Get Operation, maintenance Guide for BMW M3 4 Door Third Generation (2000-2006)

109

Overview

Controls and features

Operation, maintenance

Owner service procedures

Technical data

Index

he same break-in procedure if

he engine or the differential

have to be replaced in the

To break in the separate parking brake

drums, apply the parking brake lightly

when coasting to a standstill – at a traf-

fic signal, for instance – use caution to

avoid posing a danger to other road

users.

To avoid corrosion, repeat this proce-

dure from time to time.

echnical factors associated

ir manufacture, tires do not

their full traction potential until

l break-in period has elapsed.

ve with extra care during the

00 miles/300 km.

The brake lamps do not come on

when the parking brake is set.

Vacuum for the brake system servo unit

on your BMW is available only when the

engine is running. When you move the

vehicle with the engine off – when tow-

ing, for example – substantially higher

levels of pedal force will be required to

brake the vehicle.<

our local and state maximum

mits.

hen the vehicle is operated on

et or slushy roads, a wedge of

ay form between the tire and

d surface. This phenomenon is

to as hydroplaning, and can

Clutch

partial or complete loss of trac- The clutch will also begin to function

well as loss of vehicle control optimally after about 300 miles/500 km.

king effectiveness. Reduce your Drive cautiously during this break-in

n wet roads.<

period and do not press the clutch or

shift at high engine speeds.

system

300 miles/500 km must elapse

he brake pads and rotors

the optimal pad-surface and

tterns required for trouble-free

on and long service life later on.

111

able phone in the vehicle

recommends using mobile com-

ations devices, e.g. portable

es, inside the vehicle with a suit-

utside antenna. Otherwise, it can-

e ruled out that the vehicle elec-

s and portable phone may

ere with each other.

Brake system

educe the pressure on the

edal for the duration of the

pplication. When the brake

released, the DBC is deacti-

Brake fluid level

Low brake fluid level in the reservoir

combined with longer than usual pedal

travel may indicate a defect in one of

the brake system's hydraulic circuits.

ing Brake Control (CBC)

an advanced engineering

Proceed to the nearest BMW cen-

ter. Higher brake application pres-

of the ABS. When braking while sure may be necessary when stopping,

ng at high speed or braking dur- and the vehicle may exhibit a slight ten-

lateral acceleration, or when

during a lane change, vehicle

is improved and steering

e is enhanced.

dency to pull to one side. Brake dis-

tances may even be longer. Please

remember to adapt your driving style

accordingly.<

Disc brakes

When the vehicle is driven only occa-

sionally, during extended periods when

the vehicle is not used at all, and in

operating conditions where brake appli-

cations are less frequent, there is an

increased tendency for corrosion of the

rotors and accumulation of contamina-

tion on the brake pads. This occurs

because the minimal pressure that must

be exerted by the pads to clean the

rotors by brake applications is not

reached.

113

e pads

For your own safety: use only

brake pads which BMW has

ved for your specific vehicle

l. BMW cannot evaluate non-

ved brake pads to determine if

re suitable for use, and therefore

ot ensure the operating safety of

hicle if they are installed.<

condition

wall with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. At

a tread depth of 1/16 in / 1.6 mm, the

indicators signal that the legally permis-

sible wear limit has been reached.

ead – tire damage

your tires frequently for tread

gns of damage and for foreign

lodged in the tread. Check the

epth.

epth should not be allowed to

w 1/8 in / 3 mm, even though

lly specified minimum tread

only 1/16 in / 1.6 mm.

1/8 in / 3 mm tread depth, there

at risk of hydroplaning, even at

y moderate speeds and with

all amounts of water on the

ead wear indicators in the

oove base – see arrow – are

ted around the wheel circumfer-

d are labeled on the tire side-

replacement

115

aintain good handling and vehicle depart significantly from the norm due

nse, use only tires of a single to variations in driving habits, service

configuration from a single manu- practices and differences in road char-

er.

acteristics and climate.

ly with the specified tire inflation

ures – and be sure to have the

and tire assembly balanced

Traction

The traction grades, from highest to

lowest, are AA, A, B and C.

time you change a tire or wheel.

Those grades represent the tire's ability

to stop on wet pavement as measured

under controlled conditions on speci-

fied government test surfaces of

asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C

may have poor traction performance.

quality grades

wear

on AA A B C

erature A B C

All passenger car tires must con-

orm to Federal Safety Require-

s in addition to these grades.<

The traction grade assigned to

this tire is based on straight-

ahead braking traction tests, and does

not include acceleration, cornering,

hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-

teristics.<

dwear

eadwear grade is a comparative

based on the wear rate of the tire

tested under controlled condi-

on a specified government test

e.

Temperature

The temperature grades are A – the

highest – B and C, representing the

tire's resistance to the generation of

heat and its ability to dissipate heat

when tested under controlled condi-

tions on a specified indoor laboratory

test wheel.

xample, a tire graded 150 would

1

one and one-half – 1 /₂– times as

n the government course as a tire

d 100. The relative performance

s depends upon the actual condi-

of their use, however, and may

e

commends the replacement of

when the tires are no more than

old, even if a tire life of 10 years

ble.

e on which the tire was manu-

d is indicated by the code on the

:

3603 indicates that the tire was

ctured in week 36 of the year

ing wheel/tire changes

with the specified tire inflation

es – and be sure to have the

nd tire assembly balanced

me you change a tire or wheel.

ng wheel and/or tire changes

need to reinitialize both the Flat

nitor and the sequential M gear-

h Drivelogic, refer to pages 71,

117

The correct wheel and tire combi- Do not exceed the maximum tire infla-

nation affects different systems

as ABS, DSC, Flat Tire Monitor.

unction of these systems is

tion pressures specified on the tire

sidewall.

red if improper wheel and tire

inations are used.

fore, only use tires of the same

and same tread configuration on

hicle and, for example following a

ilure, restore the approved wheel

re combination as soon as possi-

The use of rims and lug bolts that

do not meet the specifications of

iginal factory-installed equipment

fect the safe operation of your

e and may cause an accident and

nal injury.

mix tires of different design, such

el-belted radials with radial bias-

d or bias-ply tires, etc. Mixing tire

will adversely affect roadholding

an lead to loss of vehicle con-

age

s store tires in a cool, dry place.

them away from light whenever

ble. Protect the tires against con-

ith oil, grease and fuel.

Snow chains*

Only certain snow chains have been

tested by BMW and determined and

approved as roadworthy. Consult your

BMW center for more information.

BMW recommends using only these

approved fine-link snow chains. Use

them in pairs on winter tires, but only on

both rear wheels.

exceed specified

um speeds

ever exceed the maximum

eed for which the winter tires

d.

ssional attempts by laymen to

tires can lead to damage and

ts.

Comply with all manufacturer's safety

precautions when mounting the chains.

Do not exceed a maximum speed of

30 mph / 50 km/h when using snow

chains.

is work performed by skilled

onals only. Your BMW center

glad to assist you with both their

e and the proper equipment for

hicle.<

After mounting or removing snow

chains, always reinitialize the sequential

M gearbox with Drivelogic, refer to

page 71.

ndition, tire pressure

depths below approx. 3/16 in /

re performance under winter

conditions deteriorates notice-

orn tires should therefore be

d for safety considerations.

It is not possible to mount snow

chains on tires with 18-inch and

19-inch wheels.

Deactivate the Flat Tire Monitor when

using snow chains. Malfunction warn-

ings and undetected losses in pressure

are a possibility when driving with snow

chains.

with the specified tire inflation

es – and be sure to have the

nd tire assembly balanced

me you change a tire or wheel.

For additional information, refer to

page 84.<

119

pen

To close

he release handle and open the

Pull the hood downwards and allow it to

fall from a minimum height of 1 ft/30 cm

so that it audibly engages. Check for

t is not possible to drive off using proper locking by pulling on the hood at

SMG Drivelogic when the hood is the left and right above the headlamps.

<

To avoid injuries, be sure that the

travel path of the hood is clear

when it is closed, following the same

safety precautions used in all closing

procedures.

If you notice while driving that the hood

is not completely closed, stop immedi-

ately and close it securely.<

s

121

ne oil

The oil volume between the two marks

on the dipstick corresponds to approx.

1.4 US quarts/1.3 liters.

ing the oil level

the vehicle on a level surface

h the engine off after it has

hed normal operating tempera-

approx. 1 minute, pull the dip-

out and wipe it off with a clean

ee cloth, paper towel, or similar

rial

ully push the dipstick all the

nto the guide tube and pull it

gain

oil level should be between the

marks on the dipstick.

fuel economy, oil consumption

ly influenced by your driving

d vehicle operating conditions.

123

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:

mmendation: have the oil changed

ur BMW center.

Continuous exposure to used oil

has caused cancer in laboratory

g. For this reason, thoroughly

any areas of skin that come into

ct with oil using soap and water.

oils, grease and similar materials

at they are inaccessible to chil-

Comply with warning labels and

mation on containers.<

to obtain this infor-

mation.<

Alternative oil types

If 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:

Comply with the applicable envi-

onmental laws regulating the dis-

of used oil.<

>Viscosity

preferred: SAE 10W-60

alternative: SAE 5W-40 or

SAE 10W-40

ified engine oils

uality of the engine oil is

mely important for the function

e of an engine. Based on exten-

esting, BMW has approved only

n grades of engine oil.

>Specifications

preferred: API SJ/CF

alternative: API SJ – also SK, SL, S

etc.

nly oils approved for your vehicle

l.

Low ambient temperatures

The oils used by BMW at the factory for

your vehicle model can be used at virtu-

ally any ambient temperature.

ant

o not add coolant to the cooling

stem when the engine is hot. If

mpt to do so, escaping coolant

se burns.

ze and anti-corrosion agents

ardous to health. You should

store them in their closed origi-

ainers and in a location inac-

e to children. Antifreeze and

rosion agents are inflammable.

reason, do not spill them on hot

parts. They could ignite and

urns. Comply with the instruc-

the containers.<

Checking the coolant level and

adding coolant

Check the coolant level when the

engine is cold, approx. 687/+206.

omply with the applicable envi-

nmental laws regulating the dis-

antifreeze agents with corro-

ibitor.<

1. Open the cap for the expansion tank

by turning it slightly counterclock-

wise to allow accumulated pressure

to escape. Then open

2. The coolant level is correct when the

upper end of the red float is at least

even with the upper edge of the filler

neck – refer to the arrow in the illus-

tration. The end of the float may stick

out by a maximum of 3/4 in / 2 cm –

that is, up to the second mark on the

float. Refer also to the schematic dia-

gram next to the filler neck

ke fluid

125

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,

it absorbs moisture from the air

over time.

In order to ensure the safety and reli-

ability of the brake system, have the

brake fluid changed every two years by

a BMW center. Refer also to the Service

and Warranty Information Booklet for

US models or the Warranty and Service

Guide Booklet for Canadian models.

Brake fluid is toxic and damages the

vehicle's paint. You should always store

it in its closed original container and in

a location inaccessible to children.

Do not spill the brake fluid and do not

fill the brake fluid reservoir beyond the

MAX mark. The brake fluid could ignite

upon contact with hot engine parts and

cause serious burns.<

ator lamp

The brake warning lamp comes

on when the parking brake is

not engaged: brake fluid level

w, refer to page 18.

Brake warning lamp for Cana-

dian models.

Comply with the applicable envi-

ronmental laws regulating

the disposal of brake fluid.<

ng brake fluid

dding brake fluid or for determin-

d correcting the cause of brake

oss, consult your BMW center.

BMW center is familiar with the

ications for factory-approved

fluids – DOT 4.

o loss in brake fluid, pedal travel

ngthen and braking efficiency

e reduced. Refer to the informa-

n page 112.

ns under which the vehicle

s into consideration, because

an be traveled in many different

Service and Warranty Information

Booklet for US models/Warranty

and Service Guide Booklet for

Canadian models

For 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.

mple, 62,000 miles/100,000 km

stance driving are not equal to

e 62,000 miles/100,000 km of

tance travel.

W Maintenance System

s the Engine Oil Service and

ons I and II.

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.

ave a break-in inspection per-

med at approx. 1,250 miles/

m regardless of the service

indicated on the display.<

Have your BMW center perform

maintenance and repair.

ning the maintenance intervals

ng to the actual loads on the

covers every kind of operating

n. Minimaluse-drivers – those

ve significantly fewer than

miles/10,000 km annually –

have the engine oil changed at

ery 2 years regardless of what

ice interval display indicates,

l deteriorates over time, irre-

e of use.

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.<

m

127

g

OBD interface socket

The Onboard Diagnostic (OBD) inter-

face socket is located on the left of the

driver's side at the bottom of the instru-

ment panel and under a cover. The

cover has the letters OBD on it.

The purpose of the OBD system is to

assure proper emission-control system

operation for the vehicle's lifetime by

monitoring emission-related compo-

nents and systems for deterioration and

malfunction.

An illuminated indicator informs

you of the need for service, not

that you need to stop the vehi-

cle. However, the systems should be

checked by your BMW center at the

earliest possible opportunity.

129

Operation, maintenance for Your BMW M3 4 Door Third Generation (2000-2006)

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