Get Mobility -> Giving and receiving assistance Guide for BMW M3 4 Door Fourth Generation (2007-2013)

Giving and receiving assistance

BMW Assist Response Center contacts you

and takes further steps to help you. Even if you

are unable to respond, the BMW Assist

Emergency Request*

Conditions for an Emergency Request:

Response Center will be able to initiate further

steps to assist you under certain conditions.

>

Equipment version with full preparation

package mobile phone. This equipment

makes it possible to send an Emergency

Request even if no mobile phone is paired

with the vehicle.

If the circumstances allow this, remain in the

vehicle until the connection has been estab-

lished. You will then be able to provide a

detailed description of the situation.

>

BMW Assist is activated. Activating

BMW Assist, refer to page 208.

If the current location of your vehicle can be

determined, it will be transmitted to the BMW

Assist Response Center.

>

Radio readiness is on.

The BMW Assist system is logged on to a

mobile phone network.

If the LED is flashing but the BMW Assist

Response Center cannot be heard over the

hands-free system, it is possible that the

hands-free system is malfunctioning. You may

still be heard by the BMW Assist Response

Center, however.

>

The Emergency Request system is opera-

ble.

Once your service contract for BMW Assist

expires, the BMW Assist system can be deacti-

vated by a BMW center without you having to

visit a workshop. Once the BMW Assist system

has been deactivated, Emergency Requests

are not possible. The BMW Assist system can

be reactivated by a BMW center after a new

contract has been signed.

Under certain conditions, an Emergency

Request is sent automatically immediately after

a severe accident. This Automatic Collision

Notification is not affected by the button being

pressed.

For technical reasons, the Emergency

Request service cannot be guaranteed

for the most unfavorable conditions.<

Sending an Emergency Request

1. Briefly press the cover flap to open.

Roadside Assistance

The BMW Roadside Assistance is there to

assist you around the clock in the event of a

breakdown, including on weekends and public

holidays.

The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-

tance in your home country can be found in the

Contact brochure.

2. Press the SOS button for at least

2 seconds.

In vehicles equipped with BMW Assist, you can

establish contact with BMW Roadside Assis-

tance for breakdown assistance directly via

iDrive, refer to page 204.

The LED in the button lights up. As soon as the

voice connection to the BMW Assist Response

Center has been established, the LED flashes.

Once the BMW Assist Response Center has

received your Emergency Request, the

241

First aid pouch*

Warning triangle*

Some of the articles contained in the first aid

pouch have a limited service life. Therefore,

check the expiration dates of the contents reg-

ularly and replace any items in good time, if nec-

essary.

Coupe

The warning triangle is located on the left-hand

side of the cargo bay. Press the tab to take it

out.

Convertible

The first aid pouch is located on the right-hand

side of the cargo bay in a storage area.

Convertible

The warning triangle is located in a holder in the

luggage compartment lid. Press the tabs to take

it out.

The first aid pouch is located in a compartment

under the front passenger's seat.

Jump starting

If the car's own battery is flat, your BMW's

engine can be started by connecting two

jumper cables to another vehicle's battery. You

can also use the same method to help start

another vehicle. Only use jumper cables with

fully-insulated clamp handles.

To open: press the button and fold the cover

down.

To close: fold the cover back up and press it into

the catch.

Do not touch any electrically live parts

when the engine is running, or a fatal acci-

dent may occur. Carefully adhere to the follow-

ing sequence, both to prevent damage to one or

both vehicles, and to guard against possible

personal injuries.<

242

Your BMW has a special nut as body ground

or negative pole.

Preparation

1. Check whether the battery of the other

vehicle has a voltage of 12 volts and

approximately the same capacitance in Ah.

This information can be found on the bat-

tery.

2. Switch off the engine of the assisting vehi-

cle.

3. Switch off any consumers in both vehicles.

There must not be any contact between

the bodies of the two vehicles, otherwise

there is a danger of shorting.<

5. Attach the second terminal clamp of the

minus/– jumper cable to the negative termi-

nal of the battery or to the engine or body

ground of the vehicle to be started.

Connecting jumper cables

Connect the jumper cables in the correct

order, so that no sparks which could

cause injury occur.<

Starting the engine

1. Start the engine of the donor vehicle and

allow it to run for a few minutes at slightly

increased idle speed.

Your BMW has a jump-starting connection in

the engine compartment which acts as the bat-

tery's positive terminal, refer also to the Engine

compartment overview on page 223. The cap is

marked with +.

2. Start the engine on the other vehicle in the

usual way.

If the first start attempt is not successful,

wait a few minutes before another attempt

in order to allow the discharged battery to

recharge.

1. Pull the cap of the BMW jump-starting con-

nection up to remove.

3. Let the engines run for a few minutes.

4. Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing

the above connecting sequence.

If necessary, have the battery checked and

recharged.

Never use spray fluids to start the

engine.<

2. Attach one terminal clamp of the plus/+

jumper cable to the positive terminal of the

battery or a starting-aid terminal of the vehi-

cle providing assistance.

Tow-starting, towing away

Observe the applicable laws and regula-

tions for tow-starting and towing vehi-

cles.<

3. Attach the second terminal clamp of the

plus/+ jumper cable to the positive terminal

of the battery or a starting-aid terminal of

the vehicle to be started.

Do not transport any passengers other

than the driver in a vehicle that is being

towed.<

4. Attach one terminal clamp of the minus/–

jumper cable to the negative terminal of the

battery or to an engine or body ground of

the assisting vehicle.

243

headlamps, tail lamps, turn signal indicators and

windshield wipers may be unavailable.

Using a tow fitting

The screw-in tow fitting must always be carried

in the car. It can be screwed in at the front or

rear of the BMW.

Power steering assistance is not available when

the engine is not running. Thus, braking and

steering will require increased effort.<

Coupe: it is stored in the onboard tool kit under-

neath the cover on the right-hand side of the

cargo bay, refer to page 233.

Manual transmission

Gearshift lever in neutral position.

Convertible: it is stored in the onboard tool kit

underneath the cargo bay floor, refer to

page 233.

M dual clutch transmission with

Drivelogic

Use only the tow fitting provided with the

vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the

tow fitting for towing on paved roads only. Avoid

lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift

the vehicle by the tow fitting. Otherwise the tow

fitting and the vehicle could be damaged.<

Ensure that the parking lock P is not

engaged as the rear wheels will otherwise

be blocked.

When using the car wash function, refer to

page 61, note that the parking lock P is

engaged automatically after approx. 30 min-

utes, blocking the rear wheels.

If an electrical malfunction occurs or if towing

takes longer than approx. 20 minutes, manually

release the parking lock, refer to page 64.<

Access to screw thread

Release the cover panel in the bumper:

Press on the upper part of the cover panel.

When towing, do not exceed a maximum

speed of 30 mph/50 km/h and a maxi-

mum distance of 30 miles/50 km, otherwise the

transmission can be damaged.<

Front

BMW recommends transporting the vehicle on

a tow truck with a flat bed.

Towing methods

Do not lift the vehicle by a tow fitting or

body and chassis parts, otherwise dam-

age may result.<

Rear

With a tow bar

The towing vehicle must not be lighter

than the towed vehicle, otherwise it may

be impossible to maintain control.<

The tow fittings used should be on the same

side on both vehicles. Should it prove impossi-

ble to avoid mounting the tow bar at an angle,

please observe the following:

>

Clearance and maneuvering capability will

be sharply limited during cornering.

Being towed

>

The tow bar will generate lateral forces if it is

attached offset.

Make sure that the ignition is switched on,

refer to page 59, otherwise the low-beam

244

Attach the tow bar to the tow fittings only,

as attaching it to other parts of the vehicle

could result in damage.<

cles with a catalytic converter should only be

tow-started when the engine is cold.

Manual transmission

With a tow rope

1. Switch on hazard warning flashers, comply

with local regulations.

When starting off in the towing vehicle, make

sure that the tow rope is taut.

2. Switch on the ignition, refer to page 59.

3. Shift into 3rd gear.

To avoid jerking and the associated

stresses on vehicle components when

towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps.

Attach the tow rope to the tow fittings only, as

attaching it to other parts of the vehicle could

result in damage.<

4. Have the vehicle tow-started with the clutch

depressed and slowly release the clutch.

After the engine starts, immediately

depress the clutch completely again.

5. Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow

bar or rope and switch off the hazard warn-

ing flashers.

With a tow truck

Manual transmission:

6. Have the vehicle checked.

M dual clutch transmission with

Drivelogic

Vehicles with an M dual clutch transmission

cannot be tow-started. Jump-starting, refer to

page 242.

Have the BMW transported with a tow truck

with a so-called lift bar or on a flat bed.

Do not tow the vehicle with just the rear axle

raised as this may cause the steering to turn.

M dual clutch transmission:

Have the BMW transported with a tow truck

with a so-called lift bar or on a flat bed.

Tow-starting

If possible, do not tow-start the vehicle but

jump-start the engine, refer to page 242. Vehi-

245

Mobility -> Giving and receiving assistance for Your BMW M3 4 Door Fourth Generation (2007-2013)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals