2012 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE check engine

105
Lamps
Controls
5.
Press button 2.
6. Use button 1 to select:
> Daytime running lights activated.
> Daytime running lights deactivated.
7. Press button 2.
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Adaptive Light Control
The concept
Adaptive Light Control is a variable headlamp
control system that enables better illumination
of the road surface. Depending on the steering
angle and other parameters, the light from the
headlamp follows the course of the road.
In tight curves at speeds up to 40 mph/70 km/h,
e.g. on mountainous roads or when turning, an
additional, corner-illuminating lamp is switched
on that lights up the inside area of the curve.
Activating Adaptive Light Control
With the ignition switch ed on, turn the light
switch to position 3, refer to page 103.
The corner-illuminating lamp is switched on
automatically, depending on the steering wheel
angle or turn signal indicator.
Standstill function: to avoid blinding oncoming
traffic, the Adaptive Light Control directs light
toward the front passenger side when the vehi-
cle is at a standstill. When you are reversing, only the corner-illumi-
nating lamps are switched on and active on
both sides.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up. The
Adaptive Light Control is malfunc-
tioning or failed. Have the system
checked as soon as possible.
High beams/roadside parking
lamps
1 High beams
2 Headlamp flasher
3 Roadside parking lamps
Roadside parking lamps, left or right
There is an additional option of switching on the
lamps on the side of the car facing the road
when parked.
Switching on
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or
down beyond the pressu re point for a longer
period, arrow 3.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Therefore, do not leave them on for
unduly long periods of time; otherwise, the bat-
tery might not have enou gh power to start the
engine. <
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 312 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

133
Things to remember when driving
Driving tips
Check tire inflation pressure regularly
Check the tire inflation pr
essure at least twice a
month and before embarking on a long journey,
and correct it if necessary.
Low tire inflation pressure causes higher rolling
resistance and thus increases fuel consumption
and tire wear.
Set off immediately
Do not let the engine wa rm up while the car is
still standing, but set off immediately at moder-
ate engine speed. This is the fastest way for the
cold engine to reach its operating temperature.
Drive defensively
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking
maneuvers. To do so, keep an adequate dis-
tance between you and th e 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, accele rate without hesitation
or pauses. When accelera ting, shift up before
reaching high engine speeds.
When you reach the desi red speed, shift into
the highest applicable ge ar 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 lig ht, 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.
4seconds.
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
your BMW center. Also note the BMW service
system, refer to page 202.
General driving notes
Close the trunk lid
Only drive with the trunk closed. Failure to
do so may endanger passengers or other
road users or may damage the vehicle in the
event of an accident or a braking and evasive
maneuver. In addition, exhaust gas may flow
into the passenger compartment. <
If special circumstances make it absolutely nec-
essary to drive with the trunk open:
1. Close all windows and the glass roof.
2. Greatly increase the air volume of the air
conditioner or automatic climate control
system, refer to page 110 or113.
3. Drive cautiously.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 312 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

198
MobilityEngine compartment
Hood
Do not work on the car unless you pos-
sess the necessary technical knowledge.
If you are not familiar with the regulations to be
followed, have the necessary work on the vehi-
cle carried out only by your BMW center; if this
work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent dama ge and related safety
hazards. <
Releasing
Pull the lever.
Opening
In order to avoid damage, make sure that
the wiper arms are against the windshield
before you open the hood. Do not open the
engine hood before the engine has cooled
down; otherwise, injuries may result. <
Press the release handle and open the hood.
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of approx. 10 in/
25 cm. It must be clearly heard to engage. Make sure that the closing path of the
hood is clear; othe rwise, injuries may
result.
If you see any signs while driving your vehicle
that the hood is not comp letely closed, stop at
once and close it securely. <
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking oil level
Your car is equipped with an electronic oil-level
monitor.
For a precise measurement and display of the
oil level, it is necessar y that the engine be at
operating temperature, i.e. after uninterrupted
driving for at least approx. 6.2 miles/10 km. You
can have the oil level displayed while you are
driving, or while the vehicle is at a standstill on a
level surface and the engine is running.
You can have the oil leve l reading displayed in
the instrument cluster.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 312 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

199
Engine compartment
Mobility
1.
Push button 1 in the turn signal/high beam
lever up or down repe atedly until the appro-
priate symbol is shown in the display,
accompanied by the word "OIL".
2. Press button 2 in the turn signal/high beam
lever.
The oil level is checked and the reading dis-
played.
Possible displays
1 Oil level OK
2 Oil level is being checked.
This can take about 3 min utes if the car is at
a standstill on a level surface, or about
5 minutes while the car is on the move. 3
Oil level down to minimum:
Add engine oil as soon as possible, but no
more than 1 US quart/1 liter, refer also to
Adding engine oil on page 199.
4 Oil level is too high.
Too much oil will harm the engine.
Have the vehicle checked without
delay. <
5 The oil level sens or is defective.
Do not add engine oil. You can continue
your journey. Note the newly calculated dis-
tance remaining to the next oil service, refer
to page 84. Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
Do not add 1 US quart/1 liter of engine oil until
the following warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster, or un til the oil level monitor
shows "+1qt" or "+1l".
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km;
otherwise, the engine could be dam-
aged. <
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 312 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

200
MobilityEngine compartment
If the engine oil is to o high, have the vehi-
cle checked immediately; failure to do so
may result in engine damage. <
Keep oils, greases, etc. out of the reach of
children and comply with the relevant
warnings on the containers. Otherwise, health
hazards may result. <
Oil grades to add
Do not use oil additives as this could
result in engine damage.<
When selecting an engi ne oil, make sure
to use one from the SAE viscosity classes
0W-40, 0W-30, 5W-40 or 5W-30; failure to do
so may result in malfun ctions or engine dam-
age.<
The engine oil quality is critical for the life of the
engine.
Some oil grades may no t be available in all
countries.
Approved oil grades
Additional information about approved oil
grades is available at your BMW center.
Alternative oil types
If approved oils are not available, you can add
quantities of up to 1 US quart/1 liter of another
oil with the following specifications:
Oil change
Oil changes should only be performed by a
BMW center.
Coolant
Coolant consists of half water and half additive.
Not all commercially available additives are suit-
able for your BMW. Ask your BMW center about
suitable additives.
Only use suitable additives; otherwise,
engine damage may result. Because
additives are harmful to your health, it is impor-
tant to follow the instructions on the contain-
ers. <
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when dis-
posing of coolant additives. <
Coolant temperature
If the coolant and therefore the engine over-
heats, a warning lamp lights up, refer to
page220.
Gasoline engine
BMW High Performance SAE 5W-30
BMW Longlife-01
BMW Longlife-01 FE
Diesel engine
BMW Longlife-04
Gasoline engine
API SM or higher
Diesel engine
API ILSAC GF-5
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 312 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

201
Engine compartment
Mobility
Checking coolant level
Do not add coolant to
the cooling system
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant
can cause burns. <
1. Do not open the engine hood before the
engine has cooled down.
2. Turn the cap of the expansion tank a little
counterclockwise to allow any accumulated
pressure to escape, then continue turning
to open.
3. The coolant level is correct if it is between
the maximum and minimum marks in the
filler neck, refer also to the diagram next to
the filler neck.
4. If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to
the specified level; do not overfill.
5. Turn the cap until ther e is an audible click.
6. Have the reason for the coolant loss elimi-
nated as soon as possible.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 312 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

202
MobilityMaintenance
Maintenance
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all pr oduction, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. For this reason, descrip-
tions will be given of some equipment that may
not be available in a vehi cle, for example due to
the special options or national-market version
selected. This also app lies to safety related
functions and systems.
BMW Maintenance System
The BMW maintenance system advises you of
necessary maintenance measures and helps
you maintain the traffic and operating safety of
the vehicle.
Condition Based Service CBS
Sensors and special algo rithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into
account. Condition Based Service uses this to
determine the current and future service
requirements. By letting you define a service
and maintenance regimen that reflects your
own individual requirem ents, the system builds
the basis for trouble-free driving.
In the instrument cluster, you can have the
remaining times or distances for selected main-
tenance tasks and any le gally prescribed dates
displayed, refer to page 84: >
Engine oil
> Brake pads: separately for front and rear
> Brake fluid
> Vehicle check
> Legally mandated in spections depending
on local regulations
Service data in the remote control
Your vehicle continuously stores service-
requirement information in the remote control
while you are driving. Your dealership Service
Advisor can read out this data from the remote
control unit, and propose an optimized mainte-
nance approach. Whenever you take your car in
for servicing you should therefore give your
dealership Service Advisor the remote control
unit that you last used.
Make sure that the date in the instrument
cluster is always se t correctly, refer to
page 86; otherwise, the effectiveness of Condi-
tion Based Service CBS is not assured. <
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service
and repair operations performed at your
BMW center.
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance. <
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 312 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

203
Maintenance
Mobility
Socket for Onboard
Diagnosis OBD
On the drive r's side is a n OBD so cket f or check-
ing components relevant to the composition of
the vehicle's emissions.
Emissions
The warning lamp lights up:
The vehicle is producing higher emis-
sions. The trip can be continued. Have
the car checked as soon as possible.
Canadian models display this warning
lamp.
The lamp flashes under ce rtain conditions. This
indicates excessive misfiring in the engine. If
this happens, you should reduce your speed
and visit your nearest BMW center as soon as
possible. Severe engine misfiring can quickly
lead to serious damage of emissions-related
components, especially the catalytic converter.
The warning lamp lights up if the fuel
cap is not properly tightened and the
OBD system assumes that fuel vapor
is escaping. Make sure that the fuel cap is cor-
rectly positioned and close it until it audibly
clicks.
Data memory
Your vehicle records data about the operation,
faults, and user settings. These data are stored
in the vehicle and in extr act form, in the remote
control, and can be read out using suitable
devices at your BMW center. The data that are
read out are used to support service proce-
dures and repairs or to optimize and expand
vehicle functions. If you have a BMW Assist
contract, certain vehicle data can also be trans-
mitted directly from the vehicle in order to
enable the desired services.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 312 - \251 08/11 BMW AG