2002 BMW Z8 CONVERTIBLE Owners Manual

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Do not use spray starter fluids to start
the engine.
If the battery is discharged, the engine
can be started with the use of two
jumper cables and the battery of
another vehicle. You can also use the
same method to help start another
vehicle. Use only jumper cables with
fully insulated grips on the terminal
clamps.
Do not touch high-voltage wiring
and cables on a running engine.
There is a risk of fatal injury if you do
this. Carefully comply with the following
instructions to avoid personal injury or
damage to one or both vehicles.<
1. Ensure that the battery in the support
vehicle is also rated at 12 volts. This
information is provided on the top of
the battery casing
2 Do not disconnect your battery from
your vehicle's electrical system.
Switch off all electrical accessories in
both vehicles
3 Make absolutely certain that there is
no contact between the bodywork of
the two vehicles Ð short circuit hazard
4 Start the engine on the support
vehicle and allow it to run
5. Use one jumper cable (+) to connect
the positive terminal of the battery in
the support vehicle with the auxiliary
positive terminal provided in the
engine compartment of your BMW
specifically for jump-starting. The
cover of the auxiliary terminal for use
in jump-starting your BMW is identi-
fied by a "+" symbol, refer to illustra-
tion. Lift off by pulling the tab (arrow) 520de088
6. Next, connect one end of the other
jumper cable (Ð) to either the support
vehicle's negative battery terminal or
a suitable ground on its engine or
bodywork. Connect the other end to
the negative battery terminal or a
suitable ground on the vehicle being
started. There is a special nut
provided for this on the BMW (see
illustration)
Follow the same sequence for
connecting the jumper cables,
otherwise, you run the risk of injury
caused by spark generation at the
battery.<520de133
Jump-starting

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Jump-starting Towing the vehicle7. Start the support vehicle's engine
and let it run at an increased idling
speed for a few minites. Start the
engine on the vehicle needing the
jump-start, and allow it to run as
usual. If the first start attempt is not
successful, wait a few minutes
before another attempt in order to
allow the discharged battery to
recharge
8. Before disconnecting the jumper
cables let the engines run for a few
minutes
9. Then disconnect the jumper cables
in reverse sequence.
Depending on the cause of the fault,
have the battery recharged by your
BMW center.
Tow fittingThe screw-in tow fitting is stored in the
onboard tool kit; be sure that it remains
in the vehicle at all times. This fitting is
designed for installation in the tow
sockets located at the front and rear of
the vehicle. It is intended for towing on
paved road surfaces only.
It should not be used to pull a vehicle
out of deep snow, mud, sand, etc.
Always observe all applicable towing
laws and regulations.Access to tow socketsFront:
The uppermost grille stub is clipped on
the grille Ð which is located below the
main grille on the lower right Ð and this
grille can be pulled off, if you pull
forward on it.520de152
Rear
Use a screwdriver to press sideways
on the opening to remove the cover
(arrow).
Screw the tow fitting in until it
bottoms firmly. If this is not done,
the threads could be damaged.
Do not tow the vehicle by any compo-
nents of the running gear, or lash them
down in any way. If you do so, the
components could be damaged,
leading to possible accidents.<
Use only a nylon towing strap to tow
the vehicle. The inherent resilience of
this material helps protect both vehicles
from sudden jerking movements.520de164

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Towing the vehicle
Avoid "off-center" towing. Be sure
that the tow rope is pulled tightly
when the towing vehicle begins to
move.<
The towed vehicle should always
be the lighter of the two vehicles.
If this is not the case, it is no longer
possible to control vehicle response.<
Tow-startingFor instructions on jump-starting, refer
to page 145.
Never attempt to use your vehicle to
push another vehicle, since damage to
the energy-absorbing bumpers could
result.
Towing a vehicle1. Put the shift lever in neutral
2. Towing speed:
Max. 45 mph (70 km/h)
3. Towing distance:
Max. 95 miles (150 km)
4. Leave the ignition key in position 1 to
ensure that the brake lamps, turn
signals, horn and windshield wipers
remain operative, and to prevent the
steering lock detent from engaging
5. Switch on the hazard warning system
(comply with country-specific regula-
tions).
Find some means of identifying the
vehicle in tow, e. g. place a sign or
warning triangle in the rear window.
Make sure that the ignition key
remains in position 1 even when
the electrical system has failed to
prevent the steering lock from
engaging. The steering and brakes are
without power assist when the engine is
not running. This means that increased
effort is required for steering and
braking.<
Towing with a commercial tow
truck>Do not tow with sling-type equipment
>Use a wheel lift or flatbed equipment
>Please comply with applicable towing
laws.
Never allow passengers to ride in
a towed vehicle for any reason.<520us014

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Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Airbags150
Car radio reception151
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)152
Safety belt tensioner153
Interior rearview mirror with
automatic dimmer154
Xenon lamps155
Tech-

150n
Deceleration sensors continuously
monitor the acceleration forces acting
upon the vehicle. If there is a decelera-
tion because of a collision, where the
protection normally afforded by the
safety belts is no longer sufficient by
itself, then the gas generators for the
front airbag will be simultaneously
ignited on both the driver and
passenger sides. The front airbag on
the passenger side, however, will be
deployed only if a second sensor has
detected that the passenger is occu-
pied.
In the event of a side collision, only the
side airbags will be triggered if neces-
sary. And only that airbag for that side
of the vehicle where the collision
occurred will be triggered.
390de012
The airbags located under the marked
covers inflate and unfold in a matter of
milliseconds. In this process, they tear
through the designed separation points
of the covers or press them out.
Because the inflation process must be
virtually instantaneous, it is necessarily
accompanied by a certain amount of
ignition and inflation noise. The gas
required to inflate the airbags is not
dangerous, and the associated smoke
then dissipates.
The entire process is completed within
fractions of a second.
Airbags

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
AM, LW and SW broadcast signals
have substantially longer reception
ranges than FM transmissions. This is
because the broadcast signals propa-
gated at ground level in the form of
surface waves are also reflected from
the ionosphere as atmospheric waves.
Frequency modulation (FM) provides
substantially better sound quality than
the other frequency bands. However,
because FM transmissions rely on line-
of-sight broadcast waves, their effec-
tive reception range is limited.
The limitations inherent to radio recep-
tion in a moving vehicle have been
minimized by a number of innovative
system designs.360de084Car radio reception

152n
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)

Highly sensitive sensors monitor the
number of revolutions of the wheels,
steering angle, lateral acceleration,
brake pressure and the movement of
the vehicle around its vertical axis.
When the system detects substantial
differences in rotation rates between
wheels, it acts to inhibit uncontrolled
wheelspin by reducing the drive torque
transmitted to the affected wheel(s),
while also initiating selective braking
intervention as needed.
In addition, DSC permanently monitors
the vehicle's current operating condi-
tion and compares it with an ideal
status calculated based on sensor
signals. DSC reacts to deviations from
this ideal status, such as incipient
understeer or oversteer, to restore the
vehicle's stability using a combination
of adjustments to engine torque and
selective braking applications at indi-
vidual wheels. Dangerous skids are
thus prevented before they can even
start, all of this is possible, of course,
only within physically possible limits.You may need some time to become
accustomed to this system's interven-
tion. However, it provides optimum
drive force and vehicle stability.
The braking intervention may be
accompanied by sounds specific to the
system.