2004 BMW M3 COUPE temperature

5

Notes

Your individual vehicle

On purchasing your BMW, you have
decided in favor of a model with individ-
ualized equipment and features. This
Owner's Manual will describe all of the
equipment that the BMW M3 has to
offer you.
We hope you will understand that
equipment and features are included
that you might not have chosen for your
vehicle. You can easily identify any dif-
ferences with the aid of the asterisk
used to identify all optional equipment
and accessories.
If your BMW features equipment such
as a car radio or telephone, that is not
described in this Owner's Manual, we
have enclosed Supplementary Owner's
Manuals. We ask you to read these
manuals as well.

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
Fuels

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.

<

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

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

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

25
Close the gas 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 GAS 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 pressureChecking tire pressuresTire pressures in psi/kilopascal are
shown on the driver's door post and are
visible when the door is open.
Only check the tire inflation pressures
of cold tires. This means after driving a
maximum of 1.25 miles/2 km or after
the vehicle has been parked for at least
2 hours. Warm tires have higher infla-
tion pressures.
In the following tire inflation pressure
table, all pressures are specified in the
standard units of pressure, psi and kilo-
pascal, and apply to cold tires, i.e. tires
at ambient temperature.
After correcting the tire inflation pres-
sure, reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor so
that it can monitor the tire inflation
pressure, refer to page 84.
Refueling
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

27
BMW Tires
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires –
cold = ambient temperature
M3 225/45 ZR 18 33/230 – 41/280 –
255/40 ZR 18 – 35/240 – 48/330
225/45 ZR 18
225/40 ZR 1933/230 – 41/280 –
255/35 ZR 19 – 35/240 – 48/330
225/45 R 17 91 H M+S 33/230 38/260 36/250 46/320
225/40 R 18 92 V M+S 36/250 38/260 39/270 51/350Tire inflation pressure
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

60
Vehicle Memory, Key MemoryHow the system functionsYou have probably frequently wished
that you could configure individual
functions of your vehicles to reflect your
own personal requirements. In engi-
neering your vehicle, BMW has pro-
vided for a number of options for per-
sonal adjustment that can be
programmed into your vehicle at your
BMW center.
The available configuration data fall into
two categories, according to whether
their primary orientation is the vehicle –
Vehicle Memory – or the individual –
Key Memory. You can have up to four
different basic settings adjusted for four
different persons. The only require-
ment is that each person uses his or her
own remote control key.
When your vehicle is unlocked with the
remote control, the vehicle recognizes
the individual user by means of a data
exchange with the key, and makes
adjustments accordingly.
Distinguishing between keysIn order for you to distinguish between
different keys, colored decals are sup-
plied together with the keys.What the system can doYour BMW center can provide you with
details on the possibilities that the Vehi-
cle and Key Memory systems offer:
You will see this symbol through-
out the Owner's Manual. It is to
remind you at appropriate places of the
settings that are available to you.<
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Various signals that can serve as
acknowledgment for locking and
unlocking the vehicle, refer to
page 31
>Activates/deactivates the 'Follow me
home' lamps function, refer to
page 88
>Activates/deactivates daytime driv-
ing lamps, refer to page 88
>Sets the units of measure for display-
ing time, outside temperature, dis-
tance traveled and fuel consumption
in the instrument cluster
>When you shift into Reverse, an
acoustic signal indicates that PDC
has been activated, refer to page 82
>Switches on rear window defroster
automatically, refer to page 95
>Activates/deactivates various alarm
system functions, refer to page 39
>After giving an ice warning, the
onboard computer display returns to
the previous setting, refer to page 80.
Examples for Key Memory:
>Locks the vehicle automatically after
you start off, refer to page 34
>Automatically moves the seat and
outside mirror into position for the
programmed driver when unlocking
the vehicle, refer to page 49
>Automatic tilting of the passenger-
side mirror, refer to Automatic curb
monitor, page 50

63
Starting the engine and driving off
Do not allow the engine to warm
up by leaving it running while the
vehicle remains stationary. Instead,
drive off immediately at a moderate
engine speed.<
Do not allow the engine to run in
enclosed spaces. Otherwise,
breathing the exhaust fumes can lead
to unconsciousness and death. The
exhaust gases contain carbon monox-
ide, an odorless and colorless, but
highly toxic gas. Do not leave the vehi-
cle unattended with the engine running.
An unattended vehicle with a running
engine represents a safety hazard.<
If the engine does not start on the first
attempt, such as when it is very hot or
cold:
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter.
Cold starts at very low temperatures
below about +57/–156 and at high
altitudes above 3,300 ft/1,000 m:
>On the first start attempt, it may be
necessary to engage the starter for a
longer period, but no longer than
20 seconds.
Extended starting attempts, char-
acterized by excessively frequent
or long periods with the starter
engaged can damage the catalytic con-
verter.<
When driving, standing at idle or
parking the vehicle, take care to
avoid contact between the hot exhaust
system and flammable materials –
grass, hay, leaves, etc. Such contact
could lead to a fire, resulting in serious
personal injury and property damage.<
Manual transmission1. Engage the parking brake
2. Gearshift lever in idling position
3. Start the engine. Do not press the
accelerator pedal. Do not actuate the
starter for too short a time. Do not
turn it for more than approx.
20 seconds. Release the ignition key
immediately when the engine startsSequential M gearbox with
Drivelogic1. Depress footbrake
2. Move selector lever into position N
3. Start the engine. Do not actuate the
starter for too short a time. Do not
turn it for more than approx.
20 seconds. Release the ignition key
immediately when the engine starts
4. Engage a driving position
5. Release footbrake and slowly
depress accelerator pedal.
With the engine running, the gear
indicator in the SMG Drivelogic
display flashes to indicate that a driving
position is engaged with the driver's
door open or that the hood is not
closed properly, refer to page 68.
If neither the pedals, the shift paddles,
nor the selector lever are actuated, then
the gearbox is automatically taken out
of gear after approx. four seconds. It
will then be necessary to move the
selector lever back to position N before
engaging the desired driving position.
Driving off is not possible with the hood
open.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

76Everything under control
Odometer1Odometer
2Trip odometerOdometerYou can activate the displays shown in
the illustration with the ignition key in
position 0 by pressing the left button in
the instrument cluster.Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero,
press the left button with the ignition
key in position 1 or higher.
TachometerVariable pre-warning zoneThe yellow pre-warning zone displays
current permissible engine speeds,
depending on the engine temperature.
As the engine temperature climbs,
some of the sectors for this pre-warning
zones will go out one after the other.
Avoid engine speeds in the early warn-
ing zone if possible.
Never allow the engine to operate with
the needle in the red overspeed zone of
the gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is
interrupted when you approach this
sector.
Engine oil temperatureThe general operating temperature lies
between 1757/806 and 2507/
1206. During high-performance driv-
ing, do not exceed a maximum value of
3007/1506.