2006 BMW Z4 COUPE manual transmission

Driving
38
Driving
Ignition lock
0Steering locked
1Steering unlocked
2Ignition switched on
3Starting the engine
Steering locked
This is the only position in which the ignition key
can be inserted or removed.
After removing the key, turn the steering wheel
slightly to the left or right until the lock engages.
Interlock with automatic transmission
The key can only be turned back to position 0 or
removed if the selector lever is in position P:
interlock.
Steering unlocked
You will find that it is often easier to turn the
ignition key from position0 to 1 if yo u m ove the
steering wheel slightly to help disengage the
detent.
Individual electrical equipment and accessories
are available for use.
Ignition switched on
All systems are operational.
Starting the engine
Engine idle speed is controlled by the engine
computer system. Increased speeds at start-up
are normal and should decrease as the engine
warms up. If engine speed does not decrease,
service is required.
To prevent the battery from discharging, always
deactivate electrical devices that are not in use.
Switch the ignition off when the vehicle is not
being driven.
Do not leave the engine running in
enclosed spaces. Otherwise, inhaling the
hazardous exhaust gases could lead to uncon-
sciousness and death. The exhaust gases con-
tain carbon monoxide, an odorless and color-
less, but highly toxic gas. Do not leave the
vehicle unattended with the engine running. An
unattended vehicle with a running engine poses
a safety hazard.
Before leaving the car with the engine running,
place the transmission in idle or move the
selector lever to position P and apply the hand-
brake to prevent the car from moving.<
When starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Do not end the starting procedure too early, but
do not continue it for more than 20 seconds.
Release the key immediately when the engine
starts.
Do not let the engine warm up in idling position.
Instead, begin to drive immediately at moderate
engine speeds.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Step on the clutch when starting the vehi-
cle. A lockout prevents the engine from starting
if the clutch is not depressed.<
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.Depress the clutch and shift to idle position.
3.Start the engine.

Reference
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Mobility
39
Automatic transmission
1.Depress the brake.
2.Start the engine.
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the accelerator
pedal halfway down when starting the engine:
>If the engine does not start on the first
attempt, for instance when it is extremely
hot or cold.
>If the engine is started at very low tempera-
tures, below approx. +57/–156, at high
altitudes above approx. 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting attempts in quick
succession or repeated starting attempts
during which the engine does not start. Other-
wise, the fuel is not burned or inadequately
burned; there is a danger of overheating and
damaging the catalytic converter.<
Switching off the engine
Do not remove the key while the vehicle is
still moving. Otherwise, the steering lock
would engage when the steering wheel is
turned.
When you leave the vehicle, always remove the
key and engage the steering lock.
Apply the parking brake when parking on steep
gradients, otherwise the vehicle could start to
roll.<
You can have an acoustic signal set as a
reminder that the key is still in the ignition
switch after the driver's door has been
opened.<
Manual transmission
1.Turn the key to position 1 or 0.
2.Engage first gear or reverse gear.
3.Apply the handbrake.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2.Turn the key to position 1 or 0.
Parking brake
The parking brake is designed primarily to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling when parked. It
operates against the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp is lit, and when you
drive off a signal sounds in addition.
The handbrake is still applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and
lower the lever.
If, in exceptional circumstances, it should
be necessary to engage the parking brake
while the vehicle is in motion, do not pull it with
excessive pressure. In doing so, continuously
press the button of the handbrake lever. Other-
wise, too violent an application of the hand-
brake can overbrake the rear axle and cause the
rear of the car to swerve.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the hand-
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.
The brake lamps do not light up when the hand-
brake is applied.<

Driving
40
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, press
the gearshift lever to the right. Otherwise,
the engine could be damaged by accidentally
engaging 3rd or 4th gear.<
Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, a
slight resistance has to be overcome.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
In addition to operating the Steptronic as a fully
automatic transmission, you can also shift
gears manually with it, refer to page41.
Vehicle parking
To prevent the vehicle from rolling,
always select position P before leaving
the vehicle with the engine running.<
Removing the key
To turn the key in the ignition lock back to posi-
tion 0 or to remove it, first engage selector lever
position P and switch off the engine: interlock.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Displays in the instrument cluster
P R N D SD M1 to M6
The selector lever position is displayed; in the
manual mode, the gear currently engaged is
shown.
Range selection
>With the ignition switched on or the engine
running, the selector lever can be moved
out of position P: interlock.
>Before moving the lever away from P or N
with the vehicle stationary, first depress the
brake; otherwise the selector lever will
refuse to move: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping
after you select a driving position,
depress the brake until you are ready to
start.<
A lock prevents you from inadvertently engag-
ing selector lever positions R and P. To cancel
the lock, press the button on the front of the
selector lever, see arrow.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
transmission locks to prevent the drive wheels
from turning.

Reference
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Mobility
41
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral, idle
You can select this in a car wash, for example.
The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
This position is designed for driving under all
normal operating conditions. All forward gears
are selected automatically.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con-
sumption is lowest when you are driving in posi-
tion D.
Kickdown
Kick-down enables you to achieve maximum
performance.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Manual operation and Sport program
M/S
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 a perfor-
mance-oriented driving style.
The Sport program is enabled automatically
when the Driving Dynamic Control system is
activated, refer to page42.
To use the automatic function again, move the
selector lever to the right into position D.
Shifting gears using the selector lever
When you press the selector lever forwards or
backwards, the manual mode is activated and
Steptronic changes gear. The instrument clus-
ter shows M1 through M6.
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.
Shifting gears via the shift paddles* on
the steering wheel
The shift paddles allow you to shift gears
quickly since your hands can remain on the
steering wheel.
>When you use the shift paddles on the
steering wheel to shift gears while in auto-
matic mode, the transmission automatically
switches to manual mode.
>If you do not use the shift paddles for a cer-
tain amount of time and do not accelerate,
the transmission automatically switches
back to automatic mode.
If the selector lever is in the M/S gear
plane, manual mode remains active.
>To shift up, pull one of the shift paddles.
>To shift down, press one of the shift pad-
dles.
The instrument cluster shows M1 through M6.
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.
Malfunction
Red warning lamp
The transmission is overheating.
Reduce your speed immediately and
pull over at a suitable location so that

Reference
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45
To accelerate using the lever
Press the lever, arrow1, until the desired speed
is reached.
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on
the accelerator pedal. The system stores and
maintains the speed.
To decrease speed
Pull the lever repeatedly, arrow2, until the
desired speed is reached.
Functions are the same as with increasing
speed or accelerating, except the speed is
decreased.
Deactivating cruise control
Tap the lever upwards or downwards, arrow4.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
>When you brake the vehicle
>When you engage the clutch or shift to idle
in cars with manual transmission
>When you select the automatic transmis-
sion's neutral position N
>When you drive faster or slower than the set
speed for a longer period of time, e.g. by
pressing the accelerator pedal
>When the DSC comes on
You can recall the speed last stored.
To recall the stored speed
Briefly press the button, arrow 3. The speed last
stored is achieved again and maintained.
The stored speed is deleted as soon as the igni-
tion is switched off.

Special operating instructions
72 high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Down-
shifting in manual mode of the automatic trans-
mission, refer to page41.
Never drive with the clutch held down,
with the transmission in idle or with the
engine switched off; otherwise, engine braking
action will not be present or there will be no
power assistance to the brakes or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals, otherwise pedal function could be
impaired.<
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-
sure which must be exerted by the pads to
clean the rotors by brake applications is not
reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they will tend to
respond to braking with a pulsating effect which
even extended application will fail to cure.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the air conditioning
or automatic climate control is in operation, and
then exits under the vehicle. Traces of con-
densed water on the ground underneath the
vehicle are thus normal.
Before driving into a car wash
For general information about taking care of
your BMW, refer to the Caring for your vehicle
brochure.
Cargo loading
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that the
permissible carrying capacity of the tires
is not exceeded. Otherwise, overheating and
inner damage to the tires may result. The ulti-
mate result can assume the form of a sudden air
loss.<
Determining the maximum load
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or YYY lbs. Otherwise, overloading
can result in damage to the vehicle and
unstable driving conditions.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passenger that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passenger from XXX kilograms or
YYY pounds.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals
551 lbs and there will be two 150 lbs occu-
pants in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
251 lbs.
551 lbs minus 300 lbs = 251 lbs
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in step 4.

Reference
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101
Access to the threaded socket
Press out the cover with a screwdriver inserted
in the recess at the top.
Being towed
Make sure that the key is in position 1,
because otherwise the steering lock
could engage and the vehicle could no longer
be steered. There is no power assist while the
engine is off. Therefore, you will need to exert
more force to brake and steer the vehicle.<
Turn on the hazard warning flashers, if required
by national regulations. If the electrical system
has failed, clearly identify the vehicle being
towed, e.g. by placing a sign or a warning trian-
gle in the rear window.
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in idling position.
Automatic transmission
Selector lever in position N.
Do not exceed a towing speed of 45 mph/
70 km/h or a towing distance of 90 miles/
150 km. Otherwise, the automatic transmission
could be damaged.<
Towing methods
In some countries, it is not permitted to tow the
vehicle with a tow bar or tow rope on public
roads.
Familiarize yourself with the applicable towing
regulations for the country in which you are
driving.
With a tow bar
The towing vehicle must not be lighter
than the towed vehicle, otherwise it may
be impossible to maintain control.<
The towing eyelets of both vehicles should be
on the same side. Should it prove impossible to
avoid mounting the tow bar at an angle, please
observe the following:
>Clearance and maneuvering capability will
be sharply limited during cornering.
>The tow bar will generate lateral forces if it is
attached offset.
Attach the tow bar to the tow fittings only,
as attaching it to other parts of the vehicle
could result in damage.<
With a tow rope
Before the towing vehicle starts to drive off,
make sure that the tow rope is taut.
Use nylon ropes or straps for towing
because they prevent sudden jerking
movements. Attach the tow rope to the tow fit-
tings only, as attaching it to other parts of the
vehicle could result in damage.<
With a tow truck
Have the BMW transported by a tow truck with
a lift sling or a flat bed.
Do not lift the vehicle by the towing eye-
let, or by parts of the body or chassis.
Otherwise damage could result.<
Tow-starting
Do not tow-start vehicles with an auto-
matic transmission. Vehicles with a cata-
lytic converter should only be tow-started if the

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
109
Weights
RoadsterZ4 3.0iZ4 3.0si
Curb weight
>Manual transmission lbs/kg 3,020/1,370 3,086/1,400
>Automatic transmission lbs/kg 3,086/1,400 3,131/1,420
Approved gross vehicle weight
>Manual transmission lbs/kg 3,571/1,620 3,638/1,650
>Automatic transmission lbs/kg 3,638/1,650 3,682/1,670
Load lbs/kg 551/250 551/250
Approved front axle load lbs/kg 1,720/780 1,742/790
Approved rear axle load lbs/kg 1,940/880 1,962/890
Cargo bay capacity cu ft/liters 8.5/240 8.5/240
With convertible top compartment folded up cu ft/liters 9.2/260 9.2/260
Never exceed either the approved axle loads or the approved gross vehicle weight.
CoupeZ4 3.0si
Curb weight
>Manual transmission lbs/kg 3,108/1,410
>Automatic transmission lbs/kg 3,156/1,430
Approved gross vehicle weight
>Manual transmission lbs/kg 3,726/1,690
>Automatic transmission lbs/kg 3,770/1,710
Load lbs/kg 617/280
Approved front axle load lbs/kg 1,764/800
Approved rear axle load lbs/kg 2,006/910
Cargo bay capacity cu ft/liters 10.1-12.0/285-340
Never exceed either the approved axle loads or the approved gross vehicle weight.