2001 BMW Z8 steering

33n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Opening and closing Ð from outsideUsing the remote control Remote control offers you optimal
convenience in using your vehicle's
locking system while also providing
three exclusive supplementary features:
>Interior lamp activation, refer to
page 34.
With this function, you can also
"search for" your vehicle Ñ if, for
example, it is parked in an under-
ground garage.
>Opening the luggage compartment
lid, refer to page 35.
>Panic mode, refer to page 35.
In case of danger, you can trigger
an alarm.
The anti-theft system is also deacti-
vated/activated simultaneously with the
unlocking or locking of the vehicle, and
the alarm system is disarmed/armed,
and the interior lamps are turned on/off.
Master keysKeys with remote control are master
keys. Refer to page 30.
You can have different confirma-
tion signals programmed into the
system to verify that the vehicle has
been locked correctly.<
Because children left within the
vehicle could lock the doors from
the inside, you should always remove
the key and take it with you to ensure
that you remain able to unlock the
vehicle from the outside at all times.<520de010
Master keys that are used repeat-
edly are always ready for opera-
tion since the battery in the key is
charged automatically in the steering
lock every time you drive.
If it is no longer possible to unlock the
vehicle via the remote control, the
battery is discharged. Use this key
while driving for an extended period in
order to charge the battery. Refer also
to page 30.
To prevent unauthorized use of the
remote control, surrender only the door
and ignition key 3 or the spare key 2
(refer to page 30) when leaving the
vehicle for valet parking, for example.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW center. You
can also obtain replacement keys
there.<

45n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
For maximum safety when adjusting the
seating position, please observe the
following:
Never try to adjust your seat while
driving the vehicle. The seat could
respond with an unexpected move-
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle
control could lead to an accident.
Be sure that the safety belt remains
firmly against your body at all times. In
the event of a frontal impact, a loose lap
belt could slide over the hips, leading to
abdominal injury. In addition, the safety
belt's restraint effectiveness is reduced
if the belt is worn loosely.
Never ride with the backrest reclined to
an extreme angle (especially important
for the passenger to remember). If you
do so, there is a risk that you will slide
under the safety belt in an accident,
thus reducing the protection provided
by the safety belt.<
Correct sitting postureTo reduce strain on the spinal column,
sit all the way back in the seat and rest
your back fully against the backrest.
The ideal sitting posture is achieved
with your head extending from your
spine in a straight line.
For long-distance driving, you may wish
to increase the backrest tilt-angle
slightly to reduce muscular tension.
You should be able to grasp the
steering wheel at its highest point with
your arms slightly bent.
1 Backward/Forward adjustment
2 Cushion height
3 Backrest angle
Adjust the head restraint manually.
Ensure that the backrest detent is
fully engaged before sliding the
seat to the rear. If the seat is moved
back with the backrest is folded
forward, the detents may not engage
during subsequent attempts to return
the backrest to its upright position.
Both the rear of the backrest and the
upholstery in the rear storage well may
sustain damage as a result. Always
ensure that the backrest is not reclined
to an excessively steep angle when
sliding the seat back: failure to observe
this precaution can result in damage to
both the upholstery in the rear storage
well and to the backrest itself.<
520de017
Seat adjustment

47n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Adjusting the steering wheel
Mirrors
Press the button to move the steering
wheel forward or back to suit your
selected seating position.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while the vehicle is moving. If you
do so, there is a risk of accident from
unexpected movement.<520de118
Exterior mirrors1 Switch for 4-way adjustment
2 Selection switch for changing
between mirrors, switch either all the
way to the left or the right 520de018
You can also adjust the mirrors manu-
ally by pressing against the outer edges
of their lenses.
When estimating the distance
between yourself and other traffic,
bear in mind that the objects reflected
in the mirror are closer than they
appear. This means that estimates of
the distance to following traffic should
not be regarded as precise. with the ignition key in position 2.

52n
AirbagsSitting correctly with airbags
Comply with the following instruc-
tions for the airbags, otherwise,
the airbags may not be able to provide
their maximum protection, with
resulting risks to personal safety. All
passengers in the vehicle should be
aware of and comply with this informa-
tion:
The airbag is a supplemental restraint
device; it is not a substitute or replace-
ment for your safety belt, which you
should continue to wear at all times.
When adjusting your seat, assume a
comfortable driving posture allowing
comfortable and secure access to all of
the vehicle's controls. Avoid sitting too
close to the steering wheel.
Always hold the steering wheel by the
rim Ð hands in the "9 o'clock" and
"3 o'clock" positions Ð otherwise, your
hands or arms could be injured if the
airbag is triggered.
Never allow any other passengers,
animals or objects to intrude into the
area between the airbag and the driver
or front passenger.
Do not use the cover panel above the
front passenger airbag as a storage
area.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, or cover or
modify them in any other way.
Do not use a rear-facing child seat in the
front passenger seat. If you use a child
restraint system, carefully read and
comply with the instructions on page 53.
Be sure that child seats are installed
correctly and with the greatest possible
distance between them and the side
airbag. Do not allow children to lean out
of the child's seat in the direction of the
side trim panels. If they do so, serious
injuries can occur if the airbag is trig-
gered.<
Even when all these guidelines are
observed, there is still a small residual
risk of injury to the face, hands and
arms occurring from airbag deployment
in isolated instances.
The ignition and inflation noise may
cause a mild temporary hearing loss in
extremely sensitive individuals.
You will find the proper airbag safety
precautions on both sun visors and on
the instrument cluster (US models).
For additional information concerning
the airbag system, refer to pages 121
and 148.The illustration shows the correct
seating position for a child in a child
restraint system
* with sufficient
distance between the child and the side
airbag (arrow).
520de115

55n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Your vehicle is equipped with an elec-
trically powered steering lock mecha-
nism.To activate the electrical power
supply and release the steering>Insert key at position 0. The steering
detent can be heard disengaging. If
you encounter any resistance when
turning the key to the right this indi-
cates that the detent is still engaged:
turn the steering wheel slightly to free
the mechanism and turn the key.
The vehicle immobilizer is deacti-
vated
>The sound system and other electri-
cal accessories are available for use
when the ignition key is in position 1 520de023
>Turning the key to position 2 provides
electrical power to the ignition and all
remaining electrical systems.
Removing the keyThe key is removed in position 0. Turn
the steering wheel to engage the
steering lock and activate the electronic
vehicle immobilizer.
With a discharged or discon-
nected battery, the steering
column will not be locked or unlocked.
Leaving the key in the ignition uses up a
minimal amount of power. In order to
avoid discharging the battery, remove
the key if the vehicle is to be parked for
an extended period of time.<
If the steering is locked and the
battery discharged or discon-
nected, do not tow the vehicle, as it will
not be possible to turn the steering
wheel.<
Ignition and steering lock

56n
Starting the engine Turning the engine off Before starting>Engage the parking brake
>Make sure that the transmission is in
neutral
>Depress the clutch pedal
>Turn ignition key to position 2.
Do not allow the engine to run in
enclosed areas. The exhaust
gases contain carbon monoxide, an
odorless and colorless, but highly toxic
gas. Breathing the exhaust gases poses
an extreme health risk, and can lead to
unconsciousness and death.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended
with the engine running. An unattended
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a potential safety hazard.<520de141
>Start the engine (by pressing the start
button) but do not step on the accel-
erator pedal.
Do not press on the starter button
for too short a time, but do not hold
it down for longer than 20 seconds,
either. Do not allow the engine to warm
up by leaving it running while the vehicle
remains stationary. Instead, drive off
immediately at a moderate engine
speed.<
Cold starts at very low temperatures,
from approx. +5 7 (Ð15 6) and at alti-
tudes above 3,300 ft (1,000 meters):
>On the first start attempt, engage the
starter for a longer period (approx.
10 seconds).
Engine idle speed is controlled by the
electronic engine management system.
A fast idle immediately after starting is
normal and should decrease as the
engine warms up. If the idle does not
return to normal as the engine reaches
normal operating temperature, service
is required.
To prevent the battery from discharg-
ing, always deactivate electrical
devices that are not in use. Switch the
ignition off when the vehicle is not
being driven.
Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Never remove the ignition key
while the vehicle is rolling. If you
did so, the ignition lock would engage
when the steering wheel is turned.
When you leave the vehicle, always
remove the ignition key and engage the
steering lock.
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on hills and inclined surfaces,
as first gear or reverse may not provide
adequate resistance to rolling.<

68n
Tire Pressure Warning (RDW)Flat tire The red indicator lamp will flash in the
event of a flat tire.
A supplementary gong is also heard.
Carefully reduce speed to less than
50 mph (80 km/h), avoiding any hard
braking or steering maneuvers while
doing so.
For additional details, refer to page 135.
RDW cannot provide advance
warning of sudden and severe tire
damage caused by road hazards or
other environmental factors.
RDW is also not designed to detect the
gradual, even pressure loss that all tires
exhibit over extended periods of time.<
Check tire pressure on a regular
basis and correct it as required.
Refer to page 26.
Do not activate the system when driving
on snow chains or when operating the
vehicle on a closed racing circuit. False
alarms and undetected pressure loss
are both possible under these condi-
tions.
In certain circumstances, there could
be a delayed detection of any loss in in-
flation pressure while driving on snow-
covered or slippery road surfaces.
A performance-oriented driving style
can also cause delayed RDW alerts
(e. g. slippage in the drive wheels, high
lateral acceleration).<
System interferenceThe red indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster will stay on for as long as there
is a malfunction.
The indicator lamp will come on if the
system malfunctions.
Please contact your BMW center for
additional information.

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
85n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Car care Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures86
Driving notes87
Catalytic converter87
Antilock Brake System (ABS)88
Dynamic Brake Control
(DBC)90
Disc brakes90
Brake system91
Winter operation92
Power steering94
Cellular phone94
Radio reception94
Wind deflector95
Hardtop96
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure98
Tire condition98
Tire replacement99
Tire rotation100
Wheel and tire
combinations101
Special features of winter
tires102
Snow chains102
Approved wheel and tire
specifications103Under the hood:
Hood104
Engine compartment106
Washer fluids108
Washer nozzles108
Engine oil109
Coolant111
Brake fluid112
Vehicle Identification
Number113
Maintenance and care:
The BMW Maintenance
System114
Caring for your vehicle115
Airbags121
Vehicle storage122
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications123
California Proposition 65
Warning123
OBD interface socket124