BMW Z8, Owner'S Manual, Page: 87 / 175

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Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
Brakes:
Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. Even light but con-
sistent pressure on the brake pedal
could lead to high temperatures, brake
wear, and possibly, to brake system
failure.
Aquaplaning:
Reduce speed while driving on wet or
slushy roads, otherwise, a wedge of
water can form between the tires and
the road surface. This phenomenon is
referred to as aquaplaning or hydro-
planing. It is characterized by a partial
or complete loss of contact between
the tires and the road surface. The ulti-
mate results are loss of steering and
braking control.
Driving through water:
When there is water on the roads, do
not drive in it if it is deeper than 1 ft/
30 cm, and even then, only at walking
speed, otherwise the vehicle can sus-
tain damage to the engine, the elec-
trical systems and the transmission.
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The catalytic converter reduces harmful
exhaust emissions.
It is designed for use with unleaded fuel
only. Even minute quantities of lead
would be enough to permanently
damage both the catalytic converter
and the system's oxygen sensor.
To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine
operation and to avoid potential
damage:
>
Be sure to comply with the scheduled
maintenance requirements
>
Fill the fuel tank well before it is
empty
>
Tow-start only when the engine is
cold. If you attempt to tow-start with
a warm engine, unburned residual
fuel could ignite on the way to the
catalytic converter and cause
damage. It is better to start the
vehicle with a battery charger or
assistance from another vehicle
>
Avoid other situations where the fuel
is either not burned or burns incom-
pletely, such as engaging the starter
frequently or for extended periods, or
repeated start attempts in which the
engine does not start – stopping and
restarting an engine which is running
properly does not present a problem.
Never allow the engine to run with
any of the spark plug cables discon-
nected.
Be sure to comply with the
instructions above to prevent
unburned fuel from reaching the cata-
lytic converter. Otherwise, there is the
danger of overheating and damage to
the catalytic converter.
Extreme temperatures are present with
the catalytic converter both on this and
every catalyst-equipped vehicle. Heat
shields are installed adjacent to some
sections 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 contact
between the exhaust system and flam-
mable materials, e.g. grass, hay, leaves
etc. Such contact could start a fire,
resulting in serious personal injury and
property damage.
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Driving notes Catalytic converter
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 156 878 - © 06/02 BMW AG