2005 BMW Z4 ROADSTER 3.0I traction control

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
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.

Technology for safety and driving convenience
50
Technology for safety and driving
convenience
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW is equipped with a series of systems
that help maintain driving stability even in
adverse driving situations.
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS keeps the wheels from locking during
braking. Steering stability is maintained even
during full brake applications. In this way, active
safety is enhanced.
ABS is operational each time the engine is
started. Braking safely, refer to page69.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls brake-force application at
the rear wheels in order to obtain increased sta-
bility in the vehicle's braking response.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
When the brake pedal is depressed quickly, this
system automatically supplies maximum brake-
servo boost, thereby helping to keep the vehi-
cle's braking distance as short as possible dur-
ing full brake applications. At the same time, the
benefits of the ABS are also exploited.
As long as you are braking, do not reduce pres-
sure on the brake pedal. When the brake pedal
is released, the DBC is switched off.
Dynamic Stability Control DSC
DSC prevents slip at the drive wheels while
starting off and accelerating the vehicle. DSC
also recognizes unstable vehicle conditions,
such as fishtailing or nose-diving. In these
cases, and subject to physical limits, DSC helps
to keep the vehicle on a steady course by
reducing engine speed and by applying brakes
at individual wheels.The laws of physics cannot be repealed
even with DSC. It will always be the
driver's responsibility to drive in a manner that
matches road conditions. Therefore, do not
limit the additional safety margin by practicing
risky driving.<
Dynamic Traction Control DTC
DTC is a variant of the DSC in which forward
momentum is optimized for special road condi-
tions, e.g. snow-covered roads that have not
yet been cleared. The system ensures maxi-
mum forward momentum, but driving stability is
limited. Therefore, drive carefully in accordance
with conditions.
In the following exceptional circumstances, it
may be effective to activate the DTC for a short
period:
>When driving on snow-covered grades, in
slush or on uncleared, snow-covered roads
>When rocking the vehicle or starting off in
deep snow or on loose surfaces
>When driving with snow chains.
Activating DTC
Press the button briefly; the DTC indicator lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster.
Reactivating DTC
Press the button again; the DTC indicator lamp
goes out in the instrument cluster.

Special operating instructions
68
Special operating instructions
Break-in procedures
Moving parts need to be given some time until
they can interact smoothly with one another. To
ensure that your vehicle provides maximum
economy throughout a long service life, we
request that you observe the following:
Engine and differential
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do
not exceed the following engine or road speed:
4,500 rpm / 4,500/min or 100 mph / 160 km/h.
Obey your local and state maximum speed lim-
its.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid press-
ing the accelerator beyond the kickdown point.
After you have driven 1,200 miles/2,000 km,
you can gradually increase the engine or road
speeds.
Sequential manual gearbox SMG
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
Do not use the acceleration assistant during the
break-in period.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until an initial break-in period has
elapsed. You should therefore drive with extra
caution during the first 200 miles/300 km.
Obey your local and state maximum speed lim-
its.
When the vehicle is operated on wet or
slushy roads, a wedge of water may form
between the tire and the road surface. This phe-
nomenon is referred to as hydroplaning and can
lead to partial or complete loss of traction, vehi-
cle control and braking effectiveness. Reduce
your speed on wet roads.<
Brake system
Approx. 300 miles/500 km must elapse before
the brake pads and rotors achieve their optimal
surface and wear pattern.
To break in the separate parking brake drums,
apply the parking brake lightly when coasting to
a standstill – at a traffic signal, for instance; use
caution to avoid posing a danger to other road
users.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this procedure from
time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on when the
parking brake is set.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the car with
the engine off, e.g. by towing, substantially
higher levels of pedal force will be required to
brake the vehicle.<
Clutch
The clutch will achieve its optimal functionality
after approx. 300 miles/500 km. Shift gears
carefully during the break-in period.
After replacing components
Follow the same break-in procedure again if any
of the components mentioned above have to be
replaced in the future.
Driving notes
Close the luggage compartment lid
Operate the vehicle only when the lug-
gage compartment lid is completely
closed, otherwise exhaust fumes could pene-
trate into the interior of the vehicle.<
Should it be absolutely necessary to operate
the vehicle with the luggage compartment lid
open and with the convertible top closed:

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
69
1.Close all windows
2.Increase the air supply from the air condi-
tioner or automatic climate control to a high
level. Refer to page58 or61.
Hot exhaust system
High temperatures occur with every vehi-
cle equipped with a catalytic converter.
Heat shields are installed adjacent to some sec-
tions of the exhaust system. Never remove
these shields; do not apply undercoating to
their surfaces. When driving, standing at idle
and parking the vehicle, take care to avoid con-
tact between the hot exhaust system and flam-
mable materials, e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc.
Such contact could lead to a fire, resulting in
serious personal injury and property damage.<
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 traction, vehicle con-
trol and braking effectiveness.<
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.<
Use the parking brake on inclines
On inclines, keep the vehicle from rolling
by using the parking brake rather than by
slipping the clutch, which would lead to a high
degree of clutch wear.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. If you are in a situation which requires
full braking, it is best to brake using maximum
brake pressure: panic stop. Since the vehicle
maintains steering responsiveness, you can still
avoid possible obstacles with a minimum of
steering effort.Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Wet roads
If the roads are wet or if there is heavy rain, it is
advisable to gently press the brakes for a brief
moment every few miles/kilometers. Watch
traffic conditions to ensure that this maneuver
does not endanger other road users. The
resulting heat dries the brake rotors and brake
pads. Immediate braking force is then available
if necessary.
Inclines
To prevent overheating and, as a result,
diminished braking effectiveness, drive
down long or steep downhill grades in a gear
which requires the least braking. Otherwise,
even light but consistent pedal pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brake wear and pos-
sibly even brake failure.<
The braking power of the engine can be further
enhanced by downshifting the automatic trans-
mission in manual mode, if necessary, into first
gear; refer to pages39 and41. This prevents an
excessive load on the brakes.
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 while the transmission is in idling posi-
tion, and there is no power-assist for braking or
steering when the engine is off.
Floor mats, floor carpets or other objects must
not be in the area near the brake or accelerator
pedal, as this could impair the movement of the
pedals.<
Corrosion on the brake rotors
Limited vehicle use, extended periods with the
vehicle parked or in storage, and operating con-
ditions in which braking is restricted to gentle,
low-pressure applications will all increase the
tendency for corrosion to form on the rotors and
contamination to accumulate on the brake
pads. This occurs because the minimal pres-

Wheels and tires
80
Tire coding
Understanding the lettering on the tire sidewall
makes it easier to identify and choose the cor-
rect tires.
Tire size
e.g. 225/50 R 16 92 V
Nominal width in mm
Cross-sectional
ratio in %
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load index,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter,
in front of the R on ZR tires
Speed code letter
Q= up to 105 mph / 160 km/h
T= up to 118 mph / 190 km/h
H= up to 131 mph / 210 km/h
V= up to 150 mph / 240 km/h
W= up to 167 mph / 270 km/h
Y= up to 186 mph / 300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of
the U.S. Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
e.g. DOT xxxx xxx 5004
Manufacturer's code
for tire brand
Tire size and
tire version
Tire age
Tire age
The date on which the tire was manufactured is
indicated by the code on the sidewall:
DOT … 5004 indicates that the tire was manu-
factured in week 50 of the year 2004.BMW recommends the replacement of all tires
every 6 years at the latest, even if a tire usage of
10 years is possible.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT quality grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades.<
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half, 1 γ, times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due to varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and dif-
ferences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test sur-
faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
109
Dry air, refer to Air
conditioning mode59,62
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control50
– indicator lamp13,51
DTC Dynamic Traction
Control50
– indicator lamp13,51
Dynamic Brake Control
DBC50
– indicator lamp13
– warning lamp51
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC50
– indicator lamp13,51
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC50
– indicator lamp13,51
E
Electrical fault
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic39
– convertible top23
– door lock18
– driver's door18
– fuel filler door76
– luggage compartment lid18
– SMG41
– storage compartments64
Electric Power Steering
EPS42
– indicator lamp13,42
Electric power windows20
– power loss20
Electronic Stability Program
ESP, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC50
Electronic transmission
control module39
Emergency call96Emergency operation, refer to
Manual operation
– convertible top23
– doors18
– driver's door18
– fuel filler door76
– luggage compartment lid18
– storage compartments64
Emergency service, refer to
Mobile Service96
Engine36
– break-in procedures68
– data102
– electronics13
– indicator lamp13
– speed46
– starting36
– switching off37
Engine compartment85
Engine coolant87
Engine coolant temperature
gauge46
Engine data102
Engine oil86
– alternative oils87
– approved engine oils87
– capacity105
– indicator/warning lamp13
Engine oil level86
– indicator/warning lamp13
Engine oil pressure86
– indicator/warning lamp13
Engine oil sensor86
– indicator/warning lamp
13
Engine output, refer to Engine
data102
Engine speed, refer to Engine
data102
EPS Electric Power
Steering42
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to Dynamic
Stability Control DSC50
Exhaust system, refer to Hot
exhaust system69
Exterior mirrors31
– automatic dimming
feature70
– folding in and out31Eyelets, towing and tow-
starting98
F
False alarm, refer to
– Avoiding unintentional
alarms26
– Stopping the alarm26
Fasten safety belts
– refer to Safety belts30
– warning lamp12,30
Fault
– automatic transmission39
– luggage compartment lid18
– SMG41
Filter, refer to
– Microfilter59
– Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter63
Fine wood, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Finger guard system, power
windows20
First aid, refer to First-aid
kit97
First-aid kit97
Flat
– Run Flat tires82
Flat tire
– Flat Tire Monitor52
– indicator/warning lamp13
– Run Flat tires82
Flat tire, refer to
– Changing a wheel94
– Tire condition81
Flat Tire Monitor52
– indicator/warning
lamp13,53
– initializing52
– warning lamp53
Flat tire service, refer to
Mobile Service96
Floods, refer to Driving
through water69
Floor covers, carpets, refer to
the Caring for your vehicle
brochure

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
115
Tire inflation pressure
– checking78
– restoring78
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor52
Tires
– age80
– break-in procedures68
– changing82
– condition81
– damage81
– DOT quality grades80
– flat53
– inflation pressure78
– replacement82
– Run Flat tires82
– size78
– storage83
– temperature81
– traction80
– tread81
– tread wear80
– tread wear indicators, refer
to Tire tread, Wheel/tire
damage81
– Uniform Tire Quality
Grading80
– winter tires82
Tire storage83
Tool kit, refer to Onboard tool
kit91
Torque, refer to Engine
data102
Tow bar99
Towing98
– with sequential manual
gearbox SMG99
Towing eyelets98
Towing the vehicle98
– with automatic
transmission99
– with the front axle raised99
Tow rope99
Tow sockets for towing
eyelet98
Tow-starting98,99
Track width, refer to
Dimensions104Traction control, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC50
Transmission
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic38
– manual transmission38
– sequential manual gearbox
SMG40
Transmission detent, refer to
Range selection38
Transmission malfunction,
refer to Malfunction39
Transporting children
safely33
Transport securing device,
refer to Cargo loading71
Tread depth, refer to Tire
tread81
Tread wear indicators
in the tires, refer to
Tire tread, Wheel/tire
damage81
Trip distance recorder, refer to
Trip odometer46
Trip meter, refer to Trip
odometer46
Trip odometer46
Trunk
– refer to Luggage
compartment19
Trunk lid
– opening via remote
control17
– refer to Luggage
compartment lid18
Trunk lid, refer to Luggage
compartment lid18
Trunk volume, refer to
Luggage compartment
capacity103
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions104
Turn signal indicators42
– indicator lamp13Turn signal indicators, bulb
replacement
– front93
– rear93
– side93
TV function, refer to Owner's
Manual for Onboard
Computer
U
Undercoating, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Units
– average
consumption48
– average
speed48
– temperature48
Unlocking
– from inside18
– from outside16
Used batteries, refer to
Battery disposal95
V
Vehicle
– battery94
– breaking in68
– care, refer to the Caring for
your vehicle brochure
– cargo loading70
– cleaning the rear window,
refer to the Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– engine37
– leaving the vehicle37
– measurements, refer to
Dimensions104
– parked70
– storage, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
– washing, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
– weight103
Vehicle battery94
Vehicle Memory31