2004 BMW M3 COUPE towing

Contents

Operation, maintenance

Special operating instructions:

Break-in procedures110
General driving notes111
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)112
Brake system112

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressure114
Tire condition114
Tire replacement115
Wheel and tire
combinations117
Winter tires118
Snow chains*118

In the engine compartment:

Hood119
Engine compartment
essentials120
Washer fluids122
Engine oil122
Coolant124
Brake fluid125

Maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System126

Laws and regulations:

California Proposition 65
warning128
OBD interface socket128
Owner service procedures Replacement procedures: Onboard tool kit132
Windshield wiper blades132
Lamps and bulbs133
Repairing a flat tire136
Battery140
Fuses141 Giving and receiving
assistance: Receiving assistance142
Jump-starting143
Towing the vehicle144
Technical data

Engine data150
Dimensions151
Weights152
Capacities153

104
Cargo loading
Avoid overloading the vehicle so
that the permitted load on the tires
is not exceeded. Overloading can lead
to overheating and internal tire damage.
This can result in a sudden loss of tire
inflation pressure.<
Determining the maximum load1. Locate the following statement on
your vehicle's placard*:
The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or YYY lbs., as this
could otherwise result in damage to the
vehicle or unstable driving conditions.<
2. Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle
3. Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from
XXX kilograms or YYY pounds
4. The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount
equals 1,400 lbs. and there will be
five 150 lbs. passengers in your vehi-
cle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs.:
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5. Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calculated
in Step 4
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be trans-
fered to your vehicle. Consult the
manual for transporting a trailer to
determine how this may reduce the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.

105
Stowing cargo>Load heavy cargo as far forward as
possible – directly behind the back-
rests – and as low as possible
>Cover sharp edges and corners
>Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest
>For very heavy loads when the rear
seat is not occupied, secure each
safety belt in the opposite buckle,
see illustration.
Securing the cargo in the luggage
compartment >For small, light items, use the rubber-
lined, non-skid side of the floor mat
or secure using the luggage compart-
ment net* or elastic straps, refer to
page 37
>For large, heavy pieces, see your
BMW center for load-securing
devices*. Anchorages located in the
luggage compartment can be used
for fastening the load-securing
devices.
Comply with the information enclosed
with the load-securing devices.
Cargo loading
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

132Replacement procedures
Onboard tool kitThe onboard tool kit is located in the
luggage compartment lid.
To open, loosen the wing nut.
For storing the towing eyelet, refer to
page 145.
Windshield wiper blades1. Switch off the engine
2. Fold the wiper arm completely out
from the windshield
3. Position the wiper blade at an angle
and pull the release spring – see
arrow
4. Fold the wiper blade down and
unhook it toward the windshield
5. Pull the wiper blade past the wiper
arm toward the top
6. Insert a new wiper blade and apply
pressure until you hear it engage.

144
2. Start the engine of the other vehicle
as usual.
If the first start attempt is not suc-
cessful, wait a few minutes before
another attempt in order to allow the
discharged battery to recharge
3. Allow the engines to run for several
minutes
4. Disconnect the jumper cables in
reverse sequence.
Have the battery recharged at your
BMW center as required.
Do not use spray starter fluids to
start the engine.<
Towing the vehicle
Always observe all applicable
towing laws and regulations.<
Towing with a commercial tow
truck>Use wheel lift or flat bed carrier
>Do not tow with sling-type equip-
ment.
Never allow passengers to ride in
a towed vehicle for any reason.
Never attach tie-down hooks, chains,
straps, or tow hooks to tie rods, control
arms, or any other part of the vehicle
suspension, as severe damage to these
components will occur, possibly lead-
ing to accidents.<
Jump-starting

145
Towing the vehicle with the front
axle raisedVehicles with sequential manual gear-
box SMG:
With the ignition on, move the selector
lever to position N, then turn off the
ignition.Towing eyeletThe screw-in towing eyelet is stored in
the luggage compartment under the
floor mat and must remain in the vehi-
cle. It can be attached at the front or
rear of the vehicle.
The towing eyelet should not be used
to pull a vehicle out of deep snow, mud,
sand, etc.
Comply with all applicable towing laws
and regulations at all times.
Access to tow socketsFront:
Press out the cover panel with a screw-
driver at the top of the recess.
Rear:
Press out the cover panel with a screw-
driver at the top of the recess.
Use only the towing eyelet sup-
plied with the vehicle and screw it
in firmly until it stops. Use the towing
eyelet for towing on paved roads only. If
you do not follow these instructions, the
towing eyelet could be torn out and
vehicle damage could occur.
Do not tow the vehicle by any compo-
nents of the running gear, or lash them
down in any way. If you do, the compo-
nents could be damaged, possibly
leading to accidents.<
Towing the vehicle
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

146
Keep the vehicles in line and avoid
towing at an offset angle. Ensure
that the towing strap connecting the
two vehicles is tight, with no slack,
before starting off.<
Use only a nylon towing strap to tow
the vehicle, since the inherent resil-
ience of this material helps protect both
vehicles from sudden jerking move-
ments.
The towed vehicle should always
be the lighter of the two vehicles.
If this is not the case, it will not be pos-
sible to control vehicle handling.<
Tow-startingFor instructions on jump-starting, refer
to page 143.
Never attempt to use your vehicle to
push another vehicle, since damage to
the energy-absorbing bumpers could
result.Towing the vehicle

Everything from A to ZA
ABS Antilock Brake
System 112
indicator lamp 19
Accessories, refer to For
your own safety 5
Accident, refer to Emer-
gency call 142
Activated-charcoal filter 96
Adding brake fluid 125
Adding liquid sealant
Mobility system 138
Additional sources of infor-
mation 4
Air conditioning mode
automatic climate
control 94
Air distribution
automatic climate
control 94
Air distribution, individual 94
Air outlets, refer to Ventila-
tion 92
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure 25, 114
Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air mode 95
Air supply
automatic climate
control 94
Air, drying, refer to Air con-
ditioning mode 94Airbags 53
deactivating 53
indicator lamp 18, 55
sitting safely 43
Airing out, refer to Ventila-
tion 92
AKI, refer to Fuel specifica-
tions 25
Alarm system 38
avoiding unintentional
alarms 39
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires 118
Alternative oil types 123
Antifreeze 124
coolant 124
washer fluid 122
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 112
indicator lamp 19
Anti-theft system 30
Anti-theft warning system,
refer to Alarm system 38
Approved axle loads, refer
to Weights 152
Approved gross weight,
refer to Weights 152
Armrest
front 98
rear 99Artificial leather, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Ashtray
front 100
rear 100
Assistant systems, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) 83
AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control 95
AUTO program, refer
to Automatic air distribu-
tion 94
Automatic
air distribution 94
air supply 94
cruise control 74
headlamp control 88
Automatic car wash, refer to
the Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Automatic climate control 92
Automatic curb monitor 50
Automatic dimming, interior
rearview mirror 52
Automatic recirculated-air
control (AUC) 95
Automatic windshield
washer, refer to Rain sen-
sor 73Average fuel
consumption 81
Average speed 81
Avoiding unintentional
alarms 39
Axle loads, refer to
Weights 152
B
Backrest
adjusting 44
unlocking 47
width adjustment 46
Backrest, refer to Seat
adjustment 45
Backup lamps 66
bulb replacement 135
Bandages, refer to First-aid
kit 23
Bar, towing 145
Battery 140
charge 140
disposal 140
indicator lamp 18
jump-starting 143
remote control 30, 31
Battery charge current 18
Belts, refer to Safety
belts 47
Beverage holders 98, 99