
Contents
Overview
Controls and features
Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps20
Hazard warning flashers24
Warning triangle24
First-aid kit24
Refueling25
Fuel specifications26
Tire inflation pressure26
Opening and closing:
Keys30
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer31
Central locking system32
Opening and closing from the
outside32
With the key32
With the remote control33
Opening and closing from the
inside36
Luggage compartment lid36
Electric power windows38
Sunroof, coupe39
Convertible top40
Adjustments:
Seats49
Mirrors50
Safety systems:
Safety belts52
Airbags54
Transporting children safely56
Driving:
Ignition lock58
Starting the engine59
Switching off the engine60
Parking brake60
Manual transmission61
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic62Turn signals/High beams64
Washer/Wiper system65
Rear window defroster66
Cruise Control67
Everything under control:
Odometer68
Tachometer68
Fuel gauge68
Coolant temperature gauge69
Service Interval Display69
Clock70
Computer70
Technology for safety and
convenience:
Automatic Stability Control
plus Traction (ASC+T)73
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)74
Lamps:
Parking lamps/Low beams76
Fog lamps76
Interior lamps77
Reading lamps78
Controlling the climate
for pleasant driving:
Heating and ventilation80
Heating and ventilation/
Air conditioner84
Seat heating89
Contents

28n
Opening and closing:
Keys30
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer31
Central locking system32
Opening and closing from the
outside32
Opening and closing from the
inside36
Luggage compartment lid36
Electric power windows38
Sunroof, coupe39
Convertible top40
Adjustments:
Seats49
Mirrors50
Safety systems:
Safety belts52
Airbags54
Transporting children safely56
Driving:
Ignition lock58
Starting the engine59
Switching off the engine60
Parking brake60
Manual transmission61
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic62
Controls

49n
IndexDataTechnologyRepiarsMaintenanceControlsOverview
For maximum safety, please comply
with the following:
Never try to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat
could respond with an unexpected
movement, and the ensuing loss of
vehicle control could result in an acci-
dent.
Be sure that the safety belt is fastened
firmly against your body at all times. In
the event of a frontal impact, a loose lap
belt could slide over your hips, leading
to abdominal injury. In addition, the
safety belt's restraint effectiveness is
reduced if the belt is worn loosely.
When adjusting your seat, select a
position that provides the maximum
distance between you and the steering
wheel, instrument panel and door while
still allowing comfortable and safe
access to all vehicle controls.<
Correct sitting postureTo reduce strain on your spinal column,
sit all the way back in the seat and rest
your back fully against the backrest.
In the ideal sitting posture, your head
extends along a straight line from your
spine.
For long-distance driving, you may wish
to increase the backrest tilt angle
slightly to reduce muscular tension.
You should also be able to grasp the
highest point of the steering wheel with
your arms slightly bent.
After a seat adjustment in the coupe,
adjust the height of the safety belt also,
refer to page 52.1 Height
*
2 Backward/forward adjustment367de015
Seat adjustment

50n
Seat adjustment Mirrors Backrest anglePull the lever and apply or remove
weight as required.
Read and comply with the adjust-
ment instructions on page 49.
Failure to do so can result in diminished
personal safety.< 367de076
Head restraintsThe head restraints are integrated into
the backrests.
Head restraints reduce the risk of spinal
injury in the event of an accident.
Exterior mirrorsMake adjustments with the large, four-
directional mirror switch.
Change to the other rearview mirror
with the smaller switch:
>Push the switch up Ð mirror on the
driver's side
>Push the switch down Ð mirror on the
passenger's side.
You can also adjust the mirrors manu-
ally by pressing against the outer edges
of their lenses.365de030

52n
Drive with your safety belt onFasten your safety belt before begin-
ning every trip.
To fasten: make sure you hear the
catch engage in the belt buckle during
the closing process.
To release: press the red button in the
buckle. Hold the belt and guide it back
to its reel.
The safety belt locks:
>In an abrupt stop or a collision
>If it is pulled out very quickly
>During sudden braking or accelera-
tion
>When the vehicle is at an extreme
angle.367de018
Z3 roadsterMake sure the safety belts are routed
through the belt guides on the seat
backrests.367de019
Z3 roadster
Safety belt height adjustment Ð
Z3 coupeYou can adjust the safety belts to fit
your own physical dimensions by using
the safety belt height adjustment mech-
anism.
Downward adjustment:
Press the button down (arrow 1).
Upward adjustment:
Grasp the deflection fitting on the sides
and slide it upward (arrows 2).367de636
Z3 coupe
Safety belts

Everything from A to Z
181n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsMaintenanceControlsOverview
Heated seats89
Heating and
ventilation80, 84
Heat-up, rapid83
Height171
Height adjustment, seats49
Help with jump starting158
High beams23, 64
bulb replacement137t
High Performance Synthetic
Oil124
High-mount brake lamp
(center)141
Hood release118t
Horn17
Hub cover150
Hydraulic brake assistant,
refer to DBCIIce warning71
Identification number of the
vehicle127
Identification, tires114
Ignition key30
Ignition switch58
Immobilizer, electronic31
Immobilizer, vehicle31Imprint4
Indicator lamps20
Inflation
pressures26t, 110
Inflation pressures,
tires26t
INSPECTION69
Instrument panel16
lighting76
Instruments18
Interface socket for onboard
diagnostics (OBD)133
Interior lamps77
bulb replacement142t
Interlock58
Intermittent wipe switch65
JJack146t
Jump-starting158tKKeys30
Keys with remote
control30, 33
Key, battery change143t
Kickdown63
LLamp switch76
Lashing eyes94
Leather care, refer to the
"Caring for your vehicle"
manual
Length171
License plate lamps
bulb replacement141t
Light-alloy wheel116
LIGHTS ON warning76
Limited slip differential166
Load-securing devices94
Lock buttons36
Locks, care105
Low beams76
bulb replacement137t
Low-fuel indicator lamp68
Lug bolts150, 151
Lug wrench147t
Luggage compartment36
capacity172
locking separately37
Luggage compartment lamp
bulb replacement142tLuggage compartment
lid36
electrical
malfunction37t
emergency release from
luggage compartment's
interior38
manual operation37t
MM + S tires115
Magic Eye
refer to Battery charge
condition154
Maintenance69, 128
Malfunction, cellular
phone107
Manual operation
doors32t
fuel filler door157t
luggage
compartment37t
luggage compartment
lid37t
Manual transmission61
Master key with battery
lamp143

Everything from A to ZMaster keys30
changing battery144
initializing144
replacements144
Mirrors50
adjusting51
defrosting51
Mobile phone107
refer also to the separate
Owner's Manual
Modifications,
technical6, 132
Multifunction switch64
M+S radial tires115NNet93
Non-smoker's equipment
package92
Notes on driving99OOBD interface socket133
Odometer68
Oil
adding123t
additives123
consumption123
grades124Oil change intervals, refer to
the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US
models) or the Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models)
Oil dipstick123
Oil level, checking123t
Oil level, indicator lamp21
Oil pressure, indicator
lamp20
OILSERVICE69
Old batteries154
Onboard computer70
refer to the "Owner's
Manual for Onboard
Computer"
Onboard Diagnostics, data
link connector133
Onboard tool kit136t
Opening and closing
from the inside36
from the outside32
with the remote control33
Outside mirrors50
Outside temperature
display71
PParking brake21, 60
Parking lamps76
Parking, winter106
Partition net93
Phone, mobile107
refer also to the separate
Owner's Manual
Please wear your safety belt
warning lamp21
Position lamps
bulb replacement138t
Power convertible top
electrical
malfunction157t
manual operation157t
Power seat adjustment49
Power steering106
Pressures, tires26, 110
Pressure, tires110QQuality Grades, tires111
RRadiator, frost
protection105
Radio reception166
Radio, refer to the separate
Owner's Manual
Rapid heating83, 88
Reading lamps78
Rear lamps, bulb
replacement139t
Rear window defroster66
Rear window washer,
automatic65
Rear window wiper65
blade replacement136t
Rearview mirrors50
Recirculated air mode86
refer to spare wheel147t
Refueling25
Releasing the hood118t
Remote control33, 144
for computer70
Remove condensation from
windows83
Replacement keys30
Replacement,
tires111, 112

Everything from A to Z
183n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsMaintenanceControlsOverview
Replacing fuses156t
Replacing windshield wiper
blades136t
Reporting safety defects7
Reservoir, washer
system122t
Roll-up cover93
Roof load capacity172
Roof-mounted luggage
rack95
Rubber seals and
components, winter105SSafety belt tensioner166
Safety belts52
Safety defects, reporting7
Seals and components,
winter105
Seat adjustment49
Seat heating89
Securing cargo94
Selector lever, automatic
transmission62
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet
(US models)129Service Interval
Display69, 128
Set temperature82, 86
Shiftlock62
Side airbags54, 130
Side marker lamps, bulb
replacement139t
Sitting correctly with
airbags55
Skid control106
Slippery roads105
Snow chains105t
Socket92
electrical appliances92
flashlight92
vacuum cleaner92
Spare keys30
Spare tire147t
Spare wheel147t
Spark plugs174
Special features of winter
tires115
Special oils124
Specifications, engine170
Speed, average72
Speed control67
Starting assistance158tStarting problems
59, 100, 158
Starting the engine59
Steel wheel116
Steering106
Steering wheel lock58
Steptronic62
Storage boxes90
Storage compartments90
Storage trays90
Storing the vehicle130
Summer tires114
Sunroof39
Switching off the engine60
Symbols4, 153
TTachometer68
Tail lamp assembly, bulb
replacement139t
Tail lamps139, 140
bulb replace-
ment139t, 140t
Tank capacity173
Technical Data169
Technical
modifications6, 132Telephone
refer to the separate
Owner's Manual
Temperature display
engine coolant69
outside temperature71
Temperature
layering82, 87
Third brake lamp141
Tire change, refer to wheel
change146t
Tire condition110
Tire failure, Z3 roadster,
Z3 coupe146
Tire inflation pressures110
checking26t
Tire Quality Grading112
Tire replacement111, 112
Tire rotation between front
and rear113
Tire size116
Tire tread110
Tires, identification114
Tools136t
Torque170
Tow fittings159t
Towing the vehicle159t