2012 BMW M3 fuel

Contents
The quickest way to find special topics is to
consult the index, refer to page298.
4 Notes
7 Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Dashboard
18 iDrive
25 Voice activation system
Controls
30Opening and closing
47 Adjustments
57 Transporting children safely
61 Driving
82 Controls overview
96 Technology for driving comfort and
safety
110 Lamps
116 Climate
122 Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
138Things to remember when driving
Navigation
148Navigation system
150 Destination entry
159 Destination guidance
167 What to do if …
Entertainment
170On/off and tone
173 Radio
176 Satellite radio
181 CD/DVD player and CD changer
188 Music collection
194 External devices
Communications
204Telephone
217 Office
226 Contacts
228 ConnectedDrive
Mobility
236Refueling
239 Wheels and tires
259 Engine compartment
264 Maintenance
266 Care
270 Replacing components
276 Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
284Technical data
290 Short commands for the voice activation
system
298 Everything from A to Z
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

12
At a glanceDashboard
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2 Indicator lamps for turn signals
3 Indicator and warning lamps 13
4 Displays for Active Cruise Control 75
5 Tachometer 83
6 Engine oil temperature 83
7 Display for
>Clock 82
> Outside temperature 82
> Indicator and warning lamps 928
Display for
>Position of automatic transmission 64
> Gear indicator of 7-gear Sport automatic
transmission with double clutch 66
> Computer 84
> Date of next scheduled service, and
remaining distance to be driven 87
> Odometer and trip odometer 82
> High-beam Assistant 113
> Checking the oil level 260
> Settings and information 86
> There is a Check Control
message 92
9 Fuel gauge 83
10 Resetting the trip odometer 82
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

31
Opening and closing
Controls
for two remote controls
if Comfort Access is in
use.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer
to the specified pages.
> Assignment of programmable memory
keys, refer to page 23
> Response of the central locking system
when the car is unlocked, refer to page 32
> Automatic locking of th e vehicle, refer to
page 35
> Automatic call-up of th e driver's seat posi-
tion, refer to page 53
> Triple turn signal activation, refer to
page 71
> Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play and in the instrument cluster:
>12h/24h format of the clock, refer to
page 91
> Date format, refer to page 91
> Brightness of the Control Display, refer
to page 94
> Language on the Control Display, refer
to page 94
> Units of measure, refer to page 87
> Show visual warning for Park Distance Con-
trol PDC, refer to page 97
> Light settings:
>Welcome lamps, refer to page 111
> Pathway lighting, refer to page 111
> Daytime running lights, refer to
page 111
> High-beam Assistant, refer to page 113
> Automatic climate control: activating/deac-
tivating AUTO program, cooling function
and automatic recirculated air control, set-
ting temperature, air volume and distribu-
tion, refer to page 117 ff >
Entertainment:
>Setting tone contro ls, refer to page171
> Speed-dependent volume control, refer
to page 172
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system functions when the
driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
> Trunk lid
> Fuel filler flap
> Convertible: glove compartment
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
> Using the door lock
> In cars with Comfort Access, via the handles
on the driver's door and the front passenger
door
At the same time as locking and unlocking via
the remote control:
> Welcome lights, the inte rior light, and the
courtesy lighting are switched on and off.
> Alarm system, refer to page 37, is armed or
disarmed.
Operating from inside
By means of the button fo r central locking, refer
to page 35.
In the event of a sufficien tly severe accident, the
central locking system un locks automatically. In
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

32
ControlsOpening and closing
Opening and closing:
Using the remote control
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle
could lock the doors from the inside. You
should therefore take th e remote control with
you when you leave the ve hicle so that the latter
can be opened from outside. <
Convertible: to operate the retractable
hardtop with the re mote control, the
doors and trunk lid must be closed and the
cargo area partition must be folded down and
engaged on both sides. Refer also to page 43.<
Unlocking
Press the button.
The interior lamps, the courtesy lighting of the
doors, and the welcome lamps come on.
Setting unlocking characteristics
You can set whether only the driver's door or
the entire vehicle is to be unlocked when the
button is pressed for the first time.
1. "Settings"
2. "Door locks"
3. "Unlock button"
4. Select a menu item:
>"All doors"
Press the button once to unlock the
entire vehicle. >
"Driver's door only"
Pressing the button once unlocks
the driver's door and fuel filler flap.
Press the button twic e to unlock the
entire vehicle.
5. Press the controller.
Coupe: convenient opening
Press and hold the button.
The windows and the glass roof are opened.
Convertible: convenient opening
When you are close to the vehicle, the remote
control for Comfort Access can be used to open
the retracta ble hardtop.
Hold the button down.
The windows and the re tractable hardtop are
opened if the doors are closed.
If you continue pressing the button, the win-
dows move up.
Watch during the opening process to
ensure that no one is injured. Releasing
the button interrupts the opening process. <
Locking
Press the button.
Do not lock the vehicl e from the outside if
there is any person inside, because the
vehicle cannot be unlocked from inside without
special knowledge. <
Convertible: convenient closing
When you are close to the vehicle, the remote
control for Comfort Access can be used to
close the retractable ha rdtop and the windows.
Press and hold the button.
The retractable hardto p and the windows are
closed.
Watch during the closing process to
ensure that no one is injured. Releasing
the button interrupts the closing process. <
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

35
Opening and closing
Controls
Opening and closing:
From inside
This button serves to unlock or lock doors and
the trunk lid, but does not activate the anti-theft
system. Depending on the equipment package,
the fuel filler flap can be unlocked as needed.
Automatic locking
You can also set the situ
ations in which the car
locks:
1. "Settings"
2. "Door locks"
3. Select the desired function:
>"Lock if no door is opened"
The central locking system automati-
cally locks the vehicle after a short time if
no door has been opened.
> "Lock after start. to drive"
The central locking system locks the
vehicle as soon as you begin to drive.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Unlocking and opening doors
> Either unlock the doors together using the
button for the central locking system and
then pull the door handle above the armrest
or
> pull on the door handle of each door twice:
the first time unlocks the door, the second
time opens it.
Locking
> Use the central locking button to lock all of
the doors simultaneously, or
> press down the safety lock button of a door.
To prevent you from being locked out, the
open driver's door cannot be locked using
the lock button.
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle
could lock the doors from the inside. You
should therefore take th e remote control with
you when you leave the ve hicle so that the latter
can be opened from outside. <
Trunk lid
In order to avoid damage, make sure there
is sufficient clearance before opening the
trunk lid. <
Opening from inside
Press the button: the trunk lid opens unless it
has been locked.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

62
ControlsDriving
Ignition on
All electrical consumers can operate. The
odometer and trip odometer are displayed in
the instrument cluster.
When the engine is off, please switch off
the ignition and any unnecessary electri-
cal consumers in order to preserve the bat-
tery.<
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps as well as dis-
plays in the instrument cluster go out.
Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in enclosed areas;
otherwise, the inhalati on of toxic exhaust
gases can cause loss of consciousness and
death. The exhaust gases contain carbon mon-
oxide, an odorless and colorless, but highly
toxic gas. Never leave an unattended vehicle
with the engine running; otherwise, such a vehi-
cle represents a pote ntial safety hazard.
Before leaving the vehicl e with the engine run-
ning, always shift into ne utral or selector lever/
transmission position P and apply the parking
brake forcefully to prevent the vehicle from roll-
ing. <
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion as well as repeated start attempts in
which the engine does no t start. Otherwise, the
fuel is not burned or incompletely burned and
there is a danger of overheating and damaging
the catalytic converter. <
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
Manual transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to
page 38.
1. Depress the brake.
2. Depress the clutch an d shift into neutral.
3. Press the Start/Stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the
engine has started.
Automatic transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to
page 38.
1. Depress the brake.
2. Move the selector lever to position P.
3. Press the Start/Stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the
engine has started.
Sport automatic transmission with
double clutch
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to
page 38.
1. Depress the brake.
2. Press the Start/Stop button.
The engine starts independent of the current
transmission position.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

65
Driving
Controls
R Reverse
Select this only when th
e vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
You can select this in a car wash, for example.
The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are selected automatically.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con-
sumption is lowest when you are driving in posi-
tion D.
Kickdown
Kickdown enables you to achieve maximum
performance.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Move selector lever from position D toward the
left into the M/S shifting slot; the Sport program
is activated. This positi on is recommended for a
performance-oriented driving style.
DS is displayed in the instrument cluster.
To deactivate the spor t program or manual
mode M/S, move the sele ctor lever to the right
into position D.
Shifting gears via the selector lever
Move selector lever from position D toward the
left into the M/S shifting slot: When you press the selector lever forwards or
backwards, the manual
mode is activated and
Steptronic changes gear.
The engaged gear, e.g. M1 is displayed in the
instrument cluster.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combination
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example,
a downshift that would cause the engine to
overrev will not be executed by the system.
The gear selected is br iefly displayed in the
instrument cluster, follo wed again by the gear
actually in use.
Changing gears using shifting paddles
on steering wheel
The shift paddles allow you to shift gears
quickly since both hand s can remain on the
steering wheel.
> When you use the shift paddles on the
steering wheel to shift gears in automatic
mode, the transmission switches to manual
mode.
> If you do not accelerate or shift gears using
the shift paddles for a certain amount of
time, the transmission switches back to
automatic mode.
If the selector lever is in the M/S gear
plane, manual mode remains active. <
> To upshift, briefly pull the right shift
paddle +.
> To downshift, briefly pull the left shift pad-
dle –.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

83
Controls overview
Controls
Tachometer
Never force the engine speed up into the red
warning field, see arrow. In this range, the fuel
supply is interrupted to protect the engine.
Engine oil temperature
When the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature, the engine oil temperature is between
approx. 210
7/100 6 and approx. 300 7/
150 6.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, a mes-
sage appears on the Control Display.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 16.1 US gal/
61 liters.
You can find information on refueling on
page 237.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period,
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
Once the fuel level ha s fallen to the reserve
zone, a message briefly appears on the Control
Display and the cruising range for the remaining
amount of fuel is displayed on the computer.
Under a cruising range of approx. 30 miles/
50 km, the message remains in the Control Dis-
play.
With a dynamic driving style, e.g. rapid corner-
ing, engine functions are not always assured.
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km; otherwise, engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur. <
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG