1998 BMW CONVERTIBLE seats

50
a
Before install-
ing any child re-
straint device or
child seat, please
read the follow-
ing:
Never install a rearward-facing child
restraint system in the front passenger
seat of this car.
Your car is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the
front passenger. Because the backrest
on any rear-facing child restraint sys-
tem (of the kind designed for infants
under 1 year and 20 lbs.) would be
within the airbag's deployment range,
you should never mount such a device
in the front passenger seat, as the
impact of the airbag against the child
restraint's backrest could lead to seri-
ous or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child (not an
infant) to ride in the front seat, certain precautions should be taken. First,
move the passenger seat as far away
from the dashboard as possible. This
important precaution is intended to
maximize the distance between the air-
bag and the child. Older children should
be tightly secured with the safety belt.
Younger children should be secured in
an appropriate forward-facing child
restraint system that has first been
properly secured with a safety belt.
We strongly urge you to carefully read
and observe the instructions for instal-
lation and use provided by the child re-
straint's manufacturer whenever you
use such a device.
Always ensure that all occupants (of
all ages) remain properly and securely
restrained at all times.c
All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE
J1819, an industry recommended prac-
tice for securing child restraint systems
in motor vehicles.1 Front airbag system, consisting of
driver and passenger airbag
2 Side airbags
*
Protective effectThe front airbags provide additional
protection for the front-seat occupants
in the event of a severe frontal collision
in which the protection afforded by the
safety belts alone would no longer be
sufficient. The side airbags help protect
the front seat occupants in a severe
side impact.360de305
Installing child seats Airbags

93
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
BMW Hi-Fi System (Harman/
Kardon)1On
2Off
In the "On" position, the listener is given
the impression of a considerably larger
passenger compartment with an
improved stereo effect in all seats.
This function should be switched off in
the case of poor radio reception due to
the frequent changes between stereo
and mono which result.
BMW Convertible:
You do not have to operate the con-
trols. The system detects whether the
top is open or closed and regulates the
sound automatically.
To openPress the button and fold down the
door.
The glove compartment lamp switches
on from ignition key position 1.To closeFold up door.To engage locksOnly possible with a master key. a
To reduce the risk of injury, always
close the glove compartment immedi-
ately after use.c
Rechargeable flashlightThe connection for the rechargeable
flashlight is located on the left side of
the glove compartment.
The flashlight features overcharging
protection, so it can be left in its holder
continuously.
However, it must be removed when the
battery is disconnected or removed.a
Ensure that the flashlight is off be-
fore inserting it in its holder.c
HIFI
1
2
360de057
360de058
BMW Hi-Fi System*Glove compartment

96
BMW Sedan - loading the ski bagFold down the center armrest. Detach
from the mounts (1) with one hand,
press slightly toward the rear with the
other hand (2) and remove upward.
Detach the Velcro
â strip at the top of
the cut-out trim and lay it on the seat.
b
When reinstalling the center arm-
rest, guide it into position from above,
then apply downward pressure until you
hear it snap into position (3).cPress the round button to unlock the
cover panel in the luggage compart-
ment.
Then unhook the retaining strap at the
top and fold it down.
Extend the ski sack between the front
seats. The zipper provides convenient
access to the inside of the sack, and
can also be left open to promote drying.Use the magnetic retainers to attach the
cover panel to the lower side of the rear
shelf within the luggage compartment.
Please ensure that the skis are clean
before loading them into the bag. Take
care to avoid damage from sharp
edges.
For general information on the ski bag,
refer to page 95.
3
2
1
360de065
360de066
360de067
Ski bag*

97
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
BMW Convertible - loading the ski
bagRemoving filler piece.Detach cut-out trim at bottom.
Extend the ski sack between the front
seats. The zipper provides convenient
access to the inside of the sack, and
can also be left open to promote drying.
b
When remounting the trim, press it
firmly onto the guide rod at the bot-
tom.cOpen the cover panel from the luggage
compartment and use the magnetic
retainers to attach it to the lower side of
the rear shelf within the luggage com-
partment.
b
Secure the stored skis or other
objects by tightening down the strap on
the ski bag at the buckle.c
For general information on the ski bag,
refer to page 95.
36cde003
36cde004
36cde005
Ski bag*

13 4
The safety belts should be cleaned with
a mild soap and water solution without
being removed from the car. Never
attempt chemical or dry cleaning, as
damage to the belt fabric could result.
After cleaning, never allow the inertia
reel to retract the belts until they are
completely dry. Dirty safety belts pre-
vent the inertia reel mechanism from
retracting the strap properly, and thus
constitute a safety hazard.
Heavily soiled floor carpets and mats
*
can be cleaned with an interior cleaner.
The floor mats can be removed from the
vehicle for cleaning.
Please use only a damp cloth to clean
wooden fascia panels and components.
Follow up by drying with a soft cloth.
b
Products for cleaning and care are
available from your BMW Retailer.c
Care of upholstery materialsDepressions resulting in the upholstered
materials in the course of everyday use
can be brushed up by brushing with a
lightly dampened brush "against the
nap".
The tendency of the pile to lie in a par-
ticular direction on velour upholstery is
not a quality defect, and, just as on
home textiles or clothing, can not be
avoided.
Fuzz on upholstery materials, rubbed-in
fabric or suede residues can be removed
with a fuzz or Velcro
â brush. A cleaning
glove is available for particularly "stub-
born" fuzz. Stains and fairly large areas
of dirt should be cleaned off without
delay, using lukewarm water and an
interior cleaner, stain remover or clean-
ing-grade benzene. Brush the fabric
afterwards to restore its appearance.
If the upholstery is to be exposed to
intense sunlight or if the vehicle is to be
stored for an extended period, cover all
seats to prevent fading.
b
A full range of car-care products is
available from your BMW Retailer.cThe build-up of an electrostatic charge
on the seat covers, particularly if atmo-
spheric humidity is low, can give the
occupants an unpleasant electric shock
if they touch metal body parts after
leaving the vehicle. Although this is not
dangerous in any way, it can be
avoided by touching a bare or polished
metal part of the car while getting out.
If necessary, anti-static products can
be used to eliminate this effect to a
large extent.
Caring for your car

15 7
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
AM provides substantially longer recep-
tion ranges than FM. AM broadcast sig-
nals, propagated at ground level in the
form of surface waves, are also reßected
from the ionosphere as atmospheric
waves.
Frequency-modulation (FM) provides
substantially better sound quality than
AM. However, because FM transmis-
sions rely on line-of-sight broadcast
waves, their effective reception range is
limited. Although numerous factors combine to
impose inherent limitations on the
reception quality available from mobile
radios, specially designed systems can
be employed to minimize their effects:
The Antenna Diversity system employs
several FM antennas integrated within
the rear window to provide three sepa-
rate sources for receiving broadcast
waves. An integral processor automati-
cally selects the antenna with the best
FM reception quality at any given time.
Because the ongoing antenna selection
process is completed within millisec-
onds, it remains inaudible to the radio
listener. The safety belt tensioner responds to
collisions by tightening the belts to
ensure that occupants remain firmly
positioned in their seats. A gas-pres-
sure system retracts the buckle assem-
bly to tension the shoulder and lap belts
within fractions of a second, preventing
the driver and passenger from slipping
forward.360de084
390de108
Radio reception Safety belt tensioner

171
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Note: This index does not correspond to the original manual in all detailsClock
66
, 67
, 68
, 69
Cockpit
16
Coinbox 94
Computer 77
, 78
, 79
, 80
,
81
, 82
, 83
Consumption display
64
Convenient closure
31
Convertible, refer to BMW
convertible
Coolant
105
, 127
, 166
Coolant, Antifreeze 105
Cooling system
166
Cruise control 62
Cruising range 79
Cup holder
94
DDashboard
16
Dashboard lighting
85
Data
Dimensions
161
Engine
160
Road performance
163
Weights
163
Data, technical
160
Date
68
, 72
, 74
Daytime light switch
85
Decommissioning of the
Vehicle
137
Deep water 101
Defrost windshields
91
Defrost, windshields 91
Defrosting position 91
DieselInjection system
19
Interference
19
Digital clock
66
, 67
, 68
, 69
Dimensions
161
Dipstik, engine oil
124
Disc brakes
104
Disconnect the battery
150
Display lighting
85
Distance, remaining
79
Door keys
30
Door locks 31
Doors, emergency actuation

31
Drive belts
167
Driver's airbag
50
Driving hints
100
Driving in winter
105
EElectric window actuator
35
Electrical seat
Adjustment
44
Electrical system
167
Electrolyte
149
Electronic unit
Vehicle immobilization
30
Elements of operation
16
Emergency actuation,
Central locking system 31
Tank cover
152
Energy Control 63
Engine coolant 166
Engine data
160
Engine oil
124Capacity
166
Filling capacity
166
Engine oil additives 125
Engine oil consumption
124
Engine oil level
20
Engine oil pressure
20
Eyelets, tow starting and
Towing
154
FFailure message
71
Failure of an electrical
device
151
Fault display
71
Filler cap cover 23
Filling capacity 166
Final drive
Capacity
166
Filling capacity
166
First aid
22
First aid kit 22
Flashers
60
Flat tire 111
, 146
Flower pollen 92
Foglight
86
Foglights, replace bulb
142
Folding
Rear backrest
95
Footbrake
104
Footwell light,
Replace bulb
145
Footwell lights 86
Front seat, position
43
FuelPreparation
160
Processing 160
Fuel consumption indicator

63
Fuel gauge
64
Fuses,
Replacing 151
GGlove compartment
93
Glove compartment light,
bulb replacement 145
Gross weight,
permissible
163
HHand light
93
Handbrake 56
Hazard warning system
22
Hazard warning triangle 22
Head restraint
43
Headlight cleaning System

124
Headlight cleaning system

166
Headlight covers, care
131
Headlight flasher
60
Heated seats
87
Height
161
Hi-Fi System
93
High beams 60
Highbeam headlights,
Replace lights
141
Hood release
118
Horn
17
Everything from A to Z

172
Note: This index does not correspond to the original manual in all details
IIce warning
66
Identification mark, tires
113
Ignition
54
Ignition key
30
Ignition switch 54
Independent ventilation
81
Indicator lights
20
Inflation pressure 25
, 111
Inside mirror
46
Inside rearview mirror
46
INSPECTION
64
Installing child seats
49
Instrument
18
Instrument lighting
85
Interior lights
86
, 144
Interior lights,
Replace bulbs 144
Intermittent wiper switch
61
JJack
146
Jump start
153
KKeys
30
Kickdown
59
LLeather care
135
LED Light-emitting diodes

110
Length
161
License plate light,
Replace bulb
144Light switch
85
Light-emitting diode LED

110
Limit
80
Loading 98
Lock buttons
31
Locks, care 105
Lowbeam headlight
85
Lowbeam headlights,
Replace lights
141
Low-fuel warning light
64
Luggage straps
34
Lumbar support 45
MM+S-Tires
114
Maintenance 64
, 130
Make-up mirror
46
Manual transmission
57
Capacity
166
Manually controlled
recirculated-air
91
Maximum speed 163
Micro-filter
92
MID Multi-information
display
66
, 67
, 68
, 69
Mirror heating
46
Mirrors
46
Multifunction switch
60
Multi-information display
MID
66
, 67
, 68
, 69
OOdometer
63
OilCapacity
166
Oil additives 125
Oil change interval,
Refer to the service
booklet
124
Oil consumption
124
Oil dipstick
124
Oil filter change
166
Oil filter renewal 166
Oil level, indicator light
20
Oil pressure, indicator light

20
OIL SERVICE
64
Oil, power steering
128
On-board computer 77
, 78
,
79
, 80
, 81
, 82
, 83
Operating
31
Outside rearview mirror
46
Outside temperature
66
, 78
Display
66
Outside temperature
indicator 68
PPaintwork, care
132
Paintwork, dirt and
contaminants 132
Paintwork, minor repairs

133
Paintwork, waxing
133
Parking brake
56
Parking light 85
Parking light,
Replace bulb 141Parking lights
60
Parking, Winter 106
Passenger airbag 50
Payload, maximum 163
Pocket light
93
Power door locks
31
Power steering, oil 128
Pressure, tire
25
Pressure, tires 111
Procedure
147
RRadiator
166
Reading lights
86
Rear backrest,
folding
95
Rear foglight
86
, 143
Reclining seat
43
Refueling
23
Remote control
On-board computer
83
Remove mist
Windshields
91
Replacement keys
30
Reverse
57
Rims
113
, 115
Road performance
163
Roof load, approved 163
Roof load, permissible 163
Roof rack
107
Roof-mounted luggage rack

107
Rubber parts
105
Rubber seals and
Everything from A to Z