warning BMW M3 COUPE 2004 E46 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: BMW, Model Year: 2004, Model line: M3 COUPE, Model: BMW M3 COUPE 2004 E46Pages: 170, PDF Size: 2.62 MB
Page 38 of 170

38
Floor matYou can turn the floor mat over to trans-
port soiled objects, etc. The rubber-
coated side can be washed and is 
designed to inhibit sliding.
The fittings at the corners of the lug-
gage compartment provide you with a 
convenient means of attaching luggage 
compartment nets* and flexible straps 
for securing luggage.
Refer also to Cargo loading on 
page 104.
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 changes in vehicle tilt, e.g. as 
would occur while attempting to steal 
the wheels or tow the vehicle – tilt 
alarm sensor system
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized 
vehicle entry and attempted theft by 
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustical alarm for 
30 seconds
>Activating the hazard warning flash-
ers 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 driver's door lock or with the 
remote control, the alarm system is also 
simultaneously armed or disarmed.You can have a signal set as 
acknowledgment for both arming 
and disarming the alarm.<
You can also open the luggage com-
partment lid when the system is armed 
by pressing the button of the remote 
control, refer to page 32. When it is 
closed, the lid is once again secured.
Extended pressure on the button sets 
off the alarm – Panic mode, refer to 
page 32.
Luggage compartment 
Page 54 of 170

54
At all times, occupants should sit 
upright and be properly restrained 
– infants and small children in appropri-
ate child-restraint systems; larger chil-
dren and adults using the safety belts. 
Never let an occupant's head rest near 
or on a side airbag because the inflating 
airbag could cause a serious or fatal 
injury. Please note that the word Airbag 
imprinted on the door trim panel indi-
cates the airbag's location.
Accident research shows that the saf-
est place for children in an automobile 
is in the rear seat. However, a child sit-
ting in the rear seat and not properly 
restrained may place his or her head on 
or near the side airbag, if so equipped. 
For example, a child – even though 
belted in – may fall asleep with his or 
her head against the side airbag. It may 
be difficult for a driver to ensure that 
children in the rear seat will remain 
properly positioned at all times and not 
place their heads on or near the side 
airbag. Therefore, we recommend that 
the rear seat side airbags, if provided, 
be deactivated if you plan to transport 
children in the rear seat.
The rear seat side airbags may already 
have been deactivated by a BMW cen-
ter. If you are uncertain of their status, 
or wish to have the airbags activated or 
deactivated, please contact your BMW 
center.<
Even when all these guidelines are 
observed, there is still a small residual 
risk of injuries to the face, hands and 
arms occurring from airbag deployment 
in isolated instances.
In sensitive individuals, the ignition and 
inflation noise may induce a mild hear-
ing loss that is temporary in most 
cases.
Airbag warning information is also pro-
vided on the sun visors.This is the right way a child should sit in 
a child restraint when rear side airbags 
are provided.
Airbags 
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60
Vehicle Memory, Key MemoryHow the system functionsYou have probably frequently wished 
that you could configure individual 
functions of your vehicles to reflect your 
own personal requirements. In engi-
neering your vehicle, BMW has pro-
vided for a number of options for per-
sonal adjustment that can be 
programmed into your vehicle at your 
BMW center.
The available configuration data fall into 
two categories, according to whether 
their primary orientation is the vehicle – 
Vehicle Memory – or the individual – 
Key Memory. You can have up to four 
different basic settings adjusted for four 
different persons. The only require-
ment is that each person uses his or her 
own remote control key.
When your vehicle is unlocked with the 
remote control, the vehicle recognizes 
the individual user by means of a data 
exchange with the key, and makes 
adjustments accordingly.
Distinguishing between keysIn order for you to distinguish between 
different keys, colored decals are sup-
plied together with the keys.What the system can doYour BMW center can provide you with 
details on the possibilities that the Vehi-
cle and Key Memory systems offer:
You will see this symbol through-
out the Owner's Manual. It is to 
remind you at appropriate places of the 
settings that are available to you.<
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Various signals that can serve as 
acknowledgment for locking and 
unlocking the vehicle, refer to 
page 31
>Activates/deactivates the 'Follow me 
home' lamps function, refer to 
page 88
>Activates/deactivates daytime driv-
ing lamps, refer to page 88
>Sets the units of measure for display-
ing time, outside temperature, dis-
tance traveled and fuel consumption 
in the instrument cluster
>When you shift into Reverse, an 
acoustic signal indicates that PDC 
has been activated, refer to page 82
>Switches on rear window defroster 
automatically, refer to page 95
>Activates/deactivates various alarm 
system functions, refer to page 39
>After giving an ice warning, the 
onboard computer display returns to 
the previous setting, refer to page 80.
Examples for Key Memory:
>Locks the vehicle automatically after 
you start off, refer to page 34
>Automatically moves the seat and 
outside mirror into position for the 
programmed driver when unlocking 
the vehicle, refer to page 49
>Automatic tilting of the passenger-
side mirror, refer to Automatic curb 
monitor, page 50 
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65
Switching off the engine
You should never remove the igni-
tion key when the vehicle is in 
motion, as the steering lock could 
engage.
When you leave the vehicle, always 
remove the ignition key and engage the 
steering lock.<
Always engage the parking brake 
when parking on downhill roads. 
Engaging a gear may not sufficiently 
secure the vehicle against rolling.<
Manual transmissionTurn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.Sequential M gearbox with 
DrivelogicIf you turn the ignition key to position 1 
or 0 with the selector lever in the for-
ward or reverse position, a gear auto-
matically remains engaged.
If you turn the ignition key to position 1 
or 0 with the selector lever in position 
N, a warning tone and the flashing gear 
indicator in the SMG Drivelogic display 
remind you that no gear is engaged to 
secure the vehicle against rolling.
The warning stops after approx. 
10 seconds. If you move the selector 
lever into a forward or reverse position 
during this time, a gear is automatically 
engaged.
Parking brakeThe parking brake is designed primarily 
to prevent the vehicle from rolling when 
it is parked. It operates against the rear 
wheels.To engageThe detent engages automatically, and 
the indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on when the ignition key 
is in position 2, refer to page 18.To releasePull up slightly on the lever, press the 
button and lower the lever.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
Page 76 of 170

76Everything under control
Odometer1Odometer
2Trip odometerOdometerYou can activate the displays shown in 
the illustration with the ignition key in 
position 0 by pressing the left button in 
the instrument cluster.Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero, 
press the left button with the ignition 
key in position 1 or higher.
TachometerVariable pre-warning zoneThe yellow pre-warning zone displays 
current permissible engine speeds, 
depending on the engine temperature. 
As the engine temperature climbs, 
some of the sectors for this pre-warning 
zones will go out one after the other.
Avoid engine speeds in the early warn-
ing zone if possible.
Never allow the engine to operate with 
the needle in the red overspeed zone of 
the gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is 
interrupted when you approach this 
sector.
Engine oil temperatureThe general operating temperature lies 
between 1757/806 and 2507/ 
1206. During high-performance driv-
ing, do not exceed a maximum value of 
3007/1506. 
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77
Fuel gaugeOnce the indicator lamp stays on con-
tinuously, there are still approx. 
2 gallons/8 liters of fuel in the fuel tank.
Fuel tank capacity approx. 16.6 gal./ 
63 liters.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies – when 
you are driving in mountainous areas, 
for example – the needle may fluctuate 
slightly.
Fill the fuel tank before it is com-
pletely empty. Driving to the last 
drop of fuel can prevent the engine 
from operating properly and result in 
damage.<
When you switch on the ignition, the 
indicator lamp lights up briefly as an 
operation check.
Engine coolant temperature gaugeBlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at moder-
ate engine and vehicle speeds.Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. The needle 
may rise as far as the edge of the red 
sector during normal operation.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the 
warning lamp comes on briefly as an 
operation check.
If the lamp comes on while operating 
the vehicle: the engine has overheated. 
Switch off the engine immediately and 
allow it to cool down.
To check the coolant level, refer to 
page 124.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
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80
ComputerMode selectionWith the ignition key in position 1 and 
higher, you can use the button in the 
turn signal lever to retrieve information 
from the computer for display in the 
instrument cluster. Each time you press 
the button briefly in the direction of the 
steering column, a new function is 
called up in the display.
The displays appear in the following 
order:
Time of day, outside temperature, aver-
age fuel consumption, cruising range, 
average vehicle speed.
When the ignition key is in position 1 or 
higher, the last active setting is dis-
played.
Outside temperatureYou can change the units of measure 
6/7 for the outside temperature dis-
play by pressing the right-hand reset 
button in the instrument cluster while 
the temperature display is active. The 
units of measure 6/7 in the tempera-
ture display of the automatic climate 
control change automatically, refer to 
page 92.Ice warningIf the outside temperature drops to 
about 37.57/+36, then the computer 
will automatically switch to a display of 
the outside temperature. In addition, a 
signal sounds as a warning and the dis-
play flashes for a brief period.
After giving an ice warning, the 
display returns to the previous 
setting.<
The ice warning does not alter the 
fact that surface ice can form at 
temperatures above 37.57/+36, on 
bridges or shaded road surfaces, for 
instance.< 
Page 82 of 170

82Technology for safety and driving convenience
Park Distance Control (PDC)*The conceptPDC assists you when you back into a 
parking space. Acoustic signals alert 
you to the momentary distance to an 
object behind your vehicle. To do this, 
four ultrasonic sensors in the rear 
bumper measure the distance to the 
nearest object. The range for the sen-
sors located at both rear corners ends 
approx. 2  ft/60  cm behind the bumpers. 
The range for the two middle sensors is 
slightly less than 5 ft/1.50 m.
PDC is a parking aid that can 
identify objects if they are 
approached slowly, as is generally the 
case when parking. Avoid driving 
towards objects rapidly; due to underly-
ing physical principles, the system may 
otherwise alert you too late for you to 
take evasive steps.<
The system starts to operate automati-
cally approx. one second after you shift 
into Reverse or move the selector lever 
into the R position with the ignition key 
in position 2. 
Let this short period elapse before 
driving backwards.<
PDC is deactivated when you shift back 
out of Reverse.
You can have a signal set to con-
firm that the PDC has been acti-
vated. The signal then sounds when 
you shift into Reverse or move the 
selector lever into the R position.
intervals. As the distance between vehi-
cle and object decreases, the intervals 
between the tones become shorter. A 
continuous tone indicates the pres-
ence of an object less than 1 ft/30 cm 
away.
The warning signal is canceled after 
approx. three seconds if the distance to 
the object remains constant during this 
time – if you are moving parallel to 
a wall, for instance.
System malfunctions will be indicated 
by a continuous high-pitched tone 
when the system is activated the first 
time. Please have your BMW center 
resolve the problem.
PDC does not replace the driver's 
personal responsibility for evaluat-
ing the distance between the vehicle 
and any objects. Even when sensors 
are involved, there is a blind spot in 
which objects cannot be detected. This 
applies especially in those cases where 
the system approaches the physical 
limits of ultrasonic measurement, as 
occurs with tow bars and trailer cou-
plings, and in the vicinity of thin or 
wedge-shaped objects. Moreover, low 
objects that have already been 
detected – such as a curb edge – can 
disappear out of the detection range of 
the sensors before a continuous tone 
sounds.
Loud sources of sound from outside or 
inside the vehicle could drown out the 
PDC signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free 
of ice or snow in order to ensure 
that they will continue to operate effec-
tively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the 
sensors for a prolonged period of time. 
Always maintain a distance of more 
than 4 in/10 cm.< 
Page 85 of 170

85
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot pro-
vide you with advance warning of 
sudden and severe tire damage caused 
by external factors and does not detect 
the balanced and very gradual pressure 
loss that takes place in all four tires 
over an extended period of time.<
On the other hand, the following situa-
tions can lead to a delayed detection of 
pressure loss and even to the system 
not functioning:
>Driving on snow-covered or slippery 
roads 
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at 
the drive wheels, high levels of lateral 
acceleration
>When driving with snow chains, false 
warnings and undetected pressure 
losses may occur.
Initializing the system
Each time you correct the pres-
sure in a tire, or change a wheel or 
tire, reinitialize the system immediately 
afterwards. This requires a bit of driv-
ing.<
1. Before driving off, start the engine 
but do not start driving
2. Press the button as long as you need 
to until the yellow indicator lamp in 
the instrument cluster lights up for a 
few seconds
3. Drive off.
It takes a few minutes before the Flat 
Tire Monitor can detect a flat tire and 
issue a warning.
When driving with snow chains, 
do not initialize the system.<
Flat Tire Monitor
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex 
Page 88 of 170

88Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beamsParking lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle 
lighting is switched on. You can 
use this to signal the position of 
the vehicle when it is parked. For light-
ing on one side for parking as an addi-
tional feature, refer to page 89.
Low beams
When you switch the ignition off 
with the low-beam headlamps 
on, only the parking lamps will 
remain on.
Follow me home lampsWhen you activate the headlamp 
flasher after parking the vehicle and 
switching off the lights, the low beams 
will come on for a brief period. 
You can also have this function 
deactivated.<
LIGHTS ON warningWhenever you open the driver's door 
after having turned the ignition key to 
position 0, you will hear an acoustic 
signal for a few seconds to remind you 
that the lamps have not been switched 
off.Daytime driving lamps*If you desire, the light switch can be left 
in the low-beam position: when the 
ignition is switched off, the external 
lighting is also switched off.
When required, switch on the parking 
lamps as usual as described under 
Parking lamps.
You can have the activation set-
tings for the daytime driving lamps 
programmed on your vehicle.
tion the system automatically 
responds to changes in ambient 
light – in tunnels, at dusk, etc. – and in 
the event of rain and snow – by switch-
ing the low beams on or off.
The vehicle's external lamps 
remain on constantly when you 
switch on the front fog lamps after the 
headlamps have come on automati-
cally.<
Automatic headlamp control can-
not serve as a substitute for your 
personal judgement in determining 
when the lamps should be switched on. 
For example, the sensors are not able 
to detect fog. In such situations switch 
on the lamp manually, as otherwise a 
safety hazard will result.<
You can have the sensitivity of 
your vehicle's automatic head-
lamp control adjusted.<