2012 BMW M6 CONVERTIBLE sport mode

you may be required to adapt your vehicle to
meet different prevailing operating conditions
and homologation requirements. You should
also be aware of any applicable warranty limita‐
tions or exclusions for such country or region. In
such case, please contact Customer Relations
for further information.
Maintenance
Maintain the vehicle regularly to sustain the road
safety, operational reliability and the New Vehi‐
cle Limited Warranty.
Specifications for required maintenance meas‐
ures:▷BMW Maintenance system▷Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models▷Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
If the vehicle is not maintained according to
these specifications, this could result in serious
damage to the vehicle. Such damage is not cov‐
ered by the BMW New Vehicle Limited War‐
ranty.
Reporting safety defects
For US customers
The following only applies to vehicles owned
and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause injury
or death, you should immediately inform the Na‐
tional Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NHTSA, in addition to notifying BMW of North
America, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New
Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone
1-800-831-1117.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order
a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer,
or BMW of North America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to http://www.safe‐
rcar.gov; or write to: Administrator, NHTSA, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
You can also obtain other information about mo‐
tor vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov
For Canadian customers
Canadian customers who wish to report a
safety-related defect to Transport Canada, De‐
fect Investigations and Recalls, may telephone
the toll-free hotline 1-800-333-0510. You can
also obtain other information about motor vehi‐
cle safety from http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety.Seite 8Notes8
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Steering wheel
General information Do not adjust while driving
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving; otherwise, an unexpected movement
could result in an accident.◀
Adjusting
The steering wheel can be adjusted in four di‐
rections.
Storing the position
Seat, mirror, and steering wheel memory, refer
to page 56.
Assistance getting in and out
The steering wheel temporarily moves into the
highest position to make it easier to enter and
exit the vehicle.
Steering wheel heating
Switching on/off Press the button.▷On: the LED lights up.▷Off: the LED goes out.
M Drive
The concept
Individual settings can be carried out in two pre‐
assigned configurations for the vehicle.
When the engine is started, an efficient driving
state is active by default. M Drive is deactivated.
At a glance
Configurations
The configurations are preassigned as follows:
▷"M Drive 1": relaxed, comfortable driving.▷"M Drive 2": sporty, dynamic driving.
Setting options
SymbolMeaning Dynamic Stability Control DSC, refer
to page 106, and M Dynamic Mode
MDM. Programs of M Engine Dynamics
Control, refer to page 73. Programs of Electronic Damper Con‐
trol EDC, refer to page 108. Programs of Servotronic, refer to
page 109. M double-clutch transmission with
Drivelogic, refer to page 68: shift
modes and Drivelogic driving pro‐
grams. Views of the Head-Up Display, refer
to page 122.Seite 59AdjustingControls59
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Transporting children safelyVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
The right place for children
Note Children in the vehicle
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger them‐
selves and other persons, e.g., by opening the
doors.◀
Children should always be in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest place
for children is in the back seat.
Transporting children in the rear
Only transport children younger than
13 years of age or shorter than 5 ft/150 cm in the
rear in child restraint fixing systems provided in
accordance with the age, weight and size of the
child; otherwise, there is an increased risk of in‐
jury in an accident.
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint
fixing system can no longer be used, due to their
age, weight and size.◀
Children on the front passenger seat
Should it ever be necessary to use a child re‐
straint fixing system in the front passenger seat,
make sure that the front, knee and side airbags
on the front passenger side are deactivated. Au‐tomatic deactivation of front passenger airbags,
refer to page 96.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there is
an increased risk of injury to the child when the
airbags are triggered, even with a child restraint
fixing system.◀
Installing child restraint fixing
systems
Notes Manufacturer's information for child re‐
straint fixing systems
To select, mount and use child restraint fixing
systems, observe the information provided by
the system manufacturer; otherwise, the pro‐
tective effect can be impaired.◀
On the front passenger seat
Deactivating airbags
After installing a child restraint fixing system in
the front passenger seat, make sure that the
front, knee and side airbags on the front pas‐
senger side are deactivated.
Deactivate the front passenger airbags auto‐
matically, refer to page 96.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there is
an increased risk of injury to the child when the
airbags are triggered, even with a child restraint
fixing system.◀Seite 61Transporting children safelyControls61
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pressed while the vehicle is stationary and
transmission position R or D is engaged.
Displays in the instrument cluster
Sequential mode
▷Engaged gear, arrow 1.▷Selected driving program,
Drivelogic, refer to
page 70, arrow 2.
Drive mode
▷Engaged gear together with a
D, arrow 1.▷Selected driving program,
Drivelogic, refer to
page 70, arrow 2.
Note
When the external temperature is very low, the
display may not work. Current driving direction
is recognizable at the engaged selector lever
position.
Gear change
Shifting in Sequential mode possible.
A shift in Drive mode causes a switch to Se‐
quential mode.
Using the selector lever
▷To shift up: pull the selector lever rearwards.▷To shift down: press the selector lever for‐
ward.Using the shift paddles on the steering
wheel▷Shift up: pull right shift paddle.▷Shift down: pull left shift paddle.
Drivelogic
Various driving programs are available.
After each switch between Sequential mode
and Drive mode, the last program selected is an
active.
Exception: after each engine start, driving pro‐
gram 1 is active in Drive mode.
In Drive mode
Choice of three driving programs:
▷1: ffficient driving.▷2: relaxed driving.▷3: sporty driving.
In Sequential mode
Choice of three driving programs:
▷1: comparable, smooth shifting operations.▷2: sporty, fast shifting operations.▷3: maximum shifting speed, Launch Control,
refer to page 71.Seite 70ControlsDriving70
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6.If necessary, change the starting engine
speed by 500 rpm via cruise control.7.Release brake. When the selector lever is
released, the vehicle accelerates. Keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
Upshifting occurs automatically as long as
the accelerator pedal is fully depressed.
Notes
Launch Control is available only after a certain
distance has been driven.
Did not use Launch Control during the break-in,
refer to page 142, period.
To maintain driving stability, always activate
DSC if possible.
Shift Lights
The concept
Shift Lights in the Head-Up Display indicate the
optimum shifting point in Sequential mode, refer
to page 69. Thus, with a sporty driving style, the
best possible vehicle acceleration is achieved.
Display in the Head-up Display
▷Current engine speed is lightly highlighted
in the display.▷Arrow 1: successive yellow illuminated
fields indicate the upcoming upshift mo‐
ment.▷Arrow 2: fields are illuminated in red. Do not
wait any further to shift.
When the maximum possible speed is reached,
the entire speed display flashes.
When the maximum speed is exceeded, the
supply of fuel is interrupted in order to protect
the engine. Speeds in this range must be
avoided.
Displaying Shift Lights
Shift Lights can only be displayed in M view, re‐
fer to page 123.1.Switch on Head-Up Display, refer to
page 122.2."Settings"3."Head-up display"4."Displayed information"5."M View"
Low Speed Assistant
The Low Speed Assistant gives assistance at
very low speeds. The vehicle travels at walking
speed and automatically controls the speed of
the engine.
This can also be used for rocking the vehicle in
the snow. To do this, switch between reverse
gear and forward gear without stepping on the
brakes in the process.
Activating
1.Engage a driving position.2.Briefly tap the accelerator petal.
The vehicle rolls at minimum speed.
This is possible in 1st and 2nd gear and in re‐
verse gear.
Overheating
Do not ride the brake; otherwise, the trans‐
mission may overheat.◀
Deactivating
Apply the brakes until the vehicle comes to a
stop.
Seite 72ControlsDriving72
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System limits
This transmission has an overheating protection
mechanism, which protects the clutch from ex‐
treme stress.▷Indicator lamp lights up yellow:
transmission too hot.
Avoid high engine stress and fre‐
quent starts.▷Indicator lamp lights up red: transmission is
overheating.
Further driving at a moderate pace is possi‐
ble. At the next opportunity, stop the car,
shut off the engine and allow the transmis‐
sion to cool down.
Avoid fast starts, and on inclines did not accel‐
erate lightly while letting the clutch slip; other‐
wise, the transmission may overheat.
During traffic jams or at very low speeds, use the
Low Speed Assistant, refer to page 72.
M Driving Dynamics Control
The concept
The M Driving Dynamics Control affects the re‐
sponse of the vehicle to accelerator pedal move‐
ments.
Programs
Response behavior options:
▷"Efficient": comfortable. Minimal fuel con‐
sumption.
Ideal e. g. in city traffic or on snow.▷"Sport": sporty, dynamic.▷"Sport Plus": spontaneous, direct. Maxi‐
mum dynamics.Selecting a channel
Via M Drive1."Settings"2."M Drive 1" or"M Drive 2"3. Select the symbol.4.Select the desired channel.
When M Drive is active, setting is immedi‐
ately applied.
To activate M Drive with the selected settings,
press the corresponding button on the steering
wheel:
▷▷
Using the button
Press button repeatedly until the desired
program is displayed in the instrument
cluster.
Display in the instrument cluster Engine Dynamics Control with selected
program with activated Display of the
system states of the driving dynamics,
refer to page 83.
Seite 73DrivingControls73
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Activating DSCPress the button.
DSC OFF and the DSC OFF indicator lamp
go out.
Via M Drive1."Settings"2."M Drive 1" or"M Drive 2"3. Select the symbol.4."DSC OFF"
To open M Drive with the selected settings,
press the corresponding button on the steering
wheel:
▷▷
A message appears in the instrument cluster.
This message is confirmed by pressing the but‐
ton again.
Indicator/warning lamps
When DSC is deactivated, DSC OFF is dis‐
played in the instrument cluster.
The indicator lamp lights up: DSC is de‐
activated.
Hill Start Assistant
The Hill Start Assistant provides assistance with
starting off on a hill, Drive-off assistant, refer to
page 106.
Active M differential
The concept
The active M differential assures continuously
variable locking of the rear axle differential de‐
pending on the driving situation. This prevents
individual rear wheels from spinning even when
DSC is switched off and in M Dynamic Mode, so
that optimum traction is always assured in all
driving situations.
The driver is responsible adapting his or her
driving behavior to the situation.
Electronic Damper Control
EDC
The concept
This system reduces undesirable vehicle mo‐
tion when using a dynamic driving style or trav‐
eling on uneven road surfaces.
The system enhances driving dynamics and
comfort as required for the road surface and
driving style.
Programs
Setting options for calibrating the shock absorb‐
ers:▷"Comfort": comfort-oriented.▷"Sport": balanced out.▷"Sport Plus": consistently sporty.
Selecting a channel
Via M Drive
1."Settings"2."M Drive 1" or"M Drive 2"3. Select the symbol.4.Select the desired channel.
When M Drive is active, setting is immedi‐
ately applied.
To activate M Drive with the selected settings,
press the corresponding button on the steering
wheel:
▷▷Seite 108ControlsDriving stability control systems108
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BMW M6 technologyVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
V8 high performance engine
The high-speed-V8 engine gets maximum
power of 412 kW and maximum torque of
680 Nm from a displacement of 4.4 liters. With
its spontaneous response behavior, a speed
range of wide utility results. The maximum en‐
gine speed is at 7,200 rpm and is electronically
controlled. Because of the high engine dynam‐
ics, the maximum engine speed with the vehicle
stationary is progressively deactivated after a
short time.
Warmup
During the engine warmup phase, the V8 high-
performance engine has a somewhat rougher
running behavior because of the emission con‐
trols.
When the engine is cold, the exhaust system has
a slightly metallic undertone due to the nature of
the system.
For more information about the warmup proce‐
dure: Engine speed, refer to page 81, and engine
oil temperature, refer to page 81.
Compound brake
The vehicle has a high-performance brake sys‐
tem with perforated compound brake disks.
Because of particular structural characteristics,
there may be operation-related noises during
braking. However, this has no effect on perform‐
ance, operational reliability and reliability of the
brake.
Correct braking
To keep the brake system in optimum condition,
it is expedient to apply them at regular intervals
corresponding to the vehicle character.
Corrosion on brake disks, refer to page 144.
Drive train
With this vehicle, particular value was placed on
the direct connection from engine to the drive
train. Due to the torsionally rigid design of the
drive train, as is typical in a sports car, the trans‐
mission of the torque also gives acoustic feed‐
back.
When there are load changes, this may result in
clacker noises. The do not cause any impair‐
Seite 140Driving tipsBMW M6 technology140
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