engine BMW M6 CONVERTIBLE 2012 Service Manual
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BMW M6 technologyVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
V8 high performance engine
The high-speed-V8 engine gets maximum
power of 412 kW and maximum torque of
680 Nm from a displacement of 4.4 liters. With
its spontaneous response behavior, a speed
range of wide utility results. The maximum en‐
gine speed is at 7,200 rpm and is electronically
controlled. Because of the high engine dynam‐
ics, the maximum engine speed with the vehicle
stationary is progressively deactivated after a
short time.
Warmup
During the engine warmup phase, the V8 high-
performance engine has a somewhat rougher
running behavior because of the emission con‐
trols.
When the engine is cold, the exhaust system has
a slightly metallic undertone due to the nature of
the system.
For more information about the warmup proce‐
dure: Engine speed, refer to page 81, and engine
oil temperature, refer to page 81.
Compound brake
The vehicle has a high-performance brake sys‐
tem with perforated compound brake disks.
Because of particular structural characteristics,
there may be operation-related noises during
braking. However, this has no effect on perform‐
ance, operational reliability and reliability of the
brake.
Correct braking
To keep the brake system in optimum condition,
it is expedient to apply them at regular intervals
corresponding to the vehicle character.
Corrosion on brake disks, refer to page 144.
Drive train
With this vehicle, particular value was placed on
the direct connection from engine to the drive
train. Due to the torsionally rigid design of the
drive train, as is typical in a sports car, the trans‐
mission of the torque also gives acoustic feed‐
back.
When there are load changes, this may result in
clacker noises. The do not cause any impair‐
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Things to remember when drivingVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
Breaking-in period
General information
Moving parts need to be broken in to adjust to
each other.
The following instructions will help achieve a
long vehicle life and good economy.
During the break-in, do not use the Launch Con‐
trol, refer to page 71.
Engine and differential
Always obey the official speed limit.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do
not exceed 5,500 rpm and 106 mph/170 km/h.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kickdown mode for the initial
miles.
At 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Have drive-in checkup maintenance performed.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km to
3,100 miles/5,000 km
The engine and road speed can gradually be in‐
creased to a constant speed of
137 mph/220 km/h.
Use the maximum speed of 155 mph/250 km/h
only briefly, e.g. when passing.Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac‐
tion potential until after an initial breaking-in pe‐
riod.
Drive conservatively for the first
200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of ap‐
prox. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and discs. Drive moderately during this break-in
period.
Following part replacement
The same breaking in procedures should be ob‐
served if any of the components mentioned
above have to be renewed in the course of the
vehicle's operating life.
General driving notes
Closing the trunk lid Drive with the trunk lid closed
Only drive with the tailgate closed; other‐
wise, in the event of an accident or braking or
evasive maneuvers, passengers or other road
users may be injured or the vehicle may be dam‐
aged. In addition, exhaust fumes may enter the
passenger compartment.◀
If driving with the tailgate open cannot be
avoided:▷If the convertible top is closed, close all win‐
dows.▷Greatly increase the blower speed.▷Drive moderately.Seite 142Driving tipsThings to remember when driving142
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Hot exhaust systemHot exhaust system
High temperatures are generated in the
exhaust system.
Do not remove the heat shields installed and
never apply undercoating to them. When driv‐
ing, standing at idle and while parking, take care
to avoid possible contact between the hot ex‐
haust system and any highly flammable materi‐
als such as hay, leaves, grass, etc. Such contact
could lead to a fire, and with it the risk of serious
personal injury as well as property damage.
Do not touch hot exhaust pipes; otherwise, there
is the danger of getting burned.◀
Climate control windshield
The marked area is not covered with heat re‐
flective coating.
Use this area for garage door openers, devices
for electronic toll collection, etc.
Mobile communication devices in the
vehicle
Mobile communication devices in the ve‐
hicle
It is advised that you do not use mobile commu‐
nication devices, e.g., mobile phones, inside the
vehicle without connecting them directly to the
external antenna. Otherwise, the vehicle elec‐
tronics and mobile communication devices can
interfere with each other. In addition, there is no
assurance that the radiation generated during
transmission will be discharged from the vehicle
interior.◀
Hydroplaning
On wet or slushy roads, a wedge of water can
form between the tires and road surface.
This phenomenon is referred to as hydroplan‐
ing. It is characterized by a partial or complete
loss of contact between the tires and the road
surface, ultimately undermining your ability to
steer and brake the vehicle.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads, re‐
duce your speed to prevent hydroplaning.◀
Driving through water
Drive though calm water only if it is not deeper
than 9.8 inches/25 cm and at this height, no
faster than walking speed, up to 6 mph/10 km/h.
Adhere to water depth and speed limita‐
tions
Do not exceed this water depth and walking
speed; otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the elec‐
trical systems and the transmission may be
damaged.◀
Braking safely
Your vehicle is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature.
Applying the brakes fully is the most effective
way of braking in situations when this is neces‐
sary.
The vehicle maintains steering responsiveness.
You can still avoid any obstacles with a minimum
of steering effort.
The pulsing of the brake pedal indicates that
ABS is in its active mode.
In certain braking situations, the perforated
brake discs can cause functional problems.
However, this has no effect on the performance
and operational reliability of the brake.Seite 143Things to remember when drivingDriving tips143
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Objects in the area around the pedalsNo objects in the area around the pedals
Keep floor mats, carpets, and any other
objects out of the area of motion of the pedals;
otherwise, the function of the pedals could be
impeded while driving
Do not place additional floor mats over existing
mats or other objects.
Only use floor mats that have been approved for
the vehicle and can be properly fixed in place.
Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened
again after they were removed for cleaning, for
example.◀
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain, briefly
exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal every
few miles.
Ensure that this action does not endanger other
road users.
The heat generated in this process helps dry the
brake discs and pads.
In this way braking efficiency will be available
when you need it.
Hills
Drive long or steep downhill gradients in the gear
in which the least braking is required. Otherwise,
the brake system may overheat, resulting in a
reduction in the brake system efficiency.
Double-clutch transmission:
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down in sequential mode, refer to
page 69.
Avoid load on the brakes
Avoid placing excessive load on the brake
system. Light but consistent brake pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brake wear and pos‐
sibly even brake failure.◀Do not drive in neutral
Do not drive in neutral or with the engine
stopped, as doing so disables engine braking. In
addition, steering and brake assist is unavailable
with the engine stopped.◀
Brake disc corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and contamination
on the brake pads are furthered by:▷Low mileage.▷Extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all.▷Infrequent use of the brakes.
Corrosion occurs when the minimum pressure
that must be exerted by the pads during brake
applications to clean the discs is not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake discs, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating ef‐
fect that generally cannot be corrected.
Condensation under the parked vehicle
When using the automatic climate control, con‐
densation water develops that exits underneath
the vehicle.
Therefore, traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are normal.
Ground clearance Limited ground clearance
Observe the limited ground clearance of
the vehicle, e. g. while entering underground
parking garages or when driving over obstacles.
Otherwise, damages to the vehicle may result. ◀
To drive down from curbs with the Electronic
Damper Control, refer to page 108, select the
following program, to keep the ground clear‐
ance as even as possible: "Sport Plus"
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Saving fuelVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
General information
Your vehicle contains advanced technology for
the reduction of fuel consumption and emis‐
sions.
Fuel consumption depends on a number of dif‐
ferent factors.
The implementation of certain measures, driv‐
ing style and regular maintenance can have an
influence on fuel consumption and on the envi‐
ronmental impact.
Remove unnecessary cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Remove attached parts
following use
Attached parts on the vehicle impair the aero‐
dynamics and increase the fuel consumption.
Closing the windows
Open windows increase air resistance and
therefore lead to greater fuel consumption.Check the tire inflation
pressure regularly
Check and, if necessary, correct the tire inflation
pressure at least twice a month and before start‐
ing on a long trip.
Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling re‐
sistance and thus raises fuel consumption and
tire wear.
Drive away without delay
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
This is the fastest way for the cold engine to
reach its operating temperature.
Look well ahead when driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
By maintaining a suitable distance to the vehicle
driving ahead of you.
Driving smoothly and looking ahead reduces
fuel consumption.
Avoid high engine speeds
Use 1st gear only to drive off. Beginning with
2nd gear, accelerate rapidly. When accelerating,
shift up before reaching high engine speeds.
When you reach the desired speed, shift into the
highest applicable gear and drive with the en‐
gine speed as low as possible and at a constant
speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
The gear shift indicator of your vehicle indicates
the most fuel efficient gear.Seite 147Saving fuelDriving tips147
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Use coasting conditions
When approaching a red light, take your foot off
the accelerator and let the vehicle coast to a halt.
On a downhill gradient, take your foot off the ac‐
celerator and let the vehicle roll.
The flow of fuel is interrupted while coasting.
Switch off the engine during
longer stops
Switch off the engine during longer stops, e.g.,
at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in traffic
congestion.
Auto Start/Stop function
The Auto Start/Stop function of your vehicle au‐
tomatically switches off the engine during a
stop.
If the engine is switched off and then restarted
rather than leaving the engine running con‐
stantly, fuel consumption and emissions are re‐
duced. Savings can begin within a few seconds
of switching off the engine.
Using this system can cause certain compo‐
nents of the vehicle to become worn prema‐
turely.
Iin addition, fuel consumption is also determined
by other factors, such as driving style, road con‐
ditions, maintenance or environmental factors.
Switch off any functions that
are not currently needed
Functions such as seat heating and the rear win‐
dow defroster require a lot of energy and con‐
sume additional fuel, especially in city and stop-
and-go traffic.
Therefore, switch off these functions if they are
not actually needed.Have maintenance carried out
Have vehicles maintained regularly to achieve
optimal vehicle economy and operating life.
Have the maintenance carried out by your serv‐
ice center.
Please also note the BMW Maintenance Sys‐
tem, refer to page 255.Seite 148Driving tipsSaving fuel148
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RadioVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
Controls1Change entertainment sources2Change station/track3Programmable memory buttons4Volume, on/off5Change wave band
Sound output
Switching on/off
When the ignition is switched off: press ON/OFF
button on the radio.
Muting
When the ignition is switched on or the engine
is running: press the ON/OFF button on the
radio.
AM/FM station
Selecting a station1."Radio"2."FM" or "AM"3.Select the desired station.
All saved stations are stored for the remote con‐
trol currently in use.
Changing the station Press the button.
Storing a station
1."Radio"2."FM" or "AM"3.Highlight the desired station.4.Press the controller for an extended period.5.Select the desired memory location.
The stations are stored for the remote control
currently in use.
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CD/multimediaVehicle equipment
All standard, country-specific and optional
equipment that is offered in the model series is
described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment
is also described that is not available in a vehicle,
e. g., because of the selected optional equip‐
ment or country variant. This also applies for
safety-related functions and systems.
Controls1Change the entertainment source2CD/DVD drive3Eject CD/DVD4Change station/track5Programmable memory buttons6Volume, on/off
Sound output
Switching on/off
When the ignition is switched off: press ON/OFF
button on the radio.
Muting
When the ignition is switched on or the engine
is running: press the ON/OFF button on the
radio.
CD/DVD
Playback
Loading the CD/DVD player
Insert the CD/DVD with the printed side up.
Playback begins automatically.
Reading can take a few minutes with com‐
pressed audio files.
Starting playback
A CD/DVD is located in the CD/DVD player or
DVD changer.1."CD/Multimedia"2."CD/DVD"3.Select the desired CD or DVD.SymbolMeaning CD/DVD player ... DVD changer
Playable formats
▷DVD: DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-
RW, DVD+RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL, DVD
audio (video part only), DVD video.▷CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA, VCD,
SVCD.▷Compressed audio files: MP3, WMA, AAC,
M4A.Seite 183CD/multimediaEntertainment183
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Deleting an album
An album cannot be deleted while a track from
that album is being played.1."CD/Multimedia"2."Music collection"3.Highlight the desired album.4.Open "Options".5."Delete album"
Deleting a track and directory
A track cannot be deleted while it is being
played.
A directory cannot be deleted while a track from
that directory is being played.
1."CD/Multimedia"2."Music collection"3.Highlight the directory or track.4.Open "Options".5."Delete folder" or "Delete track"
Free memory capacity
Display the free memory capacity in the music
collection.
1."CD/Multimedia"2."Music collection"3.Open "Options".4."Free memory"
Music collection
Backing up the music collection
The entire music collection can be stored on a
USB device. Make sure there is enough free
memory capacity on the USB device.
Depending on the number of tracks, backing up
the music collection may take several hours.
Therefore, it is best to perform the backup dur‐
ing a long trip.1.Starting the engine.2.Connect the USB device to the USB inter‐
face in the glove compartment.3."CD/Multimedia"4."Music collection"5.Open "Options".6."Music data import/export"7."Backup music on USB"
Storing the music collection in the vehicle
When storing from the USB device, the existing
music collection in the vehicle is replaced.
1."CD/Multimedia"2."Music collection"3.Open "Options".4."Music data import/export"5."Restore music from USB"Seite 194EntertainmentCD/multimedia194
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Pairing and connectingPairing the mobile phone
To avoid becoming distracted and posing
an unnecessary hazard both to your own vehi‐
cle's occupants and to other road users, only
pair the mobile phone while the vehicle is sta‐
tionary.◀1."Telephone"2."Bluetooth® (phone)"3."Add new phone"
The Bluetooth name of the vehicle is dis‐
played.4.To perform additional steps on the mobile
phone, refer to the mobile phone operating
instructions: e.g. search for or connect the
Bluetooth device or a new device.
The Bluetooth name of the vehicle appears
on the mobile phone display.5.Select the Bluetooth name of the vehicle on
the mobile phone display.6.You are prompted by the iDrive or mobile
phone to enter the same Bluetooth passkey.
Enter the passkey and confirm.
Or
Compare the control number in the display
of the vehicle to the control number in the
display of the mobile phone. Confirm the
control number in the mobile phone and in
the vehicle.
"OK"7.Select the functions for which the mobile
phone is to be used.8."OK"
If the pairing was successful, the mobile phone
appears at the top of the list of mobile phones.
The functions supported by the mobile phone
and audio device are displayed as symbols when
paired.
White symbol: the function is active.
Gray symbol: the function is inactive.
SymbolFunction Telephone. Additional telephone. Audio source.
Four mobile phones can be paired with the ve‐
hicle at once. Up to three mobile phones can be
connected with the vehicle at once.
If pairing was unsuccessful: What to do if..., refer
to page 209.
Following the initial pairing
▷The mobile phone is detected/connected in
the vehicle within a short period of time
when the engine is running or the ignition is
switched on.▷The phone book entries of the telephone
stored on the SIM card or mobile phone are
transmitted to the vehicle after detection,
depending on the mobile phone.▷Four mobile phones can be paired.▷Specific settings may be necessary in some
mobile phones, e.g., authorization or a se‐
cure connection; refer to the mobile phone
operating instructions.
Connecting a particular mobile phone
If more than one mobile phone is detected by the
vehicle, the mobile phone at the top of the list is
connected. If a different detected cell phone is
connected with the vehicle. A different mobile
phone can be connected by selecting it.
1."Telephone"2."Bluetooth® (phone)"3.Select the mobile phone that is to be con‐
nected.
The functions assigned to the mobile phone be‐
fore unpairing are assigned to the mobile phone
when it is reconnected. If the mobile phone is
already connected, these functions are deacti‐
vated.
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