2000 BMW Z8 ECU

44n
Head restraints Seat backrest Belt guideAdjustments Upward: by pulling.
Downward: unlock by first pressing the
button located on the right under the
leather (arrow 1).
Head restraints reduce the risk
of spinal injury in the event of an
accident.
Adjust the head restraint so that its
center is approximately level with your
ears.<520de016
To unlockPull on the outermost edge of the strap
and tip the backrest forward.
The straps are located on the outer
sides of the backrests. On the passen-
ger seat straps are also located on the
inner side of the backrest.
Lock both backrests while driving,
otherwise there is a danger of an
unexpected movement causing an
accident.
Do not use the strap as a holder, e. g.
for newspapers or other items. This
could cause the backrests to unlock.<520de098
The strap for the belt guide can be
opened: release the push button.
Should it be necessary, this can relieve
the load or the access to the equipment
in the rear well.
For further information regarding load-
ing, refer to page 81.
Before each trip, insert the safety
belt into the strap for the belt
guide, otherwise, it will not hold
securely and become ineffective due
to a loosely worn safety belt.<520de099

51n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Airbags Child restraints
*
The illustration shows the correct seat-
ing position for an older child wearing a
safety belt with sufficient distance be-
tween him and the side airbag (arrow).520de116
Before installing any child restraint
device or child seat, please read
the following:
Never install a rear-facing child restraint
system in the passenger seat of this
vehicle.
If the airbag deploys and hits the back-
rest of the rear-facing child seat, it is
likely that the child sitting in the rear-
facing child seat will be seriously
injured or killed.
Certain precautions should be taken if it
is necessary for a child (not an infant) to
ride in the vehicle. First, move the pas-
senger seat as far away from the instru-
ment panel as possible. This important
precaution is intended to maximize the
distance between the airbag and the
child. Older children should be tightly
secured with the safety belt. Younger
children should be secured in an appro-
priate forward-facing child-restraint
system that has first been secured with
a safety belt.
In the interest of the child's safety,
please read carefully and comply with
the instructions for installation and use
provided by the child restraint's manu-
facturer whenever you use such a de-
vice.
Do not allow children to lean out of a
child restraint system toward the door
or instrument panel, as otherwise seri-
ous injuries may result if the airbag
deploys. Always ensure that all occu-
pants (of all ages) remain properly and
securely restrained at all times.
Read carefully and comply with the
safety precautions regarding safety
belts on page 48, otherwise, the pro-
tective function of the safety belts will
be compromised.<

52n
Child seat safetyThe safety belt on the passenger side
can be locked for mounting and secur-
ing child restraint systems.
A label with operating instructions is
attached to the belt next to the sliding
latch plate.520us003
To lock the beltExtract the entire length of the belt from
the inertia reel mechanism. Allow the
reel to retract the belt somewhat and
engage the buckle, then tighten the belt
against the child restraint system. The
retraction mechanism is now locked.
The belt cannot be retracted further.
Comply with the installation instructions
provided by the manufacturer of the
child restraint system.To release the beltRelease the buckle, remove the child
restraint system and allow the inertia
reel to retract the belt completely.

81n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Cargo loadingStowing cargo If you are carrying cargo in the luggage
compartment of your BMW Z8 roadster:
>Load heavy cargo as far forward as
possible, directly behind the luggage
compartment partition
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
If you are stowing cargo behind the
seats in your BMW Z8 roadster:
>Stow only lightweight objects, such
as clothing items
>Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest.
Do not stow either heavy cargo or
cargo with sharp edges and cor-
ners behind the seats, or else they
could damage the back of the seat or
the rear trim panel.
Cargo that is too big or unwieldy and
stowed behind the seats can also pre-
vent the seat from locking properly into
position. Therefore, check to make sure
that the seat is properly locked into
place, moving the seat forward if nec-
essary. Refer to page 43.
Always position and secure the load
correctly. If you do not, it can endanger
the passengers during braking or eva-
sive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the permissible gross
weight and axle load (refer to page 156),
otherwise the vehicle's operating safety
is no longer assured and you are in
violation of the law.
Make sure to secure heavy or hard
objects you stow in the passenger area,
otherwise, these objects could be flung
about during braking or evasive
maneuvers and possibly injure vehicle
occupants.<

105n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
HoodTo closeAllow the hood to fall from just a little
height, and then press down on both
sides of the hood at the same time until
you hear it audibly engage.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the hood is clear
when it is being closed, as with all
closing procedures.
If it is determined that the hood is not
completely closed while driving, stop
immediately and close it securely.<520de086

120n
Caring for your vehicleLeather care The leather upholstery used by BMW is
a natural product of the highest quality,
processed using state-of-the-art meth-
ods to ensure that it will maintain its
high quality for years to come, provided
that it is properly cared for.
Because you are working with a pure,
natural product, its peculiarities Ð its
special characteristics even Ð must be
taken into account in its use and care.
Regular periodic cleaning and care are
essential, as dust and road dirt act as
abrasives in the pores and creases of
the material. This leads to wear spots
and premature brittleness on the sur-
face of the leather. We therefore sug-
gest that you clean the leather with a
vacuum cleaner or cloth at frequent
intervals.
For cleaning, use BMW leather cleaning
foam.Since dirt and grease gradually attack
the protective layer of the leather, the
cleaned surfaces should be treated
with BMW leather care agent. This also
prevents antistatic electricity.
For protection against dampness or
moisture, treat the leather with a BMW
impregnating agent.
We recommend that you perform this
procedure twice a year on leather
exposed to normal use.
Spills should be wiped up immediately.
Remove grease and oil stains without
rubbing, but rather by dabbing with
spot remover.
If the upholstery is to be exposed to
intense sunlight or if the vehicle is to be
stored for an extended period, cover all
leather surfaces (or, better yet, the win-
dows) to prevent fading.
Use the cleaning and car-care
products available at your BMW
center.<
Cleaning agents can contain dan-
gerous or health-threatening sub-
stances. Therefore, always comply with
the warnings and danger notices on the
package.
Open the doors or windows on your
vehicle when cleaning the interior.
Never clean your vehicle with solvents
or other materials not specifically in-
tended for this purpose.<

137n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Battery
A highly explosive gas is
generated when the battery is
charged.
If you happen to get acid in
your eyes, rinse thoroughly for
some minutes with clear water.
Consult a physician immediately. If you
get acid spray on your skin or clothing,
rinse with plenty of water. If acid is acci-
dentally ingested, consult a physician
immediately.
In order to protect the battery
case from ultraviolet radiation,
do not place it in direct sunlight.
A discharged battery can freeze. Store
the battery in areas where temperature
remains above freezing.
Removing and installing
Do not disconnect the battery
cable when the engine is running.
Disconnecting the battery cable when
the engine is running will cause a volt-
age surge which will damage the vehi-
cle's onboard electronics.
Do not make any modifications in the
wires to the positive terminal. If you do
so, the protective function of the safety
battery terminal is no longer ensured.
Repairs and disposal may only be per-
formed by specially trained personnel.<
When removing, first disconnect the
cable to the negative terminal, then dis-
connect the cable to the positive termi-
nal. Loosen the center adjusting screw
for the battery's retaining strap (use the
screwdriver found in the onboard tool
kit) and remove the bracket.
When installing, first connect the cable
for the positive terminal, then the cable
for the negative terminal.
When installing, make sure that
the battery is seated properly, and
that the battery bracket is installed with
the center adjusting screw, because
otherwise in the event of an accident,
the battery will not be secure enough.<
Charging the battery Charge the battery in the vehicle only
when the engine is not running. Use the
connections provided in the engine
compartment (for correct connections,
refer to "Jump starting" on page 143).
Before performing any work on
the electrical system, disconnect
the cable from the negative terminal. If
you do not, short circuits can create the
risk of fire or personal injury.<
If you plan to park the vehicle for longer
than 4 weeks, disconnect the battery
from the vehicle's electrical system by
disconnecting the cable at the negative
terminal. Then recharge the battery with
an appropriate battery charger.
If you intend to store the vehicle for
longer than 12 weeks, remove the bat-
tery, charge it and store it in a cool and
dust-free room where there is no dan-
ger of freezing. During storage, have the
battery recharged every six months.
Also, recharge the battery before it is
reinstalled. If this is not done, the bat-
tery will not be serviceable. Every time
the battery is discharged, especially
over extended periods, its service life
is reduced.

138n
Battery Fuses
Return used batteries to a recy-
cling point or your BMW center.
Maintain the battery in an upright posi-
tion for transport and storage. Secure
the battery to prevent it from tilting dur-
ing transport.<
If an electrical accessory should fail,
switch it off and check the fuse.
A list for both the fuses and their re-
spective amperages, and the electrical
devices, is located in the glove com-
partment on the fuse box lid, or in the
storage area behind the passenger-side
seat on the inside part of the storage
lid.
In the glove compartment>Open the glove compartment
>Unlock the fuse box and swing it
downward
>Remove the lid with the list on it.
Spare fuses and plastic tweezers are
located in the fuse box lid behind the
passenger-side seat
>Use the plastic tweezers to remove
the fuse for the accessory or equip-
ment that has stopped working
>Replace a blown fuse, recognizable
by its melted metal strip, with a new
fuse that has the same color or
ampere rating.520de078