2003 BMW Z4 2.5I Owners Manual

Controls
This chapter provides you with the informa-
tion you need for complete control over
your vehicle. It describes all features used
for driving and for ensuring your safety and
comfort.

Opening and closing
18
Opening and closing
Keys
The key set
1Master keys with remote control –
determine the functions of the Key
Memory, refer to page 37.
You can mark individual keys for subse-
quent identification by applying the col-
ored decals that you received when
accepting delivery of your vehicle
There is an extended-life battery
in every master key that is
charged automatically in the ignition
lock as you drive.
For this reason, if you have a master key
with remote control that is otherwise
not used, use that key approximately
once a year while driving for an
extended period to charge the bat-
tery.<
2Spare key for storage in a safe place,
such as in your wallet.
This key does no open the lock of the
luggage compartment lid – useful for
valet parking, for example.
This key is not intended for constant
use
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for
operation whenever the driver's door is closed. The system simultaneously
engages and releases the locks on the
>doors
>luggage compartment lid
>fuel filler door
>storage compartment between the
backrests
>opened manual convertible top.
The central locking system can be oper-
ated
>from outside using the remote control
or via the driver's door lock
>from inside via the central locking sys-
tem button.
If it is operated from inside, the fuel filler
door will not be locked. Refer to page 20.
The anti-theft system is automatically acti-
vated whenever you activate the central
locking system from outside the vehicle. It
prevents the doors from being unlocked
with the lock buttons or release handles.
The alarm system is also armed.
The central locking system unlocks auto-
matically in the event of an accident. In
addition, the hazard warning flashers and
interior lamps come on.
Remote control
The concept
The remote control provides two additional
functions for central locking.
>Switching on interior lamps. Refer to
page 19.
With this function, you can also search
for the vehicle when parked in an
underground garage, for instance
>Opening the luggage compartment lid
separately. Refer to page 19. The lug-
gage compartment lid will open slightly,
regardless of whether it was locked or
unlocked.

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
19
Whenever you unlock or lock the vehicle,
you simultaneously deactivate/activate
the anti-theft system, disarm/arm the alarm
system and switch the interior lamps on/
off.
You can have a signal set to confirm
that the vehicle's locks have engaged
securely.<
Since persons or animals in the vehi-
cle could lock the doors from the
inside, always take the vehicle keys with
you so that the vehicle can be opened
again from the outside at any time.<
If it is no longer possible to lock the
vehicle via the remote control, the
battery is discharged. Use this key while
driving for an extended period in order to
recharge the battery.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW center. You can
also obtain replacement keys there.<
1To unlock
2To lock and secure, activate interior
lamps, disarm tilt alarm sensor and inte-
rior motion sensor
3To open the luggage compartment
To unlock
1.Press the button to unlock the driver's
door and the fuel filler door
2.Press the button a second time to dis-
engage all vehicle locks.
To lock and secure
Press the button.
To switch on the interior lamps
With the vehicle locked:
Press the button.
To deactivate the tilt alarm* and
interior motion sensors*
Press the button a second time immedi-
ately after locking.
For additional information, refer to
page 28.
To open the luggage compartment
Press the button.
The luggage compartment lid will open
slightly, regardless of whether it was
locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure that
the luggage compartment lid has not
been opened unintentionally.<
Panic mode – triggering alarm
By pressing the button for 2 to 5 seconds,
the alarm can be sounded in the event of
danger. The alarm is turned off by pressing
button 1 again – for unlocking.
External systems
External systems or devices may cause
local interference in the functions of the
remote control.
Should this occur, you can still open and
close the vehicle using the master key in
either the door or luggage compartment
locks.

Opening and closing
20
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply
with part 15 of the FCC – Federal Commu-
nications Commission – regulations. Oper-
ation is governed by the following:
FCC ID: LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to
these devices could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment.<
Door lock
One turn of the key in the driver's door lock
to unlock the driver's door only and the fuel
gas door.
Turn the key a second time to disengage all
other vehicle locks.
You can have a signal set to confirm
that the vehicle's locks have engaged
securely.<
Convenience operation
You can also operate the power windows
and the fully automatic convertible top via
the door lock.>To open:
With the door closed, hold the key in the
"Unlock" position
>To close:
With the door closed, hold the key in the
"Lock" position.
Watch the closing process carefully
and be sure that no one is trapped by
the closing motion. Releasing the key stops
the operation.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction
Turn the key all the way to the left or right to
unlock/lock the driver's door.
Interior
You can use this button to control the cen-
tral locking system whenever the doors are
closed. The doors and luggage compart-
ment lid are unlocked or locked only. The
anti-theft system is not activated.
If only the driver's door was unlocked from
the outside and you press the button, then,
with the driver's door still open, the lug-
gage compartment lid and the fuel gas
door will unlock, too. If the driver's door is
closed, it will be locked.
If you desire, the central locking sys-
tem can be activated automatically as
soon as you begin to drive. This can be
adjusted to be key-specific.<

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
21
To unlock and open
>Either unlock the doors together with
the button for the central locking sys-
tem and then pull each of the release
handles above the armrests
or
>pull the release handle for each door
twice: the initial pull unlocks the door,
and the second one opens it.
To lock
>Either use the central locking button to
lock all doors at once
or
>press the individual door lock buttons
down.
To prevent the driver from being
inadvertently locked out of the
vehicle, the driver's door lock button
will not engage as long as the door is
open.<
Since persons or animals in the vehi-
cle could lock the doors from the
inside, always take the vehicle keys with
you so that the vehicle can be opened
again from the outside at any time.<
Luggage compartment lid
To open from the outside
Turn the master key to the left as far as it
will go. The luggage compartment lid will
open slightly.
If the alarm system is armed, opening the
luggage compartment with the key will trig-
ger an alarm; refer also to page 27.
To open from the inside
If the luggage compartment lid has not
been locked separately, you can open it
with this button in the footwell on the
driver's side when the vehicle is stationary.
To close
The handle recess in the interior trim panel
of the luggage compartment lid makes it
easier to pull the lid down.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the luggage compart-
ment lid is clear when it is closed, following
the same precautions as with all closing
procedures.<
Operate the vehicle only when the
luggage compartment lid is closed,
since exhaust fumes could penetrate into
the interior of the vehicle. Should it be
absolutely necessary to operate the vehicle
with the luggage compartment lid open and
with the convertible top closed:
>Close all windows
>Increase the air supply from the air con-
ditioner or automatic climate control to
a high level. Refer to page 55 or 57.<

Opening and closing
22
Luggage compartment
Emergency release
This lever releases the luggage compart-
ment lid from inside the luggage compart-
ment.
To enlarge the luggage compartment
The luggage compartment can be enlarged
when the convertible top is closed.
Simultaneously turn the handles on both
sides of the luggage compartment to the
right past the resistance point.
The convertible top compartment panel is
raised.
Before opening the convertible top:
Turn the handles to the left and fold the
convertible top compartment panel down-
ward.
Before opening the convertible top,
make sure that the convertible top
compartment panel has been folded down
in the luggage compartment to avoid any
possible damage.<
Electric power windows
The illustration shows the power window
switches in the trim of the passenger door.
To open and close the windows
Ignition key in position 1 or higher
>Press the switch until you feel resis-
tance: the window continues to move
downward as long as you continue to
press the switch
>Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point: the window moves automat-
ically. Pressing the switch again stops
the opening cycle.
You can close the windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.
The window on the passenger side does
not move automatically.
After the ignition has been switched off:
You can still use the electric power win-
dows for up to 15 minutes, as long as no
one opens any of the doors.
When leaving the vehicle, always
remove the ignition key from the lock
and remember to close the doors to pre-
vent children from operating the power
windows and injuring themselves, etc.<
For convenience operation via the door
lock, refer to page 20.

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
23
Manual convertible top
The fabric top offers perfect protection
against the weather and it can be opened
easily and quickly by one person alone.
Here are a few tips so that you get the most
out of your Z4 roadster:
>It is advisable to close the convertible
top when the vehicle is parked.
The closed convertible top not only pro-
tects the passenger compartment from
unforeseeable damage from the
weather, but also provides a certain
degree of theft protection
>In addition, only keep valuables in the
locked luggage compartment, even
with the convertible top closed
>When the convertible top is open, the
central locking system also locks the
release button for the convertible top.
The convertible top cannot be oper-
ated. This provides better theft protec-
tion for valuables stored in the luggage
compartment
>Never mount a roof-mounted luggage
rack system on the convertible top.
To open the convertible top
Operate the convertible top only
when the vehicle is stationary.
Never store the convertible top for longer
than one day while it is wet to avoid perma-
nent damage from moisture.<
Before opening the convertible top,
make sure that the convertible top
compartment panel in the luggage com-
partment is lowered to avoid any possible
damage; refer to page 22.<1.Flip the handle out and turn it to the end
stop
2.Open the convertible top and push it
toward the rear of the vehicle
3.Gently swing the convertible top down-
ward and press until it engages audibly.
To close the convertible top

Opening and closing
24 1.Press button; see arrow 1
The convertible top is released and
moves up slightly; see arrow 2
2.Holding on to the handle, pull the con-
vertible top forward onto the windshield
frame
3.Lock the convertible top by turning the
handle until you hear the convertible
top engage.
At higher speeds, the ensuing vac-
uum in the passenger compartment
can cause the convertible top to begin flut-
tering. Increase the air supply so that a low
pressure draft does not occur in the vehi-
cle.<
Fully automatic convertible
top*
The fully automatic convertible top com-
bines assured protection against the ele-
ments with simple and easy handling.
Here are a few tips so that you get the most
out of your roadster:
>it is advisable to close the convertible
top when the vehicle is parked. The
closed convertible top not only protects
the passenger compartment from
unforeseeable damage from the
weather, but also provides a certain
degree of theft protection. In addition,
only keep valuables in the locked lug-
gage compartment, even with the con-
vertible top closed.
>Never mount a roof-mounted luggage
rack system on the convertible top.
>To prevent damage, do not operate the
convertible top at temperatures below
147/–106.
Never store the convertible top while
it is wet to avoid permanent damage
from moisture.<
Driving when the opening or closing
process has not been completed can
cause vehicle damage or personal injury.
Do not lay objects on the convertible top,
since they could fall off when the convert-ible top is operated and cause damage or
injuries.
Do not reach into the convertible top mech-
anism during opening and closing. Keep
children away from the moving parts of the
convertible top during operation.<
If possible, only operate the convert-
ible top with the vehicle stopped, as
otherwise the process may be interrupted.
If you set the convertible top in motion with
the vehicle stationary and then have to start
suddenly – for instance, at a traffic light –
you can still complete the operation by
driving as slowly as possible and again
pressing and maintaining pressure on the
button.<
At higher speeds, the ensuing vac-
uum in the passenger compartment
can cause the convertible top to begin flut-
tering. Increase the air supply so that a low
pressure draft does not occur in the vehi-
cle.<
To open and close
1To close
2To open
If at all possible, only operate the con-
vertible top if the engine is running.
This saves unnecessary battery wear.
Before closing the convertible top, remove
any objects from the windshield frame that
could keep the convertible top from closing
properly.<