maintenance BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE 2004 E46 Repair Manual

121
Wheel and tire combinationsThe right choice
BMW recommends using only
wheels and tires that have been
approved by BMW for your particular
vehicle model, as otherwise body con-
tact and serious accidents can result
despite the use of the same nominal
size, e.g. due to manufacturing toler-
ances. 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.<
StorageAlways store tires in a cool, dry place.
Store them away from light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against con-
tact with oil, grease and fuel.
Do not exceed the maximum tire infla-
tion pressures specified on the tire
sidewall.
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123 In the engine compartment
HoodTo releasePull the lever located under the left-
hand side of the instrument panel.
Do not attempt to service your
vehicle if you do not have the
required technical background. Failure
to work in an informed, professional
manner when servicing components
and materials constitutes a safety haz-
ard for vehicle occupants and other
road users. If you are not familiar with
the guidelines, BMW recommends that
you have the operations performed by
your BMW center.<
To openPull the release handle and open the
hood.
It is not possible to drive off using
SMG Drivelogic when the hood is
open.<
To closePull the hood downwards and allow the
hood to fall from a minimum height of
1 ft/30 cm so that it audibly engages.
Check for proper locking by pulling on
the hood at the left and right above the
headlamps.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the hood is clear
when it is closed, following the same
safety precautions used in all closing
procedures.
If you notice while driving that the hood
is not completely closed, stop immedi-
ately and close it securely.<
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125
1Filler neck for windshield and head-
lamp washer cleaning system126
2Coolant expansion tank128
3Auxiliary terminal for jump-starting –
positive terminal147
4Engine oil filler neck127
5Expansion tank for SMG Drivelogic
hydraulic unit – checking and possi-
ble refilling by your BMW center70
6Engine oil dipstick126
7Filler neck for brake fluid129Engine compartment essentials
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127
Adding engine oilOnly add engine oil when the oil level
has dropped to just above the lower
mark on the dipstick.
Do not fill beyond the upper mark on
the dipstick. Excess oil will damage the
engine.
Before checking the engine oil level
after topping up, restart the engine and
allow it to run to obtain a correct dis-
play. Then proceed as described under
Checking the oil level.
BMW engines are designed to
operate without oil additives; the
use of additives could lead to damage
in some cases. This also applies to the
manual transmission, the differential,
and the power steering system.<
Recommendation: have the oil changed
by your BMW center.
Continuous exposure to used oil
has caused cancer in laboratory
testing. For this reason, thoroughly
wash any areas of skin that come into
contact with oil using soap and water.
Store oils, grease and similar materials
so that they are inaccessible to chil-
dren. Comply with warning labels and
information on containers.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the dis-
posal of used oil. extremely important for the function
and life of an engine. Based on exten-
sive testing, BMW has approved only
certain grades of engine oil.
Use only oils approved for your vehicle
model.
Ask your BMW center for details
concerning oils that have been
approved. You can also call BMW of
North America toll-free at 1-800-831-
1117 or visit this website:
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this infor-
mation.<
Alternative oil typesIf a High Performance Synthetic Oil
approved by BMW should be unavail-
able, you may use small volumes of
other synthetic oils for topping up
between oil changes. The following
data must appear on the packaging:
>Viscosity
preferred: SAE 10W-60
alternative: SAE 5W-40 or
SAE 10W-40
>Specifications
preferred: API SJ/CF
alternative: API SJ – also SK, SL, S
etc.Low ambient temperaturesThe oils used by BMW at the factory for
your vehicle model can be used at virtu-
ally any ambient temperature.
Engine oil
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129
3. If necessary, add coolant. If the cool-
ant is low, slowly add coolant until
the correct level is reached — do not
overfill.
Brake fluidIndicator lamp
The brake warning lamp comes
on when the parking brake is
not engaged: brake fluid level
too low, refer to page 18.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Adding brake fluidFor adding brake fluid or for determin-
ing and correcting the cause of brake
fluid loss, consult your BMW center.
Your BMW center is familiar with the
specifications for factory-approved
brake fluids – DOT 4.
Due to loss in brake fluid, pedal travel
can lengthen and braking efficiency
may be reduced. Refer to the informa-
tion on page 114.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the safety and reli-
ability of the brake system, have the
brake fluid changed every two years by
a BMW center. Refer also to the Service
and Warranty Information Booklet for
US models or the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
Brake fluid is toxic and damages the
vehicle's paint. You should always store
it in its closed original container and in
a location inaccessible to children.
Do not spill the brake fluid and do not
fill the brake fluid reservoir beyond the
MAX mark. The brake fluid could ignite
upon contact with hot engine parts and
cause serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating
the disposal of brake fluid.<
Coolant
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130Maintenance
The BMW Maintenance SystemThe BMW Maintenance System has
been designed as a reliable means of
providing maximum driving and operat-
ing safety – and as cost-effectively for
you as possible. Please keep in mind
that regular maintenance is not only
necessary for the safety of your vehicle,
but also plays a significant role in main-
taining the resale value of the vehicle.Service interval displayWhile conventional systems rely on dis-
tance traveled alone to determine when
service is due, the BMW Maintenance
System has for years taken the actual
conditions under which the vehicle
operates into consideration, because
miles can be traveled in many different
ways:
For example, 62,000 miles/100,000 km
short-distance driving are not equal to
the same 62,000 miles/100,000 km of
long-distance travel.
The BMW Maintenance System
includes the Engine Oil Service and
Inspections I and II.
Have a break-in inspection per-
formed at 1,250 miles/2,000 km
regardless of the service interval indi-
cated on the display.<
Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual loads on the
vehicle covers every kind of operating
situation. Minimal-use drivers – those
who drive significantly fewer than
6,200 miles/10,000 km annually –
should have the engine oil changed at
least every 2 years since oil deterio-
rates over time, regardless of use.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models/Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian modelsFor additional information on required
maintenance intervals and procedures,
please refer to the Service and War-
ranty Information Booklet for US mod-
els, or the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models.
As a precaution against corrosion, it is
advisable to have the body checked for
damage from rocks or gravel at the
same time, depending upon operating
conditions.
Have your BMW center perform
maintenance and repair.
Be sure that all maintenance work is
recorded in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models, or
in the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models. These
entries are your verification for the reg-
ular maintenance of your vehicle and
are required for the performance of
warranty repairs.<

131
CareYou can find everything you need to
know on this topic by consulting the
separate Caring for your vehicle bro-
chure.The BMW Maintenance System
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133
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 gas cap is not on tight
enough, the OBD system can
detect leaking vapor and the indicator
will light up. If the gas cap is then tight-
ened, the indicator will usually go out
after a short period of time. OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

135
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index
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137
Lamps and bulbsThe lamps and bulbs make essential
contributions to the safety of your vehi-
cle. Therefore, proceed carefully when
handling bulbs. BMW recommends that
you have such work performed by your
BMW center if you are not familiar with
the procedures.
Do not touch the glass portion of
a new bulb with your bare hands
since even small amounts of impurities
burn in to the surface and reduce the
service life of the bulb. Use a clean
cloth, paper napkin, or a similar mate-
rial, or hold the bulb by its metallic
base.<
A replacement bulb set is available from
your BMW center.
Before working on the electrical
system, switch off the electrical
accessory you are working on or dis-
connect the cable from the negative
terminal of the battery. Failure to
observe this precaution could result in
short circuits.
To prevent injuries and damage when
changing a bulb, be sure to comply with
any instructions provided by the bulb
manufacturer.<
Low beams and high beams>Low beams: H7 bulb, 55 watts
>High beams: H7 bulb, 55 watts
The H7 bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and pro-
tective gloves. Failure to comply with
this precaution could lead to injury if the
bulb is damaged.<
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.Parking lamps5 watt bulb
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.
When cleaning the headlamps, please
follow the instructions in the Caring for
your vehicle brochure.Xenon lamps*The service life of these bulbs is very
long and the probability of a failure is
very low, provided that they are not
switched on and off an unusual number
of times. If one of these bulbs should
nevertheless fail, it is possible to con-
tinue driving with great caution using
the fog lamps, provided traffic laws in
your area do not prohibit this.
Because of the extremely high
voltages involved, any work on the
xenon lighting system, including bulb-
changing, should be carried out by
technically qualified personnel only.
Otherwise, there is a risk of fatal
injury.<
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