2004 BMW M3 COUPE airbag off

18

Indicator and warning lamps

Technology that monitors itself

Indicator and warning lamps that are
identified by

●

are tested for proper
functioning whenever the ignition key is
turned. They each light up once for dif-
ferent periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started, or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see how to react to this below.

Red: stop immediately

Battery charge current

●

The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator drive belt or in the
charging circuit of the alternator. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the drive belt is defective, stop
and switch off the engine immedi-
ately to prevent overheating and seri-
ous engine damage. If the drive belt is
defective, increased steering effort is
also required.

<

Engine oil pressure

●

An alarm sounds at the same
time. Stop vehicle immediately
and switch off engine. Check the
engine oil level and top up as required.
If the oil level is correct: please contact
the nearest BMW center.
Do not continue driving, as the
engine could sustain serious dam-
age from inadequate lubrication.

<

Flat Tire Monitor

●

In addition, an acoustic signal is
sounded: there is a flat tire.
Reduce speed and carefully come to a
stop. Avoid sudden braking and steer-
ing maneuvers.
For additional information: refer to
page 84
Brake warning lamp

●

If the lamp comes on when the
parking brake is not engaged:
check the brake fluid level. Before driv-
ing further, be sure to comply with the
instructions on pages 112 and 125.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.

Red: an important reminder

Brake warning lamp

●

Comes on when the parking
brake is engaged – an additional
acoustic signal sounds when starting
off. For additional information: refer to
page 65
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Please fasten safety belts
●
Comes on together with an
acoustic signal until the safety
belts are fastened.
For additional information on safety
belts: refer to page 47
Airbags

●

Please have the system
inspected at your BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 53

43 To adjust
Safe seating positionFor driving that is relaxed and less likely
to cause fatigue, you should select a
sitting position that reflects your per-
sonal requirements. In combination
with the safety belts and airbags, the
correct seating position also plays an
important role in enhancing occupant
safety in the event of an accident. To
ensure that the vehicle's safety systems
provide you with optimal protection, we
request that you direct your careful
attention to the following section.
For supplementary information on
transporting children, refer to page 56.Sitting safely with airbags
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between yourself and the
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel
by the rim to keep any chance of injury
to hands or arms to an absolute mini-
mum should the airbag be deployed.
Never allow any objects, individuals or
animals to obstruct the areas between
passengers and airbags. Never use the
front airbag's cover as a storage tray or
support for objects of any kind. Never
allow front passengers to rest their feet
or legs on the airbag cover.<
For airbag locations and additional
information on airbags, refer to
page 53.Sitting safely with safety beltsYour vehicle offers five sitting positions,
each of which is provided with a safety
belt.Never allow more than one person
to wear a single safety belt. Never
allow infants or small children to ride in
a passenger's lap. Avoid twisting the
belt while routing it firmly across the
pelvis and shoulder, wear it as snugly
against your body as possible. Do not
allow the belt to rest against hard or
fragile objects in your pockets. Do not
route the belt across your neck, or run it
across sharp edges. Be sure that the
belt does not become caught or
jammed. Avoid wearing bulky clothing
and pull on the lap belt periodically to
retension it over your shoulders. In the
event of a frontal impact, a loose lap
belt could slide over the hips, leading to
abdominal injury. In addition, the safety
belt's restraint effectiveness is reduced
if the belt is worn loosely. Expectant
mothers should always wear their
safety belts, taking care to position the
lap belt against the lower hips, where it
will not exert pressure against the
abdominal area. Leave the rear safety
belts in the holders, if they are not
needed, to avoid unwanted movement
from the safety belts at high speeds.<
For information on using the safety
belts, refer to page 47.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

47
2. Press button 1 and remove the head
restraint.Installation – frontPress button 1 and slide the head
restraint into the sockets.Removal and installation – rearGive the head restraint a sharp upward
tug to release it from its locking mecha-
nism. Press down forcefully to install.
Entering the rearUnlocking backrestsPull the lever upward and fold the back-
rest forward.
The outer levers hold the safety belt to
enable it to be reached more easily.
Lock both backrests while driving,
otherwise there is a danger of an
unexpected movement causing an
accident.<
Safety beltsAlways wear your safety beltAlways fasten your safety belt before
starting off. As supplemental restraint
devices, the airbags are designed to
enhance the effectiveness of the safety
belts, and not to replace them.To closeMake sure you hear the lock engage in
the belt buckle.To release1. Press the red button in the belt
buckle
2. Hold the belt
3. Guide the belt back into its reel.
Head restraints
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Everything from A to Z
159
Electrical accessories, fail-
ure 141
Electrical malfunction
door lock 33
driver's door 33
fuel filler door 24
glass sunroof 42
luggage compartment
lid 35
Electronic Stability Program
(ESP), refer to Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC) 83
Emergency call 142
Emergency operation
doors 33
driver's door 33
fuel filler door 24
glass sunroof 42
Emergency release
luggage compartment lid
35, 37
Engine
breaking in 110
data 150
electronics 19
indicator lamp 19
speed 76, 150
starting 63
switching off 65
Engine compartment 120
Engine coolant 124
refilling 124Engine oil
adding 123
additives, refer to Adding
engine oil 123
alternative oils 123
capacity 153
consumption 122
indicator/warning lamp 19
quality 123
specified oils 123
temperature gauge 76
types 123
Engine oil level 19
check 122
indicator/warning lamp 18
Engine oil pressure
indicator/warning lamp 18
Engine oil temperature 76
Engine output, refer to
Engine data 150
Engine speed 76, 150
Entering the rear 47
Equipment range, refer to
the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models / Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
ESP Electronic Stability Pro-
gram, refer to Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC) 83
Exterior mirrors 51Eyeglasses compartment 99
Eyelet, towing 145
F
False alarm, refer to
Avoiding unintentional
alarms 39
Fastening the safety belts 47
Fault displays 78
Filling the windshield washer
reservoir 153
First aid, refer to First-aid
kit 23
First-aid kit 23
Flat tire 136
Flat Tire Monitor 84
Mobility system 136
repairing 136
Flat Tire Monitor 84
activating/deactivating 86
indicator lamp 18, 19, 86
Flat tire, refer to Tire condi-
tion 114
Fluid reservoir for washer
systems 122
Fog lamps 90
indicator/warning lamp 20
Folding rear backrest 102
Follow me home lamps 88
Footbrake, refer to General
driving notes 111
Front airbags 53Front center armrest 98
Front fog lamps 90
indicator/warning lamp 20
Fuel
display 77
specifications 25
volume 153
Fuel consumption
display 81
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge 77
Fuel filler door 24
release following an elec-
trical malfunction 24
Fuel level indicator, refer to
Fuel gauge 77
Fuel mixture preparation 150
Fuel reserve indicator, refer
to Fuel gauge 77
Fuel tank capacity 153
Fuses 141
G
Gasoline consumption, refer
to Average fuel consump-
tion 81
Gasoline, refer to Fuel spec-
ifications 25
Gear indicator 68
Gearbox
manual transmission 66
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Everything from A to ZSequential M gearbox with
Drivelogic 67
indicator lamp 19, 71
Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet 126
SERVICE ENGINE SOON
warning lamp 19
Service interval display
78, 126
Shift lights 71
Shift paddles 68
Side airbags 53
Side turn signal indicators
bulb replacement 134
Sitting safely
with airbags 43
with safety belts 43
Size 151
Ski bag 103
Sliding/tilt sunroof, refer to
Electric glass sunroof 41
SMG Drivelogic 67
Smokers' package, refer to
Ashtray 100
Snow chains 118
SOS, refer to Emergency
call 142
Spare key 30, 31
Special oils 123
Special oils, refer to Speci-
fied engine oils 123
Specified engine oils 123Speed
winter tires 118
Speed gauge, refer to
Speedometer 16
Speedometer 16
Sport mode 87
Sports seat 45
Stability control, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) 83
Standing lamps 89
bulb replacement 133
Starting difficulties
jump-starting 143
temperature 63
Starting help DSC 83
Starting the engine 63
Starting, refer to Starting the
engine 63
Status of the Owner's Man-
ual 5
Steering wheel lock 62
Steering wheel, adjusting 51
Storage compartments 98
Storage nets 98
Storing seat positions,
refer to Seat and mirror
memory 49
Storing tires 117
Stroke, refer to Engine
data 150
Sun blind 96Sun blind, refer to Roller sun
blind 96
Surface ice, refer to Ice
warning 80
Switches, refer to
Cockpit 14
Switching off
engine 65
vehicle 65
Symbols 4
T
Tachometer 76
Tail lamps
bulb replacement 135
Tail lamps, refer to Rear
lamps 135
Tank capacity, refer to Fuel
tank capacity 153
Tank indicator, refer to Fuel
gauge 77
Technical data 150
Technical modifications 5
Technical modifications,
refer to For your own
safety 5
Telephone hookup 99
Telephone, refer to the sep-
arate Owner's Manual
Television, refer to the
Owner's Manual for
Onboard ComputerTemperature
automatic climate
control 94
Temperature adjustment 94
Temperature display
engine coolant 77
outside temperature 80
setting units 80
Temperature layering 95
Tempomat, refer to Cruise
control 74
Thigh support area, adjust-
ing 45
Third brake lamp, refer to
Center high-mount brake
lamp 136
Three-point safety belt 47
Through-loading system 102
Tilt alarm sensor 32
remote control 32
switching off 32, 39
Tilting passenger-side exte-
rior mirror 50
Time 79
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 84
Tire replacement 115