Cockpit
8
Cockpit
Around the steering wheel: controls and displays
For descriptions of equipment listed here
without a page reference, please refer to
the Owner's Manual for the BMW Z4 under the
respective term.<
2Folding exterior mirrors in or out
*
3Adjusting exterior mirrors
1
Opening and closing windows
4
Parking lamps
Low beams
Automatic headlamp control
*
5
Instrument lighting
Cockpit
10
Instrument cluster
For descriptions of equipment listed here
without a page reference, please refer to
the Owner's Manual for the BMW Z4 under the
respective term.<
1Speedometer
2Indicator lamps for turn signals
3Indicator and warning lamps11
4Tachometer16
with indicator and warning lamps11
5Engine oil thermometer16
6Fuel gauge167Button for
>Displaying the clock
>Service interval display
8Button for
>Resetting trip odometer
>Setting the clock
9Display for
>Trip odometer/Odometer
>Clock
>Service interval
>Computer
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
11
Indicator and warning lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are identified
by
+ are tested for proper functioning whenever
the ignition key is turned. They each light up
once for different periods of time.
If a malfunction occurs in one of the monitored
systems, the corresponding lamp does not go
out after the engine has started, or it lights up
again while the vehicle is in motion. More infor-
mation can be found on the specified pages or
in the Owner's Manual for the BMW Z4 under
the respective terms.
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 Turn signal indicators
Battery charge current
+
Headlamp flasher/High beams
Engine oil pressure/
Engine oil level
+28
Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving
stability control systems
+
Antilock Brake System ABS/Driving
stability control systems for Canadian
models
Brake system
+
Brake warning lamp for Canadian mod-
els
Brake pads
+
Parking lamps/Low beams
Flat Tire Monitor
+18
Airbags
+
Safety belt reminder
Defective bulb
Doors or cargo bay lid/tailgate open
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
+
Service engine soon indicator lamp for
Canadian models
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC
+18
Add coolant
Coolant temperature16
Check gas cap
+
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
13
For descriptions of equipment listed here
without a page reference, please refer to
the Owner's Manual for the BMW Z4 under the
respective term.<
1Reading lamps
*
2Interior lamps
3Automatic climate control
5Indicator/warning lamp for passenger air-
bags
6Central locking system
7Hazard warning flashers
8Sport switchAir distribution
Automatic air distribution and flow
rate
Cooling function
Automatic recirculated-air control
AUC
Recirculated-air mode
Maximum cooling
Air flow rate
Defrosting windows
Rear window defroster
4
Seat heating
*
Roadster: opening the convertible
top
Roadster: closing the convertible
top
DSC Dynamic Stability Control18
Flat Tire Monitor FTM
Everything under control
16
Everything under control
Tachometer
The orange warning zone between arrows 1
and 2 shows the currently permissible engine
speed, which depends on engine temperature.
As engine temperature increases, some of the
LEDs in this warning zone go out one after
another.
As much as possible, avoid driving at engine
speeds within the illuminated warning zone.
Never force the engine speed up into the red
warning zone beginning at arrow 2. To protect
the engine, the fuel supply is interrupted when
speed reaches this sector.
Fuel gauge
Reserve
In contrast to the descriptions in the Owner's
Manual for the BMW Z4, the reserve level for
the BMW Z4 M Roadster/Z4 M Coupe is approx.
2.6 US gallons/10 liters.
Coolant temperature
In contrast to the descriptions in the Owner's
Manual for the BMW Z4, your BMW Z4 M Road-
ster/Z4 M Coupe is not equipped with a coolant
thermometer.
Should the coolant and thus the engine become
too hot, a warning lamp will come on in the
instrument cluster.
Red warning lamp
The engine is overheated. Reduce your
speed immediately and pull over at a
suitable location. Switch off the engine
and allow it to cool down. Contact your nearest
BMW Center or a workshop that works accord-
ing to BMW repair procedures with correspond-
ingly trained personnel.
Do not open the hood, otherwise there is
a risk of injury from scalding.<
Yellow warning lamp
The engine is too warm. Continue driv-
ing, but in a moderate manner, so that
the engine can cool down.
If the warning lamp comes on again, have the
engine checked without delay.
Engine oil thermometer
The general operating temperature lies
between 1757/806 and 2507/1206. Do
not exceed the maximum temperature of
3007/1506.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, the per-
missible engine speed, and thus the available
engine output, is reduced.
Service interval display
Regardless of your service requirements,
have the breaking-in inspection per-
Technology for driving comfort and safety
18
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Driving stability control
systems
In contrast to the descriptions in the Owner's
Manual for the BMW Z4, your BMW Z4 M Road-
ster/Z4 M Coupe does not feature Dynamic
Traction Control DTC.
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; the DSC indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. No more interven-
tions to increase stability and forward momen-
tum are carried out.
To enhance vehicle stability, reactivate DSC as
soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button briefly; 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 is deactivated.
Flat Tire Monitor FTM
In contrast to the descriptions in the Owner's
Manual for the BMW Z4, your BMW Z4 M Road-
ster/Z4 M Coupe is not equipped with Run Flat
tires. You should therefore observe the follow-
ing when you receive a flat tire warning.
Flat tire warning
The warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up in red. A signal also
sounds. There is a flat tire or substantial
loss of tire pressure.
1.Reduce speed and pull the vehicle over
carefully. Avoid strong braking and steering
maneuvers.
2.Determine which tire is damaged. To do
this, check the tire inflation pressure using
the M Mobility System, refer to Restoring
tire inflation pressure on page33.
3.Use the M Mobility System to repair the flat
tire, refer to page31.
Power steering
In contrast to the descriptions in the Owner's
Manual for the BMW Z4, your BMW Z4 M Road-
ster/Z4 M Coupe is equipped with hydraulic
power steering.
Under the hood
28
Under the hood
Important parts in the engine compartment
1Washer fluid reservoir for headlamp and
windshield washer system
2Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding
engine oil
3Jump-starting connection4Reservoir for brake fluid
5Coolant expansion tank
6Chassis ground, negative terminal
7Dipstick for engine oil, refer to Checking the
oil level
Engine oil
Like fuel consumption, engine oil consumption
depends on your driving style and the vehicle's
operating conditions.
Warning lamp
Engine oil pressure
The warning lamp lights up in red:
The engine oil pressure is too low.
Stop the vehicle immediately and
switch off the engine. Check the engine oil level
and top up if necessary. If the oil level is correct,
please contact your nearest BMW Center or a
workshop that works according to BMW repair procedures with correspondingly trained per-
sonnel.
Do not continue driving, otherwise the
engine could sustain serious damage
from inadequate lubrication.<
Engine oil level
The warning lamp lights up in yellow
while you are driving. A signal also
sounds.
The oil level is at the absolute minimum; check
engine oil level using dipstick 7 and refill as
soon as possible. Do not drive more than
30 miles/50 km before refilling.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
29
The warning lamp lights up in yellow
after the engine is switched off. A signal
also sounds.
Check the engine oil level using dipstick7 at the
earliest opportunity, e.g. when you stop to
refuel, and refill engine oil.
The warning lamp lights up in yellow
within 30 seconds after the engine is
started:
The oil level sensor is defective. Have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible.
Checking the oil level
1.Position the vehicle on a level surface.
2.Switch off the engine when it is at operating
temperature.
3.After approx. 1 minute, pull dipstick 7 out
and wipe it off with a clean, lint-free cloth,
paper towel or something similar.
4.Carefully push the dipstick fully into its tube,
then pull it out again.
The oil level must be between the two
marks on the dipstick.
The oil volume between the two marks on the
dipstick corresponds to approx. 1.4 US quarts/
1.3 liters.
Adding engine oil
Do not add oil until the oil level has dropped
almost to the lower mark on the dipstick, refer to
Checking the oil level.
Do not add oil beyond the upper mark on
the dipstick, otherwise excessive oil can
lead to engine damage.<
Before you check the engine oil level after add-
ing oil, restart the engine and let it run to obtain
a correct reading. Then proceed as described
under Checking the oil level.
BMW engines are designed to operate
without oil additives; the use of additives
could even lead to damage in some cases. The
same applies to the transmission and differen-
tial as well as to the power steering.<
Continuous exposure to used oil has
caused cancer in laboratory tests. For this
reason, thoroughly wash any areas of skin that
have come into contact with oil using soap and
water.
Keep oils, greases, etc. out of the reach of chil-
dren and comply with the warnings on the con-
tainers. Otherwise, health hazards may result.<
Comply with the applicable environmen-
tal regulations concerning the disposal of
used oil.<
Recommendation: have the oil changed at your
BMW Center.
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil is extremely impor-
tant for the function and life of an engine. BMW
only approves specific oils after confirming their
suitability for use in its vehicles with extensive
testing.