2005 BMW Z4 2.5I warning light

Cockpit
12
Instrument cluster
1Speedometer
2Indicator and warning lamps12
3Tachometer46
with indicator and warning lamps12
4Engine coolant temperature gauge46
5Fuel gauge46
6Button for
>Time47
>Service interval display47
7Display field for selector lever and program
indicator
>Automatic transmission
*38
>Sequential manual gearbox SMG
*40
8Button for
>Trip odometer, reset to zero46
>Setting time47
9Display for
>Trip odometer/Odometer46
>Clock47
>Service interval47
>Computer
*48
Indicator and warning lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are identified
by
+ are tested for proper functioning whenever
the ignition key is turned. They each light up
once for different periods of time.
If a malfunction occurs in one of the monitored
systems, the corresponding light does not go
out after the engine has started, or it lights up
again while the vehicle is in motion. You can find
more information about each system on the
specified pages.
Safety belt reminder +30
Airbags
+53
Battery charge current
+94

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
13
Colors
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in
various colors and combinations.
>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 or blue:
For your information. Engine oil pressure/Engine oil level/
Engine oil sensor
+86
Brake system
+
Parking brake released88
Parking brake applied37
With other warning lamps51
Brake warning lamp for Canadian
models
Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving
stability control systems
+50
Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving
stability control systems for Canadian
models
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC
+50
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC
+50
Flat Tire Monitor
+52
Automatic transmission/Sequential
manual gearbox SMG
+39, 41
Brake pads
+88
Add coolant87
Check gas cap
+76
Service engine soon
+90
Service engine soon indicator lamp for
Canadian models
Defective bulb56
Turn signal indicators42
Fog lamps57
Headlamp flasher/High beams42, 57
Electric Power Steering
+42
Doors or luggage compartment lid
open
Engine electronics
+
Malfunction in the engine electronics.
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
17
Press the button once to unlock the driver’s
door and the fuel filler door; press a second time
to disengage all vehicle locks.
Convenience opening mode
Keep the button pressed:
The windows and the fully automatic convert-
ible top are opened.
To lock and secure
Press the button.
The hazard warning flashers light up once.
If you wish, you can have this special fea-
ture activated/deactivated.<
To switch on the interior lamps
With the vehicle locked:
Press the button.
With this function, you can also search for your
vehicle when parked in an underground garage,
for instance.
To open the luggage compartment
Press button briefly.
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*
By pressing and holding button for more
than approx. two seconds, you can trigger the
alarm systems
* in response to any impending
danger.
To switch off the alarm: press any of the but-
tons.
Malfunction
Local radio waves can impede the functioning
of the remote control.
Should this occur, open and close the vehicle
using the master key in either a door or the lug-
gage compartment lock.If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle with
the remote control, the battery is discharged.
Use this remote control key while driving for an
extended period in order to recharge the bat-
tery, refer to page16.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with
part 15 of the FCC, Federal Communications
Commission, regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID: LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and
>this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications to these
devices could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.<
At the door lock
One turn of the key in the driver's door lock
unlocks the driver's door and the fuel filler door.
Turn the key a second time to disengage all
other vehicle locks.
When the vehicle is locked, the hazard warning
flashers light up once.
If you wish, you can have this special fea-
ture activated/deactivated.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
39
A detent prevents inadvertent shifting into
selector lever positions R and P. To disengage
the detent, press the button on the front of the
selector lever knob, see arrow.
PPark
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
transmission locks to prevent the rear wheels
from turning.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
NNeutral
Select this, for example, in car washes. The
vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic shift program
This position is designed for driving under all
normal operating conditions. All forward gears
are available.
Kickdown
With kickdown, you achieve maximum acceler-
ating performance.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the
increased resistance point at the full-throttle
position.
M/S Manual mode and Sport program
Move the selector lever from position D to the
left into the M/S range:
The Sport program is activated. This is indi-
cated by the display SD in the instrument clus-
ter. This position is recommended for perfor-
mance-oriented driving. The Sport program is
enabled automatically when the Driving
Dynamic Control system is activated, refer to
page41.
Steptronic enters the manual selection mode
and executes the desired shift whenever you
tap the selector lever in the direction indicated
by + or –. M1 to M 5 appear in the instrument
cluster.
The transmission will only execute upshifts and
downshifts that will result in an appropriate
combination of vehicle speed and engine rpm.
For instance, downshifts that would result in
excessive engine speed will not be executed.
The desired gear will appear briefly in the
instrument cluster, followed by the actual gear.
To use the automatic transmission mode again,
move the selector lever to the right to position
D.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up. The trans-
mission system is malfunctioning.
Avoid heavy loads.
All of the selector lever positions can continue
to be engaged; in the forward drive positions,
however, the vehicle will be operating in a
restricted gear range only. Have the system
checked immediately.
Towing and jump starting beginning with
page97.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
41
Kickdown:
For rapid acceleration, e.g. during passing,
depress the accelerator pedal completely. You
achieve maximum acceleration.
To switch back to sequential mode: tap the
selector lever again to the right toward D, or
change the current gear via the shift paddles or
the selector lever.
When driving off on inclines, drive
smoothly without pausing. Do not keep
the vehicle in place by depressing the accelera-
tor pedal; instead, apply the parking brake. Oth-
erwise, the gearbox could overheat.<
Shifting gears
With selector lever
>To upshift, tap the selector lever toward +
>To downshift, tap the lever toward –.
With shift paddles on steering wheel
>To upshift, pull one of the shift paddles
>To downshift, push the paddle.
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 appro-
priate combination of vehicle speed and
engine rpm. For instance, downshifts that
would result in excessive engine speed
cannot be executed
>During a stop the gearbox is automatically
downshifted into first gear
>Shortly before a gear-dependent minimum
speed is reached, the gearbox automatically
shifts down without you taking any action.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up. The trans-
mission system is malfunctioning.
Avoid heavy loads.
All of the selector lever positions can continue
to be engaged; in the forward drive positions,
however, the vehicle will be operating in a
restricted gear range only. Have the system
checked as soon as possible.
Towing and tow-starting, refer to page98;
Jump starting, refer to page97.
Overheating
An acoustic warning signal sounds. The gear-
box is overheating. If possible, stop the vehicle
or drive off swiftly so that the system can cool
off again.
Driving Dynamic Control
Driving Dynamic Control allows your BMW to
react in a sportier driving style at the touch of a
button:
>The engine responds more spontaneously
to any motion of the accelerator pedal
>The vehicle is steered more directly and
traction is enhanced
>Cruise control:
When the speed last stored is called up, this
speed is attained more quickly.
Additional features with SMG:
>Gears are shifted more quickly
>The engine speed range is optimally utilized
in the drive mode.
With automatic transmission:
>The Sport program is activated.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
51
Deactivating DTC and DSC at the same
time
Press and hold the button for at least
3 seconds; the DSC indicator lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster. No more interventions
to increase stability and forward momentum are
carried out.
To enhance vehicle stability, reactivate DSC as
soon as possible.
Reactivating DSC
Press the button briefly; the indicator lamp goes
out in the instrument cluster.
Checking
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC is regulating drive torque
and braking forces.
The indicator lamp lights up:
DTC and DSC have been deactivated together
by pressing the DTC button.
The indicator lamp lights up:
DTC has been activated by pressing
the DTC button.
The DSC indicator lamp flashes and the
DTC indicator lamp is lit:
DTC is actively regulating drive torque
and braking forces.
Malfunction in the driving stability
control systems
The warning lamp for the brake system
lights up in red, together with the yellow
indicator lamps for ABS and DSC:
The driving stability control systems
have failed.
Continue driving cautiously and defensively.
Avoid hard brake applications. Have the system
checked immediately.
Indication of the above-described mal-
function in Canadian models.
The DSC warning lamp lights up
together with the yellow warning lamp
for the brake system:
DSC, including DTC and DBC, are mal-
functioning.
The stabilizing interventions are no longer avail-
able. The vehicle remains operational. Have the
system checked as soon as possible.
Indication of the above-described mal-
function in Canadian models.

Technology for safety and driving convenience
52
Brake force display
The Brake force display lights up in two stages
depending on how strongly you are braking.
>Normal braking:
The brake lamps and the center brake lamp
light up
>Hard braking or braking with ABS:
In addition, the illuminated surface of the
brake lamps is extended, refer to the pic-
ture.
Flat Tire Monitor
The concept
As you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor keeps track
of pressure levels in all four tires. The system
alerts you whenever the inflation pressure of a
tire falls significantly below the pressure of
another tire.
In the event of tire pressure loss, the rolling
radius of the tire changes, thereby affecting the
rotational speed of the wheels. This change is
detected, and a flat tire warning is issued to the
driver.
System requirements
To ensure a reliable flat tire warning, the system
must be initialized with the correct tire inflation
pressures.
Each time you correct the pressure in a
tire, or change a wheel or tire, the system
must be re-initialized.<
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot provide you
with advance warning of sudden and
severe tire damage caused by external factors
and does not detect the balanced and very
gradual pressure loss that takes place in all four
tires over an extended period of time.<
The system could issue a false warning or func-
tion in a delayed manner in the following situa-
tions:
>System was not initialized
>You are driving on a snow-covered or slip-
pery road surface
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at the
drive wheels, high levels of lateral accelera-
tion
>You are driving with snow chains.
Initializing the system
The initialization is completed while you
are driving, and can be interrupted at any
time. Initialization is automatically continued
when you continue driving.
When driving with snow chains, do not initialize
the system.<
1.Start the engine, but do not drive off
2.Press the button as long as you need to until
the yellow indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up for a few seconds
3.Drive off.
Initialization is completed during the drive,
without any feedback issued.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
53
Flat tire warning
The warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up in red. This visual alert
is accompanied by an acoustic warning
signal. There is a flat tire or a signficant loss of
tire pressure.
1.Carefully reduce your speed to under
50 mph / 80 km/h. Avoid strong braking and
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a maxi-
mum speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h.
Do not continue driving if the vehicle
is not equipped with Run Flat tires,
refer to page82. If you continue to drive
with a flat tire, a serious accident could
result.<
2.Check the inflation pressure in all four tires
as soon as possible.
If the inflation pressure is correct in all
four tires, it is possible that the Flat
Tire Monitor was not initialized. In this case,
initialize the system.<
3.If there is a total loss of tire inflation pres-
sure, 0 psi/0 kilopascal, or obvious tire dam-
age, you can gauge the mileage for contin-
ued driving on the basis of the following
indications:
>With a light load:
1 person without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
1 person, luggage compartment full,
or
2 persons with luggage:
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km.
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a speed
of 50 mph / 80 km/h. Driving characteris-
tics change if there is a loss of tire pressure.
This includes diminished track stability during
braking, longer braking distances and modified
steering. If unusual vibrations occur while driv-
ing, this can indicate a complete failure of the
damaged tire. Reduce your speed and pull over as soon as possible. Do not continue driving
and contact a BMW center.<
Malfunction
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up yellow. The Flat Tire
Monitor is malfunctioning or out of
order. Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
1Front airbags for driver and passenger
2Side airbags for driver and passenger
3Knee airbags for driver and passenger
Protective effect
Comply with the instructions on page27,
or the occupants' personal safety will be
diminished.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
passenger in the event of a head-on collision
where the protection provided by the safety belt
alone would not be adequate. The side airbags
help provide protection in the event of a colli-
sion from the side. Each of the side airbags is
designed to help support the seat occupant's
upper body. The knee airbags help provide
additional protection in the event of a head-on
collision.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered in
every impact situation, e. g. not in less severe
accidents, certain roll-over conditions, or rear-
end collisions.