warning lights BMW M3 COUPE 2006 E46 Owner's Manual

18

Indicator and warning lamps

Technology that monitors itself

Indicator and warning lamps that are
identified by

●

are tested for proper
functioning whenever the ignition key is
turned. They each light up once for dif-
ferent periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started, or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see how to react to this below.

Red: stop immediately

Battery charge current

●

The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator drive belt or in the
charging circuit of the alternator. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the drive belt is defective, stop
and switch off the engine immedi-
ately to prevent overheating and seri-
ous engine damage. If the drive belt is
defective, increased steering effort is
also required.

<

Engine oil pressure

●

An alarm sounds at the same
time. The engine oil pressure is
too low. Stop the vehicle immediately
and switch off the engine. It is not pos-
sible to continue driving. Please contact
the nearest BMW center.
Do not continue driving, as the
engine could sustain serious dam-
age from inadequate lubrication.

<

Flat Tire Monitor

●

In addition, an acoustic signal is
sounded: there is a flat tire.
Reduce speed and carefully come to a
stop. Avoid sudden braking and steer-
ing maneuvers.
For additional information, refer to
page 85.
Brake warning lamp

●

If the lamp comes on when the
parking brake is not engaged:
check the brake fluid level. It is very
important that you follow the instruc-
tions on page 125 before driving on.
Have the system checked immediately.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.

Red: an important reminder

Brake warning lamp

●

Comes on when the parking
brake is engaged – an additional
acoustic signal sounds when starting
off.
For additional information, refer to
page 64.
Brake warning lamp for Cana-
dian models.
Please fasten safety belt
●
Comes on together with an
acoustic signal until driver fas-
tens safety belt.
For additional information on safety
belts, refer to page 46.
Airbags

●

Have the system checked as
soon as possible.
For additional information, refer to
page 54.

19

Red and yellow: continue driving
cautiously

The brake warning lamp lights
up together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS

●

and
DSC:
The entire ABS, CBC and DSC
control system has failed. Con-
tinue driving cautiously and
defensively and avoid full brake
applications. Please have the system
checked by your BMW center as soon
as possible.
For additional information, refer to
pages 82, 111.
ABS, CBC and DSC indicator
and warning lamps for Canadian
models.

Orange: consult the nearest BMW
center

Sequential M gearbox with
Drivelogic
If the indicator lamp fails to go
out after the engine has been started,
or if it comes on during normal driving:
this indicates a malfunction in the sys-
tem. Have the system checked immedi-
ately.
Indicator lamp flashes: a system over-
load has occurred.
For additional information, refer to
page 70.

Yellow: check as soon as possible

Engine oil level
Comes on while driving and is
accompanied by an alarm: the
engine oil level has fallen to the abso-
lute minimum; refill as soon as possible.
Do not drive more than 30 miles/50 km
before refilling.
For additional information, refer to
page 122.

Engine oil level
Comes on after the engine has
been shut off and is accompa-
nied by an alarm: add engine oil at your
earliest opportunity, such as when you
stop to refuel.
For additional information, refer to
page 122.
Brake pads

●

Have the brake pads checked
immediately.
For additional information, refer to
page 110.
Flat Tire Monitor

●

The Flat Tire Monitor has been
deactivated, either at the button
or in response to a system malfunction.
If there is a malfunction, have the sys-
ten checked.
For additional information, refer to
page 85.

Indicator and warning lamps
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20
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)

●

The indicator lamp flashes and
an acoustic signal sounds: the system
is active and governs drive and braking
force.
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 deactivated, either at the
button or in response to a system mal-
function.
If there is a malfunction, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible.
For additional information, refer to
page 82.
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)

●

Malfunction in DBC system.
Conventional braking efficiency
is available and unrestricted.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
For additional information, refer to
page 111.
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
warning lamp for Canadian
models.

Add washer fluid
The washer fluid level is too low,
top it up at the earliest opportu-
nity.
For additional information, refer to
page 122.
SERVICE ENGINE SOON

●

If the indicator lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the emis-
sions-related electronic systems.
Although the vehicle remains opera-
tional, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW center at the
earliest possible opportunity.
For additional information, refer to
page 128.
Service Engine Soon indicator
lamp for Canadian models.
Engine electronics

●

There is a fault in the electronic
engine-management system.
You can continue to drive with reduced
engine output or engine speed. Please
have the system inspected at your
BMW center.

Add coolant
Coolant level too low, top up as
soon as possible.
For additional information, refer to
page 124.
CHECK GAS CAP*

●

This indicator lamp comes on
when the gas cap is loose or
missing.
Close the gas cap tightly: refer to
page 25.

Yellow: for your information

M Track mode
Lights up when M Track mode is
activated.
For additional information, refer to
page 83.

Green: for your information

Turn signal indicator
Flashes when turn signals are
on. Rapid flashing: indicates a
system malfunction.
For additional information, refer to
page 71.

Indicator and warning lamps

21
Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise con-
trol is activated. Ready for oper-
ation via the buttons in the steering
wheel.
For additional information, refer to
page 73.
Front fog lamps
Lights up whenever the fog
lamps are on.
For additional information, refer to
page 89.

Blue: for your information

High beams
Comes on when the high beams
are on or the headlamp flasher
is actuated.
For additional information, refer to
pages 71, 88.

Indicator and warning lamps

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

25
Closing the gas capPlace the cap in position and turn it
until a clearly audible click is heard.
Close the gas cap carefully after
refueling until a click is heard.
While closing, be sure not to squeeze
the strap which is fastened to the cap.
A loose or missing cap will activate the
CHECK GAS CAP* lamp.<
Warning lamp* lights up. The
gas cap is not properly closed
or is missing. Check if the gas
cap is properly closed.Fuel tank capacity>Approx. 16.6 gal./63 liters, of which
>approx. 2.1 gal./8 liters are reserve
capacity.
Do not drive to the last drop of
fuel. This can prevent the engine
from operating properly and result in
damage.<
Fuel specificationsThe engine uses lead-free gasoline
only.Required fuelPremium Unleaded Gasoline,
Minimum Octane Rating: AKI 91.
Minimum Octane Rating corresponds to
the Anti Knock Index AKI and is deter-
mined according to the so-called
(R+M)/2 method.
Do not use leaded gasoline, as
otherwise the lambda probe and
catalytic converter will be permanently
damaged. cant differences in fuel quality: volatility,
composition, additives, etc., among
gasolines offered for sale in the United
States and Canada. Fuels containing up
to and including 10 % ethanol or other
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by
weight, that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % meth-
anol plus an equivalent amount of co-
solvent, will not void the applicable
warranties with respect to defects in
materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may
result in drivability, starting and
stalling problems especially under cer-
tain environmental conditions such as
high ambient temperature and high alti-
tude.
Should you encounter drivability prob-
lems which you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using, we
recommend that you respond by
switching to a recognized high-quality
brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may also result in unsched-
uled maintenance.<
Refueling
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76
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.

83
Activating M Track modeTap the button; the indicator lamp
comes on and stays on.Deactivating M Track modePress the button again; the indicator
lamp goes out.
To deactivate DSCPress the DSC button; the DSC indica-
tor lamp lights up continuously. DSC
and M Track mode are off.
When better traction is required, it is
beneficial to deactivate the system in
the following situations:
>When rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains.
To maintain vehicle stability,
always drive with the system
switched on whenever possible. tor lamp goes out.
Flat Tire MonitorThe conceptAs you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor
keeps track of pressure levels in all four
tires. The system alerts you whenever
the inflation pressure of a tire falls sig-
nificantly below the pressure of another
tire.
In the event of tire pressure loss, the
rolling radius of the tire changes, and
thereby the rotational speed of the
wheel. This change is detected, and a
flat tire warning is issued to the driver.Functional requirementsTo ensure a reliable flat tire warning,
the system must be initialized with the
correct tire inflation pressures.
Initialize the system immediately
after you have corrected a tire
inflation pressure, or changed the tire
or wheel. 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.<
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

84
The system could issue a false warning
or function in a delayed manner in the
following situations:
>System was not initialized
>You are driving on a snow-covered or
slippery road surface
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at
the drive wheels, high levels of lateral
acceleration
>You are driving with snow chainsInitializing the system
The initialization is completed
while you are driving, and can be
interrupted at any time. Initialization is
automatically continued when you con-
tinue driving. When driving with snow
chains, do not initialize the system.<
1. Before driving off, start the engine
but do not start driving
2. Press the button as long as you need
to, but no more than 8 seconds, until
the indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up in yellow for several
seconds
3. Drive off. Initialization is completed
during the drive without any feed-
back issued.
When driving with snow chains,
do not initialize the system.<
To activate/deactivate the systemThe system is automatically activated in
ignition key position 2 and conse-
quently is on whenever the vehicle is
operated.
To deactivate the system: tap the but-
ton, the indicator lamp will light up yel-
low.
To activate the system: tap the button
again; the indicator lamp goes out.
Deactivate the system when snow
chains are mounted, since false warn-
ings and undetected losses in pressure
are possible under these kinds of con-
ditions.
Flat Tire Monitor

87 Lamps
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 88.
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. When the switch is in this posi-
tion the system automatically
responds to changes in ambient
light, for example in tunnels, at dusk
and when it is raining or snowing, by
switching the low beams on or off.
The low-beam headlamps remain
on, regardless of the ambient
light, when you switch on the fog
lamps.<
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.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Everything from A to Z
161
Interior motion sensor 37, 38
switching off 30, 38
Interior rearview mirror
automatic dimming
feature 50
Interior temperature
adjusting 92
Intermittent mode, wipers 72
Interval display, service 77
J
Jump-starting 143
K
Key Memory 59
Keys 28
with remote control 28
L
Lamp defect 133
Lamps and bulbs 133
Lashing down loads, refer to
Cargo loading 102
Lashing eyelets, refer to
Securing cargo 104
Lashing fittings, refer to
Securing cargo 104
LATCH child-restraint
mounting system 57
Leather care, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochureLeaving the vehicle 64
LEDs light-emitting
diodes 136
Length, refer to
Dimensions 151
License plate lamp
bulb replacement 136
Light switch 87
Light-emitting diodes
(LEDs) 136
Lighter 98
LIGHTS ON warning 87
Lights, refer to Parking
lamps/Low beams 87
Litter bag holders 97
Load, determining the maxi-
mum 102
Load, refer to Cargo
loading 102
Loading
vehicle 102
Load-securing devices 104
Lock buttons on doors, refer
to Locking 33
Lock, steering wheel 61
Locking
from inside 33
from outside 29, 32
Locking and unlocking
doors
from inside 33
from outside 29, 32Low beams 87
automatic 87
bulb replacement 133
indicator lamp, defective
lamp 77
Luggage compartment
capacity 152
emergency operation,
refer to Manual
operation 34
floor mat 37
floor panel 36
lid 34
opening from outside 34
opening, remote
control 30
opening/closing, refer to
Luggage compartment
lid 34
remote control 30
volume 152
Luggage compartment lid 34
emergency operation 34
emergency release 36
indicator lamp 77
opening from inside the
vehicle 34, 35
opening from outside 34
remote control 30
securing separately 34
unlocking manually 34Luggage compartment light-
ing 34
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack 105
Lumbar support 44
M
M Engine dynamics
control 85
M Mobility system 137
M Track mode 82
indicator lamp 20
Maintenance 77, 126
Maintenance system 126
Making telephone calls,
refer to the telephone
Owner's Manual
Malfunction
door lock 32
fuel filler door 24
Malfunction displays 77
Manual operation
door lock 32
driver's door 32
fuel filler door 24
glass sunroof 41
luggage compartment
lid 34
Manual transmission 65
Master keys
with remote control 28
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