Caring For Your Vehicle - BMW SERIE 3 CONVERTIBLE 2000 Manual

Caring for your vehicle

Washing your vehicle
You can wash your BMW at an auto-
matic car wash, even when it is new.
Brushless systems are preferable (refer
to page 144 as well).
Wipe away tough dirt and loosen and
remove dead insects before washing
the vehicle.
In order to avoid spots, do not wash the
vehicle when the hood is warm, or dur-
ing or immediately after exposure to
strong sunlight.
When using an automatic car wash, be
sure that:
> The car wash system is suited for the
dimensions of your vehicle
> No damage will occur to vehicles
with attached body accessories (such
as spoilers or antennas). Consult the
car wash operator if necessary
> The wheels and tires of your vehicle
cannot be damaged by the convey-
ance devices of the car wash system
> The vehicle is cleaned with minimum
brush pressure, and that ample water
is available for washing and rinsing.
*
Vehicles with rain sensor :
Clean the windshield regularly. Wax
from automatic car washes or insects
*
can cause the rain sensor
tion.
*
Turn the rain sensor
page 78) when passing through an
automatic car wash. Failure to do so
could result in damage caused by unin-
tended wiper activation.<
Parts of the vehicle that are inaccessi-
ble to the automatic washer – such as
door sills, door and hood edges, etc. –
should be cleaned by hand.
In the winter months, it is especially im-
portant 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 damage the
vehicle.
If spray wands or high-pressure
washers are used, be sure to
maintain an adequate distance between
the spray source and the vehicle's sur-
face. Inadequate distance and exces-
sive pressure can damage or weaken
the finish, making it more susceptible to
subsequent attack. In addition, mois-
ture could penetrate to vehicle compo-
nents, leading to long-term
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following:
Do not clean by wiping with a dry cloth
to malfunc- (scratches). Never use abrasives or
strong solvents to clean the covers.
Remove dirt and contamination (such
off (refer to as insects) by soaking with BMW Car
Shampoo and then rinsing with plenty
of water. Always use a deicer spray to
remove accumulated ice and snow –
never use a scraper.<
After washing the vehicle, apply
the brakes briefly to dry them.
Braking efficiency might otherwise be
reduced by the moisture and the brake
rotors could also
damage.<
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 155 048 - © 01/00 BMW AG
139n
corrode.<