BMW M ROADSTER COUPE 2001 Owners Manual
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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Caring for your vehicleCare of upholstery materials Depressions formed in the upholstered
materials in the course of everyday use
can be brushed up working with a
lightly dampened brush "against the
nap."
The tendency of the pile to lie in a
particular direction on velour upholstery
is not a quality defect, and, just as on
home textiles or clothing, cannot be
avoided.
Fuzz on upholstery materials, rubbed-in
fabric or suede residues can be
removed with a fuzz or Velcro® brush. A
cleaning glove is available for particu-
larly "stubborn" lint. Remove spots and
larger soiled areas immediately with
luke-warm water, an interior cleaner, a
spot remover or appropriate cleaning
fluid. Brush the fabric afterwards to
restore its appearance.
If the vehicle will be stored for an
extended period or if it is exposed to
intense sunlight, cover all the seats or
the windows to prevent fading (road-
ster: convertible top closed).
Use the cleaning and car-care
products that you can obtain at
your BMW center.<
The buildup of an electrostatic charge
on the seat covers, particularly if atmo-
spheric humidity is low, can give the
occupants an unpleasant electric shock
if they touch metal body parts after
leaving the vehicle. Although this is
not dangerous in any way, it can be
avoided by touching a bare or polished
metal part of the vehicle while getting
out.
Leather careThe leather
* upholstery used by BMW
is a natural product of the highest
quality, processed using state-of-the-
art methods to ensure that it will main-
tain its high quality for years to come,
provided that it is properly cared for.
As this product is manufactured using
natural materials, you must make allow-
ances for special characteristics and
possible surface irregularities. You
should also bear in mind that this kind
of material requires special care and
attention.
Regular cleaning and care are essen-
tial, since dust and road dirt act as
abrasives in the pores and creases of
the material. This leads to wear spots
and premature brittleness on the
surface of the leather. We therefore
suggest that you clean the leather with
a vacuum cleaner or dust cloth at
frequent intervals.
For cleaning, use BMW leather cleaning
foam.
Since dirt and grease gradually attack
the protective layer of the leather, the
cleaned surfaces should be treated
with BMW leather care agent. This also
acts as an antistatic agent.
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Caring for your vehicle AirbagsTo protect the leather from dampness
or moisture, you can treat it with a
BMW impregnating agent.
We recommend that you perform this
procedure twice a year on leather
exposed to normal use.
Spilled liquids should be wiped up
immediately, and greasy and oily stains
dabbed with a stain remover.
If the upholstery is to be exposed to
intense sunlight or if the vehicle is to be
stored for an extended period, cover all
leather surfaces (or, better yet, the
windows) to prevent fading.
Use the cleaning and car-care
products that you can obtain at
your BMW center.<
Cleaning agents can contain
substances which are dangerous
or which pose health risks. Therefore,
always comply with the warnings and
danger notices on the package.
Open the doors or windows on your
vehicle when cleaning the interior
(when the roadster's convertible top is
closed). Never clean your vehicle with
solvents or other materials not specifi-
cally intended for this application.<
1 Front airbags on the driver and
passenger side
2 Side airbags on the driver and
passenger sideImportant safety notices
Do not attempt to remove the gas
generators of the airbag restraint
system from the vehicle or to disas-
semble them.
Have inspection and service proce-
dures performed by specially-trained
personnel only.
If the airbag restraint system malfunc-
tions, is deactivated or triggered as a
response to an accident, have the
system repaired or disassembled by a
BMW center only.
36mde786
Do not make modifications of any kind
to the individual components or system
wiring. These include the upholstered
covers on the steering wheel hub, in the
instrument panel and in the side trim
panels of the doors. Never apply adhe-
sive materials to these components or
cover or modify them in any way. Do
not attempt to disassemble the steering
wheel itself.
To ensure compliance with applicable
safety regulations, have the airbag
generators disposed of by an BMW
center only.
Unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation,
either of which could result in personal
injury.<
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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Storing your vehicle
If you intend to store the vehicle
for longer than three months, have
the maintenance operations described
on this page performed.<
Preparation for storageHave the following operations
performed by your BMW center:
1 Clean and apply a rustproofing agent
or other treatment to the engine,
engine compartment, undercarriage,
axles and major components in
accordance with approved repair
procedures. Wash the vehicle, clean
the interior and treat painted and
chromed parts. Clean the rubber
seals around the hood, luggage
compartment and doors.
2 Change the engine oil and oil filter
with the engine at operating tempera-
ture. As an additional corrosion
protection measure, a corrosion
inhibitor can be added to the engine
in accordance with the manufac-
turer's instructions.
3 Check the coolant level and concen-
tration and top up if necessary.
4 Check the fluid level of the wind-
shield washer fluid reservoir; top up if
necessary.
5 Fill the fuel tank completely to
prevent the formation of condensa-
tion.
6 Increase the tire inflation pressure to
51 psi (350 kPa).Before parking the vehicle for
storage1 Dry the parking brake and footbrake
by brake applications to prevent the
brake discs and drums from
corroding.
2 Park the vehicle in a covered, dry,
and well-ventilated room. Place the
transmission in 1st gear. Chock the
wheels to prevent the vehicle from
rolling if necessary. Do not apply the
parking brake.
3 Remove the battery, charge it
completely and store it in a cool (but
frost-free) room.
M roadster:
4 Remove the hardtop
* and store it
separately. Refer to page 97.
5 Close the convertible top.
During storageRecharge the battery every six months.
If it is not recharged, it will not be
serviceable. Every time the battery is
discharged, especially over extended
periods, its service life is reduced.Removing the vehicle from
storageRecharge the battery if the "Magic Eye"
turns black. Refer to page 141.
Then have Inspection I performed by
your BMW center, including a brake
fluid replacement if necessary. Refer to
the Service Manual.
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Any BMW center will be happy to
advise you concerning the advisability,
legal implications and factory recom-
mendations for technical modifications
to the vehicle. For this purpose, the
BMW center will require the Vehicle
Identification Number. The engine
number is also required in some
instances.
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)Light-emitting diodes installed behind
translucent lenses serve as the light
source for many of the controls and
displays in your vehicle. These LEDs
are similar to laser technology.
Do not remove the protective lens
and avoid staring directly at the
unfiltered beam for extended periods
(several hours), since inflammation of
the iris could result.<
California laws require us to state the
following warning:
Engine exhaust, some of its
constituents, and certain vehicle
components contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.<
Technical modifications California Proposition 65 Warning
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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
OBD connectorThe connector for the Onboard Diag-
nostic system (OBD) is located in the
center console under a cover on the
passenger's side (arrow).
The purpose of the OBD system is to
ensure proper operation of the emis-
sion control system throughout the
vehicle's lifetime by monitoring emis-
sion-related components and systems
for deterioration and malfunction.367us235
An illuminated indicator informs
you of the need for service,
but not of the need to stop the
vehicle. However, the systems should
be checked by your BMW center at the
earliest possible opportunity.
Under certain conditions, the indicator
will blink or flash. This indicates a rather
severe level of engine misfire. When
this occurs, you should reduce speed
and consult the nearest BMW center as
soon as possible. Severe engine misfire
over only a short period of time can
seriously damage emission control
components, especially the catalytic
converter.
Service Engine Soon warning
lamp for Canadian models.
When the filler cap is not properly
tightened, the OBD system can
detect the vapor leak and the indicator
will light up. If the filler cap is subse-
quently tightened, the indicator should
go out within a few days.<
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ProCarManuals.com
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Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit128
Windshield wiper blades128
Lamps and bulbs129
Master key with battery-
powered lamp134
Changing a wheel135
Repairing a flat tire135
Battery140
Fuses142
In case of electrical
malfunction:
Power convertible top143
Fuel filler door143
Assistance, giving and
receiving:
Jump-starting144
Towing the vehicle145
Repairs
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The onboard tool kit is located in the
luggage compartment, under the floor
mat.
M coupe:
Grasp the floor mat by the straps on the
left and right. Pull it upward and remove
it.
M roadster:
Lift the floor mat from the rear by the
strap and fold it forward.
Front1 Position the wipers vertically. To do
this, switch on the wipers and switch
off the ignition when the wipers are
approximately vertical.
2 Raise the wiper arm completely.
3 Press the spring retainer (arrow) and
extract the blade, pulling toward the
wiper arm.
4 Insert a new wiper blade and apply
pressure until you hear it engage.365de097
Rear window wiper – M coupeFollow the same procedure as
described for changing the front wiper
blades, except that the wiper does not
have to be positioned vertically.
Fold the wipers back onto the
window before you turn the igni-
tion key to position 1 or 2.<
Use only wiper blades which have
been approved by BMW.<
Onboard tool kit Windshield wiper blades
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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Lamps and bulbsThe lamps and bulbs make essential
contributions to the safety of your
vehicle. Therefore, comply fully with the
following instructions during bulb
replacement. If you are not familiar with
any of the procedures, consult your
BMW center.
Do not touch the glass portion of
a new bulb with your bare hands
since even small amounts of impurities
burn into the surface and reduce the
service life of the bulb. Use a clean
cloth, paper napkin, or a similar mate-
rial, or hold the bulb by its metallic
base.<
A replacement bulb set is available from
your BMW center.
Before performing any work on
the electrical system, switch off
the affected accessories or disconnect
the cable from the negative terminal of
the battery. Failure to do so could result
in short circuits in the electrical system.
To prevent injuries and damage,
comply with any instructions provided
by the bulb manufacturer.<
The illustration depicts the right side
of the engine compartment.1 High beams HB3 bulb, 65 watt2 Low beams HB4 bulb , 55 watt
The bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and
protective gloves. Failure to comply
with this precaution could lead to injury
if the bulb is accidentally damaged.< 367us067
1 Turn the bulb holder with the bulb to
the left and remove toward the rear.
2 Pull off the plug.
3 Push the new bulb holder with the
bulb onto the plug – ensure proper
locking.
4 Reinstall in reverse order.
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following:
>Do not wipe dry (this causes
scratches) and never use abrasives
or strong solvents to clean the
covers.
>Remove dirt and contamination (such
as insects) by soaking with BMW Car
Shampoo and then rinsing with plenty
of water.
>Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow – never
use a scraper.<
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Lamps and bulbsPosition lamps5 watt bulb
1 Using your fingertip, press forward on
the rear edge of the lamp's cover
(arrow) and remove.
2 Turn the bulb holder with the bulb to
the right and remove it from the lamp.
3 Pull the bulb out of the socket and
replace.
4 Install in the reverse order.367de737
Front turn signal indicators21 watt bulb
1 Turn the bulb holder with the bulb to
the left and remove toward the rear.
2 Applying light pressure, turn the bulb
to the left. Remove and exchange the
bulb.
3 Insert the bulb holder and turn to the
right as far as possible.367de068
Side turn signals5 watt bulb
1 Using your fingertip, press toward the
rear on the front edge of the lamp's
cover (arrow) and remove.
2 Turn the bulb holder with the bulb to
the right and remove it from the lamp.
3 Pull the bulb out of the socket and
replace.
4 Install in the reverse order.36mde776
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