1998 BMW CONVERTIBLE wheel

52
Notes on safetyNever attempt to remove the gas gener-
ator for the airbag passenger-restraint
system from the vehicle. Testing and
service procedures are to be performed
exclusively by qualified technicians. In
the event of malfunction, deactivation
or triggering (in response to an acci-
dent), always entrust repair and service
operations to your authorized BMW
Retailer.
Do not modify or tamper with either the
wiring or the individual components in
the airbag system; these include also
the padded covers on the steering
wheel, on the instrument panel or on
the side trim panels of the front doors.
Never apply adhesive materials to these
components and never cover or modify
them in any way. Do not remove or dis-
mantle the steering wheel.
The airbag generator can be disposed
of only by a BMW Retailer.
Unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation,
either of which could result in personal
injury.Insert the key in the slot in one of the
rear door latch mechanisms and turn
toward the outside: the door can now
be opened from the outside only.The rollover protection system is acti-
vated automatically in the event of an
accident or in a critical driving situation
(extreme tilting in the longitudinal or lat-
eral axis, loss of ground contact). The
protective bars located behind the rear
head restraints extend within a fraction
of a second.
In addition to the roll bar integrated in
the windshield frame, the rollover pro-
tection system helps provide all vehicle
occupants, and in particular the rear
passengers, with needed headroom.
b
When the hardtop
* is on, it is
advisable to use "soft" protective cov-
ers, in order to prevent damage to the
luggage compartment lid when the sys-
tem is activated. Please contact your
authorized BMW Retailer for additional
information.c
a
Always keep the space required by
the rollover protection system free of
obstacles.
In the case of minor, non-rollover acci-
dents, passengers are protected only by
the buckled safety belt and the belt ten-
sioner and, depending on the severity of
the accident, the airbag restraint sys-
tem.c
360de012
BMW Sedan
Airbags Child-safety locks Rollover protection system*

54
0Steering lock engagedThe key can only be inserted and
removed in this position.
After extracting the key, turn the steer-
ing wheel a small amount to the left or
right until you hear the lock engage.
Your vehicle is equipped with an inter-
lock; this means that the ignition key
can not be turned into position 0 and
removed until the selector lever is in
position P.
Furthermore, the selector lever is locked
in position P when the ignition key is in
position 0 or removed from the ignition
switch.
To turn the key back into position 0 or
remove it, move the selector lever into
position P first.
1 Steering lock disengagedYou will often find that it is easier to turn
the ignition key from position 0 to 1 if you
move the steering wheel slightly to help
disengage the lock.2 Ignition onAll electrical equipment and accesso-
ries are available for use.3 Starter activationb
Vehicles with manual transmis-
sion: depress the clutch pedal while
you turn on the ignition, otherwise a
blocking system will prevent the engine
from starting.c
Before startingdApply the parking brake.
dThe manual-shift gear lever should
be in neutral; the automatic transmis-
sion selector lever should be in P
or N.
dAt low temperatures keep the clutch
pedal depressed.
dStart the engine without depressing
the accelerator.b
Do not operate the starter too briefly,
but not longer than approx. 20 seconds.
Release the ignition key as soon as the
engine starts. Do not allow the engine to
warm up by leaving it running while the
vehicle remains stationary. Instead, drive
off immediately at a moderate engine
speed.c
Should the engine fail to start on the first
attempt, e.g., if it is very hot or cold:
dStop and pause briefly before repeat-
ing the starting procedure. This pre-
vents the spark plugs from becoming
damp.
dPress the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter.
1 2
03
360de009Steering/ignition lock Starting the engine

56
To engageThe lock engages automatically when
you lift the lever. The "P" indicator lamp
appears in the instrument cluster when
you turn the ignition key to position 2
(refer to page 21).To releasePull up on the lever, then press the
release button and lower the lever.The parking brake is primarily designed
to prevent the vehicle from rolling while
parked, and acts on the rear wheels.
a
Should exceptional circumstances
make it necessary to engage the brake
with the vehicle in motion, do not apply
excessive pressure. Keep your thumb
pressed against the release button while
carefully pulling up the lever to apply
moderate pressure.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction (fishtailing)
at the rear.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is engaged.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on slopes and inclined surfaces,
since selecting 1st gear or reverse may
not provide adequate resistance to
rolling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place the selector lever in "Park".cTo avoid corrosion, apply the parking
brake lightly from time to time when
coasting to a standstill, e.g., at a trafÞc
signal, provided that it is safe to do so.
360us303Parking brake

58
Selector lever positionsP R N D 3 2 1Shift programsSwitch:
dA (Automatic)
dM (Manual)
Shift lever in position 3:
dSport program
See next page for an explanation of the
programs.
Range selectionA lock prevents inadvertent shifts into
certain selector lever positions. To re-
lease the shift-lock mechanism, press
the button on the front side of the se-
lector handle (arrow).
The engine can only be started in selec-
tor lever position P or N.b
You must step on the footbrake
with the vehicle stationary before the
selector lever will move out of P or N.
The footbrake must also be depressed
before selecting a drive position, since
the vehicle "creeps" in idle when a drive
position is engaged.
At engine speeds of over 2500 rpm
a lock also prevents shifting out of P
or N.c
However, it is possible to "rock" the car
free by shifting rapidly between D and
R, e.g., should you get stuck in deep
snow or sand.
a
Place the selector lever in position
P or N and firmly engage the parking
brake before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running, otherwise the vehicle
could roll. Never leave the vehicle unat-
tended with the engine running, since
such a vehicle represents a serious po-
tential safety hazard.
If you should accidentally select Neutral
while traveling at high speed, remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal im-
mediately. Wait until the engine is at idle
speed; only then should you select a
gear, otherwise the transmission could
be damaged.c
P - ParkSelect only with the vehicle stationary.
Transmission locks to prevent rear
wheels from turning.R - ReverseSelect only with the vehicle stationary.N - NeutralSelect only if your journey is interrupted
for a longer period. Select while the car
is being driven only if the vehicle begins
to skid.
360us304Automatic transmission*

At a glance
Controls and featuresCare and maintenanceAdvanced technology
Technical data
Owner service procedure
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Index
99
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures100
Driving notes100
Catalytic converter102
Antilock Brake System (ABS)103
Disc brakes104
Brake system105
Winter driving105
Roof-mounted luggage rack107
Radio reception108
Cellular phones108
Hardtop Ð Convertible109
Technical modifications to
the vehicle110
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressures111
Tire tread111
Tire replacement112
Interaxle tire changes112
The right choice113
Winter tires114
Approved wheels and tires115Under the hood:
Hood118
Engine compartment 120
Washer fluids124
Engine oil124
Coolant127
Brake fluid128
Power steering fluid128
Vehicle Identification Number118
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System130
Caring for your car131
Cleaning and care of the
convertible top136
Vehicle storage137

10 3
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
ABS enhances active safety by helping
to prevent the wheels from locking under
braking. When the front wheels slide, the
driver loses steering control over the
vehicle. Traction loss at the rear wheels
can cause the rear end to break into
uncontrolled oversteer.
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every application:
dto help provide vehicle stability on all
types of road surface (asphalt,
cement, dirt, moisture, snow and ice).
dto help to retain steering and maneu-
vering capability under the same con-
ditions.
However, certain important consider-
ations must be borne in mind in connec-
tion with these requirements:
Not even ABS can suspend the normal
laws of physics. ABS alone can not pre-
vent accidents when the brakes are
applied without an adequate safety
interval between vehicles, when the car
reaches excessive rates of lateral accel-
eration in curves, or if aquaplaning
occurs. Responsibility for these types of
situations remains in the hands (and feet)
of the driver. You should never allow the
added safety of ABS to lull you into a
false sense of security, or mislead you
into taking increased risks that could
affect your own safety and that of others.
Driving with ABSThe yellow ABS warning in the instru-
ment panel goes out as soon as the
engine is started.
The system becomes operative once the
vehicle exceeds a speed of 5 mph
(8 km/h). The ABS is deactivated when-
ever the vehicle's speed drops below
approx. 2 mph (3 km/h). This means that
the wheels can lock in the Þnal phase of
a braking action - a factor of no signiÞ-
cance in actual practice.
The ABS system closed-loop control cir-
cuit cycles in fractions of a second. A
pulsation at the brake pedal indicates to
the driver that ABS is active, that is, that
the car is within its maximum braking
range. In addition, the audible pulsation
that accompanies the control operation
calls your attention to the reduced trac-
tion between tires and road surface
(marginal adhesion), and reminds you
that the vehicle's speed should be
reduced to adapt to road conditions.On road surfaces featuring a loose top
layer on a Þrmer substratum, e.g., on
gravel or snow, the braking distances
with ABS may be longer than with the
wheels locked. However, ABS continues
to provide enhanced vehicle and steer-
ing control under these conditions.
a
To ensure that the system remains
completely operational, never modify the
ABS. Service procedures on ABS are to
be performed by authorized technicians
only.c
ABS may fail to function with maximum
efÞciency when tires of different sizes
are mounted (e.g., winter tires/spare tire;
remount the correct tires at all wheels as
soon as possible).
In the event of a fault, the ABS warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up,
refer to page 18. The braking system
then reverts to conventional operation as
on a vehicle without ABS. However,
have the brake system checked by your
BMW Retailer as soon as possible. To
prevent undetected defects and cumu-
lative faults from adversely affecting the
brake system, refer any problems to
your authorized BMW Retailer at the
earliest opportunity.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)

10 4
Disc brakes furnish optimum decelera-
tion and braking control as well as
greater fade resistance under heavy
use.
Limited vehicle use, extended periods
with the car parked or in storage and
light loading will increase the tendency
for corrosion to form on the rotors, and
dirt to accumulate on the pads. This
happens because the minimum pres-
sure between the pad and the disc
required for the self-cleaning function
of the disc brakes is not achieved.
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.
a
Use only original BMW-approved
brake pads, as otherwise vehicle autho-
rization is no longer valid.c
Driving notes While driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is a good idea to apply
light pressure to the brake pedal every
few miles - Watch traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not
endanger other road users. The heat
generated in this braking process helps
dry the brake pads and rotors.
Maximum braking force is obtained
while the wheels continue to rotate,
peaking when the wheels remain on the
verge of locking without actually doing
so. ABS maintains this state automati-
cally. If the ABS fails, you should revert
to the staggered braking technique
described above (refer to page 106).
Extended or steep mountain descents
do not necessarily have to lead to
reduced braking efficiency; downshift
to a gear in which only minimal periodic
brake applications are required (you
can move the selector lever to the
appropriate lower range if your car is
equipped with an automatic transmis-
sion).
You can further increase the engine's
braking effect by selecting a lower gear,
downshifting as far as first gear or plac-
ing the selector lever in position 1 (2).Should engine braking prove inade-
quate, you should still avoid extended,
continuous braking. Instead of main-
taining low to moderate pressure over
an extended period of time, you should
decelerate the vehicle by applying more
substantial force at the pedal (watch for
following traffic!) and then pausing
before repeating the application. This
staggered braking technique allows the
brakes to cool in the intervals between
active braking phases, preventing over-
heating and ensuring that full braking
capacity remains available at all times.
a
Do not allow the vehicle to coast by
pressing down the clutch pedal or shift-
ing into neutral while underway. Never
drive with the engine switched
off (!). The engine provides no braking
effect when the clutch is disengaged or
the transmission is in neutral, and there
is no power-assist for brakes and steer-
ing when the engine is not running.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or other
objects to protrude into the area around
the accelerator, clutch and brake pedals
and obstruct their movement.c
Disc brakes

10 5
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Failure of one brake circuitPedal travel increases, more pressure is
required at the pedal.
The remaining circuit continues to pro-
vide good braking response.a
In the event of any malfunction in
the brake system, consult the nearest
BMW Retailer as soon as possible.cThe onset of winter is often accompa-
nied by rapid changes in weather.
Adaptations in driving style should be
accompanied by preparations on the
vehicle itself to ensure that your
progress through the winter remains
safe and trouble-free.
CoolantEnsure that the coolant contains the
year-round 50:50 ratio of water and
antifreeze with corrosion inhibitor. This
mixture provides protection against
freezing down to approximately -345F
(-376). Replace the coolant every
three years.Lockscan be made operative again using
BMW lock de-icer. This de-icer also
contains lubricants.
In addition, a treatment with BMW lock
cylinder grease is recommended.Rubber seals and components To prevent the weather-stripping from
freezing, apply a spray-on rubber treat-
ment or silicone spray to the door, hood
and luggage compartment lid seals.b
A complete range of car-care
products is available from any autho-
rized BMW Retailer.c
Snow chainsBMW snow chains
* can be mounted on
both summer and winter tires. Mount
them in pairs on the rear wheels only
and observe the manufacturer's safety
precautions. Do not exceed a maximum
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h). For maxi-
mum traction, deactivate ASC+T when
driving with snow chains mounted, refer
to page 84.
Starting offWhen driving off in deep snow or "rock-
ing" the vehicle to free it, you should
switch off ASC+T, refer to page 84. Driving on low-traction road
surfacesOperate the accelerator pedal sensi-
tively, avoid high engine speeds and
shift up to the next-higher gear early.
Shift down into the next lowest gear
when approaching uphill or downhill
grades. Maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the car ahead.
Brake system Winter driving