maintenance BMW M3 COUPE 2004 E46 Owner's 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
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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.
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Sequential M gearbox with Drivelogic*The conceptThe sequential M gearbox with 
Drivelogic is an automated manual 
gearbox with which clutching and shift-
ing is assumed by an electro-hydraulic 
system.
The SMG  Drivelogic is operated via two 
shift paddles on the steering wheel and 
the selector lever in the center console.
It offers the following functions:
>Sequential and automated shifting 
mode
>Ability to choose between different 
driving programs – Drivelogic
>Gradient assistance, refer to page 70
>Upshift display and shift lights, refer 
to page 71
>RPM matching on downshifts
>Driving dependent functions:
The respective driving situation, e.g. 
cornering, mountain driving or brak-
ing, is detected by sensors and taken 
into account for shifting, e.g. to 
achieve optimum gear selection dur-
ing deceleration and subsequent 
acceleration
>Slip recognition at the rear axle for 
increasing driving stability, e.g. dur-
ing downshifting on slippery road 
surfaces>Operating safety through protection 
against misshifting.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel 
consumption is lowest when driving in 
the first driving program of the auto-
mated shifting mode.
Selector lever positionsR: Reverse position
N: Neutral position
Forward position with one-touch mode:
>S: sequential mode
>D: automated mode
>+: upshifting in sequential mode
>–: downshifting in sequential mode.
The SMG Drivelogic is ready for opera-
tion from ignition key position two or 
higher.
For your safety, it is only possible to 
engage a driving position with the vehi-
cle stopped approx. two seconds after 
engaging position 0 with the footbrake 
depressed – shift-lock function.
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Shifting gears with shift paddles on 
steering wheel:
>To upshift, briefly pull the right pad-
dle +
>To downshift, briefly pull the left pad-
dle –.
Shift paddles with various widths 
matched to the shape of your 
hand are available from your BMW cen-
ter.<
Shifting gears with selector lever:
>To upshift, pull the selector lever 
backward in the '+' direction
>To downshift, push the selector lever 
in the '–' direction.
No automatic upshifting is carried out in 
the sequential mode.
You accelerate from higher gears, e.g. 
during passing, by manually downshift-
ing.
In the following situations the 
SMG Drivelogic in the sequential mode 
assists you:
>Upshifts and downshifts are only exe-
cuted at appropriate combinations of 
engine rpm and vehicle speed. For 
instance, downshifts that would 
result in excessive engine speed are 
not executed
>During a stop the gearbox is auto-
matically downshifted into the first 
gear so that, e.g. before a traffic light, 
it is only necessary to accelerate to 
continue driving
>As speed diminishes, the gearbox 
downshifts automatically, without you 
taking any action, just before the 
vehicle slows to below each gear's 
minimum speed.D - Automated modeEach time the engine is started, the 
automated mode is activated as soon 
as you move the selector lever into the 
forward driving position.
In the automated mode all forward 
gears are shifted automatically.To switch from sequential to automated 
mode: tap the selector lever to the right 
toward 'D'. Watch the display in the 
instrument cluster, refer to page 68.
For rapid acceleration, e.g. during 
passing, depress the accelerator pedal 
completely – kickdown. The gearbox 
now downshifts depending on the 
selected driving program.
Even in the automated mode, you can 
help specify the shifting point: if a gear-
dependent minimum speed is 
exceeded, you can upshift by slowly 
reducing pressure on the accelerator 
pedal. In the process, the respective 
driving situation is detected by sensors 
and taken into account.
Sequential M gearbox with Drivelogic*
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Indicator lamp
The gearbox indicator lamp in 
the instrument cluster goes out 
after the engine is started.
>If it does not go out, or if it lights up 
during driving, a malfunction has 
occurred. The available functions 
may be limited under certain circum-
stances.
Drive carefully and with the Dynamic 
Stability Control (DSC) activated. 
Have the system checked by the 
nearest BMW center
>If the indicator lamp flashes while 
driving, the system is overloaded. 
Avoid high loads until the indicator 
lamp goes out again permanently.
Shift lightsTo achieve the best possible vehicle 
acceleration with a sporty driving style 
in the sequential mode, shift lights in 
the instrument cluster indicate the opti-
mum shifting point shortly before the 
maximum engine speed is reached.
1. When the maximum engine speed is 
approached, yellow indicator fields – 
shift lights – in the tachometer light 
up consecutively to indicate the 
approaching upshift time
2. Shift at the latest when the last indi-
cator field lights up red.
Tire replacement, snow chainsFollowing a tire or wheel change and 
after mounting or removing snow 
chains, the slip recognition of the 
SMG Drivelogic must become familiar 
with the changed condition.
Reinitialize the system afterwards.
1. Move the selector lever into 
position N on a straight stretch of 
road at a speed of over 20 mph / 
30 km/h
2. Pull both shift paddles for approx. 
2 seconds.
If you do not carry out the initialization, 
the system automatically learns the 
changed condition gradually during 
driving. This can become apparent due 
to brief opening and closing of the 
clutch.
Sequential M gearbox with Drivelogic*
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Washer/wiper system/Rain sensor*0Wipers retracted
1Intermittent operation or rain sensor
2Normal wiper speed
3Fast wiper speed
4Brief wipe
5Rotary dial for control of the wipe 
interval or the sensitivity of the rain 
sensorIntermittent modeNot on vehicles with rain sensor.
You can set the wipe interval at four 
stages with rotary dial 5. In addition, the 
wipe interval is varied automatically 
depending on road speed.
Rain sensor*The rain sensor is positioned on the 
windshield, directly behind the interior 
rearview mirror.
To activate the rain sensor:
>With the ignition key in position 1 or 
higher, move the lever to position 1. 
The wipers travel once across the 
windshield, regardless of the weather
>You can leave the lever permanently 
in position 1. It is then only necessary 
to activate the rain sensor when the 
ignition key in position 1 or higher. 
Activate by briefly turning rotary 
dial 5.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain sen-
sor: turn rotary dial 5.
To deactivate the rain sensor: put lever 
in position 0.
Turn the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. Failure to do so 
could result in damage caused by 
undesired wiper activation.
wipe – not on vehicles with rain sensor.
Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the wip-
ers operate at normal speed – not on 
vehicles with rain sensor.
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The speed stored in memory is deleted.To store and maintain speed or to 
acceleratePress button + briefly:
The system stores and maintains the 
current vehicle speed. Every time you 
tap the button, the speed increases by 
approx. 0.6 mph / 1 km/h.
Press and hold button +:
The vehicle accelerates without pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal. When 
you release the button, the system 
stores and maintains the current speed.
If on a downhill gradient the 
engine braking effect is not suffi-
cient, the controlled speed can be 
exceeded. Speed can drop on uphill 
grades if the engine output is insuffi-
cient.
of the button reduces the speed by 
approx. 0.6 mph / 1 km/h.
Press and hold button –:
With the cruise control active, the sys-
tem automatically reduces the throttle 
opening to slow the vehicle. When you 
release the button, the system stores 
and maintains the current speed.To interrupt the cruise controlWhen the system is activated, press the 
button. The indicator lamp stays on. 
You can use the cruise control again 
whenever you want by calling up the 
speed that was stored last.
In addition, cruise control is interrupted 
automatically:
>When the brakes are applied
>When pressing down the clutch pedal
>If you exceed or fall below the pro-
grammed speed for an extended 
period – by depressing the accelera-
tor, for example
>Sequential M gearbox with 
Drivelogic: when shifting in the 
sequential mode – refer to page 67. 
when shifting in the sequential mode, 
refer to page:.
To recall the stored settingPress button:
The vehicle accelerates to and main-
tains the last speed stored.
Cruise control
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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.
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ClockIf you wish to have a permanent time 
display, you can make this adjustment 
in the car radio display, refer to the 
Owner's Manual for Radio.
You can set the time of day, and the 
display for the car radio, as follows.
Setting
Before the clock can be set, the 
time must be showing in the 
instrument cluster display.<
With the ignition key in position 1 or 
higher
To set ahead: turn the right button to 
the right.
To set back: turn the right button to the 
left.
The adjustment speed will increase the 
longer you continue to hold the right 
button.
To change the display mode: press the 
right button briefly.
Every time you press the button, the 
clock display alternates between the 
12-hour and 24-hour mode.
In ignition key position 0: the time is 
displayed for a few seconds after you 
press the left button, refer to Odometer 
on page 76.
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Average fuel consumptionIf you continue to press and hold the 
button on the turn signal lever, the aver-
age fuel consumption being displayed 
is recalculated from that point.
If you wish, you can have the aver-
age fuel consumption displayed in 
a different unit of measure.
conditions in the preceding period and 
on the remaining fuel in the tank.
It is important that you refuel when 
the cruising range falls below 
approx. 35 miles/50 kilometers. Other-
wise, the engine cannot be guaranteed 
to operate properly and damage may 
result.<
Average speedIf you continue to press and hold the 
button on the turn signal lever, the aver-
age speed being displayed is recalcu-
lated from that point in time.
Any time spent when the vehicle is sta-
tionary and the engine is shut off is 
ignored for the calculation.
Computer
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Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)The conceptDSC maintains vehicle stability, even in 
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability 
during acceleration and when starting 
from a full stop, as well as optimizing 
traction. In addition, it recognizes 
unstable vehicle conditions, such as 
understeering or oversteering, and, 
within physically feasible limits, helps 
keeping the vehicle on a steady course 
by reducing the engine speed and 
brake applications to the individual 
wheels.
DSC starts up automatically each time 
you start the engine.The laws of physics cannot be 
repealed, even with DSC. The 
results of driving irresponsibly rest with 
the driver. We therefore urge you to 
avoid using the additional safety margin 
of the system as an excuse for taking 
risks.
Do not make any modifications to the 
DSC system. Allow only authorized 
technicians to perform service proce-
dures on the DSC. At first, you may 
need some time to become accus-
tomed to this system's intervention. 
However, it guarantees optimum drive 
force and at the same time, the best 
possible vehicle stability.<
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly 
after the ignition has been 
switched on, refer to page 20.
>Indicator lamp flashes: DSC is active 
and is controlling the drive torque 
based on driving conditions
>If the indicator lamp fails to go out 
after the engine has been started, or 
if it comes on during normal driving 
and stays on: DSC has been deacti-
vated via the button or is defective.
Please consult your BMW center for 
repairs.
You can continue to drive the vehicle 
normally without DSC.
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