key BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE 2003 E46 Owner's Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: BMW, Model Year: 2003, Model line: M3 CONVERTIBLE, Model: BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE 2003 E46Pages: 166, PDF Size: 4.29 MB
Page 80 of 166

80Everything under control
Odometer1Odometer
2Trip odometerOdometerYou can activate the displays shown in 
the illustration with the ignition key in 
position 0 by pressing the left button, 
see arrow, in the instrument cluster.Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero, 
press the left button – see arrow – with 
the ignition key in position 1 or higher.
TachometerVariable pre-warning zoneThe yellow pre-warning zone displays 
current permissible engine speeds, 
depending on the engine temperature. 
As the engine temperature climbs, 
some of the sectors for this pre-warning 
zones will go out one after the other.
Avoid engine speeds in the early warn-
ing zone if possible.
Never allow the engine to operate with 
the needle in the red overspeed zone of 
the gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is 
interrupted when you approach this 
sector.
Temperature gaugeThe general operating temperature lies 
between 1757/806 and 2507/ 
1206. During high-performance driv-
ing, do not exceed a maximum value of 
3007/1506.
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82
Service interval displayRemaining distance to next 
serviceThe displays shown in the illustration 
appear for a few seconds when the 
ignition key is in position 1 or higher or 
after the engine is started.
The next service due appears with the 
message OIL SERVICE or 
INSPECTION, together with the dis-
tance remaining in miles – in kilometers 
in Canada – before the next scheduled 
service.
The computer bases its calculations of 
the remaining distance on the preced-
ing driving style.
A flashing message and a "–" in front of 
the number mean that the service inter-
val has already been exceeded by the 
distance shown on the display. Please 
contact your BMW center for an 
appointment.
Check ControlDisplayWhen the ignition key is in position 2 or 
higher, the following information or 
conditions are displayed until the cause 
has been corrected:
1Inspect the low-beam and high-beam 
headlamps, as well as the parking 
lamps
2Door open
3Luggage compartment lid open
4Check brake and tail lamps
When you open the driver's door after 
completing a journey, an acoustic 
warning signal will sound if you have 
forgotten to turn off the headlamps.
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83
ClockIf you wish to have a permanent time 
display, you can make this adjustment 
in the car radio* display, refer to the 
Owner's Manual for Radio.
You can set the time of day, and the 
display for the car radio, as follows.
To adjustWhen the ignition key is in position 1 or 
higher, the time of day appears in the 
display.
To set ahead: turn the right button to 
the right.
To set back: turn the right button to the 
left.
The adjustment speed will increase the 
longer you continue to hold the right 
button.
To change the display mode: press the 
right button briefly.
Every time you press the knob, the 
clock display alternates between the 
12-hour and 24-hour mode.
In ignition key position 0: the time is 
displayed for a few seconds after you 
press the left button, refer to Odometer 
on page 80.
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84
ComputerMode selectionWith the ignition key in position 1 and 
higher, you can use the button in the 
turn signal lever to retrieve information 
from the computer for display in the 
instrument cluster. Each time you press 
the button briefly in the direction of the 
steering column, a new function is 
called up in the display.
The displays appear in the following 
order:
Time of day, outside temperature, aver-
age fuel consumption, cruising range, 
average vehicle speed.
When the ignition key is in position 1 or 
higher, the last active setting is dis-
played.
Outside temperatureYou can change the units of measure – 
6/7 – for the outside temperature dis-
play by pressing the right-hand reset 
button in the instrument cluster while 
the temperature display is active. The 
units of measure – 6/7 – in the tem-
perature display of the automatic cli-
mate control change automatically, 
refer to page 96.Ice warningIf the outside temperature drops to 
about 37.57/+36, then the computer 
will automatically switch to a display of 
the outside temperature. In addition, a 
signal sounds as a warning and the dis-
play flashes for a brief period.
After giving an ice warning, the 
display returns to the previous 
setting.<
The ice warning does not alter the 
fact that surface ice can form at 
temperatures above 37.57/+36, on 
bridges or shaded road surfaces, for 
instance.<
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86Technology for safety and driving convenience
Park Distance Control (PDC)*The conceptPDC assists you when you back into a 
parking space. Acoustic signals alert 
you to the momentary distance to an 
object behind your vehicle. To do this, 
four ultrasonic sensors in the rear 
bumper measure the distance to the 
nearest object. The range for the sen-
sors located at both rear corners ends 
approx. 2  ft/60  cm behind the bumpers. 
The range for the two middle sensors is 
slightly less than 5 ft/1.50 m.
PDC is a parking aid that can 
identify objects if they are 
approached slowly, as is generally the 
case when parking. Avoid driving 
towards objects rapidly; due to underly-
ing physical principles, the system may 
otherwise alert you too late for you to 
take evasive steps.<
The system is activated automatically 
about one second after you engage 
reverse with the ignition key in 
position 2. 
Let this short period elapse before 
driving backwards.<
PDC is deactivated when you shift back 
out of Reverse.
You can have a signal set to con-
firm that the PDC has been acti-
vated.<
Acoustic signalsThe distance to the nearest object is 
indicated by a tone sounding at various 
intervals. As the distance between vehi-
cle and object decreases, the intervals 
between the tones become shorter. A 
continuous tone indicates the pres-
ence of an object less than 1 ft/30 cm 
away.
The warning signal is canceled after 
approx. three seconds if the distance to 
the object remains constant during this 
time – if you are moving parallel to 
a wall, for instance.
System malfunctions will be indicated 
by a continuous high-pitched tone 
when the system is activated the first 
time. Please have your BMW center 
resolve the problem.
PDC does not remove the driver's 
personal responsibility for evaluat-
ing the distance between the vehicle 
and any objects. Even when sensors 
are involved, there is a blind spot in 
which objects cannot be detected. This 
applies especially in those cases where 
the system approaches the physical 
limits of ultrasonic measurement, as 
occurs with tow bars and trailer cou-
plings, and in the vicinity of thin or 
wedge-shaped objects. Moreover, low 
objects that have already been 
detected – such as a curb edge – can 
disappear out of the detection range of 
the sensors before a continuous tone 
sounds.
Loud sources of sound from outside or 
inside the vehicle could drown out the 
PDC signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free 
of ice or snow in order to ensure 
that they will continue to operate effec-
tively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the 
sensors for a prolonged period of time. 
Always maintain a distance of more 
than 4 in/10 cm.<
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89
Initializing the systemInitializing is necessary to familiarize the 
system with the correct inflation pres-
sures.
Repeat this process after any changes 
in tire inflation pressure, tire rotation or 
replacement.
1. Check the tire inflation pressures in 
all the tires, comparing them with the 
inflation pressure table, refer to 
page 25, and adjust them if neces-
sary
2. Turn the ignition key to position 2
3. Press button as long as you need to 
until the indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. After a little 
while, the indicator lamp will go out 
by itself
4. After a few minutes, the Flat Tire 
Monitor will accept the current infla-
tion pressure as the value to be mea-
sured against, and from that point on 
can detect and report a flat tire.
To activate/deactivate the systemThe system is automatically activated in 
ignition key position 2 and conse-
quently is on whenever the vehicle is 
operated.
To deactivate the system: tap the but-
ton, the indicator lamp will light up yel-
low.
To activate the system: tap the button 
again; the indicator lamp goes out.
Deactivate the system when snow 
chains are mounted, since false warn-
ings and undetected losses in pressure 
are possible under these kinds of con-
ditions.
Flat Tire Monitor
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91
M Engine dynamics controlThe system – Sport mode – will cause 
the engine to respond more spontane-
ously to any motion of the accelerator 
pedal.Activating/deactivating Sport 
modeActivating: with the ignition key in posi-
tion 2, press the SPORT button. The 
indicator lamp will come on.
Each time you activate the sys-
tem, the vehicle may gain speed 
without any additional pressure on the 
accelerator pedal.<
Deactivating: press the SPORT button 
again; the indicator lamp will go out.
The Sport mode is deactivated every 
time the engine is started.
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92Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beamsParking lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle 
lighting is switched on. You can 
use this to signal the position of 
the vehicle when it is parked. For light-
ing on one side for parking as an addi-
tional feature, refer to page 93.
Low beams
When you switch the ignition off 
with the low-beam headlamps 
on, only the parking lamps will 
remain on.
Follow me home lampsWhen you activate the headlamp 
flasher after parking the vehicle and 
switching off the lights, the low beams 
will come on for a brief period.
You can also have this function 
deactivated.<
LIGHTS ON warningWhenever you open the driver's door 
after having turned the ignition key to 
position 0, you will hear an acoustic 
signal for a few seconds to remind you 
that the lamps have not been switched 
off.Daytime driving lamps*If you desire, the light switch can be left 
in the low-beam position: when the 
ignition is switched off, the external 
lighting is also switched off.
Observe the legal regulations regarding 
the use of daytime driving lamps.
When required, switch on the parking 
lamps as usual as described under 
Parking lamps.
You can have the activation set-
tings for the daytime driving lamps 
programmed on your vehicle.<
Automatic headlamp control*
When the switch is in this posi-
tion, the system automatically 
responds to changes in ambient 
light – in tunnels, at dusk, etc. – and to 
rain and snow by switching the low 
beams on or off.
The vehicle's external lamps 
remain on constantly when you 
switch on the front fog lamps after the 
headlamps have come on automati-
cally.<
Automatic headlamp control can-
not serve as a substitute for your 
personal judgement in determining 
when the lamps should be switched on. 
For example, the sensors are not able 
to detect fog. In such situations switch 
on the lamp manually, as otherwise a 
safety hazard will result.<
You can have the sensitivity of 
your vehicle's automatic head-
lamp control adjusted.<
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93
Instrument lightingTurn the rotary dial to control the light-
ing when the parking or low beam 
lamps are on.
High beams/Standing lamps1High beams – blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher – blue indicator 
lamp
3Standing lampsStanding lamps, left or rightAs an additional feature, you can illumi-
nate your vehicle on either side for 
parking, if you wish to do so:
With the ignition key in position 0, push 
the lever in the appropriate direction. 
The lever engages in the turn signal 
position.
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95
Rear reading lampsWith the hardtop reading lamps are also 
located in the rear, refer to page 113. 
Switch on and off with the button adja-
cent to each lamp.
In order to prevent battery dis-
charge, all of the lamps in the 
vehicle are automatically switched off 
approx. 15 minutes after you turn the 
ignition key to position 0.
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