BMW 328Ci CONVERTIBLE 2000 E46 Owner's Manual

121n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Hardtop*It is not necessary to remove the fabric
top even in the winter, when the hard-
top is generally in constant use. But you
can take it off at any time with no prob-
lem. Before the fabric top is stored in
the convertible top compartment, it
must be absolutely dry in order to keep
water and mildew from forming.
The hardtop offers reading lamps as
well as clothes hooks in the rear, which
can be used simply by pressing on
them. In addition, a luggage rack sys-
tem can also be mounted on the hard-
top. If you have a problem in this re-
gard, please contact your BMW center.
When suspending clothing from
the hooks, ensure that they will
not obstruct the driver's vision. Do not
hang heavy objects on the hooks. If you
do so, they could cause personal injury
during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
Two persons are required for installing
or removing the hardtop. Work with
extreme caution in order to avoid paint
damage and damage to the body or
hardtop.
To facilitate the installation or removal of
the hardtop, you can purchase either a
specially designed hardtop lift
* or hard-
top roller carrier
* at your BMW center.
Storage
Storing the hardtop on the floor:
Push the provided hard foam
block toward the front in the center
onto the hardtop. The arrow on the
foam block has to point upward.<
46cde088
Installation1 Lower the side windows completely
and fold down the sun visors. If nec-
essary, remove the antenna rod to
prevent damage
2 For vehicles with manual convertible
top operation, unlock the convertible
top compartment lid and, if neces-
sary, open it somewhat. For vehicles
with fully automatic convertible top
operation
*, start opening the con-
vertible top compartment lid by
pressing the button for the convert-
ible top operation
3 Remove the trim pieces on both
sides by pulling them toward the
back (arrow) and close the convert-
ible top compartment lid again
46cde070

122n
Hardtop
*
4 Open both front locking levers. To do
this press the buttons. The levers will
loosen somewhat. Flip the levers
open until they hit the stop46cde0089
5 Fold the cover panels that are on
the right and left side and below the
interior lamps downward before
mounting the hardtop. Press against
the small bulge on the cover panel.
There is a bracket in the cover panel
for secure storage of the the trim
pieces that have been removed (1)
6 Open the red locking lever all the
way (2)
7 Position the hardtop onto the sup-
ports with the help of a second per-
son. Be sure to place the supports
right in the brackets provided
8 In the back, close the red locking
levers by turning them inward until
they hit the stop behind the trim. Fold
the cover panels back 46cde077
9 To lock the hardtop in front, keep
closing the front locking levers until
you hear them engage.
Raise the hardtop carefully. Be
very careful not to displace the
seals. Seals that have been accidentally
displaced or pulled out lead to leaks.cRemovingRemove the hardtop in the opposite
order of installation.

123n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Information for your safetyThe factory approved radial 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 con-
dition of the tires and the maintenance
of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a frequent
cause of tire damage. It also signifi-
cantly influences the roadholding ability
of your BMW.
Check tire inflation pressures reg-
ularly – including the space-saver
spare tire – at least twice a month and
before beginning a longer trip (see
page 27). If this is not done, incorrect
tire pressures can cause driving insta-
bility and tire damage, ultimately result-
ing in accidents.<
Tire tread – tire damageInspect 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 0.12 in (3 mm), even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is only 0.063 in (1.6 mm). At a
tread depth of 0.063 in (1.6 mm), tread
depth indicators (arrow) in the tread-
groove base indicate that the legally-
permissible wear limit has been
reached. Below 0.12 in (3 mm) tread
depth, there is an increased risk of
aquaplaning, even at relatively moder-
ate speeds and with only small amounts
of water on the road.390de331
Do not drive on a deflated (flat)
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not ex-
ceeded. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which
damage develops inside the tires. You
could have a blowout as a result.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect.
This is also true for irregularities in the
vehicle's handling characteristics, such
as a pronounced tendency to pull to the
left or right. Should this occur, respond
by immediately reducing your speed.
Proceed carefully to the nearest BMW
center or professional tire center, or
have the vehicle towed in to have it and
its tires inspected.
Tire damage (up to and including sud-
den and complete air loss) can endan-
ger the lives of both the vehicle occu-
pants and other drivers on the road.<
Tire inflation pressure Tire condition

124n
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer. BMW tests and approves
wheel/tire combinations. Refer to
page 128.
DOT Quality GradesTreadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
In addition to the tire grades listed
above, all passenger car tires must
conform to Federal Safety Require-
ments as well.< TreadwearThe treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half (1-1/2) times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions 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.TractionThe 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 speci-
fied government test surfaces of as-
phalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and
does not include acceleration, corner-
ing, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.< TemperatureThe temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire's re-
sistance to the generation of heat and
its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the tire material to degenerate and re-
duce tire life, and excessive tempera-
ture can lead to sudden tire failure. The
Grade C corresponds to a level of per-
formance which all passenger car tires
must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent 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 prop-
erly inflated and not overloaded. Exces-
sive speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and possi-
ble tire failure.< Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
Do not use retreaded tires ("caps").
Driving safety may be impaired by
their use. This due to the 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 replacement

125n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Tire replacement Tire rotationTire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT ... 150 indicates that the tire was
manufactured during week 15 of the
year 2000.
BMW recommends the replacement of
all tires when the tires are no more than
6 years old, even if a tire life of 10 years
is possible.
Spare tires over 6 years old should be
used only in case of emergency. A tire
in this condition should be replaced by
a new tire immediately, and should not
be mounted together with new tires.
Between the axlesThe tread wear patterns at the front
end differ from those at the rear – the
actual patterns will vary according to
individual driving conditions. In the
interests of safety and maintaining opti-
mal handling characteristics, tire rota-
tion is not recommended.
If a proposed interaxle rotation of tires
is based on economic considerations,
one should consider whether the costs
for the rotation are likely to be recap-
tured by any increase in the service life
of the tires that might be realized. Rota-
tion should always be carried out at
short intervals, with a maximum of
3,000 miles (5,000 km). Consult your
BMW center for more information.
Should you decide to rotate the tires, it
is essential to comply with the following:
Rotate tires on the same side only, since
braking characteristics and road grip
could otherwise be adversely affected.
Following rotation, the tire inflation
pressure should always be corrected.If different tire sizes are mounted
on the front and rear axles (refer
to page 12 8), the wheels may not be
rotated from one axle to the other.<

126n
Wheel and tire combinations The right choice Use only tires approved by BMW.
Refer to the information beginning on
page 128.
Due to the high speeds this vehicle can
reach, the use of specific brands, spec-
ifications and sizes is mandatory. Con-
sult any BMW center for details.
Comply with local/national regulations.
The correct wheel-tire combina-
tion affects different systems, e.g.
ABS, ATC
* and DSC, whose function
would otherwise be impaired if im-
proper wheel-tire combinations are
used.
For this reason, use only tires of the
same brand and tread pattern. In the
event of a flat tire, for example, remount
the approved wheel-tire combination as
soon as possible.<
Codes on tires and wheels The tire codes will aid you in selecting
the correct tire.
The codes on radial tires:
The speed rating indicates the ap-
proved maximum speed for the tire.
Summer tires:
S = up to 112 mph (180 km/h)
T = up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H = up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V = up to 150 mph (240 km/h)
W = up to 167 mph (270 km/h)
Y = over 167 mph (270 km/h)
ZR = over 150 mph (240 km/h) For example:
Nominal width
in mm
Aspect ratio in X
Radial tire code
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating
(not on ZR tires)
Speed rating
(before R on ZR tires)
225/50 R
1692W
Winter tires:
Q M+S = up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
T M+S = up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H M+S = up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
Codes stamped on light-alloy wheels:
Protect tire valves from dirt by using
screw-on valve stem caps. Dirt in the
valves frequently leads to slow leaks. For example:
Rim width
in inches
Code letter for
flange type
Symbol for full-drop
center rim
Rim diameter in inches
Hump on the 2 rim shoulders
7 x 16 H 2
J

127n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Do not exceed specified
maximum speeds
Never exceed the maximum speed
for which winter tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<
Tire condition, tire pressureOnce the tire wears to a tread depth
below 0.16 in (4 mm), winter tires dis-
play a perceptible decrease in their
ability to cope with winter driving condi-
tions, and should be replaced in the
interest of safety.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures – and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced
every time you change the tires.
Winter tiresChoosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for driving in adverse winter
road conditions. Although all-season
tires with the M+S identification provide
better winter traction than summer tires
with H, V, W Y and ZR speed ratings,
they generally fail to provide the same
levels of performance as standard
winter tires.
In the interests of safe tracking and
steering response, install winter tires
made by the same manufacturer having
the same tread configuration on all four
wheels.
Mount only winter tires which have
been approved by BMW. Any BMW
center will be glad to provide you with
information on the best winter tires for
your particular driving conditions.
StorageAlways store tires in a cool, dry place.
Store them away from light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against con-
tact with oil, grease and fuel.Snow chains
*
The use of narrow-link BMW snow
chains on summer or winter tires is
approved only in pairs and only on the
rear wheels. Comply with all manufac-
turer's safety precautions when mount-
ing the chains.

128n
Approved wheel and tire specifications Tire specifications Steel rim
(wheel rim)Light-alloy
wheel
Summer tires
205/55 R 16 91 H
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/50 ZR 16 –
–
–7Jx16
7Jx16
7Jx16
205/50 R 17 93 W extra load – 7Jx17
225/45 R 17 91 W – 8Jx17
Front: 225/40 ZR 18 – 8Jx18
Rear: 255/35 ZR 18 – 8.5Jx18
Winter tires (M+S)
205/55 R 16 91 Q/T/H
225/50 R 16 92 Q/T/H–
7Jx167Jx16
7Jx16
205/50 R 17 93 Q/T/H extra load – 7Jx17
225/45 R 17 91 Q/T/H – 8Jx17
Space-saver spare tire
T 115/90 R 16 92 M 3.0Bx16 –
T 125/90 R 16 98 M 3.5Bx16 –
T 125/80 R 17 99 M 3.5Bx17 –
Comply with the specifications for tires and wheels in the
vehicle's documents.
If you install tire sizes not approved by the manufacturer, you
may have to enter this information in the vehicle documents.
Only light-alloy wheels are to be used
for summer tires.Snow chains
*
You cannot mount snow chains on the
following tires:
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/50 ZR 16
225/40 ZR 18
255/35 ZR 18
225/45 R 17 91 W
225/50 R 16 92 Q/T/H
225/45 R 17 91 Q/T/HMixed tiresFor details concerning tire manufactur-
ers for mixed tires, refer to the specifi-
cations in the vehicle documents.

129n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
To unlock Pull the lever located under the left-
hand side of the dashboard.
Do not work on your vehicle with-
out appropriate skills. Always
switch off the engine and allow it to
cool down before working in the engine
compartment. Always disconnect the
battery before working on any electrical
systems or equipment, especially when
these are located within the engine
compartment. Comply with all applica-
ble instructions and warnings. Failure to
work in an informed, professional man-
ner when servicing components and
materials constitutes a safety hazard
for vehicle occupants and other road
users. If you are not familiar with the
guidelines, please have the operations
performed by your BMW center.<460us012
To openPull the release handle and open the
hood.462de269
To closeAllow the hood to fall from a height of
about 12 in (30 cm) so that it audibly
engages.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the hood is clear
when it is being closed, as with all
closing procedures. If it is determined
that the hood is not completely closed
while driving, stop immediately and
close it securely.<462de270
Hood

130n
Engine compartment
46cde082