ESP BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE 2003 E46 Owner's Guide

107
Securing the cargo in the luggage
compartment >For small, light items, use the rubber-
lined non-skid side of the floor mat or
secure with a luggage compartment
net* or elastic straps, refer to page 37
>For large, heavy pieces, see your
BMW center for load-securing
devices*. Lashing fittings located in
the luggage compartment can be
used for fastening the load-securing
devices.
Comply with the information enclosed
with the load-securing devices.
Roof-mounted luggage rack for the hardtop*A special roof-rack system is available
as an optional extra for your BMW.
Please observe the precautions
included with the installation instruc-
tions.AnchoragesAccess to the mounting points:
To fold up the cover – see arrow –
please use the tool which is provided
with the luggage system.Loading and driving notesBecause roof racks raise the center of
gravity of the vehicle when loaded, they
exercise a major effect on its handling
and steering response.
When loading, be sure to remember not
to exceed the approved roof weight or
the approved gross vehicle weight or
the axle loads. You will find the specifi-
cations under Technical data on
page 152.
Make sure that the load is not too bulky,
and attempt to distribute it evenly.
Always load the heaviest pieces first so
that they are at the bottom. Make sure
that no objects get in the way when the
luggage compartment lid is opening or
closing.
Secure the roof-mounted luggage cor-
rectly and safely to prevent it from shift-
ing or being lost during driving.
Drive smoothly and avoid sudden
acceleration or braking. Do not corner
at high speeds.
Cargo loading
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 107 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

110Special operating instructions
Break-in proceduresTo ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long
service life, we request that you
observe the following suggestions.
Because of its engineering design,
the BMW M3 convertible is an
especially high-quality vehicle. It is in
your best interest to follow the break-in
tips very closely. Doing this, you will
create the basis for a long, optimum
service life.Up to 1,250 miles/2,000 km: drive at
varying engine and road speeds, but
do not exceed the following engine or
road speeds:
5,500 rpm or 105 mph/170 km/h.
Obey your local and state maximum
speed limits.
Do not depress the accelerator pedal to
the full-throttle position.
Vehicles with SMG II, refer to page 71:
refrain from using driving program 6 in
the sequential mode during the break-
in period.
>Following the break-in inspection at
1,250 miles/2,000 km, you can grad-
ually increase engine or road speeds.
Follow the same break-in procedure if
either the engine or the differential
should have to be replaced in the
future.TiresDue to technical factors associated
with their manufacture, tires do not
achieve their full traction potential until
an initial break-in period has elapsed.
Thus drive with extra care during the
initial 200 miles/300 km.
Obey your local and state maximum
speed limits.
When the vehicle is operated on
wet or slushy roads, a wedge of
water may form between the tire and
the road surface. This phenomenon is
referred to as hydroplaning, and can
lead to partial or complete loss of trac-
tion, vehicle control and braking effec-
tiveness. Reduce your speed on wet
roads. before the brake pads and rotors
achieve the optimal pad-surface and
wear patterns required for trouble-free
operation and long service life later on.
To break in the separate parking brake
drums, apply the parking brake lightly
when coasting to a standstill – at a traf-
fic signal, for instance – use caution to
avoid posing a danger to other road
users.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this proce-
dure from time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on
when the parking brake is set.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the
vehicle with the engine off – when tow-
ing, for example – substantially higher
levels of pedal force will be required to
brake the vehicle. optimally after about 300 miles/500 km.
Drive cautiously during this break-in
period and do not press the clutch or
shift at high engine speeds.
handbook.book Page 110 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

111
Driving notes
Brakes: do not rest your foot on
the brake pedal while driving.
Even light but consistent pedal pres-
sure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake
failure.
Hydroplaning: when driving on wet or
slushy roads, reduce road speed. If you
do not, a wedge of water can form
between tires and road surface. This
phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or com-
plete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness.
Driving through water: do not drive
through water on the road if it is deeper
than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at walk-
ing speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's
engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Antilock Brake System (ABS)The conceptThe Antilock Brake System (ABS) keeps
the wheels from locking during braking,
thereby enhancing active driving safety.Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits
of the ABS system if you apply maxi-
mum pedal pressure, panic stop. Since
the vehicle maintains steering respon-
siveness, you can avoid possible obsta-
cles with a minimum of steering effort,
despite the full brake application.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
to indicate to the driver that ABS is in
its active mode.Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced engineering
design of the ABS. When braking while
cornering at high speed or braking dur-
ing high lateral acceleration, or when
braking during a lane change, vehicle
stability is improved and steering
response is enhanced.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 111 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

112
Brake systemBrake fluid levelLow brake fluid level in the reservoir
combined with longer than usual pedal
travel may indicate a defect in one of
the brake system's hydraulic circuits.
Proceed to the nearest BMW cen-
ter. Higher brake application pres-
sure may be necessary when stopping,
and the vehicle may exhibit a slight ten-
dency to pull to one side. Brake dis-
tances may even be longer. Please
remember to adapt your driving style
accordingly. sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in
operating conditions where brake appli-
cations are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs
because the minimal pressure that must
be exerted by the pads to clean the
rotors by brake applications is not
reached.
Corrosion on brake rotors is signaled by
a running or pulsation during braking;
even extended subsequent braking will
not cure this phenomenon.
It is a good idea to periodically dry the
brakes with a gentle application when
driving in rain and on wet roads. Watch
traffic conditions to ensure that this
maneuver does not endanger other
road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors
to ensure that your brake system will
respond with undiminished efficiency
when you need it.
Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear in which
only minimal periodic brake applica-
tions are required. This helps avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake
system. Stay within the allowable rpm
range. For additional information, refer
to page 80.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the gearshift
lever in idle. Do not coast with the
engine switched off. If you do so the
engine provides no braking effect and
there is no power assist for braking or
steering when the engine is not run-
ning.<
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only
brake pads which BMW has
approved for your specific vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if
they are suitable for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed.<
handbook.book Page 112 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

115 Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressureInformation for your safetyThe factory-approved tires are matched
to your vehicle and have been selected
to provide optimum safety and driving
comfort when used properly.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – above all else
– driving safety that depend on the con-
dition of the tires and the maintenance
of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect tire inflation pressure is
a frequent cause of tire damage. It
also significantly influences the road-
holding ability of your BMW. Check tire
inflation pressures on a regular basis,
refer to page 25, at least every two
weeks and before beginning a longer
trip. Incorrect tire pressure can other-
wise lead to driving instability, tire dam-
age and accidents.<
Tire conditionTire tread – tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 1/8 in / 3 mm, even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is only 1/16 in / 1.6 mm.
Below 1/8 in / 3 mm tread depth, there
is a great risk of hydroplaning, even at
relatively moderate speeds and with
only small amounts of water on the
road. Tread wear indicators in the
tread-groove base – see arrow – are
distributed around the wheel circumfer-
ence and are labeled on the tire side-
wall with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. At
a tread depth of 1/16 in / 1.6 mm, the
indicators signal that the legally permis-
sible wear limit has been reached.
Do not drive on a deflated – flat –
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not
exceeded. Overloading can lead to
overheating and internal tire damage.
You could have a blowout as a result.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect.
This type of problem can be caused by
contact with curbs, etc. This is also true
for irregularities in the vehicle's han-
dling characteristics, such as a pro-
nounced tendency to pull to the left or
right. Should this occur, respond by
immediately reducing your speed. Pro-
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 115 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

116
ceed carefully to the nearest BMW cen-
ter or professional tire center, or have
the vehicle towed in to have it, its
wheels or its tires inspected.
Tire damage, up to and including blow-
outs, can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users<
Tire replacementDOT quality grades>Treadwear
>Traction AA A B C
>Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades. rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half – 1
1/2 – times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.
TractionThe traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics. highest – B and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive tem-
perature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Tire condition
handbook.book Page 116 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

118
Wheel and tire combinationsThe right choice
BMW recommends using only
wheels and tires that have been
approved by BMW for use on your par-
ticular model. Although other wheels
and tires may theoretically have the
same dimensions, variations in factors
such as manufacturing tolerances can
result in contact between tire and body-
work, ultimately leading to serious acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires
are used, BMW cannot evaluate their
suitability, and therefore cannot be held
liable for driving safety.<
BMW tests certain tire brands for each
tire size, classifies them as road-safe
and approves them. Consult your BMW
center for more information. Observe
any country-specific regulations, e.g.
on making a corresponding entry in the
vehicle documents.
The correct wheel and tire combi-
nation affects different systems
such as ABS, DSC, Flat Tire Monitor.
The function of these systems is
impaired if improper wheel and tire
combinations are used.
Therefore, only use tires of the same
brand and same tread configuration on
the vehicle and, for example following a
tire failure, restore the approved wheel
and tire combination as soon as possi-
ble.<
The use of rims and lug bolts that
do not meet the specifications of
the original factory-installed equipment
will affect the safe operation of your
vehicle and may cause an accident and
personal injury.
Never mix tires of different design, such
as steel-belted radials with radial bias-
belted or bias-ply tires, etc. Mixing tire
types will adversely affect roadholding
and can lead to loss of vehicle con-
trol.<
StorageStore wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place, protecting them against light
whenever possible. Protect the tires
against contact with oil, grease and
fuel.
Winter tiresChoosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires – M+S
tires – for operation under inclement
winter driving conditions. While all-sea-
son tires – M+S designation – provide
better winter traction than the corre-
sponding summer tires, they generally
do not achieve the performance of win-
ter tires.
In the interest of safe tracking and
steering response, install radial tires
made by the same manufacturer and
with the same tread configuration on all
four wheels if you elect to mount winter
tires.
When mounting winter wheels,
observe the different recesses of
the front and rear wheels, as otherwise
damage may result.<
handbook.book Page 118 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

124
Washer fluidsHeadlamp* and windshield
washer systemCapacity approx.
5.6 US quarts/5.3 liters.
Fill with water and – if required – with a
washer antifreeze additive according to
manufacturer's recommendations.
We recommend that you mix the
washer fluid before adding it to
the reservoir.<
Antifreeze agents for the washer
fluid are highly flammable. For this
reason, keep them away from sources
of flame and store them only in their
closed original containers, inaccessible
to children. Comply with the instruc-
tions on the containers.<
Engine oilChecking the oil level1. Park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Switch the engine off after it has
reached normal operating tempera-
ture
3. After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dip-
stick out and wipe it off with a clean
lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar
material
4. Carefully push the dipstick all the
way into the guide tube and pull it
out again
5. The oil level should be between the
two marks on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption
is directly influenced by your driving
style and vehicle operating conditions.
The oil volume between the two marks
on the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.4 US quarts/1.3 liter.
handbook.book Page 124 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

131
If the indicator blinks or flashes, this
indicates a high level of engine misfire.
Reduce speed and contact your near-
est BMW center immediately. Severe
engine misfiring for even a short period
of time can seriously damage emission-
control system components, especially
the catalytic converter.
Service Engine Soon warning
lamp for Canadian models.
If the fuel filler cap is not on tight
enough, the OBD system can
detect leaking vapor and the indicator
will light up. If the fuel filler cap is then
tightened, the indicator will usually go
out after a short period of time. OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 131 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM

143
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 bal-
anced. Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor,
and refer to page 89 for further informa-
tion. 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.
Battery
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds. Wash hands after
handling.<
MaintenanceThe battery is completely maintenance-
free. That means that the original bat-
tery acid will normally last for the ser-
vice life of the battery under moderate
climate conditions.
Please consult your BMW center
whenever you have any questions
concerning the battery. Since the bat-
tery is absolutely maintenance-free, the
following statements are for your infor-
mation only.<
Never disconnect the battery
when the engine is running; the
ensuing voltage surge would seriously
damage the vehicle's onboard elec-
tronic systems. when the engine is not running. Use the
connections provided in the engine
compartment. For information on the
connections, see Jump-starting,
page 145.
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.<
Repairing a flat tire
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
handbook.book Page 143 Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:28 AM