engine BMW CONVERTIBLE 1998 Owner's Guide

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At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Failure of one brake circuitPedal travel increases, more pressure is
required at the pedal.
The remaining circuit continues to pro-
vide good braking response.a
In the event of any malfunction in
the brake system, consult the nearest
BMW Retailer as soon as possible.cThe onset of winter is often accompa-
nied by rapid changes in weather.
Adaptations in driving style should be
accompanied by preparations on the
vehicle itself to ensure that your
progress through the winter remains
safe and trouble-free.
CoolantEnsure that the coolant contains the
year-round 50:50 ratio of water and
antifreeze with corrosion inhibitor. This
mixture provides protection against
freezing down to approximately -345F
(-376). Replace the coolant every
three years.Lockscan be made operative again using
BMW lock de-icer. This de-icer also
contains lubricants.
In addition, a treatment with BMW lock
cylinder grease is recommended.Rubber seals and components To prevent the weather-stripping from
freezing, apply a spray-on rubber treat-
ment or silicone spray to the door, hood
and luggage compartment lid seals.b
A complete range of car-care
products is available from any autho-
rized BMW Retailer.c
Snow chainsBMW snow chains
* can be mounted on
both summer and winter tires. Mount
them in pairs on the rear wheels only
and observe the manufacturer's safety
precautions. Do not exceed a maximum
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h). For maxi-
mum traction, deactivate ASC+T when
driving with snow chains mounted, refer
to page 84.
Starting offWhen driving off in deep snow or "rock-
ing" the vehicle to free it, you should
switch off ASC+T, refer to page 84. Driving on low-traction road
surfacesOperate the accelerator pedal sensi-
tively, avoid high engine speeds and
shift up to the next-higher gear early.
Shift down into the next lowest gear
when approaching uphill or downhill
grades. Maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the car ahead.
Brake system Winter driving

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BrakesWinter road conditions substantially
reduce the amount of traction available
between the tires and the road surface;
the resulting - considerable - increases
in braking distance should be continu-
ally borne in mind.
ABS is intended to prevent the wheels
from locking under braking; to help the
vehicle to remain stable and sensitive to
steering. Should the ABS fail, with lock-
ing wheels as a result: Reduce the
pressure on the brake pedal until the
wheels just start to roll again while still
maintaining enough force to continue
braking. Then increase the pressure,
release the pressure when the wheels
lock, reapply pressure, etc.
This staggered braking procedure will
reduce stopping distances while help-
ing you maintain steering control.
It can allow you to steer around hazards
once you have reduced the pressure on
the brake pedal.
a
Never downshift to exploit engine
braking when driving on slippery road
surfaces; it could lead to loss of rear-
wheel traction and endanger vehicle
control. ABS and ASC+T can not protect
against such loss of traction, since they
have no effect on this kind of decelera-
tion.c
b
Disengage the clutch during hard
braking on road surfaces affording only
poor or uneven traction.c
Loss of lateral traction (sliding)Release the accelerator pedal and
depress the clutch pedal or push the
selector lever to position N with auto-
matic transmission. Countersteer care-
fully and attempt to regain control of the
vehicle.
ParkingSelect 1st or reverse gear. If your car is
equipped with an automatic transmis-
sion, select Park. Engage the parking
brake when parking on hills and
inclined surfaces. To prevent frost and
corrosion from locking the parking
brake liners at the drum, you can dry
them by gently pulling up the lever
while stopping (ensure that you do not
endanger following traffic).a
The brake lamps do not light up
when the parking brake is applied.c
Winter driving

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a
Do not lift the hardtop by the seals.
Accidentally shifted or pulled-out seals
cause leaks.c
RemoveProceed as for mounting, however in
the reverse order.Any BMW Service station will gladly
provide information on the purpose of
technical modifications to the car, the
legal position and the manufacturer's
recommendations. For this purpose,
the Retailer requires the Vehicle Identi-
fication Number and, in some cases,
also the engine number.
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)Control units, displays and other interior
equipment of your vehicle have LED's
behind protective lenses as a light
source. These LEDs resemble conven-
tional lasers and are classified by law as
"Class 1 light-emitting diodes".a
Do not remove the protective
lens and avoid staring directly at the
unfiltered beam for extended periods
(several hours), as inflammation of the
iris could result.c
Hardtop* Ð Convertible Technical modifications to the vehicle

11 8
Unlocking Pull the lever located under the left-
hand side of the instrument panel.a
Do not work on your vehicle with-
out appropriate skills. Always switch off
the engine and allow it to cool down be-
fore working in the engine compart-
ment.
Always disconnect the battery before
working on the electrical system. When
working on the vehicle, follow the rele-
vant instructions and information. When
you are not familiar with the relevant
specifications, have service operations
performed by your authorized BMW Re-
tailer. Failure to proceed in an informed,
professional manner when servicing
components and materials constitutes a
safety hazard for yourself and other us-
ers of the public roads.c
To openPush the release handle Ð at the front
left under the hood Ð upward and open
the hood.
To closeSimultaneously press down both sides
of the hood; continue pressing until you
hear the latches engage.a
Should you determine that the
hood is not completely closed while
driving, stop immediately and close it
securely.c
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BMW360de307
BMW
360de308
Hood

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Engine compartment BMW 318i, 318is
7
6
5
5
4
3
2
1
4
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At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
1 Fuse box
2 Brake ßuid reservoir
3 Engine oil dipstick
4 Coolant expansion tank
5 Engine oil Þller neck
6 Supply tank for headlamp washer
*
and windshield washer system
7Battery
Engine compartment BMW 318i, 318is

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Engine compartment BMW 323i, 323is, 328i, 328is
1
3
24
5
6
7
8
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At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
1 Fuse box
2 Engine oil dipstick
3 Brake ßuid reservoir
4 Power steering oil reservoir
5 Coolant expansion tank
6 Engine oil Þller neck
7 Supply tank for headlamp washer
*
and windshield washer system
8 Auxiliary terminal for jump starting
Engine compartment BMW 323i, 323is, 328i, 328is

12 4
Headlamp washer
* and
windshield washer
Capacity approx. 2.65 US quarts
(2.5 liters) for the windshield washer or
5.3 US quarts (5 liters) in conjunction
with the headlamp cleaning system.
Fill with water and - if required - with
antifreeze (according to the manufac-
turer's recommendations).b
We recommend that you mix the
washer fluid before adding it to the res-
ervoir.c
Windshield washer spray
nozzles The spray from the nozzles should be
directed so as to ensure effective
cleaning, even at high speeds.
Use a needle to adjust the nozzles as
required, or have them adjusted by your
BMW Retailer.
Checking oil level As with fuel economy, oil consumption
is directly influenced by your driving
style and vehicle operating conditions.
Consequently you should check the oil
level regularly with the vehicle posi-
tioned on a level surface - approx. every
600 miles (1,000 km), or more fre-
quently if your vehicle is driven under
increased demands.
To obtain precise readings:
dCheck with engine cold, before start-
ing.
dWhen checking with the engine
warm, wait briefly for the oil to drain
back down into the oil pan (e.g.,
while refueling).
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Washer fluids Engine oil

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At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Measure the oil level:
1 Pull out dipstick and wipe off with a
lint-free cloth, paper tissue, etc.
2 Push the dipstick all the way into the
guide tube and pull it out again.
3 The oil level should be between the
two marks on the dipstick.
Add oil Wait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower graduation before add-
ing oil. Never wait until the oil drops
below the lower mark.
The space between the two marks on
the dipstick corresponds to approxi-
mately 1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Do not fill
to beyond the upper mark on the dip-
stick. Excess oil harms the engine.
Because it would be consumed within a
short period, it would also result in an
abnormally high rate of oil consump-
tion.a
BMW engines are designed to op-
erate without oil additives; the use of ad-
ditives could lead to damage in some
cases. This also applies to the manual
and automatic transmissions, the differ-
ential and the power steering system.c
Engine oil specificationsAlways refer to the API specifications
when selecting oil.
Required quality:
API SH
API-SH/CD
API-SH/CEViscosity ratingsViscosity = Oil flow rating according to
SAE class.
Select the SAE viscosity rating accord-
ing to the average seasonal air temper-
ature.
Consult the table on the following page
to determine the correct SAE viscosity.
You can continue to operate the vehicle
for short periods of time at tempera-
tures beyond the range for the SAE rat-
ing of the oil being used.A
Always observe all environmental
protection guidelines and regulations
when disposing of used oil.c
Recommendation: have the oil changed
by your BMW Retailer.
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Engine oil