2015 BMW Z4 Page 2

Sport automatic transmissionRemote control in the ignition lock or, with
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to
page 39.1.Depress the brake pedal.2.Press the Start/Stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the
engine has started.
Engine stop Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for exam‐
ple, cannot start the engine or release the
parking brake.◀
Set the parking brake and further secure
the vehicle as required
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the ve‐
hicle, for example, by turning the steering
wheel in the direction of the curb.◀
Manual transmission
1.With the vehicle at a standstill, press the
Start/Stop button.2.Shift into first gear or reverse.3.Set the parking brake.4.Remove the remote control from the igni‐
tion lock, refer to page 57.
Sport automatic transmission
1.With the vehicle at a standstill, press the
Start/Stop button.2.Set the parking brake.3.Remove the remote control from the igni‐
tion lock, refer to page 57.Automatic Engine Start/Stop
Function
The concept The Automatic Engine Start/Stop Function
helps save fuel and lower emissions. The sys‐
tem automatically switches off the engine dur‐
ing a stop, e.g., in traffic congestion or at traffic
lights. The ignition remains switched on. The
engine starts again automatically when the
clutch is pressed.
Automatic operation
The automatic engine Start/Stop function is
operational after each engine start. It is acti‐
vated whenever you drive forward faster than
3 mph/5 km/h.
Automatic engine stop The engine is switched off automatically dur‐
ing a stop under the following conditions:▷Neutral gear is engaged and the clutch
pedal is not depressed.▷The driver's safety belt is fastened or the
driver's door is closed.
When the engine is switched off, the air vol‐
ume of the air conditioner or automatic climate
control is reduced.
Indicator light in the instrument
cluster
The indicator lamp lights up when the
Auto Start/Stop function is ready to
start the engine automatically.
The indicator lamp lights up if the re‐
quirements for an automatic engine
stop are not fulfilled.
Note The engine is not switched off automatically in
the following situations:
▷External temperature too low.Seite 59DrivingControls59
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8-gear Sport automatic
transmission
Transmission positions
D Drive, automatic position Position for normal vehicle operation. All for‐
ward gears are available.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con‐
sumption is lowest when you are driving in po‐
sition D.
Kickdown
Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving
performance. Press on the accelerator beyond
the resistance point at the full throttle position.
R is Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N is NeutralThe vehicle can roll.
N remains engaged after the engine is
switched off if the remote control remains in
the ignition lock. This function can be used in
an automatic car wash, refer to page 257, for
example. P is automatically engaged after ap‐
prox. 30 minutes.
P Park The rear wheels are locked.
P is engaged automatically when the following
conditions are met:▷The driver's door is opened while the en‐
gine is running, the safety belt is not fas‐
tened and neither the brake pedal nor the
accelerator is activated.▷The engine is switched off unless N is en‐
gaged and the remote control is in the igni‐
tion lock.▷The remote control is removed from the ig‐
nition lock, refer to page 57.Before leaving the vehicle, ensure that the
transmission position P is engaged; otherwise,
the vehicle may begin to roll.
Engaging transmission position▷Transmission position P can only be disen‐
gaged if the engine is running and the
brake pedal is pressed.▷With the vehicle stationary, press on the
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N;
otherwise, the shift command will not be
executed: shift lock.
Press on the brake pedal until you start
driving
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after you
select a driving position, maintain pressure on
the brake pedal until you are ready to start.◀
Engaging transmission positions D, R,
N
Briefly push the selector lever in the desired di‐
rection, beyond a resistance point if necessary.
When shifting out of P or into R, simultane‐
ously push the unlock button 1.
The engaged transmission position is dis‐
played on the selector lever.
After releasing the selector lever, it returns to
its center position.
Engaging transmission position P Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
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Press button P.Sport program DS and M/S manual
mode
Activating the Sport program DS
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
The Sport program is activated and DS is dis‐
played in the instrument cluster.
This position is recommended for a perform‐
ance-oriented driving style.
Activating the M/S manual mode
1.Push the selector lever to the left out of
transmission position D.2.Push the selector lever forward or back‐
ward.
Manual mode becomes active and the gear is
changed.
The engaged gear is displayed in the instru‐
ment cluster, e.g., M1.
When the maximum engine speed is reached,
the transmission automatically shifts up when
in M/S manual mode.
Shifting in manual mode▷To shift down: press the selector lever for‐
ward.▷To shift up: press the selector lever back‐
ward.
The gears are only shifted at a suitable engine
and vehicle speed, e.g. a downshift is not car‐
ried out at excessively high engine speeds.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Avoid automatic upshifting in M/S manual
mode
Gears are not shifted automatically, for in‐
stance at maximum engine speed, if one of the
following conditions is met:
▷DSC is deactivated.▷TRACTION is activated.▷SPORT+ is activated.
Dynamic Driving Control, refer to page 102.
In addition, kickdown is disabled.
Ending the Sport program/manual
mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
D is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Shifting gears using the shift paddles
on the steering wheel
The shifting paddles make it possible to
quickly change gears since both hands can re‐
main on the steering wheel.
▷If the shift paddles on the steering wheel
are used to shift gears while in automatic
mode D, the transmission temporarily
switches to manual mode.Seite 67DrivingControls67
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▷If the shift paddles are not used and the ve‐
hicle is not accelerated for a certain time,
the system switches back into automatic
mode if the selector lever is in transmission
position D.▷Shift up: pull right shift paddle.▷Shift down: pull left shift paddle.
The vehicle only shifts up or down at appropri‐
ate engine and road speeds, e.g., it does not
shift down if the engine speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Displays in the instrument cluster
The transmission position is displayed and the
engaged gear, such as M4, is displayed in
manual mode.
7-gear Sport automatic
transmission with dual clutch
The concept This transmission is an automated manual
transmission with two clutches and two gear‐
box components in which the gears are
changed without loss of torque.
The transmission is operated using the selec‐
tor lever and two shift paddles on the steering
wheel.
Functions:▷Choice of manual or automatic operation:
manual mode or Drive mode.▷Automatic downshifting and protection
against selecting the wrong gear, even in
manual mode.▷Acceleration assistant, Launch Control, re‐
fer to page 71.▷Automatic throttle blip.
System limits
This transmission is equipped with an over‐
heating protection system that protects the
clutches against extremely high loads.
The indicator lamp lights up yellow if
the transmission becomes too warm.
Avoid high engine loads and driving
off frequently.
If the transmission overheats, the indicator
lamp lights up red and power flow to the en‐
gine is interrupted. You can only continue driv‐
ing after the transmission has cooled down.
Avoid driving off frequently with high accelera‐
tion and do not hold the vehicle on inclines by
depressing the accelerator lightly; otherwise,
the transmission may overheat.
Transmission positionsP R N D M/S + –
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Displays in the instrument cluster
The gear position and the engaged gear, such
as M4, are displayed.
Engaging transmission positions N, D,
R
▷Transmission position P can only be disen‐
gaged if the engine is running.▷Before moving the lever away from P or N
with the vehicle stationary, depress the
brake; otherwise, the transmission will not
shift.
Press on the brake pedal until you start
driving
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after you
select a driving position, maintain pressure on
the brake pedal until you are ready to start.◀
Briefly push the selector lever in the desired di‐
rection, beyond a resistance point if necessary.
When shifting out of P or into R, press button 1
at the same time.
The engaged transmission position is also dis‐
played on the selector lever.
When you release the selector lever, it returns
to its center position.
N is Neutral
The vehicle can roll.
N remains engaged after the engine is
switched off if the remote control remains in
the ignition lock. This function can be used in
an automatic car wash, refer to page 257, for
example. P is automatically engaged after ap‐
prox. 30 minutes.
D Drive mode
In Drive mode, all forward gears are shifted au‐
tomatically.
R is Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
P Park The rear wheels are locked.
P is engaged automatically when the following
conditions are met:▷The driver's door is opened while the en‐
gine is running, the safety belt is not fas‐
tened and neither the brake pedal nor the
accelerator is activated.▷The engine is switched off unless N is en‐
gaged and the remote control is in the igni‐
tion lock.▷The remote control is removed from the ig‐
nition lock, refer to page 57.
Before leaving the vehicle, ensure that the
transmission position P is engaged; otherwise,
the vehicle may begin to roll.
Engaging transmission position P Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
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▷Shift up: pull right shift paddle.▷Shift down: pull left shift paddle.
Gears can be shifted using the shift paddles in
Drive mode or in manual mode.
Gear change in manual mode
When manual mode is active, refer to page 70,
gears can be changed using the shift paddles
or the selector lever.
Gear change in Drive mode The shift paddles can be used to change gears
in Drive mode as well.
Afterwards, if the shift paddles are not used for
some time and vehicle acceleration is insuffi‐
cient, the forward gears are changed again au‐ tomatically.
Launch Control
Launch Control enables you to drive off with an
optimal vehicle acceleration on a high grip road
surface.
Do not use Launch Control too often
Do not use Launch Control too often, as
the higher loads on the vehicle lead to prema‐
ture component wear.◀
Launch Control is available when the engine is
at operating temperature, i.e., after driving con‐
tinuously for at least 6 miles/10 km.
1.With the engine running, depress the brake
pedal with your left foot.2.Activate the SPORT+ program of the Dy‐
namic Driving Control, refer to page 102.3.With the vehicle stationary, activate manual
mode and select first gear.4.Press the accelerator all the way down.
The engine speed when driving off is con‐
trolled. A flag symbol appears in the instru‐
ment cluster.5.The vehicle accelerates when you release
the brake pedal. Keep the accelerator
pressed all the way down.6.The transmission shifts up automatically as
long as the accelerator is pressed all the
way down.
Launch Control only becomes available again
after a certain distance has been driven.
Launch Control can only be used after the
break-in phase, refer to page 130.
To maintain driving stability, activate DSC
whenever possible.
Manually releasing and engaging the
transmission lock
If a power failure occurs, e.g., if the battery is
discharged or disconnected, the transmission
lock must be released manually, otherwise the
rear wheels are blocked and the vehicle cannot
be towed.
Release the transmission lock manually for
towing only and set the parking brake before‐
hand to prevent the vehicle from rolling. After
parking the vehicle, engage the transmission
lock again manually, refer to page 72.
Manual release
1.Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.2.Pull the sleeve up over the selector lever
until the sleeve is inside out.3.Unclip and raise cover frame.Seite 71DrivingControls71
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4.Insert an Allen wrench of the right size into
the cap.5.Turn the cap with the Allen wrench, ar‐
row 1, and remove it, arrow 2.6.Insert the Allen wrench into the opening,
arrow 1.
Turn the Allen wrench in the correct
direction
Do not turn the Allen wrench in the oppo‐
site direction as this may damage the
mechanism.◀7.Turn the Allen wrench as far as it will go,
arrow 2. The transmission lock is released.8.Draw the Allen wrench out of the opening.
Locking the transmission lock again
After parking the vehicle, lock the trans‐
mission lock again to prevent the vehicle from
rolling.◀
Locking manually1.Press the button, see arrow. The transmis‐
sion lock is locked again.2.Clip the cover frame back into place.3.Clip the sleeve of the selector lever back in
place.4.Set the parking brake.
Jump-starting, refer to page 252, towing, refer
to page 253.
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DisplaysVehicle equipmentThis 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.
Odometer, external
temperature display, clock1Knob in the instrument cluster2External temperature display and clock3Odometer and trip odometer
Knob in the instrument cluster
▷To reset the trip odometer while the igni‐
tion is switched on.▷To display the time, external temperature
and odometer briefly while the ignition is
switched off.
Units of measure
To set the respective units of measure, miles
or km for the odometer and ℃ or ℉ for the ex‐
ternal temperature, refer to page 78.
The setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Time, external temperature display Set the time, refer to page 78.
External temperature warning
If the display drops to 37 ℉/3 ℃, a signal
sounds and a warning light lights up. There is
the increased danger of ice.
Ice on roads
Even at temperatures above
+37 ℉/+3 ℃, there can be a risk of ice on
roads.
Therefore, drive carefully on bridges and shady
roads, for example, to avoid the increased dan‐
ger of an accident.◀
Odometer and trip odometer
Resetting trip odometer:
With the ignition switched on, press button 1 in
the instrument cluster.
When the vehicle is parked
If you still want to view the time, external tem‐
perature and odometer reading briefly after the
remote control has been taken out of the igni‐
tion lock:
Press button 1 in the instrument cluster.Seite 73DisplaysControls73
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