park assist BMW CONVERTIBLE 1998 Owners Manual

10 4
Disc brakes furnish optimum decelera-
tion and braking control as well as
greater fade resistance under heavy
use.
Limited vehicle use, extended periods
with the car parked or in storage and
light loading will increase the tendency
for corrosion to form on the rotors, and
dirt to accumulate on the pads. This
happens because the minimum pres-
sure between the pad and the disc
required for the self-cleaning function
of the disc brakes is not achieved.
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.
a
Use only original BMW-approved
brake pads, as otherwise vehicle autho-
rization is no longer valid.c
Driving notes While driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is a good idea to apply
light pressure to the brake pedal every
few miles - Watch traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not
endanger other road users. The heat
generated in this braking process helps
dry the brake pads and rotors.
Maximum braking force is obtained
while the wheels continue to rotate,
peaking when the wheels remain on the
verge of locking without actually doing
so. ABS maintains this state automati-
cally. If the ABS fails, you should revert
to the staggered braking technique
described above (refer to page 106).
Extended or steep mountain descents
do not necessarily have to lead to
reduced braking efficiency; downshift
to a gear in which only minimal periodic
brake applications are required (you
can move the selector lever to the
appropriate lower range if your car is
equipped with an automatic transmis-
sion).
You can further increase the engine's
braking effect by selecting a lower gear,
downshifting as far as first gear or plac-
ing the selector lever in position 1 (2).Should engine braking prove inade-
quate, you should still avoid extended,
continuous braking. Instead of main-
taining low to moderate pressure over
an extended period of time, you should
decelerate the vehicle by applying more
substantial force at the pedal (watch for
following traffic!) and then pausing
before repeating the application. This
staggered braking technique allows the
brakes to cool in the intervals between
active braking phases, preventing over-
heating and ensuring that full braking
capacity remains available at all times.
a
Do not allow the vehicle to coast by
pressing down the clutch pedal or shift-
ing into neutral while underway. Never
drive with the engine switched
off (!). The engine provides no braking
effect when the clutch is disengaged or
the transmission is in neutral, and there
is no power-assist for brakes and steer-
ing when the engine is not running.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or other
objects to protrude into the area around
the accelerator, clutch and brake pedals
and obstruct their movement.c
Disc brakes

173
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Note: This index does not correspond to the original manual in all detailscomponents
105
SSAFETY DEFECTS
7
Seat heaters
87
Seat, electric 44
Seat, mechanical
43
Seatback release 45
Seatbelts
47
Seats, adjustment
43
Selector lever, automatic
transmission
58
Service Interval Display
64
Shift programs
59
Side airbag
50
Sliding
106
Sliding/tilt sunroof
36
Close in case of electrical
fault
152
Slippery roads
105
Snow chains
105
Spare key
30
Spare keys 30
Spare tire 112
, 146
Spark plugs
167
Special oils 125
Speed warning activation
threshold 80
Sport seat 44
Start
54
Start the engine
Preheating
54
Starting assistance
153Starting problems
102
Steel wheel
115
Steering
128
Steering lock
54
Steering wheel lock
54
Stopwatch
80
Storage shelves
93
Summer tires
113
Sun visor
46
Switching off the engine
55
Switching off the vehicle 55
Symbols
4
Battery 149
TTachometer
63
Tailgate
33
Taillights 143
Taillights,
Replace bulbs
143
Tank cover
Unlock in case of
electrical fault 152
Technical Data 160
Technical data 160
Telephone
108
Temperature 91
Temperature display
66
Temperature layering 92
Tempomat
62
Thigh support
Ajustment 44
Third brake light
143Through loading system
95
Timer
81
Tire change
146
Tire damages 111
Tire inflation pressure
25
,
111
Tire inscription
113
Tire replacement 112
Tire sizes
115
Tire tread 111
Tool kit
140
Tools
140
Tow starting
154
Towing
154
Towing eyelets
154
Track
161
Trailer load, permissible
163
Trailer nose weight,
permissible
163
Transmission 57
Traveling abroad
102
Tread depth, tires 111
Trip
63
Trip distance recorder
63
Trip odometer
63
Trunk
Capacity
163
Trunk lights,
Replace bulb
145
Turn on
54
Turn signal indicator
60
Turn signal,Replace bulb
142
Turn signals
143
Turning circle 161
Turning radius 161
UUnloaded vehicle weight

163
Unlocking and locking doors

31
Used batteries
150
VVehicle care, interior
133
Vehicle decommissioning

137
Vehicle identification
129
Vehicle identification
number
129
Vehicle immobilization unit

30
Vehicle paintwork
132
Vehicle weight
163
Ventilate at a standstill
81
Ventilation, draft free
92
WWarm feet - cool head
92
Warning
71
Warning Light-On
85
Warning lights
20
Washer fluid
Add
124
Fill up 166
Washer fluid reservoir
Everything from A to Z