Z4 2.5i
Z4 3.0i
Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with
enhanced control and security when you drive it. There-
fore, we have one request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and
familiarize yourself with the information that we have com-
piled for you before starting off in your new BMW. The
manual contains important data and instructions intended
to assist you in obtaining maximum satisfaction from your
BMW's unique array of advanced technical features. It also
contains information on vehicle maintenance designed to
enhance operating safety while simultaneously helping you
to maintain your BMW's value throughout an extended ser-
vice life. For additional information refer to the supplemen-
tal manuals.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent
part of this vehicle. It should stay with the vehicle when
sold to provide the next owner with important operating,
safety and maintenance information.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
17
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 26.
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
the unlocking button 1 again.
Malfunctions
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.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply
with part 15 of the FCC, Federal Communi-
cations Commission, regulations. Opera-
tion is governed by the following:
Opening and closing
18 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
filler 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 filler
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.<
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.
Opening and closing
26
Arming and disarming the alarm
system
When the vehicle is locked or unlocked
either via the driver's door lock or with the
remote control, the alarm system is simul-
taneously armed or disarmed.
The hazard warning flashers blink once
when the alarm system has been properly
armed.
You can have different acknowledg-
ment signals set to confirm arming
and disarming.<
You can still open the luggage compart-
ment lid when the system is armed by
pressing the remote control button, refer to
page 17. When it is closed, the lid is once
again secured.
Manual operation of the luggage
compartment lid triggers the alarm.
Refer to page 19.<
To cancel an alarm:
Press the button on the remote control,
refer to page 16, or turn the ignition key to
position 1. Refer to page 36.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp beneath the interior
mirror flashes continuously:
The system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes when it is
being armed:
A door, the hood or luggage compart-
ment lid is not completely closed. Even
if you do not close the area causing the alert, the remaining areas are secured
and the indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously after 10 seconds.
However, the interior motion sensor is
not activated
>If the indicator lamp goes out as soon
as the system is disarmed:
No manipulation or attempted intru-
sions have been detected in the period
since the system was armed
>If the indicator lamp flashes for
10 seconds when the system is being
disarmed:
An attempted entry has been detected
in the period since the system was
armed.
After an alarm has been triggered, the indi-
cator lamp will flash continuously.
Interior motion sensor*
The system monitors the footwells and the
seating areas of the driver and passenger.
Deactivate the interior motion sensor,
refer to Avoiding unintentional alarms,
if children or animals are to remain in the
vehicle.<
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor can be deactivated at the same
time. You can do this to prevent a false
alarm from being triggered, for instance in
garages with elevator ramps or when the
vehicle is transported by train.
Lock the vehicle twice = arm the system:
Press the button on the remote control
twice in succession,
or
lock the vehicle twice with the key. Refer to
page 18.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor are
deactivated as long as the system is
armed.
Adjustments
28
Seats
Before adjusting your seat, always
observe the following precautions
Never try to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat could
respond with an unexpected movement,
and the ensuing loss of vehicle control
could result in an accident.
Never ride with the backrest inclined to an
extreme angle – this also applies to the
passenger seat. If you do so, there is a risk
that you will slide under the safety belt in
the event of an accident, thus reducing the
protection provided by the safety belt.<
In addition, observe the instructions
regarding damaged safety belts on
page 30.
Seat adjustment
1Backward/forward
Pull lever 1 and slide the seat into the
desired position.
After releasing the lever, move the seat
backwards or forwards slightly to ensure
that the latch engages securely
2Height
Pull lever 2 and apply weight to or remove
weight from the seat as required
3Backrest
Pull lever 3 and apply weight to or remove
weight from the backrest as required.
Head restraints
Adjustments
Height: pull or push.
In order to move to the lowest positions,
press button 1.
Adjust the head restraint so that its
center is approximately at the height
of your ears. Otherwise, there is a higher
risk of injury to the cervical vertebra in the
event of an accident.<
Removal
Pull the head restraint upward until it stops.
Press button 1 and remove the head
restraint.
Installation
Insert the head restraint into the guides.
Transporting children safely
34
Passenger airbags lamp
The system checks that the airbag system
is functioning properly when the ignition
key is turned, and the indicator lamp in the
central console lights up for several sec-
onds.
>The indicator lamp lights up continu-
ously when the passenger airbags are
deactivated
>If the passenger airbags are activated, it
goes out after several seconds.
At all times, occupants should sit
comfortably upright and be properly
restrained, infants and small children in
appropriate child-restraint systems; larger
children and adults using the safety belts.
Please note that the word Airbag imprinted
on the door trim panel indicates the air-
bag's location.<
Seat position for children
This is the correct way a larger child no
longer using a child-restraint system
should sit wearing the safety belt, when the
airbag system is activated.
Installing child-restraint
systems
Before installing any child-restraint system
or child seat, read the following:
Never install a rear-facing child-
restraint system in the passenger seat
of this vehicle, unless the passenger air-
bags have been turned off and the indicator
lamp in the center console indicates that
the passenger airbags are deactivated. For
a child, not an infant, certain precautions
should be taken. Position the passenger
seat as far back as possible and at the low-
est level. This important precaution is
intended to maximize the distance
between the airbags and the child. Younger
children should be secured in an appropri-
ate forward-facing child-restraint system
that has first been properly secured. Older
children should be tightly secured with a
safety belt, sitting with their back against
the vehicle seat back. Always ensure that
all occupants, of all ages, remain properly
and securely restrained at all times.<
Always follow the manufacturer's
instructions concerning installation
and use; otherwise the system's protective
function could be impaired. After an acci-
dent, have all parts of the affected safety
belt system inspected and/or replaced by
your BMW center.<
Commercially-available child-restraint sys-
tems are designed to be secured with a lap
belt or with the lap belt portion of a combi-
nation lap/shoulder belt. Improperly or
inadequately installed restraint systems
can increase the risk of injury to children.
Always read and follow the instructions that
come with the system.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
35
Child seat security
The passenger's safety belt can be locked
for mounting and securing a child-restraint
system.
A label with the appropriate instructions for
this is located in the immediate vicinity of
the buckle latch of the safety belt.
LATCH child-restraint mounting
system*
LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren
The anchorage points for the LATCH child-
restraint system are located at the posi-
tions indicated by the arrows.
Carefully slide the brackets through the
gaps in the upholstery at the indicated
locations, see arrows.
To mount the LATCH child-restraint
system, please follow the manufac-
turer's operating and safety precautions.<
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
37
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, for instance if it is very hot or cold:
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down.
Cold starts at very low temperatures, start-
ing at approx. 57/–156:
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down.
>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.<
Sequential manual gearbox SMG
1.Depress footbrake
2.Move selector lever to neutral
position N
3.Start the engine.
If the engine does not start, re-
engage the gear last selected, refer to
the display in the instrument cluster, and move the selector lever to neutral position
N again.<
Before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running, place the selector
lever in position N 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
parking on downhill roads.<
You can have an acoustic signal set
as a reminder that the ignition key is
still in the ignition switch after the driver's
door has been opened.<
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.
Sequential manual gearbox SMG
If you turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0
with the selector lever in position R, or in
sequential mode, a gear automatically
remains engaged.
If you turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0
with the selector lever in neutral position N,
a warning tone and the flashing gear indi-
cator in the display remind you that the
vehicle is not secured against rolling.
The warning stops after approx. 9 seconds.
Always engage the parking brake
when parking on downhill roads.
Engaging a gear may not sufficiently secure
the vehicle against rolling.<