1998 BMW CONVERTIBLE remote control

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

31
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Operating central locking system
from outside the vehicle When the front doors are closed, the
activation of a door lock or of the lug-
gage compartment lock with a key
unlocks or locks the following:
dDoors
dLuggage compartment
dFuel filler door
dBMW Convertible: the glove com-
partment.
The double-lock system is engaged at
the same time. Both the door locks and
release handles remain locked.
a
Never use the keys or the remote
control* to lock an occupied vehicle, as
it would then be impossible to unlock it
from inside.c
Convenience closing
* for power win-
dows and sliding/tilt sunroof: after clos-
ing the doors, hold the key in the lock
position to close the windows and slid-
ing/tilt sunroof. The windows/sunroof
stop moving immediately when you
release the key. To be able to keep the
closing system in view, convenience
closing can only be activated via the
driver's door lock for safety reasons,
even on vehicles with remote control.
Emergency lock operation(in the event of electrical failure)
Turn the key to the end positions of the
door lock to unlock/lock the respective
door.
Activating the central locking
system from inside the vehiclePressing the lock button of a front door
unlocks/locks the doors and luggage
compartment, but does not arm the
alarm system.b
If the vehicle is locked from the
inside with this lock button, the fuel
filler door remains unlocked to allow
refueling. On the BMW Convertible, the
glove compartment also remains un-
locked to allow for its use.
It is also possible to unlock the car from
the inside by pulling on one of the front
door handles.c
To preclude accidental locking of the
vehicle
dit can not be locked with the lock
button when the driver's door is open
dthe safety button of the passenger
door activates the central locking
system only when both front doors
are locked.
360de011Doors

78
In the interest of driving safety, you
should always enter data with the vehi-
cle parked/stationary. The on-board
computer starts its calculations as soon
as the vehicle starts to move.
You can also use the remote control to
select information for display, refer to
page 83.
The scale selection key (6) allows you to
display all information in either metric or
US units.
b
Messages of the Check Control
system override the display of the
onboard computer.
With the exception of Priority 1 mes-
sages, the display can be cleared by
pressing the CHECK key.c
If the malfunction display "PPPP"
appears, consult your BMW Retailer.
Outside temperature Data request: Press TEMP key.
If the outside temperature drops below
37.5 5F (+36), a warning signal sounds;
the temperature display automatically
appears and flashes for 8 seconds.
The warning is repeated whenever the
temperature has increased to 43 5F
(+66) at least once before falling to
37.5 5F (+36) again.a
The temperature warning device
does nothing to alter the fact that sur-
face ice can still form at temperatures
above 37.5 5F (+36), e.g., on bridges
and on shade-covered road surfaces.c
Average speedTo start calculations:
Key sequence as in illustration.
Data request: press SPEED key.
360us114
360us115
Onboard computer*

83
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Remote controlYou can use the turn signal lever to
select various display sequences for
computer data following entry.
To enter:
dKeep the turn signal lever depressed
until "Prog 1"
appears in the display.
dPress the keys in the sequence in
which you want the information to be
displayed.
Each time you store data, the pro-
gram number in the display changes.
dPress the SET/RES key.If you wish to display all data:
dKeep the direction indicator
depressed until "Prog 1" appears in
the display.
dPress the SET/RES key.
b
For average fuel consumption 1
and 2 please note the following: If, for
example, both consumptions are to be
displayed, the CONSUM key must be
pressed twice. If, for example, con-
sumption 2 is to be displayed (not con-
sumption 1), press the km/mls key after
pressing the CONSUM key (pressing
the km/mls key repeatedly switches
between consumption 1 and 2 as often
as desired).
Proceed in a similar manner for switch-
on times 1 and 2 for the independent
ventilation
*.c
Data request:
Briefly tap the turn signal lever each
time.
R
L
360de083Onboard computer*

172
Note: This index does not correspond to the original manual in all details
IIce warning
66
Identification mark, tires
113
Ignition
54
Ignition key
30
Ignition switch 54
Independent ventilation
81
Indicator lights
20
Inflation pressure 25
, 111
Inside mirror
46
Inside rearview mirror
46
INSPECTION
64
Installing child seats
49
Instrument
18
Instrument lighting
85
Interior lights
86
, 144
Interior lights,
Replace bulbs 144
Intermittent wiper switch
61
JJack
146
Jump start
153
KKeys
30
Kickdown
59
LLeather care
135
LED Light-emitting diodes

110
Length
161
License plate light,
Replace bulb
144Light switch
85
Light-emitting diode LED

110
Limit
80
Loading 98
Lock buttons
31
Locks, care 105
Lowbeam headlight
85
Lowbeam headlights,
Replace lights
141
Low-fuel warning light
64
Luggage straps
34
Lumbar support 45
MM+S-Tires
114
Maintenance 64
, 130
Make-up mirror
46
Manual transmission
57
Capacity
166
Manually controlled
recirculated-air
91
Maximum speed 163
Micro-filter
92
MID Multi-information
display
66
, 67
, 68
, 69
Mirror heating
46
Mirrors
46
Multifunction switch
60
Multi-information display
MID
66
, 67
, 68
, 69
OOdometer
63
OilCapacity
166
Oil additives 125
Oil change interval,
Refer to the service
booklet
124
Oil consumption
124
Oil dipstick
124
Oil filter change
166
Oil filter renewal 166
Oil level, indicator light
20
Oil pressure, indicator light

20
OIL SERVICE
64
Oil, power steering
128
On-board computer 77
, 78
,
79
, 80
, 81
, 82
, 83
Operating
31
Outside rearview mirror
46
Outside temperature
66
, 78
Display
66
Outside temperature
indicator 68
PPaintwork, care
132
Paintwork, dirt and
contaminants 132
Paintwork, minor repairs

133
Paintwork, waxing
133
Parking brake
56
Parking light 85
Parking light,
Replace bulb 141Parking lights
60
Parking, Winter 106
Passenger airbag 50
Payload, maximum 163
Pocket light
93
Power door locks
31
Power steering, oil 128
Pressure, tire
25
Pressure, tires 111
Procedure
147
RRadiator
166
Reading lights
86
Rear backrest,
folding
95
Rear foglight
86
, 143
Reclining seat
43
Refueling
23
Remote control
On-board computer
83
Remove mist
Windshields
91
Replacement keys
30
Reverse
57
Rims
113
, 115
Road performance
163
Roof load, approved 163
Roof load, permissible 163
Roof rack
107
Roof-mounted luggage rack

107
Rubber parts
105
Rubber seals and
Everything from A to Z

175
At a glanceControls Car careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Note: This index does not correspond to the original manual in all details
AAdd coolant 127
Adding oil 125
Adjusting washer
nozzles 124
Antifreeze, use 127BBackup lamp,
replace bulb 143
Battery,
charging 150
Battery change,
master key 145
radio remote control 145
Battery,
add distilled water 149
discharged 153
Brake fluid, add 128
Brake lamps,
replace bulb 143
Brakes, defects 105CCheck air pressure 24
Check Control 70
Check engine oil level 124
Coolant, add 127DDefrost windshields 91
Difficult steering 129Door, emergency
actuation 32
EElectrical fault
Sliding/tilt sunroof 152
Fuel filler door 152
Emergency actuation,
Door 32
Sliding/tilt sunroof 152
Fuel filler door 152
External starts 153FFailure messages 70
Failure of an
electrical device 151
Fault displays 70
First aid 21
Fittings, tow-starting and
towing 154
Flat tire 146
Foglamps,
replace bulb 142
Footwell lamp,
replace bulb 145GGlove compartment lamp,
replace bulb 145
HHazard warning system 21
Hazard warning triangle 21
Headlamp cover, care 141
Help in case of a
breakdown 153
High beam headlamps,
replace lamps 141IIndicator lamps 19
Inflation pressure 24
Interior lamps,
replace bulbs 144KKey, battery change 145LLicense plate lamp,
replace bulb 144
Low beam headlamps,
replace lamps 141
Luggage compartment lid,
emergency actuation 32
Luggage compartment
lamps, replace bulb 145MMaintenance 63OOnboard tool kit 140
PParking lamp,
replace bulb 141
Power steering,
add oil 128
Pressure, tires 24
Protective glazing,
care 131RRear foglamps,
replace bulb 142
Remove mist on
windshields 91
Replace bulbs 141
Replace fuses 151SSliding/tilt sunroof,
close in case of power
supply interruption 152
Snow chains 105
Starting difficulties 102, 153
Starting with a discharged
battery 153TTaillamp 143
Taillamp,
replace bulb 143
Tire change 146
Tire damage 111
Tools 140
Owner service procedures from A to Z