
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 31
vehicle control could lead to an accident.
On the passenger seat as well, do not incline 
the backrest too far to the rear while the vehicle 
is being driven, otherwise there is a danger in 
the event of an accident of sliding under the 
safety belt, eliminating the protection normally 
provided by the belt.<
Comply with the instructions on head restraint 
height on page32 and on damaged safety belts 
on page34.
Seat adjustment
Comply with the preceding instructions in 
this chapter to ensure the best possible 
personal protection.<
Backward/forward adjustment
Pull lever 1 and slide the seat to the desired 
position.
After releasing the lever, move the seat gently 
forward or back to make sure it engages prop-
erly.
Height
Pull lever 2 and apply your weight to the seat or 
lift it off, as necessary.
Backrest
Pull lever 3 and apply your weight to the back-
rest or lift it off, as necessary.
Power seat adjustment*
Read and comply with the adjustment 
instructions on page30. Failure to do so 
can result in diminished personal safety.<
1Tilt angle
2Backward/forward adjustment
3Height
4Backrest
The head restraint is adjusted manually, refer to 
Head restraints on page32.
M Sports seat*
On this seat, you can also adjust the thigh sup-
port and the tilt angle. 

Transporting children safely
36
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger 
themselves and/or other persons by opening 
the doors, for example.<
Children on the passenger seat
Children under 13 years of age or under 
5 ft/150 cm in height may only be trans-
ported in child-restraint systems suitable for 
their age, weight and size and if the passenger 
airbags are deactivated. Otherwise, there is an 
increased risk of injury in the event of an acci-
dent or should the airbags deploy.<
Children 13 years of age or older must be buck-
led in with a safety belt as soon as there no 
longer is any child-restraint system that is 
appropriate for their age, weight and size.
For a child, not an infant, certain precautions 
should be taken. Position the passenger seat as 
far back as possible and at the lowest level. This 
important precaution is intended to maximize 
the distance between the airbags and the child.
Deactivating/reactivating passenger 
airbags
The passenger airbags must be deacti-
vated before using a rear-facing child-
restraint system on the passenger seat, refer 
also to page37 for explanation.
BMW also recommends that the passenger air-
bags be deactivated if a child is transported in a 
front-facing child-restraint system, regardless 
of the age of the child. If you transport a child in 
the passenger seat, not an infant in a rear-fac-
ing seat, who is properly seated and seat-belted 
at all times, the potential benefits of airbags 
deploying in an accident generally outweigh the 
risks of the child being injured by the force of a 
deploying airbag. 
Therefore, you should deactivate the passen-
ger airbags only if you find it difficult to ensure 
that the child will remain properly seated and seat-belted at all times.
Always position the passenger seat as far back 
as possible and at the lowest level.
The above warning and recommendations are 
compatible with regulations established by the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
NHTSA, permitting the deactivation of passen-
ger airbags by means of an on-off switch for 
members of certain at-risk groups.
Specifically, the at-risk groups are:
>Infants in rear-facing infant seats
>Persons with certain medical conditions
>Children aged 12 and under in the passen-
ger seat.
NHTSA provides this information via their web-
site, www.nhtsa.dot.gov, or via their Auto 
Safety Hotline toll-free at 
1-800-424-9393 or 366-0123 
in Washington, D.C. area.<
Key switch for passenger 
airbags
The front, side and knee airbags for the passen-
ger can be deactivated and reactivated using a 
key switch. It is located on the passenger side 
on the side of the dashboard.
The passenger airbags can only be deactivated 
and reactivated while the vehicle is at a stand-
still and the passenger door is open. 

Special operating instructions
76 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.
Brake pads
The warning lamp lights up. The brake 
pads have worn down to the minimum 
safe limit. Have the brake pads 
replaced as soon as possible.
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
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 77
Load
The permissible load is the sum of the occu-
pants' weights and the weight of the cargo. The 
greater the weight of the occupants, the less 
cargo can be transported.
Stowing cargo
>Load heavy cargo as far forward as possi-
ble, directly behind the cargo bay partition, 
and as low as possible.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
To avoid damaging the rear of the back-
rests or the rear interior trim panel, do not 
stow heavy cargo or cargo with sharp edges 
and corners behind the seats.
In addition, large and bulky cargo stowed 
behind a seat may prevent the backrest from 
engaging properly. Therefore, check the back-
rest to see if it is properly engaged, and move 
the seat forward if necessary; refer to page31.
Always position and secure the load as 
described above. If you do not, it can endanger 
the occupants during braking or evasive 
maneuvers.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle 
weight or either of the approved axle loads, refer 
to page113, as excessive loads can pose a 
safety hazard, and may also place you in viola-tion of traffic safety laws.
Heavy or hard objects should not be carried 
loose inside the car, since they could be thrown 
around, for example as a result of heavy braking, 
sudden swerves, etc., and endanger the occu-
pants.<
Roadster: convertible top 
compartment
The cargo bay can be enlarged when the 
convertible top is closed, refer to page23.
I t  i s  r e c o m m e n d ed  t h a t  y o u  a lw a y s  f o l d  t h e  c o n -
vertible top compartment panel down as soon 
as you have taken your cargo out of the cargo 
bay. This way, you can be sure that you can 
always operate the convertible top at any time.
When the convertible top is closed, fold the 
convertible top compartment panel up before 
stowing your cargo in the cargo bay, to avoid 
any damage to the convertible top compart-
ment or your load.
Do not stow any items on the convertible top 
compartment panel, otherwise the convertible 
top could be damaged while it is opening.<
If you stow cargo behind the seats of your 
BMW:
>Only stow light objects such as clothing, 
etc.
>Do not pile objects higher than the top edge 
of the backrests.
Roadster: hardtop 
preparation*
Pull covers off, see arrow1.
The brackets for attaching the hardtop 
are located underneath the covers; see arrow2. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
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Mobility
 83
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle shuts 
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 14.5 US gallons/55 liters, including the 
reserve capacity of approx. 2.1 US gallons/
8liters.
Do not drive until the fuel tank is empty. 
Otherwise, the engine may not operate 
properly and damage could result.<
Fuel specifications
Do not fill the tank with leaded fuel, as this 
would cause permanent damage to the 
catalytic converter.
Do not fill the tank with E85, i.e. fuel that con-
tains 85 % ethanol, nor with Flex Fuel, as this 
would cause damage to the engine and fuel 
supply system.<
Required fuel
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less 
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is 87.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds 
when starting at high outside temperatures. 
This has no effect on the engine life.
Do not fill the tank with gasoline below the 
specified minimum grade; otherwise 
engine damage could result.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, 
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale 
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other 
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight, 
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void 
the applicable warranties with respect to 
defects in materials or workmanship.The use of poor-quality fuels may result in 
drivability, starting and stalling problems 
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and 
high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability problems 
which you suspect could be related to the fuel 
you are using, we recommend that you respond 
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand 
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier 
Detergent Gasoline.
Failure to comply with these recommendations 
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.< 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 85
Z4 Roadster 3.0i
Z4 Roadster 3.0si
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications in the table are 
indicated in psi/kilopascal with cold tires, 
cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 16 92 V
225/45 R 17 91 W
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S
225/50 R 16 92 H M+S
225/45 R 17 91 H/V M+S32/220 35/240
Front: 225/45 R 17 91W
Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 W32/220
––
35/240
Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W
Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W32/220
––
35/240
You will find more information about permissible loads and weights on page113.
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications in the table are 
indicated in psi/kilopascal with cold tires, 
cold = ambient temperature
225/45 R 17 91 W
225/45 R 17 91 H/V M+S33/230 38/260
Front: 225/45 R 17 91W
Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 W33/230
––
38/260
Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W
Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W33/230
––
38/260
You will find more information about permissible loads and weights on page113. 

Wheels and tires
86
Z4 Coupe 3.0si
Tire coding
Understanding the lettering on the tire sidewall 
makes it easier to identify and choose the cor-
rect tires.
Tire size
Speed code letter
Q = up to 100mph or 160km/h
T = up to 118mph or 190km/h
H = up to 131mph or 210km/h
V = up to 150mph or 240km/h
W = up to 167mph or 270km/h
Y = up to 186mph or 300km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines of 
the U.S. Department of Transportation.DOT code:
Tire age
The date on which the tire was manufactured is 
indicated by the code on the sidewall:
DOT … 5005 indicates that the tire was manu-
factured in week 50 of the year 2005.
BMW recommends the replacement of all tires 
every 6 years at the latest, even if a tire usage of 
10 years is possible.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable 
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and 
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications in the table are 
indicated in psi/kilopascal with cold tires, 
cold = ambient temperature
225/45 R 17 91 W
225/45 R 17 91 H/V M+S33/230 39/270
Front: 225/45 R 17 91W
Rear: 255/40 R 17 94 W33/230
––
39/270
Front: 225/40 R 18 88 W
Rear: 255/35 R 18 90 W33/230
––
39/270
You will find more information about permissible loads and weights on page113.
e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ 
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter, in
front of the R on ZR tires225/50 R1692 V
e.g.
Manufacturer's code 
for tire make
Tire size and 
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 5005 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
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Mobility
 113
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.