belt BMW Z4 2.5I 2003 Owners Manual

Contents
Contents
Notes
6About this Owner's Manual
6Symbols used
6Symbol on vehicle parts
6Your individual vehicle
6Status at time of printing
7For your own safety
7Service and warranty
8Reporting safety defects
Overview
12Cockpit
13Instrument cluster
14Indicator and warning lamps
Opening and closing
18Keys
18Central locking system
18Remote control
20Door lock
20Interior
21Luggage compartment lid
22Luggage compartment
22Electric power windows
23Manual convertible top
24Fully automatic convertible top*
26Wind deflector*
27Alarm system*
Adjustments
29Safe seating position
29Seats
30Seat memory*

31Seat heating*
31Safety belts
32Steering wheel
32Mirrors
33Airbags
34Transporting children safely
37Vehicle Memory, Key Memory
Driving
38Ignition lock
38Engine
39Parking brake
40Manual transmission
40Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
42Electric Power Steering EPS
42Drivelogic*
42Turn signal indicators/Headlamp
flasher
43Washer/wiper system and
rain sensor*
44Cruise control*
Lamps
45Parking lamps/Low beams
46High beams/Standing lamps
46Instrument lighting
46Fog lamps
46Interior lamps
© 2002 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 156 897
US English VIII/02
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper –
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.

Overview
14
Indicator and warning
lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are iden-
tified by
+ are tested for proper functioning
whenever the ignition key is turned. They
each light up once for different periods of
time.
If a fault should occur in one of these sys-
tems, the corresponding lamp does not go
out after the engine is started or it lights up
again while the vehicle is moving. The indi-
cated pages provide information on what
measures to take.
Please fasten safety belts
+31
Airbags
+33
Battery charge current
+87
Engine oil pressure/Engine oil level/
Engine oil sensor
+79
Parking brake/Chassis control sys-
tem/Dynamic Brake Control/Brake
fluid
+39/ 51/ 52/ 81
Brake warning lamp for Canadian
models
Antilock Brake System ABS/Chas-
sis control system
+53/ 51
Antilock Brake System ABS/Chas-
sis control system for Canadian
modelsDynamic Stability Control DSC
+51
Dynamic Traction Control DTC
+51
Flat Tire Monitor
+53
Automatic transmission
+41
Brake pads
+66
Add coolant80
Check Gas Cap
+
Service engine soon +83
Service engine soon
+
warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Defective bulbs45
Turn signal indicators42
Fog lamps46
Headlamp flasher/
High beams42/ 46

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
29
Adjustments
Safe seating position
For relaxed and fatigue-free driving you
should select a seating position that
reflects your personal requirements. The
correct seating position combines with
safety belts and airbags to enhance occu-
pant safety in the event of an accident. To
ensure that the vehicle's safety systems
provide you with optimal protection, we
request that you direct your careful atten-
tion to the following section.
For supplementary information on trans-
porting children, refer to page 34.
Sitting safely with airbags
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between yourself and the air-
bags.
Always hold the steering wheel by its rim
with hands at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions,
to minimize the risk of injuries to your
hands or arms in the event of airbag
deployment. Never allow any objects, indi-
viduals or animals to obstruct the areas
between passengers and airbags. Never
use the front airbag's cover as a storage
tray or support for objects of any kind.
Never allow front passengers to rest their
feet or legs on the airbag cover.<
For airbag locations and additional infor-
mation on airbags, refer to page 33.
Sitting safely with safety belts
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a passen-
ger's lap. Avoid twisting the belt while rout-
ing it firmly across the pelvis and shoulder,
wear it as snugly against your body as pos-
sible. Do not allow the belt to rest against
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 and pull on the lap belt peri-odically to retension it over your shoulders.
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 always wear their safety belts, tak-
ing care to position the lap belt against the
lower hips, where it will not exert pressure
against the abdominal area.<
For information on using the safety belts,
refer to page 31.
Seats
Before adjusting your seat, always
observe the following precautions
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 accident. Never ride with
the backrest inclined to an extreme angle –
especially important for the front passen-
ger to remember. If you do so, there is a
risk that you will slide under the safety belt
in the event of an accident, thus reducing
the protection provided by the safety belt.<
Seat adjustment
1Backward/forward
Pull lever 1 and slide the seat into the
desired position.

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
31
4.Press memory button 1, 2 or 3, as
desired. The indicator lamp goes out.
To select a stored setting
Do not select a memory position while
the vehicle is moving. If you do so,
there is a risk of accident due to unex-
pected seat movement.<
Ignition key position 1:
>Briefly press memory button 1, 2 or 3,
as desired.
Movement stops immediately when one
of the seat adjustment or memory but-
tons is operated during the adjustment
process.
With the driver's door closed and the igni-
tion key either removed or in position 0
or 2:
>Press and hold the desired memory
button – 1, 2 or 3 – until the adjustment
process is completed.
If you press the
MEMORY button
accidentally: press the button again;
the indicator lamp goes out.<
You can have your vehicle adjusted in
such a way that your personal set-
tings are automatically set for the seat
positions when you unlock the vehicle with
your personal remote control.<
If you make use of this method of
adjustment, be sure that the space
behind the driver's seat is unobstructed
before unlocking the vehicle. If you fail to
do so, objects behind the seat could be
damaged by a rearward movement of the
seat.<
Seat heating*
The seat cushion and backrest can be
heated with the ignition key in position 2.
You can call up different heating modes by
repeatedly pressing the buttons.
The seat heating can also be switched off
from the higher heating modes:
Press the button and hold it slightly longer.
Safety belts
Always fasten your safety belt before start-
ing off. As supplemental restraint devices,
the airbags are designed to enhance the
effectiveness of the safety belts, and not to
replace them.
To close
Make sure you hear the lock engage in the
belt buckle.
Please fasten safety belts warning
lamp:
Lights up for several seconds.
An acoustic signal will sound at the same
time.

Adjustments
32
To unlock the safety belt
1.Press the red button in the belt buckle
2.Hold the belt
3.Guide the belt back into its reel.
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 safety belt mechanism, including
the safety belt tensioners and any child-
restraint systems, replaced by your BMW
center. In addition, have your BMW center
inspect the safety belt anchors. Otherwise,
the system cannot be guaranteed to pro-
vide the required protection in the event of
an accident.<
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Never attempt to adjust the steering
wheel while driving the vehicle. It
could respond with unexpected move-
ment, posing a potential accident hazard.<
1.Push the locking lever downward
2.Adjust the steering column's reach and
rake to suit your seat position
3.Pull the lever back in.
Mirrors
To adjust exterior mirrors
1Switch for 4-way adjustment
2Selection switch for changing between
mirrors
3Button
* for folding mirrors in and out
Fold the mirrors in and out by pressing the
button repeatedly. This can be useful in car
washes or narrow streets, for example, or
for repositioning mirrors that have been
folded forward.
The mirror can be folded in at driving
speeds of up to 6.2 mph / 30 km/h.<
To adjust manually
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually:
Press on the edges of the lens.
Electric defrosting*
Both mirrors are automatically heated in
ignition key position 2.
Interior rearview mirror
To reduce the glare from vehicles behind
you when driving at night, turn the rotary
knob.

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
33
For vehicles without an alarm system:
Tilt the small lever forward.
Interior and exterior mirrors with
automatic dimming feature*
This mirror automatically dims through an
infinitely variable range and switches auto-
matically to its clear, undimmed mode
whenever you engage reverse gear or
place the selector lever in position R.
To ensure that the mirror continues to
operate properly, keep the two photocells
clean and unobstructed. One photocell is
positioned in the mirror's lens, see arrow,
while the other is slightly offset on the
opposite side of the mirror. Do not obstruct
the area between the interior rearview mir-
ror and the windshield; do not apply stick-
ers to the area of the windshield in front of
the mirror.
Airbags
1Front airbags for driver and passenger
2Side airbags for driver and passenger
3Knee airbags for driver and passenger
Protective effect
The front airbags help protect the driver
and passenger in the event of a head-on
collision where the protection provided by
the safety belt alone would not be ade-
quate. The side airbags help provide pro-
tection in the event of a collision from the
side. Each of the side airbags is designed
to help support the seat occupant's upper
body. The knee airbags help provide addi-
tional protection in the event of a head-on
collision.
Do not remove or exchange the floor
mat on the passenger side. It is a
component of the safety system.<
For information on the correct seating posi-
tion, refer to page 29.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster shows the airbag system's
operational readiness when the
ignition key is in position 1 or higher.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
when the ignition key is in position 1 or
higher.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine has been started, or it
comes on again during normal driving.
BMW recommends that you respond
to any malfunctions in the system by
immediately having it inspected at your
BMW center; otherwise the airbag could
fail to respond in an accident that would
normally trigger airbag deployment.<
For your safety, comply with the fol-
lowing instructions for the airbags. If
you do not, the airbags may not be able to
provide their full protection. All passengers
in the vehicle should be aware of and com-
ply with this information:
The airbags are supplemental restraint
devices designed to provide additional
protection; they are not a substitute for
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all
times. The airbags are intentionally not trig-

Adjustments
34 gered in every type of collision, e.g. in the
event of minor accidents, certain vehicle
roll-over situations or collisions from the
rear. In these instances, the safety belt pro-
vides sufficient protection.
Adjust your seat to a position that provides
maximum distance between you and the
steering wheel and the instrument panel
while still allowing comfortable and safe
access to all vehicle controls.
To minimize the risk of sustaining hand and
arm injuries, always hold the steering wheel
on the rim with the hands at or near the
9 and 3 o'clock positions. Do not place
your hands on the center pad.
Never allow any objects to obstruct the
area between the airbags and an occupant.
Do not use the cover panel above the pas-
senger side airbags as a storage area.
Never allow front passengers to lean
against or rest their feet or legs on the air-
bag cover panel.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way.
Never install a rear-facing child-restraint
system in the passenger seat of this vehi-
cle, unless the passenger airbags have
been turned off and the indicator lamp in
the center console indicates that the pas-
senger airbags are deactivated.
If you transport children, carefully read and
comply with the instructions in the follow-
ing section.
Be sure that child-restraints are mounted
correctly and as far as possible towards the
rear and in the lowest position. <
Even when all these guidelines are
observed, there is still a small residual risk
of injuries resulting from contact with
deploying airbags in isolated instances.
The ignition and inflation noise from the air-
bags may induce a mild temporary hearing
loss in sensitive individuals.
Transporting children safely
Deactivating/reactivating passenger
airbags
The passenger airbags must be deac-
tivated before using a rear-facing
child-restraint system on the passenger
seat, refer also to page 36 for explanation.
BMW also recommends that the passenger
airbags be deactivated if a child is trans-
ported in a front-facing child-restraint sys-
tem, regardless of the age of the child. If
you transport a child in the passenger seat
– not an infant in a rear-facing seat – who is
properly seated and seat-belted at all
times, the potential benefits of airbags
deploying in an accident generally out-
weigh the risks of the child being injured by
the force of a deploying airbag.
Therefore, you should deactivate the pas-
senger airbags only if you find it difficult to
ensure that the child will remain properly
seated and seat-belted at all times.
Always position the passenger seat as far
back as possible and at the lowest level.
The above warning and recommendations
are compatible with regulations estab-
lished by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration – NHTSA – permitting
the deactivation of front passenger airbags
by means of an on-off switch for members
of certain "at risk" groups.
Specifically, the 'at risk' groups are:
>Infants in rear-facing infant seats
>Persons with certain medical conditions
>Children aged 12 and under in the front
passenger seat.
NHTSA provides this information via their
website – www.nhtsa.dot.gov – or via their
Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-
9393 or 366-0123 in Washington, D.C.
area.<

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
35
The concept
Passenger airbags can be deactivated/
reactivated with the vehicle ignition key.
The key switch is located on the outer pas-
senger's side of the instrument panel.
The passenger airbags can only be deacti-
vated or reactivated with the vehicle stand-
ing still, ignition off and the passenger door
open.
Deactivation
Deactivation of the passenger airbags sys-
tem deactivates the passenger front, knee
and side airbag. The airbags on the driver
side remain active.
Using the vehicle ignition key, turn the key
switch to the "OFF" position. Note, the pas-
senger airbags will remain deactivated with
the switch in this position.
As soon as the reason for the deacti-
vation of the passenger airbags no
longer exists, you must reactivate these air-
bags so that they can deploy in an accident
within their normal deployment range.<
Reactivating
Using the vehicle ignition key, turn the key
switch to the "ON" position.
All airbags in the vehicle are activated and
will be triggered under appropriate condi-
tions.
Passenger airbags lamp
The system checks that the airbag system
is functioning properly when the ignition
key is turned, and the indicator lamp in the
central console lights up for several sec-
onds.
>The indicator lamp lights up continu-
ously when the passenger airbags are
deactivated
>If the passenger airbags are activated, it
goes out after several seconds.
At all times, occupants should sit
comfortably upright and be properly
restrained – infants and small children in
appropriate child-restraint systems; larger
children and adults using the safety belts.
Please note that the word "Airbag"
imprinted on the door trim panel indicates
the airbag's location.<
Seat position for children
This is the correct way a larger child no
longer using a child-restraint system
should sit wearing the safety belt, when the
airbag system is activated.

Adjustments
36
LATCH child-restraint mounting
system*
LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren
The anchorage points for the LATCH child-
restraint system are located at the posi-
tions indicated by the arrows.
For Canadian models only:
The position of the anchorage points is
indicated by a label on the seat; refer to
detail in illustration.
Carefully slide the brackets through the
gaps in the upholstery at the indicated
locations, see arrows.
To mount the LATCH child-restraint
system, please follow the manufac-
turer's operating and safety precautions.<
Commercially available child seats comply-
ing with the legal standard are designed to
be secured with a seat belt or with the seat
belt portion of a combination lap/shoulder
belt.
Improperly or inadequately installed child-
restraint systems can increase the risk of
injury to children. Always read and follow
the instructions that come with the system.Before installing any child-restraint
device or child seat, please read the
following:
Never install a rear-facing child-restraint
system in the passenger seat of this vehi-
cle, unless the passenger airbags have
been turned off and the indicator lamp in
the center console indicates that the pas-
senger airbags are deactivated.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
restraint system for the passenger.
Because the backrest on any rear-facing
child-restraint system – of the kind
designed for infants under 1 year and
20 lbs/9 kg – would be within the airbag's
deployment range, you must deactivate the
passenger's airbags, as the impact of the
airbags against the child-restraint's back-
rest could lead to serious or fatal injuries, if
the airbags are not deactivated.
For a child – not an infant –, certain precau-
tions should be taken. Position the passen-
ger seat as far back as possible and at the
lowest level. This important precaution is
intended to maximize the distance
between the airbags and the child. Younger
children should be secured in an appropri-
ate forward-facing child-restraint system
that has first been properly secured. Older
children should be tightly secured with a
safety belt, sitting with their back against
the vehicle seat back.
Always ensure that all occupants – of all
ages – remain properly and securely
restrained at all times.<
Securing the child-restraint system
The front passenger's safety belt can be
locked for mounting and securing a child-
restraint system.
A label with the appropriate instructions for
this is located in the immediate vicinity of
the buckle latch of the safety belt.

Replacement procedures
88 Please consult your BMW center
whenever you have any questions
concerning the battery. Since the battery is
absolutely maintenance-free, the following
statements are for your information only.<
Do not disconnect the battery cables
when the engine is running. Discon-
necting the battery cables when the engine
is running will cause a voltage surge which
will damage the vehicle's onboard elec-
tronics.<
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp for the battery
charge current lights up:
The battery is no longer being
charged. The alternator drive belt is defec-
tive or there is a malfunction in the charging
circuit of the alternator. Please contact the
nearest BMW center.
If the drive belt is defective, pull over
and switch off the engine immediately
to prevent overheating and serious engine
damage.
If the onboard supply voltage drops to a
very low level, increased steering effort
may also be necessary.<
Charging the battery
Charge the battery in the vehicle only when
the engine is not running. Use the terminals
provided in the engine compartment. For
information on connections, refer to Jump-
Starting on page 89.
Battery disposal
Return used batteries to a recycling
point or to your BMW center. Maintain
the battery in an upright position for trans-
port and storage. Secure the battery
against tilting when transporting.<
Fuses
You will find the fuses and information on
their respective allocation behind the glove
compartment.
1.Press the lock on the left; see arrow 1
2.Press the lock on the right; see arrow 2
3.Swing the glove compartment down.
Spare fuses and plastic tweezers for grasp-
ing the fuses are found in the onboard tool
kit; refer to page 84.
Do not attempt to repair a burned fuse
or replace it with a fuse having a dif-
ferent color or amperage rating. To do this
could cause a fire in the vehicle as a result
of circuit overload.<