tow BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE 2011 Owners Manual

Thank you for deciding on a BMW M3 Convertible.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with enhanced control and
security when you drive it. Therefore, we have one request:
Read the information contained in this Owner's Manual before driving your new
BMW M3 Convertible for the first time. It contains important information on vehicle
operation that will enable you to make full use of the advanced technical equipment
of your BMW M3 Convertible. In addition, you will receive information on vehicle
maintenance to help ensure operating and traffic safety as well as the best possible
value retention of your BMW. For more detailed information refer to the supplemen-
tal manuals.
BMW also makes decisive contributions toward greater safety in traffic through its
BMW driver training.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent part of this vehicle. It
should stay with the vehicle when sold to provide the next owner with important
operating, safety and maintenance information.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG

Contents

Owner service procedures

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit136
Windshield wiper blades136
Lamps and bulbs137
Tire repair with the M Mobility
system141
Battery144
Fuses145

Giving and receiving
assistance:

Receiving assistance146
Jump-starting147
Towing and tow-starting the
vehicle149

Technical data

Engine data154
Dimensions155
Weights156
Capacities157

Index

Everything from A to Z160

35
Luggage compartmentTo fold up and secure the floor
panel1. Pull up at the handle and fold the
panel up
2. Press the button to release the
hanger from the handle
3. Hook the handle into the rubber seal
of the drip rail.
Carefully replace the hanger in its
holder when lowering the floor
panel back down.<
The fittings at the corners of the lug-
gage compartment provide you with a
convenient means of attaching luggage
nets* and flexible straps for securing
luggage.
Refer also to Cargo loading on
page 104.
Enlarging luggage compartmentWith the convertible top closed, you
can enlarge the luggage compartment.
To do this, flip the handle outward and
press it down and toward the front of
the vehicle. The convertible top com-
partment panel is now raised and
secured.To fold down the convertible top
compartment panelTo open the convertible top, the con-
vertible top compartment panel must
be lowered. To do this, fold out the
handle and pull opposite the direction
of travel.
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36
When opening the convertible top,
refer to page 39, make sure that
the convertible top compartment panel
is folded down in the luggage compart-
ment; otherwise you may damage
something.<
Alarm system*The conceptThe vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the lug-
gage compartment lid are opened
>To movement inside the vehicle –
interior motion sensor
>To variations in the vehicle's tilt angle
such as those occurring during
attempts to steal the wheels or tow
the vehicle – tilt alarm sensor
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>The acoustic alarm sounds for
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>Flashing the high beams on and off in
rhythm with the hazard warning flash-
ers.To arm and disarm the alarm
systemWhen the vehicle is locked or unlocked
via the remote control or the driver's
door lock, the alarm system is also
simultaneously armed or disarmed.You can have a signal set as con-
firmation that the alarm system
has been armed or disarmed.<
You can also open the luggage com-
partment lid when the system is armed
by pressing the button of the remote
control. When it is closed, the lid is
once again secured.
Extended pressure on the button sets
off the alarm – Panic mode, refer to
page 30.
Luggage compartment

37
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes immedi-
ately after the vehicle is locked: doors
or luggage compartment lid are not
completely closed. Even if you do not
close the alerted area(s), the remain-
ing areas are secured, and the indi-
cator lamp will flash continuously
after 10 seconds. However, the inte-
rior motion sensor is not activated
>The indicator lamp goes out immedi-
ately after the vehicle is unlocked: no
manipulation or attempted intrusions
have been detected in the period
since the system was armed
>The indicator lamp flashes for
10 seconds immediately after the
vehicle is unlocked: an attempted
entry has been detected in the period
since the system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the
indicator lamp will flash continuously.Tilt alarm sensor and interior
motion sensorTilt alarm sensor:
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The
alarm system reacts, for example, to
attempts to steal the wheels or tow the
vehicle.
Interior motion sensor:
The vehicle interior is monitored up to
the height of the seat cushions. Even
when the convertible top is open, the
alarm system including the interior
motion sensor is armed. Objects falling
into the vehicle, e.g. leaves, can trigger
unintentional alarms, refer to Avoiding
unintentional alarms.Avoiding unintentional alarmsThe tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor may be switched off at the same
time. You can do this to prevent a false
alarm, e.g. in the following situations:
>In garages with elevator ramps>When the vehicle is being trans-
ported by train
>When animals are to remain in the
vehicle.
Deactivating the tilt alarm and
interior motion sensors>Press the button on the remote con-
trol twice.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor
are deactivated until the vehicle is
unlocked and locked again.
You can have the tilt alarm sensor
and the interior motion sensor
permanently deactivated.<
The system deactivates the tilt
alarm sensor and the interior
motion sensor if the convenience clos-
ing of windows and glass sunroof is
interrupted within the first 10 seconds
and then restarted. The vehicle must
then be unlocked and relocked before
the sensors will resume operation.<
Alarm system*
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41
2. Ensure that the convertible top com-
partment panel in the luggage com-
partment is folded down, refer to
page 35; otherwise, it will not be
possible to open the convertible top
3. Make sure that the luggage compart-
ment lid is closed
4. Press and hold the corresponding
button for convertible top operation.
It can take a few seconds until the
opening or closing procedure starts.
The luggage compartment lid can-
not be opened while the convert-
ible top is in motion.<
During convertible top operation
the rear window moves toward the
passenger compartment. To prevent
injuries, make sure that the closing path
of the convertible top is unobstructed.<
After having been stored for an
extended period of time in the
convertible top compartment, e.g. dur-
ing the winter months because the
hardtop was being used, you may have
to support the convertible top by hand
when closing it for the first time.
If the convertible top should halt right
before the closing phase is completed,
press against the front part of the con-
vertible top frame from the outside to
help the closing process along. Keep
pressing the button while doing so until
the top starts up again on its own.<
Indicator lamps>The red indicator lamp is lit whenever
the convertible top is in motion. It
goes out as soon as the opening or
closing operation has been com-
pleted
>If the red indicator lamp flashes after
the button is released, the convertible
top has not yet been opened or
closed completely. You can resume
operation in the desired direction by
pressing the button again
>If the yellow indicator lamp lights up
continuously with the button pressed,
the convertible top compartment
panel has been raised and the top
cannot be moved.
The side windows move down slightly
whenever the button for operating the
convertible top is pressed.
They will go back up if you keep holding
the button down for more than
2 seconds after the opening or closing
process has been completed and the
indicator lamp has gone out.InterruptionThe convertible top stops moving
immediately when the button is
released. You can resume operation in
the desired direction by pressing the
button again.
Do not close the side windows
using the power window switches
if the convertible top has not been
closed completely. Otherwise, the side
windows may not seal properly with the
rubber seals of the convertible top.<
If the opening or closing operation is
interrupted by releasing the buttons,
the convertible top remains in the
respective position for 15 minutes
before it slowly moves into a stable
position. The operation can be contin-
ued by pressing the buttons.
Convertible top
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45
3. Hold the wind deflector so that the
smaller half points toward the front
and guide the mounting pin for the
side piece into the proper opening
4. Pull back on the mounting pin for the
other side piece by using a slide, so
that the mounting pin can be guided
into the opening provided
5. Unlock the convertible top compart-
ment lid via the convertible top con-
trol button, refer to page 40, and
open the convertible top compart-
ment lid
6. Flip the back half of the wind deflec-
tor backward, so that the mounts are
lying on the vehicle
7. Close the convertible top compart-
ment lid via the convertible top con-
trol button. The wind deflector is now
attached so that it is theft-proof.
Operate the convertible top com-
partment lid from above only in
order to avoid any pinching.
With the wind deflector in place: to
avoid damaging the wind deflector
never push the front seats all the way
back. installing, just reverse the steps.
Wind deflector*
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53
MirrorsTo adjust exterior mirrors1Switch for 4-way adjustment
2Switch to select between mirrorsTo adjust manuallyThe mirrors can also be adjusted manu-
ally:
Press the edges of the lens.
To store the mirror setting, refer to Seat
and mirror memory on page 51.Curved mirrorThe outer part of each mirror conveys a
slightly distorted, larger field of vision
than the inner part of the mirror. This
helps to extend your range of vision
toward the rear and to reduce the size
of the blind spot.
The mirror on the passenger's
side is more convex than the
driver's mirror. When estimating the
distance between yourself and other
traffic, bear in mind that the objects
reflected in the mirror are closer than
they appear. This means that when you
are estimating the distance to following
vehicles, the mirror is not necessarily a
reliable aid. This also applies to the
outer parts of each mirror.<
Electric defrostingBoth mirrors are heated automatically in
ignition key position 2.
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming featureWhile the vehicle is being driven for-
ward, this mirror dims light through an
infinitely variable range depending on
the light's incidence. Two photocells in
the interior rearview mirror serve this
purpose. One is positioned in the mir-
ror's frame, while the other is slightly
offset on the opposite side of the mir-
ror.
To ensure perfect functioning, keep the
photocells clean and the area between
the interior rearview mirror and the
windshield free of any obstruction like
stickers, etc.
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62
Rollover protection systemIn the event of an accident or some
other critical driving situation – extreme
tilting in the longitudinal or transverse
axis, loss of contact with the ground –
the rollover protection system will be
automatically activated. The protective
bars located in the rear head restraints
extend within fractions of a second.
In addition to the integrated rollover bar
in the windshield frame, the rollover
protection system affords all the vehicle
occupants necessary headroom.
Always keep the travel path for the
rollover protection system free
and clear. Under no circumstances
should you cover the head restraints.
In the event of less serious accidents,
the safety belt will protect you and,
depending on the severity of the acci-
dent, so will the safety belt tensioner
and the multi-stage airbag restraint sys-
tem as well.<
If, after being automatically triggered,
the protective function is not needed,
then the rollover protection system can
be lowered back into place. No special
tool is needed for this.
1. Using a screwdriver from the
onboard tool kit, remove the cover
panel; to do this, position the screw-
driver under the notch
2. Push the lever toward the front of the
vehicle and keep it in this position

71
Display in instrument clusterThe selector lever position, currently
engaged gear and selected driving pro-
gram are displayed in the instrument
cluster.
1Engaged gear
2Selected driving program, corre-
sponds to the number of illuminated
fields, refer to page 73
3Tapping the selector lever to the right
switches over into the displayed shift
mode
4'D' indicates an activated automated
shift mode
R – Reverse positionOnly engage with the vehicle stopped
or at low speed, e.g. for rocking free in
deep snow.
An intermittent signal tone indi-
cates that the reverse position has
been engaged. engine.
If the driving situation requires, e.g.
when downshifting on slippery roads,
the SMG Drivelogic automatically dis-
engages and reengages the clutch, i.e.
it is not necessary to manually engage
position N.S – Sequential modeIn the sequential mode all forward
gears are to be shifted by the driver.
To switch from automated to sequential
mode:
>Tap the selector lever to the right
toward S or
>change gears with the selector lever
or the shift paddles on the steering
wheel.
You do not need to reduce the throttle
for shifting.
Sequential M gearbox with Drivelogic*
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