2004 BMW M3 COUPE ignition

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repealed, even with DSC.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.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

86
To activate/deactivate the systemThe system is automatically activated in
ignition key position 2 and conse-
quently is on whenever the vehicle is
operated.
To deactivate the system: tap the but-
ton, the indicator lamp will light up yel-
low.
To activate the system: tap the button
again; the indicator lamp goes out.
Deactivate the system when snow
chains are mounted, since false warn-
ings and undetected losses in pressure
are possible under these kinds of con-
ditions.
Flat tire
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up red. In
addition, an acoustic signal is
sounded.
1. Carefully reduce speed and come to
a stop. Avoid sudden braking and
steering maneuvers
2. Determine which wheel is damaged
If this cannot be determined, con-
tact your BMW center.<
3. Fix the flat tire using the M Mobility
system, refer to page 136.
After replacing the damaged tire, initial-
ize the system.
System malfunction
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up yellow.
The Flat Tire Monitor is malfunc-
tioning or out of order. Please contact
your BMW center for additional infor-
mation.
Flat Tire Monitor

87
M Engine dynamics controlThe system – Sport mode – will cause
the engine to respond more spontane-
ously to any motion of the accelerator
pedal.Activating/deactivating Sport
modeActivating: with the ignition key in posi-
tion 2, press the SPORT button. The
indicator lamp will come on.
Each time you activate the sys-
tem, the vehicle may gain speed
without any additional pressure on the
accelerator pedal.<
Deactivating: press the SPORT button
again; the indicator lamp will go out.
The Sport mode is deactivated every
time the engine is started.
Brake force displayThe brake force display indicates to the
driver of the vehicle behind you how
hard you are braking your vehicle.
The display has two levels:
>Normal braking: the brake lamps
among the rear lamps and the center
brake lamp light up
>Hard braking or use of ABS: the tail
lamps light up with the same bright-
ness as the brake lamps and thereby
intensify the visual effect of the brake
lamps.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

88Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beamsParking lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle
lighting is switched on. You can
use this to signal the position of
the vehicle when it is parked. For light-
ing on one side for parking as an addi-
tional feature, refer to page 89.
Low beams
When you switch the ignition off
with the low-beam headlamps
on, only the parking lamps will
remain on.
Follow me home lampsWhen you activate the headlamp
flasher after parking the vehicle and
switching off the lights, the low beams
will come on for a brief period.
You can also have this function
deactivated.<
LIGHTS ON warningWhenever you open the driver's door
after having turned the ignition key to
position 0, you will hear an acoustic
signal for a few seconds to remind you
that the lamps have not been switched
off.Daytime driving lamps*If you desire, the light switch can be left
in the low-beam position: when the
ignition is switched off, the external
lighting is also switched off.
When required, switch on the parking
lamps as usual as described under
Parking lamps.
You can have the activation set-
tings for the daytime driving lamps
programmed on your vehicle. When the switch is in this posi-
tion the system automatically
responds to changes in ambient
light – in tunnels, at dusk, etc. – and in
the event of rain and snow – by switch-
ing the low beams on or off.
The vehicle's external lamps
remain on constantly when you
switch on the front fog lamps after the
headlamps have come on automati-
cally.<
Automatic headlamp control can-
not serve as a substitute for your
personal judgement in determining
when the lamps should be switched on.
For example, the sensors are not able
to detect fog. In such situations switch
on the lamp manually, as otherwise a
safety hazard will result.<
You can have the sensitivity of
your vehicle's automatic head-
lamp control adjusted.<

89
Instrument lightingTurn the rotary dial with the parking/low
beam lamps on to adjust the illumina-
tion intensity.
High beams/Standing lamps1High beams – blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher – blue indicator
lamp
3Standing lampsStanding lamps, left or rightAs an additional feature, you can illumi-
nate your vehicle on either side for
parking, if you wish to do so:
With the ignition key in position 0, push
the lever in the appropriate direction.
The lever engages in the turn signal
position.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

90
Fog lampsFront fog lamps
The green indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up to
indicate that the front fog lamps
are on.
If the automatic headlamp control
is on, the low beams will come on
automatically whenever you activate
the front fog lamps.<
Interior lampsThe interior lamps operate automati-
cally.To switch the interior lamps on
and off manuallyPress button 1 briefly.
If you want the interior lamps to remain
off all the time, press and hold the but-
ton for approx. 3 seconds.
Press the button briefly to revert to nor-
mal operation.Front reading lampsSwitch on and off with the button 2
adjacent to each lamp.
Rear reading lampsSwitch on and off with the button adja-
cent to each lamp.
In order to prevent battery dis-
charge, all of the lamps in the
vehicle are automatically switched off
approx. 15 minutes after you turn the
ignition key to position 0. behind translucent lenses serve as the
light sources for many of the controls
and displays in your vehicle. These
light-emitting diodes are related to con-
ventional lasers, and legislation defines
them as light-emitting diodes, Class 1.

96
Microfilter/Activated-charcoal
filterThe built-in microfilter removes dust
and pollen from the incoming air. The
activated-charcoal filter provides addi-
tional protection by filtering gaseous
pollutants from the outside air. Your
BMW center will replace the combined
filter as a standard part of your sched-
uled maintenance. A substantial reduc-
tion in airflow indicates that the filter
needs to be replaced early.
Roller sun blind*To activate, press the button briefly
with ignition key in position 1 or higher.
Automatic climate control

100
Ashtray, front*To emptyPress on the edge of the open cover.
You can now pull the ashtray upward
for removal.Extinguishing cigarettesTap off the ash and gently press the tip
into the funnel.Cigarette lighter
Hold or touch the hot cigarette
lighter by the knob only. Holding
or touching it in other areas could result
in burns.
The cigarette lighter remains opera-
tional when the ignition key has been
removed. For this reason, children
should never be left in the vehicle unat-
tended.<
Press lighter 1 in. As soon as the lighter
jumps back out, it can be removed.Cigarette lighter socketIt can be used for attaching power sup-
plies for flashlights, car vacuum clean-
ers and other similar appliances up to a
rating of approx. 200 watts at 12 volts.
Avoid damaging the socket due to
inserting plugs of different shapes or
sizes.
Ashtray, rear*To emptyPress on the edge of the open cover in
the opening direction: you can now pull
the ashtray upward for removal.