ECU BMW Z3 2002 User Guide

46n
Power convertible top, roadster
*
To mount the coverThe illustration depicts a representative
schematic of the fasteners for the
convertible cover.
To secure, press the outer ring of the
cover fastener onto the mating piece on
the vehicle (refer to the arrows).367de274
The attachment points of the cover are
indicated by the four arrows in the illus-
tration.
1. Position the convertible cover on the
convertible top compartment and
align the upper portions of the
fasteners with the lower portions on
the vehicle
2. Lift the cover at the rear, reach
underneath it and engage the two
middle fasteners
3. Attach the front fasteners367us669
4. Push the peripheral frame of the
cover under the edge of the convert-
ible top compartment
5. Check the convertible cover to be
sure it is properly secured.
In order to avoid damage and
soiling of the inside of the convert-
ible top, always drive with the cover
secured in place.<
Be sure that the cover is secured
properly on the vehicle. If it is not
firmly secured, the flow of air while
driving could loosen the cover at higher
speeds.< 367us077

48n
Power convertible top, roadster
*
2. When the doors are closed, lower the
side windows slightly
3. Pull the release lever away from the
frame as far as possible
4. Hold the footbrake down during the
entire closing procedure
5. Press and hold the button for
convertible top operation in the
"Close" direction (1) until the closing
process is completed and the
convertible top frame has docked
against the windshield frame367us366
6. Insert the pins 1, on the left and the
right, into the guides in the wind-
shield frame. Using the handle
recess in the center of the convert-
ible top frame, pull the convertible
top down. Hold the top in this posi-
tion and secure both fasteners, refer
also to page 109.
If the footbrake is not applied, the
motor which operates the
convertible top will not operate.<
Be sure that the fastener hooks 2
on the left and right are securely
engaged in the frame of the windshield.
If they are not, the convertible top could
open while the vehicle is moving.< 367de047
At higher speeds, it may occur
that the lower air pressure which
is created in the passenger compart-
ment will cause the top or the rear
window to flutter. Increase the air
supply via the ventilation controls so
that a low pressure draft does not occur
in the vehicle.<

56n
Airbags Transporting children safely This is the correct way a larger child
should sit wearing the safety belt when
side airbags (arrow) are provided.367de360
Before installing any child-
restraint system, please read the
following:
Never install a rear-facing child-
restraint system in the passenger seat
of this vehicle.
If the airbag deploys and hits the back-
rest of the rear-facing child seat, it is
likely that the child sitting in the rear-
facing child-restraint system will be
seriously injured or killed.
If it is necessary for a child (not an
infant) to ride in the vehicle, certain
precautions should be taken. First,
move the passenger seat as far away
from the instrument panel as possible.
This important precaution is intended to
maximize the distance between the
airbag 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 secured with a safety belt.
In the interest of the child's safety,
please read carefully and comply with
the instructions for installation and use
provided by the child restraint's manu-
facturer whenever you use such a
device.
Do not allow children to lean out of a
child-restraint system toward the door
or instrument panel, as otherwise
serious injuries may result if the airbag
deploys. Always ensure that all occu-
pants (of all ages) remain properly and
securely restrained at all times.
Read carefully and comply with the
safety precautions covering safety belts
on pages 52, 53. If you do not, the
protective function of the safety belts
will be limited.<

57n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsMaintenanceControlsOverview
Transporting children safelyChild-restraint system installationThe safety belt on the passenger side
can be locked for mounting and
securing child-restraint systems.
A label with operating instructions is
attached to the belt next to the sliding
latch plate.367de361
To lock the beltExtract the entire length of the belt from
the inertia reel mechanism. Allow the
reel to retract the belt somewhat and
engage the buckle, then tighten the belt
against the child-restraint system. The
retraction mechanism is now locked.
The belt cannot be retracted further.
Comply with the installation instructions
provided by the manufacturer of the
child-restraint system.To release the beltRelease the buckle, remove the child-
restraint system and allow the inertia
reel to retract the belt completely.
Z3 coupeFor the use of child-restraint systems
with a tether strap, an additional
mounting point is provided in the coupe
at the right rear on the roof frame.
Attach the tether strap hook to the
mounting point. Adjust the tether strap
according to the child-restraint manu-
facturer's instructions.367us704
Z3 coupe

63n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsMaintenanceControlsOverview
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
P Ñ Park Select only when the vehicle is
stationary. The transmission locks to
prevent the rear wheels from turning.R Ñ Reverse Select only when the vehicle is
stationary. N Ñ Neutral Select only if your journey is interrupted
for a longer period. D Ñ Drive
(automatic shift program) This position is designed for driving
under all normal operating conditions.
All forward gears are available. Kickdown In the kickdown mode, you achieve
maximum performance and in
position D, you reach maximum speed.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the
increased resistance point at the full-
throttle position.
M/S Ð manual mode and
Sport Program When you change from D to M/S, the
Sport Program is activated. This is
indicated by "S" in the gear selection
display. The M/S mode is recom-
mended for performance-oriented
driving.
With the first brief touch, the automatic
transmission shifts from the Sport
Program to the manual mode. When
you tab the selector lever in the "+"
direction, the transmission shifts up.
When the lever is tabbed in the
"Ð" direction, the transmission shifts
down. M1 to M5 is indicated in the
transmission range display.
Upshifts or downshifts will only be
carried out by the ATC at appropriate
engine speeds and road speeds. If the 367de704
engine speed is too high, for instance,
the downshift will not be executed. The
gear selected will appear briefly in the
instrument cluster followed by the
current gear.
If you are driving in the manual
mode and wish to accelerate
rapidly Ð to pass another vehicle, for
example Ð shift down manually or with
the "Kickdown" function.<
You can only change from M/S to
selector lever positions "P", "R" and "N"
via the "D" position.
In the following situations, the Steptronic
"thinks" for you in the manual mode:
>In order to prevent engine over-
speeding, the transmission shifts
automatically to the next higher gear
shortly before the engine speed
cutoff point
>At low speeds, the transmission
shifts down automatically Ð you do
not have to act
>In the kickdown mode, the transmis-
sion shifts down to the lowest possible
gear based on the engine speed
>Depending on the situation Ð when
driving in adverse winter conditions,
for example Ð the transmission may
also start out in 2nd or 3rd gear.

94n
Cargo loadingStowing cargoIf you are transporting cargo in your
coupe:
>Load heavy cargo as far forward as
possible Ð directly behind the
luggage compartment partition Ð and
as low as possible
>Cover sharp edges and corners
>Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest
>Pull the partition net
* out (refer to
page 93). Be sure that no items are
able to penetrate the partition net.
367de702
Z3 cou
pe
Securing cargoFor securing luggage, you can obtain
load-securing devices
* from your BMW
center. The lashing eyes located in the
luggage compartment serve for
mounting these load-securing devices.
Comply with the information enclosed
with the load-securing devices.
367de627
Z3 cou
pe
Always position and secure the
cargo correctly. If you do not, it
can endanger the passengers during
braking or evasive maneuvers, for
example.
Do not exceed the approved gross
vehicle weight or the specified
maximum axle loads (refer to
page 172), otherwise the vehicle's
operating safety is no longer assured
and you are in violation of the law.
Do not carry hard or heavy objects
unsecured in the passenger compart-
ment. If you do so, they may be
projected through the air during braking
and evasive maneuvers, for example,
thus endangering vehicle occupants.<

95n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsMaintenanceControlsOverview
Roof-mounted luggage rackA special roof-rack system is available
for your coupe as an optional acces-
sory. Please comply with the precau-
tions included with the installation
instructions.
Roof-mounted luggage racks raise the
center of gravity of the vehicle when
they are loaded. For this reason, they
have a major effect on the vehicle's
handling and steering response.
You should therefore always remember
not to exceed the approved roof load
capacity, the approved gross vehicle
weight or the axle loads when loading
the rack. You will find the specifications
for this under "Technical Data" on
page 172.
Make sure that the load is not too large
in size, and distribute it evenly. Always
load the heaviest pieces first (on the
bottom). Be sure that adequate clear-
ance is maintained for raising the
sunroof, and that objects do not project
into the opening path of the luggage
compartment lid.Secure the roof luggage correctly
and securely to prevent it from
shifting or being lost during driving
(danger to following traffic).<
Drive smoothly and avoid sudden
acceleration and braking. Do not corner
at high speeds.

100n
Catalytic converterThe catalytic converter reduces harmful
exhaust emissions.
It is designed for use with unleaded fuel
only.
Even minute quantities of lead would be
enough to permanently damage both
the catalytic converter and the system's
oxygen sensor.
To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine
operation and avoid potential damage:
>Be sure to comply with the scheduled
maintenance requirements
>Fill the fuel tank well before it is
empty
>If the engine runs roughly, shut it off
as soon as possible
>Tow-start the vehicle only when the
engine is cold. Tow-starting when the
engine is warm could cause unburned
fuel to ignite on the way to the cata-
lytic converter, resulting in significant
damage. It is better to start the vehicle
with an outside starting aid>Avoid any other situations in which
the fuel would not be (completely)
burned, for instance:
Frequent or consecutive extended
starting attempts or repeated starting
attempts when the engine fails to
start. (Shutting down and restarting
an engine which is running properly
does not present a problem.) Never
allow the engine to run with any of
the spark plug cables disconnected.Be sure to comply with the
instructions above to prevent
unburned fuel from reaching the cata-
lytic converter. Otherwise, the catalytic
converter could respond by over-
heating, leading to serious damage.
Extreme temperatures occur at the
catalytic converter on this and every
catalyst-equipped vehicle. 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 while the engine
is idling, or when parking, be careful to
avoid contact between the hot exhaust
system and easily-flammable materials
(hay, dry grass, leaves, etc.). Such
contact could cause a fire, resulting in
personal injuries and property
damage.<

102n
Antilock Brake System (ABS)Information for your safetyNot even ABS can suspend the laws
of physics. ABS alone cannot prevent
accidents if the brakes are applied
without an adequate, safe distance
between vehicles or if the speed limit
has been exceeded. Nor can it prevent
the hazards of aquaplaning. Responsi-
bility for these types of situations
remains in the hands (and at the 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.
Do not make any modifications to
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be
performed by authorized technicians
only.< Antilock Brake System (ABS)/
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced engineering
design of the ABS. When braking while
cornering at high speed or braking
during high lateral acceleration, or
when braking during a lane change,
vehicle stability is improved and
steering response is enhanced.
In the event of a fault
The ABS warning lamp comes
on, refer to page 21. The brake
system then reverts to conven-
tional operation as on vehicles
without ABS. However, have the
brake system checked by your
BMW center as soon as possible. To
prevent undetected defects and cumu-
lative faults from adversely affecting the
brake system, refer any problems to
your BMW center at the earliest oppor-
tunity.
The red warning lamp for the
brake hydraulic system comes
on together with the yellow indi-
cator lamps for ABS, ASC+T/
DSC
and ADB/DBC
(refer to
page 21), the entire ABS, CBC,
ASC+T/DSC and ADB/DBC
control system has failed.
Continue to drive cautiously and
defensively. Avoid full brake applica-
tions because the vehicle could
become unstable and go out of control.
Have the system checked by your BMW
center as soon as possible.
Warning lamps for Canadian
models.

109n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsMaintenanceControlsOverview
Hardtop
* Ð roadster
Using the wrench from the onboard tool
kit (fastened to the jack with a Velcro¨
strip), turn the screw (arrow) two to
three turns into the windshield frame on
the right and left sides.367de386
Turn the right and left locking levers of
the rear hardtop mounting fasteners in
the direction of the arrow to the stop.
The rear mounting fasteners are
locked correctly when the locking
levers engage audibly and point to the
rear of the vehicle.<
Finally, tighten the screws in the wind-
shield frame (refer to the left column)
and secure the wrench in the onboard
tool kit.
After you have driven approx.
30 to 60 miles (50 to 100 km),
check the front hardtop fasteners to be
sure that they are seated securely.< 367de387
RemovalReverse the above procedure for
removal of the hardtop.
The two screws of the front
hardtop fasteners remain perma-
nently in the windshield frame of your
vehicle to prevent their loss.<
Following the initial delivery of the
vehicle, or after the hardtop has been in
use for an extended period, closing the
convertible top requires increased
effort. You may find this operation
easier with the assistance of a second
person. Following that, the convertible
top should remain closed for at least
12 hours.