air condition BMW CONVERTIBLE 1998 Owners Manual

For your own safety

a

Use unleaded gasoline only.
Fuels containing up to 10% ethanol or
other oxygenates with up to 2.8% ox-
ygen by weight (i.e. 15% MTBE or
3% methanol plus an equivalent
amount of co-solvent) will not void the
applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship.
Field experience has indicated signifi-
cant differences in fuel quality (i.e.,
volatility, composition, additives, etc.)
among gasolines offered for sale in the
United States and Canada. The use of
poor-quality fuels may result in driving,
starting and stalling problems espe-
cially under certain environmental
conditions, such as high ambient tem-
perature and high altitude.
Should you encounter problems while
driving that you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using,
we recommend that you respond
by switching to a recognized high-
quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance. Follow the relevant
safety rules when you are handling
gasoline.

c

a

Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories
tested and approved by BMW and
Original BMW Parts, you simulta-
neously acquire the assurance that
they have been thoroughly tested by
BMW to ensure optimum performance
when installed on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and work-
manship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved
by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product from
other manufacturers to verify if it can
be used on a BMW safely and without
risk to either the vehicle, its operation,
or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accesso-
ries and other products approved by
BMW, together with professional
advice on using these items, are avail-
able from all BMW Retailers.Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components,
brake dust shields, telephones
(including operation of any portable
cellular phone from within the vehicle
without using an externally mounted
antenna) or transceiver equipment
(e.g., C.B., walkie-talkie, ham radio or
similar) may cause extensive damage
to the vehicle, compromise its safety,
interfere with the vehicleÕs electrical
system or affect the validity of the
BMW Limited Warranty.
See your authorized BMW Retailer for
additional information.
Do not use key or remote control to
lock doors or luggage compartment
with anyone inside the car.
"Maintenance, replacement or repair
of the emission control devices and
systems may be performed by any
automotive repair establishment or
individual using any certified automo-
tive part."

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34
To closeThe handle recess (arrow) makes it eas-
ier to pull down the luggage compart-
ment lid.
a
Do not drive with the luggage lid
open, as exhaust fumes could be drawn
into the interior of the vehicle. Should it
be absolutely necessary to operate the
vehicle with the luggage lid open:
dRaise all windows and shut the slid-
ing/tilt sunroof
dMaximize the air volume of the air
conditioning, refer to page 88.c
Luggage strapsAttach the straps to the floor of the lug-
gage compartment to secure smaller
suitcases.
The luggage straps prevent objects
placed on them from slipping.
The fittings at the corners of the lug-
gage compartment provide you with a
convenient means of attaching luggage
nets
* and flexible straps for securing
suitcases and luggage.
360de302
394de302
Luggage compartment lid Luggage compartment

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*

84
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)This system is designed to enhance
operating stability, especially while
accelerating and during cornering.
ASC+T automatically assumes opera-
tion each time you start the engine.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out shortly after you switch
on the ignition.
To deactivate the systemPress the button; the indicator lamp
comes on.To reactivate the systemPress the button again; the indicator
lamp goes out.Indicator lamp flashesThe system is actively regulating drive
torque in response to monitored vehicle
operating conditions.Indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or comes on
in the course of normal vehicle
operationThe system has a defect. The vehicle
normally remains operational even with-
out ASC+T. Consult your authorized
BMW Retailer for repair.When ASC+T is switched off, you drive
with a conventional drive system. We
recommend that you deactivate the
system for increased traction
dwhen rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose surfaces
(refer to "Starting off", page 10 5)
dor when driving with snow chains.
b
But even with ASC+T the laws of
physics can not be suspended. Any
consequences arising from traction loss
due to excessive vehicle speed remain
the responsibility of the driver. We
therefore urge you to avoid using the
additional safety margin of the system
as an excuse for taking risks.c
For more details, please refer to section
"Advanced Technology" on page 156.
ASC
360de064ASC+T

87
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
BMW ConvertibleThe switches for the map reading lamps
next to the interior lamp are operated in
the same manner as the interior lamp
switch.
The seat cushion and backrest can be
heated at ignition key position 2.
Press the switches with the heating
symbols:
To switch over while heating: press the
dimly lit switch.
To switch off prematurely: press the
brightly lit switch.This ventilates the vehicle's interior and
lowers its temperature using the heater
or the air conditioner fan.
The system is operated by the onboard
computer, refer to page 77.
You can set the time for the system to
start; it will remain active for 30 min-
utes. You can also turn it on and off
directly.
As the system uses a substantial
amount of electric current, you should
refrain from activating it twice in suc-
cession without allowing the battery to
be recharged in normal operation
between use.
The independent ventilation is available
for use when the outside temperature is
above 60 5F (166), but not when driv-
ing.
The air comes out through the vents for
the upper body area. The vents must
therefore be open for the system to
operate. Rapid heat-up as long as the
switch lights up brightly. Auto-
matic changeover to regular
heating.
Heating as long as the switch
lights up brightly. The heater
switches off automatically.
360de026
Interior lamps Seat heating*Independent ventilation*

90
Controls1 Automatic air distribution
2 Individual air distribution
3 Temperature and air ßow display
4 Air grill for interior temperature
sensor - please keep clear and
unobstructed
5 To defrost windshield and door
windows
6 Air conditioner
7 Recirculated-air mode
8 Rear window defroster
9 Temperature control Ð right-hand
side
10 Air supply
11 Temperature control Ð left-hand side
Air conditioning for comfortUse the automatic system; switch on
AUTO key1. Select the interior temper-
ature that is comfortable for you, e.g.,
70 5F (226). With exterior temperatures
above 41 5F (56) you can also use air-
conditioning 6. This dries the air and
prevents window mist when e.g., per-
sons with damp clothing are in the vehi-
cle. Adjust vent 2 in such a way that the
air blows past you and does not strike
you directly. Turn the rotary control on
the left under the vents 2 for the upper
body area to a middle setting, so that
you will be driving in cooler air that
does not tire you out.
The following description gives you
additional individual settings.
Automatic air distribution
Individual air distribution
360us314
When you activate the AUTO
mode, the program takes
over the setting of the air distribution
and the air supply and, in addition,
adjusts your temperature pre-selections
to exterior conditions (summer, winter).
This program maintains a comfortable
in-car climate regardless of the season.
Select the interior temperature that is
comfortable for you, e.g., 70 5F (226).
The temperature pre-selections as well
as the lettering AUTO for the air supply
appear in indicator 3.
Open the vent outlets for the upper
body area. Switch on the air conditioner
in warm weather.
The maximum cooling capacity is
achieved when you set the rotary dial 3
(refer to page 92) to cold.
You can cancel the automatic
program by selecting distri-
bution patterns to suit your
individual requirements. You
can direct air toward the windshield and
windows 7, toward the upper body
5
and/or into the footwell
6.
AUTO
Automatic climate control

91
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
To defrost windshield and door
windows
Air conditioner Circulated air mode/Automatic
recirculated air control (AUC)
*
Press the button repeatedly to run
through the following control sequence:
dIndicator lamps off: outside air flow
operational.
dLeft-hand indicator lamp on Ð AUC
mode: the system detects pollutants
in the outside air and responds by
deactivating the outside air flow as
required. The system then recircu-
lates the air currently within the vehi-
cle.
dRight-hand indicator lamp on: the
flow of outside air into the vehicle is
permanently blocked. The system
then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.a
If the windshields fog over in circu-
lated air mode, switch off the circulated
air mode/Automatic recirculated air
control and increase the air supply. if
necessary.c
Rear window defrosterBMW Convertible: Heated rear-window
blower.
The rear-window blower is always
switched off with the convertible top
down.
When the hardtop
* is in place, press
the rear-window heating button.
Temperature
This program is designed for
rapid removal of ice and con-
densation from the windshield and side
windows.
The air conditioner cools and
dehumidifies incoming air
before reheating it to the selected tem-
perature.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started.
Switching off the air conditioner at out-
side temperatures below approx. 41 5F
(56) will prevent the windows from
fogging up.
Frequently switching the air condi-
tioner on and off may also promote the
formation of condensation on the win-
dow surfaces.
b
Condensation forms in the air
conditioner system during operation,
which then exits under the vehicle. It is
not unusual for a small puddle to form
there.c
You can respond to unpleas-
ant odors in the outside air
by temporarily excluding the outside air.
The system then recirculates the air
currently within the vehicle.
A
The indicator lamp comes
on to confirm that the rear
defroster is operating.
The defroster switches off automatically
after approx. 15 minutes.
On both the driver's and the
passenger's side you can
adjust the specific temperature. The fig-
ures in the display provide a general
indication of interior temperature. We
recommend 70 5F (226) as a standard
setting for comfortable travel, both with
and without the air conditioner. When
you start the vehicle, the system
ensures that the selected temperature
is achieved as quickly as possible and
maintained at a constant level by the
control.
Automatic climate control

92
Air supply
Draft-free ventilation
You can adjust the vent outlets for the
upper body area to select the optimum
airflow rates and directions for your
own personal requirements:
Use rotary controls 1 to open and close
the vents throughout and infinitely-vari-
able range. Use the levers 2 to adjust
the direction of the air flow.
The rotary control 3 allows you to mix
the air from the outlets for your upper
body by warming or cooling it as
desired:
Turn toward blue Ð colder
Turn toward red Ð warmer
MicrofilterThe microfilter removes dust and pollen
from the incoming air. The filter is
changed by your BMW Retailer when
you bring your vehicle for maintenance.
A substantial reduction in air flow indi-
cates that the filter needs to be
replaced prematurely. In the AUTO mode, the air
supply is controlled automat-
ically and AUTO appears in display 3,
refer to the summary on page 90. Using
"+" and "Ð" you can vary the air flow.
Your setting is indicated by bars, the
automatic control is switched off. You
can reactivate it by pressing the AUTO
key.
When you press "-" during operation at
minimum blower speed all displays are
canceled: the fan, heating and air con-
ditioner are switched off, the air supply
is blocked. By pressing on any key of
the air conditioning you can again
engage the system.
Effective heating and cooling is ensured
at a medium blower speed.
1 2 3
360de056
Automatic climate control

10 3
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
ABS enhances active safety by helping
to prevent the wheels from locking under
braking. When the front wheels slide, the
driver loses steering control over the
vehicle. Traction loss at the rear wheels
can cause the rear end to break into
uncontrolled oversteer.
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every application:
dto help provide vehicle stability on all
types of road surface (asphalt,
cement, dirt, moisture, snow and ice).
dto help to retain steering and maneu-
vering capability under the same con-
ditions.
However, certain important consider-
ations must be borne in mind in connec-
tion with these requirements:
Not even ABS can suspend the normal
laws of physics. ABS alone can not pre-
vent accidents when the brakes are
applied without an adequate safety
interval between vehicles, when the car
reaches excessive rates of lateral accel-
eration in curves, or if aquaplaning
occurs. Responsibility for these types of
situations remains in the hands (and feet)
of the driver. You should never allow the
added safety of ABS to lull you into a
false sense of security, or mislead you
into taking increased risks that could
affect your own safety and that of others.
Driving with ABSThe yellow ABS warning in the instru-
ment panel goes out as soon as the
engine is started.
The system becomes operative once the
vehicle exceeds a speed of 5 mph
(8 km/h). The ABS is deactivated when-
ever the vehicle's speed drops below
approx. 2 mph (3 km/h). This means that
the wheels can lock in the Þnal phase of
a braking action - a factor of no signiÞ-
cance in actual practice.
The ABS system closed-loop control cir-
cuit cycles in fractions of a second. A
pulsation at the brake pedal indicates to
the driver that ABS is active, that is, that
the car is within its maximum braking
range. In addition, the audible pulsation
that accompanies the control operation
calls your attention to the reduced trac-
tion between tires and road surface
(marginal adhesion), and reminds you
that the vehicle's speed should be
reduced to adapt to road conditions.On road surfaces featuring a loose top
layer on a Þrmer substratum, e.g., on
gravel or snow, the braking distances
with ABS may be longer than with the
wheels locked. However, ABS continues
to provide enhanced vehicle and steer-
ing control under these conditions.
a
To ensure that the system remains
completely operational, never modify the
ABS. Service procedures on ABS are to
be performed by authorized technicians
only.c
ABS may fail to function with maximum
efÞciency when tires of different sizes
are mounted (e.g., winter tires/spare tire;
remount the correct tires at all wheels as
soon as possible).
In the event of a fault, the ABS warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up,
refer to page 18. The braking system
then reverts to conventional operation as
on a vehicle without ABS. However,
have the brake system checked by your
BMW Retailer as soon as possible. To
prevent undetected defects and cumu-
lative faults from adversely affecting the
brake system, refer any problems to
your authorized BMW Retailer at the
earliest opportunity.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)

11 2
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer.
a
Do not use retreaded tires, as oth-
erwise driving safety may be impaired.
This is due to the possible variations in
casing structures and, in some cases, to
their extreme age, which can lead to a
decrease in their durability.cTread wear patterns differ at the front
and rear wheels according to the indi-
vidual operating conditions. In the inter-
est of safety and optimal vehicle
response, we advise against rotating
tires from front to rear and vice versa.
When considering the potential eco-
nomic benefits of interaxle tire rotation,
you must decide whether the expense
of having the tires rotated is likely to be
amortized during the anticipated exten-
sion in tire life. We recommend that you
discuss the matter with your BMW
Retailer.
Should you decide in favor of rotating
the tires, it is essential to observe the
following:
Leave the tires on the same side of the
vehicle (include spare in rotation pat-
tern as desired).
Braking response and traction may be
adversely affected.
Rotation should always be carried out
at short intervals, max. 3000 miles
(approx. 5000 km).
Following rotation always correct the
tire inflation pressure.Always replace tires after 10 years,
regardless of use or tread wear.
Spare tires over 6 years old should be
used only in case of emergency. Such a
tire should be replaced by a new tire
immediately, and should not be fitted
together with new tires.
The date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on
the sidewall: DOT ... 327 indicates that
the tire was manufactured in Week 32
of 1997.
Tire replacement Interaxle tire changes