engine BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE 2012 Owner's Guide
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89
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Controls
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. For this reason, descrip-
tions will be given of some equipment that may
not be available in a vehi
cle, for example due to
the special options or national-market version
selected. This also app lies to safety related
functions and systems.
Park Distance Control PDC
The concept
The PDC assists you with maneuvering in tight
parking spaces. Acoustic signals warn you of
the presence of an object in front of or behind
your vehicle. To meas ure the distance, there
are four ultrasonic sensors in either bumper.
An acoustic warning sounds when an object is
less than approx. 24 in/60 cm from the front
sensors and rear corner sensors or less than
approx. 5 ft/1.50 m from the rear center sen-
sors.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate
objects when they are approached
slowly, as is usually th e case when parking.
Avoid approaching an object at high speed; oth-
erwise, physical circumstances may lead to the
system warning being issued too late.<
Switching on automatically
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, the system is activated after approx. one
second when you shift in to reverse or move the
automatic transmission selector lever to
position R. Wait this short period before driving.
Switching off automatically
After approx. 55 yd/50 m of driving or above
approx. 20 mph/approx. 30 km/h, the system
switches off and the LED goes out.
Switching on manually
When parking in the forward direction, the sen-
sors must be switched on manually to enable
them to signal an approach to an object in front
of or behind the vehicle.
Press the button; the LED lights up.
Switching off manually
Press the button again; the LED goes out.
Signal tones
When nearing an object, its position is indicated
correspondingly by an interval tone. For exam-
ple, if an object is detected behind the vehicle,
the signal tone sounds from the rear. As the dis-
tance between vehicle an d object decreases,
the intervals betwee n the tones become
shorter. If the distance to the nearest object
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm, then a contin-
uous tone sounds.
An interval tone is in terrupted after approx.
3seconds
> If you remain in front of an object that has
been detected by only one of the corner
sensors
> If you are driving parallel to a wall.
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ControlsTechnology for driving comfort and safety
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up. PDC is
malfunctioning. Have the system
checked.
To avoid this problem, keep the sensors clean
and free of ice or snow in order to ensure that
they will continue to op erate effectively. When
using a high-pressure cleaner, do not spray the
sensors for extended periods of time and only
from a distance of at least 1 ft/30 cm.
Manual operation
The LED above the button also flashes.
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always remains
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind sp ot in which objects can
no longer be detected. The system is also sub-
ject to the physical limits that apply to all forms
of ultrasonic measurement, such as those
encountered with traile r towbars and hitches,
thin or wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low objects
that have already been displayed, e.g. curbs,
can disappear again from the detection area of
the sensors before or af ter a continuous tone
sounds. Higher, protruding objects, e.g. ledges,
cannot be detected. Therefore, always drive
cautiously; otherwise, there is a risk of personal
injury or property damage.
Loud sound sources outside or inside the car
can drown out the PDC signal. Therefore,
always drive cautiously; otherwise, there is a
risk of personal injury or property damage. <
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW has a number of systems that help
to maintain the vehicle's stability even in
adverse driving conditions.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during
braking. Safe steering response is maintained
even during full braking. Active safety is thus
increased.
The ABS is operational every time you start the
engine. Braking safely, refer to page 134.
Electronic brake-force distribution
EBV
The system controls the brake pressure in the
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
automatically produces the maximum braking
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. This system exploits all of the benefits pro-
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressu re on the brake for the
duration of the full braking application.
Dynamic Stability Control DSC
DSC prevents the driving wheels from losing
traction when you pull away from rest or accel-
erate. The system also recognizes unstable
driving conditions, for example if the rear of the
car is about to swerve or if momentum is acting
at an angle past the front wheels. In these
cases, DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe
course within physical lim its by reducing engine
output and through braking actions at the indi-
vidual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed,
even with DSC. An appropriate driving
style always remains th e responsibility of the
driver. Therefore, do not reduce the additional
safety margin again by taki ng risks, as this could
result in an accident. <
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93
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Controls
Drive-off assistant
The drive-off assistant enables you to drive off
smoothly on uphill gradients. It is not necessary
to use the parking brake for this.
1.
Hold the car in place by depressing the
brake.
2. Release the brake and drive off without
delay.
The drive-off assistant holds the car in
place for approx. 2 seconds after the
brake is released. Drive off without delay after
releasing the brake. Ot herwise, the drive-off
assistant will no longer hold the car in place
after approx. 2 seconds an d the car will start to
roll backwards. <
Flat Tire Monitor FTM
The concept
The system does not measure the actual infla-
tion pressure in the tires.
The system detects a pressure loss in a tire by
comparing the rotational speeds of the individ-
ual wheels while moving.
In the event of a pressure loss, the diameter and
therefore the rotational speed of the corre-
sponding wheel change. This is detected and
reported as a flat tire.
Functional requirement
The system must have be en initialized while the
tire inflation pressure was correct; otherwise,
reliable signaling of a flat tire is not ensured.
Each time a tire inflation pressure has been cor-
rected or a wheel or tire has been changed,
reinitialize the system.
System limitations
Sudden serious tire damage caused by
external influences ca nnot be indicated in
advance.<
A natural, steady pressure loss in all four tires is
not detected. Therefore, check the tire inflation
pressure regularly.
In the following situations, the system could be
delayed or malfunction:
> System has not been initialized
> Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
> Performance-oriented style of driving: slip
in the drive wheels, hi gh lateral acceleration
> Snow chains are attached
Initialization
The initialization process adopts the set infla-
tion tire pressures as reference values for the
detection of a flat tire. Initialization is started by
confirming the inflation pressures.
Do not initialize the system when driving with
snow chains.
For operating principle refer to page 82.
1. Start the engine imme diately before pulling
away, but do not drive off yet.
2. Briefly press the button 1 in the turn signal/
high beam lever up or down repeatedly until
the corresponding symbol and "RESET"
appear.
3. Press button 2 to confirm your choice of the
Flat Tire Monitor.
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95
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Controls
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM
The concept
Check the inflation pressure
in the four installed
tires. The system notifies you if there is a signif-
icant loss of pressure in one or more tires.
Functional requirement
The system must have been reset while the
inflation pressure was co rrect; otherwise, reli-
able signaling of a flat tire is not ensured.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics to
ensure that the system will operate properly.
Each time a tire inflation pressure has been cor-
rected or a wheel or tire has been changed,
reset the system.
System limitations
Sudden serious tire damage caused by
external influences ca nnot be indicated in
advance.<
The system does not function correctly if it has
not been reset. For example, a flat tire may be
indicated even though the tire inflation pres-
sures are correct.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat
tire:
> When a wheel without TPM electronics is
installed.
> Interference with TPM by other systems or
devices with the same transmission fre-
quency.
Resetting the system
Each time a tire inflation pressure has been cor-
rected or a wheel or tire has been changed,
reset the system.
For operating principle refer to page 82.
1. Start the engine, but do not start driving.
2. Briefly press the button 1 in the turn signal/
high beam lever up or down repeatedly until the corresponding symbol and "RESET"
appear.
3. Press button 2 to confirm your choice of the
Tire Pressure Monitor. The following dis-
play appears:
4. Press button 2 for approx. 5 seconds, until
the small warning lamp lights up in yellow
and the following appears in the display:
5. Start driving.
After several minutes of driving time, the
adjusted inflation pressures will be adopted as
nominal values. The resetting process is com-
pleted automatically as you drive. The indicator
lamp goes out after the system reset is com-
pleted.
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103
Lamps
Controls
Lamps
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. For this reason, descrip-
tions will be given of some equipment that may
not be available in a vehi
cle, for example due to
the special options or national-market version
selected. This also app lies to safety related
functions and systems.
At a glance
0 Lamps off,
daytime running lights
1 Parking lamps and daytime running lights
2 Low beams,
welcome lamps
3 Automatic headlamp co ntrol, daytime run-
ning lights, welcome lamps, High-beam
Assistant, and Adaptive Light Control
Parking lamps/low beams,
automatic headlamp control
General information
When the driver's door is opened with ignition
switched off, then the ex terior lighting is auto-
matically switched off if the light switch is in
position 0, 2 , or 3.
Parking lamps
In switch position 1, the front, rear and side
vehicle lighting is switch ed on. You can use the
parking lamps for parking.
The parking lamps will discharge the bat-
tery. Therefore, do not leave them on for
unduly long periods of time; otherwise, the bat-
tery might not have enou gh power to start the
engine. It is preferable to switch on the left-
hand or right-hand roadside parking lamps,
refer to page 105.<
Low beams
The low beams light up when the light switch is
in position 2 and the ignition is on.
Automatic headlamp control
When the switch is in position 3, the low beams
are switched on and o ff automatically depend-
ing on ambient lighting conditions, e.g. in a tun-
nel, in twilight, or if there is precipitation. The
Adaptive Light Control is active. The LED next
to the symbol is illuminated when the low
beams are on. You can also activate the daytime
running lights, refer to page 104. In the situa-
tions described above, the lamps then automat-
ically switch fr om daytime running lights to low
beams.
The headlamps may also come on when the
sun is sitting low on a blue sky.
The low beams remain switched on inde-
pendent of the ambient lighting condi-
tions when you switch on the fog lamps. <
The automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for your personal
judgment in determin ing when the lamps
should be switched on in response to ambient
lighting conditions. For example, the system
cannot detect fog or ha zy weather. To avoid
safety risks, you should always switch on the
low-beam headlamps ma nually under these
conditions. <
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105
Lamps
Controls
5.
Press button 2.
6. Use button 1 to select:
> Daytime running lights activated.
> Daytime running lights deactivated.
7. Press button 2.
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Adaptive Light Control
The concept
Adaptive Light Control is a variable headlamp
control system that enables better illumination
of the road surface. Depending on the steering
angle and other parameters, the light from the
headlamp follows the course of the road.
In tight curves at speeds up to 40 mph/70 km/h,
e.g. on mountainous roads or when turning, an
additional, corner-illuminating lamp is switched
on that lights up the inside area of the curve.
Activating Adaptive Light Control
With the ignition switch ed on, turn the light
switch to position 3, refer to page 103.
The corner-illuminating lamp is switched on
automatically, depending on the steering wheel
angle or turn signal indicator.
Standstill function: to avoid blinding oncoming
traffic, the Adaptive Light Control directs light
toward the front passenger side when the vehi-
cle is at a standstill. When you are reversing, only the corner-illumi-
nating lamps are switched on and active on
both sides.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up. The
Adaptive Light Control is malfunc-
tioning or failed. Have the system
checked as soon as possible.
High beams/roadside parking
lamps
1 High beams
2 Headlamp flasher
3 Roadside parking lamps
Roadside parking lamps, left or right
There is an additional option of switching on the
lamps on the side of the car facing the road
when parked.
Switching on
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or
down beyond the pressu re point for a longer
period, arrow 3.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Therefore, do not leave them on for
unduly long periods of time; otherwise, the bat-
tery might not have enou gh power to start the
engine. <
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111
Climate
Controls
switch the system back on and increase the air
volume.<
Switching cooling function on/off
The cooling function cools and
dehumidifies the incoming air
before reheating it according to the
temperature setting. This function
is only available while the engine is running.
The cooling function helps prevent condensa-
tion on the windows or removes it quickly.
The cooling effect can be intensified by activat-
ing recirculated air mode.
Depending on the weathe r, the windshield may
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
Rear window defroster
The defroster is switched off auto-
matically after a certain time.
Depending on your vehicle's
equipment, the upper wires serve
as an antenna and are not part of the rear win-
dow defroster.
Temperature
To increase the temperature, turn
the rotary switch clockwise
towards red.
For a lower temperature, turn the
rotary switch counterc lockwise towards blue.
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
1.Air distribution 1 in position .
2. Deactivate recirculated air mode 2. 3.
Air volume control 3 all the way to the right.
4. Switch on cooling function 4.
5. Temperature 5 to the right, red.
6. Switch on rear window defroster 6 to
defrost the rear window .
Ventilation
1 Use the thumbwheels to smoothly open
and close the air vents
2 Use the levers to change the direction of the
airflow
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the vent outlets to direct the flow of cool
air in your direction, e.g. if it has become too hot
in the car.
Draft-free ventilation
Adjust the vents to let the air flow past you.
Microfilter
The microfilter removes dust and pollen from
the incoming air. Your BMW center replaces the
microfilter during routine maintenance.
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Climate
Controls
Maximum cooling
Press the button.
The system is set to the lowest
temperature, maximum air volume
and recirculated air mode.
Air flows out of the vent outlets for the upper
body region. Open them for this purpose.
Air is cooled as quickly as possible:
> Above an outside temperature of approx.
327/06
> When the engine is running
AUTO program
Press the button.
Air volume, air distribution and
temperature are controlled auto-
matically.
Depending on the selected temperature, AUTO
intensity and outside in fluences, the air is
directed toward the wi ndshield, the side win-
dows, the upper body and the footwell.
Pressing the AUTO button automatically
switches on the cooling function.
At the same time, a co ndensation sensor con-
trols the program so as to prevent window con-
densation as much as possible.
The program is switched off when the air distri-
bution is set manually or the button is pressed
again.
Intensity of the AUTO program
With the AUTO program switched on, auto-
matic control of the air volume and air distribu-
tion can be adjusted:
Press the left side of the button to
reduce the intensity. Press the
right side of the button to
increase it.
The selected intensity is shown on the display
of the automatic climate control.
Convertible program
The Convertible program is active when the
hardtop is open. In the Convertible program, the
automatic climate control is optimized for driv-
ing with the hardtop open . In addition, the air
volume is increased as vehicle speed increases.
The effectiveness of the Convertible pro-
gram can be enhanced considerably by
installing the wind deflector.<
Adjusting air volume manually
To be able to manually adjust the air volume,
switch off the AUTO program first.
Press the left side of the button to
reduce the air volume. Press the
right side of the button to
increase it.
The air flow rate is lowered or switched off
entirely to reduce the drain on the battery. The
display remains the same.
Automatic recirculated air control
AUC/Recirculated air mode
You can respond to unpl easant odors or pollut-
ants in the immediate environment by tempo-
rarily suspending the supply of outside air. The
system then recirculates the air currently within
the vehicle.
Press the button repeatedly to
select an operating mode:
> LED off: outside air flows in continuously.
> Left-hand LED on, AUC mode: a sensor
detects pollutants in the outside air and
controls the shut-off automatically.
> Right-hand LED on, re circulated air mode:
the supply of outside air is permanently
shut off. If the windows fog over, switch off
recirculated air mode and increase the air
volume, if necessary. Make sure that air can
flow onto the windshield.
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ControlsClimate
The recirculated air mode should not be
used over an extended period of time;
otherwise, the air quality inside the car will dete-
riorate continuously. <
Via the button on the steering wheel
You can switch quickly between the recircu-
lated air mode and the previous mode using a
button on the steering wheel, refer to page 11.
ALL program
Press the button.
The current temperature setting
on the driver's side is transferred to
the front passenger side.
If the temperature setting on the driver's side is
changed, the temperature on the front passen-
ger side is changed as well.
The program is switched off when the setting is
adjusted on the front passenger side or the but-
ton is pressed again.
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
Press the button.
Quickly removes ice and conden-
sation from the windshield and
front side windows.
For this purpose, also switch on the cooling
function.
Switching cooling function on/off
The passenger compartment can only be
cooled while the engine is running.
Press the button.
The air is cooled and dehumidified
and – depending on the tempera-
ture setting – warmed again.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may
fog up briefly when the engine is started.
Pressing the AUTO button automatically
switches on the cooling function.
Rear window defroster
Press the button.
The defroster is switched off auto-
matically after a certain time.
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, the
upper wires serve as an antenna and are not
part of the rear window defroster.
Switching the system on/off
Switching off
With the blower at its lowest set-
ting, press the left side of the but-
ton to switch off the automatic cli-
mate control.
All displays are cleared except for the rear win-
dow defroster if it is switched on.
The outside air supply is blocked when
the automatic climate control is switched
off. If the air quality deteriorates or the window
fogs over, switch the system back on and
increase the air volume. <
Switching on
Press any button except the ALL or the rear
window defroster button to reactivate the auto-
matic climate control.
Ventilation
1 Use the thumbwheels to smoothly open
and close the air vents
2 Use the levers to change the direction of the
airflow
3 Thumbwheel for more or less cool air from
the vents for the upper body area
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ControlsPractical interior accessories
Canada: if the LED does not flash rapidly
after approx. 60 seconds, alter the distance
and repeat this step or, if the programming
by means of the hand-held transmitter was
interrupted, hold down the button on the
inside mirror and then press and release the
button on the hand-hel d transmitter several
times, holding it down for 2 seconds each
time.
Operation
To prevent possible damage or injury,
before programming or using the inte-
grated universal remote control to operate a
device, always inspect the immediate area to
make certain that no people, animals or objects
are within the pivoting or travel range of the
device being operated.
Also follow the safety in structions supplied with
the hand-held transmitter. <
The button on the inside mirror can be used to
operate the device, for example the garage
door, if the engine is running or the ignition is
switched on. To do so, within the reception
range of the device, press the button of the
device until the function is triggered. The LED
on the inside mirror remains lit during transmis-
sion of the radio signal.
Deleting stored functions
Simultaneously hold down the right and left
buttons on the inside mi rror for approx. 20 sec-
onds until the LED on the inside mirror flashes
rapidly. All stored functions are deleted. The
functions cannot be de leted individually.
Digital compass
1Adjustment button
2 Display
The display shows you the main or secondary
compass direction in which you are driving.
Operating principle
You can call up various functions by pressing
the adjustment button with a pointed object
such as a pen or similar item. The following
adjustment options are displayed one after the
other, depending on how long you keep the
adjustment button pressed:
> Press briefly: switch display on/off
> 3 to 6 seconds: set compass zone
> 6 to 9 seconds: calibrate compass
> 9 to 12 seconds: set left-hand/right-hand
steering
> 12 to 15 seconds: set the language
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