tires BMW 3.0i ROADSTER 2003 Owners Manual

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
Everything under control
47Odometer
47Tachometer
47Fuel gauge
47Coolant temperature gauge
48Service interval display
48Outside temperature
48Clock
49Computer*
Technology for safety and driving
convenience
51Dynamic Stability Control DSC
52Brake Force Display
53Antilock Brake System ABS
53Flat Tire Monitor
Controlling the climate for pleasant
driving
55Air conditioning
57Automatic climate control*
Interior conveniences
60Glove compartment
60Storage compartments
61Beverage holder
61Preparations for the cellular phone*
61Ashtray*
Special operating instructions
64Break-in procedures
65Driving notes
65Brake system
66Cargo loading
67Hardtop preparation*
Refueling
70Fuel filler door
70Fuel specifications
Wheels and tires
71Tire inflation pressure
73Tire condition
73Tire replacement
74Wheel and tire combinations
75Run Flat tires
76Winter tires
76Snow chains*
In the engine compartment
77Hood
78Engine compartment
79Washer fluids for washer systems
79Engine oil
80Coolant
81Brake fluid
Maintenance
82The BMW Maintenance System
82Care
Laws and regulations
83California Proposition 65 warning
83OBD interface socket
Replacement procedures
84Onboard tool kit
84Windshield wiper blades
84Lamps and bulbs
87Changing a wheel
87Battery
Giving and receiving assistance
89Warning triangle*
89First-aid kit*
89Jump-starting
90Towing and tow-starting the vehicle
Technical data
94Engine data
94Weights
95Dimensions
96Capacities
Everything from A - Z
97Index

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
53
>Forceful braking and braking with ABS:
Brake lamps 1 and 2 light up on both
vehicle sides together with the center
brake lamp.
Antilock Brake System ABS
The concept
ABS keeps the wheels from locking during
braking, thereby enhancing active driving
safety.
Malfunction
If the yellow indicator lamps for the
Antilock Brake System ABS come
on together with the brake warning
lamp and the indicator lamp for the
Dynamic Stability Control DSC:
The entire ABS and DSC control
system has failed. Continue driving
cautiously and defensively. Avoid
hard brake applications. Please have the
system checked by your BMW center as
soon as possible.
ABS and DSC indicator and warn-
ing lamps for Canadian models.
Braking with ABS
If you are in a situation which requires full
braking, you will exploit the full benefits of
the ABS system if you apply maximum
brake pressure – panic stop.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indi-
cate to the driver that ABS is in its active
mode.
Flat Tire Monitor
The concept
The tire pressure is determined using the
signals of the ABS sensors.
The system provides an alert whenever the
tire pressure of one tire drops relative to
that of another.
Prerequisites
In order for the system to "learn" the cor-
rect tire inflation pressures, please do the
following:
>Check the inflation pressure in all tires
>Compare to the inflation pressure table
– refer to page 72 – and correct if nec-
essary
>Initialize the system.
Check the tire pressures regularly
and correct if necessary. Refer to
page 71.<
Indicator lamp
In the event of a flat tire
The indicator lamp lights up red; in
addition, an acoustic signal is
sounded:
Respond immediately by carefully reducing
vehicle speed to under 50 mph / 80 km/h.
Avoid hard brake applications and steering
maneuvers.
If your vehicle is equipped with
Run Flat tires, note the information on
page 75.<
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot alert you
to severe and sudden tire damage
caused by external factors. Another factor
which the Flat Tire Monitor does not recog-
nize is the even and very gradual pressure
loss that takes place in all tires over an
extended period of time.<

Technology for safety and driving convenience
54
System malfunction
The indicator lamp lights up yellow:
There is a malfunction or fault in the
Flat Tire Monitor.
In the event of this, please contact your
BMW center.
Initializing the system
Initialize the system only when the inflation
pressure has been corrected or modified,
e.g. if a tire was changed.
1.Turn ignition key to position 2. Do not
start the engine
2.Press the button long enough for the
yellow indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster to light up for a few seconds
3.Start the engine.
After a few minutes' driving time, the Flat
Tire Monitor stores the current inflation
pressure in the tires as the target value to
be monitored.
The Flat Tire Monitor automatically func-
tions when the ignition key is in position 2
and thus operates whenever the vehicle is
being driven.
False alarms
Do not initialize the system when
snow chains are in use. When driving
with snow chains, false alarms can occur or
a drop in inflation pressure may go unde-
tected.<
The following situations may lead to
false alarms or to delays in the detec-
tion of inflation pressure drop:
>Driving on snowy or slippery roads
>Driving in a sporty manner – slipping
drive wheels, high lateral accelera-
tion.<

Special operating instructions
64
Special operating instructions
Break-in procedures
To ensure that your vehicle provides maxi-
mum economy throughout a long service
life, we request that you observe the fol-
lowing:
Engine and differential
Up to 1,250 miles / 2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and road speeds,
but do not exceed the following engine or
road speed:
4,500/min or 100 mph / 160 km/h:
Obey your local and state maximum speed
limits.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid
pressing the accelerator beyond the kick-
down point.
After you have driven 1,250 miles /
2,000 km, you can gradually increase the
engine or road speeds.
You should also comply with these break-in
procedures if the engine or differential is
replaced later in the course of the vehicle's
service life.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve their
full traction potential until an initial break-in
period has elapsed. You should therefore
drive with extra caution during the first
200 miles / 300 km.
Obey your local and state maximum speed
limits.
When the vehicle is operated on wet
or slushy roads, a wedge of water
may form between the tire and the road
surface. This phenomenon is referred to as
hydroplaning and can lead to partial or
complete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness. Reduce your
speed on wet roads.<
Brake system
Approx. 300 miles / 500 km must elapse
before the brake pads and rotors achieve
their optimal surface and wear pattern.
To break in the separate parking brake
drums, apply the parking brake lightly when
coasting to a standstill – at a traffic signal,
for instance; use caution to avoid posing a
danger to other road users.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this procedure
from time to time.
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 car with the engine off – e.g., by
towing – substantially higher levels of pedal
force will be required to brake the vehicle.<
Clutch
The clutch will achieve its optimal function-
ality after approx. 300 miles / 500 km. Shift
gears carefully during the break-in period.

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
65
Driving notes
Parking the vehicle
Condensation forms in the air conditioner
system during operation, which then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water on the ground underneath the vehi-
cle are thus normal.
Brakes
Do not drive with your foot resting on
the brake pedal. Even light but con-
sistent pedal pressure can lead to high
temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water may form between the tires
and the road surface. This phenomenon
can lead to partial or complete loss of trac-
tion, vehicle control and braking effective-
ness.<
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the
road if it is deeper than 1 ft / 30 cm,
and then only at walking speed. Otherwise,
the vehicle's engine, the electrical systems
and the transmission may be damaged.<
High temperatures
High temperatures occur with every
vehicle equipped with a catalytic con-
verter. Heat shields are installed adjacent to
some sections of the exhaust system. Never
remove these shields; do not apply under-
coating to their surfaces. When driving,
standing at idle and parking the vehicle,
take care to avoid contact between the hot
exhaust system and flammable materials –
e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc. Such contact
could lead to a fire, resulting in serious per-
sonal injury and property damage.<
Brake system
The brake warning lamp lights up
although the parking brake is not
engaged: check the brake fluid
level. It is very important that you follow the
instructions on page 81 before driving on.
Disc brakes
Corrosion
Limited vehicle use, extended periods with
the vehicle parked or in storage, and oper-
ating conditions in which braking is
restricted to gentle, low-pressure applica-
tions will all increase the tendency for cor-
rosion to form on the rotors and contamina-
tion to accumulate on the brake pads. This
occurs because the minimal pressure
which must be exerted by the pads to clean
the rotors by brake applications is not
reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they will
tend to respond to braking with a pulsating
effect which even extended application will
fail to cure.
Wet roads
When driving in heavy rain and on wet
roads, it is useful to apply light pressure
to the brake pedal every few miles. Watch
traffic conditions to ensure that this maneu-
ver does not endanger other road users.
The heat generated in this process helps
dry the pads and rotors to ensure that your
brake system will respond with undimin-
ished efficiency when you need it.
Inclines
Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear or drive posi-
tion in which only minimal periodic brake
application is required. This helps avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake sys-
tem. Observe the maximum allowable
engine speed when doing so; refer to
page 47.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the transmission or
selector lever in Neutral. Do not coast with

Mobility
To ensure that you stay mobile,
the following chapter provides you with im-
portant information on fuels and fluids, tires
and wheels, maintenance procedures and
steps to take in the event of a breakdown.

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
71
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
The factory-approved Run Flat tires are
matched to the vehicle and have been
selected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – above all else –
driving safety that depend on the condition
of the tires and the maintenance of the
specified tire pressure.
Incorrect tire inflation pressure is a fre-
quent cause of tire damage. It also signifi-
cantly influences the roadholding ability of
your BMW.
Check tire inflation pressures regu-
larly – at least every two weeks and
before every extended journey. If this is not
done, incorrect tire pressures can cause
driving instability or tire damage, ultimately
resulting in accidents.<
Checking tire pressures
The specified inflation pressures are pro-
vided on a sticker attached to the B-pillar
and are visible when the driver's door is
open.
All pressures are specified in the units usu-
ally used in your country – psi and kilopas-
cal – for tires at ambient temperatures; also
refer to the following tire inflation pressure
table.
Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor after
correcting the tire inflation pressure.
Refer to page 53.
Comply with tire approval
specifications
The inflation pressures in the table apply to
BMW-approved tire sizes and tire brands.
Your BMW center will be glad to supply this
information. Other tire brands may require
a higher inflation pressure, which may
impair handling and vehicle response.

Wheels and tires
72
Z4 roadster 2.5i
Z4 roadster 3.0i
TiresPressure specifications in psi/kPa
Tires
All pressure specifications in the table are
indicated in psi/kilopascal with cold tires –
cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 16
225/45 R 17 30/210 33/230
225/40 R 18 30/210 –
245/40 R 17
255/35 R 18 –33/230
All winter tires 30/210 33/230
TiresPressure specifications in psi/kPa
Tires
All pressure specifications in the table are
indicated in psi/kilopascal with cold tires –
cold = ambient temperature
225/45 R 17 33/230 36/250
225/40 R 18 33/230 –
245/40 R 17
255/35 R 18 –36/250
All winter tires 33/230 36/250

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
73
Tire condition
Tire tread – Tire damage
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to go
below
1/8 in / 3 mm, even though in
Europe, for example, the legally specified
minimum tread depth is only
1/16 in /
1.6 mm.
Tread wear indicators in the tread-groove
base – see arrow – are distributed around
the wheel circumference and are labeled
on the tire sidewall as TWI – Tread Wear
Indicator. At a tread depth of
1/16 in /
1.6 mm, the indicators signal that the
legally permissible wear limit has been
reached.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not
exceeded. Overloading can cause over-
heating and damage inside the tires.
The ultimate result can assume the form of
a sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate tire
failure or some other vehicle malfunction.
This type of problem can be caused by
contact with curbs, etc. This is also true for
irregularities in the vehicle's handling char-
acteristics, such as a pronounced ten-
dency to pull to the left or right. Should this
occur, respond by immediately reducing
your speed. Proceed carefully to the near-
est BMW center or professional tire center,
or have the vehicle towed there to have it
and its wheels or tires inspected.
Tire damage – up to and including sudden and complete air loss – can pose an
extreme hazard for both vehicle occupants
and other road users.<
Tire replacement
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer.
BMW advises against using retreaded
tires as this could negatively affect
driving safety. This is due to possible varia-
tions in casing structures and, in some
cases, to their extreme age, factors which
can lead to a decrease in their durability.<
Tire age
The date on which the tire was manufac-
tured is indicated by the code on the side-
wall:
DOT … 3602 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in week 36 of the year 2002.
BMW recommends the replacement of all
tires every 6 years at the latest, even if a tire
usage of 10 years is possible.
Run Flat tires
When replacing tires, always use
Run Flat tires since a spare wheel is
not provided to replace a flat tire.
Run Flat tires are labeled on the sidewall
with a circular symbol containing the letters
RSC. Refer to page 75.<
DOT quality grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.<
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear

Wheels and tires
74 one and one-half (1 γ) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead brak-
ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.<
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 conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, under-inflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.<
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where appli-
cable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
Wheel and tire combina-
tions
The right choice
Use wheels and tires approved by
BMW for your particular vehicle. Vari-
ations in factors such as manufacturing tol-
erances mean that even wheels and tires
with identical official size ratings could
actually have dimensions different from the
approved units. These differences could
lead to body contact, and with it the risk of
severe accidents. If non-approved wheels
and tires are used, BMW cannot evaluate
their suitability, and therefore cannot be
held liable for driving safety.<
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire
size, classifies them as road-safe and
approves them. Consult your BMW center
for more information. Observe any country-
specific regulations, e.g. on making a cor-
responding entry in the vehicle documents.
The correct wheel and tire combina-
tion affects different systems such as
ABS, DSC, DTC and DBC. The function of
these systems is impaired if improper
wheel and tire combinations are used.
For this reason, use tires of the same brand
and tread configuration. In the event of a
flat tire, for example, remount the approved
wheel and tire combination as soon as pos-
sible.<