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Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
103
Giving and receiving assistance
Receiving assistance
If your vehicle has the necessary equipment,
you can use buttons in the center console to
contact Roadside Assistance or issue an emer-
gency call.
Requirements for initiating an emergency call or
contacting Roadside Assistance:
>The key must be in position 1 or higher.
>The car phone must be logged on to a
mobile phone network.
>The emergency calling system must be
operable.
Access to the buttons
The buttons are in the center console, under a
cover flap in front of the parking brake.
1Emergency call
*
2Roadside Assistance*
Initiating an emergency call*
1.Fold the cover flap upward to open it.
2.Press button1 for at least 2 seconds.
The LED in the button lights up. As soon as a
telephone connection to the BMW Assist
Response Center has been established, the
LED flashes.
If the circumstances allow this, remain in the
vehicle until the connection has been estab-
lished. You will then be able to provide a
detailed description of the situation.If BMW Assist has been activated for your vehi-
cle and the current location of the vehicle can
be determined, this location is transmitted to
the BMW Assist Response Center.
If the LED is flashing but you cannot hear the
emergency response center, you may still be
heard by the emergency response center.
If certain requirements are met, an emergency
call is automatically initiated immediately after a
serious accident. This Automatic Collision Noti-
fication will not be hindered by pressing the
button.
For technical reasons, the emergency
calling services cannot be guaranteed for
the most unfavorable conditions.<
Roadside Assistance
The BMW Group's Roadside Assistance ser-
vice is there to assist you around the clock in
the event of a breakdown, including on week-
ends and public holidays.
The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-
tance in your home country can be found in the
Contact brochure.
Contacting Roadside Assistance*
1.Fold the cover flap upward to open it.
2.Press button2 for at least 2 seconds.
The LED in the button lights up. As soon as a
telephone connection to the Roadside Assis-
tance has been established, the LED flashes.
Depending on the country you are in, your vehi-
cle's current location will be transmitted if BMW
Assist has been activated for your vehicle.
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104
Warning triangle*
The warning triangle is stored in the rear trim
panel of the cargo bay.
To take it out, pull the ends of the rubber bands
upward and out of the fasteners.
First-aid kit*
The first-aid kit is located beneath the passen-
ger seat.
Some of the articles in the first-aid kit have a
limited period of use before expiration. For this
reason, check the expiration dates of each of
the items regularly, and replace any with passed
dates.
To open
1.Pull the handle.
2.Swing the cover downward.
To close
Swing the cover back up until it engages.
Jump-starting
If the car's own battery is flat, your BMW's
engine can be started by connecting two
jumper cables to another vehicle's battery. You
can also use the same method to help start
another vehicle. Always use jumper cables with
fully insulated handles on the terminal clamps.
Do not touch any electrically live parts
when the engine is running, or a fatal acci-
dent may occur. Contact with these compo-
nents can cause fatal injury. Carefully observe
the following instructions to avoid personal
injury and/or damage to one or both vehicles.<
Preparations
1.Check whether the battery of the support
vehicle has 12 volts and approximately the
same capacitance in Ah. This information
can be found on the battery.
2.Switch off the engine of the assisting vehi-
cle.
3.Switch off all electrical accessories in both
vehicles.
There must not be any contact between
the bodies of the two vehicles, otherwise
there is a danger of shorting.<
Connecting jumper cables
Connect the jumper cables in the correct
order; otherwise, sparks at the battery
terminals could pose an injury hazard.<
On your BMW, the so-called jump-starting con-
nection in the engine compartment serves as
the battery positive terminal, refer also to the
engine compartment overview on page92. The
symbol + is embossed on the cover.
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Reference
At a glance
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Driving tips
Mobility
105
1.Open the cover of the BMW jump-starting
connection. Do so by pulling the tab.
2.Attach one terminal clamp of the plus/+
jumper cable to the positive terminal of the
battery or a jump-starting connection of the
vehicle providing assistance.
3.Attach the second terminal clamp of the
plus/+ jumper cable to the positive terminal
of the battery or a jump-starting connection
of the vehicle to be started.
4.Attach one terminal clamp of the minus/–
jumper cable to the negative terminal of the
battery or to an engine or body ground of
the assisting vehicle.
Your BMW is equipped with a special nut,
refer also to the engine compartment over-
view on page92.
5.Attach the second terminal clamp of the
minus/– jumper cable to the negative termi-
nal of the battery or to the engine or body
ground of the vehicle to be started.Starting the engine
1.Start the engine of the donor vehicle and
allow it to run for a few minutes at slightly
increased idle speed.
2.Start the engine of the other vehicle as
usual.
If the first start attempt is not successful,
wait a few minutes before another attempt
in order to allow the discharged battery to
recharge.
3.Let the engines run for a few minutes.
4.Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing
the above connecting sequence.
If necessary, have the battery checked and
recharged.
Never use spray starter fluids to start the
engine.<
Tow-starting, towing away
Using the towing eyelet
The screw-in tow fitting must always be carried
in the car. It can be attached at the front or rear
of your BMW.
It is located in the onboard tool kit, refer to
page98.
Only use the towing eyelet supplied with
the vehicle, and screw it in firmly until it
stops. Use the towing eyelet for towing on
paved roads only. Avoid subjecting the towing
eyelet to lateral loads, e.g. do not lift the vehicle
using the towing eyelet. Otherwise the tow fit-
ting and the vehicle could be damaged.<
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106
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
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Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
107
engine is cold. It is recommended to start the
engine using jumper cables, refer to
page104.<
1.Switch on hazard warning flashers, comply
with local regulations.
2.Turn the key to position 2.
3.Shift into 3rd gear.
4.Have the vehicle tow-started with the clutch
depressed and slowly release the clutch.
After the engine starts, immediately
depress the clutch again.
5.Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow
bar or rope and switch off the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
6.Have the vehicle checked.
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Page 111 of 132
Reference
This chapter will help you find the desired
information as quickly as possible. It contains
the Technical data section as well as the
manual's index.
Reference
Page 112 of 132
Technical data
110
Technical data
Engine data
Z4 3.0iZ4 3.0si
Displacement cu in/cmµ182.8/2,996 182.8/2,996
Number of cylinders 6 6
Maximum power output hp 215 255
at engine speed rpm 6,250 6,600
Maximum torque ft lbs/Nm 185/251 220/300
at engine speed rpm 2,750 2,750