ignition BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE 2003 E46 Owner's Guide
Page 78 of 166
78
0Wipers retracted
1Clean windshield and headlampsClean windshield and headlamps*
Do not use the washers if there is
any danger that the fluid will
freeze on the windshield, as your vision
could be obscured. Always use a wind-
shield washer antifreeze in cold
weather. Refer to page 124.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. This could cause damage
to the washer pump.<
The system sprays washer fluid against
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
When the vehicle's lighting system is
switched on, the headlamps will also be
cleaned at reasonable intervals.Windshield washer nozzlesThe windshield washer jets are warmed
automatically when the ignition key is in
position 2.
Cruise controlStarting at about 20 mph / 30 km/h, you
can maintain and store any vehicle
speed that you specify.
The cruise control is operational when-
ever the engine is running and the sys-
tem has been activated.To activate the systemWith the ignition key in position 2 or
higher:
Press the button. The indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster comes on, refer
to page 20. You can now use the cruise
control.
Do not use cruise control on twist-
ing roads, when high traffic den-
sity prevents driving at a constant
speed, or when the road surface is slick
– snow, rain, ice – or loose – rocks or
gravel, sand.<To deactivate the systemPress button as often as you need to
until the indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor*
handbook.book Page 78 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 79 of 166
79
Cruise control is also deactivated when
the ignition key is in position 0.
The speed stored in memory is deleted.To store and maintain speed or to
acceleratePress button "+" briefly:
The system stores and maintains the
current vehicle speed. Every time you
tap the button, the speed increases by
0.6 mph / 1 km/h.
Press and hold button "+":
The vehicle accelerates without pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal. When
you release the button, the system
stores and maintains the current speed.
If on a downhill gradient the
engine braking effect is not suffi-
cient, the controlled speed can be
exceeded. Speed can drop on uphill
grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.<
To deceleratePress button "–" briefly:
When cruise control is active, every tap
of the button reduces the speed by
approx. 0.6 mph / 1 km/h.
Press and hold button "–":
With the cruise control active, the sys-
tem automatically reduces the throttle
opening to slow the vehicle. When you
release the button, the system stores
and maintains the current speed.To interrupt the cruise controlEach time zou activate the system,
press the button. The indicator lamp
stays on. You can use the cruise control
again whenever you want by calling up
the speed that was stored last.
In addition, cruise control is interrupted
automatically:
>If the brakes are applied
>When pressing down the clutch pedal
>If you exceed or fall below the pro-
grammed speed for an extended
period – by depressing the accelera-
tor, for example
>Sequential M gearbox SMG II, refer
to page 71: when shifting in the
sequential mode.To recall the stored settingPress button:
The vehicle accelerates to and main-
tains the last speed stored.
Cruise control
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 79 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 80 of 166
80Everything under control
Odometer1Odometer
2Trip odometerOdometerYou can activate the displays shown in
the illustration with the ignition key in
position 0 by pressing the left button,
see arrow, in the instrument cluster.Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero,
press the left button – see arrow – with
the ignition key in position 1 or higher.
TachometerVariable pre-warning zoneThe yellow pre-warning zone displays
current permissible engine speeds,
depending on the engine temperature.
As the engine temperature climbs,
some of the sectors for this pre-warning
zones will go out one after the other.
Avoid engine speeds in the early warn-
ing zone if possible.
Never allow the engine to operate with
the needle in the red overspeed zone of
the gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is
interrupted when you approach this
sector.
Temperature gaugeThe general operating temperature lies
between 1757/806 and 2507/
1206. During high-performance driv-
ing, do not exceed a maximum value of
3007/1506.
handbook.book Page 80 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 81 of 166
81
Fuel gaugeOnce the indicator lamp stays on con-
tinuously, there are still approx.
2 gallons/8 liters of fuel in the fuel tank.
Fuel tank capacity approx. 16.6 gal./
63 liters.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies – when
you are driving in mountainous areas,
for example – the needle may fluctuate
slightly.
Fill the fuel tank before it is com-
pletely empty. Driving to the last
drop of fuel can prevent the engine
from operating properly and result in
damage.<
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator lamp lights up briefly as an
operation check.
Engine coolant temperature gaugeBlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at moder-
ate engine and vehicle speeds.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly as an
operation check.
If the lamp comes on while operating
the vehicle: the engine has overheated.
Switch off the engine immediately and
allow it to cool down.
To check the coolant level, refer to
page 126.
Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. The needle
may rise as far as the edge of the red
sector during normal operation.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 81 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 82 of 166
82
Service interval displayRemaining distance to next
serviceThe displays shown in the illustration
appear for a few seconds when the
ignition key is in position 1 or higher or
after the engine is started.
The next service due appears with the
message OIL SERVICE or
INSPECTION, together with the dis-
tance remaining in miles – in kilometers
in Canada – before the next scheduled
service.
The computer bases its calculations of
the remaining distance on the preced-
ing driving style.
A flashing message and a "–" in front of
the number mean that the service inter-
val has already been exceeded by the
distance shown on the display. Please
contact your BMW center for an
appointment.
Check ControlDisplayWhen the ignition key is in position 2 or
higher, the following information or
conditions are displayed until the cause
has been corrected:
1Inspect the low-beam and high-beam
headlamps, as well as the parking
lamps
2Door open
3Luggage compartment lid open
4Check brake and tail lamps
When you open the driver's door after
completing a journey, an acoustic
warning signal will sound if you have
forgotten to turn off the headlamps.
handbook.book Page 82 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 83 of 166
83
ClockIf you wish to have a permanent time
display, you can make this adjustment
in the car radio* display, refer to the
Owner's Manual for Radio.
You can set the time of day, and the
display for the car radio, as follows.
To adjustWhen the ignition key is in position 1 or
higher, the time of day appears in the
display.
To set ahead: turn the right button to
the right.
To set back: turn the right button to the
left.
The adjustment speed will increase the
longer you continue to hold the right
button.
To change the display mode: press the
right button briefly.
Every time you press the knob, the
clock display alternates between the
12-hour and 24-hour mode.
In ignition key position 0: the time is
displayed for a few seconds after you
press the left button, refer to Odometer
on page 80.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 83 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 84 of 166
84
ComputerMode selectionWith the ignition key in position 1 and
higher, you can use the button in the
turn signal lever to retrieve information
from the computer for display in the
instrument cluster. Each time you press
the button briefly in the direction of the
steering column, a new function is
called up in the display.
The displays appear in the following
order:
Time of day, outside temperature, aver-
age fuel consumption, cruising range,
average vehicle speed.
When the ignition key is in position 1 or
higher, the last active setting is dis-
played.
Outside temperatureYou can change the units of measure –
6/7 – for the outside temperature dis-
play by pressing the right-hand reset
button in the instrument cluster while
the temperature display is active. The
units of measure – 6/7 – in the tem-
perature display of the automatic cli-
mate control change automatically,
refer to page 96.Ice warningIf the outside temperature drops to
about 37.57/+36, then the computer
will automatically switch to a display of
the outside temperature. In addition, a
signal sounds as a warning and the dis-
play flashes for a brief period.
After giving an ice warning, the
display returns to the previous
setting.<
The ice warning does not alter the
fact that surface ice can form at
temperatures above 37.57/+36, on
bridges or shaded road surfaces, for
instance.<
handbook.book Page 84 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 86 of 166
86Technology for safety and driving convenience
Park Distance Control (PDC)*The conceptPDC assists you when you back into a
parking space. Acoustic signals alert
you to the momentary distance to an
object behind your vehicle. To do this,
four ultrasonic sensors in the rear
bumper measure the distance to the
nearest object. The range for the sen-
sors located at both rear corners ends
approx. 2 ft/60 cm behind the bumpers.
The range for the two middle sensors is
slightly less than 5 ft/1.50 m.
PDC is a parking aid that can
identify objects if they are
approached slowly, as is generally the
case when parking. Avoid driving
towards objects rapidly; due to underly-
ing physical principles, the system may
otherwise alert you too late for you to
take evasive steps.<
The system is activated automatically
about one second after you engage
reverse with the ignition key in
position 2.
Let this short period elapse before
driving backwards.<
PDC is deactivated when you shift back
out of Reverse.
You can have a signal set to con-
firm that the PDC has been acti-
vated.<
Acoustic signalsThe distance to the nearest object is
indicated by a tone sounding at various
intervals. As the distance between vehi-
cle and object decreases, the intervals
between the tones become shorter. A
continuous tone indicates the pres-
ence of an object less than 1 ft/30 cm
away.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. three seconds if the distance to
the object remains constant during this
time – if you are moving parallel to
a wall, for instance.
System malfunctions will be indicated
by a continuous high-pitched tone
when the system is activated the first
time. Please have your BMW center
resolve the problem.
PDC does not remove the driver's
personal responsibility for evaluat-
ing the distance between the vehicle
and any objects. Even when sensors
are involved, there is a blind spot in
which objects cannot be detected. This
applies especially in those cases where
the system approaches the physical
limits of ultrasonic measurement, as
occurs with tow bars and trailer cou-
plings, and in the vicinity of thin or
wedge-shaped objects. Moreover, low
objects that have already been
detected – such as a curb edge – can
disappear out of the detection range of
the sensors before a continuous tone
sounds.
Loud sources of sound from outside or
inside the vehicle could drown out the
PDC signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free
of ice or snow in order to ensure
that they will continue to operate effec-
tively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Always maintain a distance of more
than 4 in/10 cm.<
handbook.book Page 86 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 87 of 166
87
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)The conceptDSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, it recognizes
unstable vehicle conditions, such as
understeering or oversteering, and,
within physically feasible limits, helps
keeping the vehicle on a steady course
by reducing the engine speed and
brake applications to the individual
wheels.
The system starts up automatically
each time you start the engine.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. The
results of driving irresponsibly rest with
the driver. We therefore urge you to
avoid using the additional safety margin
of the system as an excuse for taking
risks. Do not make any modifications to
the DSC system. Allow only authorized
technicians to perform service proce-
dures on the DSC.
At first, you may need some time to
become accustomed to this system's
intervention. However, it guarantees
optimum drive force and at the same
time, the best possible vehicle stabil-
ity.<Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly
after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to page 19.
>Indicator lamp flashes: the system is
active and is controlling the drive
torque based on driving conditions
>If the indicator lamp fails to go out
after the engine has been started, or
if it comes on during normal driving
and stays on: the system has been
deactivated via the button or is
defective. You can continue to drive
the vehicle normally, but without
DSC. Please consult your BMW cen-
ter for repairs.
To deactivate the systemPress the button; the indicator lamp
comes on and stays on.
The vehicle does not execute the stabil-
ity-enhancement and traction-control
functions when DSC is deactivated.
We recommend that you deactivate the
system for increased traction:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains
>When driving on snow-covered
grades, in deep snow, or on a snow-
covered surface that has been
packed down from being driven on.
To maintain vehicle stability,
always drive with the system
switched on whenever possible.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 87 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM
Page 89 of 166
89
Initializing the systemInitializing is necessary to familiarize the
system with the correct inflation pres-
sures.
Repeat this process after any changes
in tire inflation pressure, tire rotation or
replacement.
1. Check the tire inflation pressures in
all the tires, comparing them with the
inflation pressure table, refer to
page 25, and adjust them if neces-
sary
2. Turn the ignition key to position 2
3. Press button as long as you need to
until the indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. After a little
while, the indicator lamp will go out
by itself
4. After a few minutes, the Flat Tire
Monitor will accept the current infla-
tion pressure as the value to be mea-
sured against, and from that point on
can detect and report a flat tire.
To activate/deactivate the systemThe system is automatically activated in
ignition key position 2 and conse-
quently is on whenever the vehicle is
operated.
To deactivate the system: tap the but-
ton, the indicator lamp will light up yel-
low.
To activate the system: tap the button
again; the indicator lamp goes out.
Deactivate the system when snow
chains are mounted, since false warn-
ings and undetected losses in pressure
are possible under these kinds of con-
ditions.
Flat Tire Monitor
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 89 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM