maintenance BMW 330Ci CONVERTIBLE 2003 E46 Owner's Manual

Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with enhanced control and
security when you drive it. Therefore we have one request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize yourself with the
information that we have compiled for you before starting off in your new BMW. The
manual contains important data and instructions intended to assist you in obtaining
maximum satisfaction from your BMW's unique array of advanced technical fea-
tures. It also contains information on vehicle maintenance designed to enhance
operating safety while simultaneously helping you to maintain your BMW's value
throughout an extended service life. For additional information refer to the supple-
mental manuals.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent part of this vehicle. It
should stay with the vehicle when sold to provide the next owner with important
operating, safety and maintenance information.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG

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5

Notes

Status at time of printing

BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development conceived to
ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced,
state-of-the-art technology. For this
reason, the features described in this
Owner's Manual could differ from those
in your vehicle. Nor can errors and
omissions be entirely ruled out. You are
therefore asked to appreciate that no
claims can be recognized on the basis
of the data, illustrations or descriptions
in this Owner's Manual.

For your own safety

Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including
10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with
up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight – that is,
15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent – will
not void the applicable warranties
respecting defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel
quality – volatility, composition, addi-
tives, etc. among gasolines offered for
sale in the United States and Canada.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result
in driveability, starting and stalling
problems, especially under certain
environmental conditions, such as high
ambient temperature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using, we
recommend that you respond by
switching to a recognized high-quality
brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Obey all applicable safety rules when
handling gasoline.

<

Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Original
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure opti-
mum performance when installed on
your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product on the
market to determine whether it can be
used on a BMW safely and without risk
to either the vehicle, its operation, or its
occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on
using these items, are available from all
BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake

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6

Notes

dust shields, telephones – including
operation of any portable cellular phone
from within the vehicle without using an
externally mounted antenna – or trans-
ceiver equipment, such as a CB,
walkie-talkie, ham radio or similar
accessories, may cause extensive dam-
age to the vehicle, compromise its
safety, interfere with the vehicle's elec-
trical system or affect the validity of the
BMW Limited Warranty. Contact your
BMW center for additional information.
Do not use key or remote control to
lock doors or luggage compartment
with anyone inside the vehicle. Refer to
the Owner's Manual for more details.

<

Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed
by any automotive repair establishment
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.

<

Symbol on vehicle parts

Indicates that you should consult
the relevant section of this
Owner's Manual for information on a
particular part or assembly.

Service and warranty

This manual is supplemented by a Ser-
vice and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models or a Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide Booklet for Canadian mod-
els.
We recommend that you read this pub-
lication thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following
warranties:

>

New Vehicle Limited Warranty

>

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty

>

Federal Emissions System Defect
Warranty

>

Federal Emissions Performance War-
ranty

>

California Emission Control System
Limited Warranty.
Detailed information about these war-
ranties is listed in the Service and War-
ranty Information Booklet for US mod-
els or in the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for Canadian models.

Reporting safety defects

The following only applies to vehicles
owned and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a
defect which could cause a crash or
could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NHTSA in addition to notifying BMW of
North America, LLC, P.O. Box 1227,
Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227,
Telephone toll-free 1-800-831-1117.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it
finds that a safety defect exists in a
group of vehicles, it may order a recall
and remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved in indi-
vidual problems between you, your
dealer, or BMW of North America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call
the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-800-424-9393 or 366-0123 in the
Washington, D.C. area, or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Washington, D.C.
20590. You can also obtain other infor-
mation about motor vehicle safety from
the Hotline.

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Contents

Operation, maintenance

Special operating instructions:

Break-in procedures122
Driving notes123
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)123
Brake system124
Hardtop*125

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressure127
Tire condition127
Tire replacement128
Wheel and tire
combinations130
Winter tires130

In the engine compartment:

Hood132
Engine compartment
essentials134
Washer fluid136
Engine oil136
Coolant138
Brake fluid139

Maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System140

Laws and regulations:

California Proposition 65
warning141
OBD interface socket141

Owner service procedures

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit146
Windshield wiper blades146
Lamps and bulbs147
Changing a wheel151
Run Flat tires*155
Battery156
Fuses156

Giving and receiving
assistance:

Jump-starting157
Towing the vehicle158

Technical data

Engine data162
Dimensions163
Weights164
Capacities165

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13

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

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15
1Parking lamps/Low beams96
2

>

Turn signal indicators77

>

Standing lamps97

>

High beams97

>

Headlamp flasher77

>

Computer85
3Washer/wiper system/Rain
sensor78
4Hazard warning flashers
5Central locking system30
6Rear window defroster102, 107
7Horn: the entire surface
8Adjusting the steering wheel59
9Fog lamps98

Cockpit

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17
1Fuel gauge82
2Indicator lamp for turn signals20
3Speedometer
4Indicator and warning lamps18
to 21
5Tachometer and Energy Control81
6Engine coolant temperature
gauge82
7Indicator and warning lamps18
to 21
8Control button for

>

Clock84

>

Units of measure for exterior tem-
perature display 85
9Selector lever and program display
for automatic transmission19, 76
10 Display for

>

Trip odometer/Odometer81

>

Clock84

>

Service interval83

>

Computer85
11 Check Control83
12 Trip odometer, reset to zero81
13 Indicator and warning lamps18
to 21

Instrument cluster

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19

Red and yellow: continue driving
cautiously

The brake warning lamp comes
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS

●

and
ASC+T/DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC,
ASC+T/DSC and ADB control
system has failed. Continue
driving cautiously and defen-
sively. Avoid full brake applications.
Please have the system checked by
your BMW center as soon as possible.
Additional information beginning on
page 88
CBC, ABS, ASC+T/DSC and
ADB/DBC indicator and warning
lamps for Canadian models.

Orange: consult the nearest BMW
center

Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission has
responded to a malfunction by
reverting to operation in its emergency
default program. Please consult the
nearest BMW center.
For additional information: refer to
page 74

Yellow: check as soon as possible

Engine oil level
If the lamp comes on during
normal vehicle operation: the
engine oil level has fallen to the abso-
lute minimum; refill as soon as possible.
Do not drive more than approx.
30 miles/50 km before refilling.
For additional information: refer to
page 136
Engine oil level
Comes on after the engine has
been switched off: add engine
oil at the earliest opportunity, such as
the next time you stop to refuel.
For additional information: refer to
page 136

Brake pads

●

Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information: refer
to page 124
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)/Flat
Tire Monitor

●

Check tire inflation pressures.
Refer to pages 25, 92, 93
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic Sta-
bility Control (DSC)

●

Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is actively regulating drive
torque and braking force.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
The ASC+T has been switched off via
the button, ADB is operational; or DSC
has been switched off using the button,
DTC is operational.
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.
Additional information beginning on
page 88

Indicator and warning lamps

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21
Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise con-
trol is activated: ready for oper-
ation via the steering wheel with multi-
function buttons.
For additional information: refer to
page 79
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch
on the fog lamps.
For additional information: refer to
page 98

Blue: for your information

High beams
Comes on when the high beams
are on or the headlamp flasher
is actuated.
For additional information: refer to
pages 77, 97

Indicator and warning lamps

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23
Hazard warning triangle*The hazard warning triangle is stored in
the luggage compartment lid inside the
container for the onboard tools.
To open the container, loosen the wing
nut.
Always observe all legal regula-
tions requiring a warning triangle
to be carried in the vehicle.<
First-aid kit*The first-aid kit is located under the
passenger seat.
To open: pull the handle and fold the
cover down.
To close: fold the cover up and press it
until the tab engages.
Some of the articles in the first-aid
kit have a limited period of use
before expiration. For this reason,
check the expiration dates of each of
the items regularly and replace any
whose expiration dates have passed.
You can purchase replacements in any
drugstore or pharmacy.
Always observe all legal regulations
requiring a first-aid kit to be carried in
the vehicle.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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