Get Owner service procedures Guide for BMW Z8 Roadster First Generation (2000-2003)

129n

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit 130

Windshield wiper blades 130

Lamps and bulbs 131

Changing a wheel 137

Battery 138

Overview

Controls and features

Fuses 140

In case of electrical

malfunction:

Fuel filler door 142

Operation, care

and maintenance

Luggage compartment lid,

storage compartment 142

Passenger door 143

Closing the convertible top 143

Owner service procedures

Advanced technology

Technical data

Giving and receiving

assistance:

Jump-starting 145

Towing the vehicle 146

Index

Repairs

¹³⁰ⁿOnboard tool kit

Windshield wiper blades

Fold the wipers back onto the

windshield before turning the igni-

tion key to position 1 or 2. If you do not,

the wipers could be damaged.<

Use only wiper blades approved

by BMW.<

The onboard tool kit is located under

the luggage compartment's floor panel.

1. To move the wipers to the fold-out

position:

Turn the ignition on. Set the wiper

lever in position 1 (intermittent

mode). Turn the ignition back off

during the wiper-delay pause. The

wipers will then be roughly vertical

2. Swivel the wiper arm completely out

from the windshield

3. Position the wiper blade at an angle

and pull the release spring (arrow)

4. Fold the wiper blade down and

unhook it toward the windshield

5. Pull the wiper blade past the wiper

arm toward the top

6. Insert a new wiper blade and press it

until you hear it click into place.

Lamps and bulbs

131n

The lamps and bulbs make essential

contributions to the safety of your

vehicle. Therefore, comply fully with the > Do not wipe dry (scratches). Never

When cleaning the headlamps,

please observe the following:

Neon lamps

The front turn signal indicators (side

marker lamps), the rear turn signal indi-

cators, the rear and brake lamps, as

well as the high-mounted brake lamp

are of neon-light technology. The

service life for these lamps is very high

and the likelihood of failure very

minimal.

following instructions during bulb

replacement. If you are not familiar with

any of the procedures, consult your

BMW center.

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

Do not touch the glass portion of a

new bulb with your bare hands

since even small amounts of impurities

burn into the surface and reduce the

service life of the bulb. Use a clean

cloth, paper napkin, or a similar mate-

rial, or hold the bulb by its metallic

base.<

> Always use a deicer spray to remove

accumulated ice and snow – never

use a scraper.<

Should a lamp ever fail, however,

please contact your BMW center for

assistance.

Xenon lamps

The main headlamps for your BMW

Z8 roadster have been designed using

xenon-light technology. The service life

of these bulbs is very long and the

probability of a failure is very low,

provided that they are not switched on

and off an unusual number of times.

Should a lamp ever fail, however,

please contact your BMW center for

assistance.

A replacement bulb set is available from

your BMW center.

Whenever working on the elec-

trical system, switch off the elec-

trical accessory you are working on or

disconnect the cable from the negative

terminal of the battery. Failure to do this

could result in short circuits.

The xenon-light unit operates at

extremely high voltages; contact

with the unit's electrical components

can be fatal. We therefore urge you to

refer all service and repairs, including

bulb changes, to qualified professional

technicians.<

To prevent injuries and damage,

comply with any instructions provided

by the bulb manufacturer.<

¹³²ⁿLamps and bulbs

Side turn signal indicators

10 watt bulb

Please contact a BMW center in the

event of a malfunction.

Parking lamps

5 watt bulb

Please contact a BMW center in the

event of a malfunction.

Tail lamps

Side marker lamps, rear

1 Turn signal indicator

2 Rear lamp/Brake lamp

3 High-mount brake lamp

4 Backup lamp

red

Please contact a BMW center in the

event of a malfunction.

red

red/white

red

5 Rear fog lamp

6 Reflector

red

Lamps and bulbs

133n

To replace the license plate lamp

To replace the rear fog lamp

2. Reach into the opening, turn the bulb

holder to the left and take it out

3. Replace the bulb.

5 watt bulb

21 watt bulb

1. Turn the lamp to the right and take it

out by pulling downward

1. Unlock the ventilation grill by giving it

a f turn (use a screwdriver or coin)

and remove it

To replace the backup lamp

2. Turn the lamp socket toward the rear

and take it out

3. Replace the bulb.

21 watt bulb

Replace the bulb using the same

procedure as for the rear fog lamp.

¹³⁴ⁿLamps and bulbs

To replace the door warning lamp To replace the exit lamp

To replace the footwell lamp

5 watt bulb

1. Pry the lamp out by pressing on the

narrow side with a screwdriver

2. Turn the bulb holder to the left and

remove it

1. Pry the lamp out by pressing on the

narrow side with a screwdriver

2. Replace the bulb.

1. Pry the lamp out by pressing on the

narrow side with a screwdriver

2. Replace the bulb.

3. Replace the bulb.

Lamps and bulbs

135n

To replace the interior lamp

To replace the bulb in the glove

compartment

Rear:

Front:

5 watt bulb

Xenon bulb, 6 watts

Interior lamp/Reading lamp

1. Use a screwdriver to remove the lens

from the side

2. Replace the bulb.

1. Pry the lamp out using a screwdriver

2. Remove the reflector

3. Replace the bulb.

1. Pry the lens out using a screwdriver

2. Pull the lamp socket out of the lamp

insert

3. Remove and replace the bulb.

¹³⁶ⁿLamps and bulbs

To replace the luggage

compartment lamp

To replace the engine

compartment lamp

6 watt bulb

10 watt bulb

1. Pry the lamp out using a screwdriver 1. Using a screwdriver, press on the

2. Remove the reflector

3. Replace the bulb.

black detent and remove the lamp

lens

2. Replace the bulb.

Changing a wheel

137n

Have your BMW center replace

Safety tires

In the event of a flat tire

your tires. For safety reasons, do

not have safety tires repaired. Your

BMW center has been trained to work

with the safety tires and is equipped

with the necessary special tools.<

Your BMW Z8 roadster is equipped

with safety tires.

The red indicator lamp on the instru-

ment panel will flash in the event of a

flat tire. In addition, a gong will sound.

Refer to page 67.

The safety tires are made of self-

supporting tires mounted on specially-

designed wheel rims. Special reinforce-

ment elements support the sidewalls in

the event of pressure loss. Although tire

performance is then restricted, the

vehicle can still be driven on the

deflated tire for a limited distance. Your

vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure

monitor that signals you in case of a flat

tire.

Carefully reduce speed to less than

50 mph (80 km/h), avoiding any hard

braking or steering maneuvers while

doing so.

If necessary, please have your

BMW center switch the tires on

your vehicle from summer to winter

tires, or the reverse.<

You will still be able to drive approx.

155 miles (250 km) on your safety tire,

until you can get to a safe place to park,

a gas station, or to your nearest BMW

center. Under minimum vehicle loading,

it could conceivably last more than

155 miles (250 km).

If you cannot immediately determine

which tire is defective just by looking

at it, then check the tire pressure in all

four tires.

¹³⁸ⁿBattery

The service life specified for the

battery can be achieved only if it is

always kept adequately charged. If the

vehicle is primarily used for stop-and-

go traffic, be sure to check the charge

state often.<

Wear eye protection. Do not

allow particles containing

battery acid or lead to come into

contact with eyes, skin, or clothing.

Battery acid is extremely corro-

sive. Wear eye protection and

protective gloves. Do not tip the

battery. Battery acid can leak from the

Maintenance

The battery is completely maintenance- ventilation openings.

free. That means that the original

Be sure that children keep well

away from batteries and battery

acid.

battery acid will normally last for the

service life of the battery under

moderate climatic conditions.

Battery posts, terminals, and

Never allow sparks or open

flame near the battery. Do not

smoke in the vicinity of the

related accessories contain lead

and lead compounds. Wash hands after

handling.<

For all questions regarding the

battery, please consult your BMW

center. Since the battery is absolutely

maintenance-free, the following is for

your information only.<

battery. Avoid creating sparks when

working around electrical cables or

equipment. Turn the key to position 0 in

the ignition when disconnecting or

connecting the battery. Do not short-

circuit the battery terminals. This

creates a risk of injury from high-energy

sparks.

Installation location

The battery is located under the

luggage compartment's floor panel.

Symbols

You will find the following symbols on

your vehicle battery. To avoid injury,

please comply with the following

precautions whenever you work with or

near the battery.

Charge condition

You can read the charge condition of

the battery with the "Magic Eye"

hydrometer (arrow):

> Green: adequate charge

Before handling the battery,

please read the following infor-

mation.

> Black: not charged adequately. The

battery must be recharged. Please

contact your BMW center for addi-

tional information

> Yellow: replace the battery.

Battery

139n

A highly explosive gas is

generated when the battery is

charged.

When removing, first disconnect the

cable to the negative terminal, then

disconnect the cable to the positive

terminal. Loosen the center adjusting

screw for the battery's retaining strap

(use the screwdriver found in the

onboard tool kit) and remove the

bracket.

Charging the battery

Charge the battery in the vehicle only

when the engine is not running. Use the

connections provided in the engine

compartment (for correct connections,

refer to "Jump-starting" on page 145).

If you happen to get acid in your

eyes, rinse thoroughly for

15 minutes with clear water.

Consult a physician immediately. If you

get acid spray on your skin or clothing,

rinse with plenty of water. If acid is

accidentally ingested, consult a physi-

cian immediately.

Before performing any work on

the electrical system, disconnect

for the positive terminal, then the cable the cable from the negative terminal. If

When installing, first connect the cable

for the negative terminal.

you do not, short circuits can create the

risk of fire or personal injury.<

In order to protect the battery

case from ultraviolet radiation,

When installing, make sure that

the battery is seated properly, and If you plan to park the vehicle for longer

that the battery bracket is installed with than 4 weeks, disconnect the battery

do not place it in direct sunlight.

A discharged battery can freeze. Store

the battery in areas where temperature

remains above freezing.

the center adjusting screw. Failure to

observe these precautions could result disconnecting the cable at the negative

in an inadequately secured battery, terminal. Then recharge the battery with

from the vehicle's electrical system by

which could then shift in an accident.< an appropriate battery charger.

Removing and installing

If you intend to store the vehicle for

longer than 12 weeks, remove the

battery, charge it and store it in a cool

and dust-free room where there is no

danger of freezing. During storage,

have the battery recharged every six

months. Also, recharge the battery

before it is reinstalled. Failure to

observe these precautions can render

the battery unsuitable for continued

use. Every time the battery is

Do not disconnect the battery

cable when the engine is running.

Disconnecting the battery cable when

the engine is running will cause a

voltage surge which will damage the

vehicle's onboard electronics.

Do not make any modifications in the

wires to the positive terminal. If you do

so, the protective function of the safety

battery terminal is no longer ensured.

Repairs and disposal may only be

performed by specially trained

discharged, especially over extended

periods, its service life is reduced.

personnel.<

¹⁴⁰ⁿBattery

Fuses

Return used batteries to a recy-

If an electrical accessory should fail,

switch it off and check the fuse.

cling point or your BMW center.

Maintain the battery in an upright posi-

tion for transport and storage. Secure

the battery to prevent it from tilting

during transport.<

The fuses, their individual ampere

ratings and the equipment in the

circuits they protect are all indicated on

the cover of the fuse box in the glove

compartment and on the inside of the

cover panel for the storage compart-

ment located behind the passenger's

seat.

In the glove compartment

> Open the glove compartment

> Unlock the fuse box and swing it

downward

> Remove the lid with the list on it.

Spare fuses and plastic tweezers are

located in the fuse box lid behind the

passenger-side seat

> Use the plastic tweezers to remove

the fuse for the accessory or equip-

ment that has stopped working

> Replace a blown fuse, recognizable

by its melted metal strip, with a new

fuse that has the same color or

ampere rating.

Fuses

141n

Do not attempt to repair a blown

fuse or replace it with a fuse

having a different color or ampere

rating. To do this could cause a fire in

the vehicle resulting from a circuit over-

load.<

If the fuse continues to blow, have the

problem corrected by a BMW center.

Behind the passenger's seat

> Move the passenger's seat forward

and open the storage compartment

located behind it

The list is on the lid's inside cover.

> Remove the fuse box lid containing

the spare fuses and the plastic twee-

zers

> Use the plastic tweezers to remove

the fuse for the accessory or equip-

ment that has stopped working

> Replace a blown fuse, recognizable

by its melted metal strip, with a new

fuse that has the same color and

ampere rating.

¹⁴²ⁿFuel filler door

Luggage compartment lid, storage compartment

Manual release

Pull the knob with the fuel pump symbol > Tilt the backrest for the passenger's

(arrow) on the right trim panel of the

luggage compartment.

seat forward and open the storage

compartment located behind it

> Lift the cover off the fuse box

> Pull the ring to release the luggage

compartment lid (arrow 1) or the

cellular phone holder (arrow 2).

Passenger door

Closing the convertible top

143n

Manual operation

You can close the convertible top

manually, but never open it manu-

ally, because this would cause

damage.<

In the event of a malfunction, please

consult your BMW center to have it

corrected.

If you do close the convertible top

manually, please proceed as instructed

in the next column.

Manual release

1. Take off the oval-shaped cover cap,

using a screwdriver to help you if

necessary

> Unlock from the inside and open (pull

on the door handle twice; refer to

page 36)

2. Put the long end of the Allen wrench

(from the onboard tool kit) into the

support

> Moving the lever of the passenger-

side door upward or downward.

Upward: door is always unlocked.

Downward: door is always locked,

but can be opened from inside.

3. Unlock the locking retainer by turning

it clockwise all the way to the right

and pull the Allen wrench out again

¹⁴⁴ⁿClosing the convertible top

4. Pull the convertible top on the

convertible top frame forward and

sideways (arrows) and, using a little

effort, swing it forward over the

window frame

5. Gripping the recessed handle, pull

the convertible top frame all the way

on top of the window frame

6. Place the Allen wrench (from the

onboard tool kit) into the support

7. If you keep turning the Allen wrench

counterclockwise, you will hear the

convertible top lock with the window

frame.

Jump-starting

145n

Do not use spray starter fluids to start

the engine.

If the battery is discharged, the engine

can be started with the use of two

jumper cables and the battery of

another vehicle. You can also use the

same method to help start another

vehicle. Use only jumper cables with

fully insulated grips on the terminal

clamps.

Do not touch high-voltage wiring

and cables on a running engine.

5. Use one jumper cable (+) to connect 6. Next, connect one end of the other

There is a risk of fatal injury if you do

this. Carefully comply with the following

instructions to avoid personal injury or

damage to one or both vehicles.<

the positive terminal of the battery in

the support vehicle with the auxiliary

positive terminal provided in the

jumper cable (–) to either the support

vehicle's negative battery terminal or

a suitable ground on its engine or

bodywork. Connect the other end to

the negative battery terminal or a

suitable ground on the vehicle being

started. There is a special nut

provided for this on the BMW (see

illustration)

engine compartment of your BMW

specifically for jump-starting. The

cover of the auxiliary terminal for use

in jump-starting your BMW is identi-

fied by a "+" symbol, refer to illustra-

tion. Lift off by pulling the tab (arrow)

1. Ensure that the battery in the support

vehicle is also rated at 12 volts. This

information is provided on the top of

the battery casing

2 Do not disconnect your battery from

your vehicle's electrical system.

Switch off all electrical accessories in

both vehicles

Follow the same sequence for

connecting the jumper cables,

otherwise, you run the risk of injury

caused by spark generation at the

battery.<

3 Make absolutely certain that there is

no contact between the bodywork of

the two vehicles – short circuit hazard

4 Start the engine on the support

vehicle and allow it to run

¹⁴⁶ⁿJump-starting

Towing the vehicle

7. Start the support vehicle's engine

and let it run at an increased idling

speed for a few minites. Start the

engine on the vehicle needing the

jump-start, and allow it to run as

usual. If the first start attempt is not

successful, wait a few minutes

before another attempt in order to

allow the discharged battery to

recharge

8. Before disconnecting the jumper

cables let the engines run for a few

minutes

Tow fitting

Rear

9. Then disconnect the jumper cables

in reverse sequence.

Use a screwdriver to press sideways

on the opening to remove the cover

(arrow).

The screw-in tow fitting is stored in the

onboard tool kit; be sure that it remains

in the vehicle at all times. This fitting is

designed for installation in the tow

sockets located at the front and rear of

the vehicle. It is intended for towing on

paved road surfaces only.

Depending on the cause of the fault,

have the battery recharged by your

BMW center.

Screw the tow fitting in until it

bottoms firmly. If this is not done,

the threads could be damaged.

Do not tow the vehicle by any compo-

nents of the running gear, or lash them

down in any way. If you do so, the

components could be damaged,

leading to possible accidents.<

It should not be used to pull a vehicle

out of deep snow, mud, sand, etc.

Always observe all applicable towing

laws and regulations.

Access to tow sockets

Use only a nylon towing strap to tow

the vehicle. The inherent resilience of

this material helps protect both vehicles

from sudden jerking movements.

Front:

The uppermost grille stub is clipped on

the grille – which is located below the

main grille on the lower right – and this

grille can be pulled off, if you pull

forward on it.

Towing the vehicle

147n

Avoid "off-center" towing. Be sure

that the tow rope is pulled tightly

when the towing vehicle begins to

move.<

Towing a vehicle

1. Put the shift lever in neutral

2. Towing speed:

Max. 45 mph (70 km/h)

3. Towing distance:

Max. 95 miles (150 km)

The towed vehicle should always

be the lighter of the two vehicles.

If this is not the case, it is no longer

possible to control vehicle response.<

4. Leave the ignition key in position 1 to

ensure that the brake lamps, turn

signals, horn and windshield wipers

remain operative, and to prevent the

steering lock detent from engaging

5. Switch on the hazard warning system

(comply with country-specific regula-

tions).

Tow-starting

For instructions on jump-starting, refer

to page 145.

Towing with a commercial tow

truck

Never attempt to use your vehicle to

> Do not tow with sling-type equipment

> Use a wheel lift or flatbed equipment

> Please comply with applicable towing

laws.

push another vehicle, since damage to Find some means of identifying the

the energy-absorbing bumpers could

result.

vehicle in tow, e.g. place a sign or

warning triangle in the rear window.

Make sure that the ignition key

remains in position 1 even when

the electrical system has failed to

prevent the steering lock from

engaging. The steering and brakes are

without power assist when the engine is

not running. This means that increased

effort is required for steering and

braking.<

Never allow passengers to ride in

a towed vehicle for any reason.<

Owner service procedures for Your BMW Z8 Roadster First Generation (2000-2003)

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