2002 BMW Z8 ECU

46n
Head restraints Seat backrest Belt guideAdjustments Upward: by pulling.
Downward: unlock by first pressing the
button located on the right under the
leather (arrow 1).
Head restraints reduce the risk of
spinal injury in the event of an
accident.
Adjust the head restraint so that its
center is approximately level with your
ears.<520de016
To unlockPull on the outermost edge of the strap
and tip the backrest forward.
The strap for the driver's backrest is
located on the outside, while the
passenger's seat is equipped with
release straps on both the left and right
sides of the backrest.
Lock both backrests while driving,
otherwise there is a danger of an
unexpected movement causing an
accident.
Do not use the strap as a holder, e. g.
for newspapers or other items. This
could cause the backrests to unlock.<520de098
The strap for the belt guide can be
opened: release the push button.
This feature can be used to facilitate
access to the rear storage well for
loading and when using equipment
features on the rear bulkhead.
For further information regarding
loading, refer to page 83.
Before each trip, insert the safety
belt into the guide strap, other-
wise, it will not hold securely and lose
its effectiveness as a restraint device,
as it will be too loose.<520de099

52n
AirbagsSitting correctly with airbags
Comply with the following instruc-
tions for the airbags, otherwise,
the airbags may not be able to provide
their maximum protection, with
resulting risks to personal safety. All
passengers in the vehicle should be
aware of and comply with this informa-
tion:
The airbag is a supplemental restraint
device; it is not a substitute or replace-
ment for your safety belt, which you
should continue to wear at all times.
When adjusting your seat, assume a
comfortable driving posture allowing
comfortable and secure access to all of
the vehicle's controls. Avoid sitting too
close to the steering wheel.
Always hold the steering wheel by the
rim Ð hands in the "9 o'clock" and
"3 o'clock" positions Ð otherwise, your
hands or arms could be injured if the
airbag is triggered.
Never allow any other passengers,
animals or objects to intrude into the
area between the airbag and the driver
or front passenger.
Do not use the cover panel above the
front passenger airbag as a storage
area.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, or cover or
modify them in any other way.
Do not use a rear-facing child seat in
the front passenger seat. If you use a
child-restraint system, carefully read
and comply with the instructions on
page 53.
Be sure that child seats are installed
correctly and with the greatest possible
distance between them and the side
airbag. Do not allow children to lean out
of the child's seat in the direction of the
side trim panels. If they do so, serious
injuries can occur if the airbag is trig-
gered.<
Even when all these guidelines are
observed, there is still a small residual
risk of injury to the face, hands and
arms occurring from airbag deployment
in isolated instances.
The ignition and inflation noise may
cause a mild temporary hearing loss in
extremely sensitive individuals.
You will find the proper airbag safety
precautions on both sun visors and on
the instrument cluster (US models).
For additional information concerning
the airbag system, refer to pages 123
and 150.The illustration shows the correct
seating position for a child in a child-
restraint system
* with sufficient
distance between the child and the side
airbag (arrow).
520de115

53n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Airbags Transporting children safelyThe illustration shows the correct
seating position for an older child
wearing a safety belt with sufficient
distance between the child and the side
airbag (arrow).520de116
Before installing any child-
restraint device or child seat,
please read the following:
Never install a rear-facing child-
restraint system in the passenger seat
of this vehicle.
If the airbag deploys and hits the back-
rest of the rear-facing child seat, it is
likely that the child sitting in the rear-
facing child seat will be seriously
injured or killed.
If it is necessary for a child (not an
infant) to ride in the vehicle, certain
precautions should be taken. First,
move the passenger seat as far away
from the dashboard as possible. This
important precaution is intended to
maximize the distance between the
airbag and the child. Older children
should be tightly secured with the
safety belt. Younger children should be
secured in an appropriate forward-
facing child-restraint system that has
first been secured with a safety belt.
In the interest of the child's safety,
please carefully read and comply with
the instructions for installation and use
provided by the child restraint's manu-
facturer whenever you use such a
device.
Do not allow children to lean out of a
child-restraint system toward the door
or dashboard, as otherwise serious
injuries may result if the airbag deploys.
Always ensure that all occupants (of all
ages) remain properly and securely
restrained at all times.
Read carefully and comply with the
safety precautions covering safety belts
on page 50. If you do not, the protec-
tive function of the safety belts will be
limited.<

54n
Transporting children safelyChild seat securityThe safety belt on the passenger side
can be locked for mounting and
securing child-restraint systems.
A label with operating instructions is
attached to the belt next to the sliding
latch plate.520us003
To lock the beltExtract the entire length of the belt from
the inertia reel mechanism. Allow the
reel to retract the belt somewhat and
engage the buckle, then tighten the belt
against the child-restraint system. The
retraction mechanism is now locked.
The belt cannot be retracted further.
Comply with the installation instructions
provided by the manufacturer of the
child-restraint system.To release the beltRelease the buckle, remove the child-
restraint system and allow the inertia
reel to retract the belt completely.

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.<

106n
HoodTo closeLower the front of the hood to within
several inches of the lock, then allow it
to fall of its own weight. Next, press
both sides down simultaneously,
continuing until you hear the detent
mechanism engage.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the hood is clear
when it is being closed, as with all
closing procedures.
If it is determined that the hood is not
completely closed while driving, stop
immediately and close it securely.<520de154

139n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Battery
A highly explosive gas is
generated when the battery is
charged.
If you happen to get acid in your
eyes, rinse thoroughly for
15 minutes with clear water.
Consult a physician immediately. If you
get acid spray on your skin or clothing,
rinse with plenty of water. If acid is
accidentally ingested, consult a physi-
cian immediately.
In order to protect the battery
case from ultraviolet radiation,
do not place it in direct sunlight.
A discharged battery can freeze. Store
the battery in areas where temperature
remains above freezing.
Removing and installing
Do not disconnect the battery
cable when the engine is running.
Disconnecting the battery cable when
the engine is running will cause a
voltage surge which will damage the
vehicle's onboard electronics.
Do not make any modifications in the
wires to the positive terminal. If you do
so, the protective function of the safety
battery terminal is no longer ensured.
Repairs and disposal may only be
performed by specially trained
personnel.<
When removing, first disconnect the
cable to the negative terminal, then
disconnect the cable to the positive
terminal. Loosen the center adjusting
screw for the battery's retaining strap
(use the screwdriver found in the
onboard tool kit) and remove the
bracket.
When installing, first connect the cable
for the positive terminal, then the cable
for the negative terminal.
When installing, make sure that
the battery is seated properly, and
that the battery bracket is installed with
the center adjusting screw. Failure to
observe these precautions could result
in an inadequately secured battery,
which could then shift in an accident.<
Charging the battery Charge the battery in the vehicle only
when the engine is not running. Use the
connections provided in the engine
compartment (for correct connections,
refer to "Jump-starting" on page 145).
Before performing any work on
the electrical system, disconnect
the cable from the negative terminal. If
you do not, short circuits can create the
risk of fire or personal injury.<
If you plan to park the vehicle for longer
than 4 weeks, disconnect the battery
from the vehicle's electrical system by
disconnecting the cable at the negative
terminal. Then recharge the battery with
an appropriate battery charger.
If you intend to store the vehicle for
longer than 12 weeks, remove the
battery, charge it and store it in a cool
and dust-free room where there is no
danger of freezing. During storage,
have the battery recharged every six
months. Also, recharge the battery
before it is reinstalled. Failure to
observe these precautions can render
the battery unsuitable for continued
use. Every time the battery is
discharged, especially over extended
periods, its service life is reduced.

140n
Battery Fuses
Return used batteries to a recy-
cling point or your BMW center.
Maintain the battery in an upright posi-
tion for transport and storage. Secure
the battery to prevent it from tilting
during transport.<
If an electrical accessory should fail,
switch it off and check the fuse.
The fuses, their individual ampere
ratings and the equipment in the
circuits they protect are all indicated on
the cover of the fuse box in the glove
compartment and on the inside of the
cover panel for the storage compart-
ment located behind the passenger's
seat.
In the glove compartment>Open the glove compartment
>Unlock the fuse box and swing it
downward
>Remove the lid with the list on it.
Spare fuses and plastic tweezers are
located in the fuse box lid behind the
passenger-side seat
>Use the plastic tweezers to remove
the fuse for the accessory or equip-
ment that has stopped working
>Replace a blown fuse, recognizable
by its melted metal strip, with a new
fuse that has the same color or
ampere rating.520de149