2001 BMW Z8 Owners Manual

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Parking brake The parking brake is primarily designed
to prevent the vehicle from rolling while
parked. It operates on the rear wheels.To engageThe lock engages automatically when
you lift the lever, and the indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster comes on
when the ignition key is in position 2.
Refer to page 21.To releasePull up slightly on the lever, press the
button and lower the lever.520de024
If, in rare circumstances, it should
be necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull hard on the lever.
Keep your thumb pressed against the
release button while carefully pulling
the lever up to apply moderate pres-
sure.
Excessive pressure can lead to over-
braking and loss of traction (fishtailing)
at the rear axle.
The brake lamps do not come on when
the parking brake is engaged.
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on hills and inclined surfaces,
as selecting first gear or reverse may
not provide adequate resistance to
rolling.<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided
braking, apply the parking brake lightly
from time to time when coasting to a
standstill (at a traffic signal, for
instance), provided that it is safe to do
so.

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Manual transmission
Turn signal/Headlamp flasher
Every time you shift gears, always
depress the clutch pedal all the way
down, pushing the gear lever into the
desired position.
Always remember to depress the clutch
pedal when starting the engine; a lock-
out device prevents starting when the
clutch is engaged.
The shift lever's neutral plane is located
between 3rd and 4th gears.
The shift lever automatically returns to
the 3rd/4th plane whenever you select
neutral. 520de158
When shifting across the gate to
the 5th/6th gear plane always
remember to push the lever to the right
to avoid inadvertent engagement of 3rd
or 4th gear <
Reverse Select "Reverse" only when the vehicle
is stationary. Press the shift lever to the
left to overcome the resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamp will
turn on automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2.
Never slip the clutch to prevent
the car from rolling backwards
when stopping on hills. Slipping the
clutch for extended periods leads to
rapid, premature clutch wear. <
1 High beam (blue indicator lamp)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator
lamp)
3 Turn signals (green indicator lamp
and cyclical clicking from the blinker
relay)
If the indicator lamp and the clicking
from the relay are faster than normal,
one of the turn signal bulbs is defective.To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond
the pressure point. It then returns to the
center position when released.520de025

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Washer/Wiper system 0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent mode
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe520de160
0 Wipers offThe wipers are partially hidden behind
the hood. To bring the wipers up into
their vertical position (important when
changing the blades, or folding up
when frost is expected):
With the lever in position 1, switch off
the ignition as soon as the wipers come
to a stop.
For changing the wiper blades, refer to
page 128.
Fold the wipers back down onto
the windshield before you turn the
ignition key to position 1 or 2 again. If
you do not, they could be damaged.<1 Intermittent mode Wiper delay varies automatically,
depending on actual road speed.
2 Normal wiper speedThe wipers automatically revert to inter-
mittent mode when the vehicle is
stationary.3 Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the
wipers operate at normal speed.

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Washer/Wiper system Rear window defroster 1 Clean windshield
2 Clean windshield/headlamps 1 Clean windshield The system sprays washer fluid against
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
If you only pull the lever briefly, the
system sprays washer fluid onto the
windshield without activating the
wipers.520de139
2 Clean windshield/headlamps Automatic windshield washer and head-
lamp washers are activated. Every time
they are actuated, both the windshield
and the headlamps are cleaned.
Do not use the washers if there
is any danger that the fluid will
freeze on the windshield. If you do so,
your vision could be obscured. Use an
antifreeze agent. Refer to page 108.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. If you do so, the washer
pump could be damaged. automatically when the ignition key is in
position 2.
To activateWith the hardtop in place, press the
button: as long as the indicator lamp
remains on, the rear window defroster
operates at high output (rapid thaw).
After the indicator lamp goes out, the
defroster continues operating at
reduced power for a limited period
before deactivating automatically. To deactivateIf the indicator lamp is still on, press the
button.
The indicator lamp is always
active, however the rear window
defroster will not work if the hardtop is
not in place.<520de027

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Cruise control You can store and automatically main-
tain any desired vehicle speed above
approx. 20 mph (30 km/h).
Refrain from using the cruise
control on twisting roads, when
high traffic density prevents driving at a
constant speed, and when driving on
slippery (snow, rain, ice) or loose
(gravel, sand) road surfaces.< 520de061
Store and maintain
speed/acceleratePress the lever briefly in direction 1:
The system maintains the current
vehicle speed. Every time you briefly
press the lever, the speed increases by
approx. 0.6 mph (1 km/h).
Press and hold the lever in position 1:
The vehicle accelerates without pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal. When
you release the lever, the system main-
tains the current speed.
The vehicle may accelerate
beyond the preselected speed on
steep downhill stretches, where engine
braking alone may not be enough to
slow the vehicle. It can also slow when
the engine fails to maintain the prese-
lected speed when ascending steep
grades.< To deceleratePress the lever briefly in direction 2:
With the cruise control active, the
speed decreases by approx. 0.6 mph
(1 km/h) every time you briefly touch the
lever.
Press and hold the lever in position 2:
With the cruise control active, the
system automatically reduces the
throttle opening to slow the vehicle.
When you release the lever, the system
registers and maintains the current
speed.To cancel the cruise controlPress the lever briefly in direction 3:
The cruise control is immediately
canceled.
In addition, the system automatically
deactivates in response to the following
conditions
>braking
>clutch disengagement
>when vehicle speed deviates from
the preset speed for an extended
period, for instance, as a result of
pressure on the accelerator pedal. To deactivate the system Turn ignition key to position 0.

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1 Odometer With the ignition key in position 0, you
can activate the displays shown in the
illustration by pressing the button in the
instrument cluster (arrow).2 Trip odometerTo reset the trip odometer to zero,
press the button (arrow) with the igni-
tion key in position 1.520us004
Never allow engine speed to climb until
the needle enters the tachometer's red
sector.
To protect the engine, the engine-
management system automatically
interrupts the fuel supply in this range,
producing the sensation of a sudden
loss of power.520de029
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator lamp lights up briefly to
confirm that the system is operational.
Once the indicator lamp comes on and
stays on, there are approx. 2.5 gallons
(10 liters) of fuel left in the fuel tank.
For fuel tank capacity, refer to
page 157.
Certain operating conditions (such
as those encountered in mountainous
areas) may cause the needle to fluc-
tuate slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving
to the last drop of fuel can result
in damage to the engine or catalytic
converter.<520us005
Odometer Tachometer Fuel gauge

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Coolant temperature gauge Service Interval Display BlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at
moderate engine and vehicle speeds.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly to
confirm that the system is operational.
If the lamp comes on in the course of
normal vehicle operation, the engine
has overheated. Turn it off immediately
and let it cool down.520de031
Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. It is not
unusual for the needle to rise as far as
the edge of the red zone in response
to high outside temperatures or severe
operating conditions.
For checking coolant level, refer to
page 111.
Remaining distance before
serviceThe displays shown in the illustration
appear for a few seconds when the
ignition key is in position 1 or after the
engine is started.
The remaining distance in miles and the
next scheduled service will appear
together with the display OILSERVICE
or INSPECTION.
The computer bases its calculations
for the remaining distance on the
previous driving style.
A flashing display and a "Ð" in front of
the number indicate that service is past
due by the number of miles displayed.
Please contact your BMW center for an
appointment.520us006

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To set the clock From ignition key position 0 on:
To set ahead: turn the button to the
right.
To set back: turn the button to the left.
Hold the button turned continuously to
move the hands faster.520us007
The Multi-Information Radio allows you
to operate the navigation system and
various cellular phone functions as well
as your in-car sound system.
Please refer to the supplementary
Owner's Manual provided with your
sound system for detailed information
on adjusting and operating the Multi-
Information Radio. Outside temperature You can have the outside temperature
shown on the Multi-Information Radio
display. Refer to the supplementary
Owner's Manual.
Clock Multi-Information Radio (MIR)