1998 BMW CONVERTIBLE phone

4

Notes on the Owner's Manual

We have made every effort to ensure
that you are able to find what you need
in this Owner's Manual as quickly as
possible. The fastest way to find certain
topics is by using the detailed index at
the end. If you require an initial over-
view of your vehicle, this can be found
in the first chapter. The detailed table of
contents immediately following the
index is intended to arouse your curios-
ity about your BMW and stimulate you
to read about it.
If at some time you wish to sell your
BMW, remember to leave the Owner's
Manual with the vehicle; consider it part
of the vehicle.
Should you have any further questions,
your BMW Retailer will be glad to assist
at any time.

Symbols used

a

indicates notes you should defi-
nitely read Ð for the sake of your own
safety and the safety of others, and to

avoid damages to your BMW.

c

b

indicates notes that alert you to
specific features of your vehicle.

c

A

special information on recycling.

c
c

indicates the end of a block of infor-
mation.

*
indicates special equipment, country-

specific equipment and optional extras.

The individual vehicle

In buying your BMW, you have de-
cided in favor of a model with individu-
alized equipment and fittings. This
Owner's Manual describes all models
and equipment that BMW offers within
the same vehicle range.
We hope you will understand that this
manual describes equipment and fea-
tures which you might not have chosen
for your vehicle. You can easily recog-
nize any differences, as all optional
accessories are marked with an

asterisk

*
.
If your BMW features equipment which
is not described in this Owner's Manual
(e.g., car radio or telephone), (Supple-
mentary) Owner's Manuals are
enclosed. We ask you to read these
manuals, too. indicates that you should study
the relevant section of this Owner's
Manual in connection with a particular
part or assembly.

© 1997 BMW AG
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with
the written consent of BMW AG,
Munich.
Order-No. 01 41 9 790 377
US VIII/97
Printed in Germany
Printed on environment-friendly paper
(recyclable and chlorine-free).

For your own safety

a

Use unleaded gasoline only.
Fuels containing up to 10% ethanol or
other oxygenates with up to 2.8% ox-
ygen by weight (i.e. 15% MTBE or
3% methanol plus an equivalent
amount of co-solvent) will not void the
applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship.
Field experience has indicated signifi-
cant differences in fuel quality (i.e.,
volatility, composition, additives, etc.)
among gasolines offered for sale in the
United States and Canada. The use of
poor-quality fuels may result in driving,
starting and stalling problems espe-
cially under certain environmental
conditions, such as high ambient tem-
perature and high altitude.
Should you encounter problems while
driving that you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using,
we recommend that you respond
by switching to a recognized high-
quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance. Follow the relevant
safety rules when you are handling
gasoline.

c

a

Important safety information!
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
BMW.
When you purchase accessories
tested and approved by BMW and
Original BMW Parts, you simulta-
neously acquire the assurance that
they have been thoroughly tested by
BMW to ensure optimum performance
when installed on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and work-
manship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved
by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product from
other manufacturers to verify if it can
be used on a BMW safely and without
risk to either the vehicle, its operation,
or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accesso-
ries and other products approved by
BMW, together with professional
advice on using these items, are avail-
able from all BMW Retailers.Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components,
brake dust shields, telephones
(including operation of any portable
cellular phone from within the vehicle
without using an externally mounted
antenna) or transceiver equipment
(e.g., C.B., walkie-talkie, ham radio or
similar) may cause extensive damage
to the vehicle, compromise its safety,
interfere with the vehicleÕs electrical
system or affect the validity of the
BMW Limited Warranty.
See your authorized BMW Retailer for
additional information.
Do not use key or remote control to
lock doors or luggage compartment
with anyone inside the car.
"Maintenance, replacement or repair
of the emission control devices and
systems may be performed by any
automotive repair establishment or
individual using any certified automo-
tive part."

c

7
The following only applies to vehicles owned and operated in the US.

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying BMW of
North America, Inc., P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, Telephone (201) 307-4000.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a
group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in indi-
vidual problems between you, your dealer, or BMW of North America, Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 202-366-0123 in
Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590. You can
also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.

11

Contents

Controls and features
Care and maintenance

Lamps:

Parking lamps/low beams85
Instrument panel lighting85
Foglamps86
Interior lamps86
Reading lamps86

An inviting climate:

Heated seats87
Independent ventilation
system87
Automatic climate control88

Cabin convenience:

BMW Hi-Fi System93
Glove compartment93
Ashtray94
Coin box, cup holder94
Cigarette lighter94
Center arm rest, rear95
Through-loading system95
Ski bag95
Cargo loading98

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
Mobile 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 tires115

Under the hood:

Hood118
Engine compartment 120
Washer fluids124
Engine oil124
Coolant127
Brake fluid128
Power steering fluid128
Vehicle Identification Number129

Care and maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System130
Caring for your car131
Cleaning and care
of the convertible top136
Vehicle storage137

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 8
The reception and sound quality
obtained from mobile radios varies
according to a variety of factors, includ-
ing the broadcast range of the transmit-
ter and the directional orientation of the
antenna.
Interference factors such as high-ten-
sion power lines, buildings and natural
obstructions can all lead to unavoidable
reception interference, regardless of
how well the vehicle's sound system is
operating.
Climatic factors such as intense solar
radiation, fog, rain and snow can also
interfere with reception.
Cellular telephones without ofÞcial BMW
approval can generate radio interfer-
ence. This is noticeable
e.g.,
as a low-
pitched hum in the loudspeakers.
Please refer to the supplementary oper-
ating instructions provided with your
sound system for detailed information
on its use.Mobile communications devices (mo-
bile phones, two-way radios, etc.) not
specifically designed for use in your car
may trigger malfunctions in other vehic-
ular systems. BMW can neither test nor
assume responsibility for every individ-
ual product being offered on the mar-
ket. We recommend that you consult
your BMW Retailer before purchasing
any device of this kind.
To ensure that your BMW continues to
provide reliable and trouble-free opera-
tion, refrain from using a cellular tele-
phone or other radio device with an
antenna located inside the passenger
compartment. The antenna should
always be mounted on the outside of
the vehicle.
b
Before loading the vehicle on a
train or driving it through a car-wash,
remove the antenna.c
Radio reception Cellular phones*

13 1
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Washing your carRight from the start, you can wash your
new BMW either by hand or in an auto-
matic car wash. BMW Convertible: For
instructions on cleaning and care of the
convertible top, refer to page 136 ff.
To prevent spots, avoid washing when
the hood is still warm, or immediately
after and during exposure to strong
sunlight.
When using an automatic car wash,
ensure that
dno damage occurs to vehicles with
add-on body elements (e.g., spoilers,
telephone aerials). Consult the car
wash operator if necessary
dthe vehicle is cleaned with minimum
brush pressure, and that ample water
is available for washing and rinsing.
Loosen and remove stubborn dirt and
dead insects before washing the car.
a
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between the spray source and the
vehicle's surface when using spray
wands and high-pressure washers. In-
adequate distance and excessive pres-
sure can damage or weaken the finish,
making it more susceptible to subse-
quent attack. In addition, moisture could
penetrate to vehicle components, lead-
ing to long-term damage.c
Parts of the car which are inaccessible
to the automatic washer - such as door
sills, door and hood edges, etc. -
should be cleaned by hand.
b
Please observe the following
when cleaning the headlamp covers:
dDo not clean by wiping with a dry
cloth (scratches). Never use abra-
sives or strong solvents to clean the
covers.
dRemove dirt and contamination (such
as insects) by soaking with BMW Car
Shampoo and then rinsing with
plenty of water.
dAlways use a de-icer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow Ð Never
use a scraper!cIn the winter months, it is especially
important to ensure that the car is
washed on a regular basis. Large quan-
tities of dirt and road salt are difficult to
remove, and they also cause damage to
the vehicle.
a
After washing, the brakes may be
wet and thus less effective! Apply the
brakes briefly to dry them.c
Caring for your car

170
Note: This index does not correspond to the original manual in all details
AABS (Antilock Brake
System)
103
Acceleration values
163
Activated charcoal filter
92
Adjusting steering wheel 45
Air conditioner
91
Air distribution 90
Air pressure
111
Air supply
92
Airbag
50
Aluminum wheel
115
Antifreeze
105
, 127
Antifreeze,
Radiator
105
, 127
Antifreeze,
radiator
127, 105
Anti-lock braking system
ABS
103
Aquaplaning
100
, 111
ASC+T Automatic stability
control plus
Traction
Traktion
10
, 84
Ashtray
94
AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control
91
Automatic car washes
131
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC
91
Automatic stability control
plus traction
ASC+T
10
, 84Automatic transmission
58
Capacity
166
Filling capacity
166
Autoradio
108
Average fuel
consumption
79
Average speed 78
Axle load, permissible
163
BBackrest unlock
45
Backup lights
57
, 143
Battery
149
, 167
Removal and
installation 150
Symbols
149
Battery capacity
167
Battery change
Key
145
Battery charge current
20
Battery electrolyte
149
Battery, discharged 153
Belts
47
blower 92
BMW Convertible
Car wash
136
Care
136
Electrical
Convertible top
actuation
39
Emergency closure
41
Fully automatic
Convertible top
actuation
39Hardtop
109
Manual convertible top
Actuation 41
Manual convertible top
actuation 37
Rear window
Ventilation 91
, 105
Rollover protection
system
52
Ski bag 97
Storage compartment
95
Vehicle
decommissioning
137
BMW Convrtible
Electrical windows
Lifters
36
BMW Hi-Fi System
93
BMW Sport seat
44
Brake fluid
128
Brake lights,
Replace bulbs
143
Brake pads
20
Brake system hydraulic
circuits
21
Brake-in procedure
100
Brakes
104
Defects 128
Interference
105
Braking system 105
Breaking in vehicle
100
Bulb replacement 141
CCar battery
149
Car wash
131
CARB OBD II interface
24
Care of upholstery
134
Care of wool velour 134
Care, exterior
132
Care, interior 133
Care, vehicle exterior
132
Catalytic converter
102
Cellular phone
108
Center armrest 95
Central brake light
143
Central locking system
31
Central locking system
button
32
Central locking unit
31
Changes,
technical
6
Charge-current indicator
light
20
Charging the battery
150
Check air pressure
25
Check control
71
Check Control with outside
temperature gauge and
digital clock 74
Check engine oil level
124
CHECK key
71
Check oil level 124
Childproof door locks
52
Child-restraint system 48
Cigarette lighter
94
Everything from A to Z