2011 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE parking brake

Things to remember when driving
128
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Use the parking brake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle for a
lengthy period using the clutch; use the
parking brake instead. Otherwise, greater
clutch wear will result.<
For more information about the drive-off assis-
tant, refer to page92.
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. Applying the brakes fully is the most
effective way of braking in situations in which
this is necessary. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal
every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure
that full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure. shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mode of the automatic trans-
mission, refer to page59.
Sports automatic transmission with dou-
ble clutch: never drive with the transmis-
sion in neutral or with the engine switched off;
otherwise, there will be no engine braking
action and no power assistance to the brakes
and steering.
Manual transmission: never drive with the
clutch held down, with the transmission in neu-
tral or with the engine switched off; otherwise,
engine braking action will not be present or
there will be no power assistance to the brakes
or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals; otherwise, pedal function could be
impaired.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the automatic cli-
mate control is in operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water
under the vehicle are therefore normal.

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
167Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
5."Random"
CDs/DVDs with compressed audio files: the
directories and the tracks contained therein are
played back in random sequence.
Random mode is switched off when the audio
source is changed or the ignition is switched off.
Fast forward/reverse
Press and hold the button for the corre-
sponding direction.
Automatic repeat*
Selected tracks, directories or CDs/DVDs are
repeated automatically.
Video playback*
Country codes
Only DVDs with the code of the home region
can be played back; also refer to the information
on your DVD.
Starting playback
For your own safety, the video image is only dis-
played up to approx. 2 mph/3 km/h, and in some
market-specific versions, only with the parking
brake engaged or the selector lever in position
P.
DVD video
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
3.Select a DVD with video content.
4. "DVD menu"
5.Start the DVD via the DVD menu.
VCD/SVCD
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."CD/DVD"
3.Select a CD/DVD with video content.
4."Select track"
5.Select the desired track.
The CD/DVD is started.
Video menu
To open the Video menu:
1.Turn the controller during playback.
2.Press the controller when "Back" is dis-
played.
The Video menu is displayed:
CodeRegion
1USA, Canada
2 Japan, Europe, Middle East, South
Africa
3 Southeast Asia
4 Australia, Central and South Amer-
ica, New Zealand
5 Northwest Asia, North Africa
6China
0 All regions
SymbolFunction
Open the DVD menu
*
Starting playback
Pause

BMW Assist
200
Vehicle equipped with BMW Assist or
BMW TeleService
1."BMW Assist"
2."Roadside Assistance"
3."Start service"
TeleService Diagnosis*
TeleService Diagnosis enables the wireless
transmission of detailed vehicle data that are
important for vehicle diagnosis. TeleService
Diagnosis can be started after a prompt by
Roadside Assistance and termination of the
voice connection.
TeleService Help*
TeleService Help enables an in-depth diagno-
sis of the vehicle by Roadside Assistance via
wireless transmission. TeleService Help can be
started after a prompt by Roadside Assistance
and termination of the voice connection.
Starting TeleService Help
1.Park the vehicle in a safe place.
2.Set the parking brake.
3.The engine is running.
4."TeleService Help"
After completion of TeleService Help, a voice
connection is established to Roadside Assis-
tance.
Activating BMW Assist*
If the services included in a valid BMW Assist
subscription are not displayed, they may need
to be activated.
1.Make sure that the vehicle can determine its
current position. Reception is usually best
when you have an unobstructed view to the
sky.
2.Switch on the ignition.
3."Activate BMW Assist"
Activation may take several minutes. If another
menu is opened, activation continues running in
the background.
BMW Search*
BMW Search is an online portal that makes cer-
tain services available for use in your vehicle,
e.g. information on restaurants along your
route.
License conditions:
This product contains NetFront Browser soft-
ware of ACCESS Co., Ltd. Copyright © 2007
ACCESS Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. NetFront
is a trademark or registered trademark of
ACCESS Co., Ltd., in Japan and other coun-
tries.
T h i s s o f t w a r e i s b a s e d i n p a r t o n t h e w o r k o f t h e
Independent JPEG Group.
Requirements
>Subscription to the optional
Convenience Plan.
>The vehicle is located within wireless
network coverage.
>The date setting on the Control Display
is current.

Mobility
229Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Care
Care products
Regular cleaning and care contributes signifi-
cantly to the value retention of your BMW.
BMW recommends cleaning and caring for your
vehicle with products that are approved by
BMW for this purpose.
Your BMW center will be happy to advise you on
the products and services available for cleaning
and caring for your BMW.
Original BMW Care Products have been
material tested, laboratory checked and
proven in the field, and offer optimal care and
protection for your vehicle.<
Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol
or solvents as these may result in dam-
age.<
Cleaning agents can contain substances
that are dangerous or hazardous to your
health. Therefore, follow the warning and safety
instructions on the packaging. When cleaning
inside the vehicle, always open the doors or
windows of the vehicle. In enclosed areas, pro-
vide for sufficient ventilation. Only use products
designed for cleaning vehicles.<
Exterior care
Washing the vehicle
Especially during the winter months,
ensure that the vehicle is washed more
frequently. Heavy soiling and road salt can lead
to vehicle damage.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the
brakes briefly to dry them; otherwise,
water can reduce braking efficiency over the
short term and the brake discs can corrode.<
Automatic car washes
Preference should be given to cloth car washes.
Do not use high-pressure car washes;
otherwise, water may drip into the vehicle
around the windows.<
Before driving into a car wash, ensure that it is
suitable for your BMW. Check the following:
>Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to
page247.
>If necessary: fold in the exterior mirrors,
refer to page50.
>Maximum permissible tire width.
Avoid car washes with guide rail heights
over 4 in/10 cm; otherwise, there is the
danger of damaging chassis parts.<
Preparations before driving into an automatic
car wash:
>Unscrew the rod antenna
*.
>Deactivate the rain sensor
* to prevent
unintentional wiping.
>Remove additional add-on parts,
e.g. spoilers or phone antennas, if they
could be damaged.
Automatic transmission
Before driving into an automatic car wash, per-
form the following steps to ensure that the vehi-
cle can roll:
1.Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock, even with Comfort Access.
2.Move the selector lever to position N.
3.Release the parking brake.
4.Switch off the engine.
5.Leave the remote control in the ignition lock
so that the vehicle can roll.

Care
230
Sports automatic transmission with
double clutch
Before driving into an automatic car wash, per-
form the following steps to ensure that the vehi-
cle can roll:
1.Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock, even with Comfort Access.
2.Engage transmission position N.
3.Release the parking brake.
4.Switch off the engine.
5.Leave the remote control in the ignition lock
so that the vehicle can roll.
The transmission is switched into position P:
>automatically after approx. 30 minutes
>if you remove the infrared remote control
from the ignition lock
Steam jets/high-pressure washers
When using steam jets or high-pressure
washers, ensure that you maintain suffi-
cient clearance to the vehicle and do not exceed
a temperature of 1407/606.
Insufficient clearance or excessive pressure or
temperature can lead to component damage or
water penetration. Follow the operating instruc-
tions of the high-pressure washer.<
When using high-pressure washers, do
not spray against the sensors and cam-
eras, e.g. of the Park Distance Control or Rear
View Camera, for an extended period and main-
tain a distance of at least 1 ft/30 cm.<
Manual car wash
When washing the vehicle by hand, use large
quantities of water and car shampoo if neces-
sary. Clean the vehicle with a sponge or wash-
ing brush, applying light pressure only.
Before cleaning the windshield, deacti-
vate the rain sensor or switch off the igni-
tion to prevent unintentional activation of the
wipers.<
Observe local regulations pertaining to
washing vehicles by hand.<
Headlamps
Do not rub them dry and do not use abrasive or
corrosive cleaning agents.
Loosen dirt, e.g. insects, with shampoo or
insect remover and wash away with copious
quantities of water.
Thaw ice with a windshield deicer and do not
use an ice scraper.
Windows
Clean the inside and outside surfaces of the
windows and the mirrors with window cleaner.
Do not clean the mirrors with cleaners
containing quartz.<
Convertible: retractable hardtop
Proceed as you would in a normal car wash.
When you open a wet hardtop, water
drops may run into the cargo area. If nec-
essary, remove items from the cargo area
beforehand to avoid water stains or soiling.<
Paintwork care
Regular care contributes to value retention and
protects the paintwork against the long-term
effects of damaging substances.
Region-specific environmental influences can
damage the vehicle paintwork. Therefore, it is
important to adapt the frequency and scope of
car care accordingly.
Immediately remove aggressive materials such
as spilled fuel, oil, grease, brake fluid, tree sap or
bird droppings to prevent damage to the paint-
work.
Repairing paintwork damage
Immediately repair scratches or similar
damage, such as that caused by stones
hitting the vehicle, where necessary to prevent
rusting.<
BMW recommends having paintwork damage
repaired by a professional paint repair work-
shop according to BMW specifications using
original BMW paint materials.

Mobility
235Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Side turn signals
W5W bulb, 5 watts
1.Press the front edge of the lamp toward the
rear with your fingertip, arrow1 and pivot it
out, arrow2.
2.While simultaneously lifting the retaining
tab, rotate bulb holder to the left and
remove.
3.Remove lamp and replace it.
To install, insert rear end of the lamp and press
into place at the front.
Tail lamps
Coupe: at a glance
The tail lamps are divided in two parts. One part
is in the trunk lid, the other is in the fender.
1Backup lamp
2Brake lamp
3Parking/tail lamps
4Turn signal
5Brake Force Display lamp
6Parking/tail lamps
Convertible: at a glance
The tail lamps are divided in two parts. One part
is in the trunk lid, the other is in the fender.
1Backup lamp
2Brake lamp
3Parking/tail lamps
4Turn signal
5Brake Force Display lamp
6Parking/tail lamps
Backup lamp
If these lamps malfunction, please contact your
BMW center.
Turn signal, brake, license plate,
parking, and tail lamps
These lamps use LED technology for operation.
If they malfunction, please contact your BMW
center.
Coupe: two-stage brake light in the
trunk lid
H21W bulb, 21 watts

Reference 259
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
AUX-IN
– port115
AUX-IN port177
Available services202
Average fuel consumption77
– setting the units80
Average speed77
Avoid highways in
navigation144
Avoiding unintentional
alarms33
Axle loads, refer to
Weights249
B
Backrest contour, refer to
Lumbar support44
Backrests, refer to Seat
adjustment43
Backrest width adjustment44
Back seats
– refer to Rear seats46
Bag holder119
Band-aids, refer to First aid
pouch239
Bar, refer to Towing
methods242
Base plate for telephone or
mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter195
– refer to Snap-in adapter in
the center armrest storage
compartment115
Bass, tone setting154
Battery237
– charging237
– disposal35,237
– jump-starting239
– remote control26
– replacing237
– temporary power failure237
Battery for mobile phone195
Battery renewal
– remote control35
– remote control for vehicle35
Being towed241
Belt hand-over49
– pinch protection system50Belts, refer to Safety belts49
Belt tensioner, refer to Safety
belts49
Beverage holders, refer to
Cupholders116
Black ice, refer to Outside
temperature warning75
Blinds, refer to Roller sun
blinds114
Blower, refer to Air
volume108
Bluetooth, activating/
deactivating187
BMW
– car shampoo232
BMW Assist198
BMW Assist,
activating200,202
BMW Homepage4
BMW Maintenance
System227
BMW Search200
BMW webpage4
Bottle holders, refer to
Cupholders116
Brake Assist, refer to Dynamic
Brake Control DBC89
Brake fluid, refer to Service
requirements80
Brake Force Display97
Brake lamps
– Brake Force Display97
Brake pads126
– breaking in126
Brake rotors128
– brakes126
– breaking in126
Brakes
– ABS89
– BMW Maintenance
System227
– Brake Force Display97
– breaking in126
– parking brake57
– service requirements80
Brakes, refer to Braking
safely128Brake system126
– BMW Maintenance
System227
– breaking in126
– disc brakes128
Breakdown services, refer to
Roadside Assistance238
Breaking in the clutch126
Breaking in the differential,
refer to Engine and
differential126
Break-in period126
Brightness of the Control
Display87
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps
and bulbs233
Button for starting the engine,
refer to Start/stop button55
Buttons on the steering
wheel11
C
California Proposition 65
warning6
Call
– accepting188
– ending188
– rejecting188
Calling, refer to Phone
numbers, dialing188
Calling, refer to Telephone
owner's manual
Can holders, refer to
Cupholders116
Capacities250
Capacity of the cargo area249
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery237
Car care, refer to Care229

Everything from A to Z
262 Directory for navigation, refer
to Address book137
Displacement, refer to Engine
data246
Display, refer to iDrive
controls16
Display lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting105
Displays
– on the Control Display16
Displays, refer to Instrument
cluster12
Displays and controls10
Disposal
– coolant226
– remote control battery35
– vehicle battery237
Distance remaining to service,
refer to Service
requirements80
Distance warning, refer to
Park Distance Control
PDC88
Door key, refer to Remote
control with integrated
key26
Door lock29
Doors, emergency
operation30
DOT Quality Grades218
Draft-free ventilation109
Drinks holders, refer to
Cupholders116
Drive mode61
Drive-off assistance, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC89
Drive-off assistant92
Driving dynamics control62
Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams101
Driving notes126
Driving off on hills, refer to
Drive-off assistant92
Driving stability control
systems89
Driving through water128
Driving tips, refer to Driving
notes126Dry air, refer to Cooling
function108
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control89
DTC Dynamic Traction
Control90
– indicator/warning lamp90
DVD
– country codes167
– settings168
– video playback167
DVD menu168
DVD player, refer to CD
player165
DVD video167
Dynamic Brake Control
DBC89
Dynamic destination
guidance145
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC89
– indicator/warning lamp90
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC
– indicator/warning lamp90
E
EBV Electronic brake-force
distribution89
Eject button, refer to Buttons
on the CD/DVD player154
Electrical defect
– 7-gear Sports automatic
transmission with double
clutch63
Electrical malfunction
– door lock30
– driver's door30
– fuel filler flap206
– glass roof38
Electric seat adjustment44
Electric steering wheel lock
– with Comfort Access34
Electronic brake-force
distribution EBV89
Electronic oil level check223Electronic Stability Program
ESP, refer to Dynamic
Stability Control DSC89
Emergency actuation,
automatic transmission,
refer to Overriding selector
lever lock59
Emergency operation
– fuel filler flap, manual
release206
Emergency operation, refer to
Closing manually
– glass roof38
Emergency operation, refer to
Manual operation
– door lock30
Emergency release
– trunk lid from inside32
Emergency Request238
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside Assistance238
Energy, saving
– saving fuel126
Engine
– breaking in126
– data246
– overheated, refer to Coolant
temperature76
– speed246
– starting56
– starting, Comfort Access33
– switching off56
Engine compartment223
Engine coolant, refer to
Coolant226
Engine oil
– adding225
– alternative oil types225
– BMW Maintenance
System227
– capacity250
– checking level223
– intervals between changes,
refer to Service
requirements80
Engine output, refer to Engine
data246