2013 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE airbag

7
Notes
If the vehicle is not maintained according to
these specifications, this
could result in serious
damage to the vehicle. Such damage is not
covered by the BMW New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
Data memory
A variety of electronic components in your vehi-
cle include data storag e devices, which store
technical information on the condition of your
vehicle, events and errors, either temporarily or
permanently. In general, this technical informa-
tion documents the condition of a component, a
module, a system or the surroundings:
> Operating conditions of system
components, e.g., fill levels.
> Status messages regarding the vehicle and
of its individual components, such as wheel
rpm/vehicle speed, resp onse delay, lateral
acceleration.
> Malfunctions and de fects in the major
system components, such as the lights and
brakes.
> Responses of the vehicle in special driving
situations, such as the deployment of an
airbag, the utilization of stability control
systems.
> Environmental conditions, such as
temperature.
These data are exclusively of a technical nature
and are used for the detection and correction of
errors, as well as the optimization of vehicle
functions. Motion profiles of traveled routes can
not be deduced from these data. If services are
required, such as repair services, service pro-
cesses, warranty claims and quality assurance,
then this technical information can be read out
by employees of service departments, includ-
ing the manufacturer, from the event and error
data storage devices by using special diagnos-
tic equipment. There, if necessary, you will receive further informatio
n. After remedying an
error, the information in the error memory is
deleted or progressively overwritten.
When using the vehicle, situations are conceiv-
able in which this techni cal data, in conjunction
with other information, such as accident
reports, vehicle damage, witness statements,
etc. - possibly with the assistance of an expert -
could be traced to pa rticular individuals.
Additional functions that are agreed upon con-
tractually with the cust omer, such as vehicle
tracking in case of emergency, permit the trans-
mission of certain vehicle data from the vehicle.
Reporting safety defects
For US customers
The following only app lies 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
National 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 sim ilar 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, yo ur center, 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.safercar.gov; or write to: Adminis-
trator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. You can also obtain
other information about motor vehicle safety
from http://www.safercar.gov

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

18
At a glanceDashboard
Around the roofliner
Coupe
1Microphone for voice activation system and
for telephone in hands-free mode
2 SOS: sending an Emergency
Request
272
3 Reading lamps 114
4 Glass sunroof 43
5 Interior lamps 114
6 Passenger airbag status lamp 108

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

19
Dashboard
At a glance
Convertible
1
SOS: sending an Emergency
Request
272
2 Reading lamps 114
3 Interior lamps 114
4 Passenger airbag status lamp 108

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

48
ControlsAdjustments
Adjustments
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all pr oduction, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. As a result, some equip-
ment described may not be available in a partic-
ular vehicle, for example due to the options or
national-market version selected. This also
applies to safety related functions and systems.
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital
contribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In
conjunction with the safety belts, the head
restraints and the airbags, the seated position
has a major influence on your safety in the event
of an accident. To ensure that the safety sys-
tems operate with optimal efficiency, we
strongly urge you to observe the instructions
contained in the following section.
For additional information on transporting
children safely, refer to page 58.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the airbags. Always
grip the steering wheel on the rim, with your
hands in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions,
to minimize the risk of injury to the hands or
arms in the event of the airbag being triggered
off.
No one and nothing shou ld come between the
airbags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the
front passenger side as a storage area. Make
sure that the front passeng er is sitting correctly,
e.g. not resting feet or legs on the dashboard;
otherwise, leg injuries can occur if the front
airbag deploys.
Make sure that passengers keep their heads
away from the side airbag and do not lean against the cover of the head airbag; otherwise,
serious injuries can result if the airbag
deploys.
<
Even if you follow all the instructions, injuries
resulting from contact with airbags cannot be
fully excluded, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may
provoke a mild hearing loss in extremely sensi-
tive individuals. This effect is usually only
temporary.
For airbag locations and additional information
on airbags, refer to page 107.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way
that its center is at approx. ear level.
Otherwise, there is an increased risk of injury in
the event of an accident. <
Head restraints, refer to page 51.
Safety belt
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 repres ent a substitute.
Your vehicle has four seats, each of which is
equipped with a safety belt.
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a passenger's
lap. Make sure that the be lt in the lap area sits
low across the hips and does not press against
the abdomen.
The safety belt must not rest against the throat,
run across sharp edges, pass over hard or frag-
ile objects or be pinched. Fasten the safety belt
so that it sits as snugly as possible against the
lap and shoulder without being twisted. Other-
wise, the belt could slide over your hips and

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

51
Adjustments
Controls
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 he ad restraints of all
occupied seats; otherwise, there is an
increased risk of inju ry 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 re duces the distance to
the head.
Do not use seat or head restraint covers
that could impair the function 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, immobilization, or after the
active head restraints have been triggered,
have the testing, repair, or disassembly per-
f o r m e d o n l y b y y o u r B M W c e n t e r o r a w o r k s h o p
that has the required explosives licenses.
Unprofessional attempts to work on the system
could lead to failure in an emergency or to
undesired airbag activation, 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.
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.

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

54
ControlsAdjustments
Safety feature
1.Close the driver's door and switch the
ignition on or off, refer to page 62.
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 49 to ensure the best possible
personal 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 repres ent a substitute.
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
properly, refer to page 49.
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 belts are damaged or
stressed in an accident: have the belt
system, 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.

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

58
ControlsTransporting children safely
Transporting children safely
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all pr oduction, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. As a result, some equip-
ment described may not be available in a partic-
ular vehicle, for example due to the options or
national-market version selected. This also
applies to safety related functions and systems.
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger
themselves and/or other persons by opening
the doors, for example. <
Children should always sit in the rear
Accident research has shown that the safest
place for children is on the rear seat.
Children under the age of 13 or smaller
than 5 ft/150 cm may be transported only
in the rear in suitable child restraint systems
appropriate for their age, weight and size. Oth-
erwise, there is an increase d risk of injury in the
event of an accident. <
Children 13 years of age or older must be buck-
led in with a safety belt as soon as there no
longer is any child rest raint system that is
appropriate for their age, size and weight.
Children in the front passenger seat
Should it be necessa ry to use a child
restraint system on the front passenger
seat, the front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger must be deactivated. Otherwise, a child
traveling on that seat will face a significant risk
of injury if the airbags are triggered off, even
with a child restraint system. automatic deactivation
of the front passenger airbags refer to
page 107.
Convertible: key switch for
passenger belt
The passenger safety belt can be locked with a
key switch so that it is prevented from being
pulled out.
The key switch is situated on the side surface of
the passenger-side dashboard.
Locking the passenger belt
Lock the passenger belt to install a child
restraint system.
Insert key and push in.
Keep key pushed in and turn it until reaching the
stop at the position. Pull key out at this stop.
After removing the key, make sure that
the switch is in the position; otherwise,
the locking action on th e safety belt is not
guaranteed. <
Unlocking the passenger belt
If no child restraint syst em is fastened to the
front passenger seat, unlock the passenger
belt; otherwise, the freedom of movement of
the upper body is limited.
Insert key and push in.

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

59
Transporting children safely
Controls
Keep key pushed in and tu
rn it until reaching the
stop at the position. Pull key out at this stop.
Make sure that the passenger belt is
unlocked; otherwise, the front passenger
may become trapped by the safety belt.<
Installing child restraint
systems
Observe the child restraint system manu-
facturer's instructions when selecting,
installing and using child restraint systems.
Otherwise, the protective effect may be
diminished. <
Standard child restraint systems are designed
to be secured with a lap be lt or with the lap-belt
section of a lap-and-shoulder belt. Incorrectly
or improperly installed child restraint systems
can increase the risk of injury to children.
Always follow the installation instructions for
the system with the greatest care.
On the front passenger seat
After installing a child restraint system on
the front passenger seat, make sure that
the front and side airbags for the front passen-
ger are deactivated; otherwise, there is an
increased risk of injury if the airbags deploy. <
Seat position
Before installing a child restraint system, move
the front passenger seat as far back and up as
possible to obtain the be st possible position for
the belt. Do not change the seat position after
this.
Backrest width
The backrest width of the front passenger
seat must be at its widest possible set-
ting. Do not change the setting after installing
the child seat; otherwise, the child seat's stabil-
ity on the front passenger seat is limited. <1.
Adjust the backrest width to its widest
setting, refer to page 50.
2. Install the child seat.
Child seat security
The rear safety belts and the front passenger
safety belt can be prevented from being pulled
out in order to fasten child restraint systems.
To lock the safety belt
1.Secure the child restra int system with the
belt.
2. Pull the belt stra p all the way out.
3. Allow the belt strap to retract and pull it taut
against the child restraint system.
The safety belt is locked.
To unlock the safety belt
1. Open the belt buckle.
2. Remove the child restraint system.
3. Allow the safety belt st rap to retract all the
way.
LATCH child restraint fixing
system
LATCH: lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren.
To install and use the LATCH child
restraint system, follo w the operating and
safety instructions pr ovided by the manufac-
turer of the system; othe rwise, the protective
function of the seat may be compromised. <

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003