2000 BMW Z8 Owners Manual

88n
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) Disc brakesIf you step on the brake rapidly, this
system automatically produces maxi-
mum braking force boost and thus
helps to achieve the shortest possible
braking distance during "panic stops."
All of the benefits of the ABS system
are exploited under these circum-
stances.
Do not reduce the pressure on the
brake pedal for the duration of the brake
application. When the brake pedal is
released, the DBC is deactivated.
In the event of a malfunction,
the yellow brake warning lamp
comes on. Normal braking effi-
ciency and ABS are still fully
available. Have the system
checked and repaired at your
BMW center as soon as possible.
Information for your safetyNot even DBC can suspend the laws
of physics. The consequences of brake
applications with inadequate clear-
ances for safety between vehicles,
excessive speed or if aquaplaning
occurs are always the responsibility of
the driver. You should never allow the
added safety provided by DBC to mis-
lead you into taking risks of any kind.Disc brakes furnish optimum decelera-
tion and braking control and greater
fade resistance under heavy use.
When the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, or in oper-
ating conditions where brake applica-
tions are less frequent, there is an in-
creased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs
because the minimal pressure which
must be exerted by the pads to clean
the rotors by brake applications is not
achieved.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect that even extended
brake applications will fail to cure.
For your own safety: use only
brake pads BMW has approved
for your specific vehicle model. BMW
cannot evaluate non-approved brake
pads to determine if they are suited for
use, and therefore cannot ensure the
operating safety of the vehicle if they
are installed.<

89n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Disc brakes Brake systemDriving notesWhen driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is effective to apply light
pressure to the brakes every few miles
or kilometers. Watch traffic conditions
to ensure that this maneuver does not
endanger other road users. The heat
which is generated by the brake appli-
cations helps to dry the brake pads and
rotors.
Maximum braking force is obtained
while the wheels are not locked, but
rather when they are still barely turning
immediately prior to locking. ABS main-
tains this state automatically. If the ABS
fails, you should revert to the staggered
braking technique (refer to page 91).
Long or steep mountain descents do
not necessarily lead to reduced braking
efficiency if you drive downhill with the
transmission in a gear requiring minimal
brake applications.
Braking effect on the engine can be
further increased by downshifting, into
first gear, if necessary.If engine braking should prove to be
inadequate, you should still avoid ex-
tended, continuous braking. Instead of
maintaining low to moderate pressure
over an extended period of time, you
should decelerate by applying more
substantial pressure to the brake pedal
(watch for following traffic), releasing
the pedal, and then repeating the appli-
cation (staggered braking). The cooling
phases between active braking inter-
vals prevent the brakes from overheat-
ing and retain full braking capacity.
Do not coast with the clutch de-
pressed, the gear-shift lever in
neutral, or, above all, with the engine
shutt off; otherwise, the engine will pro-
vide no braking effect if the transmis-
sion is in neutral, and there is no brak-
ing or steering power assist if the
engine is not running. Do not allow floor
mats, carpets or any other objects to
protrude into the area around the brake
pedal, the clutch or the accelerator
which could obstruct their freedom of
movement.<
Brake fluid level
The brake warning lamp comes
on with the parking brake
released:
The brake fluid level is too low in
the reservoir (refer to page 112).
If the brake fluid level is too low
and brake pedal travel has become no-
ticeably longer, there may be a defect
in one of the brake system's hydraulic
circuits.
Proceed to the nearest BMW cen-
ter. Higher brake application pres-
sure may be necessary under these con-
ditions, and brake pedal travel may be
significantly longer. Please remember to
adapt your driving style accordingly.<

90n
Brake system Winter operationBrake pads
The warning lamp for the brake
pads comes on:
The brake pads have reached
their minimum pad thickness. Proceed
to the nearest BMW center as soon as
possible to have the pads replaced.
For your own safety: use only
brake pads which BMW has ap-
proved for your specific vehicle model.
BMW cannot evaluate non-approved
brake pads to determine if they are
suited for use, and therefore cannot en-
sure the operating safety of the vehicle
if they are installed.<
Winter is often accompanied by rapid
changes in weather, requiring not only
a different driving style, but also certain
preparations to the vehicle itself to en-
sure that your vehicle operates safely
and trouble-free throughout the winter
months. CoolantBe sure that the coolant mixture con-
tains the year-round ratio of 50:50 water
and antifreeze/corrosion protection.
This mixture provides protection against
freezing down to approx. Ð 34 7
(Ð 37 6). LocksBMW door lock deicer can be used to
free doors if frozen. This deicer also
contains lubricant.
After using the deicer, treatment with
BMW lock cylinder grease is recom-
mended.
Rubber seals and components To prevent the weather-stripping from
freezing, apply a spray-on rubber treat-
ment or silicone spray to the door, hood
and luggage compartment lid seals.
A full range of car care products is
available from your BMW center. * only in pairs
on the rear wheels with approved winter
tires. Always follow the manufacturer's
safety precautions. Do not exceed a
maximum speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
Do not activate the RDW system while
using snow chains. Malfunction warn-
ings and undetected losses in pressure
are possible when driving with snow
chains.
Starting offWhen starting off in deep snow or when
"rocking" the vehicle to free it, it may be
advisable to temporarily deactivate the
DSC system. Refer to page 63.
To maintain vehicle stability,
always drive with the system
switched on whenever possible.<

91n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Winter operationDriving on low-traction road
surfacesDo not activate the Sport Mode (refer to
page 64). Use smooth, gentle pressure
to control the accelerator pedal. Avoid
excessive engine speeds and shift to
the next higher gear at an early point.
Shift down into the next lowest gear
when approaching uphill or downhill
grades. Maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the vehicle
ahead.BrakesWinter road conditions substantially
reduce the amount of traction available
between the tires and the road surface.
The resulting increases in braking dis-
tance are considerable and should be
kept in mind at all times.
ABS is intended to prevent the wheels
from locking during brake applications,
thus helping to maintain vehicle stability
and steering response.If the ABS does not respond in a critical
braking situation and the wheels lock,
reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
until the wheels just start to roll again
while still maintaining enough force to
continue braking.
Then increase the pressure, reduce the
pressure when the wheels lock, reapply
pressure etc.
This staggered braking procedure will
reduce braking distances while helping
you maintain steering control.
You can always then attempt to steer
around hazards after you have reduced
pressure on the brake pedal.
Do not shift down on slick road
surfaces if you want to decelerate.
Doing so could cause the wheels to
lose traction and skid, thus resulting in
the loss of vehicle control.<
Depress the clutch during hard
braking on road surfaces that pro-
vide only poor or uneven traction.<
Skid control Depress the clutch and release the
accelerator pedal. Countersteer care-
fully and attempt to regain control of the
vehicle.ParkingEngage first or reverse gear. Depending
on the steepness of the incline, you can
apply the parking brake as well. In order
to prevent the parking brake pads from
locking due to frost or corrosion, dry
them by gently applying the parking
brake as the vehicle is coming to a stop.
Make sure that following traffic is not
endangered.
The brake lamps do not come
on when the parking brake is
engaged.<

92n
Power steering Cellular phone Radio reception If there is a change in steering response
Ð e. g. difficult or over-responsive steer-
ing Ð at increasing speeds, consult a
BMW center to have it checked.
If the power steering fails, in-
creased effort will be required to
steer the vehicle.<
Mobile communications systems (cellu-
lar phone, radio, etc.) are permitted
with an output of up to 10 watts only.
Mobile communications devices not
specifically designed for use in your
vehicle may trigger malfunctions while
you are operating your vehicle. BMW
can neither test nor assume responsi-
bility for every individual product being
offered on the market. We recommend
that you consult your BMW center be-
fore purchasing any device of this kind.
To ensure reliable and trouble-free
operation of your BMW, do not use any
cellular phones or other radio devices
where the antenna is located either
inside the passenger compartment or
otherwise not attached to the outside of
the vehicle.
You will find instructions for operating
your cellular phone in a separate man-
ual included with your Owner's Manual. The reception and sound quality ob-
tained from mobile radios vary accord-
ing to a variety of factors, including the
broadcast range of the transmitter and
the directional orientation of the an-
tenna. Interference factors such as high-
tension power lines, structural or natural
obstructions can all lead to unavoidable
reception interference, regardless of
how well the vehicle sound system is
operating. Climatic factors such as in-
tense solar radiation, fog, rain and snow
can also interfere with reception.
Radio interference can also be caused
by either cellular phones not recom-
mended by BMW or by portable phones.
This phenomenon assumes the form of
a low-pitched hum emanating from the
speaker system.
Please refer to the Owner's Manual that
you received for detailed information on
settings and operation of your radio.

93n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Wind protection MountingAttach the wind protector while the
convertible top is open and its cover
not mounted.
1 Push the brackets for the wind pro-
tector, with the zippers fastened and
facing to the front, onto both roll-over
protection bars as far as to the upper
edge of the chrome collars (arrow) 520de134
2 Guide the four fasteners to their
respective slots, attach them at an
angle, and press them into place
using the strap hanging in front of
them. Shove the four straps under
the inner side of the convertible top
3 Shove both the center elements all
the way to the vehicle's outside edge
(arrows), so that the cover can then
easily be mounted
4 Fit the cover if you wish to drive with
the convertible top open (refer to
page 40).520de135
RemovingLoosen the mounting fasteners by pull-
ing on the four straps, then reverse the
sequence for attaching.
Put the folded up wind protector in its
protective sleeve and stow it in the lug-
gage compartment.

94n
Wind protection Hardtop While drivingYou can always drive with the wind pro-
tector installed. Whenever the convert-
ible top is closed, flip the center section
of the wind protector down to get a bet-
ter view out of the back
1 With the two stud fasteners closed,
first unfasten the zippers entirely
2 Release the two stud fasteners and
lay down the center section either to
the rear or the front, as shown in the
illustration
When reattaching, first fasten the two
stud fasteners, then zip the zippers up.520de136
RemovingYour BMW Z8 roadster is fitted with a
series standard hardtop. Two people
are necessary to take the hardtop off.
Exercise great care when doing so, in
order to avoid any damage to paint, the
vehicle body and the hardtop itself.
1 Lower the side windows
2 Unlock the side trim panel by press-
ing on it (arrow)
Every time you press on it, you
either lock or unlock the side trim
panel.<
3 Remove both the left and right side
trim panels520de113
4 Remove the tool used for locking the
hardtop, located next to the hardtop
catch on the left side, position the
tool and turn it forward until you hear
an audible click. Do this both on the
left and right side of the hardtop to
release both catches. 520de112

95n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Hardtop5 Remove the two oval cover panels
from the front of the hardtop frame,
using a screw driver, if necessary
6 Position the tool for locking the hard-
top in place, and turn it outward until
you hear an audible click. Do this
both on the left and right side of the
hardtop frame to release both
catches
7 The hardtop is now completely un-
locked. With the help of one other
person, lift the hardtop up and carry
it over the vehicle to the rear
8 When removing it, be sure that the
back end of the hardtop is resting on
the catches.
Do not let the hardtop rest on the
edge of the roof, as this could
cause damage.<520de111
9 Press the left and right protective
covers onto the hardtop brackets.520de110
InstallingGoes the same way as for taking the
hardtop off, just do it in reverse order.
Whenever the hardtop is in constant
use, the cloth convertible top does not
need to be dismantled, even in winter.
Before storing the cloth convertible top
in the convertible top compartment, it
has to be completely dry to keep any
water or mildew stains from forming.
Two people are required for putting the
convertible top on and taking it off.
Exercise great care when doing so, in
order to avoid any damage to the paint,
the vehicle body, or the hardtop itself.