maintenance BMW Z3 2002 Owner's Manual

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsMaintenanceControlsOverview
Power convertible top, roadster
*
3. Raise the convertible top approx. 8 in
(20 cm) from the convertible top
frame on the inside to relieve tension
on the top, refer to arrow 1
Be sure that the convertible top
folds at the front linkage joints
first, refer to arrow 2. If it does not, the
convertible top linkage could be bent.<
4. Press the release lever against the
frame of the top367de399
5. Hold the footbrake down during the
entire opening procedure
6. Lift the convertible top frame. Press
and hold the button for convertible
top operation in the "Open"
direction (2) until the opening
process is completed and the
convertible top is folded into the
convertible top compartment.367us366
If the convertible top has not been
lifted far enough, or if the foot-
brake is not applied, the motor which
operates the convertible top will not
operate.<
In order to avoid subsequent
moisture damage, do not leave
the convertible top open when it is
wet.<

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsMaintenanceControlsOverview
Power convertible top, roadster
*
To close1. To remove the convertible top cover:
>Loosen the fasteners. Pull the cap
of the latch upward, refer to the
arrow367de724
>Release the front fasteners (outer
arrows)
>Pull the outer frame of the cover
under the edge of the convertible
top compartment
>Lift the cover from the rear and
release the middle fasteners
(middle arrows)367us670
>To avoid damage, carefully fold the
cover and store it in the luggage
compartment.
Do not position heavy objects on
the cover.
The cover should be spread out if you
store it away from the vehicle.< 367de247

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IndexDataTechnologyRepiarsMaintenanceControlsOverview
For maximum safety, please comply
with the following:
Never try to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat
could respond with an unexpected
movement, and the ensuing loss of
vehicle control could result in an acci-
dent.
Be sure that the safety belt is fastened
firmly against your body at all times. In
the event of a frontal impact, a loose lap
belt could slide over your hips, leading
to abdominal injury. In addition, the
safety belt's restraint effectiveness is
reduced if the belt is worn loosely.
When adjusting your seat, select a
position that provides the maximum
distance between you and the steering
wheel, instrument panel and door while
still allowing comfortable and safe
access to all vehicle controls.<
Correct sitting postureTo reduce strain on your spinal column,
sit all the way back in the seat and rest
your back fully against the backrest.
In the ideal sitting posture, your head
extends along a straight line from your
spine.
For long-distance driving, you may wish
to increase the backrest tilt angle
slightly to reduce muscular tension.
You should also be able to grasp the
highest point of the steering wheel with
your arms slightly bent.
After a seat adjustment in the coupe,
adjust the height of the safety belt also,
refer to page 52.1 Height
*
2 Backward/forward adjustment367de015
Seat adjustment

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Mirrors
The mirror on the passenger's
side features a lens with a convex
surface. When estimating the distance
between yourself and other traffic, bear
in mind that the objects reflected in the
mirror are closer than they appear. This
means that estimates of the distance to
following traffic should not be regarded
as precise.<
Electric defrosting
*
Both mirrors are defrosted automa-
tically when the ignition key is in
position 2.
Interior rearview mirrorTo reduce the glare effect from the rear
while driving at night, tilt the mirror by
moving the small lever.Vanity mirrorsFold the sun visors down and push the
cover (coupe only) to the side.367de017

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Safety belts
Comply with the following instruc-
tions for wearing safety belts. If
you do not, maximum personal protec-
tion will not be provided and the safety
function of the belt is limited. These
instructions also apply for vehicle
passengers:
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a
passenger's lap.
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it
firmly across your pelvis and shoulder.
Do not route the belt across hard or
fragile objects. Do not route the belt
across your neck, or run it across sharp
edges. Be sure that the belt does not
become caught or jammed.
Avoid wearing bulky clothing which will
prevent proper belt fit. Pull the safety
belt across your shoulders frequently to
retension it. In the event of a frontal
impact, a loose lap belt could slide over
your hips, leading to abdominal injury.
In addition, the safety belt's restraint
effectiveness is reduced if the belt is
worn loosely.
Expectant mothers should also wear
their safety belt at all times, taking care
to ensure that the lap belt fits against
the lower hips and does not exert pres-
sure on the abdominal area.<
For care and cleaning, refer to the
"Caring for your vehicle" manual.
If the safety belt system has been
stressed as a result of an accident
or if it has been damaged in any other
way: have the belt system, including the
safety belt tensioner replaced by a
BMW center. In addition, have your
BMW center inspect the safety belt
anchors.
If a child-restraint system was in your
vehicle during an accident, consult the
manufacturer's instructions regarding
replacement.<

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AirbagsSitting correctly with airbags
For your safety, comply with the
following instructions for the
airbags. If you do not, the airbags may
not be able to provide their maximum
protection. All passengers in the vehicle
should be aware of and comply with this
information:
The airbags are supplemental restraint
devices designed to provide extra
protection; they are not a substitute for
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at
all times.
Adjust your seat to a position that is
comfortable for you, allowing unre-
stricted vehicle operation, and is not
closer to the steering wheel than neces-
sary.
Always grasp the steering wheel by the
steering wheel rim, keeping your hands
at the "9-o'clock" and "3-o'clock" posi-
tions in order to minimize any risk of
injury to hands or arms if the airbag does
deploy.
There should not be any other persons,
animals or objects between the airbag
and the passenger in that seat.
Do not use the cover panel for the front
airbag on the passenger side as a
storage area.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them
or modify them in any other way.
If you use a child-restraint system, read
carefully and comply with the instruc-
tions on page 56.
Be sure that child-restraint systems are
installed correctly and with the greatest
possible distance from the airbag in the
side trim panel. Do not allow children to
lean out of the child-restraint system in
the direction of the side trim panel.
Otherwise, serious injuries could occur
if the airbag is triggered.<
Even when you have complied with all
of these guidelines, there is still a small
residual risk of minor facial, hand and
arm injuries from airbag deployment
occurring in isolated instances.
The ignition and inflation noise may
cause a mild temporary hearing loss in
extremely sensitive individuals.
Corresponding airbag safety precau-
tions are provided on both sun visors
and the instrument panel (US models).
For additional information concerning
the airbag system, refer to pages 130
and 164.This is the correct way a child should sit
in a child restraint when side airbags
(arrow) are provided.
367de359

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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

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Starting the engineBefore starting>Engage the parking brake
>Be sure that the gearshift lever is in
"Neutral" (or the selector lever in "P"
if the vehicle is equipped with auto-
matic transmission)
>Depress the clutch pedal.
Do not run the engine in enclosed
spaces. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, an odorless
and colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Breathing the exhaust gases poses an
extreme health risk, and can lead to
unconsciousness and death.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended
with the engine running. An unattended
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<
Starting the engine>Do not press the accelerator pedal
while starting the engine.
Do not actuate the starter for too
short a time. Do not turn it for
more than approx. 20 seconds. Release
the ignition key immediately after the
engine starts.
Do not allow the engine to warm up
by leaving it running while the vehicle
remains stationary. Instead, begin to
drive immediately at a moderate engine
speed.<
Should the engine fail to start on the
first attempt (if it is very hot or cold, for
instance):
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter.
Cold starts at very low temperatures,
from approx. +5 7 (Ð15 6) and at
altitudes above approx. 3,300 ft
(1,000 m):
>On the first start attempt, engage the
starter for a longer period (approx.
10 seconds).
If these temperature conditions are
anticipated for a longer period, have the
engine oil changed to a special oil, refer
to page 124. Please contact your BMW
center for additional information.
Usually, it is not necessary to depress
the accelerator pedal. However, at high
altitudes or in very hot or very cold
weather, depress the pedal halfway
down when starting the engine.
Engine idle speed is controlled by the
engine computer system. Increased
speeds at start-up are normal and
should decrease as the engine warms
up. If engine speed does not decrease,
service is required.
To prevent the battery from
discharging, always switch off any
accessories which are not required.
Switch off the ignition when the vehicle
is not being driven.

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Manual transmissionPress the clutch pedal all the way down
each time you shift, pressing the gear-
shift lever into its proper end position.
Depress the clutch when starting the
vehicle, too, otherwise, lockout will
prevent the engine from starting.
The gearshift lever's neutral plane is
located between 3rd and 4th gear.
When shifting from each gear into
"Neutral", the gearshift lever returns
automatically to this neutral position
because of its spring loading.367de353
ReverseSelect reverse only when the vehicle is
stationary. Press the gearshift lever to
the left to overcome the resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamps will
turn on automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on
slopes by slipping or "riding" the
clutch. Use the parking brake instead,
otherwise, the ensuing friction to the
clutch plates will cause a great deal of
wear and tear on the clutch.<

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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.