steering wheel BMW Z4 3.0I COUPE 2008 E86 Owner's Manual

Cockpit
10
Cockpit
Around the steering wheel: controls and displays
2Folding exterior mirrors in or out*34
3Adjusting exterior mirrors34
1
Opening and closing windows25
4
Parking lamps59
Low beams59
Automatic headlamp control
*59
5
Instrument lighting60
6
Fog lamps
*60

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
11
8Instrument cluster12
10Buttons
* on the steering wheel
11Ignition lock4012Horn: the entire surface
14Releasing the hood91
15Opening the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate21 7
Turn signal indicators44
High beams, headlamp flasher60
Roadside parking lamps
*60
Computer
*50
9Windshield wipers45
Rain sensor
*45
Volume
>Press: to accept and end a
telephone call; to start dialing
for selected telephone num-
bers
>Press longer: activate and
deactivate voice entry
*
Fast forward/rewind
>Radio
Press: next station stored
Press longer: station search
>CD
Press: jump to next track
Press longer: fast forward/
rewind
>Telephone
Scan register of names
Display/hide telephone book. Dis-
play the entries one after another
with the forward/backward buttons
13
Cruise control*46

Adjustments
30
Adjustments
Safe seating position
For relaxed driving with as little fatigue as pos-
sible, you should select a seating position that
reflects your personal requirements. In combi-
nation with the safety belts, the head restraints
and the airbags, the seating position has a
major influence on your 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 attention
to the following section.
For supplementary information on transporting
children refer to page36.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the airbags. Always
grip the steering wheel on the rim, with your
hands in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions,
to minimize the risk of injury to the hands or
arms in the event of the airbag being triggered
off.
Never allow any objects, individuals 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. Ensure
that the passenger is correctly seated, e.g. does
not prop feet or legs against the dashboard.
Otherwise, leg injury could result if the knee air-
bag and front airbag suddenly deployed.
Make sure that the passenger does not lean his
or her head against the side airbag, otherwise
serious injuries could result if the airbags sud-
denly deployed.<
Even when all these guidelines are observed,
the risk of injury as a result of contact with the
airbags cannot entirely be ruled out in some sit-
uations. In sensitive individuals, the ignition and
inflation noise may induce a mild hearing loss
that is temporary in most cases.
For airbag locations and additional information
on airbags, refer to page56.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way
that its center is at approx. ear level. Oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the
event of an accident.<
Head restraints, refer to page32.
Safety belt
Make sure every occupant fastens his or her
safety belt. As supplemental restraint devices,
the airbags are designed to enhance the effec-
tiveness of the safety belts, and not to replace
them.
Your vehicle offers two sitting positions, each of
which is equipped with a safety belt.
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. Make sure that the belt in the lap area sits
low against the hips and does not press against
the abdomen. The safety belt must never rest
against the throat, rub against sharp edges,
pass over hard or fragile objects or be pinched.
Fasten the safety belt around your body snugly,
ma king sure tha t it is pulled taut across your lap
and shoulder and that it is not twisted; other-
wise, the belt can slide over the hips in the event
of a frontal collision and injure your abdomen.
Avoid wearing bulky clothing and regularly pull
the belt in the upper-body area taut, otherwise
its restraining effect could be impaired.<
Safety belts, refer to page33.
Seats
Before adjusting your seat, always
observe the following precautions
Never try to adjust your seat while driving.
Otherwise, the seat could respond with
unexpected movement, and the ensuing loss of

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
35
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Never attempt to adjust the steering
wheel while driving the vehicle. It could
respond with unexpected movement, posing a
potential accident hazard.<
1.Fold the lever down.
2.Move the steering wheel to the preferred
height and angle to suit your seated posi-
tion.
3.Swing the lever back up.

Driving
40
Driving
Ignition lock
0Steering locked
1Steering unlocked
2Ignition switched on
3Starting the engine
Steering locked
This is the only position in which the ignition key
can be inserted or removed.
After removing the key, turn the steering wheel
slightly to the left or right until the lock engages.
Interlock with automatic transmission
The key can only be turned back to position 0 or
removed if the selector lever is in position P:
interlock.
Steering unlocked
You will find that it is often easier to turn the
ignition key from position0 to 1 if yo u m ove the
steering wheel slightly to help disengage the
detent.
Individual electrical equipment and accessories
are available for use.
Ignition switched on
All systems are operational.
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
deactivate electrical devices that are not in use.
Switch the ignition off when the vehicle is not
being driven.
Do not leave the engine running in
enclosed spaces. Otherwise, inhalation of
the hazardous exhaust gases could lead to
unconsciousness and death. The exhaust
gases contain carbon monoxide, an odorless
and colorless, but highly toxic gas. Do not leave
the vehicle unattended with the engine running.
An unattended vehicle with a running engine
poses a safety hazard.
Before leaving the car with the engine running,
place the transmission in idle or move the
selector lever to position P and apply the park-
ing brake to prevent the car from moving.<
When starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Do not end the starting procedure too early, but
do not continue it for more than 20 seconds.
Release the key immediately when the engine
starts.
Do not let the engine warm up in idling position.
Instead, begin to drive at moderate engine
speeds.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Step on the clutch when starting the vehi-
cle. A lockout prevents the engine from starting
if the clutch is not depressed.<
Manual transmission
1.Apply the parking brake.
2.Depress the clutch and shift to idle position.
3.Start the engine.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
41
Automatic transmission
1.Depress the brake.
2.Start the engine.
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the accelerator
pedal halfway down when starting the engine:
>If the engine does not start on the first
attempt, for instance when it is extremely
hot or cold.
>If the engine is started at very low tempera-
tures, below approx. +57/–156, at high
altitudes above approx. 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting attempts in quick
succession or repeated starting attempts
during which the engine does not start. Other-
wise, the fuel is not burned or inadequately
burned; there is a danger of overheating and
damaging the catalytic converter.<
Switching off the engine
Do not remove the key while the vehicle is
still moving. Otherwise, the steering lock
would engage when the steering wheel is
turned.
When you leave the vehicle, always remove the
key and engage the steering lock.
Apply the parking brake when parking on steep
gradients, otherwise the vehicle could start to
roll.<
You can have an acoustic signal set as a
reminder that the key is still in the ignition
switch after the driver's door has been
opened.<
Manual transmission
1.Turn the key to position 1 or 0.
2.Engage first gear or reverse gear.
3.Apply the parking brake.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2.Turn the key to position 1 or 0.
Parking brake
The parking brake is designed primarily to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling when parked. It
operates against the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp is lit, and when you
drive off a signal sounds in addition.
The parking brake is still applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and
lower the lever.
If, in exceptional circumstances, it should
be necessary to engage the parking brake
while the vehicle is in motion, do not pull it with
excessive pressure. In doing so, continuously
press the button of the parking brake lever. Oth-
erwise, too violent an application of the parking
brake can overbrake the rear axle and cause the
rear of the car to swerve.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the parking
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.
The brake lamps do not light up when the park-
ing brake is applied.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
43
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral, idle
You can select this in a car wash, for example.
The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
This position is designed for driving under all
normal operating conditions. All forward gears
are selected automatically.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con-
sumption is lowest when you are driving in posi-
tion D.
Kickdown
Kick-down enables you to achieve maximum
performance.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Manual operation and Sport program
M/S
Move the selector lever from position D to the
left into the M/S range:
The Sport program is activated. This is indi-
cated by the display SD in the instrument clus-
ter. This position is recommended for a perfor-
mance-oriented driving style.
The Sport program is enabled automatically
when the Dynamic Driving Control system is
activated, refer to page44.
To use the automatic function again, move the
selector lever to the right into position D.
Shifting gears using the selector lever
When you press the selector lever forwards or
backwards, the manual mode is activated and
Steptronic changes gear. The instrument clus-
ter shows M1 through M6.
The transmission will only execute upshifts and
downshifts that will result in an appropriate
combination of vehicle speed and engine rpm.
For instance, downshifts that would result in
excessive engine speed will not be executed.
The desired gear will appear briefly in the
instrument cluster, followed by the actual gear.
Shifting gears via the shift paddles* on
the steering wheel
The shift paddles allow you to shift gears
quickly since your hands can remain on the
steering wheel.
>When you use the shift paddles on the
steering wheel to shift gears while in auto-
matic mode, the transmission automatically
switches to manual mode.
>If you do not use the shift paddles for a cer-
tain amount of time and do not accelerate,
the transmission automatically switches
back to automatic mode.
If the selector lever is in the M/S gear
plane, manual mode remains active.
>To shift up, pull one of the shift paddles.
>To shift down, press one of the shift pad-
dles.
The instrument cluster shows M1 through M6.
The transmission will only execute upshifts and
downshifts that will result in an appropriate
combination of vehicle speed and engine rpm.
For instance, downshifts that would result in
excessive engine speed will not be executed.
The desired gear will appear briefly in the
instrument cluster, followed by the actual gear.
Malfunction
Red warning lamp
The transmission is overheating.
Reduce your speed immediately and
pull over at a suitable location so that

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
51
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW is equipped with a s eries of systems
that help maintain driving stability even in
adverse driving situations.
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS keeps the wheels from locking during
braking. Steering stability is maintained even
during full brake applications. In this way, active
safety is enhanced.
ABS is operational each time the engine is
started. Braking safely, refer to page76.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls brake-force application at
the rear wheels in order to obtain increased sta-
bility in the vehicle's braking response.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
automatically produces the maximum braking
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. At the same time, the benefits of the ABS
are also exploited.
As long as you want full braking to continue, do
not reduce pressure on the brake.
Dynamic Stability Control DSC
DSC prevents slip at the drive wheels while
starting off and accelerating the vehicle. DSC
also recognizes unstable vehicle conditions,
such as fishtailing or nose-diving. In these
cases, and subject to physical limits, DSC helps
to keep the vehicle on a steady course by
reducing engine speed and by applying brakes
at individual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed
even with DSC. It will always be the
driver's responsibility to drive in a manner that
matches road conditions. Therefore, do not limit the additional safety margin by practicing
risky driving.<
Deactivating DSC
Press the button for at least 3 seconds; the indi-
cator lamp for DSC lights up in the instrument
cluster. Dynamic Traction Control DTC and
DSC have been deactivated simultaneously. No
more interventions to increase stability and for-
ward momentum are carried out.
To enhance vehicle stability, reactivate DSC as
soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button again; the indicator lamp goes
out in the instrument cluster.
Checking
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
The indicator lamp is lit:
DSC has been deactivated completely.
Dynamic Traction Control DTC
DTC is a variant of the DSC in which forward
momentum is optimized for special road condi-
tions, e.g. snow-covered roads that have not
yet been cleared. The system ensures maxi-
mum forward momentum, but driving stability is
limited. Therefore, drive carefully in accordance
with conditions.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
53
Malfunction
The warning lamp for the brake system
lights up in yellow. The drive-off assis-
tant has failed. The car will not be held
in place after the brake is released. Have the
system checked as soon as possible.
Flat Tire Monitor FTM*
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor monitors tire pressures
while the car is being driven. The system
reports any significant loss of pressure in one
tire in relation to another.
In the event of tire pressure loss, the rolling
radius of the tire changes, thereby affecting the
rotational speed of the wheels. This change is
detected, and a flat tire warning is issued to the
driver.
System requirements
To ensure a reliable flat tire warning, the system
must be initialized with the correct tire inflation
pressures.
The system must be reinitialized each
time a tire inflation pressure has been cor-
rected or a wheel or tire has been changed.<
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor is unable to warn
the driver of sudden, severe tire damage
caused by external factors, nor can it identify
the gradual loss of pressure that will inevitably
occur in all four tires over a lengthy period of
time.<
The system could issue a false warning or func-
tion in a delayed manner in the following situa-
tions:
>System was not initialized
>Driving on a snow-covered or slippery road
surface
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at the
drive wheels, high levels of lateral accelera-
tion
>Driving with snow chains attached
Initializing the system
The initialization is completed while you
are driving, and can be interrupted at any
time. Initialization is continued automatically
when you continue driving.
When driving with snow chains, do not initialize
the system.<
1.Start the engine immediately before pulling
away, but do not drive off yet.
2.Press the button until the yellow indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up for a
few seconds.
3.Drive off.
Initialization is completed during the drive,
without any feedback issued.
Flat tire warning
The warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up in red. A signal also
sounds. There is a flat tire or a signifi-
cant loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to 50 mph/
80 km/h or lower. Avoid strong braking and
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a maxi-
mum speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with Run-
Flat Tires, refer to page88, the stan-
dard equipment by design, do not continue
driving. Otherwise a severe accident could
result after a tire puncture.<
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If the inflation pressure is correct in all
four tires, it is possible that the Flat
Tire Monitor was not initialized. In this case,
initialize the system.<

Technology for driving comfort and safety
54 3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss,
0 psi/0 kilopascal, you can estimate the
possible distance for continued driving on
the basis of the following guidelines:
>With a light load:
1 person without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
1 person, cargo bay full,
or
2 persons without luggage:
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
2 persons, cargo bay full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a speed
of 50 mph/80 km/h. Driving characteris-
tics change if there is a loss of tire pressure.
This includes reduced tracking stability in brak-
ing, extended braking distance and altered nat-
ural steering characteristics.
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during
the journey, this may be an indication that the
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce your
speed and pull over to the side of the road at the
earliest opportunity. Otherwise, parts of the tire
could come loose and cause an accident. Do
not continue driving. Contact a BMW center.<
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM*
The concept
TPM monitors the tire inflation pressure in all
four mounted tires. The system reports if infla-
tion pressure has dropped significantly in one
or more of the tires.
System requirements
To ensure a reliable flat tire warning, the system
must have been reset while tire inflation pres-
sures were correct.
Always use tires with TPM electronics to
ensure that the system operates properly.The system must be reset each time a tire
inflation pressure has been corrected or a
wheel or tire has been changed.<
System limitations
TPM cannot report sudden serious tire
damage due to external causes.<
The system will not operate correctly if it was
not reset, e.g. it may report a flat tire even if the
tire inflation pressures are correct.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat
tire if a wheel without TPM electronics is
mounted or if other systems or devices that use
the same radio frequency temporarily interfere
with the TPM system.
Resetting the system
The system must be reset each time a tire
inflation pressure has been corrected or a
wheel or tire has been changed.<
1.Start the engine but do not drive off yet.
2.Press the button until the yellow warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up for a
few seconds.
3.Drive off.
After several minutes of driving, the current
inflation pressures in the tires are adopted
as the target values to be monitored. The
resetting procedure is completed automat-
ically without further notice during the trip,
which can be interrupted at any time.
Resetting is continued automatically when
you continue driving.