2002 BMW Z8 CONVERTIBLE overheating

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Brakes:
Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. Even light but
consistent pressure on the brake pedal
could lead to high temperatures, brake
wear, and possibly, to brake system
failure.
Aquaplaning:
Reduce speed while driving on wet or
slushy roads, otherwise, a wedge of
water can form between the tires and
the road surface. This phenomenon is
referred to as "aquaplaning" or "hydro-
planing." It is characterized by a partial
or complete loss of contact between
the tires and the road surface. The ulti-
mate results are loss of steering and
braking control.
Driving through water:
When there is water on the roads, do
not drive in it if it is deeper than 1 ft
(30 cm), and even then, only at walking
speed, otherwise the vehicle can
sustain damage to the engine, the elec-
trical systems and the transmission.<
The catalytic converter reduces harmful
exhaust emissions.
It is designed for use with unleaded fuel
only. Even minute quantities of lead
would be enough to permanently
damage both the catalytic converter
and the system's oxygen sensor.
To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine
operation and to avoid potential
damage:
>Be sure to comply with the scheduled
maintenance requirements
>Fill the fuel tank well before it is empty
>Tow-start only when the engine is
cold. If you attempt to tow-start with
a warm engine, unburned residual
fuel could ignite on the way to the
catalytic converter and cause
damage. It is better to start the
vehicle with a battery charger or
assistance from another vehicle
>Avoid other situations where the fuel
is either not burned or burns incom-
pletely, such as engaging the starter
frequently or for extended periods, or
repeated start attempts in which the
engine does not start (stopping and
restarting an engine which is running
properly does not present a problem).
Never allow the engine to run with
any of the spark plug cables discon-
nected.Be sure to comply with the
instructions above to prevent
unburned fuel from reaching the cata-
lytic converter. Otherwise, there is the
danger of overheating and damage to
the catalytic converter.
Extreme temperatures are present with
the catalytic converter both on this and
every catalyst-equipped vehicle. Heat
shields are installed adjacent to some
sections of the exhaust system. Never
remove these shields; do not apply
undercoating to their surfaces. When
driving, standing at idle, and parking
the vehicle, take care to avoid contact
between the exhaust system and flam-
mable materials (grass, hay, leaves
etc.). Such contact could start a fire,
resulting in serious personal injury and
property damage.<
Driving notes Catalytic converter

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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.<

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Avoid overloading the vehicle so
that the permitted load on the tires
is not exceeded. Overloading can lead
to overheating and increases the rate at
which damage develops inside the
tires. You could have a blowout as a
result.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate a
flat tire or some other vehicle defect, as
can variations in normal vehicle
response, such as a pronounced
tendency to pull to the left or right.
Should this occur, respond by immedi-
ately reducing your speed. Proceed
carefully to the nearest BMW center or
professional tire center, or have the
vehicle towed in to have it and its tires
inspected.
Tire damage can endanger the lives of
both the vehicle occupants and other
road users.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer. BMW tests and approves
wheel and tire combinations. Refer to
page 104.DOT Quality GradesTread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger vehicle tires
must conform to Federal Safety
Requirements in addition to these
grades. rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half (1g) times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.TractionThe traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration, cornering,
aquaplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<
Tire condition Tire replacement