2006 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE instrument panel

55 Passenger safety systems
Airbags1Front airbags on the driver and pas-
senger sides
2Side airbags on the driver and pas-
senger sides – front and rear*Protective effectThe front airbags protect the driver and
passenger in the event of a head-on
collision where the protection provided
by the safety belt alone would not be
adequate. The side airbags provide
protection in the event of a collision
from the side. They help support the
respective seat occupant's upper body.
For information on the correct sitting
position, refer to page 46.
The side airbags in the rear pas-
senger area* of your vehicle may
already have been deactivated by a
BMW center. You may have them acti-
vated if you desire to do so. Please
contact your BMW center for additional
information.<
The airbags will not be triggered in
the event of a minor accident, cer-
tain vehicle rollover situations or colli-
sions from the rear.<
Do not apply adhesive materials to
the cover panels of the airbags,
cover them or modify them in any other
way. Do not attempt to remove the air-
bag restraint system from the vehicle. In
the event of a malfunction, deactivation
or triggered activation – as a response
to an accident – of the airbag restraint
system, consult your BMW center for
inspection, repair or disassembly. Mod-
ifications may not be made on either
the wiring or the individual components
in the airbag system. These include the
upholstered covers on the steering
wheel, instrument panel, side trim pan-
els of the doors and front roof pillars
and on the sides of the headliner. Do
not attempt to remove or dismantle the
steering wheel. Unprofessional
attempts to service the system could
lead to failure in an emergency or
undesired airbag activation, either of
which could result in personal injury. Do
not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been trig-
gered, as otherwise there is a danger of
burns.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

59
It is recommended to cover the child-
restraint attaching clip with a soft mate-
rial to prevent damage to the stored
soft top.
Should a hard top be installed, the
fitting of child harness tether
strap/s – if child seat is required – is
necessary before installation of the
hard top.<
Before installing any child-
restraint device or child seat,
please read the following:
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger
seat of this vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the
front passenger. Because the backrest
on any rearward-facing child-restraint
system – of the kind designed for
infants under 1 year and 20 lbs/9 kg –
would be within the airbag's deploy-
ment range, you should never mount
such a device in the front passenger
seat, as the impact of the airbag against
the child restraint's backrest could lead
to serious or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child – not an
infant – to ride in the front seat, certain
precautions should be taken. First,
move the passenger seat as far away
from the instrument panel as possible.
This important precaution is intended to
maximize the distance between the air-
bag and the child. Older children
should be tightly secured with the
safety belt after they have outgrown a
booster seat that is appropriate for their
age, height, and weight.
Younger children should be secured in
an appropriate forward-facing child-
restraint system that has first been
properly secured with a safety belt.
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger
seat.
We strongly urge you to carefully read
and comply with the instructions for
installation and use provided by the
child restraint's manufacturer when-
ever you use such a device.
Do not attempt to modify child-restraint
systems. If you do this, the protection
provided by these systems could be
impaired.
Be sure that all occupants – of all ages –
remain properly and securely restrained
at all times.<
All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of
SAE J1819, an industry-recommended
practice for securing child-restraint sys-
tems in motor vehicles.
Transporting children safely
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

123 In the engine compartment
HoodTo releasePull the lever located under the left-
hand side of the instrument panel.
Do not attempt to service your
vehicle if you do not have the
required technical background. If you
are not familiar with the regulations to
be observed, have your vehicle ser-
viced only by a BMW center or a shop
that works according to BMW require-
ments with appropriately trained per-
sonnel. Work that is improperly carried
out could result in consequential dam-
age and pose safety hazards.<
To openPull the release handle and open the
hood.
It is not possible to drive off using
SMG Drivelogic when the hood is
open.<
To closePull the hood downwards and allow the
hood to fall from a minimum height of
1 ft/30 cm so that it audibly engages.
Check for proper locking by pulling on
the hood at the left and right above the
headlamps.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the hood is clear
when it is closed, following the same
safety precautions used in all closing
procedures.
If you notice while driving that the hood
is not completely closed, stop immedi-
ately and close it securely.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

132Laws and regulations
OBD interface socketThe Onboard Diagnostic OBD interface
socket is located on the left of the
driver's side under the instrument panel
and under a cover.
The cover has the letters OBD on it.
The purpose of the OBD system is to
ensure proper operation of the emis-
sion control system for the vehicle"s
lifetime. The system monitors emission-
related components and systems for
deterioriation and malfunction.
An illuminated lamp informs you
of the need for service, not of
the need to stop the vehicle.
However, the systems should be
checked by your BMW center at the
earliest possible opportunity.
Display in Canadian models for
the malfunction described
above.
Under certain conditions, the indicator
will blink or flash. This indicates a rather
severe level of engine misfire. When
this occurs, you should reduce speed
and consult the nearest BMW center as
soon as possible. Severe engine misfire
over only a short period of time can
seriously damage emission control
components, especially the catalytic
converter.
When the fuel filler cap is not
properly tightened, the OBD sys-
tem can detect the vapor leak and the
indicator will light up. If the filler cap is
subsequently tightened, the indicator
should go out within a few days.<
Event data recordersYour vehicle may be equipped with one
or more sensing and diagnostic mod-
ules or a recording device capable of
recording or transmitting certain vehicle
data or information. In addition, if you
have a Subscription Service Agreement
for the BMW Assist system, certain
vehicle information may be transmitted
or recorded in order to provide such
services.

Everything from A to ZFuel reserve indicator, refer
to Fuel gauge 80
Fuel tank capacity 157
Fuses 145
G
Gasoline consumption, refer
to Average fuel consump-
tion 84
Gasoline, refer to Fuel spec-
ifications 25
Gear indicator 71
Gearbox
manual transmission 69
Gearbox malfunction
sequential M gearbox with
Drivelogic 74
Gearbox, sequential 70
Gearshift lever
manual transmission 69
sequential M gearbox with
Drivelogic 70
General driving notes 111
Glove compartment 99
Gradient assistance 73
Grills, refer to Ventilation 94
Gross weight, refer to
Weights 156
H
Handbrake, refer to Parking
brake 68Hands-free system 100
Hardtop 113
Hardtop preparation 113
Hardtop, refer to the sepa-
rate Owner's Manual 113
Hazard warning flashers 14
Hazard warning triangle 23
Head restraints 48
Headlamp cleaning system
cleaning headlamps 77
washer fluid 126, 157
Headlamp control, auto-
matic 90
Headlamp flasher 91
indicator lamp 21
Headlamps
bulb replacement 137
care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Heated mirrors 53
Heated rear window
automatic climate
control 97
Heated seats 52
Heating
exterior mirrors 53
rear window 97
seats 52
Heating and ventilation 94
Heavy loads, refer to Cargo
loading 105Height adjustment
seats 47
steering wheel 54
Height, refer to
Dimensions 155
High beams 75, 91
bulb replacement 137
headlamp flasher 91
indicator lamp 21
Holder for beverages 100
Hood release 123
Horn 14
Hydraulic brake assistant,
refer to DBC 113
Hydroplaning 111
I
Ice warning 83
Ignition 65
Ignition key 28
positions 65
Ignition lock 65
Imprint 4
Indicator lamps 18Indicator/warning lamp
airbags 18
alarm system 37
brakes 18, 19
Check Gas Cap 19
convertible top 41
coolant 19, 80
DSC 19
Flat Tire Monitor
18, 19, 88
fog lamps 20
Please fasten safety
belts 18
reserve 80
rollover protection
system 19
Service Engine Soon 19
Individual air distribution 96
Individual settings, refer to
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory 64
Inflation pressure monitor-
ing, refer to Flat Tire Moni-
tor 87
Inflation pressure, tires 116
INSPECTION 81
Instrument cluster 16
Instrument lighting 91
Instrument panel 14
Interface socket for onboard
diagnostics (OBD) 132
event data recorders 132