headlamp BMW M3 COUPE 2004 E46 User Guide
Page 119 of 170
119 In the engine compartment
HoodTo releasePull the lever located under the left-
hand side of the instrument panel.
Do not attempt to service your 
vehicle if you do not have the 
required technical background. Failure 
to work in an informed, professional 
manner when servicing components 
and materials constitutes a safety haz-
ard for vehicle occupants and other 
road users. If you are not familiar with 
the guidelines, BMW recommends that 
you have the operations performed by 
your BMW center.<
To openPull the release handle and open the 
hood.
It is not possible to drive off using 
SMG Drivelogic when the hood is 
open.<
To closePull the hood downwards and allow it to 
fall from a minimum height of 1  ft/30  cm 
so that it audibly engages. Check for 
proper locking by pulling on the hood at 
the left and right above the headlamps.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the 
travel path of the hood is clear 
when it is closed, following the same 
safety precautions used in all closing 
procedures.
If you notice while driving that the hood 
is not completely closed, stop immedi-
ately and close it securely.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
Page 121 of 170
121
1Filler neck for headlamp and wind-
shield washer cleaning system122
2Coolant expansion tank124
3Auxiliary terminal for jump-starting – 
positive terminal143
4Engine oil filler neck123
5Expansion tank for SMG Drivelogic 
hydraulic unit, checking and possible 
refilling by your BMW center67
6Engine oil dipstick122
7Filler neck for brake fluid125Engine compartment essentials
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
Page 122 of 170
122
Washer fluidsHeadlamp* and windshield 
washer systemCapacity approx. 
5.6 US quarts/5.3 liters.
Fill with water and, if required, with a 
washer antifreeze additive according to 
manufacturer's recommendations.
We recommend that you mix the 
washer fluid before adding it to 
the reservoir.<
Antifreeze agents for the washer 
fluid are highly flammable. For this 
reason, keep them away from sources 
of flame and store them only in their 
closed original containers. Store them 
inaccessible to children. Comply with 
the instructions on the containers.<
Engine oilChecking the oil level1. Park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Switch the engine off after it has 
reached normal operating tempera-
ture
3. After approx. 1 minute, pull the dip-
stick out and wipe it off with a clean 
lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar 
material
4. Carefully push the dipstick all the 
way into the guide tube and pull it 
out again
5. The oil level should be between the 
two marks on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption 
is directly influenced by your driving 
style and vehicle operating conditions.
The oil volume between the two marks 
on the dipstick corresponds to approx. 
1.4 US quarts/1.3 liters. 
Page 133 of 170
133
Lamps and bulbsThe lamps and bulbs make essential 
contributions to the safety of your vehi-
cle. Therefore, proceed carefully when 
handling bulbs. BMW recommends that 
you have such work performed by your 
BMW center if you are not familiar with 
the procedures.
Do not touch the glass portion of 
a new bulb with your bare hands 
since even small amounts of impurities 
burn in to 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 working on the electrical 
system, switch off the electrical 
accessory you are working on or dis-
connect the cable from the negative 
terminal of the battery. Failure to 
observe this precaution could result in 
short circuits.
To prevent injuries and damage when 
changing a bulb, be sure to comply with 
any instructions provided by the bulb 
manufacturer.<
Low beams and high beams>Low beams: H7 bulb, 55 watts.
>High beams: H7 bulb, 55 watts.
The H7 bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and pro-
tective gloves. Failure to comply with 
this precaution could lead to injury if the 
bulb is damaged.<
Please contact a BMW center in case of 
a malfunction.
When cleaning the headlamps, please 
follow the instructions in the Caring for 
your vehicle brochure.Parking lamps5 watt bulb
Please contact a BMW center in case of 
a malfunction.Xenon lamps*The service life of these bulbs is very 
long and the probability of a failure is 
very low, provided that they are not 
switched on and off an unusual number 
of times. If one of these bulbs should 
nevertheless fail, it is possible to con-
tinue driving with great caution using 
the fog lamps, provided traffic laws in 
your area do not prohibit this.
Because of the extremely high 
voltages involved, any work on the 
xenon lighting system, including bulb-
changing, should be carried out by 
technically-qualified personnel only. 
Otherwise, there is a risk of fatal 
injury.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
Page 153 of 170
153
Capacities
Notes
Fuel tank
Reservegal./liters
gal./litersapprox. 16.6/approx. 63
approx. 2.1/approx. 8Fuel specification, refer to page 25
Windshield washer system/
Headlamp cleaning system quarts/liters approx. 5.6/approx. 5.3Specifications, refer to page 122
Engine with oil filter change quarts/liters approx. 5.8/approx. 5.5 Specifications, refer to page 123
Manual transmission quarts/liters approx. 1.9/approx. 1.8 Oil change during running-in check 
and during each inspection II
Differential quarts/liters approx. 1.2/approx. 1.1 Oil change during running-in check 
and during each inspection II
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
Page 156 of 170
Everything from A to ZA
ABS Antilock Brake 
System 112
indicator lamp 19
Accessories, refer to For 
your own safety 5
Accident, refer to Emer-
gency call 142
Activated-charcoal filter 96
Adding brake fluid 125
Adding liquid sealant
Mobility system 138
Additional sources of infor-
mation 4
Air conditioning mode
automatic climate 
control 94
Air distribution
automatic climate 
control 94
Air distribution, individual 94
Air outlets, refer to Ventila-
tion 92
Air pressure, refer to Tire 
inflation pressure 25, 114
Air recirculation, refer to 
Recirculated-air mode 95
Air supply
automatic climate 
control 94
Air, drying, refer to Air con-
ditioning mode 94Airbags 53
deactivating 53
indicator lamp 18, 55
sitting safely 43
Airing out, refer to Ventila-
tion 92
AKI, refer to Fuel specifica-
tions 25
Alarm system 38
avoiding unintentional 
alarms 39
All-season tires, refer to 
Winter tires 118
Alternative oil types 123
Antifreeze 124
coolant 124
washer fluid 122
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS) 112
indicator lamp 19
Anti-theft system 30
Anti-theft warning system, 
refer to Alarm system 38
Approved axle loads, refer 
to Weights 152
Approved gross weight, 
refer to Weights 152
Armrest
front 98
rear 99Artificial leather, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Ashtray
front 100
rear 100
Assistant systems, refer to 
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC) 83
AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control 95
AUTO program, refer 
to Automatic air distribu-
tion 94
Automatic
air distribution 94
air supply 94
cruise control 74
headlamp control 88
Automatic car wash, refer to 
the Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Automatic climate control 92
Automatic curb monitor 50
Automatic dimming, interior 
rearview mirror 52
Automatic recirculated-air 
control (AUC) 95
Automatic windshield 
washer, refer to Rain sen-
sor 73Average fuel 
consumption 81
Average speed 81
Avoiding unintentional 
alarms 39
Axle loads, refer to 
Weights 152
B
Backrest
adjusting 44
unlocking 47
width adjustment 46
Backrest, refer to Seat 
adjustment 45
Backup lamps 66
bulb replacement 135
Bandages, refer to First-aid 
kit 23
Bar, towing 145
Battery 140
charge 140
disposal 140
indicator lamp 18
jump-starting 143
remote control 30, 31
Battery charge current 18
Belts, refer to Safety 
belts 47
Beverage holders 98, 99 
Page 157 of 170
Everything from A to Z
157
Blower
automatic climate 
control 94
BMW Maintenance 
System 126
BMW sports seat 45
Bore, refer to Engine 
data 150
Bottle holders, see Bever-
age holders 98, 99
Brake fluid 125
indicator lamp 18, 125
level 125
Brake force display 87
Brake hydraulic system 112
Brake lamps
bulb replacement 135
indicator lamp, defective 
lamp 78
Brake lights
brake force display 87
Brake pads 113
brake fluid level 
18, 112, 125
breaking in 110
disc brakes 112
Brake rotors
brake system 112
breaking in 110
Brake system
brake pads, indicator
lamp 19Brake wear warning
indicator lamp 19
Brakes
ABS 112
brake fluid 125
breaking in 110
indicator/warning lamp 
18, 19
parking brake 65
Break-in procedures 110
Bulb replacement 133
Bulb replacement, refer to 
Lamps and bulbs 133
Buttons in steering wheel 22
C
California Proposition
65 warning 128
Can holders, see Beverage 
holders 98, 99
Capacities 153
Car battery 140
Car care, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Car keys, refer to Keys 30
Car radio, refer to the 
Owner's Manual for Radio
Car telephone 
preparation 99
Car telephone, refer to the 
separate Owner's ManualCar vacuum cleaner, con-
necting 100
Car wash, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Caring for headlamp cov-
ers, refer to the Caring for 
your vehicle brochure 133
Carpet care, refer to the 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Cassette operation, refer to 
the Owner's Manual for 
Radio/Onboard Computer
CBC Cornering Brake Con-
trol 112
warning lamp 19
CD changer, refer to the 
Owner's Manual for 
Radio/Onboard Computer
CD operation, refer to the 
Owner's Manual for 
Radio/Onboard Computer
Cellular phone 99
Center high-mount brake 
lamp
bulb replacement 136
Central locking system 30
button 34
passenger 
compartment 34
Charge indicator lamp 18
Check Control 78Check Gas Cap
indicator lamp 19
Child seats, refer to Child-
restraint systems 56
Child-restraint systems 56
Cigarette lighter 100
Cigarette lighter socket 100
Cleaning chrome parts, refer 
to the Caring for your vehi-
cle brochure
Cleaning light alloy wheels, 
refer to the Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Cleaning the vehicle, refer to 
the Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Cleaning windshield 74
Clock 79
12-/24-hour mode 79
setting, refer also to the 
Owner's Manual for 
Radio/Onboard Computer
Closing
from inside 34
from outside 31
Clothes hooks 101, 111
Clutch
breaking in 110
Cockpit 14
Code, refer to the Owner's 
Manual for Radio/Onboard 
Computer
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
Page 160 of 170
Everything from A to ZGearbox malfunction
sequential M gearbox with 
Drivelogic 71
Gearbox, sequential 67
Gearshift lever
manual transmission 66
sequential M gearbox with 
Drivelogic 67
General driving notes 111
Glass sunroof
convenience operation 32
Glass sunroof, electric 41
closing following an elec-
trical malfunction 42
convenience operation 33
remote control 31, 32
Glove compartment 97
Gradient assistance 70
Grills, refer to Ventilation 92
Gross weight, refer to 
Weights 152
H
Handbrake, refer to Parking 
brake 65
Hands-free system 99
Harman Kardon premium 
sound system 97
Hazard warning flashers 14
Hazard warning triangle 23
Head airbags 53
Head restraints 46Headlamp cleaning system
cleaning headlamps 74
washer fluid 122, 153
Headlamp control 88
Headlamp flasher 89
indicator lamp 21
Headlamps
bulb replacement 133
care, refer to the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Heated mirror 51
Heated rear window
automatic climate 
control 95
Heated seats 50
Heating
exterior mirrors 51
rear window 95
seats 50
Heating and ventilation 92
Heavy loads, refer to Cargo 
loading 105
Height adjustment
seats 45
steering wheel 51
Height, refer to 
Dimensions 151
High beams 72, 89
bulb replacement 133
headlamp flasher 89
indicator lamp 21Holder for
beverages 98, 99
litter bag 99
Hood release 119
Horn 14
Hydraulic brake assistant, 
refer to DBC 112
Hydraulic system
brakes 112
Hydroplaning 111
I
Ice warning 80
Ignition 62
Ignition key 30
positions 62
Ignition lock 62
Imprint 4
Indicator lamps 18Indicator/warning lamp
airbags 18
alarm system 39
brakes 18, 19
Check Gas Cap 19
coolant 19, 77
DSC 19
Flat Tire Monitor
18, 19, 86
fog lamps 20
Please fasten safety 
belts 18
reserve 77
Service Engine Soon 19
Individual air distribution 94
Individual settings, refer to 
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory 60
Inflation pressure monitor-
ing, refer to Flat Tire Moni-
tor 84
Inflation pressure, tires
25, 114
INSPECTION 78
Instrument cluster 16
Instrument lighting 89
Instrument panel 14
Interface socket for onboard 
diagnostics (OBD) 128
Interior lamps 90
remote control 32