2004 BMW Z4 2.5I check transmission fluid

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
13
Colors
The indicator and warning lamps can light
up in various colors and combinations.
The following section explains the signifi-
cance of the individual colors as well as
how you should respond.
>Red:
Stop the vehicle immediately
or
an important reminder
>Red and yellow:
Continue driving cautiously
>Yellow:
Have the system checked soon
or
for your information
>Green:
For your information
>Blue:
For your information. Please fasten safety belts
+30
Airbags
+56
Battery charge current
+91
Engine oil pressure/Engine oil
level/Engine oil sensor
+83
Parking brake/Chassis control sys-
tems/Dynamic Brake Control/
Brake fluid
+38/ 52/ 53/ 85
Parking brake/Chassis control sys-
tems/Dynamic Brake Control/
Brake fluid for Canadian models
+38/ 52/ 53/ 85
Antilock Brake System ABS/Chas-
sis control systems
+54/ 52
Antilock Brake System ABS/Chas-
sis control systems for Canadian
models
+54/ 52
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC
+52
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC
+52
Flat Tire Monitor
+54
Automatic transmission/
Sequential manual gearbox
SMG
+40/ 42
Brake pads
+70
Add coolant84
CHECK GAS CAP
+74
Service Engine Soon +87
Service Engine Soon warning lamp
for Canadian models
+87
Defective bulbs46
Turn signal indicators43
Fog lamps47
Headlamp flasher/
High beams43/ 47
Electric Power Steering EPS
+43
Engine electronics
+
Engine electronics malfunction.
You can continue to drive with
reduced engine output or engine
speed. Please have the system
inspected by your BMW center.

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.

Everything from A to Z
112 Tire inflation pressure
– checking 75
– restoring 75
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 54
Tires
– age 77
– break-in procedures 68
– changing 79
– condition 78
– damage 78
– DOT quality grades 77
– inflation pressure 75
– replacement 79
– Run Flat tires 80
– size 75
– storage 79
– temperature 78
– traction 77
– tread 78
– tread depth indicator,
refer to Tire tread, Tire
damage 78
– tread wear 77
– Uniform Tire Quality
Grading 77
Tool kit, refer to Onboard
tool kit 88
Torque, refer to Engine
data 100
To unlock
– from inside 18
– from outside 17
Towing 96
– eyelet 96
Towing the vehicle 96
– with the front axle
raised 96
Tow sockets for towing
eyelet 96
Track width, refer to
Dimensions 102
Transmission
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 39
– manual transmission 38
Transmission interlock,
refer to Changing selector
lever positions 39Transmission
malfunction 40
Transporting children
safely 33
Tread depth, refer to Tire
tread 78
Tread wear indicators in the
tires, refer to
Tire tread, Tire
damage 78
Trip distance recorder,
refer to Trip odometer 48
Trip meter, refer to Trip
odometer 48
Trip odometer 48
Trunk, refer to Luggage
compartment 20
Trunk lid
– opening via remote
control 17
Trunk lid, refer to Luggage
compartment lid 19
Trunk volume, refer to
Luggage compartment
capacity 101
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions 102
Turn signal indicators 43
– indicator lamp 13
TV function, refer to
Owner's Manual
for Onboard Computer
U
Undercoating, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Unintentional alarm 26
Units
– average
consumption 50
– average
speed 50
– temperature 50
Used batteries, refer to
Battery disposal 92
V
Vehicle
– battery 91
– break-in procedures 68
– care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
– cargo loading 70
– measurements, refer to
Dimensions 102
– storage, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
– switching off the
engine 69
– washing, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
– weight 101
Vehicle Memory 31
Vehicle vacuum cleaner,
refer to Cigarette lighter
socket 65
Ventilation 59, 63
– air conditioning 59
– automatic climate
control 63
Vents, refer to
Ventilation 59, 63
Volume
– fuel tank, refer to
Capacities 103
W
Warning and indicator
lamps 12
Warning triangle 94
Warranty, see Service and
Warranty Information
Booklet for US models,
Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for
Canadian models 86
Warranty and service 6
Washer/wiper system 43
Washer fluid reservoir, refer
to Capacities 103