2008 BMW Z4 3.0I ROADSTER Shield

Notes
6
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts
and accessories approved by BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested and
approved by BMW and Original BMW Parts, you
simultaneously acquire the assurance that they
have been thoroughly tested by BMW to ensure
optimum performance when installed on your
vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free from
defects in material and workmanship.
BMW will not accept any liability for damage
resulting from installation of parts and accesso-
ries not approved by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made by other
manufacturers to verify if it can be used on a
BMW safely and without risk to either the vehi-
cle, its operation, or its occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories and
other products approved by BMW, together
with professional advice on using these items,
are available from all BMW centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms, radios,
amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels, suspension
components, brake dust shields, telephones,
including operation of any mobile phone from
within the vehicle without using an externally
mounted antenna, or transceiver equipment, for
instance, CBs, walkie-talkie, ham radio or simi-
lar accessories, may cause extensive damage
to the vehicle, compromise its safety, interfere
with the vehicle's electrical system or affect the
validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. See your
BMW center for additional information.<
Maintenance, replacement or repair of
the emission control devices and sys-
tems may be performed by any automotive
repair establishment or individual using any cer-
tified automotive part.<
Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publication
thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warran-
ties:
>New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
>Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
>California Emission Control System Limited
Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is
listed in the Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models or in the Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
11
8Instrument cluster12
10Buttons
* on the steering wheel
11Ignition lock4012Horn: the entire surface
14Releasing the hood91
15Opening the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate21 7
Turn signal indicators44
High beams, headlamp flasher60
Roadside parking lamps
*60
Computer
*50
9Windshield wipers45
Rain sensor
*45
Volume
>Press: to accept and end a
telephone call; to start dialing
for selected telephone num-
bers
>Press longer: activate and
deactivate voice entry
*
Fast forward/rewind
>Radio
Press: next station stored
Press longer: station search
>CD
Press: jump to next track
Press longer: fast forward/
rewind
>Telephone
Scan register of names
Display/hide telephone book. Dis-
play the entries one after another
with the forward/backward buttons
13
Cruise control*46

Opening and closing
26 >It is advisable to close the convertible top
when the vehicle is parked. When closed,
the top not only guards the passenger com-
partment from unforeseeable damage from
the weather, but also affords a degree of
protection against theft. Valuables, how-
ever, should only be kept in the locked
cargo bay, even when the convertible top is
closed.
>When the convertible top is open, the cen-
tral locking system also locks button 1 for
the convertible top, refer to page26. The
convertible top cannot be operated. This
provides better theft protection for valu-
ables stored in the cargo bay.
>Never mount a roof-mounted luggage rack
system on the convertible top.
Never keep a wet convertible top in the
convertible top compartment for longer
than one day, otherwise the moisture could
cause damage.<
Opening
Operate the convertible top only when
the vehicle is stationary.
To avoid any damage when opening the con-
vertible top, make sure that the convertible top
compartment panel in the cargo bay has been
folded down, refer to page23.<
1.Flip the handle out and turn it to the end
stop.
2.Fold the handle back in.
Do not guide the convertible top
towards the rear with the handle
folded out, otherwise the convertible top's
headliner could be damaged.<3.Open the convertible top and guide it
toward the rear of the vehicle.
4.Gently swing the convertible top downward
and press until it engages audibly.Closing
1.Press button1.
The convertible top is released and moves
up slightly.
2.Using the handle, pull the convertible top
forward onto the windshield frame.
3.Turn the handle until it engages audibly.
The convertible top is locked.
At higher speeds, a vacuum effect in the
passenger compartment can cause the
convertible top to begin fluttering. Increase the
air flow from the air conditioning or automatic

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
27
climate control to prevent a partial vacuum in
the vehicle.<
Roadster: fully automatic
convertible top*
The fully automatic convertible top combines
assured protection against the elements with
simple and easy handling.
Here are a few tips so that you get the most out
of your BMW:
>It is advisable to close the convertible top
when the vehicle is parked. When closed,
the top not only guards the passenger com-
partment from unforeseeable damage from
the weather, but also affords a degree of
protection against theft. Valuables, how-
ever, should only be kept in the locked
cargo bay, even when the convertible top is
closed.
>Never mount a roof-mounted luggage rack
system on the convertible top.
Do not operate the convertible top at tem-
peratures below 147/–106, otherwise
damage could result.
Never keep a wet convertible top in the convert-
ible top compartment for longer than one day,
otherwise the moisture could cause damage.
Do not lay objects on the convertible top, other-
wise they could fall off when the convertible top
is operated and cause damage or injuries.
Driving while the convertible top is not com-
pletely open or closed can cause vehicle dam-
age or personal injury.
Do not reach into the convertible top mecha-
nism during opening and closing. Keep children
away from the convertible top's range of move-
ment.
For safety reasons, whenever possible operate
the convertible top when the vehicle is station-
ary.<
If a convertible top operation has not yet
been completed as you start to drive off,
at a traffic light for example, you can continue
the procedure at moderate speed:
To do so, press and hold the corresponding button again.
At higher speeds, a vacuum effect in the pas-
senger compartment can cause the convertible
top to begin fluttering. Use the air conditioning
or automatic climate control to increase the air
flow rate and thus prevent a partial vacuum in
the vehicle.<
Before opening and closing
>Read and comply with the preceding safety
precautions.
>Make sure that the convertible top com-
partment panel in the cargo bay has been
folded down; refer to page23. Otherwise
the convertible top cannot be opened.
>Ensure that the luggage compartment lid/
tailgate is closed.
Opening and closing
With the key in ignition position 1 or higher,
refer to page40, and while the vehicle is sta-
tionary:
If at all possible, operate the convertible
top only with the engine running. This
saves unnecessary battery wear.
Before closing the convertible top, remove any
objects from the windshield frame that other-
wise could prevent the convertible top from
closing properly.<
1Closing
2Opening
The side windows will move down slightly
when you press the button for operating
the convertible top.
After the opening or closing operation, the win-
dows will move back up if you press the button
for more than 2 seconds after the LED has gone

Opening and closing
28 out. Every time you close the convertible top,
keep the button pressed until the windows are
completely closed; pinch protection will be sus-
pended during this operation.<
When the convertible top has been stored
in the convertible top compartment for an
extended period of time, e.g. in the winter
months because the hardtop was being used,
you may have to support the convertible top by
hand when closing it for the first time. If the con-
vertible top stops right before the closing phase
is completed, press against the front part of the
convertible top frame from the outside to help
the closing process along. Keep pressing the
button while doing so until the top starts mov-
ing on its own again.<
Indicator lamps
>The red LED in the button is lit while the
convertible top is in motion. It goes out as
soon as the opening or closing operation
has been completed.
>If the red LED in the button flashes after the
button has been released, then the opening
or closing operation has not yet been com-
pleted.
The movement can be continued in the
desired direction by pressing this button.
>If the yellow LED in the button comes on
when the button is pressed, the convertible
top compartment panel in the cargo bay has
been folded up. The convertible top cannot
be moved.
Interruption
The automatic sequence will be interrupted
immediately if you release the button that oper-
ates the top. The sequence can be continued in
the desired direction by pressing this button.
Do not close the side windows using the
power window buttons before the closing
procedure has been completed. Otherwise the
side windows may not close properly against
the rubber seal of the convertible top.<
Convenience operation
Remote control
Refer to page19.
Driver's door
Refer to page20.
To close manually in the event of a
malfunction
1.Pull out the handle in the cargo bay as far as
it will go.
2.Turn the handle 90° until it engages.
3.Grip the convertible top by its frame and
guide it all the way to the windshield frame.
4.Pull out the cover panel that is in the center
of the front convertible top frame.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
29
5.Insert the Allen wrench into the hex slot.
The Allen wrench is stored in a tool pouch,
refer to page98.
6.Pull the convertible top frame down as far as
possible.
7.Keep turning the Allen wrench counter-
clockwise until the convertible top frame
has locked onto the windshield frame.

Adjustments
34
Damaged safety belts
When the belt system has absorbed an
accident or has been damaged, have the
system and its belt tensioners replaced and the
b e l t a n c h o r s c h e c k e d . H a v e t h i s w o r k d o n e o n l y
by your BMW center or at a workshop that
works according to BMW repair procedures
with correspondingly trained personnel. Other-
wise, it is not guaranteed that the safety devices
will function properly.<
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
The passenger's mirror is more convex
than the driver's mirror. The objects seen
in the mirror are closer than they appear. Do not
gauge your distance from traffic behind you on
the basis of what you see in the mirror; other-
wise there is an increased risk of an accident.<
1Adjustments
2To switch from one mirror to the other
3To fold the mirrors in or out
*
Manual adjustment
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually:
press on the edges of the lens.
Folding mirrors in or out*
The mirrors can be folded in or out up to a road
speed of approx. 6 mph/10 km/h by pressing
button3. This can be useful on narrow roads,
for example, or to reset the mirrors to their cor-
rect positions after they were folded in.
Automatic heating*
Both exterior mirrors are automatically heated
when the engine is running or the ignition is
switched on.
Interior rearview mirror
Turn the knob to reduce glare from the head-
lamps of cars behind you when driving at night.
Interior and exterior mirrors with
automatic dimming feature*
The automatic dimming feature of the interior
and exterior mirrors
* is controlled by two photo
cells in the interior rearview mirror. In the Road-
ster, one is located in the top of the mirror
frame, see arrow. In the Coupe, it is located at
the bottom of the mirror frame. The other photo
cell is on the back of the mirror.
In order to ensure that the system functions
correctly, keep the photocells clean, do not
cover the area between the interior rearview
mirror and windshield, and do not affix adhesive
labels or stickers of any kind to the windshield
directly in front of the mirror.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
45
Washer/wiper system/
Rain sensor*
0Wipers retracted
1Intermittent or rain sensor mode
2Normal wiper speed
3Fast wiper speed
4Brief wipe
5Selecting speed for intermittent mode or
setting sensitivity of the rain sensor
Intermittent mode
Not in vehicles with a rain sensor.
Rotary dial 5 is used to set the wipe interval to
one of four levels.
In addition, the wipe interval is varied automati-
cally depending on road speed.
Rain sensor*
On vehicles with a rain sensor, the wipe interval
is automatically controlled according to rain
intensity. The sensor is mounted on the wind-
shield, directly in front of the interior rearview
mirror.
Deactivate the rain sensor before enter-
ing an automatic car wash. Failure to do
so could result in damage caused by undesired
wiper activation.<
Activating
With the ignition key in position 1 or higher,
move the lever to position 1.
In any case, the wipers will move once across
the windshield.
You can leave the lever continuously in
position1. Then, as long as the ignition key is in position 1 or higher, you only need to activate
the rain sensor.
To do so:
>Turn rotary dial 5 briefly or
>Clean the windshield, refer to Cleaning
windshield and headlamps* below
Adjusting sensitivity
Turn the rotary wheel 5.
Deactivating
Flip the lever to position 0.
Normal wiper speed
When the vehicle is stopped the wipers auto-
matically switch to intermittent wipe, except in
vehicles with a rain sensor.
Fast wiper speed
When the vehicle is stopped the wipers operate
at normal wiping speed, except in vehicles with
a rain sensor.
Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
0Wipers retracted
1Cleaning windshield and headlamps
*
Do not use the washers if there is any
danger that the fluid will freeze on the
windshield, otherwise vision could be
obscured. Antifreeze should therefore be
added to the fluid, refer to Washer fluid on
page46.
Do not operate washing mechanisms when the
washer fluid reservoir is empty, otherwise you
will damage the washer pump.<