oil change BMW M3 COUPE 2003 E46 Owner's Manual

119
Adding engine oilWhile you should wait until the level has
dropped to just above the lower mark
before adding oil, you should never
allow the oil level to fall below this
mark.
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 only.
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.
Always store oils, grease and similar
materials so that they are inaccessible
to children. Comply with warning labels
and information on containers.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the dis-
posal of used oil.<
Specified engine oilsThe quality of the engine oil is
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 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 10W40
>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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122Maintenance
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 main-
tenance is not only necessary for the
safety of your vehicle, but also plays a
significant role in maintaining 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 approx. 1,250 miles/
2,000 km regardless of the service
interval indicated on the display.<
Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual loads on the
vehicle covers every kind of operating
situation. Minimal-use drivers – who
drive significantly fewer than
6,200 miles/10,000 km annually –
should have the engine oil changed at
least every 2 years regardless of what
the service interval display indicates,
since oil deteriorates over time, irre-
spective 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.<
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147
Capacities
Notes
Fuel tank
Reservegal./liters
gal./litersapprox. 16.6/approx. 63
approx. 2.1/approx. 8Fuel specification: page 25
Windshield washer system/
Headlamp cleaning system quarts/liters approx. 5.6/approx. 5.3Specifications: page 118
Cooling system including heater circuit quarts/liters approx. 9.8/approx. 9.3 Specifications: page 120
Engine with oil filter change quarts/liters approx. 5.8/approx. 5.5 Specifications: page 119
Manual transmission quarts/liters approx. 1.9/approx. 1.8 Oil change during running-in check
and during each inspection II
Differential quarts/liters approx. 1.2/approx. 1.1 Oil change during running-in check
and during each inspection II
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Everything from A to Z
153
Leather care, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Length 145
License plate lamp
replacing bulb 133
Light switch 86
Lighter 98
Lighting, see Lamps
LIGHTS ON warning 86
Load-securing devices 102
Lock, steering wheel 60
Low beams 86
bulb replacement 129
Luggage compartment 35
capacity 146
floor mat 38
floor panel 37
manual operation 35
Luggage compartment lid 35
emergency release 37
manual operation 35
opening from the inside 36
remote control 32
securing separately 35
Luggage compartment light-
ing 35
Luggage rack 103
Lumbar support 45M
M Engine dynamics
control 85
M Mobility system 133
M+S tires 112
Maintenance 76, 122
Malfunction displays 76
Manual transmission 64
Master keys 30
with remote control 30
Memory 49, 59
Microfilter 94
Microphone 97
Mirror defrosting 51
Mirror memory 49
Mirrors 51
automatic curb monitor 50
inside rearview 52
outside 51
Mobility system 133
Modifications, technical 5
Multifunction switch 70
N
Navigation system, refer to
the separate Owner's
Manual
Neckrest 46
O
OBD interface socket 124Obstruction protection
power windows 40
sliding/tilt sunroof 41
Odometer 74
Oil
capacity 147
dipstick 118
quality 119
viscosity 119
Oil additives 119
Oil change interval, refer to
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models / Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Oil filter change 147
Oil level
checking 118
indicator lamp 19
warning lamp 18
Oil pressure
warning lamp 18
OIL SERVICE 76
Oil types 119
Onboard computer, refer to
Owner's Manual for
Onboard Computer
Onboard tool kit 128Opening and closing
from inside 34
via remote control 31
via the door lock 33
Operating elements 14
Outlets, ventilation 90
Outside temperature dis-
play 78
P
Paintwork care, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Panic mode, trigger
alarm 32
Park Distance Control
(PDC) 80
Parking aid 80
Parking brake 63
Parking lamps 86
PDC Park Distance
Control 80
Pollen 94
Power output 144
Power seat 45
Pressure, tires 25, 109
R
Radiator 147
Radio navigation, refer to
the Owner's Manual for
Radio 79
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