1998 BMW CONVERTIBLE ignition

Contents

At a glance
Controls and features

Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning
lamps20
Hazard warning system22
Hazard warning triangle22
First-aid kit22
Refueling23
Fuel specification23
CARB OBD II interface24
Tire inflation pressures25

Locks and security systems:

Keys30
Electronic immobilizing device35
Doors31
Trunk lid33
Luggage compartment34
Power windows35
Sliding/tilt sunroof36
Convertible top operation37

Adjustments:

Seats43
Steering wheel45
Mirrors46

Passenger safety systems:

Safety belts47
Child restraint system48
Installing child seats49
Airbags50
Child-safety locks52
Rollover protection system Ð
convertible52
Driving:

Steering/ignition lock54
Starting the engine54
Switching off the engine55
Parking brake56
Manual transmission57
Automatic transmission58
Turn signals/high beam60
Wiper/washer system61
Cruise control62

Everything under control:

Odometer63
Tachometer63
Energy control63
Fuel gauge64
Coolant temperature gauge64
Service Interval Display64
Multi-Information Display (MID)66
Outside temperature display
and digital clock68
Check Control71
Check Control with outside
temperature display and
digital clock74
Onboard computer77

Technology for driving comfort
and safety:

Automatic stability control
plus traction (ASC+T)84

20

Turn signal left/right, green

k

Flashes when the turn signals
are in operation.

Battery charge current, red

v

Goes out after the engine has
started.
If the lamp comes on during
normal vehicle operation:
The battery is no longer being charged.
Indicates a defect in the generator drive
belt or the charging circuit.

a

If the V-belt is defective, do not run
the coolant pump; overheating and
potential engine damage would result.
Contact your BMW Retailer.

c

High beam, blue

l
Lights up when the high beams
are switched on or the head-
lamp flashers are activated.
Engine oil pressure, redw
Goes out after the engine has
started. May come on briefly at
idle when the engine is hot,
but must go out again at higher engine
speed.
If the lamp comes on during normal vehi-
cle operation: stop vehicle and switch off
engine immediately. Check engine oil
level; if necessary, add oil. If oil level is
correct: contact your BMW Retailer.
Foglamps
*, green
t
Lights up whenever you switch
on the foglamps.
Airbags, redp
This lamp turns on for an oper-
ational check when you turn the
ignition key to position 1. If, at
the operation check, it does not go on,
or goes on while driving, have it checked
at your BMW Retailer.
Additional notes: Page 50
Automatic transmission
*, yellow
O
Goes out after the engine has
started.
Additional notes: Page 58
ASC+T (Automatic Stability
Control plus Traction), yellows
Goes out shortly after the igni-
tion is switched on:
System OK.
Additional notes: Page 84
ABS (Antilock Brake System),
yellowo
Goes out after the engine has
started. If the lamp comes on
during normal vehicle opera-
tion: ABS has been deactivated in
response to a system malfunction. Con-
ventional braking force remains unim-
paired.
Additional notes: Page 103
Brake pad wear, yellow#
Lights up when starter is actu-
ated and goes out when the
engine is started.
If the lamp comes on during normal
vehicle operation: replace brake pads
immediately.
a
Use only original BMW-approved
brake pads otherwise the vehicle
authorization is no longer valid.c
Indicator and warning lamps

At a glanceControls Car care Repairs Technical Data Index
21
Brake hydraulics, redn
Goes out after the engine has
started.
If the lamp comes on during
normal vehicle operation: low brake
fluid. Additional notes: Page 128
Parking brake, redm
Goes out after the engine has
started. Comes on when you
engage the parking brake.
Additional notes: Page 56
Emissions-related systemsY
Lamp goes out once engine
starts.
If this indicator lamp lights up
during normal vehicle operation, either
continuously or intermittently, this indi-
cates a fault in one of the emissions-
related electronic circuits. Although the
vehicle remains operational, you should
have the systems checked by a BMW
Retailer at the earliest possible opportu-
nity.
Please fasten safety belts
*, red
q
(With acoustic signal
if the
driverÕs belt is not buckled).
Lights up briefly when the
ignition key is turned, and then goes out
(in some models it goes out after you
fasten safety belts).
BMW Convertible
Rollover Protection System
*,
yellow
;
Goes out shortly after the igni-
tion is switched on:
System OK.
Indicator and warning lamps

28
Locks and security systems:
Keys30
Electronic vehicle immobilizer 30
Doors31
Luggage compartment lid33
Luggage compartment34
Power windows35
Sliding/tilt sunroof36
Convertible top operation37
Adjustments:
Seats43
Steering wheel45
Mirrors46
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts47
Child restraint system48
Installing child seats49
Airbags50
Child-safety locks52
Rollover protection system Ð
convertible52Driving:
Steering/ignition lock54
Starting the engine54
Switching off the engine55
Parking brake56
Manual transmission57
Automatic transmission58
Turn signals/high beam60
Wiper/washer system61
Cruise control62
Everything under control:
Odometer63
Tachometer63
Energy control63
Fuel gauge64
Coolant temperature gauge64
Service Interval Display64
Multi-Information Display (MID)66
Outside temperature display
and digital clock68
Check Control71
Check Control with outside
temperature display and
digital clock74
Onboard computer77

30
1 Master key with battery-powered
lamp (switch on by pressing the BMW
symbol).
2 Master key without lamp.
3 Spare key to be kept in a safe place
e. g. in your wallet. This key is not
intended for continuous use.
4 Door and ignition key
This key does not operate the locks
for the glove compartment and the
luggage compartment. This is useful
e. g. at a hotel.The electronic vehicle immobilization
unit increases the anti-theft protection
of your BMW Ð without additional
adjustment or activation of systems.
This electronic immobilization system is
designed to reduce the susceptibility of
the vehicle to theft by making it impos-
sible to start the engine using any
means other than the special keys fur-
nished with the vehicle.
The system features an electronic chip
integrated within the key as a supple-
ment to the conventional mechanical
locking system.
The lock mechanism itself is actually a
dual-function device, simultaneously
serving as a communications interface
designed to allow the car security sys-
tem to maintain a continuous stream of
variable, vehicle-specific signals with
the electronic circuitry in the key. The
ignition, the flow of fuel and the starter
are enabled only after the key has been
recognized as "authorized".
b
External force can damage the
electronic circuitry integrated in the key.
Such a key can no longer be used to
start the engine.c
Replacement of a keyReplacement keys are available exclu-
sively through your authorized BMW
Retailer, who is also under obligation to
request verification of vehicle owner-
ship before issuing a substitute key.
Your BMW Retailer can also cancel or
restore the electronic system authoriza-
tion for individual keys (e.g., if a key is
lost). A deactivated key can no longer
be used to start the engine.For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units com-
ply with Part 15 of the FCC (Federal
Communication Commission) Regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the fol-
lowing:
FCC ID: LXBEWS
As defined in the regulations, such a
device is not to emit significant interfer-
ence and must also be shielded against
interference from external sources to
prevent unauthorized or inadvertent
activation.a
Any unauthorized modifications
or changes to these devices could void
the userÕs authority to operate this
equipment.c
14
BMW
BMW
BMW
BMW
23
365de122Keys Electronic vehicle immobilizer

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

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*