2012 BMW M3 headlamp

11
Dashboard
At a glance
4
Exterior mirrors folding in and out 55
5 Adjusting exterior mirrors, automatic curb
monitor 55
9 Instrument cluster 12 12
Ignition lock 61
13 Buttons on the steering wheel
15 Horn, entire surface
16 Adjusting the steering wheel 56
18 Releasing the hood 260
19 OBD socket 265
20 Opening the trunk lid 35
1
Convertible: opening and closing
windows jointly
40
2 Convertible: opening and closing
rear windows
40
3 Opening and closing front
windows
40
6 Parking lamps 110
Low beams 110
Automatic head lamp control110
Adaptive Light Control 112
High-beam Assistant 113
7 Fog lamps 114
8 Turn signals 71
High beams, headlamp
flasher 112
High-beam Assistant 113
Roadside parking lamps 112
Computer 84
Settings and information about the
vehicle 86
10 Windshield wipers 71
Rain sensor 72
11Switching the ignition on/off and
starting/stopping the engine
61
Telephone: accepting and ending
a call; dialing the selected phone
number; redialing if no phone
number is selected
Convertible: microphone on steer-
ing column
Volume
Activating/deactivating the voice
activation system 25
Convertible: microphone on steer-
ing column
Changing the radio station
Interrupting a traffic bulletin
Selecting a music track
Scrolling through the redial list
Next entertainment source
Recirculated air mode 118
14 Steering wheel heating 56
17 Cruise control 75
Active Cruise Control 75
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

13
Dashboard
At a glance
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in a
variety of combinations and colors.
Several of the lamps are checked for proper
functioning and light up temporarily when the
engine is started or the ignition is switched on.
Text messages
Text messages at the to
p edge of the Control
Display describe the mean ings of the indicator
and warning lamps.
Supplementary text messages
You can call up more information on the Control
Display, e.g. on the cause of a malfunction and
on how to respond, via Check Control, refer to
page 92.
In urgent cases, this information will be shown
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps notify you that
certain functions are active:
High beams/headlamp flasher 112
Fog lamps 114
Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC is regulating the propul-
sive forces in order to maintain driving
stability 98
Parking brake applied 63
Canada: parking brake applied 63
Engine malfunction with adverse
effect on emissions 265
Canada: engine malfunction with
adverse effect on emissions 265
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

71
Driving
Controls
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1
High beams
2 Headlamp flasher
3 Turn signal
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To turn off manually, press the lever to the
resistance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator
lamp indicates that a turn signal indicator
has failed. <
Signaling a turn briefly
Press the lever as far as the resistance point for
as long as you wish to signal a turn.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever as far as the resistance point.
The turn signals flash three times.
You can activate or deac tivate this function.
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Triple turn signal" The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Wiper system
1
Switching on wipers
2 Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3 Activating/deactivating intermittent wipe or
rain sensor
4 Cleaning windshield and headlamps
5 Setting speed for intermittent wipe or sen-
sitivity of the rain sensor
Switching on wipers
Press the lever upward, arrow 1.
The lever automati cally returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once.
The system switches to operation in the inter-
mittent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
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ControlsDriving
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance
point.
The system switches to normal speed when the
vehicle is stationary.
Intermittent wipe or rain sensor
If the car is not equipped with a rain sensor, the
intermittent-wipe time is a preset.
If the car is equipped with a rain sensor, the time
between wipes is contro lled automatically and
depends on the intensity of the rainfall. The rain
sensor is mounted on the windshield, directly in
front of the interior rearview mirror.
Activating intermittent wipe or rain
sensor
Press the button, arrow 3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Setting speed for intermittent wipe or
sensitivity of the rain sensor
Turn thumbwheel 5 up or down.
Deactivating intermit tent wipe or rain
sensor
Press the button again, arrow 3.
The LED goes out.
Deactivate the rain sensor before enter-
ing an automatic car wash. Failure to do
so could result in damage caused by undesired
wiper activation. <
Cleaning windshield and headlamps
Pull the lever, arrow 4.
Washer fluid is sprayed onto the windshield and
the wipers are operated for a short time.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and
appropriate intervals. Do not use the washers if there is any
danger that the flui d will freeze on the
windshield. If you do, your vision could be
obscured. Antifreeze should therefore be
added to the fluid, refer to Washer fluid.
Do not use the washers when the washer fluid
reservoir is empty; othe rwise, you will damage
the washer pump. <
Windshield washer nozzles
Both windshield washer nozzles are automati-
cally heated with the engine running or the igni-
tion switched on.
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifree ze is flammable.
Therefore, keep it away from ignition
sources and only store it in the closed original
container that is kept out of reach of children;
otherwise, there is a risk of personal injury.
Comply with the instructions on the con-
tainer. <
Washer fluid filler neck
Only refill washer fluid when the engine is
cool to avoid contact with hot engine
parts. Otherwise, fluid spills constitute a fire
hazard and a risk to personal safety. <
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

110
ControlsLamps
Lamps
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.
At a glance
0 Lamps off,
daytime running lights
1 Parking lamps and daytime running lights
2 Low beams,
welcome lamps
3 Automatic headlamp control, daytime run-
ning lights, welcome lamps, High-beam
Assistant, and Adaptive Light Control
Parking lamps/low beams,
automatic headlamp control
General information
When the driver's door is opened with ignition
switched off, then the exterior lighting is auto-
matically switched off if the light switch is in
position 0, 2 , or 3.
Parking lamps
In switch position 1, the front, rear and side
vehicle lighting is switch ed on. You can use the
parking lamps for parking.
The parking lamps will discharge 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. It is preferable to switch on the left-
hand or right-hand roadside parking lamps,
refer to page 112.<
Low beams
The low beams light up wh en the light switch is
in position 2 and the ignition is on.
Automatic headlamp control
When the switch is in position 3, the low beams
are switched on and off automatically depend-
ing on ambient lighting conditions, e.g. in a tun-
nel, in twilight, or if there is precipitation. The
Adaptive Light Control is active. The LED next
to the symbol is illu minated when the low
beams are on. You can also activate the daytime
running lights, refer to page 111. In the situa-
tions described above, the lamps then automat-
ically switch from daytime running lights to low
beams.
The headlamps may also come on when the
sun is sitting low on a blue sky.
The low beams remain switched on inde-
pendent of the ambient lighting condi-
tions when you switch on the fog lamps. <
The automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for your personal
judgment in determining when the lamps
should be switched on in response to ambient
lighting conditions. For example, the system
cannot detect fog or ha zy weather. To avoid
safety risks, you should always switch on the
low-beam headlamps ma nually under these
conditions. <
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG

111
Lamps
Controls
Welcome lamps
If you leave the light switch in position
2 or 3
when you park the car, the parking lamps and
the interior lamps light up briefly when you
unlock the vehicle.
Activating/deactivating welcome
lamps
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Welcome light"
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Pathway lighting
If the headlamp flasher is activated after switch-
ing off the ignition with the lamps switched off,
the low beams come on and remain on for a cer-
tain time.
Setting duration
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Pathway light.:" 4.
Set a time of duration, or 0 s to deactivate
the function.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Daytime running lights
The daytime running light s light up in switch
position 0, 1 and 3. They are less powerful than
the low beams.
The tail lamps may also light up.
Activating/deactivating daytime
running lights
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Daytime running lamps"
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
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112
ControlsLamps
Adaptive Light Control
The concept
Adaptive Light Control is a variable headlamp
control system that en ables 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.
I n t i g h t c u r v e s a t s p e e d s u p t o 4 0 m p h / 7 0 k m / h ,
e.g. on mountainous roads or when turning, an
additional, corner-illumina ting lamp is switched
on that lights up the inside area of the curve.
Activating Adaptive Light Control
With the ignition switched on, turn the light
switch to position 3, refer to page 110.
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 passenge r 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. A mes-
sage appears on the Control Display.
The Adaptive Light Control is mal-
functioning or failed. Ha ve 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. <
Switching off
Press the lever in the o pposite direction to the
pressure point, arrow 3.
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113
Lamps
Controls
High-beam Assistant
The concept
This system automatica
lly switches the high
beams on and off. The procedure is controlled
by a sensor on the front of the interior rearview
mirror. The assistant ensures that the high
beams are switched on whenever the traffic sit-
uation allows. It handle s this task for you and
gives you the benefit of the best possible view.
You can intervene at any time and switch the
high beams on and off as usual.
Activating the system
1. Turn the light switch to position 3, refer to
page 110.
2. With the low beams switched on, briefly
push the turn signal/high beam lever in the
direction of the high beam.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the high beams
are activated. The system automati-
cally switches from hi gh beams to low beams
and vice versa in response to oncoming traffic,
traffic ahead of you, and adequate ambient
lighting, e.g. on city streets.
Switching the high beams on and off
manually
Whenever you wish, or when the situation
requires, you can intervene:
> If the High-beam Assistant switches on the
high beams, but you would like to drive with
the low beams, simply switch off the high
beams using the turn signal/high beam
lever. This deacti vates the High-beam
Assistant.
To reactivate the syst em, briefly push the
turn signal/high beam lever toward the high
beams again. >
If the High-beam Assistant switches on the
low beams, but you would like to drive with
the high beams, switch on the high beams
as usual. This deacti vates the system and
the high beams need to be switched off
manually, if necessary.
To reactivate the system, briefly push the
turn signal/high beam lever toward the high
beams again.
> Use the headlamp flasher as usual with the
low beams switched on.
System limitations
The High-beam Assistant cannot serve
as a substitute for the driver's personal
judgment of when to use the high beams.
Therefore, manually switch off the high beams
in situations where this is required to avoid a
safety risk.<
The system is not fully fu nctional in situations
such as the following, and driver intervention
may be necessary:
> In very unfavorable weather conditions,
such as fog or heavy precipitation
> In detecting poorly-lit road users, such as
pedestrians, cyclists, horseback riders and
wagons; when driving close to train or ship
traffic; and at animal crossings
> In tight curves, on hilltops or in depressions,
in cross traffic or half-obscured oncoming
traffic on highways
> In poorly lit towns and cities and in the pres-
ence of highly reflective signs
> At low speeds
> When the windshield in front of the interior
rearview mirror is fogged over, dirty or cov-
ered with stickers, etc.
> If the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor on
the front of the interior rearview mirror using
a cloth moistened with a small amount of
glass cleaner.
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG