2010 BMW M3 dashboard

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
33
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital con-
tribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In con-
junction with the safety belts, the head
restraints and the airbags, the seated position
has a major influence on your safety in the event
of an accident. To ensure that the safety sys-
tems operate with optimal efficiency, we
strongly urge you to observe the instructions
contained in the following section.
For additional information on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page42.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the airbags. Always
grip the steering wheel on the rim, with your
hands in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions,
to minimize the risk of injury to the hands or
arms in the event of the airbag being triggered
off.
No one and nothing should come between the
airbags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the
front passenger side as a storage area. Make
sure that the front passenger is sitting correctly,
e.g. not resting feet or legs on the dashboard;
otherwise, leg injuries can occur if the front air-
bag deploys.
Make sure that passengers keep their heads
away from the side airbag and do not lean
against the cover of the head airbag; otherwise,
serious injuries can result if the airbag
deploys.<
Even if you follow all the instructions, injuries
resulting from contact with airbags cannot be
fully excluded, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may
provoke a mild hearing loss in extremely sensi-
tive individuals. This effect is usually only tem-
porary.
For airbag locations and additional information
on airbags, refer to page77.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way
that its center is at approx. ear level. Oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the
event of an accident.<
Head restraints, refer to page35.
Safety belt
Before every drive, make sure that all occupants
wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the
safety belt as an additional safety device, but
they do not represent a substitute.
Your vehicle has five seats, each of which is
equipped 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. Make sure that the belt in the lap area sits
low across the hips and does not press against
the abdomen.
The safety belt must not rest against the throat,
run across sharp edges, pass over hard or frag-
ile objects or be pinched. Fasten the safety belt
so that it sits as snugly as possible against the
lap and shoulder without being twisted. Other-
wise, the belt could slide over your hips and
injure your abdomen in the event of a frontal
collision.
Avoid wearing bulky clothing and regularly pull
the belt in the upper-body area taut; otherwise,
its restraining effect could be impaired.
Sports Wagon: if the rear center safety belt is
used, the wider backrest must be locked in
place, refer to page99. Otherwise, the safety
belt will have no restraining effect.<
Safety belts, refer to page38.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
77
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Head airbags
3Side airbags in the seat backrests
Protective action
Observe the adjustment instructions on
page33 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the
head and side airbags help provide protection in
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The
head air bag supports the head.
The airbags have been designed to not be trig-
gered in every collision situation, e.g. not in
minor accidents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way.
Keep the dashboard and windows on the front
passenger side clear, i.e. do not cover with
adhesive labels or coverings, and do not attach
holders such as for navigation instruments or
mobile phones.
Do not attach seat covers, cushions or other
objects not specifically approved for seats with
integral side airbags to the front seats. Do not
hang items of clothing such as coats or jackets
over the backrests. Do not attempt to remove the airbag retention system from the vehicle. Do
not modify the individual components of the
system or its wiring in any way. This includes
the upholstered covers on the steering wheel,
instrument panel, seats and roof posts, as well
as the sides of the roof lining. Do not attempt to
remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components imme-
diately after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, removal and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW center
or a workshop that works according to repair
procedures of BMW with correspondingly
trained personnel and that has the required
explosives licenses. Unprofessional attempts to
work on the system could lead to failure in an
emergency or to undesired airbag activation,
either of which could result in personal injury.<
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger airbags
An analysis of the impression in the front pas-
senger seat cushion determines whether and
how the seat is occupied. The front and side air-
bags for the front passenger are activated or
deactivated by the system accordingly.
The indicator lamp above the interior
rearview mirror shows the current status
of the front passenger airbags, deactivated or

Everything from A to Z
182 Car jack
– jacking points153
Car key, refer to Integrated
key/remote control18
Car phone
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest95
– refer to separate Owner's
Manual
Car shampoo145
Catalytic converter, refer to
Hot exhaust system107
Center armrest95
Center brake lamp
– replacing bulb152
Center console, refer to
Around the center
console14
Central locking
– from inside22
– from outside19
Central locking system19
– Comfort Access26
– hotel function24
– setting unlocking
characteristics19
Changes, technical, refer to
For your own safety5
Changing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs147
Changing wheels153
Chassis number, refer to
Engine compartment137
Check Control67
Child restraint fixing system
LATCH43
Child restraint systems42
Child safety locks45
Child seats, refer to
Transporting children
safely42
Chrome parts145
Chrome polish145
Cigarette lighter, refer to
Lighter96
Cleaning headlamps52
– washer fluid53
Cleaning your BMW, refer to
Care143Clock61
– 12h/24h format64
– setting time67
Closing
– from inside22
– from outside19
Clothes hooks95
Cockpit10
Cold start, refer to Starting the
engine47
Combined instrument, refer to
Instrument cluster12
Comfort Access26
– replacing the battery28
Comfort access, refer to
Comfort Access26
Comfort area, refer to Around
the center console14
Compartment for remote
control, refer to Ignition
lock46
Compass93
Computer63
Condensation, refer to When
the vehicle is parked109
Condition Based Service
CBS141
Configuring settings, refer to
Personal Profile18
Confirmation signals for
locking/unlocking the
vehicle20
Connecting vacuum cleaner,
refer to Connecting
electrical appliances96
Consumption, refer to
Average consumption63
Consumption display
– average consumption63
– Energy Control62
Controls and displays10
Convenient operation
– glass roof20
– windows20
Coolant139
– checking level140
Coolant temperature62
Cooling, maximum87Cooling fluid, refer to
Coolant139
Cooling system, refer to
Coolant139
Copyright2
Corner-illuminating lamps
– replacing bulbs148
Corner-illuminating lamps,
refer to Adaptive light
control81
Cornering lamps, refer to
Adaptive light control81
Correct tires134
Courtesy lamps, refer to
Interior lamps83
Cruise control53
– active55
– malfunction54
Cruising range63
Cupholders95
Curb weight, refer to
Weights177
Current fuel consumption,
refer to Energy Control62
D
Dashboard, refer to
Cockpit10
Dashboard, refer to
Instrument cluster12
Dashboard lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting82
Data, technical174
– capacities178
– dimensions175
– engine174
– weights177
Date
– setting67
Daytime running lights80
– replacing bulbs148
DBC Dynamic Brake
Control70
Deactivating front passenger
airbags77
Deadlocking, refer to
Locking20