2004 BMW Z4 2.5I transmission

Driving
42 You accelerate from higher gears, e.g. dur-
ing passing, by downshifting manually.
In the following situations, the SMG in the
sequential mode assists you:
>The transmission will only execute
upshifts and downshifts that will result
in an appropriate combination of vehi-
cle speed and engine rpm. For
instance, downshifts that would result
in excessive engine speed cannot be
executed
>During a stop the gearbox is automati-
cally downshifted into first gear
>Shortly before a gear-dependent mini-
mum speed is reached, the gearbox
shifts down automatically without you
taking any action.
Display in the instrument cluster
Gear indicator
R N 1 2 3 4 5 6 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
The currently engaged gear, the selected
mode, and any possible malfunctions are
displayed in the instrument cluster.
Malfunctions
Indicator lamp
If the indicator lamp comes on,
there is a malfunction in the trans-
mission system.
All of the selector lever positions can con-
tinue to be engaged; however, in the for-
ward drive positions the range of available
gears is restricted.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine loads
and consult the nearest BMW center.
Warning tone
An acoustic signal sounds if the SMG gear-
box overheats; if possible you should either
stop or increase your pullaway speed so
that the system can cool down.
For jump-starting and towing, refer to the
information on page 94.
Driving Dynamic Control
The Driving Dynamic Control feature lets
you select between a standard and a sport
program.
Sport program
>The engine responds more spontane-
ously to any motion of the accelerator
pedal
>The vehicle is steered more directly and
traction is enhanced
Additionally with SMG and automatic
transmission:
>The shifting times are reduced
>The engine speed range is optimally uti-
lized in the drive mode.
Activating the Sport program
In ignition key position 2
Press the SPORT button.
The LED in the button lights up.
With automatic transmission:
The sport program of the automatic
transmission is enabled by activating the
Driving Dynamic Control system. Thus, the
selector lever does not have to be shifted
from D to M/S; refer also to page 39.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
69
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
undercoating to their surfaces. When driv-
ing, standing at idle and parking the vehi-
cle, take care to avoid contact between the
hot exhaust system and flammable materi-
als, e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc. Such con-
tact could lead to a fire, resulting in serious
personal injury and property damage.<
Brake system
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up
although the parking brake is not
engaged:
Check the brake fluid level. It is very impor-
tant that you follow the instructions on
page 85 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 resulting heat dries the brake rotors
and brake pads. Immediate braking control
is then available if necessary.
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 48.

Special operating instructions
70 Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the transmission or
selector lever in Neutral. Do not coast with
the engine switched off. Otherwise the
engine provides no braking effect and there
is no power-assist for braking or steering
when the engine is off.<
Brake pads
The yellow indicator lamp for the
brake pads lights up:
Have the condition of the brake
pads inspected.
For your own safety: use brake pads
which the manufacturer has approved
for your specific vehicle model. The manu-
facturer cannot evaluate non-approved
brake pads to determine if they are suitable
for use, and therefore cannot ensure the
operating safety of the vehicle in the event
of their use.<
Cargo loading
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not
exceeded. Otherwise, overheating and
inner damage to the tires may result. The
ultimate result can assume the form of a
sudden air loss.<
Determining the maximum load
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or YYY lbs; otherwise
damage to the vehicle and unstable
driving conditions could result.<2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passenger that will be riding
in your vehicle
3.Substract the combined weight of the
driver and passenger from XXX kilo-
grams or YYY pounds
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
551 lbs. and there will be two 150 lbs.
passengers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 251 lbs.
551 lbs. minus 300 lbs. = 251 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of lug-
gage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4.
Load
The permissible load is the sum of the
occupants' weights and the weight of the
cargo. The greater the weight of the occu-
pants, the less cargo can be transported.
Stowing cargo
>Load heavy cargo as far forward as
possible, directly behind the luggage
compartment partition, and as low as
possible
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
To avoid damaging the rear of the
backrest or the rear interior trim
panel, do not stow heavy cargo or cargo
with sharp edges and corners behind the
seats.
In addition, large and bulky cargo stowed

In the engine compartment
84 The oil volume between the two marks on
the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 quarts/1 liter. Do not fill beyond the
upper mark on the dipstick. Excess oil will
damage the engine.
Adding engine oil
While you should wait until the level has
dropped to just above the lower mark
before adding oil, you should never allow
the oil level to fall below this mark.
BMW engines are designed to oper-
ate without oil additives; the use of
additives could even lead to damage in
some cases. This also applies to manual
and automatic transmissions and to the dif-
ferential.<
Continuous exposure to used oil has
caused cancer in laboratory tests. For
this reason, thoroughly wash any areas of
skin that come into contact with oil using
soap and water.
Always store oils, grease and similar mate-
rials so that they are inaccessible to chil-
dren. Comply with warning labels and the
information on the containers.<
Comply with the applicable environ-
mental laws regulating the disposal of
used oil.<
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil is extremely
important for the function and life of an
engine. Based on extensive testing, BMW
has approved certain grades of engine oil.
Use approved High Performance Synthetic
Oil.
If you are unable to obtain an approved
High Performance Synthetic Oil, you may use small volumes of other synthetic oils for
topping up between oil changes. Use only
oils with the specification API SH or higher.
Ask your BMW center for details con-
cerning the specific High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil or synthetic oils that
have been approved.<
You can also call BMW of North America
toll-free at 1-800-831-1117 or visit this
website: www.bmwusa.com to obtain this
information.
Coolant
The yellow coolant indicator lamp
lights up:
The coolant level is too low: top up
as soon as possible.
Do not add coolant to the cooling sys-
tem when the engine is hot. If you do,
escaping coolant can cause burns.
Antifreeze and anti-corrosion agents are
hazardous to health. You should always
store them in their original containers and
in a location inaccessible to children.
Antifreeze and anti-corrosion agents are
flammable. For this reason, do not spill
them on hot engine parts. They could ignite
and cause burns. Comply with the instruc-
tions on the containers.<
Checking the coolant level
Correct coolant level when the engine is
cold, approx. 687/206:
1.Open the cap of the expansion tank by
turning it slightly counterclockwise to

Giving and receiving assistance
96
Towing the vehicle
Always observe all applicable towing
laws and regulations.<
Towing with a commercial tow truck
>Use a wheel lift or flatbed carrier
>Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Never allow passengers to ride in a
towed vehicle for any reason.<
Towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised
Vehicles with automatic
transmission
>Towing speed:
Maximum 45 mph / 70 km/h
>Towing distance:
Maximum 90 miles/150 km.
Vehicles with sequential manual
gearbox SMG
With the ignition on, move the selector
lever to position N, then turn off the igni-
tion.
Towing eyelet
The screw-in towing eyelet is stored in the
onboard tool kit, refer to page 88; be sure
that it remains in the vehicle at all times. It
can be attached at the front or rear of the
vehicle.
Access to towing socket
Front
Press out the cover panel with a screw-
driver inserted in the recess at the top.
Rear
Press out the cover panel with a screw-
driver inserted in the recess at the top.
Use only the towing eyelet supplied
with the vehicle and screw it in firmly
until it stops. Use the towing eyelet for tow-
ing on paved roads only. If you do not fol-
low these instructions, the towing eyelet
could be torn out and vehicle damage
could occur.
Do not tow the vehicle by any components
of the chassis or suspension, or lash them
down in any way. If you do, the compo-
nents could be damaged, possibly leading
to accidents.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
101
Weights
Z4 2.5iZ4 3.0i
Curb weight
with manual transmission
with SMG
with automatic transmissionlbs/kg
lbs/kg
lbs/kg2,932/1,330
2,976/1,350
2,998/1,3602,998/1,360
3,020/1,370
3,042/1,380
Approved gross vehicle weight
with manual transmission
with SMG
with automatic transmissionlbs/kg
lbs/kg
lbs/kg3,483/1,580
3,527/1,600
3,549/1,6103,549/1,610
3,571/1,620
3,593/1,630
Load lbs/kg 551/250 551/250
Approved front axle load lbs/kg 1,720/780 1,742/790
Approved rear axle load lbs/kg 1,841/835 1,863/845
Luggage compartment capacity
with the convertible top compartment raisedcu ft/l
cu ft/l8.5/240
9.2/2608.5/240
9.3/260
Never exceed either the approved axle loads or the approved gross vehicle weight.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
103
Capacities
Notes
Fuel tank
reserve gal./liters
gal./litersapprox. 14.5/55
approx. 2.1/8Fuel specifications:
page 74
Windshield washer system/
Headlamp washer systemquarts/liters
quarts/litersapprox. 3.2/3
approx. 5.3/5For details: page 83
Cooling system including heat-
ing circuit
with manual transm. or SMG
with automatic transmissionquarts/liters
quarts/liters8.8/8.3
9.3/8.8For details: page 84
Engine with oil filter renewal quarts/liters 6.9/6.5 For details: page 84
Manual transmission, SMG,
automatic transmission and
differential quarts/liters –Lifetime lubricant, no oil
change required

Everything from A to Z
104
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System 54
– indicator lamp 13
Accessories, refer to
– For your own safety 5
– Your individual vehicle 5
Accident, refer to
Emergency call 93
Activated-charcoal filter 63
Adaptive Transmission
Control ATC 40
Air, drying,
refer to Air conditioning
mode 59, 62
Airbags 56
– deactivation 33
– indicator lamp 13
– passenger airbags
indicator lamp 34
– reactivation 33
– safe seating position 27
Airbag switch 33
Air conditioning 58
Air conditioning mode
– air conditioning 59
– automatic climate
control 62
Air conditioning mode
switching on/off
manually 59, 62
Air distribution
– air conditioning 59
– automatic climate
control 62
Airing out, refer to
Ventilation 59, 63
Air outlets,
refer to Ventilation 59, 63
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure 75
Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode 59, 63Air supply/blower
– air conditioning 59
– automatic climate
control 62
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications 74
Alarm system
– avoiding unintentional
alarms 26
Antenna, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Antifreeze 83, 84
– coolant 84
– washing fluids 83
Antilock Brake System
ABS 54
– indicator lamp 13
Anti-theft alarm system,
refer to Alarm system 25
Anti-theft protection 25
Approved axle load, refer to
Weights 101
Approved engine oils 84
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to
Weights 101
Artificial leather, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Ashtray 65
Assistant systems, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC 52
ATC Adaptive Transmission
Control 40
AUC Automatic
recirculated-air
control 63Automatic
– air distribution 62
– air supply/blower 62
– cruise control 45
– headlamp control 46
– luggage compartment lid
operation 19
Automatic car wash, refer
to the Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Automatic climate
control 61
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC 63
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic 39
– ignition 36
– indicator lamp 13
– interlock 36
– selector lever lock 39
– shiftlock 39
AUTO program,
refer to Automatic air
distribution 62
Average fuel
consumption 51
– setting units of
measure 50
Average speed 51
– setting units of
measure 50
Axle loads, refer to
Weights 101
B
Backrest, refer to Seat
adjustment 28
Backup lamps 38
– bulb replacement 90
Bandages, refer to First-aid
kit 94
Everything from A to Z
Index