run flat BMW Z4 ROADSTER 3.0I 2004 E85 Owner's Manual

Reference
At a glance
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Driving tips
Mobility
27
Adjustments
Safe seating position
For relaxed driving with as little fatigue as
possible, you should select a seating posi-
tion that reflects your personal require-
ments. In combination with the safety belts
and airbags, the correct seating position
also plays an important role in enhancing
occupant 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 33.
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 posi-
tions to minimize the risk of injuries to your
hands or arms in the event of airbag
deployment.
Never allow any objects, individuals or ani-
mals to obstruct the areas between pas-
sengers 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, i.e. that no feet or legs are propped
against the dashboard. Otherwise, leg
injury could result if the knee airbag and
front airbag suddenly deployed.
Never let an occupant's head rest near or
on a side airbag because the inflating air-
bag could cause a serious or fatal injury.<
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 situations. In sensitive
individuals, the ignition and inflation noise
may induce a mild hearing loss that is tem-
porary in most cases.
For airbag locations and additional infor-
mation on airbags, refer to page 56.
Sitting safely with 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.
Your vehicle offers two sitting positions,
each of which is equipped with a safety
belt.
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained –
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems; larger children and
adults using the safety belts.
Expectant mothers should always wear
their safety belts, taking care to position
the lap belt against the lower hips, where it
will not exert pressure against the abdomi-
nal area.
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.
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 twisting the belt while routing it firmly
across the hips and shoulder; wear it as
snugly against your body as possible. Do
not allow the belt to rest against hard or
fragile objects. Otherwise, the lap belt
could slide over the hips in the event of a
frontal impact, leading to abdominal injury.
Avoid wearing bulky clothing and pull on
the lap belt periodically to retension it over
your shoulders. Otherwise, the restraining
effect of the safety belt could be dimin-
ished.<
For information on using the safety belts,
refer to page 30.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
55
place in all four tires over an extended
period of time.<
On the other hand, the following situations
can lead to false warning, a delayed detec-
tion of pressure loss and even to the sys-
tem not functioning:
>Driving on snow-covered or slippery
roads
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at
the drive wheels, high levels of lateral
acceleration
>When driving with snow chains, false
warnings and undetected pressure
losses may occur
>If the Flat Tire Monitor was not initial-
ized after the last time the tire inflation
pressures were corrected, undetected
losses in pressure or false warnings
that indicate a non-existent flat tire are
possible.
Initializing the system
Each time you correct the pressure in
a tire, or change a wheel or tire, reini-
tialize the system immediately afterwards.
This requires driving.<
1.Start the engine, but do not drive off
2.Press the button as long as you need to
until the yellow indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up for a few
seconds
3.Drive off.
It takes a few minutes before the Flat Tire
Monitor can detect a flat tire and issue a
warning.
When driving with snow chains, do
not initialize the system.<
Flat tire warning
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up in red. This visual
alert is accompanied by an acoustic
warning signal. There is a flat tire or a sign-
ficant loss of tire pressure.
1.Carefully reduce your speed to under
50 mph / 80 km/h. Avoid strong braking
and steering maneuvers. Do not exceed
a maximum speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h.
2.Check the inflation pressure in all four
tires as soon as possible.
Because the sides of Run Flat
tires are reinforced, a drop in infla-
tion pressure usually cannot be
detected from the outside, refer to Run
Flat tires on page 80.<
3.Before continuing to drive, refer to the
notes on page 80.
If the vehicle is not equipped with Run
Flat tires, refer to page 80, the stan-
dard equipment by design, continuing to
drive with a flat tire can result in serious
accidents.<
System malfunction
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up yellow. The Flat
Tire Monitor is malfunctioning or out
of order. Please refer the problem to your
BMW center.

Reference
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75
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and driving safety that
largely depend on the condition of the tires
and the maintenance of the specified tire
pressure.
Check tire inflation pressures regu-
larly and correct them if necessary: at
least every two weeks and before every
extended journey. If this is not done, incor-
rect tire pressures can cause driving insta-
bility or tire damage, ultimately resulting in
accidents.
Do not drive with a deflated, i.e. flat, tire
unless your vehicle is equipped with Run
Flat tires. A flat tire greatly impairs steering
and braking response, and can lead to
complete loss of control over the vehicle.<
Checking tire pressures
Check the tire inflation pressures only
when the tires are cold. This means after a
maximum driving distance of 1.25 miles/
2 km or if the vehicle has been parked for at
least 2 hours. Warm tires have higher infla-
tion pressures.
Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor after cor-
recting the tire inflation pressure. Refer to
page 55.
Inflation pressures for original tires
The specified inflation pressures for tires at
ambient temperature are provided on the
placard on the B-pillar and are visible when
the driver's door is open.
Inflation pressures for other tire
sizes
The following tire inflation pressure tables
show the inflation pressures for the speci-
fied tire sizes at ambient temperature.
Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor after
correcting the tire inflation pressure.
Refer to page 55.<
Tire size
The inflation pressures in the table apply to
BMW-approved tire sizes and brands. Your
BMW center will be glad to supply this
information.

Wheels and tires
78
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest,
B and C, representing the tire’s resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under con-
trolled conditions on a specified indoor lab-
oratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, under-inflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.<
RSC: Run Flat tires
Run Flat tires are labeled on the sidewall
with a circular symbol containing the letters
RSC. Refer to page 80.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter performance
properties than summer tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Tire tread
Tread depth should not be allowed to go
below 1/8 in/3 mm even though in Europe,
for example, the legally specified minimum
tread depth is only 1/16 in/1.6 mm. Below
1/8 in/3 mm tread depth, there is a very
high risk of hydroplaning, even at relatively moderate speeds and with only small
amounts of water on the road.
At tread depths below approx. 1/6 in/
4 mm, winter tires display a perceptible
decrease in their ability to cope with winter
driving conditions, and should be replaced
in the interest of safety.
Tread wear indicators in the tread-groove
base, see arrow, are distributed around the
wheel circumference and are labeled on
the tire sidewall as TWI, Tread Wear Indica-
tor. At a tread depth of 1/16 in/1.6 mm, the
indicators signal that the legally permissi-
ble wear limit has been reached.
Tire damage
Unusual vibrations encountered dur-
ing normal vehicle operation can indi-
cate tire failure or some other vehicle mal-
function. This type of problem can be
caused by contact with curbs, etc. This is
also true for irregularities in the vehicle's
handling characteristics, such as a pro-
nounced tendency to pull to the left or right.
Should this occur, respond by immediately
reducing your speed. Proceed carefully to
the nearest BMW center or professional tire
center, or have the vehicle towed there to
have it and its wheels or tires inspected.
Tire damage up to and including sudden
and complete air loss can pose an extreme
hazard for both vehicle occupants and
other road users.<

Reference
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Driving tips
Mobility
79
Wheel and tire replacement
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled pro-
fessionals only. Any BMW center has the
required technical knowledge and the
proper equipment and will be happy to
assist you.<
The correct wheel and tire combination
also affects various systems that would
otherwise be impaired, for example ABS or
DSC.
Have the wheels balanced after each tire or
wheel replacement.
BMW advises against using retreaded
tires, since driving safety may be
impaired. This is due to possible variations
in casing structures and, in some cases, to
their extreme age, factors which can lead
to a decrease in their durability.<
The correct wheels and tires
BMW recommends using only wheels
and tires that have been tested and
approved by BMW for your particular vehi-
cle model, as otherwise body contact and
serious accidents can result despite the
use of the same nominal size, e.g. due to
manufacturing tolerances. If non-approved
wheels and tires are used, BMW cannot
evaluate their suitability, and therefore can-
not be held liable for driving safety.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single brand
and tread configuration. In the event of a
flat tire, remount the previous wheel and
tire combination as soon as possible.
Recommended tire sizes and brands
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire
size, classifies them as road-safe and
approves them. You can best find out
about these at a specialized shop, particu-
larly your BMW center. Observe any coun-
try-specific regulations, e.g. on making a
corresponding entry in the vehicle docu-
ments.The factory-approved radial-ply tires are
matched to your vehicle and have been
selected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort when used properly.
Run Flat tires fitted
Use only Run Flat tires, since no spare
wheel is available in the event of a flat.
Special characteristics of winter
tires
BMW recommends the use of winter tires
for operation under winter road conditions.
While all-season tires, with M+S designa-
tion, provide better winter traction than
summer tires, they generally do not achieve
the full performance of winter tires.
For mounting winter tires, refer to the
descriptions under Tire condition and
Wheel and tire replacement, pages 78, 79.
Run Flat tires fitted
Use only winter Run Flat tires, since no
spare wheel is available in the event of a
flat.
Observing speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed for
which the winter tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to ser-
vice tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents. Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. The technicans at your
BMW center will be glad to assist you with
the required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment.<
Storage
Store tires in a cool, dry place, protecting
them against light whenever possible. Pro-
tect the tires from contact with oil, grease
and fuel. Do not exceed the maximum tire
inflation pressures specified on the tire
sidewall.

Wheels and tires
80
Run Flat tires
Run Flat tires are labeled on the sidewall
with a circular symbol containing the letters
RSC. Run Flat tires consist of self-support-
ing tires and special rims. The tire rein-
forcement ensures that driving remains
possible to a restricted degree in the event
of pressure drop or even if the tire is
deflated.
When mounting or replacing summer
tires with winter tires, or vice versa,
use Run Flat tires since no spare wheel is
available in the event of a flat. Your BMW
center knows how to work with Run Flat
tires and is equipped with the necessary
special tools.<
Driving with a damaged tire
When using Run Flat tires, you can con-
tinue driving cautiously at a maximum
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h, depending on
the cargo load and the extent of tire dam-
age.
If there is a total loss of tire inflation pres-
sure, 0 psi/kilopascal, or obvious tire dam-
age, you can gauge the mileage for contin-
ued driving on the basis of the following
indications:
>With a light load:
1 person without luggage:
approx. 150 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
1 person, luggage compartment full,
or
2 persons without luggage:
approx. 90 miles/150 km>With a full load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h. Be aware
that vehicle handling will be altered when
there is a loss in inflation pressure. Antici-
pate, e.g., reduced tracking during braking,
longer braking distances and changed
steering characteristics.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends not
to have Run Flat tires repaired if they are
damaged, but to consult your BMW center
in such cases.<
Snow chains*
Only certain types of snow chains have
been tested by BMW, classified as road-
safe and approved. Consult your BMW
center for more information. BMW recom-
mends using only approved fine-link snow
chains. Use them in pairs on either summer
or winter tires, but only on both rear
wheels.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety pre-
cautions when mounting the chains.
Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph /
50 km/h when using snow chains.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor
after snow chains have been
mounted.
When driving with snow chains, it may be
useful to deactivate the DSC briefly. Refer
to page 53.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
91
Please contact a BMW center in case of a
malfunction.
License plate lamps
5 watt bulb
1.Push out the lamp with a suitable object
and remove it
2.Replace the bulb.
Snap the lamp back into place.
Changing a wheel
Run Flat tires
Your BMW is equipped with Run Flat tires.
Therefore, the wheel no longer has to be
changed immediately in the event of a loss
in inflation pressure.
Run Flat tires are labeled on the sidewall
with a circular symbol containing the letters
RSC. Refer to page 80.
BMW recommends that you consult your
BMW center if you wish to replace the tires
of your BMW, or change from summer to
winter tires or vice versa.
Your BMW center knows how to work with
Run Flat tires and is equipped with the nec-
essary special tools.
When mounting or replacing summer
tires with winter tires, or vice versa,
use only Run Flat tires since no spare
wheel is available in the event of a flat.<
Jacking points
The jacking points are located at the posi-
tions indicated in the illustration.
Your BMW center can provide you
with a suitable jack.<
Battery
Maintenance
The battery is completely maintenance-
free. This means that the original electro-
lyte will normally last for the service life of
the battery under moderate climatic condi-
tions.
Please consult your BMW center
whenever you have any questions
concerning the battery.<
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.<

Everything from A to Z
108 Hazard warning flashers 10
Headlamp cover, care,
refer to the Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Headlamp flasher 43
– indicator lamp 13
Headlamps
– bulb replacement 88
– care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
– cleaning 44
Headlamps, automatic
control 46
Headlamp washer
reservoir 83
– content, refer to
Capacities 103
Headlamp washer
system
– cleaning the
headlamps 44
– washing fluids 83
Head restraints 28
Heated mirrors 31
Heated seats 30
Heating 58
– exterior mirrors 31
– rear window 59, 63
– seats 30
Heavy loads, refer to
Stowing cargo 70
Height, refer to
Dimensions 102
Height adjustment
– seats 28
– steering wheel 30
High beams 47
– bulb replacement 89
– headlamp flasher 43
– indicator lamp 13
High Performance
Synthetic Oil 84
– alternative oils 84
– approved oils 84
High temperatures 69
Holders for beverages 65
Hood 81
Horn 10
Hydraulic Brake Assistant,
refer to Dynamic Brake
Control DBC 52Hydraulics
– brakes 85
Hydroplaning 69
I
Ice warning 50
Identification mark
– Run Flat tires 80
Ignition 36
Ignition key 16
Ignition lock 36
Inclines 69
Index 104
Indicator/warning lamp
– airbags 57
– alarm system 26
– brakes 13
– coolant temperature 49
– DSC 52
– engine temperature 48
– Flat Tire Monitor 55
– fog lamps 47
– passenger airbags 34
– please fasten safety
belts 30
– reserve 48
Indicator and warning
lamps, overview 12
Individual air
distribution 59, 62
Individual settings, refer to
Vehicle Memory,
Key Memory 31
Inflation pressure, tires 75
Inflation pressure
monitoring, refer to Flat
Tire Monitor 54
INSPECTION 49
Instrument cluster 12
Instrument lighting 47
Instrument panel, refer to
Cockpit 10
Interior lamps 47
– remote control 17
Interior motion sensor 26
Interior rearview mirror 31
– automatic dimming
feature 31
Interior temperature
– adjusting 59, 62Interlock, refer to
Steering lock 36
Intermittent
– operation, wipers 44
Interval
– display, service 49
J
Jack 91
Jacking points 91
Jets, refer to
Ventilation 59, 63
Jump-starting 94
K
Key Memory 31
Keys 16
Key switch for passenger
airbags 33
Kickdown 39
Knock control 74
L
Lamps 46
Lamps and bulbs 88
LATCH, child-restraint
mounting system 35
Leather care, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Length, refer to
Dimensions 102
License plate lamps
– bulb replacement 91
Light-alloy wheels, care,
refer to the Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Lighter 65
Lighting
– of the instruments 47
Lighting of the instruments,
refer to Instrument
lighting 47
LIGHTS ON warning 46
Light switch 46
Loads, refer to Cargo
loading 70
Loads, securing 70

Everything from A to Z
110 Outside air mode 59
– air conditioning 59
– automatic climate
control 63
Outside temperature
display 49
– changing units of
measure 50
– in the onboard
computer 50
P
Paintwork, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Parking brake 38
– indicator lamp 13
Parking lamps/Low
beams 46
Parking lock, refer to
Transmission interlock 39
Parts and accessories,
refer to Your individual
vehicle 5
Passenger airbags
– deactivation 33
– reactivation 33
Placing the vehicle in
storage, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Plastic, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Pollen, refer to
– Microfilter 59
– Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter 63
Power convertible top 22
Power output, refer to
Engine data 100
Power seat 29
Power steering, electric 43
Preparations for the cellular
phone 65
Pressure, tires 75
Pressure monitor, tires
– Flat Tire Monitor 54
R
Radio, refer to the Owner's
Manual for Radio
Radio remote control key,
refer to Master key with
remote control 16
Rain sensor 43
Reading lamps 47
Rear turn signal indicators
– bulb replacement 90
Rearview mirror 31
Rear window defroster
– air conditioning 59
– automatic climate
control 63
Recirculated-air mode
– air conditioning 59
– automatic climate
control 63
Recirculating the air, refer
to Recirculated-air
mode 59, 63
Refueling 74
– fuel filler door 74
Releasing
– hood 81
Remaining distance, refer
to Range 51
Remaining distance to next
service 49
Remote control 16
– luggage compartment
lid 17
– malfunctions 17
Replacement key 16
Replacement of tires 79
– changing a tire 79
– changing a wheel 91
Replacing lamps, refer to
Lamps and bulbs 88
Reserve indicator lamp,
refer to Fuel gauge 48
Restraint systems
– for children 35
– refer to Safety belts 30
Reverse
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 39
– manual transmission 39Rod antenna, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Rope, refer to Towing the
vehicle 96
RSC Runflat System
Component, refer to Run
Flat tires 80
Rubber parts, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Runflat System Component
RSC, refer to Run Flat
tires 80
Run Flat tires 80
– changing a tire 78, 79
– changing a wheel 91
– tire inflation pressure 75
S
Safe seating position 27
– with airbags 27
– with safety belts 27
Safety belts 30
– care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
– safe seating position 27
– warning lamp 13, 30
Safety systems, refer to
– Antilock Brake System
ABS 54
– Dynamic Stability Control
DSC 52
Screwdriver, refer to
Onboard tool kit 88
Seat adjustment 28
– mechanical 28
– M Sports seat 29
– power 29
Seat heating 30
Seat memory 29
Seat position, storing 29
Seats 28

Everything from A to Z
112 Tire inflation pressure
– checking 75
– restoring 75
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 54
Tires
– age 77
– break-in procedures 68
– changing 79
– condition 78
– damage 78
– DOT quality grades 77
– inflation pressure 75
– replacement 79
– Run Flat tires 80
– size 75
– storage 79
– temperature 78
– traction 77
– tread 78
– tread depth indicator,
refer to Tire tread, Tire
damage 78
– tread wear 77
– Uniform Tire Quality
Grading 77
Tool kit, refer to Onboard
tool kit 88
Torque, refer to Engine
data 100
To unlock
– from inside 18
– from outside 17
Towing 96
– eyelet 96
Towing the vehicle 96
– with the front axle
raised 96
Tow sockets for towing
eyelet 96
Track width, refer to
Dimensions 102
Transmission
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 39
– manual transmission 38
Transmission interlock,
refer to Changing selector
lever positions 39Transmission
malfunction 40
Transporting children
safely 33
Tread depth, refer to Tire
tread 78
Tread wear indicators in the
tires, refer to
Tire tread, Tire
damage 78
Trip distance recorder,
refer to Trip odometer 48
Trip meter, refer to Trip
odometer 48
Trip odometer 48
Trunk, refer to Luggage
compartment 20
Trunk lid
– opening via remote
control 17
Trunk lid, refer to Luggage
compartment lid 19
Trunk volume, refer to
Luggage compartment
capacity 101
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions 102
Turn signal indicators 43
– indicator lamp 13
TV function, refer to
Owner's Manual
for Onboard Computer
U
Undercoating, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Unintentional alarm 26
Units
– average
consumption 50
– average
speed 50
– temperature 50
Used batteries, refer to
Battery disposal 92
V
Vehicle
– battery 91
– break-in procedures 68
– care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
– cargo loading 70
– measurements, refer to
Dimensions 102
– storage, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
– switching off the
engine 69
– washing, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
– weight 101
Vehicle Memory 31
Vehicle vacuum cleaner,
refer to Cigarette lighter
socket 65
Ventilation 59, 63
– air conditioning 59
– automatic climate
control 63
Vents, refer to
Ventilation 59, 63
Volume
– fuel tank, refer to
Capacities 103
W
Warning and indicator
lamps 12
Warning triangle 94
Warranty, see Service and
Warranty Information
Booklet for US models,
Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for
Canadian models 86
Warranty and service 6
Washer/wiper system 43
Washer fluid reservoir, refer
to Capacities 103