
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

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

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

Range
Average speed
Average consumption
Oil level
Tyre pressures (OE)Ambient temperatureAmbient-temperature dis-
play1is active only when
the engine is running; at other
times the display shows
--
.
An ice warning
appears if the ambient-
temperature reading drops
below 3 °C. The display
automatically switches from any other mode to the
temperature reading when the
temperature drops below this
threshold for the first time.
The reading flashes until you
select some other display
mode.
RangeThe description of the
residual-range function
( 49) also covers the
residual-range readout.
You can also view range
1
before the fuel level drops
to reserve. A special
average-consumption figure is used to calculate range;
this figure is not necessarily
the same as the value you
can call up for viewing on the
display.
The calculated range
is only an approximate
reading. Consequently, BMW
Motorrad recommends that
you should not try to use the
full range before refuelling.
450zOperation

ponents are not designed to
withstand. Damage caused in
this way is not covered by the
warranty.
Do not tamper with the
control unit of the electronic
engine-management
system.ChecklistUse the following checklist
to check important functions,
settings and wear limits be-
fore you ride off.Brakes
Brake-fluid levels, front and
rear
Clutch
Clutch fluid level
Shock absorber setting and
spring preload
Tyre-tread depth and tyre
pressures Cases correctly installed
and luggage secured
At regular intervals: Engine oil level (every refuel-
ling stop)
StartingSide standYou cannot start the motor-
cycle with the side stand ex-
tended and a gear engaged.
The engine will switch itself off
if you start it with the gearbox
in neutral and then engage a
gear before retracting the side
stand.GearboxYou can start the engine
when the gearbox is in neutral
or if you pull the clutch with
a gear engaged. Do not pull
the clutch until after you have
switched on the ignition, as
otherwise the engine will refuse to start. When the
gearbox is in neutral, the
green neutral telltale light is
on and the gear indicator
in the multifunction display
shows N.
Start the engineKill switch
1in run posi-
tion A.
Switch on the ignition.
Pre-ride check is
performed. ( 79)
ABS self-diagnosis is per-
formed. ( 80)
578zRiding

If the oil level is above the
MAX mark:Have the oil level corrected
by a specialist workshop,
preferably an authorised
BMW Motorrad dealer.
Install the front seat ( 66)Top up the engine oilChecking engine oil level
( 103)
Pour engine oil in through
filler neck 1until it reaches
the specified level.
Brake system, generalReliabilityA fully functional brake sys-
tem is a basic requirement for
the road safety of your motor-
cycle.
Do not ride the motorcycle if
you have any doubts about
the dependability of the brake
system.
Under these circumstances
have the brake system
checked by a specialist
workshop, preferably an
authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
Incorrect working prac-
tices endanger the reli-
ability of the brakes.
Have all work on the brake
system performed by a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably
an authorised BMW Motorrad
dealer.
Check operation of the
brakesPull the handbrake lever.
The pressure point must be
clearly perceptible.
Press the footbrake lever.
The pressure point must be
clearly perceptible.Brake padsChecking brake-pad
thickness, front brakes
Brake pads worn past
the minimum permissible
thickness can cause a reduc-
tion in braking efficiency and
under certain circumstances
they can cause damage to
the brake system.
In order to ensure the de-
pendability of the brake sys-
tem, do not permit the brake
pads to wear past the minim-
um permissible thickness.
7105zMaintenance