2003 BMW Z4 2.5I clutch

Driving
38
Driving
Ignition lock
0Steering locked
1Steering unlocked
2Ignition switched on
3Engine started
Steering locked
This is the only position in which the igni-
tion key can be inserted or removed.
After removing the key, turn the steering
wheel slightly to the left or right until the
lock engages.
If the key is not removed, an acoustic signal
sounds when the driver's door is opened.
Once the ignition has been switched off –
ignition key in position 0 or removed – the
radio functions are still available for approx.
20 minutes. Turn the radio back on to use it.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
do not move the selector lever from
position P until the engine is running – igni-
tion key in position 2.
In order to turn the key back to position 0 or
to remove it, move the selector level into
position P first – Interlock.<
Steering unlocked
You will often find that it is easier to turn the
ignition key from position 0 to 1 if you move
the steering wheel slightly to help disen-
gage the detent.
Individual electrical equipment and acces-
sories are available for use.
Engine
Do not allow the engine to warm up while
the vehicle is stationary. Instead, begin
driving immediately at a moderate engine
speed.
Engine idle speed is controlled by the
engine computer system. Increased
speeds at start-up are normal and should
decrease as the engine warms up. If engine
speed does not decrease, service is
required.
To prevent the battery from discharging,
always deactivate electrical devices that
are not in use. Switch the ignition off when
the vehicle is not being driven.
Do not allow the engine to run in
enclosed spaces. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, an odorless and
colorless, but highly toxic gas. Breathing
the exhaust gases poses an extreme health
risk, and can lead to unconsciousness and
death.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. An unattended vehicle
with a running engine poses a safety haz-
ard.
When driving, standing at idle and parking
the vehicle, take care to avoid contact
between the hot exhaust system and flam-
mable materials – e.g. hay, leaves, grass,
etc. Such contact could lead to a fire,
resulting in serious personal injury and
property damage.<
Starting the engine
Do not press the accelerator pedal while
starting the engine.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Step on the clutch when starting the
vehicle. A lockout prevents the engine from
starting if the clutch is not depressed.<
Do not actuate the starter for too
short a time, but do not actuate it for
more than approx. 20 seconds. Release

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
39
the ignition key immediately when the
engine starts.<
Extended starting attempts, charac-
terized by excessively frequent or
long periods with the starter engaged, can
damage the catalytic converter.<
If the engine fails to start on the first
attempt – if it is very hot or cold, for
instance:
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down.
Cold starts at very low temperatures –
starting at approx. +57 / –156
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter
>On the first start attempt, engage the
starter for a longer period –
approx. 10 seconds.
Manual transmission
1.Engage the parking brake
2.Gearshift lever in idling position
3.Depress clutch pedal
4.Start the engine.
Automatic transmission
1.Depress footbrake
2.Place selector lever in position P or N
3.Start the engine.
Before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running, place the selector
lever in position P and pull the parking
brake.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. An unattended vehicle
with a running engine poses a safety haz-
ard.<
Switching off the engine
Do not remove the ignition key while
the vehicle is still moving. If you did so,
the steering lock would engage when the
steering wheel is turned.
When you leave the vehicle, always remove
the ignition key and engage the steering lock.
Always engage the parking brake when park-
ing on downhill roads.<
Manual transmission
Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Automatic transmission
Place the selector lever in position P and
turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Parking brake
The parking brake is designed primarily to
prevent the vehicle from rolling when
parked. It operates against the rear wheels.
The brake warning lamp lights up
when the parking brake is engaged;
if you start driving, an acoustic sig-
nal is heard as well.
Brake warning lamp for Canadian
models
To engage
The detent engages automatically and the
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on when the ignition key is in posi-
tion 2.
To release
Pull up slightly on the lever, press the but-
ton and lower the lever.
If, in exceptional circumstances, it
should be necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in motion,
do not pull it with excessive pressure. Keep
your thumb pressed against the release
button while carefully pulling up the lever.
Excessive pressure can lead to overbraking
and loss of traction – fishtailing – at the rear
axle.

Driving
40 The brake lamps do not come on when the
parking brake is engaged.<
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake
when parking on slopes and inclined sur-
faces, since shifting into 1st gear or reverse
may not provide adequate resistance to
rolling. Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion: place the selector lever in
position P.<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided
braking, apply the parking brake
lightly from time to time when coasting to a
standstill – at a traffic signal, for example –
provided that it is safe to do so.<
Manual transmission
6-gear transmission*
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, it is
important to press the gear shift lever to the
right to avoid accidentally engaging 3rd or
4th gear.
Reverse
Select reverse only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary. Press the gearshift lever to the left
to overcome the resistance.
As you do this, the backup lamps will turn
on automatically when the ignition key is in
position 2.
Do not hold the vehicle in place on
slopes by slipping or "riding" the
clutch. Use the parking brake instead, oth-
erwise, the ensuing friction to the clutch
plates will cause a great deal of wear and
tear on the clutch.<
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic*
You can drive as with a normal automatic
transmission. In addition, you can also shift
manually.
When you move the selector lever from the
D position to the left into the M/S range, the
performance-oriented shift programs of the
automatic transmission are engaged. As
soon as you briefly tap the selector lever in
the "+" or "–" direction, Steptronic changes
the gear. The manual mode is engaged.
When you wish to use the automatic trans-
mission mode again, move the selector
lever to the right to position D.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Engine started
The engine can only be started in selector
lever positions P – Park – or N – Neutral.
Range selection
A detent prevents inadvertent shifting into
selector lever positions R and P. To disen-
gage the detent, press the button on the
front of the selector lever button, see
arrow.
While the vehicle is stationary and
before shifting out of P or N, depress
the footbrake in order to disengage the
selector lever's lock mechanism – Shift-
lock.
Hold the footbrake down until starting off.
The vehicle will otherwise "creep" when a
drive position is engaged.<

Driving
44
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are heated
automatically
* when the ignition key is in
position 2.
Cruise control*
1To maintain and store speed/to accel-
erate
2To decelerate
3To recall the stored setting
4To deactivate the system
To store and maintain speed or to
accelerate
You can maintain and store any desired
vehicle speed above approx. 20 mph /
30 km/h.
Press the lever briefly in direction 1:
The system maintains and stores the cur-
rent vehicle speed. Every time you tap the
lever, the speed increases by approx.
0.6 mph / 1 km/h.
Hold the lever in position 1:
The vehicle accelerates without pressure
on the accelerator pedal. As soon as you
release the lever, the system stores and
maintains the current speed.
If, on a downhill grade, the engine
braking effect is not sufficient, the
controlled speed can be exceeded. Speed
can drop on uphill grades if the engine out-
put is insufficient.<
To decelerate
Press the lever briefly in direction 2:
When the cruise control is active, vehicle speed is reduced by approx. 0.6 mph /
1 km/h every time you tap the button.
Hold the lever in position 2:
With the cruise control active, the system
automatically reduces the throttle opening
to slow the vehicle. As soon as you release
the lever, the system stores and maintains
the current speed.
To recall the stored setting
Press the lever briefly in direction 3:
The vehicle accelerates to and maintains
the last speed stored.
To deactivate the system
Press the lever briefly in direction 4:
The cruise control is deactivated immedi-
ately.
Cruise control is also deactivated when the
ignition key is turned to position 0.
In addition, the system is automatically
deactivated in response to the following
conditions:
>When you apply the brakes
>When you depress the clutch or move
the automatic selector lever from D to N
>If you exceed or fall below the preset
speed for an extended period – by
depressing the accelerator, for exam-
ple.
The stored speed is cleared in all three
cases.

Special operating instructions
64
Special operating instructions
Break-in procedures
To ensure that your vehicle provides maxi-
mum economy throughout a long service
life, we request that you observe the fol-
lowing:
Engine and differential
Up to 1,250 miles / 2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and road speeds,
but do not exceed the following engine or
road speed:
4,500/min or 100 mph / 160 km/h:
Obey your local and state maximum speed
limits.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid
pressing the accelerator beyond the kick-
down point.
After you have driven 1,250 miles /
2,000 km, you can gradually increase the
engine or road speeds.
You should also comply with these break-in
procedures if the engine or differential is
replaced later in the course of the vehicle's
service life.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve their
full traction potential until an initial break-in
period has elapsed. You should therefore
drive with extra caution during the first
200 miles / 300 km.
Obey your local and state maximum speed
limits.
When the vehicle is operated on wet
or slushy roads, a wedge of water
may form between the tire and the road
surface. This phenomenon is referred to as
hydroplaning and can lead to partial or
complete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness. Reduce your
speed on wet roads.<
Brake system
Approx. 300 miles / 500 km must elapse
before the brake pads and rotors achieve
their optimal surface and wear pattern.
To break in the separate parking brake
drums, apply the parking brake lightly when
coasting to a standstill – at a traffic signal,
for instance; use caution to avoid posing a
danger to other road users.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this procedure
from time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on when the
parking brake is set.
Vacuum for the brake system servo
unit on your BMW is available only
when the engine is running. When you
move the car with the engine off – e.g., by
towing – substantially higher levels of pedal
force will be required to brake the vehicle.<
Clutch
The clutch will achieve its optimal function-
ality after approx. 300 miles / 500 km. Shift
gears carefully during the break-in period.

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference
65
Driving notes
Parking the vehicle
Condensation forms in the air conditioner
system during operation, which then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water on the ground underneath the vehi-
cle are thus normal.
Brakes
Do not drive with your foot resting on
the brake pedal. Even light but con-
sistent pedal pressure can lead to high
temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water may form between the tires
and the road surface. This phenomenon
can lead to partial or complete loss of trac-
tion, vehicle control and braking effective-
ness.<
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the
road if it is deeper than 1 ft / 30 cm,
and then only at walking speed. Otherwise,
the vehicle's engine, the electrical systems
and the transmission may be damaged.<
High temperatures
High temperatures occur with every
vehicle equipped with a catalytic con-
verter. Heat shields are installed adjacent to
some sections of the exhaust system. Never
remove these shields; do not apply under-
coating to their surfaces. When driving,
standing at idle and parking the vehicle,
take care to avoid contact between the hot
exhaust system and flammable materials –
e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc. Such contact
could lead to a fire, resulting in serious per-
sonal injury and property damage.<
Brake system
The brake warning lamp lights up
although the parking brake is not
engaged: check the brake fluid
level. It is very important that you follow the
instructions on page 81 before driving on.
Disc brakes
Corrosion
Limited vehicle use, extended periods with
the vehicle parked or in storage, and oper-
ating conditions in which braking is
restricted to gentle, low-pressure applica-
tions will all increase the tendency for cor-
rosion to form on the rotors and contamina-
tion to accumulate on the brake pads. This
occurs because the minimal pressure
which must be exerted by the pads to clean
the rotors by brake applications is not
reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they will
tend to respond to braking with a pulsating
effect which even extended application will
fail to cure.
Wet roads
When driving in heavy rain and on wet
roads, it is useful to apply light pressure
to the brake pedal every few miles. Watch
traffic conditions to ensure that this maneu-
ver does not endanger other road users.
The heat generated in this process helps
dry the pads and rotors to ensure that your
brake system will respond with undimin-
ished efficiency when you need it.
Inclines
Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear or drive posi-
tion in which only minimal periodic brake
application is required. This helps avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake sys-
tem. Observe the maximum allowable
engine speed when doing so; refer to
page 47.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the transmission or
selector lever in Neutral. Do not coast with

Everything from A - Z
98 Brake system 65
– brake fluid level 81
– brake pads 66
– break-in procedures 64
– disc brakes 65
Brakes
– driving notes 65
Break-in procedures 64
– brake system 64
– clutch 64
– differential 64
– engine 64
– tires 64
Bulb
– defective 45
– replacement 84
C
California Proposition 65
warning 83
Can holder 61
Capacities 94, 96
– luggage
compartment 22, 94
Car battery 87
Car radio, refer to the
Owner's Manual for Radio
Car wash, refer to the Car-
ing for your vehicle bro-
chure
Cargo loading 66
Cassette player operation,
refer to the Owner's Man-
ual for Radio
Catalytic converter, refer to
High temperatures 65
CD player operation, refer
to the Owner's Manual for
Radio
Cellular phone
preparation 61
Cellular phone, refer to the
separate Owner's Manual
Center high-mount brake
lamp 87
Central locking system 18
– button 20
– interior 20
Charge indicator
lamp 14, 88Check gas cap 70
– indicator lamp 14
Child seat 34
Child-restraint mounting
system (LATCH) 36
Child-restraint systems 34
Cigarette lighter 61
Cleaning the headlamps 43
Cleaning the windshield 43
Clock
– 12/24-hour mode 49
– adjusting, refer also to the
radio or onboard com-
puter Owner's Manual
Clothes hooks 27
Cluster 13
Clutch
– break-in procedure 64
Cockpit 12
Code, refer to the Owner's
Manual for Radio
Combination switch, refer
to Turn signal indicators/
Headlamp flasher 42
Compartments 60
Compression ratio 94
Computer 49
– average fuel
consumption 50
– average speed 50
– clock, 12/24-hour
mode 49
– cruising range 50
– outside temperature 49
Condensation
– removing from
windows 56, 58
Configuring adjustments,
refer to Vehicle Memory,
Key Memory 37
Consumption 50
Convenience operation
– convertible top 20
– windows 20
Convertible top 23
– convenience operation 20
– electrical fault 25
– emergency operation 25
– malfunction 25
– manual operation 23
– mechanical 23Convertible top compart-
ment panel 22
Coolant 80, 96
– indicator lamp 14
Coolant thermometer 47
Cooling system 96
Cooling, maximum 58
Copyright 4, 6
Cruise control 44
Cruising range 50
Cup holder, refer to Bever-
age holder 61
Curb weight 94
Cylinders 94
D
Data 94
– engine 94
– filling capacities 96
– weights 94
Daytime driving lamps 45
DBC Dynamic Brake
Control 52
Defects 8
Deflector for wind 26
Defrost setting 56, 58
Defroster, rear window
– air conditioning 56
– automatic climate
control 59
Defrosting
– windows 56, 58
Differential
– break-in procedures 64
Digital clock
Dimensions 95
Dimming mirror 33
Dipstick, engine oil 79
Disc brakes 65
Displacement 94
Displays, refer to Instru-
ment cluster 13
Door lock 20
Door lock buttons 21
Doors
– emergency operation 20
– locking 19
– unlocking 19
DOT quality grades 73
Drivelogic 42