
Addendum
ADDENDUM TO BMW Z4 OWNER’S
MANUAL 1402957403
We wanted to provide you with some
updates and clarifications with respect to
the printed BMW Owner’s Manual.
These updates and clarifications will
supersede the materials contained in
that document.
1.Where the terms “service center,”
“the service center,” “your service
center,” “service specialist,’ or
“service” are used in the Owner’s
Manual, we wanted to clarify that
the terms refer to a BMW dealer’s
service center or another service
center or repair shop that employs
trained personnel that can perform
maintenance and repair work on
your vehicle in accordance with
BMW specifications.
2.Where the text of the Owner’s
Manual contains an affirmative
instruction to contact a “service
center” or “your service center,” we
wanted to clarify that BMW
recommends that, if you are faced
with one of the situations addressed
by that text, you contact or seek the
assistance of a BMW dealer’s
service center or another service
center or repair shop that employs
trained personnel that can perform
maintenance and repair work on
your vehicle in accordance with
BMW specifications.
While BMW of North America LLC,
at no cost to you, will pay for repairs
required by the limited warranties
provided with respect to your
vehicle and for maintenance under
the Maintenance Program during
the applicable warranty and
maintenance coverage periods, you
are free to elect, both during those
periods and thereafter, to have
maintenance and repair work
provided by other service centers or
repair shops.
3.Where the Owner’s Manual makes
reference to parts and accessories
having been approved by BMW,
those references are intended to
reflect that those parts and
accessories are recommended by
BMW of North America LLC. You
may elect to use other parts and
accessories, but, if you do, we
recommend that you make sure that
any such parts and/or accessories
are appropriate for use on your
vehicle.
4.At page 6 and page 7, under the
warranty section’s discussion of
homologation, where it states that
you “cannot lodge warranty claims
for your vehicle there,” the text
should read that you “may not be
able to lodge warranty claims for
your vehicle there.”
5.At page 7, in the “Parts and
accessories” section, the sentence
beginning “For your own safety, it is
recommended . . . ,” should be
disregarded and the following the
text should be read in lieu thereof:
“The manufacturer of your vehicle

Addendum
recommends using genuine parts
and accessories approved by
BMW.”
In the fifth sentence of that
paragraph, the word “cannot”
should read “does not.”
6.At page 49, in the “Checking and
replacing safety belts” section, the
text beginning, “Have the work
performed only by your service
center . . .” should be disregarded
and the following text should be
read in lieu thereof: “BMW
recommends having this work
performed by a service center as it
is important that this safety feature
functions properly.”
7.At page 130 under the heading:
“Objects in the area around the
pedals” and at page 258 under the
heading: “Carpets and floor mats,”
the paragraph that begins: “Only
use floor mats . . .” should be
disregarded and the following
language should be read in lieu
thereof: “The manufacturer of your
vehicle recommends that you use
floor mats that have been identified
by it as appropriate for use in your
vehicle and that can be properly
fixed in place.”
8.At page 134, under the heading:
“Have maintenance carried out,” the
sentence beginning, “Have the
maintenance carried out . . .” should
be disregarded and the following
text should be read in lieu thereof:
“BMW recommends that you have
the maintenance carried out by your
service center.”
9.At page 192, under “Telephone,”
the heading that reads “Approved
mobile phones” should read
“Compatible mobile phones.”
10.At page 218 and page 219, under
the heading “Apps” and subheading
“Requirements,” the section that
begins, “Use only . . . ,” should be
disregarded and the following text
should be read in lieu thereof: “The
manufacturer of your vehicle
recommends the use of BMW
recommended software; otherwise
there may be malfunctions in
system operations.”
11.At page 226, under the heading
“Pressure specifications,” the
sentence beginning, “The inflation
pressures apply to the tire
sizes . . . .” should be disregarded.
12.At page 232, under the heading:
“Approved wheels and tires,” the
term “Approved” should be
disregarded and in lieu thereof, the
term “Recommended” should be
read in its place. In addition, the
text of that section should be
disregarded and the following text
should be read in lieu thereof:
The manufacturer of your vehicle
strongly suggests that you use
wheels and tires that have been
recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer for your vehicle type;
otherwise, for example, despite
having the same official size ratings,
variations can lead to body contact
and with it, the risk of severe
accidents.

sary to adapt your vehicle to potentially differ‐
ing operating conditions and permit
requirements. If your vehicle does not comply
with the homologation requirements in a cer‐
tain country you cannot lodge warranty claims
for your vehicle there. Further information can
be obtained from your Service Center.
Maintenance and repairs
Advanced technology, e.g., the use of modern
materials and high-performance electronics,
requires suitable maintenance and repair methods.
Therefore, have this work performed only by a
BMW center or a workshop that works accord‐
ing to BMW repair procedures with appropri‐
ately trained personnel.
If this work is not carried out properly, there is
the danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards.
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, it is recommended that
you use genuine parts and accessories ap‐
proved by BMW. When you purchase accesso‐
ries tested and approved by BMW and Genu‐
ine BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire
the assurance that they have been thoroughly
tested by BMW to ensure optimum perform‐
ance when installed on your vehicle. BMW
warrants these parts to be free from defects in
material and workmanship. BMW will not ac‐
cept any liability for damage resulting from in‐
stallation of parts and accessories not ap‐
proved 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 vehicle, its operation, or its
occupants. Genuine BMW Parts, BMW Acces‐
sories and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on using
these items, are available from all BMW cen‐
ters. Installation and operation of non BMW
approved accessories such as alarms, radios,
amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels, suspensioncomponents, 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-talkies, ham radios or
similar accessories, may cause extensive dam‐
age to the vehicle, compromise its safety, in‐
terfere with the vehicle's electrical system or
affect the validity of the BMW Limited War‐
ranty. See your BMW center for additional in‐
formation. Maintenance, replacement, or repair
of the emission control devices and systems
may be performed by any automotive repair
establishment or individual using any certified
automotive part.
California Proposition 65 WarningCalifornia laws require us to state the following
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of automo‐
bile components and parts, including compo‐
nents found in the interior furnishings in a vehi‐
cle, contain or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and birth
defects and reproductive harm. In addition,
certain fluids contained in vehicles and certain
products of component wear contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other repro‐
ductive harm. Battery posts, terminals and re‐
lated accessories contain lead and lead com‐
pounds. Wash your hands after handling. Used
engine oil contains chemicals that have caused
cancer in laboratory animals. Always protect
your skin by washing thoroughly with soap and
water.
Service and warranty We recommend that you read this publication
thoroughly. Your vehicle is covered by the fol‐
lowing warranties:▷New Vehicle Limited Warranty▷Rust Perforation Limited WarrantySeite 7Notes7
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Press the button, arrow 3. The LED in the but‐
ton lights up.
Setting speed for intermittent wipe or
sensitivity of the rain sensor
Turn thumbwheel 5 up or down.
Deactivating intermittent wipe or rain
sensor
Press the button again, arrow 3. The LED in
the button goes out.
Deactivate the rain sensor in car washes
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through an automatic car wash; otherwise,
damage could be caused by undesired wiper
activation.◀
Cleaning the windshield and
headlamps
Pull the lever, arrow 4.
The system sprays washer fluid on the wind‐ shield and activates the wipers briefly.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and
appropriate intervals.
Do not use the washer system at freezing
temperatures
Do not use the washers if there is any danger
that the fluid will freeze on the windshield; oth‐
erwise, your vision could be obscured. For this
reason, use antifreeze.
Avoid using the washer when the reservoir is
empty; otherwise, you could damage the
pump.◀
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are heated au‐
tomatically while the engine is running or the
ignition is switched on.Washer fluid
General information Antifreeze for washer fluid
Antifreeze is flammable and can cause
injuries if used improperly.
Therefore, keep it away from sources of igni‐
tion.
Only keep it in the closed original container
and inaccessible to children.
Follow the notes and instructions on the con‐
tainer.
United States: The washer fluid mixture ratio is
regulated by the U.S. EPA and many individual
states; do not exceed the allowable washer
fluid dilution ratios limits that apply. Follow the
usage instructions on the washer fluid con‐
tainer. Use BMW's Windshield Washer Con‐
centrate or the equivalent.◀
Washer fluid reservoir Adding washer fluid
Only add washer fluid when the engine is
cool, and then close the cover completely to
avoid contact between the washer fluid and
hot engine parts.
Otherwise, there is the danger of fire and a risk
to personal safety if the fluid is spilled.◀
All washer nozzles are supplied from one res‐
ervoir.
The recommended minimum filling quantity is
0.2 US gal/1 liter.
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Under the center armrest
External audio device, refer to page 123.
In the passenger footwell A socket is located on the left below the glove
compartment.
Cargo area
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, the
following storage spaces can be found in the
cargo area:▷Rubber band for securing light objects▷Storage compartment.
To open: turn the lock to the left, see arrow,
and fold the cover up.
Enlarging the cargo area capacity
The cargo area capacity can be enlarged when
the hardtop is closed:
To do so, press the cargo area partition 1 up‐
ward.
Before opening the hardtop, pull the cargo
area partition 1 down until it engages in both
guides 2.
Observe before opening and closing the
hardtop▷Before moving the hardtop, ensure that
there are no objects on or next to the cargo
area partition; otherwise, parts of the hard‐
top may be damaged.▷Do not exceed the maximum loading
height; refer to the sticker in the trunk
showing a line indicating the maximum
height.▷Do not use force to push down the cargo
area partition.◀
The retractable hardtop can only be opened if
the cargo area partition is in its lowermost po‐
sition and engaged on both sides.
Through-loading opening
with integrated transport bag
Always secure skis
Always secure transported skis or similar
objects with the ski support as they could oth‐
erwise endanger occupants during braking
maneuvers and swerving.◀
The transport bag lets you transport up to two
pairs of standard skis safely and cleanly.
With the transport bag you can stow skis up to a length of 5.4 ft/1.70 m. When stowing skis
with a length of 5.4 ft/1.70 m, the capacity of
the transport bag is reduced as the bag nar‐
rows.
Seite 119Interior equipmentControls119
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Things to remember when drivingVehicle equipment
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series. Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
When using the features and systems descri‐
bed here, adhere to local regulations.
Breaking-in period General information Moving parts need to be broken in to adjust to
each other.
The following instructions will help achieve a
long vehicle life and good economy.
Engine and differential
Always obey the official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Do not exceed the maximum engine and road
speeds:▷4,500 rpm and 100 mph/160 km/h.
Do not drive with full-throttle operation, and do
not use the transmission's kickdown mode or
Launch Control.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full
traction potential until after an initial breaking-
in period.
Drive conservatively for the first
200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of ap‐
prox. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads and discs. Drive cautiously during this break-in
period.
Clutch
The clutch requires an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to function at an op‐
timal level.
During this break-in period, engage the clutch
gently.
Following part replacement
The same breaking in procedures should be
observed if any of the components mentioned
above have to be renewed in the course of the
vehicle's operating life.
General driving notes
Ground clearance Limited ground clearance
Note that the Z4 sDrive35 has limited
ground clearance, for instance when driving
into underground parking garages or over ob‐
stacles. Otherwise, the vehicle may be dam‐
aged.◀Seite 128Driving tipsThings to remember when driving128
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▷Heavy cargo: stow as far forward and as
low as possible, ideally directly behind the
cargo area separating wall.▷Cover sharp edges and corners.
Loading with the hardtop open
Before opening the hardtop, fold down
the cargo area partition and make sure the
cargo area is loaded correctly; otherwise, parts
of the hardtop could be damaged.◀
Fold down the cargo area partition, refer to
page 43.
Rear storage shelf Loading the rear storage shelf
When loading the rear storage shelf, do
not move both seats all the way forward while
moving them to their uppermost position and
leaning the backrests forward. Otherwise, the
seats could hit and damage the seal on the
windshield and the sun visor.◀
Light and small objects can be stored on the
rear storage shelf.
Securing cargo
Cargo area
Use retaining straps, a luggage net or draw
straps to secure small and lightweight items.
Rear storage shelf You can obtain cargo straps from your service
center. Four lashing eyes are provided behind
the seats for attaching the cargo straps.
Adhere to the information included with the
cargo straps.
Lashing eyes on the rear storage shelf
Top:
Bottom:
Saving fuel
General information
Your vehicle contains advanced technology for
the reduction of fuel consumption and emis‐
sions.
Fuel consumption depends on a number of dif‐
ferent factors.
The implementation of certain measures, driv‐
ing style and regular maintenance, refer to
page 241, can have an influence on fuel con‐
sumption and on the environmental impact.
Remove unnecessary cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
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Remove attached parts following use
Remove auxiliary mirrors or rear-mounted lug‐
gage racks after use.
Attached parts on the vehicle impair the aero‐
dynamics and increase the fuel consumption.
Close both windows
An open window causes higher air resistance
and thus increases fuel consumption.
Tires
General information
Tires can have varying effects on fuel con‐
sumption; for example, fuel consumption can
be influenced by the tire size.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly
Check and, if necessary, correct the tire infla‐
tion pressure, refer to page 226, at least twice
a month and before starting on a long trip.
Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling re‐
sistance and thus raises fuel consumption and
tire wear.
Drive away without delay Do not wait for the engine to warm-up while
the vehicle remains stationary. Start driving
right away, but at moderate engine speeds.
This is the fastest way for the cold engine to
reach its operating temperature.
Look well ahead when driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
By maintaining a suitable distance to the vehi‐ cle driving ahead of you.
Driving smoothly and looking ahead reduces
fuel consumption.
Avoid high engine speeds Use 1st gear to get the vehicle in motion. Be‐
ginning with 2nd gear, accelerate rapidly.When accelerating, shift up before reaching high engine speeds.
When you reach the desired speed, shift into
the highest applicable gear and drive with the
engine speed as low as possible and at a con‐
stant speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Use coasting conditions When approaching a red light, take your foot
off the accelerator and coast to a halt in the
highest applicable gear.
On a downhill slope, take your foot off the ac‐
celerator and coast in a suitable gear.
The flow of fuel is interrupted while coasting.
Switch off the engine during longer
stops
Switch off the engine during longer stops, e.g.,
at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in traffic
congestion.
Automatic Engine Start/Stop Function The Automatic Engine Start/Stop Function au‐
tomatically switches the engine off during a
stop.
If the engine is stopped and then started again,
fuel consumption and emissions drop com‐
pared to an engine that runs permanently.
Stopping the engine even for just a few sec‐
onds can result in savings.
Use of this system can cause premature wear
on certain vehicle components.
In addition, fuel consumption depends on
other factors as well, such as driving style, road
conditions, maintenance, and environmental
factors.
Additional information on the Automatic En‐
gine Start/Stop Function, refer to page 57.Seite 133Things to remember when drivingDriving tips133
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