Get Operation, care and maintenance -> Maintenance and care: Maintenance system, Caring Guide for BMW Z8 Roadster First Generation (2000-2003)

¹¹⁶ⁿThe BMW Maintenance System

Service Interval Display

Service Warranty Information

Booklet (US models)/Warranty

and Service Guide Booklet

(Canadian models)

Optimal maintenance intervals are

calculated by using advanced tech-

nology; these then are indicated in the

Service Interval Display. While conven- For additional information on mainte-

tional systems rely on distance traveled nance intervals and procedures, please

alone to determine when service is due, refer to the Service and Warranty Infor-

the BMW Maintenance System has for mation Booklet (US models) or the

years considered the actual conditions Warranty and Service Guide Booklet

under which the vehicle operates,

because miles can be traveled in many

different ways:

(Canadian models).

Have your BMW center perform

maintenance and repair work.

62,000 miles (100,000 km) accumulated Your BMW center is always informed on

From the maintenance point of view,

The BMW Maintenance System has

been designed as a reliable means of

ensuring that our customers enjoy

optimal vehicle safety and reliability

with only minimum effort and expense.

in short-distance urban driving are not

equivalent to the same distance

covered at moderate speeds in long-

distance highway travel.

the latest maintenance work and repair

techniques and equipped with the

required special tools. In addition,

checking parts known from experience

to be subject to wear is a permanent

part of the maintenance specifications.

Be sure that all maintenance work is

confirmed in the Service and Warranty

Information Booklet (US models) or the

Warranty and Service Guide Booklet

(Canadian models).

Please keep in mind that regular service

not only plays a vital role in ensuring

continued vehicle safety, but also plays

a significant role in maintaining your

vehicle's resale value.

The BMW Maintenance System, which

is based on operating conditions,

includes the Engine Oil Service and

Inspections I and II.

Determining the maintenance intervals

according to the actual loads on the

vehicle covers every kind of operating

situation. However, even those drivers

who put significantly less than

These entries are your proof of regular

vehicle maintenance and the basis for

warranty claims.<

6,000 miles (10,000 km) on their vehicle

anually should have the engine oil

changed at least every two years since

oil deteriorates over time, regardless of

use.

Caring for your vehicle

117n

> the wheels and tires of your vehicle

cannot be damaged by the convey-

When cleaning the headlamps,

please observe the following:

ance devices of the car-wash system > Do not clean by wiping with a dry

Washing your vehicle

You can have your new BMW washed

in an automatic car wash. Car-wash

systems that do not employ brushes

are preferable.

> the vehicle is cleaned with minimum

brush pressure, and that ample water

is available for washing and rinsing.

cloth. Never use abrasives or strong

solvents to clean the covers

> Remove dirt and contamination (such

as insects) by soaking with BMW Car

Shampoo and then rinsing with plenty

of water

Wipe away tough dirt and loosen and

remove dead insects before washing

the vehicle.

Parts of the vehicle which are inacces-

sible to the automatic washer – such as

door sills, door and hood edges, etc. –

should be cleaned by hand.

In order to avoid spots, do not wash the

vehicle when the hood is warm, or

during or immediately after exposure to

strong sunlight.

> Always use a deicer spray to remove

accumulated ice and snow – never

use a scraper.<

In the winter months, it is especially

important to ensure that the vehicle is

washed on a regular basis. Large quan-

tities of dirt and road salt are difficult to

remove, and they also cause damage to

the vehicle.

After washing the vehicle, apply

the brakes briefly to dry them.

In order to protect your convertible top,

do not use washing programs featuring

wax application on your vehicle. The

small amount of beading wax always

used in automatic car washes will not

harm the convertible top.

Braking efficiency might otherwise be

reduced by the moisture and the brake

rotors could also be corroded.<

If spray wands or high-pressure

washers are used, be sure to

When using an automatic car wash, be

sure that

maintain an adequate distance between

the spray source and the vehicle's

surface. Inadequate distance and

excessive pressure can damage or

weaken the finish, making it more

susceptible to further damage. In addi-

tion, moisture could penetrate to

vehicle components, leading to long-

term damage.<

> the car-wash system is suited for the

dimensions of your vehicle

> no damage will occur on vehicles

with attached body accessories (such

as spoilers or antennas). Consult the

car-wash operator if necessary

¹¹⁸ⁿCaring for your vehicle

Clean off bird droppings immediately,

since they attack the convertible top

and cause the rubber seals to swell due improper care, cleaning or as the result

Dents and discoloration may show up

on the convertible top because of

Cleaning and care of the

convertible top

The appearance and life of the convert-

ible top are highly dependent on its

proper care and operation. You should

to their caustic characteristics.

of excessive usage. The convertible top

and its seams may also develop leaks.

These problems are not covered by the

warranty. For repairs, please consult

your BMW center.

Besides water, treat rubber seals only

pay particular attention to the following with talcum powder, rubber-care prod-

ucts or silicone spray, particularly when

they feel dry or tend to stick.

instructions if your vehicle has a light-

colored top.

Protect the vehicle from exposure to

intense sunlight whenever possible by

parking it in the shade. This will help to

prevent the paint, rubber and fabric-

covered parts from being attacked.

Eliminate noises such as squeaks with

lubricant spray.

Special wash for the top

Respond to more extensive dirt, which

is especially visible on light-colored top

materials, by cleaning the top with the

BMW Convertible Cleaning Set. Please

proceed as follows:

Never use sharp-edged objects to

clean the rear window of snow or ice. If

using a deicer spray, make sure that

none of the spray comes into contact

with the convertible top. Because of the

risk of damage and discoloration, do

not apply adhesive tape, stickers, or

similar materials to the window or cover

with plastic film.

Never fold up the convertible top and

store it in the convertible top compart-

ment when it is wet, dirty or frozen, as

mildew stains and chafe spots may

result.

Spray the convertible top with the

cleaning agent and then rub with a well-

dampened sponge using circular

motions until a foam develops. Then

you can finish washing the vehicle in an

automatic car wash. After three to five

washings the convertible top should be

treated with a special impregnating

spray. Please follow the instructions on

the spray can.

To prevent the formation of a crease in

the rear window and to avoid mildew

stains, do not leave the top folded in

the convertible top compartment for

long periods.

If the vehicle will be parked for lengthy

periods in an enclosed space, be sure

that the convertible top is dry and that

there is adequate ventilation.

Caring for your vehicle

119n

To remove stains from the

convertible top, use only BMW-

approved cleaning agents. Do not use

spot removers, paint thinners, solvents,

gasoline or similar substances for

removing stains; these agents destroy

the rubber seals, which in turn leads to

leaks.

Road dirt, tar spots, dead insects,

Exterior finish

animal droppings (strong alkali effect)

and even tree secretions (resins and

pollen), all contain substances capable

of causing damage to the finish of your

vehicle if allowed to remain for an

extended period of time (such as stains,

bumps, scratches and separation of the

top coat).

Your vehicle is protected by a multilayer

finish applied at the factory. Protection

against corrosion is provided by cata-

phoretic immersion priming using mate-

rials that have been specially developed

over many years of sustained research.

Regular maintenance makes an impor-

tant contribution to maintaining the

safety and value of your vehicle.

A full range of car-care products is

available from your BMW center.<

In industrial areas, deposits of flue dust,

lime, oily soot, precipitation containing

sulfur-dioxide (acid rain) and other envi-

ronmental pollutants will damage the

vehicle's finish unless adequate care is

provided – even though this is generally

limited to the outside horizontal

surfaces.

Increasing awareness of the effects of

harmful environmental factors on

vehicle finishes have led paint and

vehicle manufacturers to initiate

Hardtop

Please observe and follow the instruc-

tions for caring for your vehicle starting

on page 117.

programs designed to further improve

the durability of their finishes. Despite

this, environmental factors that occur

locally or regionally can have negative

effects on the finish of your vehicle.

This should guide you in determining

the frequency and extent of your efforts

to maintain the vehicle finish.

In tropical climates intense ultraviolet

radiation and high atmospheric

humidity are accompanied by tempera-

tures that can exceed 105 7 (40 6) in

the shade. Under those conditions, light

paints can reach temperatures of up to

175 7 (80 6) while darker finishes can

heat to levels as high as 250 7

(120 6).

¹²⁰ⁿCaring for your vehicle

Caring for the vehicle finish

Waxing your vehicle

Repairing the paint

Regular washing is a preventive Protect the finish using carnauba or

measure against long-term effects from synthetic-based waxes only.

substances that are harmful to the

You can touch up small areas of paint

damage with a BMW spray paint or a

BMW touchup stick.

The best way to determine when the

vehicle's finish, especially if you drive

finish needs to be waxed is by noting

The color code of your vehicle is

provided on a tag located near the

vehicle data plate and on the first page

of the Service and Warranty Information

Booklet (US models) or the Warranty

and Service Guide Booklet (Canadian

models).

your vehicle in areas with high levels of

when water stops beading on the

air pollution or natural contaminants

surface.

(tree resins, pollen).

You can use a glass cleaner to remove

Nevertheless, you should immediately

remove especially aggressive

any wax or silicone that may have been

left on the windows during waxing.

substances. Failure to do so can lead to

changes in the paint's chemical struc-

Use the cleaning and car-care

More extensive paint damage should

be repaired professionally in accor-

dance with the manufacturer's instruc-

tions. Your BMW center uses original

BMW finish materials in accordance

with approved repair procedures.

ture or to discoloration. Gasoline spilled

products available at your BMW

during refueling, oil, grease, brake fluid

and bird droppings should always be

cleaned up immediately.

center.<

Any contamination remaining on the

surface of the vehicle will be especially

conspicuous after washing. Use

cleaning fluid or alcohol and a clean

cloth or cotton pad to remove. Remove

tar spots with tar remover. After

cleaning, the affected areas should be

waxed to ensure continued protection.

Use the cleaning and car-care

products available at your BMW

center.<

Caring for your vehicle

121n

Rubber components should be cleaned

Window care

Caring for other vehicle

components and materials

with water only; a rubber treatment or

silicone spray may also be applied.

You can use window and glass cleaner

to clean inside window surfaces and

mirrors without smearing and streaking. with alloy wheel cleaner, especially

Light-alloy wheels should be treated

The safety belts should be cleaned with

Never use polishing pastes or abrasive during the winter months. However, do a mild soap and water solution without

(quartz) cleansers on mirror lenses.

not use aggressive products containing being removed from the vehicle. Never

acids, strong alkalis or abrasives. Do

not use steam cleaners operating at

temperatures above 140 7 (60 6).

Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

attempt chemical or dry cleaning, as

damage to the belt fabric could result.

Clean the wiper blades with soapy

water. The wiper blades should be

replaced twice a year – before and after

the cold season.

After cleaning, never allow the inertia

reel to retract the belts until they are

completely dry. Dirty safety belts

Carefully clean chrome parts such as

Use only wiper blades approved

by BMW.<

lamp sockets assemblies, door handles prevent the inertia reel mechanism from

and similar items with an ample amount retracting the strap properly, thus

of clean water – and shampoo, too, if

necessary – especially if there is an

accumulation of road salt. Use a

chrome polish for an additional treat-

ment.

constituting a safety hazard.

Heavily soiled floor carpets and mats*

can be cleaned with an interior cleaner.

The floor mats can be removed from

the vehicle for cleaning.

Use water to clean plastic components,

headliners, lamp lenses, and surfaces

sprayed dull black – adding vinyl

shampoo, if necessary. Do not allow

moisture to soak through the seats or

headliner. Never use solvents such as

lacquer thinner, heavy-duty grease

remover, fuels, or similar substances.

Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe off the

clear covers of the instruments, using

methylated spirits with distilled water as

a cleaning solvent, if necessary, at a

mixing ratio of 1:1.

Clean aluminum surfaces with water

and, if necessary, with a mild soap.

Never use solvents such as lacquer

thinner, heavy-duty grease remover,

fuels, or similar substances.

Use only a wet cloth to clean painted

inner parts. Dry them afterwards with a

soft cloth.

Use the cleaning and car-care

products available at your BMW

center.<

¹²²ⁿCaring for your vehicle

Since dirt and grease gradually attack

the protective layer of the leather, the

cleaned surfaces should be treated

Cleaning agents can contain

dangerous or health-threatening

substances. Therefore, always comply

Leather care

The leather upholstery used by BMW is

a natural product of the highest quality,

processed using state-of-the-art

with BMW leather care agent. This also with the warnings and danger notices

prevents static electricity.

on the package.

methods to ensure that it will maintain

its high quality for years to come,

provided that it is properly cared for.

Open the doors or windows on your

vehicle when cleaning the interior

(when the convertible top is closed).

Never clean your vehicle with solvents

or other materials not specifically

intended for this application.<

For protection against dampness or

moisture, treat the leather with a BMW

impregnating agent.

Because the leather upholstery is

crafted using unadulterated natural

We recommend that you perform this

materials, it will display individual char- procedure twice a year on leather

acteristics and possible surface irregu- exposed to normal use.

larities. You should also bear in mind

Spills should be wiped up immediately.

that this kind of material needs special

Remove grease and oil stains without

care and attention.

rubbing, but rather by dabbing with

Regular periodic cleaning and care are spot remover.

essential, as dust and road dirt act as

If the upholstery is to be exposed to

abrasives in the pores and creases of

intense sunlight or if the vehicle is to be

the material. This leads to wear spots

stored for an extended period, cover all

and premature brittleness on the

leather surfaces (or, better yet, the

surface of the leather. We therefore

suggest that you clean the leather with

windows) to prevent fading.

a vacuum cleaner or cloth at frequent

Use the cleaning and car-care

intervals.

products available at your BMW

For cleaning, use BMW leather cleaning center.<

foam.

Operation, care and maintenance -> Maintenance and care: Maintenance system, Caring for Your BMW Z8 Roadster First Generation (2000-2003)

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