sport mode BMW Z4 SDRIVE28I 2012 Owners Manual

also be aware of any applicable warranty limita‐
tions or exclusions for such country or region. In
such case, please contact Customer Relations
for further information.
Maintenance
Maintain the vehicle regularly to sustain the road
safety, operational reliability and the New Vehi‐
cle Limited Warranty.
Specifications for required maintenance meas‐
ures:▷BMW Maintenance system▷Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models▷Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
If the vehicle is not maintained according to
these specifications, this could result in serious
damage to the vehicle. Such damage is not cov‐
ered by the BMW New Vehicle Limited War‐
ranty.
Reporting safety defects
For US customers
The following only applies to vehicles owned
and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause injury
or death, you should immediately inform the Na‐
tional Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NHTSA, in addition to notifying BMW of North
America, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New
Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone
1-800-831-1117.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order
a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer,
or BMW of North America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to http://www.safe‐
rcar.gov; or write to: Administrator, NHTSA, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
You can also obtain other information about mo‐
tor vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov
For Canadian customers
Canadian customers who wish to report a
safety- related defect to Transport Canada, De‐
fect Investigations and Recalls, may telephone
the toll-free hotline 1-800-333-0510. You can
also obtain other information about motor vehi‐
cle safety from http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety.Seite 8Notes8
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Transporting children safelyVehicle equipment
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and sys‐
tems.
The right place for children
Note Children in the vehicle
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger them‐
selves and other persons, e.g., by opening the
doors.◀
Children on the front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child restraint
fixing system on the front passenger seat, make
sure that the front and side airbags on the front
passenger side are deactivated. Automatic de‐
activation of front passenger airbags, refer to
page 74.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there is
an increased risk of injury to the child when the
airbags are triggered, even with a child restraint
fixing system.◀
Transport children in suitable child re‐
straint fixing systems
Only transport children younger than 13 years
of age or shorter than 5 ft/150 cm in child re‐
straint fixing systems suitable for the age,weight and size of the child; otherwise, there is
an increased risk of injury in an accident.
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint
fixing system can no longer be used, due to their
age, weight and size.◀
Installing child restraint fixing
systems
Notes Manufacturer's information for child re‐
straint fixing systems
To select, mount and use child restraint fixing
systems, observe the information provided by
the system manufacturer; otherwise, the pro‐
tective effect can be impaired.◀
Standard child restraint systems are designed
to be secured with a lap belt or with the lap-belt
section of a lap-and-shoulder belt. Incorrectly or
improperly installed child restraint systems can
increase the risk of injury to children. Always fol‐
low the installation instructions for the system
with the greatest care.
on the front passenger seat Check the deactivation of the passenger
airbag
After installing a child restraint fixing system on
the passenger seat, make sure that the front and
side airbags on the passenger side have been
deactivated; otherwise, there is an increased
risk of injury when the airbags are deployed.◀
Seat position
Before installing a child restraint fixing system,
move the passenger seat as far back and as
high as possible to obtain the best possible po‐
sition for the belt.Seite 43Transporting children safelyControls43
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DrivingVehicle equipment
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and sys‐
tems.
Ignition lock
Insert the remote control into the
ignition lock
Insert the remote control all the way into the ig‐
nition lock.
▷Radio ready state is switched on. Individual
electrical consumers can operate.
Comfort Access
If the car is equipped with Comfort Access, only
insert the remote control into the ignition lock,
refer to page 28, under special circumstances.
Removing the remote control from the
ignition lock
Do not forcibly pull the remote control out
of the ignition lock
Do not forcibly pull the remote control out of the
ignition lock as this may cause damage.◀
Before removing the remote control, push it all
the way in to release the locking mechanism.▷The ignition is switched off if it was on.
Sport automatic transmission
When the remote control is removed from the
ignition lock, transmission position P is engaged
automatically. To make it possible for the vehicle
to roll, such as in an automatic car wash, follow
the instructions in Car washes, refer to
page 182.
Start/Stop button
Pressing the Start/Stop button switches the
radio ready state or the ignition on and off.
The engine starts when you press the Start/Stop
button and, if the car has manual transmission,
also depress the clutch, or, if the car has auto‐
matic transmission, also depress the brake.
Radio ready state
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
The time and the external temperature are dis‐
played in the instrument cluster.
Radio ready state is switched off automatically:
▷When the remote control is removed from
the ignition lock.▷In cars with Comfort Access, by touching the
surface above the door lock, locking, refer to
page 28.Seite 45DrivingControls45
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Ignition on
All electrical consumers can operate. The od‐
ometer and trip odometer are displayed in the
instrument cluster.
To save battery power when the engine is off,
switch off the ignition and any unnecessary
electronic systems/power consumers.
Radio ready state and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps as well as dis‐
plays in the instrument cluster go out.
Sport automatic transmission
In certain situations, transmission position P is
engaged automatically. To make it possible for
the vehicle to roll, such as in an automatic car
wash, follow the instructions in Car washes, re‐
fer to page 182.
Starting the engine Enclosed areas
Do not let the engine run in enclosed
areas; otherwise, breathing of exhaust fumes
may lead to loss of consciousness and death.
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, an
odorless and colorless but highly toxic gas.◀
Unattended vehicle
Do not leave the car unattended with the
engine running; otherwise, it presents a poten‐
tial source of danger.
Before leaving the car with the engine running,
set the parking brake and place the transmission
in position P or neutral to prevent the car from
moving.◀
Frequent starting in quick succession
Avoid repeated futile attempts at starting
the car and avoid starting the car frequently in
quick succession. Otherwise, the fuel is not
burned or is inadequately burned, and there is
the danger of overheating and damaging the
catalytic converter.◀Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
Manual transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with Com‐
fort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to page 28.
1.Depress the brake pedal.2.Press on the clutch and shift to neutral.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the en‐
gine has started.
Sport automatic transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with Com‐
fort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to page 28.
1.Depress the brake pedal.2.Press the Start/Stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the en‐
gine has started.
Engine stop Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot start the engine or release the parking
brake.◀
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Parking brake
The concept
Your vehicle is equipped with an electrome‐
chanical parking brake that can be set and re‐
leased by using a button.
The parking brake is primarily used to prevent
the vehicle from rolling when it is parked.
When the vehicle is stationary, the parking brake
acts on the rear wheels via an electromechanical
mechanism. When the vehicle is rolling or being
driven, the parking brake acts on the disc brakes
of the front and rear wheels via the hydraulic
brake system.
Setting
Pull the button. The parking brake is set. The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster and the LED on the button light
up red. The parking brake is set.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
To set the parking brake, the remote control
does not need to be in the ignition lock.
While driving
If exceptional circumstances should make it
necessary to engage the parking brake while the
vehicle is in motion, pull the button for an ex‐
tended period: the vehicle brakes forcefully
while the button is being pulled.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up red, a sound is issued
and the brake lights light up.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
When the vehicle is braked almost to a halt, ap‐
prox. 2 mph/3 km/h, the parking brake remains
set.
Releasing Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot start the engine or release the parking
brake.◀
The parking brake can only be released while the
ignition is switched on or the engine is running.
Manual transmission
Press the button of the parking brake. Depress
the brake and clutch pedals while doing so.
Sport automatic transmission
Press the parking brake button while the brake
is depressed or transmission position P is en‐
gaged.
Indicator lamps The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
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Press button P.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Activating the sport program
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
The sport program is activated and DS is dis‐
played in the instrument cluster.
This position is recommended for a perform‐
ance-oriented driving style.
Activating manual mode
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
Push the selector lever forward or backward.
Manual mode becomes active and the gear is
changed.
The engaged gear is displayed in the instrument
cluster, e.g., M1.
▷To shift down: press the selector lever for‐
ward.▷To shift up: press the selector lever back‐
ward.The transmission only shifts up or down if the
rpm and vehicle speed are appropriate. If the
engine speed is too high, the transmission does
not shift down.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument panel, followed by the current gear.
Avoiding automatic upshifting
When the maximum engine speed is reached,
the transmission automatically shifts up when in
M/S manual mode.
These automatic shifting procedures are not
performed and kickdown is deactivated if one of
the following conditions is fulfilled:▷DSC is deactivated.▷TRACTION is activated.▷SPORT+ is activated.
Dynamic Driving Control, refer to page 82
Ending the sport program/manual
mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
D is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Shifting gears using the shift paddles
on the steering wheel
The shifting paddles make it possible to quickly
change gears since both hands can remain on
the steering wheel.
▷If the shift paddles on the steering wheel are
used to shift gears while in automatic mode
D, the transmission temporarily switches to
manual mode.▷If the shift paddles are not used to accelerate
or shift gears for a certain amount of time,
the transmission switches back to auto‐
matic mode D.
With the transmission position M/S selected,
the manual mode remains active.
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▷Shift up: pull right shift paddle.▷Shift down: pull left shift paddle.
The vehicle only shifts up or down at appropriate
engine and road speeds, e.g., it does not shift
down if the engine speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Displays in the instrument cluster
The gear position is displayed and the engaged
gear, such as M4, is displayed in manual mode.
7-gear Sport automatic
transmission with dual clutch
The concept
This transmission is an automated manual
transmission with two clutches and two gearbox
components in which the gears are changed
without loss of torque.
The transmission is operated using the selector
lever and two shift paddles on the steering
wheel.
Functions:
▷Choice of manual or automatic operation:
manual mode or drive mode.▷Automatic downshifting and protection
against selecting the wrong gear, even in
manual mode.▷Acceleration assistant, Launch Control, re‐
fer to page 58.▷Automatic throttle blip.
System limits
This transmission is equipped with an overheat‐
ing protection system that protects the clutches
against extremely high loads.
The indicator lamp lights up yellow if
the transmission becomes too warm.
Avoid high engine loads and driving off
frequently.
If the transmission overheats, the indicator lamp
lights up red and power flow to the engine is in‐
terrupted. You can only continue driving after
the transmission has cooled down.
Avoid driving off frequently with high accelera‐
tion and do not hold the vehicle on inclines by
depressing the accelerator lightly; otherwise,
the transmission may overheat.
Transmission positions
P R N D M/S + –
Displays in the instrument cluster
The gear position and the engaged gear, such
as M4, are displayed.
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Sport program and manual mode M/S
Press the selector lever from gear position D to
the left to activate the Sport program.
Sport program
This position is recommended for a perform‐
ance-oriented driving style.
The gear position and the engaged gear are dis‐
played in the instrument cluster, for instance S1.
Manual mode
When you press the selector lever forward or
backward, or when you pull one of the shift pad‐
dles, manual mode is activated and the gear is
changed.
The gear position and the engaged gear are dis‐
played in the instrument cluster, for instance
M1.
The transmission provides assistance in the fol‐
lowing situations:
▷Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combina‐
tion of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for
example, a downshift that would cause the
engine to overrev will not be executed by the
system.▷When the vehicle stops, the transmission
automatically shifts down to first gear.▷Shortly before the vehicle slows down to be‐
low the minimum speed of the gear currently
engaged, the transmission automatically
shifts down without requiring your interven‐
tion.Shifting down rapidly: even in manual mode, you
can skip several gears to achieve optimal accel‐
eration. Do so by pressing the accelerator past
the resistance point.
Changing to drive mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
Shifting gears via the selector lever
In manual mode:▷To shift up, pull back the selector lever.▷To shift down, push it forward.
Shifting gears using the shift paddles
on the steering wheel
The shift paddles allow you to shift gears with‐
out taking your hands off the steering wheel.
You do not need to raise your foot from the ac‐
celerator when doing so.
▷Shift up: pull right shift paddle.▷Shift down: pull left shift paddle.
Gears can be shifted using the shift paddles in
drive mode or in manual mode.
Gear change in manual mode
When manual mode is active, refer to page 57,
gears can be changed using the shift paddles or
the selector lever.
Gear change in drive mode
The shift paddles can be used to change gears
in drive mode as well.
Afterwards, if the shift paddles are not used for
some time and vehicle acceleration is insuffi‐
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cient, the forward gears are changed again au‐
tomatically.
Launch Control
Launch Control enables you to drive off with an
optimal vehicle acceleration on a high grip road
surface.
Do not use Launch Control too often
Do not use Launch Control too often, as
the higher loads on the vehicle lead to premature
component wear.◀
Launch Control is available when the engine is
at operating temperature, i.e., after driving con‐
tinuously for at least 6 miles/10 km.1.With the engine running, depress the brake
pedal with your left foot.2.Activate the SPORT+ program of the Dy‐
namic Driving Control, refer to page 82.3.With the vehicle stationary, activate manual
mode and select first gear.4.Press the accelerator all the way down. The
engine speed when driving off is controlled.
A flag symbol appears in the instrument
cluster.5.The vehicle accelerates when you release
the brake pedal. Keep the accelerator
pressed all the way down.6.The transmission shifts up automatically as
long as the accelerator is pressed all the way
down.
Launch Control only becomes available again
after a certain distance has been driven.
Launch Control can only be used after the
break-in phase, refer to page 108.
To maintain driving stability, activate DSC
whenever possible.
Manually releasing and engaging the
transmission lock
If a power failure occurs, e.g., if the battery is
discharged or disconnected, the transmission
lock must be released manually, otherwise the
rear wheels are blocked and the vehicle cannot
be towed.
Release the transmission lock manually for tow‐
ing only and set the parking brake beforehand to
prevent the vehicle from rolling. After parking
the vehicle, engage the transmission lock again
manually, refer to page 59.
Manual release1.Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.2.Pull the sleeve up over the selector lever un‐
til the sleeve is inside out.3.Unclip and raise cover frame.4.Insert an Allen wrench of the right size into
the cap.5.Turn the cap with the Allen wrench, arrow 1,
and remove it, arrow 2.6.Insert the Allen wrench into the opening, ar‐
row 1.Seite 58ControlsDriving58
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Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened
again when they are returned after being re‐
moved, such as for cleaning.◀
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain, briefly
exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal every
few miles.
Ensure that this action does not endanger other
road users.
The heat generated in this process helps dry the
brake discs and pads.
In this way braking efficiency will be available
when you need it.
Hills
Drive long or steep downhill gradients in the gear
in which the least braking is required. Otherwise,
the brake system may overheat, resulting in a
reduction in the brake system efficiency.
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, going all the way to first gear, if
necessary.
Downshifting in manual mode of the 8-gear
Sport automatic transmission, refer to page 54.
Downshifting in manual mode of the 7-gear
Sport automatic transmission with dual clutch,
refer to page 57.
Avoid load on the brakes
Avoid placing excessive load on the brake
system. Light but consistent brake pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brake wear and pos‐
sibly even brake failure.◀
Do not drive in neutral
Never drive with the transmission in neu‐
tral, with the engine switched off or with the
clutch depressed; otherwise, you will have nei‐
ther the braking action of the engine or nor its
power assistance when braking or steering.◀Brake disc corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and contamination
on the brake pads are furthered by:▷Low mileage.▷Extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all.▷Infrequent use of the brakes.
Corrosion occurs when the minimum pressure
that must be exerted by the pads during brake
applications to clean the discs is not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake discs, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating ef‐
fect that generally cannot be corrected.
Condensation under the parked vehicle
When using the automatic climate control, con‐
densation water develops that exits underneath
the vehicle.
Therefore, traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are normal.
Loading Overloading the vehicle
To avoid exceeding the approved carrying
capacity of the tires, never overload the vehicle.
Overloading can lead to overheating and in‐
creases the rate at which damage develops in‐
side the tires. This could result in a sudden loss
of tire inflation pressure.◀
Secure heavy objects
Never transport unsecured heavy or hard
objects in the passenger compartment, as they
could be thrown around and pose a safety haz‐
ard to the vehicle's occupants during abrupt
braking or evasive maneuvers.◀
No fluids in the cargo area
Make sure that fluids do not leak into the
cargo area; otherwise, the vehicle may be dam‐
aged.◀
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