light BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE 2011 Repair Manual

Things to remember when driving
128
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Use the parking brake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle for a
lengthy period using the clutch; use the
parking brake instead. Otherwise, greater
clutch wear will result.<
For more information about the drive-off assis-
tant, refer to page92.
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. Applying the brakes fully is the most
effective way of braking in situations in which
this is necessary. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal
every few miles. Monitor 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 full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure. shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mode of the automatic trans-
mission, refer to page59.
Sports automatic transmission with dou-
ble clutch: never drive with the transmis-
sion in neutral or with the engine switched off;
otherwise, there will be no engine braking
action and no power assistance to the brakes
and steering.
Manual transmission: never drive with the
clutch held down, with the transmission in neu-
tral or with the engine switched off; otherwise,
engine braking action will not be present or
there will be no power assistance to the brakes
or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals; otherwise, pedal function could be
impaired.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the automatic cli-
mate control is in operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water
under the vehicle are therefore normal.

Things to remember when driving
130
Stowing cargo
>Position heavy objects as low and as far for-
ward as possible, ideally directly behind the
respective seat backrests.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
>For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is
not occupied, secure each safety belt in the
opposite buckle.
Coupe
ConvertibleSecuring cargo
Coupe
Convertible
>Secure smaller and lighter items using
retaining straps, a cargo area net
* or draw
straps
*.
>Heavy-duty cargo straps
* for securing
larger and heavier objects are available at
your BMW center. Four lashing eyes are
provided for attaching the cargo straps.
Two are located on the cargo area
sidewalls1, two more are on the rear cargo
area panel2.
Please comply with the information sup-
plied with the cargo straps.
Convertible: before opening the hardtop,
fold down the cargo area partition. Make
sure the cargo area is loaded correctly; other-
wise parts of the hardtop can be damaged, refer
to page119.<

Navigation system
134
Navigation system
General information
With the help of satellites and vehicle sensors,
the navigation system is able to ascertain the
precise position of the vehicle and reliably guide
you to any destination you enter.
Enter data only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary, and always give priority to the
applicable traffic regulations in the event of any
contradiction between traffic and road condi-
tions and the instructions issued by the naviga-
tion system. Failure to take to this precaution
can place you in violation of the law and put
vehicle occupants and other road users in dan-
ger.<
Navigation data
General information
Navigation data are stored in the vehicle and
can be updated.
Navigation data and authorization codes are
available from your BMW center.
Depending on the data volume, a data update
may take several hours.
>The data are updated while you are driving.
>The update is resumed automatically when
a trip is continued after an interruption.
>Basic navigation functions are available
during the trip.
>The data are stored in the vehicle.
>After the update, the system restarts.
>The medium that holds the navigation data
can be removed after the update is com-
pleted.
Updating the navigation data
Inserting navigation DVD
1.Insert the navigation DVD into the DVD
player with the labeled side facing up.
2.Follow the instructions on the
Control Display.
3.Enter the authorization code of the naviga-
tion DVD and change the DVD if needed.
Removing navigation DVD
1.Press button 1.
The DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
2.Remove the DVD.
Information about navigation data
1."Navigation"
2.Open "Options".
3."Navigation system version":
Information on the data version is displayed.
*

Destination entry
136 To delete letters:
>To delete individual letters:
Turn the controller to select , and
then press the controller.
>To delete all letters:
Turn the controller to select , and
then press the controller for an extended
period.
To enter spaces:
>Select the symbol.
The list gradually grows smaller each time
you enter a new letter.
3.Move the controller to the right.
4.Select the name of the town/city from the
list.
If there are several towns/cities with the same
name:
1.Change to the list of town/city names.
2.Highlight the town/city: a preview map is
displayed.
3.Select the town/city.
Entering the postal code
1.Select "Town/City/Postal Code" or the dis-
played town/city.
2.Select the symbol.
3.Select the digits.
4.Change to the list of postal codes and
towns/cities.
5.Highlight the postal code: a preview map is
displayed.
6.Select the postal code.
Entering street and intersection
1.Select "Street" or the displayed street.
2.Enter a street and intersection as you would
the town/city.
After the street you can also enter the intersec-
tion or the house number.
If there are several streets with the same name:1.Change to the list of street names.
2.Highlight the street: a preview map is dis-
played.
3.Select the street.
Entering a street without a destination
town/city
You can also enter a street without specifying a
town/city. In this case, all streets of the same
name in the designated state/province are
offered. The corresponding town/city is dis-
played after the street name.
If a town/city has already been entered, you can
negate this entry. This could be helpful in
instances where the desired street does not
exist in the entered town/city because it
belongs to another suburb, for example.
1."Navigation"
2."Enter address"
3.Select "Street" or the displayed street.
4.Change to the list of street names.
5.Select "In" with the state/province currently
displayed.
6.Select the letters.
7.Change to the list of street names.
8.Highlight the street: a preview map
is displayed.
9.Select the street.

Destination entry
138 4.Depending on the selection, select an exist-
ing contact from the list or the type of
address and enter the last and first name.
5."Store in vehicle"
Editing or deleting an address
1."Navigation"
2."Address book"
3.Highlight the entry.
4.Open "Options".
5."Edit in Contacts" or "Delete entry".
Using the home address as a
destination
The home address must be stored as a destina-
tion. Refer to Specifying a contact as the home
address, page196.
1."Navigation"
2."Address book"
3."Home"
4."Start guidance"
Last destinations
The last destinations are stored automatically.
These destinations can be called up and used
as a destination for destination guidance.
Opening the last destinations
1."Navigation"
2."Last destinations"
3.Select the destination.
4."Start guidance"
Editing a destination
Destinations can be edited, for example, to
change the house number of an existing entry.
1."Navigation"
2."Last destinations"
3.Highlight the destination.
4.Open "Options".
5."Edit destination"
Deleting the last destinations
1."Navigation"
2."Last destinations"
3.Highlight the destination.
4.Open "Options".
5."Delete entry" or "Delete all last destina-
tions".

Navigation
Driving tips
139Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Special destinations
You can search for a special destination, e.g. a
hotel or place of interest, and start destination
guidance to the corresponding location.
The scope of information provided
depends on the particular set of naviga-
tion data you are using.<
Opening the search for special
destinations
1."Navigation"
2."Points of Interest"
The search can be narrowed by entering the
location and type of special destination.
Special destination location
Search for a special destination according to its
location relative to a locality or route.
1."Search area"
2.Select the location where the system is to
search for the special destination:
>"At current location"
>"At destination"
>"At a different destination"
>"Along route"
Special destination category
1."Category"
2.Select "All" or a specific category, e.g.
hotels or restaurants.
Category details
For some special destinations, additional
details can be displayed that are available in the
navigation data, e.g. Italian-style restaurant.
"Category details"
Starting the search for special
destinations
1."Start search"
2.A list of the special destinations is dis-
played.
>"At current location"
Special destinations are listed according
to their distance from the current loca-
tion and are displayed with a directional
arrow pointing to the destination.
>"At destination", "At a different destina-
tion", "Along route"
Special destinations are listed according
to their distance from the location where
the search is being performed.
>Destinations of the selected category
are displayed in the map view as sym-
bols. The display depends on the map
scale and the category.
3.Highlight a special destination: the destina-
tion is displayed in the preview map.
4.Select the special destination.
5.Select the symbol.
6."Start guidance" or "Add as another dest.".
If a phone number is available, a connection
can be established, if desired.

Destination entry
140
Destination entry via BMW Assist*
A connection is established to the BMW Con-
cierge service, refer to page199.
1."Navigation"
2."Enter address"
3.Open "Options".
4."BMW Assist dest. entry"
Entering special destinations by name
1."Navigation"
2."Points of Interest"
3."Name, A-Z search"
4.Enter the letters.
Depending on the distance, the search may
take some time. The list can contain a max-
imum of 100 entries.
5.Change to the list of special destinations.
6.Highlight a special destination: the destina-
tion is displayed in the preview map.
7.Select the special destination.
8.Select the symbol.
9."Start guidance" or "Add as another dest.".
Displaying special destinations in the
map
To display symbols of the special destinations
in the map:
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
3.Open "Options".
4."Display Points of Interest"
5.Select the settings.
Entering the destination via
the map
If you only know the location of the town or
street, you can enter the destination using the
map.
Opening the map
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
A map section is displayed on the Control Dis-
play. The map shows the current position of the
vehicle.
Selecting the destination
1.Select the symbol.
"Interactive map" is started.
2.Select the destination with the cross-hairs.
>To change the scale: turn the controller.
>To shift the map: move the controller in
the required direction.
>To shift the map diagonally: move the
controller in the required direction and
turn it.
3.Press the controller to display additional
menu items.
>Select the symbol: "Start guidance"
or "Add as another dest.".
>"Return": return to the map view.
>"Find points of interest": the search for
special destinations is begun.

Navigation
Driving tips
145Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
5.Select additional route criteria, if desired.
Where possible, the selected criteria will be
avoided on the route.
>Avoid highways where possible:
"Avoid highways"
>Avoid toll roads where possible:
"Avoid toll roads"
>Avoid ferries where possible:
"Avoid ferries"
The setting applies to the current route and to
the planning of future routes.
Dynamic destination guidance
"Dynamic guidance" is switched on:
The route is automatically changed in the event
of traffic obstructions. The system does not
point out traffic obstructions along the original
route.
Depending on the type of road and the nature
and length of the traffic obstruction, the route
can also be calculated so that you travel
through the traffic obstruction.
Activating Dynamic destination
guidance
1."Navigation"
2.Open "Options".
3."Dynamic guidance"
If the "Avoid highways", "Avoid toll roads"
or "Avoid ferries" route criteria are
selected, route calculation may take consider-
ably longer.<
Route
General information
Depending on the equipment in your vehicle,
various views of the route are available during
destination guidance.
>List of streets and towns/cities
>Map view, refer to page146
Displaying a list of the streets or towns/
cities on the route
When destination guidance is started, a list of
the streets and towns/cities on the route is dis-
played. The driving distances and traffic bulle-
tins are displayed for each route section.
1."Navigation"
2."Route information"
3.Highlight a section.
The section is displayed in the preview map.
Bypassing a section of the route
During destination guidance, you can revise the
navigation system's route recommendations to
avoid particular stretches of road. Enter the
number of miles/kilometers that you want to
travel before returning to the original route.
1."Navigation"
2."Route information"
3."New route for:"
4.Turn the controller: enter the desired num-
ber of miles.
5.Press the controller.
Resuming the original route
If the route section should no longer be
bypassed:
1."Navigation"
2."Route information"
3."Remove blocking"

Destination guidance
146
Gas station recommendations
The remaining range is calculated and gas sta-
tions along the route are recommended.
1."Navigation"
2."Route information"
3."Recommended refuel"
A list of gas stations is displayed.
4.Select a gas station.
5.Select the symbol.
6."Start guidance" or "Add as another dest.".
Destination guidance
through voice instructions
Switching voice instructions on/off
Voice instructions can be switched on or off
during destination guidance.
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
3. Select the symbol.
For rapid access, the feature can be stored on a
programmable memory key, refer to page20.
Repeating a voice instruction
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
3. Highlight the symbol.
4.Press the controller twice.
Adjusting the volume of voice
instructions*
The volume can be adjusted only while a voice
instruction is being issued.1.Have the last voice instruction repeated,
if necessary.
2.Turn the button during the voice instruction
to select the desired volume.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Map view
Displaying the map view
You can have your current position displayed on
a map. After starting the destination guidance,
the planned route is shown on the map.
1."Navigation"
2."Map"
The following functions are directly available in
the map view:
SymbolMeaning
Voice instructions are
switched on
Voice instructions are
switched off
SymbolFunction
Starting/stopping destina-
tion guidance
Switching voice instructions
on/off
Changing route criteria or
selecting route alternatives
Special destinations
Displaying traffic bulletins
Interactive map
Map view settings
Changing scale

Navigation
Driving tips
147Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Information in the map view
>Time, entertainment source, sound output,
map orientation
>Distance from destination/intermediate
destination, estimated time of arrival, if des-
tination guidance is active.
>Any traffic obstructions are highlighted in
color.
To show/hide information on the map:
Press the controller.
Viewing the map
1.Select the symbol.
2.Select a setting:
>"View facing north"
>"View in dir. of travel"
>"Perspective view"
>"Arrow display"
3.Press the controller.
Changing the map section
Select "Interactive map".
>To shift the map: move the controller in the
required direction.
>To shift the map diagonally: move the con-
troller in the required direction and turn it.
Changing scale
1.Select the symbol.
2.Turn the controller to adjust the scale.
Automatic scaling of the map
In the map view facing north, turn the controller
in any direction until AUTO is displayed as the
map scale.
The map shows the entire range from your loca-
tion to the destination.
Settings for the map view
The map is shown on the Control Display.
1.Open "Options".
2."Settings"3.Set the optimized map view.
>"Day/night mode"
Select and create the necessary settings
depending on the light conditions. If the
"Traffic conditions/gray map" is acti-
vated, this setting is not taken into
account.
>"Satellite images"
Depending on the availability and resolu-
tion, satellite images
* are displayed in
scales of approx. 1 mile to 600 miles/
2 km to 1,000 km .
>"Perspective view in 3D"
Displays a spatial view. Prominent areas
that are contained in the navigation data
are displayed on the map in 3D.
>"Traffic conditions/gray map"
The map is optimized for displaying traf-
fic bulletins. Symbols for the special
destinations are no longer displayed.
Map view for the split screen display
The map view for the split screen can be
selected separately from the main screen.
1.Open "Options".
2."Split screen"
The split screen is switched on.
3.Move the controller to the right repeatedly
until the split screen content is selected.
4.Select the map view:
>"Arrow display"
>"Map facing north"
>"Map direction of travel"
>"Map view with perspective"
>"Exit ramp view"
Changing scale
1.Move the controller to the right until the
split screen is selected.
2.turn the controller.