ESP BMW Z4 ROADSTER 3.0I 2005 E85 User Guide

Technology for safety and driving convenience
50
Technology for safety and driving
convenience
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW is equipped with a series 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 page69.
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 the brake pedal is depressed quickly, this
system automatically supplies maximum brake-
servo boost, thereby helping to keep the vehi-
cle's braking distance as short as possible dur-
ing full brake applications. At the same time, the
benefits of the ABS are also exploited.
As long as you are braking, do not reduce pres-
sure on the brake pedal. When the brake pedal
is released, the DBC is switched off.
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at individual wheels.The laws of physics cannot be repealed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.<
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.
In the following exceptional circumstances, it
may be effective to activate the DTC for a short
period:
>When driving on snow-covered grades, in
slush or on uncleared, snow-covered roads
>When rocking the vehicle or starting off in
deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains.
Activating DTC
Press the button briefly; the DTC indicator lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster.
Reactivating DTC
Press the button again; the DTC indicator lamp
goes out in the instrument cluster.

Technology for safety and driving convenience
54 For information on the correct seating position,
refer to page27.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way. Do not attempt to
remove the airbag retention system from the
vehicle. Never modify or tamper with either the
wiring or the individual components in the air-
bag system. This category includes the uphol-
stery in the center of the steering wheel, on the
instrument panel, and the side trim panels on
the doors. Do not attempt to remove or disman-
tle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
If you note any indication of system malfunc-
tion, if you desire to have an airbag deactivated,
or if the airbag retention system is triggered in
response to an accident, you should always
entrust all inspection, repair and dismantling
operations to your BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the system
could lead to failure in an emergency or to
undesired airbag activation, either of which
could result in personal injury.
To ensure compliance with official safety regu-
lations, please also entrust disposal of airbag
generators to a BMW center.<
Airbag warning information is also provided on
the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the
passenger airbags
Before transporting a child on the pas-
senger seat be sure to observe the infor-
mation/instructions under Transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page33.<
Your BMW has a seat occupation detection
system. By evaluating the weight on the pas-
senger's seat, the system detects whether or
not the seat is occupied by a child in the child-
restraint system or an adult.
>When a child is seated in the child-restraint
system or in an empty seat, the front, side
and knee airbags are automatically deacti-
vated on the passenger's side>When an adult is traveling in the passen-
ger's seat, the front, side and knee airbags
remain active on the passenger's side.
Although not desired, it can occur in the
case of heavier children that the passen-
ger airbags remain active or, in the case of very
light adults or young persons, that the passen-
ger airbags are deactivated. The condition of
the passenger airbag system will be shown by
the indicator lamp in the central console, refer
to Passenger airbag status lamp below. If the
indicator lamp indicates that the passenger air-
bags are active and you want them to be deac-
tivated, the airbags have to be deactivated with
the vehicle ignition key and the key switch on
the outer passenger's side of the instrument
panel. Apart from passengers, do not place any
additional objects on the passenger seat. Do
not fit seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball
mats or other items to the passenger seat
unless they are specifically recommended by
BMW. Do not place any items under the seat.
Otherwise, the function of the seat occupation
detection could be impaired.<
Operational readiness of the airbag
system
The airbag indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster indicates the operational readiness of
the entire airbag system and the safety belt ten-
sioners as of ignition key position 1.
The indicator lamp goes out after a few sec-
onds.
Airbag system malfunction
>The indicator lamp does not light up as of
ignition key position 1
>The warning lamp lights up continuously.

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55
In the event of a malfunction, have the air-
bag system checked immediately. Other-
wise, there is a risk that the system may not
respond in the expected manner to an impact
occurring within its normal response range.<
Passenger airbag status lamp
The center console contains one of the indica-
tor lamps shown in the illustration.
The indicator lamp indicates whether or not the
passenger airbag system is activated or deacti-
vated as of ignition key position 1.
The indicator lamp is used only for the
passenger airbag system. The indicator
lamp illuminates to show that the passenger air-
bag system is OFF/not active.<
>The lamp illuminates briefly during startup,
but then goes out if the seat is empty, or if
an adult or child of sufficient size is recog-
nized
>The lamp remains illuminated when a child
in a rear facing child-restraint system is
detected, indicating that the passenger air-
bag system is off.
Find more information about the passenger air-
bag system and seat occupation detection in
the section entitled Automatic deactivation of
the passenger airbags.

Lamps
56
Lamps
Parking lamps/Low beams
Parking lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle lighting
is switched on. You can use the parking
lamps to signal the position of the vehi-
cle when it is parked. For information on lighting
on one side of the vehicle for parking, which is
available as an additional feature, refer to
page57.
Low beams
When you switch off the ignition with
the low beam headlamps on, only the
parking lamps will remain on.
Defective bulb
The indicator lamp lights up:
At least one bulb of the vehicle's exte-
rior lighting has failed.
For replacing bulbs refer to page91.
Follow me home lamps
When you activate the headlamp flasher after
parking the vehicle and switching off the lights,
the low beams will come on for a brief period.
You can also have this function activated/
deactivated if you wish.<
LIGHTS ON warning
Whenever you open the driver's door after hav-
ing turned the ignition key to position 0, you will
hear an acoustic signal for a few seconds to remind you that the lamps have not been
switched off.
Daytime driving lamps*
If you desire, the light switch can be left in the
second position:
When the ignition is switched off, the external
lighting is also switched off.
You can have the activation settings for
the daytime driving lamps programmed
on your vehicle.<
Automatic headlamp control*
When the switch is set to this position,
the system automatically activates and
cancels the low beams in response to
changes in ambient light, for example in tun-
nels, at dusk, and when it is raining or snowing.
The low-beam headlamps remain on
regardless of the ambient light when you
switch on the fog lamps.<
Automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for the driver's jud-
gement in determining when the vehicle lights
should be switched on. For example, the sen-
sors are not able to detect fog. To avoid safety
risks, you should respond to these kinds of low-
visibility situations by switching the headlamps
on manually.<
You can have the sensitivity of your vehi-
cle's automatic headlamp control
adjusted.<

Controlling the climate for pleasant driving
62
Tips for pleasant driving
Use the automatic system – switch on with
AUTO button 6. Select the desired interior tem-
perature.
Detailed setting options are described for you
below.
Automatic air distribution and supply
The AUTO program assumes the
adjustment of the air distribution and
air supply for you and in addition
adapts the temperature to external
influences, summer or winter, to meet prefer-
ences you can specify.
In the AUTO program, the air conditioning
mode is also turned on at the same time.
The AUTO program functions only to a
limited extent when the convertible top is
open.<
Individual air distribution
You yourself can direct airflow onto
the windows , toward the upper
body and into the footwell . The
arrow lights up. The automatic air
supply remains unchanged. All intermediate
settings are possible. By pressing the AUTO
button, you can reactivate the air distribution.
Temperature
The interior temperature that
appears on the display panel is a gen-
eral figure intended for reference
purposes. When you start the vehi-
cle, the system ensures that the selected tem-
perature is reached as quickly as possible,
regardless of the season. It then maintains this
temperature.
Air supply/blower
Turn the rotary control to adjust the
air supply. This shuts off the auto-
matic air supply. The arrow lights up.
The automatic air distribution
remains unchanged. You can reactivate the
automatic air supply by pressing the AUTO but-
ton.When you turn the rotary control toward zero:
the blower, heating and air conditioner are
switched off, and the air supply is stopped. You
can reactivate the system by turning the control
toward the right again.
To defrost windows and remove
condensation
This program quickly removes ice
and condensation from the wind-
shield and the side windows.
Maximum cooling
Above an outside temperature of
327/06 and with the engine run-
ning, you achieve a maximum cooling
effect as quickly as possible. At the
same time, the air conditioning is turned on.
The temperature is set to the lowest possible
value. The system switches to the recirculated
air mode, and air flows at maximum blower
speed from the ventilation grills in the upper
body area only. Therefore, the air outlets must
always be open when you select this program.
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and dehumidified
and, depending on the temperature
setting, rewarmed.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the engine is
started.
The air conditioning system is automatically
switched on when you use the AUTO program.
Condensation forms during operation of
the air conditioning system, which then
exits under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water on the ground underneath the vehicle are
thus normal.<
Outside air/Automatic recirculated air
control AUC/recirculated air mode
You can respond to unpleasant
external odors or pollutants by tem-
porarily stopping the flow of outside
air. The system then recirculates the
air currently within the vehicle.

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By repeatedly pressing the button, you can
select one of three different operating modes.
>Indicator lamps off: outside air flows into the
vehicle
>Left-hand indicator lamp on, AUC mode:
the system detects pollutants in the outside
air and responds by deactivating the out-
side airflow as required. The system then
recirculates the air currently within the vehi-
cle. Depending on air quality requirements,
the system automatically switches between
outside air supply and recirculation of the air
already within the vehicle
>Right-hand indicator lamp on: the flow of
outside air is permanently blocked. The
system recirculates the air already within
the vehicle.
If the windows fog over in the recirculated
air mode, switch this mode off and
increase the air supply as required. Do not use
the recirculated-air mode continuously over a
long period of time as this would otherwise
reduce the air quality in the interior of the vehi-
cle.<
Rear window defroster
The indicator lamp lights up when
the rear window defroster is active.
The rear window defroster switches
off automatically.
Ventilation
You can adjust the blower controls for the upper
body area to obtain the optimum airflow rates
and directions for your personal requirements:1Rotary dials for opening and closing the
vents at any setting desired
2Slide for adjusting airflow direction
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The built-in microfilter removes dust and pollen
from the incoming air. The activated-charcoal
filter provides additional protection by filtering
gaseous pollutants from the outside air. Your
BMW center replaces this combined filter as a
standard part of your scheduled maintenance.
A substantial reduction in airflow indicates that
the filter needs to be replaced earlier.

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69
1.Close all windows
2.Increase the air supply from the air condi-
tioner or automatic climate control to a high
level. Refer to page58 or61.
Hot exhaust system
High temperatures occur with every vehi-
cle equipped with a catalytic converter.
Heat shields are installed adjacent to some sec-
tions of the exhaust system. Never remove
these shields; do not apply undercoating to
their surfaces. When driving, standing at idle
and parking the vehicle, take care to avoid con-
tact between the hot exhaust system and flam-
mable materials, e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc.
Such contact could lead to a fire, resulting in
serious personal injury and property damage.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water may form between the tires and
the road surface. This phenomenon can lead to
partial or complete loss of traction, vehicle con-
trol and braking effectiveness.<
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if it
is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at
walking speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's engine,
the electrical systems and the transmission
may be damaged.<
Use the parking brake on inclines
On inclines, keep the vehicle from rolling
by using the parking brake rather than by
slipping the clutch, which would lead to a high
degree of clutch wear.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. If you are in a situation which requires
full braking, it is best to brake using maximum
brake pressure: panic stop. Since the vehicle
maintains steering responsiveness, you can still
avoid possible obstacles with a minimum of
steering effort.Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Wet roads
If the roads are wet or if there is heavy rain, it is
advisable to gently press the brakes for a brief
moment every few miles/kilometers. Watch
traffic conditions to ensure that this maneuver
does not endanger other road users. The
resulting heat dries the brake rotors and brake
pads. Immediate braking force is then available
if necessary.
Inclines
To prevent overheating and, as a result,
diminished braking effectiveness, drive
down long or steep downhill grades in a gear
which requires the least braking. Otherwise,
even light but consistent pedal pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brake wear and pos-
sibly even brake failure.<
The braking power of the engine can be further
enhanced by downshifting the automatic trans-
mission in manual mode, if necessary, into first
gear; refer to pages39 and41. This prevents an
excessive load on the brakes.
Do not coast with the clutch depressed or
with the transmission or selector lever in
Neutral. Do not coast with the engine switched
off. Otherwise, the engine provides no braking
effect while the transmission is in idling posi-
tion, and there is no power-assist for braking or
steering when the engine is off.
Floor mats, floor carpets or other objects must
not be in the area near the brake or accelerator
pedal, as this could impair the movement of the
pedals.<
Corrosion on the brake rotors
Limited vehicle use, extended periods with the
vehicle parked or in storage, and operating con-
ditions in which braking is restricted to gentle,
low-pressure applications will all increase the
tendency for corrosion to form on the rotors and
contamination to accumulate on the brake
pads. This occurs because the minimal pres-

Special operating instructions
70 sure which must be exerted by the pads to
clean the rotors by brake applications is not
reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they will tend to
respond to braking with a pulsating effect which
even extended application will fail to cure.
Interior and exterior mirrors with
automatic dimming feature*
Two photocells in the interior rearview mirror
serve to control the interior and exterior mirrors

with automatic dimming feature. One photocell
is positioned in the mirror's lens, see arrow,
while the other is on the opposite side of the
mirror.
To ensure perfect functioning, keep the photo-
cells clean and the area between the interior
rearview mirror and the windshield free of any
obstruction like stickers, etc.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation formed in the air conditioning
system during operation exits under the vehi-
cle. Traces of condensed water on the ground
underneath the vehicle are thus normal.
Mobile equipment in the vehicle
BMW advises against using mobile
equipment, e.g. cellular phones, inside
the vehicle without connecting them directly to
an outside antenna. Otherwise, it cannot be
ruled out that vehicle electronics and the mobile
equipment interfere with one another. In addi-
tion, it is not ensured that the radio waves emit-
ted during transmission are directed outside of
the vehicle interior.<
Cargo loading
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that the
permissible carrying capacity of the tires
is not exceeded. Otherwise, overheating and
inner damage to the tires may result. The ulti-
mate result can assume the form of a sudden air
loss.<
Determining the maximum load
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or YYY lbs; otherwise damage to the
vehicle and unstable driving conditions
could result.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passenger that will be riding in
your vehicle
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passenger from XXX kilograms or YYY
pounds
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals
551 lbs. and there will be two 150 lbs. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
251 lbs.
551 lbs. minus 300 lbs. = 251 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in Step 4.

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Minimum Octane Rating corresponds to the
Anti Knock Index AKI and is determined by the
so-called (R+M)/2 method.
Do not use leaded gasoline, as otherwise
the lambda probe and catalytic converter
will be permanently damaged.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition,
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight,
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void
the applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in
drivability, starting and stalling problems
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and
high altitude.
Should you encounter drivability problems
which you suspect could be related to the fuel
you are using, we recommend that you respond
by switching to a recognized high-quality
brand.
Failure to comply with these recommendations
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.<

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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 controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory 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 Vehi-
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent 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 loading, 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 page82.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter performance proper-
ties 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 exam-
ple, 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 hydro-
planing, even with only small amounts of water
on the road and at relatively moderate speeds.At tread depths below approx. 1/6in/ 4mm,
winter tires display a perceptible decrease in
their ability to cope with winter driving condi-
tions, and should be replaced in the interest of
safety.
Tread wear indicators in the tread-groove base,
see arrow, are distributed around the wheel cir-
cumference and are labeled on the tire sidewall
as TWI, Tread Wear Indicator. At a tread depth
of 1/16 in / 1.6 mm, the indicators signal that the
legally permissible wear limit has been reached.
Wheel/tire damage
Due to low-profile tires, please note that
wheels, tires and suspension parts are
more susceptible to road hazards and conse-
quential damages.<
Unusual vibrations encountered during normal
vehicle operation can indicate tire failure or
some other vehicle malfunction. This type of
problem can be caused by contact with curbs,
etc. This is also true for irregularities in the vehi-
cle's handling characteristics, such as a pro-
nounced tendency to pull to the left or right.
Should this occur, respond by immedi-
ately reducing your speed. Proceed care-
fully to the nearest BMW center or professional
tire center, or have the vehicle towed there.
Tire damage up to and including sudden and
complete air loss can pose an extreme hazard
for both vehicle occupants and other road
users.<