2004 BMW Z4 2.5I fuel

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility

Contents
The fastest way to find information on spe-
cial topics is by using the index, refer to
page 104.

Using this Owner's Manual

4Notes
7Reporting safety defects

At a glance

10Cockpit

Controls

16Opening and closing
27Adjustments
33Transporting children safely
36Driving
46Lamps
48Everything under control
52Technology for safety and driving
convenience
58Controlling the climate for pleasant
driving
64Interior conveniences

Driving tips

68Special operating instructions

Mobility

74Refueling
75Wheels and tires
81In the engine compartment
86Maintenance
87Laws and regulations
88Replacement procedures
93Giving and receiving assistance

Reference

100Technical data
104Everything from A to Z

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility

5

Your individual vehicle

On buying your BMW, you have decided in
favor of a model with individualized equip-
ment and features. This Owner's Manual
describes all models and equipment that
BMW offers within the same group.
We hope you will understand that equip-
ment and features are included which you
might not have chosen for your vehicle. Any
differences can easily be identified since all
optional accessories and special equip-
ment are marked with an asterisk

*
.
If your BMW features equipment not
described in this Owner's Manual, for
example a car radio or telephone, supple-
mentary Owner's Manuals are enclosed.
We ask that you read these manuals as
well.

Status of the Owner's
Manual

BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development that is conceived to
ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced, state-
of-the-art technology. For this reason, the
features described in this Owner's Manual
could differ from those on your vehicle. Nor
can errors and omissions be entirely ruled
out. You are therefore asked to appreciate
that no claims can be entertained on the
basis of the data, illustrations or descrip-
tions in this manual.

For your own safety

Fuels

Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including 10 %
ethanol or other oxygenates with up to
2.8 % oxygen by weight, i.e. 15 % MTBE or
3% methanol plus an equivalent amount of
co-solvent, will not void the applicable war-
ranties respecting defects in materials or
workmanship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel quality,
i.e. volatility, composition, additives, etc.,
among gasolines offered for sale in the
United States and Canada. The use of poor
quality fuels may result in driveability, start-
ing and stalling problems especially under
certain environmental conditions, such as
high ambient temperature and high alti-
tude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems that you suspect could be related to
the fuel you are using, we recommend that
you respond by switching to a recognized
high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recommenda-
tions may result in unscheduled mainte-
nance.
Follow the relevant safety rules when you
are handling gasoline.

<

Maintenance and repair

Advanced technology, e. g. the use of
modern materials and high-perfor-
mance electronics, requires specially
adapted maintenance and repair methods.
Therefore, only have corresponding work
on your BMW carried out by a BMW center
or a workshop that works according to
BMW repair procedures with correspond-
ingly trained personnel. If work is carried
out improperly there is a danger of conse-
quential damage and the related safety
risks.

<

Cockpit

12

Instrument cluster

1

Speedometer

2

Indicator and warning lamps12

3

Tachometer48
with indicator and warning lamps12

4

Engine coolant temperature gauge48

5

Fuel gauge48

6

Button for

>

Time49
>Service interval display49
7Display field for selector lever and pro-
gram indicator
>Automatic transmission 39
>Sequential manual gearbox
SMG42
8Button for
>Trip odometer, reset to zero48
>Setting time49
9Display for
>Trip odometer/Odometer48
>Clock49
>Service interval49
>Computer49
Indicator and warning
lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are iden-
tified by
+ are tested for proper functioning
whenever the ignition key is turned. They
each light up once for different periods of
time.
If a fault should occur in one of these sys-
tems, the corresponding lamp does not go
out after the engine is started or it lights up
again while the vehicle is moving. The indi-
cated pages provide information on what
measures to take.

Opening and closing
16
Opening and closing
Keys
The key set
1Master keys with remote control: they
determine the functions of the Key
Memory, refer to page 31.
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 not 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 18.
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 17.
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 17. It will open
slightly, regardless of whether it was
locked or unlocked.
Whenever you unlock or lock the vehicle,
you simultaneously deactivate/activate
the anti-theft system, disarm/arm the alarm

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.

Adjustments
32 that each person uses his or her own
remote control key.
When your vehicle is unlocked with the
remote control, the vehicle recognizes the
individual user by means of a data
exchange with the key, and makes adjust-
ments accordingly.
Distinguishing between keys
Colored decals were provided with the
keys to help you distinguish between the
different personal remote control keys.
What the system can do
You can learn about the entire array of fea-
tures that Vehicle Memory and Key Mem-
ory offer you at your BMW center. A few
examples follow below:
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Various signals as acknowledgement
when locking or unlocking your vehicle:
refer to pages 17,, 18
>Windows are opened automatically,
refer to page 20
>Reminder that the key is still in the igni-
tion switch after the driver's door has
been opened, refer to page 37
>Activation/deactivation of the Follow-
me-home function: refer to page 46
>Activation/deactivation of daytime driv-
ing lamps: refer to page 46
>Sets the units of measure for displaying
time, outside temperature, distance
traveled and fuel consumption in the
instrument cluster, refer to page 50.
Examples for Key Memory:
>Locking of the vehicle when you start
off: refer to page 18
>Automatically adjusts the driver's seat
to the personal programmed settings
when the vehicle is unlocked, refer to
page 29.
You will see this symbol throughout
the Owner's Manual. It is to remind
you at appropriate places of the settings
that are available to you.<
Depending on how the memory func-
tions are configured, the vehicle may
be operated differently from what is
described in the Owner's Manual. Should
you decide to sell your BMW one day,
please remember to have the memory
functions returned to their original factory
settings.<

Everything under control
48
Everything under control
Odometer
1Odometer
2Trip odometer
Odometer
With the ignition key in position 0, you can
activate the displays shown in the illustra-
tion by pressing the button – see arrow – in
the instrument cluster.
Trip odometer
To set to zero
Ignition key position 1
Keep the button pressed until the trip
odometer counter is set to zero.
Tachometer
Never allow the engine to operate with the
needle in the red overspeed sector of the
gauge.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is
interrupted when you approach this sector.
Fuel gauge
When indicator lamp 1 begins to stay on
continuously, there are still approx.
2.1 gallons / 8 liters of fuel in the fuel tank.
Tank capacity: approx. 14.5 gallons/
55 liters.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies, for example
when you are driving in mountainous areas,
the needle may fluctuate slightly.
Fill the fuel tank well before it is
empty. Driving to the last drop of fuel
can prevent the engine from operating
properly and result in damage.<
When you switch on the ignition, the indi-
cator lamp comes on briefly to indicate an
operational check.
Engine coolant temperature
gauge
Blue
The engine is still cold. Drive at moderate
engine and vehicle speeds.