1998 BMW CONVERTIBLE battery

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Unlocking Pull the lever located under the left-
hand side of the instrument panel.a
Do not work on your vehicle with-
out appropriate skills. Always switch off
the engine and allow it to cool down be-
fore working in the engine compart-
ment.
Always disconnect the battery before
working on the electrical system. When
working on the vehicle, follow the rele-
vant instructions and information. When
you are not familiar with the relevant
specifications, have service operations
performed by your authorized BMW Re-
tailer. Failure to proceed in an informed,
professional manner when servicing
components and materials constitutes a
safety hazard for yourself and other us-
ers of the public roads.c
To openPush the release handle Ð at the front
left under the hood Ð upward and open
the hood.
To closeSimultaneously press down both sides
of the hood; continue pressing until you
hear the latches engage.a
Should you determine that the
hood is not completely closed while
driving, stop immediately and close it
securely.c
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BMW360de307
BMW
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Hood

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1 Fuse box
2 Brake ßuid reservoir
3 Engine oil dipstick
4 Coolant expansion tank
5 Engine oil Þller neck
6 Supply tank for headlamp washer
*
and windshield washer system
7Battery
Engine compartment BMW 318i, 318is

13 7
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Never use spot remover, paint thinner,
solvents, gasoline etc. to remove spots
from the convertible top and from the
rear window, as these substances
destroy the rubber seals and lead to
leaks. Use only BMW-approved clean-
ers.
In addition to the advantage of being
extremely flexible, the rear window also
has the disadvantage of having a rela-
tively soft surface. For this reason, only
clean the rear window with a soft, anti-
static cloth or with BMW Convertible
Rear Window Cleaner.
If you wash the vehicle frequently in
brush car washes, and in particular in
those with hard brushes, faint scratches
in the rear window may result. With the
window replacement system you can
replace a heavily scratched window at a
relatively low price. Please contact your
authorized BMW Retailer for additional
information. b
A full range of car-care products is
available from your BMW Retailer.c
a
Cleaning agents can contain sub-
stances that are dangerous or bad for
your health. Therefore always observe
the warnings and danger notices on the
package.
Open the doors or windows on your ve-
hicle when cleaning the interior.
Never clean your vehicle with solvents
or other materials not specifically in-
tended for this application.c
Hardtop:Please follow the instructions for car
care from page 131.If the vehicle is to be temporarily stored
for more than three months, have the
following maintenance performed by
your BMW Retailer:
1 Cleaning, preservation and retreat-
ment of the engine, engine compart-
ment, underbody, axles and
subassemblies in accordance with
the factory speciÞcations. Vehicle
washing with interior cleaning fol-
lowed by paint and chrome care.
Clean rubber seals of the hood, lug-
gage compartment lid and doors and
rub with either talcum powder or
glycerine oil.
2 Change engine oil and oil Þlter at
operating temperature. As an addi-
tional corrosion protection measure,
an anti-corrosive agent can be added
to the engine in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions.
3 Check the coolant level and concen-
tration and top up if necessary.
4 Check the acid level in the battery
cells and add distilled water if neces-
sary.
5 Increase the tire inßation pressure to
50.9 psi (3.5 bar).
Cleaning and care of the convertible top Vehicle storage

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Conduct the following work immedi-
ately prior to storing the vehicle:
1 Activate the parking brake and foot-
brake to dry them; this will prevent
the brake disks and drums from cor-
roding.
2 Store the vehicle in a dry, well-venti-
lated room, shift into reverse gear or
set the selector lever to position P
and chock the wheels to prevent roll-
ing. Do not set the parking brake.
3 Remove the battery, recharge and
store in a cool, frost-free room.
During storage, recharge the battery
every three months, as otherwise it will
become unusable. Every time the bat-
tery is discharged, especially over
extended periods, its service life is
reduced.
Removing vehicle from storageRecharge the battery and replace if
necessary.
Then have Inspection I carried out by
your BMW Retailer.a
Storage periods during which the
battery is disconnected are not taken
into consideration by the Service Inter-
val Display for changing the brake fluid.
Therefore, make sure that the brake fluid
is changed every two years at the latest,
regardless of the display. Additional
notes: refer to page 128.c
Vehicle storage

At a glance
Controls and featuresCare and maintenanceAdvanced technology
Technical data
Owner service procedure
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Index
13 9
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit140
Windshield wiper blades140
Lamp and bulbs141
Master key with battery lamp145
Changing tires146
Battery149
Fuses151
In case of electrical
malfunction:
Fuel filler door 152
Sliding/tilt sunroof 152
Assistance, giving and receiving:
Jump-starting153
Towing the vehicle154
Towing154

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The lamps and bulbs on your car play a
vital role in ensuring road safety, a fact
which you should always bear in mind
in caring for them. Carefully observe the
following instructions during bulb
replacement, referring any procedures
with which you are not familiar to your
BMW Retailer.b
Never touch the bulb glass of a
new lamp with your bare hands. Use a
clean cloth, paper napkin, etc. or hold
the bulb by its metallic base.c
A replacement bulb set is available from
your BMW Retailer.
a
To prevent short circuits, always
switch off all electrical systems and
components, or disconnect the negative
terminal of the battery, before working
on them.
To prevent injuries and damage, always
observe any instructions provided by
the bulb manufacturer.c
Low and high beamsLow beam: HB4, 55 watts
High beam: HB3, 65 wattsa
Each bulb is pressurized; always
wear gloves and eye protection! Failure
to observe this precaution could lead to
injury if the bulb is accidentally dam-
aged during replacement.c
dTurn the bulb holder to the left and
remove.
dReplace the bulb.
Parking lamp 5 watt bulb
dPress in the upper tab of the bulb
holder to release and remove.
dPull out the bulb holder.
dPull off the bulb and replace.b
Please observe the following
when cleaning the headlamp covers:
dDo not rub them dry and do not apply
scouring or caustic cleaning agents.
dRemove dirt and contamination (such
as insects) by soaking with BMW Car
Shampoo and then rinsing with
plenty of water.
dAlways use a de-icer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow Ð Never
use a scraper!c
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Bulb replacement

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Luggage compartment lamps BMW Sedan, Coupe
10 watt bulb
Lamp on underside of rear shelf:
dUse a screwdriver to pry out the lamp
at the recess.
dReplace bulb.
BMW Convertible:
5 watt bulbs
There is one lamp each in the bulb cov-
ers of the rear lamps.
dUse a screwdriver to pry out the lamp
at the recess.
dReplace bulb.Glove compartment lamp 5 watt bulb
dUse a screwdriver to pry out the lamp
forward.
dReplace bulb.Footwell lamps
*
5 watt bulb
dUse a screwdriver to pry the lamp out
of the lower instrument panel trim.
dReplace bulb.
Replace batteryIf lamp intensity drops, renew the bat-
tery to safeguard against acid escaping.
To change the battery, use a screw-
driver to remove the cover on the back
of the key.
Insert a new battery of the same type
(CR 2025) - as shown in the picture - so
that it touches the contacts.
Snap the cover back on and press it in
evenly.A
Bring old batteries to a collection
point or your BMW Retailer.c365de132
Bulb replacement Master keys

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The battery is located behind the right-
side trim panel in the luggage compart-
ment. A separate positive terminal in
the engine compartment is available for
jump-starting (also refer to page 153).
Only certain battery types may be used
on the BMW convertible. Consult your
BMW Retailer for details.
The battery is maintenance-free, mean-
ing that the electrolyte will normally last
for the life of the battery.
Should the electrolyte drop to below
the minimum level - e.g., during extend-
ed operation in hot climates - add dis-
tilled water (no acid!).
Electrolyte level: Up to the "MAX" mark
on the outside of the battery in each
cell, approx. 0.2 inches (5 mm) above
the top of the plates.
Keep the top of the battery clean and
dry.
SymbolsYou will find the following symbols on
your car battery. To avoid injury, please
observe the corresponding precautions
whenever you work with or near the
battery.

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Before working with the battery,
read the following:
R
Wear eye protection. Avoid let-
ting acid or lead particles come
into contact with your eyes, your
skin or your clothing.
S
Battery acid is extremely corro-
sive. Wear eye protection and
protective gloves. Do not tilt the
battery; acid could emerge from the
ventilation openings.
T
Ensure that children keep well
away from batteries and battery
acid.
U
Never allow sparks or open
ßame, and do not smoke in the
vicinity of the battery. Avoid
sparks from electrical cables and
equipment. Never short-circuit the bat-
tery terminals. There is a danger of
injury from powerful sparks.
V
A highly-explosive gas is gener-
ated when the battery is
charged.
W
If you happen to get acid in your
eyes, rinse thoroughly for sev-
eral minutes with clear water.
Then consult a physician immediately. If
you get acid spray on your skin or cloth-
ing, apply soap immediately to neutral-
ize the acid, then rinse with plenty of
water. If electrolyte is accidentally
ingested, consult a physician immedi-
ately.
X
To protect the casing against
ultraviolet radiation, avoid
exposing it to direct sunlight.
A discharged battery can freeze; always
store the battery in areas where the
temperature remains above freezing.
Battery