2012 BMW M3 tow bar

97
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Controls
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up. A mes-
sage appears on th
e Control Display.
PDC is malfunctioning. Have the sys-
tem checked.
To avoid this problem, keep the sensors clean
and free of ice or snow in order to ensure that
they will continue to op erate effectively. When
using a high-pressure cleaner, do not spray the
sensors for extended periods of time and only
from a distance of at least 1 ft/30 cm.
Manual operation
The LED above the button also flashes.
PDC with visual warning
The approach of the vehicle to an object is
shown on the Control Display. Objects that are
farther away are displayed on the Control Dis-
play before a signal to ne sounds. The display
appears on the Control Display as soon as PDC
is activated.
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always remains
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind spot in which objects can
no longer be detected. The system is also sub-
ject to the physical limit s that apply to all forms
of ultrasonic measurement, such as those
encountered with traile r towbars and hitches,
thin or wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low objects
that have already been displayed, e.g. curbs,
can disappear again from the detection area of
the sensors before or after a continuous tone
sounds. Higher, protruding objects, e.g. ledges,
cannot be detected. Therefore, always drive
cautiously; otherwise, there is a risk of personal
injury or property damage.
Loud sound sources outside or inside the car
can drown out the PDC signal. Therefore,
always drive cautiously; otherwise, there is a
risk of personal injury or property damage. <
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW has a number of systems that help
to maintain the vehicle's stability even in
adverse driving conditions.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during
braking. Safe steering response is maintained
even during full braking. Active safety is thus
increased.
The ABS is operational every time you start the
engine. Braking safely, refer to page140.
Electronic brake-force distribution
EBV
The system controls the brake pressure in the
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
automatically produces the maximum braking
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. This system exploits all of the benefits pro-
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressu re on the brake for the
duration of the full braking application.
Dynamic Stability Control DSC
DSC prevents the driving wheels from losing
traction when you pull aw ay from rest or accel-
erate. The system also recognizes unstable
driving conditions, for example if the rear of the
car is about to swerve or if momentum is acting
at an angle past the front wheels. In these
cases, DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe
course within physical limits by reducing engine
output and through brakin g actions at the indi-
vidual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed,
even with DSC. An appropriate driving
style always remains th e responsibility of the
driver. Therefore, do not reduce the additional
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MobilityReplacing components
Replacing components
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.
Onboard vehicle tool kit
Coupe
The onboard vehicle tool kit is stored in a com-
partment on the right-hand side of the cargo
area. Remove the cover.
Convertible
The onboard vehicle tool kit is stored in a pouch
under the cargo area floor panel.
Wiper blades
1. Fold out the wiper arm and hold it.
2. Press together the locking spring, arrows 1,
and fold out the wiper blade, arrow 2.
3. Take the wiper blade ou t of the catch mech-
anism, pulling the blade toward the front.
To avoid damage, make sure that the
wiper arms are against the windshield
before you open the hood. <
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribu-
tion to vehicle safety. They should, therefore,
be handled carefully. BMW recommends hav-
ing your BMW center perform any work that you
do not feel competent to perform yourself or
that is not described here.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a
clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or hold
the bulb by its base. <
Replacement bulb sets are available at your
BMW center. Only change bulbs while they are cool to
the touch; otherwise, you could suffer
burns. <
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MobilityGiving and receiving assistance
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in neutral position.
Automatic transmission
Selector lever in position N.
Changing selector lever positions, refer to
page64.
Do not exceed a towing speed of 45 mph
or 70 km/h and a towing distance of
90 miles/150 km; otherwise, the automatic
transmission may be damaged. <
Sport automatic transmission with
double clutch
Make sure that the parking lock P is not
engaged; otherwise, the rear wheels are
immobilized.
When using the car wash function, refer to
page 267, note that the parking lock P is
engaged automatically after approx.
30 minutes, blocking the rear wheels.
In the event of an electrical malfunction or if the
vehicle must be towed for more than approx.
20 minutes, unlock the parking lock manually,
refer to page 69.<
When towing, do not exceed a maximum
speed of 30 mph or 50 km/h and a maxi-
mum distance traveled of 30 miles/50 km; oth-
erwise, the transmission may be damaged. <
Towing methods
Do not lift the vehicle by a tow fitting or
body and chassis parts; otherwise, dam-
age may result. <
With a tow bar
The towing vehicle must not be lighter
than the towed vehicle; otherwise, it may
be impossible to maintain control. <
The tow fittings used should be on the same
side on both vehicles. Should it prove impossi-
ble to avoid mounting the tow bar at an angle,
please observe the following: >
Clearance and maneuvering capability will
be sharply limited during cornering.
> The tow bar will generate la teral forces if it is
attached offset.
Attach the tow bar to the tow fittings only,
as attaching it to othe r parts of the vehicle
could result in damage.<
With a tow rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make
sure that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated
stresses on vehicle components when
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps.
Attach the tow rope to the tow fittings only, as
attaching it to other parts of the vehicle could
result in damage. <
With a tow truck: vehicle without xDrive
Manual and automatic transmission:
Sport automatic transmission with double
clutch:
Have the BMW transported with a tow truck
with a so-called lift bar, or on a flatbed.
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Giving and receiving assistance
Mobility
Do not tow the vehicle wi
th just the rear axle
raised as this may caus e the steering to turn.
With a tow truck: vehicle with xDrive
Do not tow a BMW with xDrive with just
the front or rear axle raised; otherwise, the
wheels could lock up and the transfer case
could be damaged. <
Have the BMW transported on a flatbed surface
only.
Tow-starting
Avoid tow-starting the vehicle whenever possi-
ble; instead, jump-start the engine, refer to
page 278Vehicles with a catalytic converter
should only be tow-star ted when the engine is
cold; vehicles with an automatic transmission or
Sport automatic transmission with double
clutch cannot be tow-started at all.
1. Switch on hazard warn ing flashers, comply
with local regulations.
2. Switch on the ignition, refer to page 61.
3. Shift into 3rd gear.
4. Have the vehicle tow-st arted with the clutch
depressed and slowly release the clutch.
After the engine starts, immediately
depress the clutch completely again.
5. Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow
bar or rope and switch off the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
6. Have the vehicle checked.
With xDrive: do not activate Hill Descent
Control HDC when the vehicle is being
tow-started, page 99.<
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Everything from A to Z
Reference
AUX-IN
– port
127
Available services 232
Average fuel consumption 84
– setting the units 87
Average speed 84
Avoid highways in navigation 159
Avoiding unintentional alarms 38
Axle loads, refer to
Weights 287
B
Backrest contour, refer to
Lumbar support 49
Backrests, refer to Seat adjustment 48
Backrest width adjustment 49
Back seats
– refer to Rear seats 51
Bag holder 131
Band-aids, refer to First aid pouch 277
Bar, refer to Towing methods 280
Base plate for telephone or
mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter 216
– refer to Snap-in adapter in
the center armrest storage
compartment 126
Battery 274
– charging 274
– disposal 40,275
– jump-starting 278
– remote control 30
– replacing 274
– temporary power failure 274
Battery renewal
– remote control 40
– remote control for vehicle 40
Being towed 279
Belt hand-over 54
– pinch protection system 54
Belts, refer to Safety belts 53Belt tensioner,
refer to Safety
belts 53
Beverage holders, refer to Cupholders 128
Black ice, refer to Outside
temperature warning 82
Blinds, refer to Roller sunblinds 126
Blower, refer to Air volume 118
Bluetooth, activating/
deactivating 205
BMW
– car shampoo 269
BMW Assist 228
– updating 232
BMW Homepage 4
BMW Info 222
BMW Maintenance
System 264
BMW Online 230
BMW webpage 4
Bottle holders, refer to Cupholders 128
Brake Assist, refer to Dynamic
Brake Control DBC 97
Brake fluid, refer to Service requirements 87
Brake Force Display 106
Bra

ke lamps
– Brake Force Display 106
Brake pads 138
– breaking in 138
Brake pedal, refer to Braking
safely 140
Brake rotors 141
– brakes 138
– breaking in 138
Brakes
– ABS 97
– BMW Maintenance System 264
– Brake Force Display 106
– breaking in 138
– parking brake 63
– service requirements 87Brakes, refer to Braking
safely 140
Brake system 138
– BMW Maintenance System 264
– breaking in 138
– disc brakes 141
Breakdown services, refer to
Roadside Assistance 277
Breaking in the clutch 138
Breaking in the differential,
refer to Engine and
differential 138
Break-in period 138
Brightness of the Control Display 94
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps and bulbs 270
Button for starting the engine,
refer to Start/Stop button 61
Buttons on the steering wheel 11
C
Calendar 223
– displaying appointment 223
– selecting calendar day 223
California Proposition 65 warning 6
Call
– accepting 209
– ending 210
– muting the microphone 211
– rejecting 209
Calling, refer to Phone numbers, dialing 210
Calling, refer to Telephone owner's manual
Calls
– with multiple parties 210
Can holders, refer to Cupholders 128
Capacities 289
Capacity of the cargo area 287
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery 274
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Everything from A to Z
Reference
Tires
– age
255,257
– air loss 103
– breaking in 138
– changing, refer to Changing
wheels 273
– condition 256
– damage 256
– inflation pressure 239
– labels 255
– minimum tread depth 256
– new wheels and tires 257
– pressure monitoring, refer to Flat Tire Monitor 100
– pressure monitoring, refer to Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM 102
– puncture 101
– replacing 257
– Run-flat tires 258
– size 255
– storage 258
– tread depth 256
– wear indicators, refer to Minimum tread depth 256
– wheel/tire combination, refer to Correct wheels and
tires 257
– winter tires 258
TMC station, refer to Traffic bulletins 163
Tools, refer to Onboard vehicle tool kit 270
Top, refer to Retractable
hardtop 43
Torque, refer to Engine data 284
Tow bar 280
Tow fitting 279
– screw thread 279
Tow fittings for tow-starting and towing away 279Towing
279
– car with automatic
transmission 279
– methods 280
– with 7-gear Sport automatic
transmission with double
clutch 280
Towing and tow-starting 279
Town/city, for navigation 150
Tow rope 280
Tow-starting 279,281
TPM, refer to Tire Pressure Monitor 102
Traction control, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC 97
Traffic bulletins
– categories 165
Traffic bulletins,
filtering165
Traffic bulletins for navigation 163
– during destination
guidance 165
Traffic bulletins in navigation
– screen display in the map
view 165
Traffic congestion
– displaying traffic
bulletins 163
– refer to Route, bypassing segments 160
Transmission
– 7-gear Sport automatic transmission with double
clutch 66
– automatic transmission with Steptronic 64
– idle position 67
– Launch Control 70
– manually unlocking parking
lock 69
– manual transmission 64
– overriding selector lever lock
for automatic transmission
with Steptronic 66
– reverse gear 67 Transmission interlock
– refer to Changing selector
lever position 64
– refer to P Park 64
Transporting children
safely 57
Transport securing devices, refer to Securing cargo 143
Tread depth, refer to Minimum tire tread 256
Trip, deleting 158
Trip, storing 158
Trip computer, refer to Displays on the Control
Display 84
Trip-distance coun ter, refer to
Trip odometer 82
Triple turn signal activation 71
Trip odometer 82
Trips, changing 158
Trunk lid 35
– Comfort Access 39
– emergency release 36
– locking or unlocking separately 36
– opening from inside 35
– opening from outside 36
– remote control 33
Turning circle, refer to Dimensions 285
Turn signal 71
Turn signal indicators
– indicator/warning lamp 12
Turn signals
– triple turn signal 71
Tying down load s, refer to
Cargo loading 143
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading/
UTQR 255
Units
– average fuel consumption 87
Units of measure
– temperature 87
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 609 333 - \251 08/11 BMW AG