maintenance BMW M3 COUPE 2004 E46 Owner's Guide
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Power seat adjustment*Seat adjustment1Tilt angle
2Forward/backward adjustment
3Height
4Backrest angle
The head restraint and the thigh sup-
port are adjusted manually.
Thigh support Pull the lever and adjust the position of 
the cushion for thigh support as 
desired.
Adjusting the lumbar support*You can adjust the backrest's contour 
for additional support in the curvature 
of your spine's lumbar region.
The upper hips and spinal column 
receive supplementary support to help 
you maintain a relaxed, upright position.
>Increase/decrease curvature: press 
front/rear of the switch
>Increase the upper/lower curvature: 
press the upper/lower end of the 
switch.
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47
2. Press button 1 and remove the head 
restraint.Installation – frontPress button 1 and slide the head 
restraint into the sockets.Removal and installation – rearGive the head restraint a sharp upward 
tug to release it from its locking mecha-
nism. Press down forcefully to install.
Entering the rearUnlocking backrestsPull the lever upward and fold the back-
rest forward.
The outer levers hold the safety belt to 
enable it to be reached more easily.
Lock both backrests while driving, 
otherwise there is a danger of an 
unexpected movement causing an 
accident.<
Safety beltsAlways wear your safety beltAlways fasten your safety belt before 
starting off. As supplemental restraint 
devices, the airbags are designed to 
enhance the effectiveness of the safety 
belts, and not to replace them.To closeMake sure you hear the lock engage in 
the belt buckle.To release1. Press the red button in the belt 
buckle
2. Hold the belt
3. Guide the belt back into its reel.
Head restraints
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Seat and mirror memory*You can store and recall three different 
driver's seat and outside mirror posi-
tions.
Memory will not retain the adjust-
ments made to the lumbar sup-
ports or the width of the backrests.<To store1. Ignition key in position 1 or 2
2. Adjust your seat and outside mirrors 
to the desired position
3. Press the M
EMORY
 button: the indica-
tor lamp in the button lights up
4. Press memory button 1, 2 or 3, as 
desired. The indicator lamp goes out.
To select a stored setting
Do not select a memory position 
while the vehicle is moving. If you 
do so, there is a risk of accident from 
unexpected seat movement.<
Driver's door open after unlocking or 
ignition key in position 1:
>Briefly press memory button 1, 2 or 3, 
as desired.
Movement stops immediately when 
one of the seat-adjustment or mem-
ory buttons is activated during the 
adjustment process.
With the driver's door closed and the 
ignition key either removed or in posi-
tion 0 or 2:
>Press and hold the desired memory 
button – 1, 2 or 3 – until the adjust-
ment process is completed.
If you press the 
MEMORY
 button acci-
dentally: press the button again; the 
indicator lamp goes out.
You can have this feature pro-
grammed so that when you use 
the remote control from your personal-
ized key to unlock your door, your seat 
and the exterior mirrors will move into 
your own preferred positions.<
Before activating the programmed 
adjustment feature, ensure that 
the footwell behind the driver's seat is 
empty and unobstructed. If you fail to 
do so, persons, animals or objects 
could be injured or damaged if the seat 
should move backward.<
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Steering wheelTo adjust
Never attempt to adjust the steer-
ing wheel while driving the vehicle 
– it could respond with unexpected 
movement, posing a potential accident 
hazard.<
1. Push the locking lever downward
2. Adjust steering column reach and 
height for your selected seating posi-
tion
3. Pull the lever back up.
MirrorsTo adjust exterior mirrors1Switch for 4-way adjustment
2Selection switch for changing 
between mirrorsTo adjust manuallyThe mirrors can also be adjusted manu-
ally:
Press the edges of the lens.
To store the mirror settings, refer to 
Seat and mirror memory on page 49.
The mirror on the passenger's 
side is convex. When estimating 
the distance between yourself and 
other traffic, bear in mind that the 
objects reflected in the mirror are closer 
than they appear. This means that esti-
mations of the distance to following 
traffic should not be regarded as pre-
cise.<
Electric defrostingBoth mirrors are heated automatically in 
ignition key position 2.
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53 Passenger safety systems
Airbags1Front airbags on the driver and pas-
senger sides
2Head airbags for driver and front pas-
senger
3Side airbags on the driver and pas-
senger sides – front and rear*Protective effectThe front airbags protect the driver and 
passenger in the event of a head-on 
collision where the protection provided 
by the safety belt alone would not be 
adequate. The head and side airbags 
help provide protection in the event of a 
collision from the side. The respective 
side airbag helps support the seat 
occupant's upper body.
For information on the correct sitting 
position, refer to page 43.
The side airbags in the rear pas-
senger area* of your vehicle may 
already have been deactivated by a 
BMW center. You may have them acti-
vated if you desire to do so. Please 
contact your BMW center for additional 
information.<
The airbags do not deploy in 
response to minor collisions, rear 
impacts and certain kinds of vehicle 
rollover.<
Do not apply adhesive materials to 
the cover panels of the airbags, 
cover them or modify them in any other 
way. Do not attempt to remove the air-
bag restraint system from the vehicle. In 
the event of a malfunction, deactivation 
or triggered activation – as a response 
to an accident – of the airbag restraint 
system, consult your BMW center for 
inspection, repair or disassembly. Mod-
ifications may not be made on either 
the wiring or the individual components 
in the airbag system. These include the 
upholstered covers on the steering 
wheel, instrument panel, side trim pan-
els of the doors and front roof pillars, 
and on the sides of the headliner. Do 
not attempt to remove or dismantle the 
steering wheel. Unprofessional 
attempts to service the system could 
lead to failure in an emergency or 
undesired airbag activation, either of 
which could result in personal injury. Do 
not touch the individual components 
directly after the system has been trig-
gered, as otherwise there is a danger of 
burns.<
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This is the right way a larger child 
should sit wearing the seat belt when 
rear side airbags are provided.Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp indicates the 
operational status of the airbag 
system when the ignition key is 
in position 1 or higher.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly 
when the ignition key is turned to 
position 1 or higher.
System malfunction:
>Indicator lamp does not come on or
>indicator lamp lights up continuously.
If there is a system malfunction, 
there is a risk that the airbags will 
not be triggered within their normal 
response range, even if the level of 
impact would normally have triggered 
them. Have your BMW center inspect 
the airbag system immediately.<
Airbags
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Before installing any child-
restraint device or child seat, 
please read the following:
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger 
seat of this vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag 
supplemental restraint system for the 
front passenger. Because the backrest 
on any rearward-facing child-restraint 
system – of the kind designed for 
infants under 1 year and 20 lbs/9 kg – 
would be within the airbag's deploy-
ment range, you should never mount 
such a device in the front passenger 
seat, since the impact of the airbag 
against the child restraint's backrest 
could lead to serious or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child – not an 
infant – to ride in the front seat, certain 
precautions should be taken. First, 
move the passenger seat as far away 
from the instrument panel as possible. 
This important precaution is intended to 
maximize the distance between the air-
bag and the child. Older children 
should be tightly secured with the 
safety belt after they have outgrown a 
booster seat that is appropriate for their 
age, height, and weight.
Younger children should be secured in 
an appropriate forward-facing child-
restraint system that has first been 
properly secured with a safety belt.
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger 
seat.
We strongly urge you to carefully read 
and comply with the instructions for 
installation and use provided by the 
child restraint's manufacturer when-
ever you use such a device.
Do not attempt to modify child-restraint 
systems. If you do this, the protection 
provided by these systems could be 
impaired.
Be sure that all occupants – of all ages – 
remain properly and securely restrained 
at all times.<
All rear seating positions in your vehicle 
meet the recommendations of 
SAE J1819, an industry recommended 
practice for securing child-restraint sys-
tems in motor vehicles.
Child seat securityAll of the rear belt retractors and the 
front passenger's safety belt can be 
locked for mounting and securing child-
restraint systems.
A label with the appropriate instructions 
for this is located in the immediate 
vicinity of the buckle latch of each 
safety belt.To lock the safety beltExtract the entire length of the belt from 
the inertia reel mechanism. Allow the 
reel to retract the belt somewhat and 
engage the buckle, then tighten the belt 
against the child-restraint system. The 
retraction mechanism is now locked. 
Transporting children safely
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The illustration is an example showing 
the anchorages for a LATCH child-
restraint mounting system at the right 
rear seat.
Always follow all manufacturer's 
instructions and observe all safety 
precautions when installing the LATCH 
child-restraint system. Leave the rear 
safety belts in the holders, if they are 
not needed, to avoid unwanted move-
ment from the safety belts at high 
speeds.<Transporting children safely
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>After the engine is started, calls up 
the last selected driving program for 
each shifting mode, refer to page 70.Vehicle Memory, Key Memory
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Starting the engine and driving off
Do not allow the engine to warm 
up by leaving it running while the 
vehicle remains stationary. Instead, 
drive off immediately at a moderate 
engine speed.<
Do not allow the engine to run in 
enclosed spaces. Otherwise, 
breathing the exhaust fumes can lead 
to unconsciousness and death. The 
exhaust gases contain carbon monox-
ide, an odorless and colorless, but 
highly toxic gas. Do not leave the vehi-
cle unattended with the engine running. 
An unattended vehicle with a running 
engine represents a safety hazard.<
If the engine does not start on the first 
attempt, such as when it is very hot or 
cold:
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway 
down while engaging the starter.
Cold starts at very low temperatures 
below about +57/–156 and at high 
altitudes above 3,300 ft/1,000 m:
>On the first start attempt, it may be 
necessary to engage the starter for a 
longer period, but no longer than 
20 seconds.
Extended starting attempts, char-
acterized by excessively frequent 
or long periods with the starter 
engaged can damage the catalytic con-
verter.<
When driving, standing at idle or 
parking the vehicle, take care to 
avoid contact between the hot exhaust 
system and flammable materials – 
grass, hay, leaves, etc. Such contact 
could lead to a fire, resulting in serious 
personal injury and property damage.<
Manual transmission1. Engage the parking brake
2. Gearshift lever in idling position
3. Start the engine. Do not press the 
accelerator pedal. Do not actuate the 
starter for too short a time. Do not 
turn it for more than approx. 
20 seconds. Release the ignition key 
immediately when the engine startsSequential M gearbox with 
Drivelogic1. Depress footbrake
2. Move selector lever into position N
3. Start the engine. Do not actuate the 
starter for too short a time. Do not 
turn it for more than approx. 
20 seconds. Release the ignition key 
immediately when the engine starts
4. Engage a driving position
5. Release footbrake and slowly 
depress accelerator pedal.
With the engine running, the gear 
indicator in the SMG Drivelogic 
display flashes to indicate that a driving 
position is engaged with the driver's 
door open or that the hood is not 
closed properly, refer to page 68.
If neither the pedals, the shift paddles, 
nor the selector lever are actuated, then 
the gearbox is automatically taken out 
of gear after approx. four seconds. It 
will then be necessary to move the 
selector lever back to position  N before 
engaging the desired driving position. 
Driving off is not possible with the hood 
open.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex