires are matched
to your vehicle and have been selected
to provide optimum safety and driving
comfort when used properly.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – above all else
– driving safety that depend on the con-
dition of the tires and the maintenance
of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect tire inflation pressure is
a frequent cause of tire damage. It
also significantly influences the road-
holding ability of your BMW. Check tire
inflation pressures on a regular basis,
refer to page 25, at least every two
weeks and before beginning a longer
trip. If this is not done, incorrect tire
pressures can cause driving instability
and tire damage, ultimately resulting in
accidents.<
Tire conditionTire tread – tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 1/8 in / 3 mm, even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is only 1/16 in / 1.6 mm.
Below 1/8 in / 3 mm tread depth, there
is a great risk of hydroplaning, even at
relatively moderate speeds and with
only small amounts of water on the
road. Tread wear indicators in the
tread-groove base – see arrow – are
distributed around the wheel circumfer-
ence and are labeled on the tire side-
wall with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. At
a tread depth of 1/16 in / 1.6 mm, the
indicators signal that the legally permis-
sible wear limit has been reached.

125
3. If necessary, add coolant. If the cool-
ant is low, slowly add coolant until
the correct level is reached — do not
overfill.
Brake fluidIndicator lamp
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 112.
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 the 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 closed original container and in
a location 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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