ESP BMW M3 COUPE 2001 E46 Service Manual

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
151n
Battery Fuses
Return used batteries to a recy-
cling point or your authorized
BMW center. Maintain the battery in an
upright position for transport and
storage. Secure the battery against
tilting in transit.<
Storage periods during which the
battery is disconnected are not
taken into consideration by the Service
Interval Display for changing the brake
fluid.
For this reason, be sure that the brake
fluid is changed every two years,
regardless of the information displayed.
Please read the information on
page 126.<
If an electrical accessory should fail,
switch it off and check the fuse. In glove compartment1 Open the glove compartment and
turn the two white quick-release
fasteners outward. Spare fuses and
plastic tweezers are located on the
fuse holder
2 Use the plastic tweezers to remove
the fuse for the accessory or equip-
ment that has stopped working
3 Replace a blown fuse, recognizable
by its melted metal strip, with a new
fuse that has the same color or
ampere rating.
A list of fuses, their respective ampere
ratings and the equipment in their
circuits is provided below the fuse
holder.
To close the fuse holder, snap it into
position at the top and turn the two
fasteners inward.
Do not attempt to repair a burned
fuse or replace it with a fuse
having a different color or ampere
rating. To do this could cause a fire in
the vehicle resulting from a circuit
overload.<
If the fuse continues to burn through,
have the problem taken care of by a
BMW center.

160n
M3 Engine concept Rain sensor
*
BMW M will continue to develop BMW
engines for the performance-oriented,
yet responsible driver. That is why value
is placed on an engine design that
guarantees maximum thrust over a
wide engine speed range.
This is done by using high-grade mate-
rials and components with optimized
details. The engine thereby produces
higher speeds than can be achieved
with conventional engines.
Associated with the proper transmis-
sion gear ratio and an especially perfor-
mance-oriented engine electronics
system, the torque opens up with this
so-called "high-speed aspirated
engine" extremely evenly throughout
the entire engine speed range from
1,000 to max. 8 ,000 rpm.
In actual usage, this means improved
acceleration and more spontaneous
response throughout the engine speed
range, thus affording more driving plea-
sure.
Depending on how wet the windshield
is, the rain sensor controls the opera-
tion of the windshield wipers.
Infrared light is carried along the
surface of the windshield in an optical
conductor in such a manner that it is
reflected completely when the wind-
shield is dry. The quantity of reflected
light is measured.
If there is moisture on the glass, the
amount of light reflected is reduced
since the infrared light at the surface of
the windshield can escape. The quan-
tity of reflected light is thus a means of
gauging the degree of wetness on the
windshield.

161n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Rain sensor
*
Interior rearview mirror, automatic dimming feature

When the "intermittent wiper" speed
position is selected, the wiper reacts
immediately if water is splashed onto
the windshield from vehicles traveling
ahead, for example. As a result, the rain
sensor contributes to driving safety and
comfort.
The interior rearview mirror with auto-
matic dimming feature reduces blinding
from following traffic by adapting the
intensity of the reflected images to
correspond to levels of light registered
by the unit's sensors. The mirror reverts
to its undimmed setting as soon as the
light source disappears. One lamp
sensor is mounted on the front of the
mirror housing. This sensor is directed
forward. It measures light intensity in the
area ahead of the vehicle. The second
sensor is integrated within the mirror's
glass. The electronic control system
compares the light intensity from front
and rear. The difference provides the
basic parameter used to modulate an
electrical current and induce chemical
changes in a semisolid layer incorpo-
rated in the mirror glass.
The semisolid reacts chemically to this
electrical current, thus providing infi-
nitely-variable dimming of the mirror
(electrochromic technology).
As a result, it is no longer necessary to
dim the mirror manually, and the driver
can concentrate completely on traffic
conditions.

163n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Xenon lamps
*
The xenon lamp provides forward illu-
mination with significantly more bright-
ness and uniformity than the traditional
halogen lamp.
In a xenon lamp, an electric arc
replaces the filament in order to
generate intense illumination. A gas
mixture in a quartz glass tube with
metal vapor is ignited by a high electric
voltage. The arc that is generated is
then sustained by a lower voltage.
When the lamp is turned, on there is a
brief warm-up period. Maximum bright-
ness is attained in approx. 15 seconds.
Xenon lamps improve the driver's visi-
bility and orientation to the road, espe-
cially in adverse weather conditions
and driving situations (driving at night in
heavy rain or through road repair areas
where there are no lane markers, for
instance).
Vehicles with xenon lamps are
equipped with automatic headlamp
range control. As a result, the highway
is always optimally lighted, regardless
of load conditions, and drivers in
oncoming traffic are not blinded.
Xenon lamps make a significant contri-
bution to highway safety since other
highway users, bicyclists and motorcy-
clists in the right lane, and pedestrians
are more easily detected.

So that you will have important
specifications available when you
stop to refuel, we recommend
that you supplement this table
with data which apply to your
vehicle.
Fuel
Engine oil The oil volume between the
two marks on the oil dipstick
corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Designation Premium Unleaded
Gasoline
AKI: minimum 91
QualityTire inflation pressures
Summer Winter
Front Rear Front Rear
4 persons
5 persons or 4 plus luggage
Refueling
BMW recommends Castrol