
Spring preload.......... 69
Shock absorbers . . . . . . . . 70
Electronic Suspension
Adjustment ESA
OE
....... 71
Tyres . . ................. 73
5 Riding . . . . . . .......... 75
Safety instructions . . . . . . . 76
Checklist . . . . . . .......... 78
Starting ................. 78
Running in . . . . .......... 81
Parking your
motorcycle . . . . .......... 82
Refuelling . . . . . .......... 83
Tyre pressure control
RDC
OE
.................. 85
Brake system, general . . . 85
Brake system with BMW
Motorrad Integral ABS . . . 86
Electronic engine
management with BMW
Motorrad ASC
OE
......... 90
6 Accessories .......... 93
General instructions . . . . . 94
Power socket . .......... 94
Luggage . . . . . . .......... 95 Case . . .
................. 95
Topcase
OA
.............. 98
7 Maintenance . . . ..... 101
General instructions . . . . 102
Toolkit . ................ 102
Engine oil . . . . . ......... 103
Brake system,
general ................ 105
Brake pads . . . . ......... 105
Brake fluid . . . . ......... 107
Clutch . ................ 109
Tyres . . ................ 109
Rims . . . ................ 110
Wheels . ................ 110
Front-wheel stand . ..... 117
Bulbs . . ................ 119
Jump start . . . . ......... 127
Battery . ................ 128
8 Care . ................ 133
Care products . ......... 134
Washing motorcycle . . . . 134
Cleaning easily damaged
components . . . ......... 135
Paint care . . . . . ......... 136 Protective wax
coating
................ 136
Laying up the
motorcycle . . . . ......... 136
Restoring motorcycle to
use .................... 137
9 Technical data . . ..... 139
Troubleshooting
chart . . . ................ 140
Threaded fasteners ..... 141
Engine . ................ 142
Riding specifications . . . . 145
Clutch . ................ 145
Transmission . . ......... 145
Final drive . . . . . ......... 147
Running gear . . ......... 147
Brakes . ................ 148
Wheels and tyres . . ..... 148
Electrics . . . . . . ......... 149
Frame . . ................ 151
Dimensions . . . ......... 151
Weights ................ 152

Underneath the seat1Seat height adjuster
( 66)
2 Filler neck for engine oil
and oil dipstick ( 103)
( 105)
3 Brake-fluid reservoir, rear
( 108)
4 Helmet holder ( 68)
5 Rider's Manual
6 Toolkit ( 102)
215zGeneral views

Warnings, overview
Mode of presentation Meaning
Lights up yellowThe
EWS
warning
appears on the
display. Electronic immobiliser active ( 27)
Lights up yellow Flashes Fuel down to reserve ( 27)
Lights up red Temperature reading flashesCoolant temperature too high
( 27)
Lights up yellow Appears on the displayEngine electronics ( 28)
Flashes red Appears on the displayInsufficient engine oil pressure
( 28)
Shows accom-
panied by the
Oil
warning Engine-oil level too low ( 29)
Lights up red Appears on the displayInsufficient battery charge current
( 29)
Lights up Brake pads worn down to the wear
limit ( 30)
Lights up yellow Appears on the
display Rear light bulb defective ( 30)
325zStatus indicators

Electronic immobiliser
activeGeneral warning light
lights up yellow.
The
EWS
warning appears on
the display.
The key being used is not au-
thorised for starting, or com-
munication between key and
engine electronics is disrup-
ted.
Remove all other vehicle
keys from the same ring as
the ignition key.
Use the reserve key.
Have the defective key re-
placed, preferably by an
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
Fuel down to reserve General warning light
lights up yellow. Symbol for fuel down to
reserve flashes.
Lack of fuel can result
in the engine misfiring
and cutting out unexpectedly.
Misfiring can damage the
catalytic converter; a hazard-
ous situation can result if the
engine cuts out unexpectedly.
Do not run the fuel tank dry.
The estimated residual
range appears on the
display.
The fuel tank contains no
more than the reserve quant-
ity of fuel.
Reserve fuel
4l
Refuelling ( 83) Coolant temperature too
high
General warning light
lights up red.
The temperature reading
flashes.
Continuing to ride when
the engine is overheated
could result in engine dam-
age.
You must comply with the in-
structions below.
The coolant temperature is
too high.
If possible, ride in the part-
load range to cool down the
engine.
In traffic jams, switch off the
engine, but leave the igni-
tion switched on so that the
radiator fan continues to op-
erate.
If the coolant temperature
is frequently too high, have
327zStatus indicators

the fault rectified as soon
as possible by a special-
ist workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
Engine electronics General warning light
lights up yellow.
Engine electronics sym-
bol appears on the dis-
play.
The engine is running
in emergency operating
mode. Engine power might
be reduced and this can
cause hazardous situations,
particularly if you attempt to
overtake other road users.
Engine power level might be
lower than normal: adapt your
style of riding accordingly. The engine electronics control
unit has diagnosed a fault. In
exceptional cases, the engine
stops and refuses to start.
Otherwise, the engine runs in
emergency operating mode.
You can continue to ride,
but bear in mind that the
usual engine power might
not be available.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, prefer-
ably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Insufficient engine oil
pressure General warning light
flashes red.
Engine oil pressure sym-
bol appears on the dis-
play.
The oil pressure in the lube-
oil system is too low. Stop immediately and switch off
the engine if the warning light
shows.
The insufficient oil
pressure warning does
not fulfil the function of an
oil gauge. The only way of
checking whether the oil level
is correct is to check the oil
level indicator.
A low oil level is one reason
why a warning indicating in-
sufficient oil pressure is is-
sued.
Checking engine oil level
( 103)
If the oil level is too low: Top up the engine oil
( 105)
If the warning indicating in-
sufficient engine oil level is
issued and a check indicates
that the engine oil level is cor-
rect:
328zStatus indicators

Other engine problems
besides a low oil level
can cause the insufficient en-
gine oil pressure warning to
be issued. Continuing to ride
in these cases can cause en-
gine damage.
If this warning is issued even
though the engine oil level is
correct: do not continue to
ride.
Do not continue your jour-
ney.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, prefer-
ably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Engine-oil level too low Shows accompanied by
the
Oil
warning
The electronic oil-level sensor
has registered an excessively
low oil level. Dipping the oil with the dip-
stick is the only way of ascer-
taining the exact engine-oil
level. The next time you stop
for fuel:
Checking engine oil level
( 103)
If the oil level is too low:
Top up the engine oil
( 105)
The oil sensor might be
defective if the "Check oil
level" message appears even
though a check with the
dipstick reveals that the oil
level is correct. Seek the advice of a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motor-
rad dealer. Insufficient battery charge
current
General warning light
lights up red.
Battery charge current
symbol is displayed.
A discharged battery can
cause the engine to die
suddenly, and this could res-
ult in a dangerous situation in
traffic.
Have faults rectified as soon
as possible.
If the battery is not char-
ging, continuing to ride
can cause it to discharge
completely, in which case it
will suffer irreparable damage.
If possible, do not continue
your journey.
Battery is not being charged.
You can continue to
ride until the battery is
discharged. Bear in mind,
329zStatus indicators

however, that the engine
could cut out suddenly
and that the battery could
discharge until completely
flat, in which case it might
have suffered irreparable
damage.
Have the fault rectified as
quickly as possible by a
specialist workshop, prefer-
ably an authorised BMW
Motorrad dealer.
Brake pads worn down to
the wear limit Warning light for brake-
pad wear shows
The electric brake-pad wear
detector has registered that
the brake pads of the front or
rear brakes have worn down
to the acceptable limit. Checking brake-pad thick-
ness, front brakes ( 105) Checking brake pad thick-
ness, rear brakes ( 106)
Have worn brake pads re-
placed by a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW Motorrad dealer.
Rear light bulb defective General warning light
lights up yellow.
Defective bulb symbol
with arrow pointing to
the rear appears on the dis-
play.
A defective bulb places
your safety at risk be-
cause it is easier for other
users to oversee you and
your motorcycle.
Replace defective bulbs as
soon as possible; always
carry a complete set of spare
bulbs if possible. Rear light or brake light bulb
defective.
Replacing brake-light, rear
light and rear-indicator
bulbs ( 123)
Front light bulb defective Defective bulb symbol
with arrow pointing to
the front appears on the dis-
play.
A defective bulb places
your safety at risk be-
cause it is easier for other
users to oversee you and
your motorcycle.
Replace defective bulbs as
soon as possible; always
carry a complete set of spare
bulbs if possible.
Low-beam headlight, high-
beam headlight, side-light or
turn-indicator bulb defective.
330zStatus indicators

Ignition switch and
steering lockKeysYou receive one master key
and one spare key. Please
consult the information on
the electronic immobiliser
(EWS) if a key is lost or mis-
laid ( 44).Ignition switch and steer-
ing lock, tank filler cap
lock and the seat and case
locks are all operated with
the same key. On request,
the topcase available as an
optional accessory can be ar-
ranged to lock with the same
key.
Switch on the ignitionTurn the key to position 1.
Side lights and all function
circuits switched on.
Engine can be started.
Pre-ride check is
performed. ( 79)
ABS self-diagnosis is per-
formed. ( 80)
with OE ASC: Turn the key to position 1.
ASC self-diagnosis is
performed in addition to
the checks outlined above.
( 80)
Switch off the ignitionTurn the key to position 2.
Lights switched off.
Handlebars not locked.
Key can be removed.
Electrically powered ac-
cessories remain opera-
tional for a limited period
of time.
The battery can be
recharged via the on-board
socket.
443zOperation