Page 78 of 174

78n
To openPull the handle. The lamp comes on.
A beverage holder is stored in the glove
compartment.
For further information, refer to
page 80.To closeFlip the door up.
To prevent injury in the event of an
accident, reclose the glove
compartment immediately after use.<520de049
To lockUse one of the master keys. The glove
compartment, the cellular phone holder
and the luggage compartment lid are
now locked.
A master key is also required for
unlocking.
If you turn over only your door and
ignition key for valet parking (refer
to page 30), for example, access to the
glove compartment, the cellular phone
holder and the luggage compartment is
not possible when the vehicle has been
locked.
You can turn the key all the way to the
lock's end positions to engage and
release the glove compartment lock.
For information on the cellular phone
holder and the luggage compartment
lid, please refer to page 142.
In the doorsTo open:
Pull the grab recesses.
To close:
Press cover back into place. 520de051
Glove compartment Storage compartments
Page 79 of 174

79n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Storage compartmentsIn the center console To open:
Flip the cover up (arrows 1) Ð access to
the ashtray and cigarette lighter.
When the glove compartment has been
unlocked, press the button (arrow 2) Ð
cellular phone holder.
To close:
Flip the cover back into place. Manual operation(in the event of electrical malfunction)
For operating the cellular phone holder,
refer to page 142.520de050
Behind the seatsBy way of example, the illustration
shows the storage compartment behind
the driver's seat.
To open:
Unlock by turning the master key all the
way to the left.
The cover will open slightly and can
then be flipped all the way up.
To close:
Press down until you hear it snap into
place. The cover has been locked
again.
If you turn over only your door and
ignition key for valet parking (refer
to page 30), access is impossible.<520de082
Rechargeable flashlight
Located in the storage compartment
behind the driver's seat.
Because of overload-protection, the
flashlight can remain in its holder.
Be sure that the flashlight is
switched off when it is inserted
into its holder. Failure to do so could
lead to deep discharge and damage.<520de070
Page 81 of 174
81n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Cellular phone
Ashtray
Located in the storage compartment in
the center console. To remove1. Press the button and remove the
plug.
2. Slide the button to the left and
remove the telephone.
Press the phone into the storage
compartment to return. The button
locks the phone back in place.
For further information on the cellular
phone, refer to the separate Owner's
Manual.520de159
Hands-free systemLocated over the interior rearview
mirror.
For further information on the cellular
phone, refer to the separate Owner's
Manual.520de131
To openLift cover.
To extinguish a cigarette, brush off the
ash and gently press the tip into the
funnel (arrow 1). To emptyPress button (arrow 2): the ashtray rises
and can now be extracted. 520de052
Page 83 of 174

83n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Cargo loadingStowing cargo If you are carrying cargo in the luggage
compartment of your BMW Z8 roadster:
>Load heavy cargo as far forward as
possible, directly behind the luggage
compartment partition
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
If you are stowing cargo behind the
seats in your BMW Z8 roadster:
>Stow only lightweight objects, such
as clothing
>Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest.
Do not stow either heavy cargo or
cargo with sharp edges and
corners behind the seats, or else they
could damage the back of the seat or
the rear trim panel.
Cargo that is too big or unwieldy and
stowed behind the seats can also
prevent the seat from locking properly
into position. Therefore, check to make
sure that the seat is properly locked
into place, moving the seat forward if
necessary. Refer to page 45.
Always position and secure the load
correctly. If you do not, it can endanger
vehicle occupants during braking or
evasive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the approved gross
weight or the approved axle loads (refer
to page 160), otherwise the vehicle's
operating safety is no longer assured
and you are in violation of the law.
Make sure to secure heavy or hard
objects you stow in the passenger area,
otherwise, these objects could be flung
about during braking or evasive maneu-
vers and possibly injure vehicle occu-
pants.<
Page 85 of 174

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 system92
Winter operation92
Power steering94
Cellular phone94
Car radio reception95
Wind deflector95
Hardtop96
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure99
Tire condition99
Tire replacement100
Tire rotation101
Wheel and tire
combinations102
Special features of winter
tires103
Snow chains103
Approved wheel and tire
specifications104Under the hood:
Hood105
Engine compartment108
Washer fluids110
Washer nozzles110
Engine oil111
Coolant113
Brake fluid114
Vehicle Identification
Number115
Maintenance and care:
The BMW Maintenance
System116
Caring for your vehicle117
Airbags123
Vehicle storage124
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications125
California Proposition 65
Warning125
OBD interface socket126
Page 88 of 174

88n
Antilock Brake System (ABS)The concept ABS enhances active safety by helping
to prevent the wheels from locking
under braking. Why is this important?
When front wheels lock up and cease
to turn, the tires break into a slide.
Result: the driver loses the ability to
steer the vehicle. Traction loss at the
rear wheels can cause the back end of
the vehicle to slip sideways and break
away in uncontrolled oversteer.
With ABS, you will achieve the shortest-
possible braking distances under all
given conditions (braking while driving
straight ahead or in curves, different
road surfaces).
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every brake appli-
cation:
>To help provide vehicle stability
>To help retain steering and maneu-
vering capability on all types of road
surfaces (asphalt, concrete, dirt, wet
surfaces, snow and ice).
Braking with ABSThe system is operative once the
vehicle exceeds a speed of approx.
6 mph (10 km/h). The ABS is deacti-
vated whenver the vehicle's speed
drops back below approx. 4 mph
(6 km/h). This means that the wheels
can lock only in the final phase of a
panic stop Ð a factor of no substantive
significance in actual use.
The ABS system works best in situa-
tions requiring maximum pressure on
the pedal (full braking). Since the
vehicle maintains steering responsive-
ness, you can nevertheless avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of
steering effort.
The ABS system's closed-loop control
circuit cycles in fractions of a second.
A pulsing of the brake pedal, combined
with the sounds associated with the
hydraulic controls, tells you that the
brake system is within its maximum
limit range and reminds you that you
should adapt your vehicle's speed to
road conditions. On road surfaces that have a loose
surface layer on a firm base with good
traction (on gravel, deep sand or snow,
for example), braking distances may be
longer than with locked wheels. This
also applies to driving with snow
chains. However, ABS continues to
provide enhanced vehicle stability and
steering response under these condi-
tions.
Page 89 of 174

89n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Antilock Brake System (ABS)Information for your safetyNot even ABS can suspend the laws of
physics. The consequences of brake
applications with inadequate clear-
ances for safety between vehicles,
excessive speed or if aquaplaning
occurs are always the responsibility of
the driver. You should never allow the
added safety provided by ABS to
mislead you into taking risks of any
kind.
Do not make any modifications to
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be
performed by authorized technicians
only.<
In case of a system malfunction
If the ABS warning lamp comes
on, refer to page 21. The brake
system will then function the
same as on vehicles without
ABS. However, have the brake
system checked by your BMW
center as soon as possible. To prevent
undetected defects and cumulative
faults from adversely affecting the
brake system, refer any problems to
your BMW center at the earliest oppor-
tunity.
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)CBC is an advanced ABS engineering
design. Vehicle stability is also
enhanced when braking during
cornering at high rates of lateral accel-
eration and during lane changes.
Page 91 of 174

91n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Disc brakesDriving notesWhen driving in heavy rain and on wet
roads it is advisable to apply light pres-
sure 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 braking process helps
dry the pads and rotors
Maximum braking force is obtained
while the wheels are not locked, but
rather when they are still barely turning
immediately prior to locking. ABS main-
tains this state automatically. If the ABS
fails, you should revert to the staggered
braking technique (refer to page 93).
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.
You can enhance the engine's braking
effect by downshifting, into first gear, if
necessary. Even if engine braking fails to slow the
vehicle sufficiently, you should still
make every effort to avoid prolonged
braking with continuous application of
low to moderate pressure at the pedal.
It is better to decelerate the vehicle by
applying a higher level of force at the
pedal (watch following traffic!) and then
subsequently pausing to allow the
brakes to cool briefly before starting on
your next braking cycle. By protecting
brake system components against
overheating, the cooling phases
afforded by this staggered, or intermit-
tent braking technique help maintain
consistent availability of optimal braking
response when it is needed.
Do not coast with the clutch pedal
depressed, the gear-shift lever in
neutral, or, above all, with the engine
off; otherwise, the engine will provide
no braking effect if the transmission is
in neutral, and there is no braking or
steering power assist if the engine is
not running. Never allow floor mats,
carpets or any other objects to obstruct
the accelerator, clutch or brake pedals
and pose a safety hazard by reducing
their available travel range.<