2006 BMW M3 COUPE instrument panel

52Passenger safety systems
Airbags1Front airbags on the driver and pas-
senger sides
2Head airbags for driver and front pas-
senger
3Side 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 head and side airbags
help provide protection in the event of a
collision from the side. The respective
side airbag helps support the seat
occupant's upper body.
For information on the correct sitting
position, refer to page 42.
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 do not deploy in
response to minor collisions, rear
impacts and certain kinds of vehicle
rollover.<
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.<

55
Transporting children safelyCommercially available child-restraint
systems are designed to be secured
with a lap belt or with the lap belt por-
tion of a combination lap/shoulder belt.
Improperly or inadequately installed
restraint systems can increase the risk
of injury to children. Always read and
follow the instructions that come with
the system.Correct location for installingIn your BMW, all seats equipped with a
three-point safety belt – except for the
driver's seat – are suitable for installing
universal child-restraint systems of all
age classes and which have been
approved for the age group in question. 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, since 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.
The width adjustment of the front pas-
senger seat must be set at full width.
Do not call up any seat memory posi-
tions after the child seat has been
installed; there is otherwise a risk of
injury.
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.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

119 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 it 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

128Laws and regulations
OBD interface socketThe Onboard Diagnostic (OBD) inter-
face 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 ZGearbox
manual transmission 65
Gearbox malfunction
sequential M gearbox with
Drivelogic 70
Gearbox, sequential 66
Gearshift lever
manual transmission 65
sequential M gearbox with
Drivelogic 66
General driving notes 109
Glass sunroof
closing following an elec-
trical malfunction 41
convenience operation
30, 32
remote control 29, 30
Glass sunroof, electric 40
Glove compartment 95
Gradient assistance 69
Grills, refer to Ventilation 90
Gross weight, refer to
Weights 152
H
Handbrake, refer to Parking
brake 64
Hands-free system 97
Harman Kardon premium
sound system 95
Hazard warning flashers 14
Hazard warning triangle 23Head airbags 52
Head restraints 45
Headlamp cleaning system
cleaning headlamps 73
washer fluid 122, 153
Headlamp control 87
Headlamp flasher 88
indicator lamp 21
Headlamps
bulb replacement 133
care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Heated mirror 50
Heated rear window
automatic climate
control 93
Heated seats 49
Heating
exterior mirrors 50
rear window 93
seats 49
Heating and ventilation 90
Heavy loads, refer to Cargo
loading 103
Height adjustment
seats 44
steering wheel 51
Height, refer to
Dimensions 151High beams 71, 88
bulb replacement 133
headlamp flasher 88
indicator lamp 21
Holder for
beverages 96, 97
litter bag 97
Hood release 119
Horn 14
Hydraulic brake assistant,
refer to DBC 111
Hydroplaning 109
I
Ice warning 79
Ignition 61
Ignition key 28
positions 61
Ignition lock 61
Imprint 4
Indicator lamps 18Indicator/warning lamp
airbags 18
alarm system 38
brakes 18, 19
Check Gas Cap 19
coolant 19, 76
DSC 19
Flat Tire Monitor
18, 19, 85
fog lamps 20
Please fasten safety
belts 18
reserve 76
Service Engine Soon 19
Individual air distribution 92
Individual settings, refer to
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory 59
Inflation pressure monitor-
ing, refer to Flat Tire Moni-
tor 83
Inflation pressure, tires 112
INSPECTION 77
Instrument cluster 16
Instrument lighting 88
Instrument panel 14
Interface socket for onboard
diagnostics (OBD) 128
event data recorders 128
Interior lamps 89
remote control 30