2012 BMW M3 Owners Manual

48
ControlsAdjustments
injure your abdomen in the event of a frontal
collision.
Avoid wearing bulky clot hing and regularly pull
the belt in the upper-body area taut; otherwise,
its restraining effect could be impaired.<
Safety belts, refer to page 53.
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat while
the vehicle is moving. The seat could
respond with unexpected movement, and the
ensuing loss of vehicle co ntrol could lead to an
accident.
On the front passenger seat as well, do not
incline the backrest too fa r to the rear while the
vehicle is being driven; otherwise, there is a
danger in the event of an accident of sliding
under the safety belt, eliminating the protection
normally provided by the belt. <
Comply with the instructions on head restraint
height on page 50, and on damaged safety
belts on page 54.
Manual adjustment
Observe the adjustment instructions on
page 48 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection. <
Longitudinal direction
Pull lever1 and slide the seat to the desired
position.
After releasing the lever, move the seat gently
forward or back to make sure it engages prop-
erly.
Height
Pull lever 2 and apply your weight to the seat or
lift it off, as necessary.
Backrest
Pull lever 3 and apply your we ight to the back-
rest or lift it off, as necessary.
Angle
Pull the lever and apply yo ur weight to the seat
or lift it off, as necessary.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

49
Adjustments
Controls
Thigh support
Pull the lever and move the thigh support for-
ward or back.
Electrical adjustment
Observe the adjustment instructions on
page
48 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection. <
1 Longitudinal direction
2 Height
3 Angle
4 Backrest
5 Convertible: head restraints
Coupe: the head restraints are adjusted manu-
ally, refer to Head restraints below.
Lumbar support
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest
to obtain additional support in the lumbar
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a
relaxed, upright sitting position.
> Increase or decrease curvature: press the
switch at the front or rear, respectively.
> Shift curvature up or down: press the switch
at the top or bottom, respectively.
Backrest width
You can change the width of the backrest to suit
your individual preferences by adjusting the lat-
eral-support pads.
Press the front or rear end of the switch.
Backrest width decreases or increases accord-
ingly.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

50
ControlsAdjustments
Longitudinal adjustment from
outside/behind
To move the front seat s forward or backward
from outside or from one of the rear seats: with
the door open, press the front end 1 or rear
end 2 of the switch.
Head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Correctly adjust the head restraints of all
occupied seats; otherwise, there is an
increased risk of injury in an accident. <
Height
Adjust the head restraint so that its center is
approximately at ear level.
Distance
Adjust the distance so that the head restraint is
as close as possible to the back of the head.
Front active head restraints
In a rear collision of a sufficient strength, the
active head restraint reduces the distance to
the head.
Do not use seat or head restraint covers
that could impair the fu nction of the active
head restraint.
Do not hang any items, e.g. clothes hangers,
directly on the head re straints. Attach only
BMW approved accessories to the seat or head
restraint. Otherwise, the protective
function of the active
head restraint will not be ensured and its full
potential in reducing the risk of injury in the
event of a rear collision may not be realized.
In the event of faults, i mmobilization, or after the
active head restraints have been triggered,
have the testing, repa ir, or disassembly per-
formed only by your BMW center or a workshop
that has the required explosives licenses.
Unprofessional attempts to work on the system
could lead to failure in an emergency or to
undesired airbag activa tion, either of which
could result in personal injury. <
For technical reasons, the head restraint
cannot be removed. <
Coupe: front seats
Height adjustment
>To raise: pull up.
> To lower: press the button, arrow 1, and
slide the head restraint down.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

51
Adjustments
Controls
Convertible: front seats
Height adjustment
>
To raise: press the button upward.
> To lower: press th e button downward.
Adjusting the distance to the back of
the head
>Forward: pull up.
> Back: press the button and push the head
cushion toward the rear.
Do not insert objects behind the head
cushion; otherwise, the head restraint
may not function properly. <
Coupe: rear seats
Height adjustment
>To raise: pull up.
> To lower: press the button, arrow 1, and
slide the head restraint down.
Removing
Only remove a head rest raint if no one will be
sitting on the seat in question.
1. Pull up as far as it will go.
2. Press the button, arrow 1, tilt the rear seat
backrest slightly forward and pull the head
restraint all the way out.
Entering the rear seats
Coupe: seat with manual longitudinal
adjustment
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

52
ControlsAdjustments
Easy entry
The easy entry feature includes a memory func-
tion for the longitudinal adjustment and back-
rest angle.
1.Pull the lever and swing the backrest for-
ward.
2. Push the seat forward.
Previous position
Push the seat backward and swing the backrest
back.
When pushing the seat into its rearmost
position, make sure that no one is injured
and that no objects are damaged.
Before driving off, engage both seats and back-
rests so that they are locked in place. Other-
wise, there is a risk of an accident due to unex-
pected movement. <
Seat with electrical longitudinal
adjustment
Coupe
Convertible
Seat backrest warning lamp:
Lights up when a seat backrest is not
engaged. In addition, a message
appears on the Control Display.
Easy entry
The easy entry feature includes a memory func-
tion for the longitudinal adjustment and back-
rest angle.
1. Pull lever 1 and swing the backrest forward.
2. Press the front end 2 of the switch until the
seat has moved into the desired position.
Previous position
Press the rear end 3 of the switch until the seat
automatically stops in its previous position, and
fold the backrest back. If you release the switch
before the previous seat position is reached,
the seat will stop at its current position.
When sliding the seat backward, make
sure no one is injured and no objects are
damaged.
Before driving off, enga ge both seats and back-
rests so that they are locked in place. Other-
wise, there is a risk of an accident due to unex-
pected movement. <
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

53
Adjustments
Controls
Seat heating
Press the button once per temperature level.
Three LEDs indicate the highest temperature.
To switch off:
Press button longer.
If you continue driving within approx. the next
15 minutes, the seat heating is automatically
activated at the previo
usly set temperature.
The temperature is lowered or the heating is
switched off entirely to save on battery power.
The LEDs stay lit.
Seat and mirror memory
You can store and call up two different combi-
nations of driver's seat and exterior mirror posi-
tions.
Settings for the backrest width and lumbar sup-
port are not stored in memory.
Storing
1. Switch on radio readiness or the ignition,
refer to page 61. 2.
Adjust the seat and exterior mirrors to the
desired positions.
3. Press the button.
The LED in the button lights up.
4. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2:
the LED goes out.
The driver's seat and exterior mirror posi-
tions are stored for th e remote control cur-
rently in use.
Call-up
Do not call up the memory while you are
driving; otherwise, unexpected seat
movement could result in an accident. <
Comfort function
1.Unlock and open the driver's door or switch
on radio readiness, refer to page 61.
2. Briefly press the desired memory button 1
or 2.
The adjusting procedure is halted immediately
when you touch a seat adjustment switch or
one of the memory buttons.
Safety feature
1. Close the driver's door and switch the igni-
tion on or off, refer to page 61.
2. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2
and keep it pressed until the adjustment
process has been completed.
If the button was pr essed accidentally:
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
Safety belts
Observe the adjustment instructions on
page 48 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection. <
Before every drive, make sure that all occupants
wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the
safety belt as an additi onal safety device, but
they do not represent a substitute.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

54
ControlsAdjustments
Closing
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in
the belt buckle.
The upper belt anchor is suitable for adults of
any stature as long as the seat is adjusted prop-
erly, refer to page 48.
Opening
1. Grasp the belt firmly.
2. Press the red button in the buckle.
3. Guide the belt into its reel.
"Fasten safety belts" reminder for
driver's and front passenger seat
The indicator lamps light up and an
acoustic signal sounds. In addition, a
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. Check whether the safety belt
has been fastened correctly.
The 'Fasten safety belts' reminder is issued as
long as the driver's safety belt has not been fas-
tened. The "Fasten safety belts" reminder is
also activated at road speeds above approx.
5 mph or 8 km/h if the front passenger safety
belt is not fastened, if objects are placed on the
front passenger seat, or if driver or front pas-
senger unfasten their safety belts.
Damage to safety belts
If the safety belt s are damaged or
stressed in an accident: have the belt sys-
tem, including any belt tensioners or child
restraint systems, replaced and the belt
anchors checked. Have this work carried out only at your BMW center. Otherwise correct
operation of this safety
equipment is not guar-
anteed. <
Coupe: belt hand-over
The concept
The belt hand-over makes it easier for you to
fasten your safety belt. When you close the
door and switch on radio readiness or the igni-
tion, the belt hand-ove r extends automatically
and presents the in a position that is convenient
for fastening it around you. After you have fas-
tened your safety belt , the belt hand-over
retracts to its original position.
Even if you have not ye t fastened your safety
belt, the belt hand-over will retract if you:
> Wait for more than approx. one minute
> Open the corresponding door
> Start driving.
Closing the respective do or reactivates the belt
hand-over if the ignition or radio readiness is on.
Front passenger seat
The belt hand-over will exte nd only if the seat is
occupied and after the front passenger door is
closed.
Pinch protection system
If the belt hand-over en counters resistance on
moving in or out, it mo ves back slightly in the
opposite direction and stops in this position. To
reactivate the belt hand -over: open and close
the door or switch the ignition off and on.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

55
Adjustments
Controls
Although there is a pinch protection sys-
tem, always check that the maneuvering
area of the belt hand-ove r is clear. Otherwise it
cannot be ensured that the system will stop
moving in certain extreme situations. <
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
The front passenger's mirror is more con-
vex than the driver's mirror. The objects
seen in the mirror are cl oser than they appear.
Do not gauge your distan ce from traffic behind
you on the basis of what you see in the mirror;
otherwise, there is an in creased risk of an acci-
dent. <
1 Adjustments
2 Switching to the other mirror or to the auto-
matic curb monitor
3 Folding mirrors in and out
The setting for the exterior mirrors is stored for
the remote control currently in use. The stored
position is called up automatically when the
vehicle is unlocked.
Manual adjustment
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually:
press the edge of the glass.
Folding mirrors in and out
At driving speeds up to approx. 12 mph/
20 km/h, you can fold the mirrors in and out by
pressing button 3. This can be beneficial in
narrow streets, for example, or for moving mir- rors that were folded in by hand back out into
their correct positions.
Mirrors that have been
folded in fold out automatically at a speed of
approx. 24 mph/40 km/h.
Before entering an automatic car wash,
fold in the exterior mirrors manually or
with button 3 to prevent them from being dam-
aged, depending on the width of the vehicle. <
Automatic heating
Depending on the outside temperature, both
exterior mirrors are heated automatically when
the engine is running or the ignition is switched
on.
Passenger side mirror tilt function –
automatic curb monitor
Activating
1. Push the switch to the position for the
driver's side mirror, arrow 1.
2. Shift into reverse or engage the selector
lever- or transmission position R.
The glass of the mirror on the passenger
side tilts slightly down. This allows the
driver to see the area immediately adjacent
to the vehicle, e.g. a curb, when backing into
a parking space.
Deactivating
Push the switch to the position for the passen-
ger side mirror, arrow 2.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG