BMW M COUPE Manual page 167

Battery
Ensure that children keep well
away from batteries and battery
acid.
Do not allow sparks or open
flame near the battery. Do not
smoke near the battery. Avoid
sparks from electrical cables or electri-
cal equipment. Turn the key to posi-
tion 0 in the steering lock when the bat-
tery is disconnected or connected. Do
not short circuit the battery terminals.
This creates a risk of personal injury
from high-voltage sparks.
A highly-explosive gas is gener-
ated when the battery is charged.
If acid is accidentally splashed
into your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly for 15 minutes with clear
water. Following that, consult a physi-
cian immediately. If acid splashes onto
your skin or clothing, rinse immediately
with ample clean water. If acid is acci-
dentally swallowed, consult a physi-
cian immediately.
In order to protect the battery
case from ultraviolet radiation,
do not place it in direct sunlight.
A discharged battery can freeze. Store
the battery in areas where temperature
remains above freezing.
Z3 roadster
Charge condition
The illustration depicts the battery in-
stallation location in the Z3 roadster as
an example.
You can read the charge condition of
the battery with the "Magic Eye"
(a hydrometer):
> Green: Adequate charge.
> Black: Not charged adequately.
The battery must be recharged.
Please contact your BMW center.
> Yellow: Replace the battery.
The projected service life of the
battery can only be reached if the
battery is fully-charged at all times.
Check the charge condition of the bat-
tery frequently if the vehicle is used pri-
marily for driving short distances.
Charging the battery
Charge the battery in the vehicle only
when the engine is off. Charge the bat-
tery using the auxiliary jump-start termi-
nal and a ground in the engine com-
partment (refer to jump-starting on
page 170).
Before performing any work on
the electrical system, disconnect
the cable from the negative terminal. If
you do not, short circuits can create the
risk of fire or personal injury.<
If you plan to park the vehicle for longer
than 4 weeks, disconnect the battery
from the vehicle electrical system by
disconnecting the cable at the negative
terminal. Then recharge the battery with
an appropriate battery charger.
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