BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE 2002 E46 Owner's Manual

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Lamps and bulbsCenter (high-mount) brake lamp

LED strip in luggage compartment lid.
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.
License plate lamps 5 watt bulb
1. Place a screwdriver in the slot and
press toward the left (arrow) to
release the lens
2. Replace the bulb.

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Repairing a flat tire
Precautions in case of a flat tire:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible
from passing traffic; switch on the
hazard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position and engage the steering
lock. Shift into 1st or reverse and
engage the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area (behind a guardrail,
for instance).
If necessary, set up your warning
triangle or portable hazard warning
lamp on the roadside at an appropriate
distance from the rear of the vehicle.
Comply with all safety guidelines and
regulations.<
M Mobility systemYou will find an M Mobility system in
your BMW M3 convertible for repairing
flat tires. With this system you can
apply a sealing liquid to the inside of
the tire that seals off the damaged point
and then continue driving.
The M Mobility system makes trans-
porting a spare wheel superfluous,
thereby reducing the amount of weight
you have to carry around. Using the M Mobility systemTo repair a flat tire using the M Mobility
system, proceed as follows:
>Prepare the M Mobility system for
use, refer to the next column
>This is part of the M Mobility system,
refer to page 133
>Filling with sealant, refer to page 133
>Distributing sealant, refer to
page 134
>Inflating tire to correct pressure, refer
to page 135.
Preparing the M Mobility system
for useThe M Mobility system is located in the
luggage compartment under the floor
panel:
1. Lift the floor panel (refer to page 35)
2. Loosen the M Mobility system from
its storage location.
Before you use the M Mobility
system, read the warnings and
danger notices on the device care-
fully.<
If possible, leave the foreign object in
the tire.
Pull off the sticker 5 (refer to the second
column on the right) for the speed limit
and apply it to the steering wheel.

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Repairing a flat tire
Please note that the system's
sealant container must be
replaced every three years by your
BMW center if the device is not used.<
This is part of the M Mobility
system1 On/Off switch
2 Connection hose with manometer for
connecting the compressor with the
sealant container or to connect the
compressor to the wheel
3 Manometer for indicating the tire
pressure
4 Connector hose from the sealant
container to the wheel
5 Sticker with speed limit
6 Plug and cable for the cigarette
lighter socket
7 Protective gloves (not shown)
Filling with sealant1. Take off the round cover and take out
hose 4. Unscrew the valve dust cap
from the defective wheel and screw
the hose to the valve. Keep the dust
cap in a safe place

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Repairing a flat tire2. Flip open the cover and pull out the
enclosed protective gloves. Take out
hose 2 with the manometer and
screw it to the terminal for the
sealant container as shown in the
illustration
3. Make sure that the system has been
switched off (position 0).
Take out plug 6 and plug it into the
cigarette lighter socket in the
passenger compartment (refer to
page 97)
4. Make sure that the screw on the rear
of the pressure gauge 3 is tightened
down. Turn on the M Mobility system
(position I, refer to illustration) and
allow minutes to elapse, to let the
sealant flow in. It does not matter
afterward, what the tire's inflation
pressure is
5. Turn the sealant off.
Disconnect the connector hose from
the sealant container and the wheel
valve. Stow the M Mobility system in
the luggage compartment.
Distributing the sealantRight afterward, drive at least 1.2 miles
(2 km), so that the liquid sealant distrib-
utes evenly throughout the inside of the
tire.
Do not exceed a maximum speed
of 40 mph (60 km/h). If possible,
keep the vehicle speed above 10 mph
(20 km/h).
Stop in a suitable spot.<

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Repairing a flat tire Inflating tire to correct pressure1. Take out the hose with the pressure
gauge and screw it onto the valve.
Take the plug out and plug it into the
cigarette lighter socket in the
passenger compartment
2. Reset the air pressure to 29 psi
(200 kilopascal), and:
>Increase tire pressure: turn on the
M Mobility system (position I). Turn
the unit off while you check the
current setting for the tire inflation
pressure
>Decrease tire pressure: turn the
screw on the back of the mano-
meter, a valve located there will
open
Even if the tire fails to hold the
pressure, you should still carry out
Step 3 before proceeding to drive the
vehicle again, refer to "Distributing
sealant" for more information. Then
repeat Steps 1 through 3.
The use of the M Mobility system may
be ineffective if the damaged area in
the tire is larger than approx. 0.16 in
(4 mm). Please consult the nearest
BMW center if the tire cannot be
temporarily repaired with the M Mobility
system.<
3. Unscrew the hose from the valve and
stow the M Mobility system in the
luggage compartment. Screw the
dust cap onto the valve again.
Do not exceed the maximum
speed limit described below,
otherwise it could lead to accidents.<
When you start driving again, do not
exceed the permissible maximum
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
You will find corresponding
instructions for using the
M Mobility system on the device.
Replace the defective tire as soon as
possible and have the new wheel
balanced. Reinitialize the Flat Tire
Monitor, and refer to page 83 for further
information. Have the M Mobility
system refilled. Contact your BMW
center for this.<
Protect valve stems against dirt using
screw-on dust caps. Dirty valve stems
frequently lead to slow pressure loss.

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Battery Fuses
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds. Wash hands after
handling.<
Maintenance The battery is completely maintenance-
free. That means that the original
battery acid will normally last for the
service life of the battery under
moderate climate conditions.
For all questions that regard the
battery, please consult your BMW
center. Since the battery is absolutely
maintenance-free, the following state-
ments are for your information only.<
Do not disconnect the battery
when the engine is running. If you
do so, the ensuing voltage surge will
damage the vehicle's onboard elec-
tronics.<
Charging the battery Charge the battery in the vehicle only
when the engine is not running. Use the
connections provided in the engine
compartment (for correct connections,
refer to "Jump-starting" on page 138.
Return used batteries to a recy-
cling point or your BMW center.
Maintain the battery in an upright posi-
tion for transport and storage. Secure
the battery against tilting in transit.<
Open the glove compartment and turn
the two white quick-release connec-
tions outward.
Do not attempt to repair a burned
fuse or replace it with a fuse
having a different color or amperage
rating. To do this could cause a fire in
the vehicle resulting from a circuit over-
load.<

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Do not use spray starter fluids to start
the engine.
When your battery is discharged you
can use two jumper cables to start your
vehicle with power from the battery in a
second vehicle. You can also use the
same method to help start another
vehicle. Use only jumper cables with
fully insulated handles on the terminal
clamps. Do not touch high-voltage wiring
and cables on a running engine.
There is a risk of fatal injury if you do
this.
Carefully observe the following instruc-
tions to avoid personal injury and/or
damage to one or both vehicles.< Jump-starting

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Jump-starting1. Ensure that the battery in the support
vehicle is also rated at 12 volts. This
information is provided on the top of
the battery casing
2. Do not disconnect your battery from
your vehicle's electrical system.
Switch off all electrical accessories in
both vehicles
3. Make absolutely certain that there is
no contact between the bodywork of
the two vehicles Ð short circuit hazard
4. Start the engine on the support
vehicle and allow it to run
5. Use one jumper cable (+) to connect
the positive terminal of the battery in
the support vehicle with the auxiliary
positive terminal provided in the
engine compartment of your BMW
specifically for jump-starting. The
cover of the positive terminal
connector is marked with a "+" sign.
Refer to the illustration. Remove by
pulling the tab (arrow 1)
6. Next, connect one end of the other
jumper cable (Ð) to either the support
vehicle's negative battery terminal or
a suitable ground on its engine or
bodywork. Connect the other end to
the negative battery terminal or a
suitable ground on the vehicle being
started. There is a special nut
provided for this on the BMW
(arrow 2)
Always adhere to this sequence
when connecting jumper cables;
failure to observe this procedure can
lead to sparks at the battery terminals
and pose an injury hazard.<
7. Allow the engine on the support
vehicle to run at a fast idle for several
minutes, then start the engine on the
vehicle with the discharged battery in
the usual manner. If the first start
attempt is not successful, wait a few
minutes before another attempt in
order to allow the discharged battery
to recharge
8. Allow the engines to run for several
minutes before disconnecting the
jumper cables
9. Then disconnect the jumper cables
in the opposite order.
Have the battery recharged at your
BMW center as required.

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Towing the vehicleTow fittingThe tow fitting, which can be
unscrewed, is in the luggage compart-
ment under the floor mat and must
remain in the vehicle. This fitting
is designed for installation in the tow
sockets located at the front and rear of
the vehicle. It is intended for towing on
paved road surfaces only.
It should not be used to pull a vehicle
out of deep snow, mud, sand, etc.
Comply with all applicable towing laws
and regulations at all times.
Access to tow socketsFront:
Press out the cover panel with a screw-
driver above on the recess.
Rear:
Press out the cover panel with a screw-
driver above on the recess.
Screw the tow fitting in until it
bottoms firmly. If this is not done,
the threads could be damaged.
Do not tow the vehicle by any compo-
nents of the running gear, or lash them
down in any way. If you do, the compo-
nents could be damaged, leading to
possible accidents.<
Keep the vehicles in line and avoid
towing at an offset angle. Ensure
that the tow rope connecting the two
vehicles is tight, with no slack, before
starting off.<

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Towing the vehicleUse only a nylon towing strap to tow
the vehicle, since the inherent resil-
ience of this material helps protect both
vehicles from sudden jerking move-
ments.
The towed vehicle should always
be the lighter of the two vehicles.
If this is not the case, it will not be
possible to control vehicle handling. to page 137.
Never attempt to use your vehicle to
push another vehicle, since damage to
the energy-absorbing bumpers could
result.
Towing a vehicle1. Gearshift lever in neutral
2. Towing speed:
Max. 45 mph (70 km/h)
3. Towing distance:
Max. 95 miles (150 km)
4. Leave the ignition key at position 1 to
ensure that the brake lamps, turn
signal indicators, horn and wind-
shield wipers remain operative, and
to prevent the steering lock detent
from engaging
5. Switch on the hazard warning system
(observe applicable legal regula-
tions).
Find some means of identifying the
vehicle in tow, for instance, place a sign
or warning triangle in the rear window.
Make sure that the ignition key
remains in position 1 even when
the electrical system has failed to
prevent the steering lock from
engaging.
The steering and brakes are without
power-assist when the engine is off.
This means that increased effort is
required for steering and braking.c
Vehicles with sequential M gearbox
*
SMG II:
To push or tow, engage selector lever
in position 0.
Never work on the vehicle with a
driving position engaged.c