1998 BMW CONVERTIBLE Owners Manual

OwnerÕs Manual for the vehicle.
With a quick reference guide
for your convenience.

318i
318is
323i
Sedan 323is
Coupe 328i
Convertible 328is

Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with enhanced control and
security when you drive it. Therefore, we have this request:
Please take the time to read this OwnerÕs Manual and familiarize yourself with the
information that we have compiled for you before starting off in your new car. It con-
tains important data and instructions intended to assist you in extracting maximum use
and satisfaction from your BMWÕs unique range of technical features. The manual also
contains information on care and maintenance designed to enhance operating safety
and contribute to maintaining your BMWÕs value throughout an extended service life.
This OwnerÕs Manual should be regarded as a permanent part of the vehicle. When the
vehicle is sold, the manual should remain in the car to furnish the next owner with a
source of important information on operation, safety and maintenance procedures.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty Information booklet
(US models only). We recommend that you read this publication carefully.
Your BMW is covered by the following warranties:

Ð

New Vehicle Limited Warranty

Ð

Limited Rust Perforation Warranty

Ð

Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty

Ð

Federal Emissions Performance Warranty

Ð

California Emission Control System Limited Warranty
Detailed information on these warranties is contained in the Service and Warranty
Information booklet.
We wish you many miles of driving pleasure and satisfaction.
BMW AG

4

Notes on the Owner's Manual

We have made every effort to ensure
that you are able to find what you need
in this Owner's Manual as quickly as
possible. The fastest way to find certain
topics is by using the detailed index at
the end. If you require an initial over-
view of your vehicle, this can be found
in the first chapter. The detailed table of
contents immediately following the
index is intended to arouse your curios-
ity about your BMW and stimulate you
to read about it.
If at some time you wish to sell your
BMW, remember to leave the Owner's
Manual with the vehicle; consider it part
of the vehicle.
Should you have any further questions,
your BMW Retailer will be glad to assist
at any time.

Symbols used

a

indicates notes you should defi-
nitely read Ð for the sake of your own
safety and the safety of others, and to

avoid damages to your BMW.

c

b

indicates notes that alert you to
specific features of your vehicle.

c

A

special information on recycling.

c
c

indicates the end of a block of infor-
mation.

*
indicates special equipment, country-

specific equipment and optional extras.

The individual vehicle

In buying your BMW, you have de-
cided in favor of a model with individu-
alized equipment and fittings. This
Owner's Manual describes all models
and equipment that BMW offers within
the same vehicle range.
We hope you will understand that this
manual describes equipment and fea-
tures which you might not have chosen
for your vehicle. You can easily recog-
nize any differences, as all optional
accessories are marked with an

asterisk

*
.
If your BMW features equipment which
is not described in this Owner's Manual
(e.g., car radio or telephone), (Supple-
mentary) Owner's Manuals are
enclosed. We ask you to read these
manuals, too. indicates that you should study
the relevant section of this Owner's
Manual in connection with a particular
part or assembly.

© 1997 BMW AG
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with
the written consent of BMW AG,
Munich.
Order-No. 01 41 9 790 377
US VIII/97
Printed in Germany
Printed on environment-friendly paper
(recyclable and chlorine-free).

5

Status when going to press

BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development that is conceived
to ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality standards
combined with advanced, state-of-the-
art technology. For this reason, it is
possible that the features described in
this OwnerÕs Manual could differ from
those on your vehicle. We are unable to
completely eliminate the possibility that
errors might have occurred. We there-
fore ask you to accept that no claims of
a legal nature involving the specifica-
tions, illustrations and descriptions can
be considered.

For your own safety

a

Use unleaded gasoline only.
Fuels containing up to 10% ethanol or
other oxygenates with up to 2.8% ox-
ygen by weight (i.e. 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.
Field experience has indicated signifi-
cant differences in fuel quality (i.e.,
volatility, composition, additives, etc.)
among gasolines offered for sale in the
United States and Canada. The use of
poor-quality fuels may result in driving,
starting and stalling problems espe-
cially under certain environmental
conditions, such as high ambient tem-
perature and high altitude.
Should you encounter problems while
driving that 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 recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance. Follow the relevant
safety rules when you are handling
gasoline.

c

a

Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories
tested and approved by BMW and
Original BMW Parts, you simulta-
neously acquire the assurance that
they have been thoroughly tested by
BMW to ensure optimum performance
when installed on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and work-
manship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved
by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product from
other manufacturers to verify if it can
be used on a BMW safely and without
risk to either the vehicle, its operation,
or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accesso-
ries and other products approved by
BMW, together with professional
advice on using these items, are avail-
able from all BMW Retailers.Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components,
brake dust shields, telephones
(including operation of any portable
cellular phone from within the vehicle
without using an externally mounted
antenna) or transceiver equipment
(e.g., C.B., walkie-talkie, ham radio or
similar) may cause extensive damage
to the vehicle, compromise its safety,
interfere with the vehicleÕs electrical
system or affect the validity of the
BMW Limited Warranty.
See your authorized BMW Retailer for
additional information.
Do not use key or remote control to
lock doors or luggage compartment
with anyone inside the car.
"Maintenance, replacement or repair
of the emission control devices and
systems may be performed by any
automotive repair establishment or
individual using any certified automo-
tive part."

c

7
The following only applies to vehicles owned and operated in the US.

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying BMW of
North America, Inc., P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone (201) 307-4000.
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 indi-
vidual problems between you, your dealer, or BMW of North America, Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 202-366-0123 in
Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590. You can
also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.