1998 BMW CONVERTIBLE Owners Manual

32
a
Children can lock the doors from
inside. Therefore, you should always
remove the key and take it with you to
ensure that you can unlock the car from
the outside at all times.c
In an accident, the central locking sys-
tem automatically unlocks the doors
and the interior lamps switch on.
Depending on the version, the hazard
warning flashers are also activated.
a
Avoid using the inside lock buttons
to lock the rear doors while driving, as
these doors would then fail to unlock au-
tomatically in the event of an accident.c
Opening doors from the insidePull interior door handle of a front door
twice in succession (the initial pull
unlocks the door, the second opens it).
Central locking system buttonThis button operates the central locking
system when the driverÕs door is
closed. It unlocks the doors and lug-
gage compartment, but does not arm
the alarm system.
The fuel filler door remains unlocked to
allow refueling.
The picture shows, as an example, the
shift arrangement for the BMW sedan.
Opening doors from the outsideLift the handle.Automatic window lowering (BMW Coupe, Convertible)a
The door windows are lowered
somewhat when the doors are opened
and then are raised again immediately
after the doors are locked. This makes it
easier to open the doors, prevents the
rubber door seals from being damaged
and ensures proper seating of the
windows in the rubber door seals after
closing.c
Driver's door lock heating
*
Lift the handle of the driver's door for
approx. 3 seconds: the heating
switches on. The switch-on time is
automatically controlled to save power.
S
360us124
Doors

33
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
The lock actuation is only possible with
a master key.Central locking system
To engage locksTo lock the luggage compartment
separately
The luggage compartment lid is locked
and disconnected from the central lock-
ing system. The luggage compartment
lid then remains locked when the cen-
tral locking system is unlocked with a
door lock or the lock knobs.
Access to the luggage compartment lid
is thus prevented when leaving the door
and ignition key with others (refer to
page 30); this is useful e.g., at a hotel.To unlock car
Emergency lock operation(in the event of electrical failure)
Turn the master key to the left as far as
possible: the luggage compartment lid
is unlocked.
After closing, the luggage compartment
lid must be locked again separately.
The luggage compartment lampis on when the luggage compartment
lid is open.
=
Turn to the right: The luggage
compartment lid and - if the
front doors are closed - the
doors are locked and the alarm system
is armed.
360de013
>
Turn the master key to the right
until the slot is horizontal, then
extract the key from the lock.
<
Turn to the left: the luggage
compartment lid and the doors
are unlocked.
Luggage compartment lid

34
To closeThe handle recess (arrow) makes it eas-
ier to pull down the luggage compart-
ment lid.
a
Do not drive with the luggage lid
open, as exhaust fumes could be drawn
into the interior of the vehicle. Should it
be absolutely necessary to operate the
vehicle with the luggage lid open:
dRaise all windows and shut the slid-
ing/tilt sunroof
dMaximize the air volume of the air
conditioning, refer to page 88.c
Luggage strapsAttach the straps to the floor of the lug-
gage compartment to secure smaller
suitcases.
The luggage straps prevent objects
placed on them from slipping.
The fittings at the corners of the lug-
gage compartment provide you with a
convenient means of attaching luggage
nets
* and flexible straps for securing
suitcases and luggage.
360de302
394de302
Luggage compartment lid Luggage compartment

35
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Operational from ignition key posi-
tion 1.
dDepress the rocker switch until you
feel resistance:
The window continues to move as
long as the rocker switch is pressed.
dBriefly press the rocker switch to just
beyond the pressure point (one-
touch mode):
The window moves automatically.
Press and let go again to stop move-
ment.
The one-touch mode can be used to
open and close the front windows and
to open the rear windows
*.On vehicles equipped with front and
rear
* power windows:
There are separate switches located
below the rear windows (except on the
BMW Convertible).
Safety switch
* (arrow)
In this way the actuation of the windows
by means of rear switches, e.g., by chil-
dren, can be prevented.a
Always keep the safety switch
(arrow) in the depressed position when
children ride in the rear seat.
Always remove the key from the ignition
when leaving the vehicle.c
After the ignition is switched off, the
windows remain operational
dwith the ignition key at position 1 and
0, or removed, or
dwhen the front doors are open (max.
15 minutes) or until the front doors
are opened for the Þrst time.
Convenience modeAfter closing the doors, hold the key in
the lock position:
Any windows still open will close.a
Careless and inattentive closing of
the windows can lead to injuries.c
Safety featureIf one of the windows encounters resis-
tance while closing, it will respond by
halting and then opening somewhat
again.
You can deactivate this protective func-
tion, (e.g., in case of unauthorized intru-
sion into the vehicle) by pressing the
switch beyond its pressure point and
holding it there.
360us302Power windows*

36
Pressing and holding down the center
button opens or closes all four side win-
dows simultaneously.
During opening, briefly press the rocker
switch to just beyond the pressure
point (one-touch mode): the side win-
dows move automatically. Press briefly
and let go again to stop movement.Operate in ignition key position 2.
Open and lowerPress recessed button (1) until pressure
point is reached.Close and raisePress raised button (2) until pressure
point is reached.
At transition from closing to raising and
vice-versa: system off.One-touch mode(only open/raise)
Briefly press the respective button
beyond the pressure point.
The sliding/tilt sunroof moves automati-
cally. Briefly press the button a second
time to stop the sunroof.
b
During raising, the headliner also
retracts a few inches.c
In the event of an electrical malfunc-
tion, you can also operate the sliding/tilt
sunroof manually, refer to page 152.
After the ignition is switched off, the
windows remain operational
dwith the ignition key at position 1 and
0, or removed, or
dwhen the front doors are open (max.
15 minutes) or until the front doors
are opened for the Þrst time.
Convenient closure
*
After closing the doors, hold the key in
the lock position: the still-open sunroof
is closed.
36cde002
BMW Convertible
360de022
Power windows*Sliding/tilt sunroof*

37
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
a
Careless closing can lead to inju-
ries.
Always remove the key from the ignition
when leaving the vehicle.c
To avoid unpleasant drafts and pres-
sure variations within the passenger
compartment, you should keep the inte-
rior ventilation outlets open when the
sunroof is open and particularly when it
is raised, and select a higher blower
speed as required.
Manual convertible top
operationThe fabric top offers perfect weather
protection and can be opened and
closed simply and quickly by one
person.
Here are a few tips to ensure that you
have a lot of pleasure with your con-
vertible: It is advisable to close the top
when the vehicle is parked. The closed
convertible top not only protects the
passenger compartment from unfore-
seeable damage from the weather, it
also provides a certain degree of theft
protection.
Even with the top closed, it is always
advisable to keep valuables locked in
the luggage compartment.
Do not mount roof racks on the convert-
ible top.
Please contact your BMW Retailer for
suitable mounting equipment and other
accessories.a
When closing the power windows
while driving: always close the rear win-
dows first or all four windows simulta-
neously, otherwise the windows may
not seal tightly at higher speeds.c
Opening convertible topFold out the unlocking handle and turn
it to the end stop. Raise (relax) the top
approx. 8 in (20 cm).36cde006
Sliding/tilt sunroof*Convertible top operation

38
Unlock the convertible top storage
compartment with the handle in the rear
left side panel.
b
From ignition key position 1 or with
the door open: If the side windows are
closed, they move downward slightly
when the convertible top compartment
unlocking handle is operated.c
a
To prevent damage, it is not possi-
ble to unlock the convertible top com-
partment with the luggage compartment
open.cPosition the rear convertible top bow
vertically and hold in place. Raise the
convertible top compartment lid some-
what and unlock the catch lock by
pushing it to the right. Open the con-
vertible top compartment lid com-
pletely.
Lay the rear convertible top bow in the
convertible top compartment. Lift the
top at the front and also lay down
towards the rear.
In the process, make sure the rear win-
dow is laid down evenly and free of
folds. To prevent the rear window from
being scratched, a soft cloth should be
laid in the window fold. Close the convertible top compartment
lid by pressing down on both sides until
they are heard to engage securely.
When the convertible top compartment
lid is closed, the central locking system
is automatically unlocked, i.e., the lug-
gage compartment is no longer locked
and can be opened again.
a
If the convertible top compartment
lid is not properly closed, the luggage
compartment can not be opened to pre-
vent damage.
To prevent damage to the convertible
top due to the permanent presence of
moisture, never fold down the top while
wet (also refer to "Car care" starting on
page 136).c
36cde007
36cde008
36cde009
Convertible top operation

39
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Closing convertible topMove ignition key into position 1.
Unlock and open the convertible top
storage compartment. Lift out the top
by the side guide piece and the front
top frame.b
From ignition key position 1 or with
the door open: If the side windows are
closed, they move downward slightly
when the convertible top compartment
unlocking handle is operated. Move the
side windows into the desired position
or close them after closing the convert-
ible top.cPosition the rear top bow vertically.
Close the convertible top compartment
lid by pressing down on both sides until
they are heard to engage securely. Fold
down the top bow.
When the convertible top compartment
lid is closed, the central locking system
is automatically unlocked, i.e., the lug-
gage compartment is no longer locked
and can be opened again.
Pull the convertible top frame onto the
windshield frame with the locking han-
dle and lock the top by turning the han-
dle until it is heard to engage.
The rear convertible top bow is auto-
matically pressed onto the convertible
top compartment lid and closes water-
tight under tension.
b
If the convertible top or the rear
window begins to flutter at high speeds,
increase the air intake via the ventilation
control to prevent a vacuum from
resulting in the passenger compart-
ment.c
Fully automatic convertible top
operation
*
The fully automatic convertible top per-
fectly combines extremely simple, com-
fortable operation with reliable protec-
tion from the elements. Here are a few
tips to ensure that you have years of
pleasure with your convertible:
It is advisable to close the top when the
vehicle is parked. The closed top not
only protects the passenger compart-
ment from unforeseen weather-related
damage, it also provides a certain
degree of theft protection. Even with
the top closed, it is always advisable to
keep valuables locked in the luggage
compartment.
Do not mount roof racks on the convert-
ible top. Please contact your BMW
Retailer for suitable mounting equip-
ment and other accessories.
To prevent damage, do not operate the
top at temperatures below 325F (0
6
).
To protect the battery, it is advisable to
operate the top with the engine running
when possible.
36cde010Convertible top operation