2012 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE light

121
Practical interior accessories
Controls
Connection for external audio device
You can connect an external audio device such
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks
over the vehicle speakers:
>
AUX-IN port, refer to page 151
> USB audio interface, refer to page 151.
Storage compartments inside
the vehicle
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you
will find compartments beside the steering col-
umn, in the front doors and in the center con-
sole.
Nets are provided on the front-seat backrests.
Do not place unsecured objects in them;
otherwise, they could endanger the car's
occupants, e.g. in the event of braking or eva-
sive maneuvers. <
Do not place non-slip pads, e.g. anti-slip
mats, on the dashboard; the materials of
these pads may damage it. <
Storage compartments in the rear
console
Depending on your vehicle's equipment ver-
sion, the following storage compartments can
be found in the rear console:
> Storage tray
> Storage compartment with cover
> Cupholders
Coupe: clothes hooks
Press the upper edge to flip open.
Items of clothing hung from the hooks
must not obstruct the driver's view. Do
not hang heavy objects from the hooks; other-
wise, they could endanger the car's occupants,
e.g. in case of heavy braking or sudden swerv-
ing. <
Cupholders
Use lightweight and sh atterproof contain-
ers and do not transport hot beverages;
otherwise, there is an incr eased risk of injury in
the event of the accident. Do not force contain-
ers that are too large in to the cupholders; other-
wise, damage could result. <
Front
Opening
Briefly press the center of the cover.
Closing
Briefly press the cover in the center and push in
the cupholder.
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122
ControlsPractical interior accessories
Coupe: rear
There are two additional cupholders in the rear
center armrest.
Press the front of the armrest.
Convertible: rear
There are two additional cupholders in the rear
console.
Press the button to open.
Before folding down the rear seat back-
rest or using the transport bag, remove all
containers from the cupholder and close it. Do
not place objects into the cupholder and use
force to close it. Do not use the cupholder as a
grab handle. <
Ashtray
Opening
Push the ridge on the cover.
Emptying
Lift out the insert.
Lighter
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, press in the cigarette lighter.
The lighter can be pulled out as soon as it pops
back out.
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123
Practical interior accessories
Controls
Hold or touch the hot
cigarette lighter by
the knob only. Holding or touching it in
other areas could result in burns.
When leaving the car, always remove the
remote control so that children cannot operate
the cigarette lighter and burn themselves. <
Connecting electrical
appliances
In your BMW, when the engine is running or the
ignition is switched on, you can use electrical
devices such as a hand lamp, car vacuum
cleaner, etc. if at least one of the following sock-
ets is available.
The total load of all sockets should not exceed
140 watts at 12 volts.
Avoid damaging the sockets by attempting to
insert plugs of unsuitable shape or size.
Do not connect battery chargers to the
sockets built into the vehicle at the plant;
doing so may damage the vehicle. <
Cigarette lighter socket
To access the socket: take the cigarette lighter
out of the socket.
Socket in the front passenger footwell
A socket is located under the glove compart-
ment on the left.
Socket in the center armrest
External audio device, refer to page 121.
Coupe: socket in cargo area
Open the cap.
Coupe:
Through-loading system
Opening
1.To release the rear se at backrest, pull the
corresponding lever in the cargo area.
2. The unlocked rear seat backrest moves for-
ward slightly. Fold the backrest forward by
the head restraint.
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ControlsPractical interior accessories
Closing
Return the rear seat back rest to its upright posi-
tion and engage it.
When returning the backrest to its seating
position, make sure th at the seat's lock-
ing mechanism engages properly. Otherwise,
cargo could be thrown around in the event of
sharp braking or swervi ng and endanger the
occupants. <
The lashing eyes in the cargo area provide you
with a way to attach ca rgo area nets or draw
straps for securing suitcases and luggage, refer
to page 137.
Convertible:
Cargo loading
Enlarging the cargo area
When the hardtop is closed you can enlarge the
cargo area:
To do so, push the cargo area partition upward.
Before opening the hardtop, push the cargo
area partition down until it engages on both
sides.
Before moving the ha rdtop, ensure that
there are no objects on or next to the
cargo area partition; otherwise, parts of the
hardtop may be damaged. Do not exceed the
maximum loading height; re fer to the sticker in
the cargo area showing a line indicating the
maximum height. Do not use force to push
down the cargo area partition. top can only be
opened if the cargo area partition is in its
lowermost position and engaged on both
sides. <
Folding down the rear seat backrest
Opening
You can fold down the rear seat backrest to
transport light objects in the rear without dam-
aging the seats. Depending on the vehicle
equipment, the mounting points for the cargo
area net are found on the rear panel of the back-
rest. To unlock the rear seat backrest: press the
button on the driver's or the opposite side.
Closing
Return the rear seat backrest to the upright
seating position and engage it.
When returning the backrest to its seating
position, make sure th at the seat's lock-
ing mechanism engages properly. Otherwise,
cargo could be thrown around in the event of
sharp braking or swerving and endanger the
occupants. <
Bag holder
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125
Practical interior accessories
Controls
W h e n t h e r e a r s e a t b a c k r e s t i s f o l d e d d o w n , y o u
will find two bag holders
on the cargo area wall:
1. Fold open the holder by pressing the but-
ton.
2. Press the handles of the bag onto the
holder from above.
Only hang light shopping bags or other
suitable objects from the holders; other-
wise, braking maneuvers and swerving, for
example, may lead to a safety hazard due to
objects flying about the passenger compart-
ment. Only transport heavy luggage in the
cargo area if it has been appropriately
secured. <
For more information on loading the vehicle,
refer to page 135.
Storage compartment behind the rear
seat backrest
A storage compartment is located behind the
rear seat backrest. To access the storage com-
partment: remove the insert or fold down the
rear seat backrest.
When the rear seat backrest is folded
down or the insert has been removed,
only transport small light objects in the storage
compartment; otherwise, braking maneuvers
and swerving, for example, may lead to a safety
hazard due to objects flying about the passen-
ger compartment. Only transport heavy lug-
gage in the cargo area if it has been appropri-
ately secured. <
Storage compartments inside
the cargo area
Coupe
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, the
following storage spaces can be found in the
cargo area:
>Left storage compartment, e.g. for storing a
box of cleaning tissues or up to 12 CD jack-
ets, depending on vehicle equipment ver-
sion
> Net for securing smaller objects, to be
attached to the mounts on the floor panel
> Hooks for hanging up, e.g., shopping bags
or tote bags
> Rubber strap on the left trim panel for
securing small objects such as a folding
umbrella
> Net for small objects on the right trim panel
of the cargo area
Convertible
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, the
following storage spaces can be found in the
cargo area:
>Storage compartment on the left side of the
cargo area. To open turn handle by 90°
> Net for securing smaller objects, to be
attached to the mounts on the floor panel
> Rubber strap for subdividing the cargo area;
can be hooked onto th e lateral lashing eyes
> Stowage compartment under the floor
panel
Folding up the floor panel
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
load of 55 lbs./25 kg for the storage com-
partment under the floor panel; otherwise, dam-
age may result. <
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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.
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135
Things to remember when driving
Driving tips
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 br aking is required. Even
light but consistent brak e pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure. <
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
sary. This strategy he lps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mode of the automatic trans-
mission, refer to page 61.
Sport automatic transm ission with double
clutch: never drive with the transmission
in neutral or with the en gine switched off; other-
wise, there will be no en gine 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,
there will be no engine braking action and no
power assistance to the brakes and 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 driv en only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are le ss frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminan ts 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 wh ile the automatic cli-
mate control is in operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water
under the vehicle are therefore normal.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying ca pacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overlo ading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. In some situations,
this can result in sudden loss of tire pressure. <
Make sure that no liquids are spilled or
leak from their containers in the cargo
area, as this could result in damage to the vehi-
cle. <
Determining loading limit
1. Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or YYY lbs. Otherwise, damage to
the vehicle and unstable driving conditions
may result. <
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY
pounds.
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137
Things to remember when driving
Driving tips
Securing cargo
Coupe
Convertible
>
Secure smaller and lighter items using
retaining straps, a carg o area net, or draw
straps.
> Heavy-duty cargo straps for securing larger
and heavier objects are available at your
BMW center. Four lashing eyes are pro-
vided for attaching the cargo straps. Two
are located on the side walls of the cargo
area 1, two additional ones are located on
the inside wall of the cargo area 2.
Please note the information supplied with
the cargo straps.
Convertible: before opening the hardtop,
fold down the cargo ar ea partition. Make
sure the cargo area is loaded correctly; other-
wise parts of the hardto p can be damaged, refer
to page 124.<
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 page
237; 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, sinc e 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 st raps using the lashing
eyes shown in the illust ration. Do not secure
cargo with the anchors for tether straps, refer to
page 55; otherwise, these could be damaged. <
Coupe: roof-mounted
luggage rack
A special rack system is available as an option
f o r y o u r B M W . C o m p l y w i t h t h e d i r e c t i o n s g i v e n
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 page 237.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 312 - \251 08/11 BMW AG