BMW CONVERTIBLE 1998 Workshop Manual

50
a
Before install-
ing any child re-
straint device or
child seat, please
read the follow-
ing:
Never install a rearward-facing child
restraint system in the front passenger
seat of this car.
Your car is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the
front passenger. Because the backrest
on any rear-facing child restraint sys-
tem (of the kind designed for infants
under 1 year and 20 lbs.) would be
within the airbag's deployment range,
you should never mount such a device
in the front passenger seat, as the
impact of the airbag against the child
restraint's backrest could lead to seri-
ous or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child (not an
infant) to ride in the front seat, certain precautions should be taken. First,
move the passenger seat as far away
from the dashboard as possible. This
important precaution is intended to
maximize the distance between the air-
bag and the child. Older children should
be tightly secured with the safety belt.
Younger children should be secured in
an appropriate forward-facing child
restraint system that has first been
properly secured with a safety belt.
We strongly urge you to carefully read
and observe the instructions for instal-
lation and use provided by the child re-
straint's manufacturer whenever you
use such a device.
Always ensure that all occupants (of
all ages) remain properly and securely
restrained at all times.c
All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE
J1819, an industry recommended prac-
tice for securing child restraint systems
in motor vehicles.1 Front airbag system, consisting of
driver and passenger airbag
2 Side airbags
*
Protective effectThe front airbags provide additional
protection for the front-seat occupants
in the event of a severe frontal collision
in which the protection afforded by the
safety belts alone would no longer be
sufficient. The side airbags help protect
the front seat occupants in a severe
side impact.360de305
Installing child seats Airbags

51
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
The airbags are triggered by impacts
coming from the directions shown in
the illustration. Note that the supple-
mentary protection against lateral
impact is available only on vehicles
equipped with optional door-mounted
airbags.Indicator lamp in instrument
clusterSystem operational:
dThe indicator lamp comes on briefly.
System malfunction:
dThe indicator lamp fails to come on.dIndicator lamp lights up for approx.
4 seconds, goes out brießy and then
lights up again.
A system malfunction could prevent the
system from responding to an impact
occurring within its normal response
range.
Please have your authorized BMW
Retailer inspect and repair the system
as soon as possible.
a
For your own safety, please ob-
serve the following precautions con-
cerning airbags, as otherwise their
protective function may be impaired. We
also request that you make this informa-
tion available to your passengers, and
that you urge them to observe the in-
structions for safety belt use: the air-
bags are a supplemental restraint
device designed to provide extra pro-
tection; they are not a substitute for
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all
times. The system does not respond to
minor collisions, if the vehicle rolls over,
or if the impact is at the rear of the vehi-
cle. In this situation, only the safety belt
protects you.
When adjusting your seat, select a posi-
tion that provides maximum distance
between you and the steering wheel, the instrument panel and the door while still
allowing comfortable and safe access to
all vehicle controls.
Always grip the steering wheel on its
rim with your hands at the 9 and 3 oÕclock
positions, otherwise hand and arm inju-
ries could occur when the airbag
inflates.
Never allow any objects to obstruct the
area between the airbag and the driver/
passenger.
Do not use the cover panel above the
passenger-side airbag as a storage
area.
Do not glue, cover or in any way alter
the padded covers on the steering
wheel, the instrument panel or the side
trim panels of the front doors.
Do not install a rear-facing child re-
straint device on the front passenger
seat. Children under 12 years of age
should only sit in the back.c
Even when all these guidelines are
observed, there is still a residual risk of
mild facial injuries occurring in isolated
instances of airbag actuation. The igni-
tion and inßation noise may induce a
mild temporary hearing loss in sensitive
individuals.
Airbag information is also located on
the sun visors.
p
The indicator lamp comes on from
ignition key position 1 to indicate
that the system is operational.
390de142Airbags

52
Notes on safetyNever attempt to remove the gas gener-
ator for the airbag passenger-restraint
system from the vehicle. Testing and
service procedures are to be performed
exclusively by qualified technicians. In
the event of malfunction, deactivation
or triggering (in response to an acci-
dent), always entrust repair and service
operations to your authorized BMW
Retailer.
Do not modify or tamper with either the
wiring or the individual components in
the airbag system; these include also
the padded covers on the steering
wheel, on the instrument panel or on
the side trim panels of the front doors.
Never apply adhesive materials to these
components and never cover or modify
them in any way. Do not remove or dis-
mantle the steering wheel.
The airbag generator can be disposed
of only by a BMW Retailer.
Unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation,
either of which could result in personal
injury.Insert the key in the slot in one of the
rear door latch mechanisms and turn
toward the outside: the door can now
be opened from the outside only.The rollover protection system is acti-
vated automatically in the event of an
accident or in a critical driving situation
(extreme tilting in the longitudinal or lat-
eral axis, loss of ground contact). The
protective bars located behind the rear
head restraints extend within a fraction
of a second.
In addition to the roll bar integrated in
the windshield frame, the rollover pro-
tection system helps provide all vehicle
occupants, and in particular the rear
passengers, with needed headroom.
b
When the hardtop
* is on, it is
advisable to use "soft" protective cov-
ers, in order to prevent damage to the
luggage compartment lid when the sys-
tem is activated. Please contact your
authorized BMW Retailer for additional
information.c
a
Always keep the space required by
the rollover protection system free of
obstacles.
In the case of minor, non-rollover acci-
dents, passengers are protected only by
the buckled safety belt and the belt ten-
sioner and, depending on the severity of
the accident, the airbag restraint sys-
tem.c
360de012
BMW Sedan
Airbags Child-safety locks Rollover protection system*

53
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Following an unforeseen, automatic
extension, the rollover protection sys-
tem can be lowered again.
To do this, remove the screwdriver han-
dle and the special tool (stored on the
socket wrench) from the onboard tool
kit and push them together.
dPull out the head restraint upward.
dRemove the protective cap upward
from the protective bar.dPush the special tool into the guide
of the click-and-pawl mechanism as
far as possible (handle rests on the
backrest) and hold in place.
dGently press down the protective bar
until the special tool is loose.
dPull out the special tool and press
down the protective bar completely
until it audibly engages.
dRemount the protective cap on the
protective bar and push on Þrmly.
dPush in the head restraint again.Follow the same procedure for the sec-
ond protective bar.
Have the rollover protection system
checked by a BMW Retailer.
a
The opened convertible top can not
be closed with the rollover protection
system extended.c
Notes on safetyNo changes should be made to the indi-
vidual components of the rollover pro-
tection system or to its wiring.
All work on the rollover protection sys-
tem must be carried out by a BMW
Retailer.
Work carried out incorrectly may lead to
the failure or an accidental triggering of
the system.
To check the system and to ensure its
long-term operation, it is imperative that
you observe the maintenance intervals
of the Service Interval Display. The roll-
over protection system must be in-
spected every 2 years at the latest by a
BMW Retailer.
36cde016
36cde017
Rollover protection system* Ð Convertible

54
0Steering lock engagedThe key can only be inserted and
removed in this position.
After extracting the key, turn the steer-
ing wheel a small amount to the left or
right until you hear the lock engage.
Your vehicle is equipped with an inter-
lock; this means that the ignition key
can not be turned into position 0 and
removed until the selector lever is in
position P.
Furthermore, the selector lever is locked
in position P when the ignition key is in
position 0 or removed from the ignition
switch.
To turn the key back into position 0 or
remove it, move the selector lever into
position P first.
1 Steering lock disengagedYou will often find that it is easier to turn
the ignition key from position 0 to 1 if you
move the steering wheel slightly to help
disengage the lock.2 Ignition onAll electrical equipment and accesso-
ries are available for use.3 Starter activationb
Vehicles with manual transmis-
sion: depress the clutch pedal while
you turn on the ignition, otherwise a
blocking system will prevent the engine
from starting.c
Before startingdApply the parking brake.
dThe manual-shift gear lever should
be in neutral; the automatic transmis-
sion selector lever should be in P
or N.
dAt low temperatures keep the clutch
pedal depressed.
dStart the engine without depressing
the accelerator.b
Do not operate the starter too briefly,
but not longer than approx. 20 seconds.
Release the ignition key as soon as the
engine starts. Do not allow the engine to
warm up by leaving it running while the
vehicle remains stationary. Instead, drive
off immediately at a moderate engine
speed.c
Should the engine fail to start on the first
attempt, e.g., if it is very hot or cold:
dStop and pause briefly before repeat-
ing the starting procedure. This pre-
vents the spark plugs from becoming
damp.
dPress the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter.
1 2
03
360de009Steering/ignition lock Starting the engine

55
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
When starting a cold engine at extreme-
ly low temperatures (+55F/-156 or be-
low) or at high altitudes (above 3,300 ft./
1,000 meters), proceed as follows:
dAt the first attempt, keep the starter
engaged for a bit longer (approx.
10 seconds).
dPress the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter.
If you operate the vehicle for longer
periods of time at high altitudes and
very low temperatures, put into the
engine an oil with a viscosity of 5WÐ30
(refer to page 126). Please contact your
authorized BMW Retailer for additional
information.a
Never allow the engine to run with
the vehicle standing in an enclosed ar-
ea. The exhaust gases contain carbon
monoxide, an odorless and colorless,
but highly toxic gas. Breathing the ex-
haust gases poses an extreme health
risk, and can lead to unconsciousness
and death.
Never leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running, as such a vehicle
represents a serious potential safety
hazard.cTurn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
a
Always remove the ignition key
and engage the steering lock before
leaving the vehicle.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on slopes and inclined surfaces,
since selecting 1st gear or reverse may
not provide adequate resistance to roll-
ing.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place the selector lever in Park.c
Starting the engine Switching off the engine

56
To engageThe lock engages automatically when
you lift the lever. The "P" indicator lamp
appears in the instrument cluster when
you turn the ignition key to position 2
(refer to page 21).To releasePull up on the lever, then press the
release button and lower the lever.The parking brake is primarily designed
to prevent the vehicle from rolling while
parked, and acts on the rear wheels.
a
Should exceptional circumstances
make it necessary to engage the brake
with the vehicle in motion, do not apply
excessive pressure. Keep your thumb
pressed against the release button while
carefully pulling up the lever to apply
moderate pressure.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction (fishtailing)
at the rear.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is engaged.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on slopes and inclined surfaces,
since selecting 1st gear or reverse may
not provide adequate resistance to
rolling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place the selector lever in "Park".cTo avoid corrosion, apply the parking
brake lightly from time to time when
coasting to a standstill, e.g., at a trafÞc
signal, provided that it is safe to do so.
360us303Parking brake

57
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The shift lever's neutral plane (dot in the
illustration) is located between 3rd and
4th gears
Whenever you shift from any gear into
"Neutral", the shift lever will automati-
cally return to the specified gear plane.
ReverseSelect only with the vehicle stationary.
Press the shift lever to the left to over-
come the slight resistance.Backup lampsAs you do this the backup lamps will
turn on automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2.a
Do not "ride" the clutch to hold the
vehicle in place on slopes; use the park-
ing brake instead. A slipping clutch in-
creases clutch wear.c
360de044Manual transmission

58
Selector lever positionsP R N D 3 2 1Shift programsSwitch:
dA (Automatic)
dM (Manual)
Shift lever in position 3:
dSport program
See next page for an explanation of the
programs.
Range selectionA lock prevents inadvertent shifts into
certain selector lever positions. To re-
lease the shift-lock mechanism, press
the button on the front side of the se-
lector handle (arrow).
The engine can only be started in selec-
tor lever position P or N.b
You must step on the footbrake
with the vehicle stationary before the
selector lever will move out of P or N.
The footbrake must also be depressed
before selecting a drive position, since
the vehicle "creeps" in idle when a drive
position is engaged.
At engine speeds of over 2500 rpm
a lock also prevents shifting out of P
or N.c
However, it is possible to "rock" the car
free by shifting rapidly between D and
R, e.g., should you get stuck in deep
snow or sand.
a
Place the selector lever in position
P or N and firmly engage the parking
brake before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running, otherwise the vehicle
could roll. Never leave the vehicle unat-
tended with the engine running, since
such a vehicle represents a serious po-
tential safety hazard.
If you should accidentally select Neutral
while traveling at high speed, remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal im-
mediately. Wait until the engine is at idle
speed; only then should you select a
gear, otherwise the transmission could
be damaged.c
P - ParkSelect only with the vehicle stationary.
Transmission locks to prevent rear
wheels from turning.R - ReverseSelect only with the vehicle stationary.N - NeutralSelect only if your journey is interrupted
for a longer period. Select while the car
is being driven only if the vehicle begins
to skid.
360us304Automatic transmission*

59
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
D - Drive (automatic shift program)This position is designed for driving
under all normal operating conditions.
All forward gears are selected by the
transmission as necessary. 3 - Sport Program, direct controlThis position is designed for perfor-
mance-oriented driving, and features
delayed upshifts for optimal utilization
of the vehicle's power reserves.
When D is engaged, the transmission
may respond to certain conditions by
repeatedly shifting between 3rd and 4th
gears. You can select this position to
suppress upshifts into 4th gear and pre-
vent the transmission from "hunting" in
this way.
2 and 1 - Mountain ascents and
engine brakingSelect these positions to prevent un-
desired shifts on mountain roads or
extended uphill and downhill stretches.
These ranges let you use the engine's
braking effect to maximum advantage.
The transmission upshifts only as far as
the selected gear (1st or 2nd).
Do not move the selector lever to either
of these positions when traveling at
speeds of 108 mph (170 km/h) or
above. The transmission downshifts
only at correspondingly low speeds."Kickdown" (automatic downshift)To obtain maximum acceleration, the
accelerator pedal can be depressed
beyond the normal to the full-throttle
position, at which a pressure point must
be overcome.
Shift programsA - Automatic program
For economical driving. This is the initial
position each time the engine is started.
M - Manual program
This program is for driving conditions
under which the selected gear is to be
retained. The transmission then remains
in this gear both when starting off and
during acceleration. With this program
you drive only in 3rd gear in position D.
It is advantageous, e.g., on slopes or
when towing a trailer, to drive in selec-
tor lever position 1 or 2, or in winter on
slippery roads in selector lever position
3, which enables gentle starts and pre-
vents undesirable shifting.
Automatic transmission*