BMW Z4 Roadster 2.5i 2005 User Manual

Page 71

Close all windows

Increase the air supply from the air condi-
tioner or automatic climate control to a high
level. Refer to page

Hot exhaust system

High temperatures occur with every vehi-
cle equipped with a catalytic converter.

Heat shields are installed adjacent to some sec-
tions of the exhaust system. Never remove
these shields; do not apply undercoating to
their surfaces. When driving, standing at idle
and parking the vehicle, take care to avoid con-
tact between the hot exhaust system and flam-
mable materials, e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc.
Such contact could lead to a fire, resulting in
serious personal injury and property damage.

Hydroplaning

When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not, a

wedge of water may form between the tires and
the road surface. This phenomenon can lead to
partial or complete loss of traction, vehicle con-
trol and braking effectiveness.

Driving through water

Do not drive through water on the road if it
is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only at

walking speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's engine,
the electrical systems and the transmission
may be damaged.

Use the parking brake on inclines

On inclines, keep the vehicle from rolling
by using the parking brake rather than by

slipping the clutch, which would lead to a high
degree of clutch wear.

Braking safely

Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. If you are in a situation which requires
full braking, it is best to brake using maximum
brake pressure: panic stop. Since the vehicle
maintains steering responsiveness, you can still
avoid possible obstacles with a minimum of
steering effort.

Pulsation at the brake pedal combines with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits to indicate to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.

Wet roads

If the roads are wet or if there is heavy rain, it is
advisable to gently press the brakes for a brief
moment every few miles/kilometers. Watch
traffic conditions to ensure that this maneuver
does not endanger other road users. The
resulting heat dries the brake rotors and brake
pads. Immediate braking force is then available
if necessary.

Inclines

To prevent overheating and, as a result,
diminished braking effectiveness, drive

down long or steep downhill grades in a gear
which requires the least braking. Otherwise,
even light but consistent pedal pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brake wear and pos-
sibly even brake failure.

The braking power of the engine can be further
enhanced by downshifting the automatic trans-
mission in manual mode, if necessary, into first
gear; refer to pages

and

. This prevents an

excessive load on the brakes.

Do not coast with the clutch depressed or
with the transmission or selector lever in

Neutral. Do not coast with the engine switched
off. Otherwise, the engine provides no braking
effect while the transmission is in idling posi-
tion, and there is no power-assist for braking or
steering when the engine is off.
Floor mats, floor carpets or other objects must
not be in the area near the brake or accelerator
pedal, as this could impair the movement of the
pedals.

Corrosion on the brake rotors

Limited vehicle use, extended periods with the
vehicle parked or in storage, and operating con-
ditions in which braking is restricted to gentle,
low-pressure applications will all increase the
tendency for corrosion to form on the rotors and
contamination to accumulate on the brake
pads. This occurs because the minimal pres-