2011 BMW M3 SEDAN trunk

Opening and closing
34
Functional requirement
>The vehicle or the trunk lid can only be
locked when the vehicle detects that the
remote control currently in use is outside of
the vehicle.
>The vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked
again until after approx. 2 seconds.
>The engine can only be started when the
vehicle detects that the remote control cur-
rently in use is inside the vehicle.
Comparison to the standard remote
control
In general, there is no difference between using
Comfort Access or pressing the buttons on the
remote control to carry out the functions men-
tioned above. You should therefore first famil-
iarize yourself with the instructions on opening
and closing starting on page26.
Special features regarding the use of Comfort
Access are described below.
If you notice a brief delay while opening or
closing windows, the glass roof or retract-
able hardtop, the system is checking whether a
remote control is inside the vehicle. Please
repeat the opening or closing procedure, if nec-
essary.<
Unlocking
Grasp the handle on the driver's or front pas-
senger door completely, arrow 1. This corre-
sponds to pressing the button.
Locking
Touch the surface, arrow 2, with your finger for
approx. 1 second. This corresponds to pressing
the button.
To preserve the battery, please make
sure that the ignition and all electrical
consumers are switched off before locking the
vehicle.<
Coupe: convenient closing
For Convenient closing, keep your finger on the
surface, arrow 2.
Convertible: window and convertible
top operation
With the ignition at radio readiness or beyond,
you can open and close the windows and the
convertible top when a remote control is
located inside the vehicle.
Unlocking the trunk lid separately
Press the button on the outside of the trunk lid.
This corresponds to pressing the button.
If the vehicle detects that a remote con-
trol has been accidentally left inside the
locked vehicle's cargo area after the trunk lid is
closed, the lid will reopen. The hazard warning
flashers flash and an acoustic signal
* sounds.<
Switching on radio readiness
Radio readiness is switched on by pressing the
start/stop button, refer to page55.
Do not depress the brake or the clutch;
otherwise, the engine will start.<
Starting the engine
You can start the engine or switch on the igni-
tion when a remote control is inside the vehicle.
It is not necessary to insert a remote control into
the ignition lock, refer to page55.

Opening and closing
38
Following interruptions in electrical
power supply
After a power failure, there is a possibility that
the glass roof can only be raised. The system
must be initialized. BMW recommends having
this work done by your BMW center.
Closing manually*
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can
move the glass roof manually:
1.Unclip the front of the cover of the interior
lamps using the screwdriver from the
onboard vehicle tool kit, refer to page233.
2.Insert the screwdriver into the openings on
each side to press the clips.
3.Remove the control unit.
4.Unplug the motor. Considerably less effort
will be required for manual operation.5.Insert the Allen wrench
* supplied with the
onboard vehicle tool kit, refer to page233,
into the opening provided. Move the glass
roof in the desired direction.
6.Reinstall the control unit and reattach the
lamp cover.
Convertible: retractable
hardtop
The retractable hardtop combines reliable
weather protection with simple and convenient
operation.
The following tips will enhance your driving
pleasure in your Convertible:
>It is advisable that you close the retractable
hardtop when you park the vehicle. Not only
does the closed hardtop protect the vehicle
interior against unanticipated weather dam-
age, it also offers theft protection. However,
even when the hardtop is closed, valuables
should only be stored in the locked cargo
area.
>Do not attach roof rack systems to the
retractable hardtop, and in particular do not
attach magnetic racks.
>Do not attach rack systems to the trunk lid,
and in particular do not attach magnetic
racks.
>When the retractable hardtop is operated,
the trunk lid swings back and up. Before
operating the retractable hardtop, ensure
that there is enough clearance, e.g. when
parked in front of a wall.

Controls
39Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>If you open the hardtop while it is wet, e.g.
after driving in the rain, water may drip into
the cargo area. If necessary, remove items
from the cargo area beforehand to avoid
water stains or soiling.
Do not place any objects on the retract-
able hardtop or on the trunk lid; other-
wise, they could fall during movements of the
retractable hardtop and cause damage or injury.
Never move the retractable hardtop when the
rollover protection system is in the activated
position.
Driving when the hardtop is not fully opened or
closed may result in damage or injury.
Do not reach into the mechanism during the
opening or closing procedure. Keep children
away from the swiveling area of the retractable
hardtop.<
The retractable hardtop cannot be moved
at temperatures below + 147/–106. A
message appears on the Control Display.<
The retractable hardtop can only be
opened and closed when the vehicle is
stationary. To avoid causing damage, do not
drive off until the hardtop has stopped mov-
ing.<
Before opening and closing
>Comply with the safety precautions
described above.
>Ensure that the cargo area partition is
folded down and engaged on both sides,
refer to page119; otherwise, it will not be
possible to open the retractable hardtop.
>Do not place any objects next to or on the
cargo area partition and close the storage
compartment on the left side of the cargo
area.
>Do not exceed the maximum loading height
under the cargo area partition; refer to the
label in the cargo area showing a line indi-
cating the maximum height.
>Ensure that the trunk lid is closed.
>The vehicle should be parked on fairly
level ground. Excessive angle is indicated
by a lamp.
Opening and closing
When the vehicle is stationary and at radio
readiness or beyond, refer to page55:
If possible, conserve the battery by only
operating the retractable hardtop when
the engine is running.
Before closing the retractable hardtop, remove
all foreign objects from the windshield frame as
these could prevent the hardtop from closing
properly.<
1Push button: open the retractable hardtop.
Pull button: close the retractable hardtop.
2LEDs
The side windows move down when the
switch for hardtop operation is pulled or
pushed.<
LEDs
In the following situations, a message appears
on the Control Display or an acoustic signal
sounds in addition to the LED lighting up:
>While the hardtop is being operated, the left
LED lights up green. It goes out as soon as
the top is fully opened or closed.
>If the right-hand LED flashes red when you
release the switch, the opening or closing
action has not yet finished.
>If the right LED lights up red when the
switch is pressed, the cargo area partition is
folded up, the trunk lid is not closed, the
vehicle is standing on a strong incline or
there is a malfunction. The retractable hard-
top cannot be moved.

Opening and closing
40
Interruption
The automatic sequence of movements is
interrupted if the switch for hardtop operation is
released. The sequence can be continued in
the desired direction by pushing or pulling the
switch.
A hardtop that is not fully opened or
closed is a safety hazard.
Do not interrupt and resume the closing proce-
dure several times in close succession as this
could damage the mechanism.<
If the hardtop is not fully opened or
closed, the trunk lid cannot be opened
and the windows cannot be moved.<
Convenient operation with remote
control or via door lock
Refer to pages28 and30.
Wind deflector*
The wind deflector keeps air movements in the
passenger compartment to a minimum when
the hardtop is open and provides an even more
comfortable ride, particularly at high speeds.
Installation
The wind deflector is stored in a protective
cover in the cargo area. Brief instructions for
operation can be found on the protective cover.
1.Remove the wind deflector from the protec-
tive cover and unfold it, arrows1.2.Press together the top and bottom parts of
the wind deflector until the catch engages,
arrow 2.
3.Push the fastening pin, arrow3, into the
opening provided on the right side of the
vehicle until it snaps into place. Remove the
protective caps beforehand, if necessary.
4.Push the fastening pin, arrow4, into the
opening provided on the left side of the
vehicle until it snaps into place.
5.Turn the rotary handle in the direction of
arrow5 as far as the first stop to insert the
right fastening pin into the holders.
6.Turn the rotary handle in the direction of
arrow6 as far as the symbol to insert the
left fastening pin into the holders.
7.Fold up the top section of the wind deflec-
tor.
With the wind deflector installed: do not
recline the front-seat backrests too far if
the seat is to be slid all the way back, as this
would damage the wind deflector.<
Only turn the rotary handle within the
range between the two symbols; other-
wise, the cable system inside the wind deflector
could be damaged.<

Driving tips
127Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Drive defensively
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking
maneuvers. To do so, keep an adequate dis-
tance between you and the vehicle in front of
you. A defensive and smooth driving style
keeps fuel consumption down.
Avoid high engine speeds
Only use first gear when setting off. In second
and higher gears, accelerate without hesitation
or pauses. When accelerating, shift up before
reaching high engine speeds.
When you reach the desired speed, shift into
the highest applicable gear and drive with the
engine speed as low as possible and at a con-
stant speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Coasting
When approaching a red light, take your foot off
the accelerator and coast to a stop in the high-
est applicable gear.
On a downhill slope, take your foot off the accel-
erator and coast in a suitable gear.
The fuel supply is interrupted when coasting.
Switch off the engine during lengthy
stops
Switch off the engine when stopping for lengthy
periods, e.g. at traffic lights, railroad crossings
or in traffic congestions. You achieve fuel sav-
ings even if standing time is as short as approx.
4 seconds.
Switch off functions you do not need at
the moment
Functions such as the air conditioner, seat
heating or rear window defroster draw large
amounts of power and consume additional fuel.
Especially in city traffic and in stop and go driv-
ing they have a considerable impact. Therefore,
switch these functions off when they are not
really needed.
Have the vehicle serviced
Have the vehicle serviced regularly to achieve
good economy and a long vehicle life. BMW
recommends having the vehicle serviced at a
BMW center. Also note the BMW service sys-
tem, refer to page227.
General driving notes
Close the trunk lid
Operate the vehicle only when the trunk
lid is closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes
could enter the interior of the vehicle.<
If the vehicle must be driven with the trunk lid
open:
1.Close all windows and the glass roof.
2.Greatly increase the air volume of the auto-
matic climate control system, refer to
page108.
Hot exhaust system
In all vehicles, extremely high tempera-
tures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed
adjacent to various sections of the exhaust sys-
tem, and never apply undercoating to them.
When driving, standing at idle and while park-
ing, take care to avoid possible contact
between the hot exhaust system and any highly
flammable materials such as hay, leaves, grass,
etc. Such contact could lead to a fire, with the
risk of serious personal injuries and property
damage. Do not touch hot exhaust tail pipes.
Otherwise, there is a risk of burns.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This situation, known as hydroplaning,
means that the tire can completely lose contact
with the road surface, so that neither the car can
be steered nor the brake be properly applied.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases with declin-
ing tread depth on the tires, refer also to Mini-
mum tread depth on page219.

Driving tips
131Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Always position and secure the cargo as
described above, so that it cannot endan-
ger the car's occupants, for example if sudden
braking or swerving is necessary.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle
weight or either of the approved axle loads, refer
to page249; otherwise, excessive loads can
pose a safety hazard, and may also place you in
violation of traffic safety laws.
Heavy or hard objects should not be carried
loose inside the car, since they could be thrown
around, for example as a result of heavy braking,
sudden swerves, etc., and endanger the occu-
pants.
Only attach the cargo straps using the lashing
eyes shown in the illustration. Do not secure
cargo with the anchors for tether straps, refer to
page53; otherwise, these could be damaged. luggage rack*
A special rack system is available as an option
for your BMW. Comply with the directions given
in the installation instructions.
Mounting points
The mounting points are located in the roof.
Loading roof-mounted luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on
vehicle handling and steering response.
You should therefore always remember not to
exceed the approved roof load capacity, the
approved gross vehicle weight or the axle loads
when loading the rack.
You can find the applicable data under Weights
on page249.
The roof load must be distributed uniformly and
should not be too large in area. Heavy items
should always be placed at the bottom. Be sure
that adequate clearance is maintained for rais-
ing the glass roof, and that objects do not
project into the opening path of the trunk lid.
Fasten roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or falling off
during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration and
braking maneuvers. Take corners gently.

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

Replacing components
236 1.Pry out the plastic plugs in the trim of the
trunk lid using a screwdriver and remove the
trim.
2.Release the bulb holder, see arrow, and
remove.
3.Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while
turning it to the left for removal and replace-
ment.
4.Attach the bulb holder.
5.Attach trunk lid trim.
Convertible: two-stage brake light in
the trunk lid
H21W bulb, 21 watts
1.Take the warning triangle out of its holder,
refer to page239. Unscrew the holder using
the screwdriver from the onboard vehicle
tool kit.
2.Pry out the plastic plugs in the trim of the
trunk lid using a screwdriver and remove the
trim.
3.Release the bulb holder, see arrow, and
remove.
4.Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while
turning it to the left for removal and replace-
ment.5.Attach the bulb holder.
6.Reattach the trim of the trunk lid and the
holder for the warning triangle.
Changing wheels
Your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires as
standard. This eliminates the need to change a
wheel immediately in the event of a puncture.
For information on continuing to drive with a
damaged tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire on
page93.
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall, refer to
Run-flat tires, page220.
When mounting new tires or changing over
from summer to winter tires and vice versa,
mount run-flat tires for your own safety. In the
event of a flat, no spare wheel is available. Your
BMW center will be glad to advise you. Refer
also to New wheels and tires, page220.
The tools for changing wheels are avail-
able as optional accessories from your
BMW center.<
Jack mounting points
The jacking points are at the positions shown in
the illustration.