BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE 2001 E46 Workshop Manual

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Head restraints Entering the rear
Do not remove the rear head
restraints as this would damage
them.<
For further information, please consult
your BMW center.
Do not use the rear head
restraints as storage shelves.
Always keep the travel path clear for
the rollover protection system. Never
attach any type of protective coverings
to the head restraints (refer also to the
labeling on the head restraints).<
The seat-integrated safety belt system
(SGS) ensures easier entry in the rear.
1 Lift lever 1 up and tilt the backrest
forward
2 Press and hold down button 2 in the
direction of travel until the seat has
moved into the desired position
3 Fold back and lock the backrest after
entering the rear
4 Press and hold button 2 against the
direction of travel. The seat moves
back into its previous position. If you
release button 2 beforehand, the seat
will stop in its current position.
You can lock a backrest that has
been tilted forward. This makes
sense when, for instance, someone is
climbing into the rear on an incline. To
do this, press against the backrest until
you hear it click into place. To move it
back into place, you do not need to
unlock it first by moving lever 1.<
Lock both backrests while driving,
otherwise there is a danger of an
unexpected movement causing an
accident.<
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes when the backrest is not
locked, refer to page 21.

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Mirrors Exterior mirrors1 Switch for 4-way adjustment
2 Selection switch for changing
between mirrors
You can also adjust the mirrors manu-
ally by pressing against the outer edges
of their lenses.
The mirror on the passenger's
side features a lens with a more
convex surface than the mirror installed
on the driver's side. When estimating
the distance between yourself and
other traffic, bear in mind that the
objects reflected in the mirror are closer
than they appear. Estimates of the
distance to following traffic should
therefore not be regarded as precise.< Electric defrosting
*
Both mirrors are automatically
defrosted with the ignition key in posi-
tion 2.
Passenger side exterior mirror tilt
function(automatic curb monitor)
Move the mirror selector switch 1 to the
"driver's mirror" position. When reverse
gear is engaged, the passenger side
mirror tilts downward. This allows the
driver to see the area directly adjacent
to the vehicle during parking (curbs,
etc.).
You can deactivate this automatic
feature: set the mirror selection switch
to the "passenger mirror" position.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
MirrorsInterior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming featureBy responding to the effects of ambient
light and the glare from following traffic,
this mirror automatically dims through
an infinitely variable range.
The mirror switches to its clear,
undimmed mode whenever you shift
into reverse.
There are two photocells for automatic
dimming. One photocell (arrow) is posi-
tioned in the mirror's glass, while the
other is slightly offset on the opposite
side of the mirror. For an explanation of
the electrochromic technology used in
this mirror, refer to page 173.
For the mirror to function perfectly,
keep the photocells clean and the area
between the inside rearview mirror and
the windshield free of any obstructions,
such as stickers, etc.
Sun visorsThese can be folded down toward the
windshield or swiveled out against the
side windows.Vanity mirrors Fold down the sun visor and slide the
cover panel to the side as required.

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Seat and mirror memoryYou 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
supports.<
If you press the
M
EMORY button acci-
dentally: press the button again; the
indicator lamp goes out.
To store1 Turn the key to ignition key position
1 or 2.
2 Adjust your seat and outside mirrors
to the desired position.
3 Press the
M
EMORY button: the indi-
cator lamp in the button lights up.
4 Press memory button 1, 2 or 3, as
desired: 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.<
Convenience function:
1 The driver's door is open after
unlocking or the ignition key is in
position 1.
2 Briefly press memory button 1, 2 or 3,
as desired.
Movement stops immediately when
one of the seat-adjustment or
memory buttons is activated during
the adjustment process.
Security function:
1 The driver's door is closed and the
ignition key is either removed or in
position 0 or 2.
2 Press and hold the desired memory
button 1, 2 or 3 until the adjustment
process is completed.
Your BMW center can adjust your
vehicle's systems in such a
manner that your personalized settings
are automatically set for the seat and
outside mirror positions when you
unlock the vehicle with your personal
remote control.<
If you make use of this method of
adjustment, be sure that the foot-
well behind the driver's seat is unob-
structed before unlocking the vehicle. If
you fail to do so, any persons or objects
behind the seat could be injured or
damaged by rearward movement of the
seat.<

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Adjusting steering wheel Car Memory, Key Memory 1 Push the locking lever downward.
2 Adjust the steering wheel (forward/
back and up/down) to the desired
position.
3 Pull the lever back in to clamp the
steering wheel in the new position.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while the vehicle is moving, other-
wise you run the risk of an accident
occurring due to unexpected move-
ment.<
How the system functionsYou have probably frequently wished
that you could configure individual
functions of your vehicle to reflect your
own personal requirements. In engi-
neering your vehicle, BMW has
included several user-defined func-
tions in the vehicle's design. Your BMW
center can program these settings for
you in accordance with your wishes.
There are settings related to the vehicle
("Car Memory") and settings related to
individuals ("Key Memory"). You can
have up to four different basic settings
adjusted for four different persons. The
only requirement is that each person
uses his or her own master key with
remote control.
When your vehicle is unlocked with the
remote control, the vehicle recognizes
the individual user by means of a data
exchange with the key, and makes
adjustments accordingly.
In order for you to distinguish between
different keys, colored decals are
supplied together with the keys.What the system can doYour BMW center can provide you with
details on the possibilities that the Car
Memory and Key Memory systems
offer.
Examples for Car Memory:
>Various signals that can serve as
acknowledgment for locking and
unlocking the vehicle, refer to
pages 34, 35
>Activating/deactivating operation of
"Follow-me-home lamps", refer to
page 84
>Activating/deactivating daylight
driving lamps
*, refer to page 84
>Setting the units of measure to indi-
cate outside temperature and
distance traveled on the instrument
cluster, refer to page 18.

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Car Memory, Key MemoryExamples for Key Memory:
>Locking the vehicle after driving off,
refer to page 38
>Unlocking and simultaneously
lowering the driver's window, refer to
page 36
>Automatically moving the seat and
outside mirror into position for that
particular person when unlocking the
vehicle, refer to page 54
>Calling up customized settings for the
automatic climate control when
unlocking using the remote control,
refer to page 90.
You will see this symbol
throughout the Owner's Manual. It
is to remind you at appropriate places
of the settings that are available to
you.<

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
If the safety belt system has been
subjected to the stresses involved
in an accident or otherwise damaged:
have the entire safety belt mechanism
replaced by your BMW center, includ-
ing the safety belt tensioner. In addi-
tion, have your BMW center inspect the
safety belt anchors. If a child restraint
system was in the vehicle during an
accident, consult the manufacturer's
instructions regarding replacement.<
For care instructions, refer to page 135.
Drive with your safety belt onFasten your safety belt before starting
off.
Before putting your safety belts on
in the rear, take them out of the
holder.<
To fasten: make sure you hear the
catch engage in the belt buckle.
To release: press the red button in the
buckle. Hold the belt and guide it back
into its reel.
For your safety, comply with the
following instructions for wearing
safety belts. If you do not, the safety
belts may not be able to provide their
maximum protection. The following
information also applies to your
passengers:
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a
passenger's lap.
Untwist the safety belt before putting it
on, and wear it so that it lies as snugly
as possible over your abdomen and
shoulder, and do not let it rub against
any hard or fragile objects. Never route
the belt across your neck, do not run it
across sharp edges and ensure that the
belt does not become caught
or jammed.
Avoid wearing bulky clothing and pull
on the belt periodically to re-tension it
over your shoulders. In the event of a
frontal impact, a loose lap belt could
slide over your hips, leading to abdom-
inal injury. In addition, the safety belt's
restraint effectiveness is reduced if the
belt is worn loosely.
Expectant mothers should always wear
their safety belts, taking care to position
the lap belt against the lower hips,
Safety belts

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Safety belts Transporting children safelywhere it will not exert pressure against
the abdominal area.
Leave the rear safety belts in the
holders, if they are not needed, to avoid
unwanted movement from the safety
belts at high speeds.< Safety belt height adjustmentThe front safety belts automatically
adjust to your height based on the
height adjustment of the head
restraints, refer to page 51.
If the safety belt system has been
subjected to the stresses involved
in an accident or otherwise damaged:
have the entire safety belt mechanism
replaced by your BMW center, includ-
ing the safety belt tensioner. In addi-
tion, have your BMW center inspect the
safety belt anchors. If a child restraint
system was in the vehicle during an
accident, consult the manufacturer's
instructions regarding replacement.<
Child restraint systems
*
Never install a rearward-facing
child restraint device in the front
passenger's seat. If the airbag is trig-
gered, any child in a rear-facing
restraint located within the airbag's
deployment range could sustain serious
injuries.
Children should always travel in the rear
seats, where they should be secured in
a suitable child restraint device
attached to the safety belts in the
outboard positions.
Do not use the center belts to secure a
child restraint unless the two outboard
positions are already occupied, and a
third safety seat is needed.
Never attempt to modify or change a
child restraint device in any way, as
tampering could reduce the protection
it provides in an accident.<
Commercially available child seats
complying with the legal standard are
designed to be secured with a lap belt
or with the lap belt portion of a combi-
nation lap/shoulder belt. Improperly or
inadequately installed restraint systems
can increase the risk of injury to chil-
dren. Always read and follow the
instructions that come with the system.
If you use a child restraint system with a
tether strap, two additional tether
anchorage points (refer to the arrows in
the illustration) have been provided.
They are located under the convertible
top compartment lid.
Depending on the location selected for
seating in the rear passenger area,
attach the tether strap to the corre-
sponding anchorage point to secure the
child restraint system.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Transporting children safelyLift the head restraint and pass the
tether strap between the headrest and
the seat back.
Adjust the tether strap according to the
child restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
Before installing any child restraint
device or child seat, please read
the following:
Never install a rear-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 rear-facing child restraint
system (of the kind designed for infants
under 1 year and 20 - 30 lbs/9 - 14 kg)
would be within the airbag's deploy-
ment range, you should never mount
such a device in the front passenger
seat, as 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 dashboard as possible. This
important precaution is intended to
maximize the distance between the
airbag and the child. Older children
should be tightly secured with the
safety belt.
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 rear-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.
Always ensure that all occupants (of all
ages) remain properly and securely
restrained at all times.c
All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE
J1819, an industry recommended stan-
dard for securing child restraint
systems in motor vehicles.
LATCH attachment for child seatThe brackets for the LATCH child
restraint system are not visible from the
outside and are located at the points
marked with the arrows.
Carefully press the brackets through
the seam between backrest and seat
upholstery at the locations indicated.
To mount the LATCH child
restraint system, please follow the
manufacturer's operating and safety
precautions.c
Leave the rear safety belts in the
holders, if they are not needed, to
avoid unwanted movement from the
safety belts at high speeds.c

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Transporting children safelyChild 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.
The belt cannot be extracted further.
Always comply with the installation
instructions provided by the manufac-
turer of the child restraint system.
To unlock the safety beltRelease the safety belt, remove the
child's seat and retract the safety belt
to its end position on the belt retractor.