2006 BMW Z4 3.0SI ROADSTER 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 Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving
stability control systems for Canadian
models
Brake system
+
Parking brake released90
Parking brake applied39
With other warning lamps50
Brake warning lamp for Canadian mod-
els
Brake pads
+90
Fog lamps56
Electric Power Steering
+52
Flat Tire Monitor
+51
Airbags
+52
'Fasten safety belts' reminder33
Defective bulb55
Doors or luggage compartment lid/tail-
gate open
Automatic transmission
+41
Engine electronics
+
Malfunction in the engine electronics.
You can continue to drive with reduced
engine output. Please have the system
inspected by your BMW Center.
Service engine soon
+92
Service engine soon indicator lamp for
Canadian models
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC
+49
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC
+49
Add coolant89
Check gas cap
+78

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
15
1Reading lamps*57
2Interior lamps56
3Air conditioning58
or automatic climate control
*61
5Indicator/warning lamp
passenger airbags36
6Central locking system21
7Hazard warning flashers
8Driving Dynamic Control42 Air distribution for air
conditioning59
Air distribution for automatic cli-
mate control
*62
Automatic air distribution and flow
rate
*62
Cooling function
*59,62
AUC Automatic recirculated-air
control
*63
Recirculated-air mode59,63
Maximum cooling
*62
Air flow rate59,62
Defrosting windows
*62
Rear window defroster59,63
4
Seat heating
*33
Roadster: opening the convertible
top
*27
Roadster: closing the convertible
top
*27
Dynamic Traction Control DTC49
Flat Tire Monitor FTM51

Driving
42 the transmission can cool down again. You can
continue your journey, but moderate your
speed and exercise due caution.
Have the system checked immediately.
Yellow warning lamp
The transmission system is malfunc-
tioning. 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.
Instructions on towing, tow-starting and jump-
starting begin on page99.
Driving Dynamic Control
At the touch of a button, Driving Dynamic Con-
trol enables you to drive your BMW in an even
sportier style:
>The engine responds more spontaneously
to any motion of the accelerator pedal.
>The vehicle is steered more directly and
traction is enhanced.
>Cruise control
*:
The stored speed is achieved more quickly
when called up.
In addition with automatic transmission:
>The Sport program is activated.
To activate the system
Press the SPORT button while the key is in
position 2.
The LED in the button lights up.
To deactivate the system
Press the SPORT button again.
The LED in the button goes out.
Turn signal indicators/
Headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signal indicators
Unusually rapid flashing of the indica-
tor lamp indicates that a turn signal
indicator has failed.<
To signal briefly
Press the lever as far as the resistance point for
as long as you wish to indicate a turn.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever as far as the resistance point.
The turn signals flash three times.
If you wish, you can have this function
activated.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
49
Technology for driving comfort and safety
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 page71.
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 you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
automatically produces the maximum braking
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. At the same time, the benefits of the ABS
are also exploited.
As long as you want full braking to continue, do
not reduce pressure on the brake.
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.<
Deactivating DSC
Press the button for at least 3 seconds; the indi-
cator lamp for DSC lights up in the instrument
cluster. Dynamic Traction Control DTC and
DSC have been deactivated simultaneously. No
more interventions to increase stability and for-
ward momentum are carried out.
To enhance vehicle stability, reactivate DSC as
soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button again; the indicator lamp goes
out in the instrument cluster.
Checking
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
The indicator lamp is lit:
DSC has been deactivated completely.
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.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
83
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.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either sep-
arately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.<
RSC: Run-Flat Tires
Run-Flat tires are labeled on the sidewall with a
circular symbol containing the letters RSC.
Refer to page84.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter performance proper-
ties than summer tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged
in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Minimum tread depth
The tread depth should not drop below 1/8 in/
3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of
1/16 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 1/8 in/
3 mm there is an increased risk of high-speed
hydroplaning, even when only small amounts of
water are present on the road surface.
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth
of 1/6 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter conditions. In the interest of
safety, new tires should be installed.
Wear indicators in the base of the tread groove
are distributed around the tire's circumference;

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
85
approved wheels and tires are used, BMW can-
not evaluate their suitability, and therefore can-
not be held liable for driving safety.<
You can inquire about the correct wheel/tire
combination at your BMW Center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of
various vehicle systems such as ABS and DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, only use tires of a single brand and
tread configuration. After a tire has been dam-
aged, for instance, mount the original wheel and
tire combination again as soon as possible.
Recommended tire brands
Certain makes of tire are recommended by
BMW for each tire size. They are marked with a
clearly visible BMW designation on the sidewall
of the tire.
When properly used, these tires meet the high-
est standards in terms of safety and handling
characteristics.
Run-Flat Tires
When mounting new tires or changing over
from summer to winter tires and vice versa,
mount Run-Flat Tires for your own safety. In the
event of a flat, moreover, no spare wheel is
available. Your BMW Center will be glad to pro-
vide you with more information.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
that damaged Run-Flat Tires be replaced
rather than repaired.<
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends the use of winter tires for
operation under winter road conditions. While all-season tires with M+S designation provide
better winter traction than summer tires, they
generally do not achieve the full performance of
winter tires.
Pay attention to speed
Always comply with the speed limit for the
winter tires mounted on your car; failure
to do so could result in tire damage and acci-
dents.<
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the
maximum permitted speed for the mounted
tires must be displayed in your field of view.
Specialist tire dealers and your BMW Center
can supply these labels.
Storage
Store tires in a cool, dry place, protecting them
against light whenever possible. Protect the
tires from contact with oil, grease and fuel. Do
not exceed the maximum tire inflation pressure
indicated on the sidewall of the tire.
Snow chains*
Only certain fine-link snow chains have been
tested by BMW, classified as safe for use and
recommended. Consult your BMW Center for
more information. Attach snow chains in pairs
and only to the rear wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed
of 30 mph/50 km/h when using snow chains.
You are not permitted to mount snow chains to
tires of the following sizes:
>255/40 R 17
>255/35 R 18
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if
snow chains are mounted, otherwise the
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.
When driving with snow chains, you may find it
helpful to activate DTC temporarily, refer to
page50.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
115
Defrost position, refer to
Defrosting windows59,62
Dehumidifying air, refer to
Switching cooling function
on/off59,62
Digital clock47
Dimensions107,108
Dimming mirrors71
Directional indicators, refer to
Turn signal indicators42
Disc brakes72
Displacement, refer to Engine
data106
Display elements, refer to
Instrument cluster12
Display lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting56
Displays, refer to Instrument
cluster12
Displays and controls10
Disposal
– coolant89
– vehicle battery97
Distance remaining, refer to
Cruising range48
Door keys, refer to The key
set18
Door lock20
Doors, unlocking and locking
– acknowledgment
signals19,20
– from inside21
– from outside19
DOT quality grades82
Draft-free ventilation59,63
Drive-off assistant50
Driving Dynamic Control42
Driving light, refer to Parking
lamps/Low beams55
Driving notes70
Driving stability control
systems49
Driving through water71
Driving tips, refer to Driving
notes70
Dry air, refer to Switching
cooling function on/
off59,62DSC Dynamic Stability
Control49
– indicator/warning lamp49
– indicator lamp13
DTC Dynamic Traction
Control49
– indicator/warning
lamp13
,50
Dynamic Brake Control
DBC49
– indicator/warning lamp13
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC49
– indicator/warning lamp49
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC49
– indicator/warning lamp50
E
EBV Electronic brake-force
distribution49
Electric
– seat adjustment31
Electrical malfunction
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic41
– convertible top28
– door lock20
– fuel filler door78
– luggage compartment lid22
– storage compartments64
– tailgate22
Electric Power Steering
EPS52
– indicator/warning
lamp13,52
Electric power windows25
– power loss25
Electronic
– brake-force distribution49
– oil level check88
Emergency call98
– button98
Emergency operation, refer to
Opening manually
– tailgate22
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside Assistance98Engine38
– break-in period70
– electronics13
– indicator lamp13
– overheated, refer to Coolant
thermometer47
– speed46
– starting38
– switching off39
– temperature47
Engine compartment87
Engine coolant, refer to
Coolant89
Engine oil87
– adding89
– additives, refer to Approved
engine oils89
– alternative oil grades89
– approved engine oils89
– capacity110
– change intervals, refer to
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models, Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
– change intervals, refer to
Service interval display47
– checking level88
– indicator/warning lamp12
– oil level87
– pressure
87
Engine output, refer to Engine
data106
Engine starting, refer to
Starting the engine38
EPS Electric Power
Steering52
Equipment scope, refer to the
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models, Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control49
Exhaust system, refer to Hot
exhaust system70

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
121
Starting assistance, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC49
Starting difficulties
– jump-starting99
– temperature39
Starting with a flat battery,
refer to Jump-starting99
Status of this Owner's Manual
at time of printing5
Steering wheel10
– adjusting34
– buttons on steering
wheel11
– lock38
Steptronic, refer to Sport
program and Manual
operation41
Storage compartments64
– electrical fault64
– eyeglasses compartment65
– glove compartment64
– opening manually64
Storage nets64
Storage space, refer to
– Cargo bay23
Storage space, refer to
Storage compartments64
Storing seat position, refer to
Seat memory32
Stowage, refer to Storage
compartments64
Summer tires, refer to Wheels
and tires80
Supply reservoir, refer to
Washer fluid reservoir44
Switches, refer to Cockpit10
Switch for passenger
airbags35
Switching cooling function on/
off manually59,62
Symbols4
T
Table of contents3
Tachometer46Tailgate21
– emergency operation22
– opening from inside the
vehicle21
– opening from the outside21
– opening manually22
– remote control19
– roller-blind cover65
Tail lamps, refer to Rear
lamps96
Tail lights, refer to Rear
lamps96
Tank contents
– refer to Capacities110
Tank indicator, refer to Fuel
gauge46
Technical data106
Technical modifications, refer
to For your own safety5
Telephone, refer to the
separate Owner's Manual
Telephone preparation
package67
Temperature
– air conditioning59
– automatic climate control62
– coolant, refer to Coolant
thermometer47
– engine47
Temperature display
– outside temperature46
– outside temperature
warning46
– setting unit of measure48
Tempomat, refer to Cruise
control44
Third brake lamp, refer to
Center high-mount brake
lamp96
Three-point safety belt, refer
to Safety belts33
Tilt alarm sensor25
Tilt function, passenger-side
mirror34
Tire inflation pressure80
– checking80
– loss51
– restoring80
Tire renewal84Tires
– age82,84
– break-in procedures70
– changing84
– coding82
– condition83
– damage84
– DOT quality grades82
– flat
51
– inflation pressure80
– pressure monitoring, refer to
Flat Tire Monitor51
– replacement84
– size80
– storage85
– temperature83
– traction83
– tread83
– tread wear83
– Uniform Tire Quality
Grading82
– wear indicators, refer to
Minimum tread depth83
– wheel and tire
replacement84
– winter tires85
– with emergency features,
refer to Run-Flat Tires84
Tire storage85
Tool kit, refer to Onboard tool
kit93
Torque, refer to Engine
data106
Tow bar101
Towing eyelet100
Towing the vehicle100
– methods101
– with automatic
transmission101
Tow rope101
Tow-starting101
Tow truck101
Track width, refer to
Dimensions107,108
Traction control, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC49