
108n
To ensure that your vehicle continues to 
provide maximum economy throughout 
an extended service life, we request 
that you devote careful attention to the 
following instructions. 
Engine and differentialThe first 1,200 miles (2,000 km): 
Attempt to constantly vary both vehicle 
and engine speed during these initial 
miles while remembering to avoid 
engine speeds in excess of 4,500 rpm 
and/or vehicle speeds of over 100 mph 
(160 km/h):
Always obey all official speed limits.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid 
pressing the accelerator beyond the 
kickdown point.
After the initial 1,200 miles (2,000 km) 
you can gradually increase both engine 
and vehicle speeds.
Please remember to observe the same 
break-in procedures if either the engine 
or the differential is replaced later in the 
course of the vehicle's service life.
TiresOwing to technical factors associated 
with their manufacture, tires do not 
achieve their full traction potential until 
an initial break-in period has elapsed. 
We thus ask you to drive with extra care 
during the first 200 miles (300 km).
Always obey all official speed limits.
When the vehicle is operated on 
wet or slushy roads, a wedge of 
water may form between the tire and 
the road surface. This phenomenon is 
referred to as aquaplaning, or hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or 
complete loss of traction, vehicle 
control and braking effectiveness. 
Reduce your speed on wet roads.
rotors achieve the optimal pad-surface 
and wear patterns required for trouble-
free operation and an extended service 
life later on.
To break-in the separate parking brake 
drums, apply the parking brake lightly 
when coasting to a standstill (at a traffic 
signal, for instance); use caution to 
avoid posing a danger to other road 
users. You can prevent corrosion in the 
drums by periodically repeating this 
procedure.
The brake lamps do not come on 
when you engage the parking 
brake. 
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit 
on your BMW is available only when the 
engine is running. When you move the 
vehicle with the engine off Ð when 
towing, for example Ð substantially 
higher levels of pedal force will be 
required to brake the vehicle.
operate at optimum efficiency. 
Remember to engage the clutch care-
fully during this initial period.
Break-in procedures
  

110n
Brake system Hardtop
*
Disc brakesLimited vehicle use, extended periods 
with the vehicle parked or in storage, 
and operating conditions in which 
braking is restricted to gentle, low-
pressure applications will all increase 
the tendency for corrosion to form on 
the rotors; this is often accompanied by 
a simultaneous accumulation of 
contamination on the brake pads. The 
pads must exert a certain minimal level 
of pressure against the rotors for the 
disc brakes' inherent self-cleaning 
effect to remain effective.
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.
When driving in heavy rain and on wet 
roads it is useful to apply light pressure 
to the brake pedal every few miles. 
Monitor traffic conditions to ensure that 
this maneuver does not pose a hazard 
to you or to other road users. The heat 
generated in this process helps dry the 
pads and rotors to ensure that your 
brake system will respond with undi-
minished efficiency when you need it.
When descending steep hills and 
extended grades, downshift to a gear 
that will allow you to continue safely with only a minimal amount of braking. 
By minimizing the loads placed on the 
brake system, this strategy helps 
ensure that optimal brake system 
response will remain available at all 
times. Use care to avoid exceeding the 
approved engine-speed range, refer to 
page 74.
Do not coast with the clutch 
depressed or with the transmission 
or selector lever in neutral. Do not coast 
with the engine shut off. The engine 
provides no braking effect when the 
clutch is depressed and there is no 
power-assist for braking or steering 
when the engine is not running.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any 
other objects to protrude into the area 
around the accelerator, clutch and brake 
pedals and obstruct their movement.<
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only 
brake pads that the manufacturer 
has released for your particular vehicle 
model. The manufacturer cannot eval-
uate 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.<
It is not necessary to remove the fabric 
top even in the winter, when the 
hardtop is generally in constant use. 
But you can also remove it at any time 
with no problem. Before the fabric top 
is stored in the convertible top 
compartment, it must be absolutely dry 
in order to avoid water spots and 
mildew from forming.
The hardtop offers reading lamps and 
clothes hooks that can be used just by 
pressing. In addition, a roof-rack can be 
mounted, for more information, please 
contact your BMW center.
When suspending articles of 
clothing from the hooks, be sure 
that they will not obstruct the driver's 
vision. Do not hang heavy objects on 
the hooks. If you do so, they could 
cause personal injury during braking or 
evasive maneuvers.<
Two people are required for installation 
or removal. Work with extreme caution 
in order to avoid paint damage and 
damage to the body or hardtop.
To facilitate hardtop installation or 
removal, you can obtain a specially 
designed hardtop lift
* or hardtop rack
* 
at your BMW center. 

Everything from A to Z
151n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Brake system108, 109 
brake pads110 
brake rotors, 
corrosion110 
defect in hydraulic 
circuits109 
disc brakes110 
Break-in procedure108 
Bulbs and lamps, 
replacement131 C 
California Proposition 
65 Warning126 
Canned beverage 
holder100 
Capacities147 
Car care, refer to the "Caring 
for your vehicle" manual 
Car phone100 
Car wash systems, refer to 
the "Caring for your 
vehicle" manual 
Care of upholstery materials, 
refer to the "Caring for your 
vehicle" manual Cargo loading103 
CBC (Cornering Brake 
Control)18, 81 
Cellular phone 
refer also to the 
"Telephone Owner's 
Manual" 
Center (high-mount) brake 
lamp134 
Center armrest99 
Central locking system28 
inside control button32 
Changing a wheel135 
Charging the battery139 
Check Control76 
Check engine oil level121 
Checking coolant level123 
Checking tire pressures24 
Child-restraint systems59 
Cigarette lighter101 
Cleaning headlamps71 
Cleaning windshield71 Clock76 
refer also to the 
"Telephone Owner's 
Manual" 
Clutch108 
Cockpit14 
Coin box100 
Compartments99 
Compression ratio144 
Computer76 
refer also to the "Owner's 
Manual for Onboard 
Computer" 
Configuring individual 
settings via Vehicle and 
Key Memory63 
Consumption78 
display75 
Convenience operation via 
driver's door lock 
fully-automatic convertible 
top31 
power windows31 
Convertible top 
compartment panel35 
Convertible top, fully 
automatic operation42 Coolant123 
capacity147 
Coolant temperature 
gauge75 
Cooling system, 
capacity147 
Copyright4 
Cornering Brake Control 
(CBC)18, 81 
Correct sitting posture48 
Cruise control72 
Cruising range78 
Cup holder, refer to 
beverage holder100 
Curb weight146 
D 
Data 
dimensions145 
engine144 
weights146 
Daytime driving lamps87 
DBC (Dynamic Brake 
Control)82 
Defrost windows92, 94 
Digital clock76 
Dimensions145 
Dipstick, engine oil121 
Displacement144