1998 BMW CONVERTIBLE overheating

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authorization is no longer valid.c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

10 2
The catalytic converter reduces harmful
exhaust emissions.
It is designed for use with unleaded fuel
only.
Even minute quantities of lead would be
enough to permanently damage both
the catalytic converter and the system's
oxygen sensor.
To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine
operation and avoid potential damage:
dAlways have your car serviced in
accordance with maintenance
instructions.
dNever continue driving until the fuel
tank is empty.
dRespond to engine miss by switching
off the engine at once.
dNever tow-start the car unless the
engine is cold, or else unburned fuel
may reach the catalytic converter.
Better yet: use jumper cables!
dAvoid other situations in which the
fuel would not be (completely)
burned, for instance:
Frequent, extended, or repeated
starting attempts during which the
engine fails to start. (Switching off
and restarting a healthy engine
causes no damage).
Never let the engine run with any of
the spark-plug cables disconnected.
a
Always observe the above points
to prevent unburned mixture from
entering the catalytic converter. This
could result in overheating, leading to
serious damage.
High temperatures occur on all vehicles
equipped with a catalytic converter.
Heat shields are installed adjacent to
some sections of the exhaust system.
Never remove these shields; do not
apply undercoating to their surfaces.
When driving, standing at idle or park-
ing the vehicle, take care to avoid con-
tact between the exhaust system and
flammable materials (e.g., grass, hay,
leaves, etc.). Such contact could lead to
a fire, resulting in personal injury and
property damage.c
Traveling abroadAlways make sure that unleaded fuel
meeting your engineÕs octane require-
ments will be available when planning
trips outside the country. The use of
fuel failing to meet the official octane
requirements could result in engine
damage.
If you are considering traveling to a
country in which unleaded fuel is not
readily available, please remember that
leaded fuel will destroy the lambda oxy-
gen sensor and the catalytic converter
on your BMW. After operation on
leaded fuel, your vehicle will no longer
meet American and Canadian exhaust
emission standards, and there will also
be a loss of fuel economy. Upon your
return to the US or Canada, you will be
expected to comply with legal ordi-
nances requiring that you replace both
the oxygen sensor and the catalytic
converter, and to have the fuel system
flushed to remove any traces of leaded
fuel.
Catalytic converter

111
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Information for your safetyThe factory-approved radial tires have
been selected to provide optimum
safety and driving comfort on your vehi-
cle.
In a very real sense, both tire life and
your own safety are riding on correct
tire specifications and inflation pres-
sures.
Incorrect inflation pressures are a fre-
quent cause of tire damage. To a great
extent it also influences the ability of
your BMW to hold the road.a
Check the tire pressures Ð also in
the spare tire Ð at least every two weeks,
and before every extended trip.
Incorrect inflation pressures can also
lead to tire damage and accidents.c
Tire tread - tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
The tread depth should not be less than
0.12 in (3 mm). Otherwise there is an
increased risk of aquaplaning, even at
relatively moderate speeds and with
only small amounts of water on the
road.
We recommend that you always replace
the tires once the tread wears to 0.12 in
(3 mm). Once the tread has worn to
0.063 in (1.6 mm), tread depth indica-
tors appear.a
Never continue driving on a deflat-
ed (flat) tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over the
vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that the
permitted load on the tires is not ex-
ceeded. This can cause overheating and
gradual internal damage. The ultimate
result can assume the form of a sudden
air loss.Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect,
as can variations in normal vehicle
response, such as a pronounced ten-
dency to pull to the left or right. Should
this occur, you should respond by
immediately reducing your speed and
carefully proceeding to the nearest
BMW Retailer or professional tire cen-
ter, or having the vehicle towed in to
have it and its tires inspected.
Tire damage (up to and including blow-
outs) can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users.c
Tire inflation pressures Tire tread