What is this button in my Z3 1998 2.8?

[zedthreeplease]

Morning All,

Can anyone tell me what a button is meant to do? It's the one by my left elbow when I drive (right-hand drive) and has the de-mist markings on it, but doesn't seem to do anything when switched on and isn't featured the manual. The car is a soft top.

Any ideas anyone?

Many thanks

 

[GazHyde]

Welcome @zedthreeplease,

Without seeing a picture, I would guess it's the demister switch for a hard top. The hard tops have a glass rear screen with all the luxury of a heated rear screen.

Cheers, Gary

 

[Boysie]

Morning All,

Can anyone tell me what a button is meant to do? It's the one by my left elbow when I drive (right-hand drive) and has the de-mist markings on it, but doesn't seem to do anything when switched on and isn't featured the manual. The car is a soft top.

Any ideas anyone?

Many thanks

I was to believe the demister switch was fitted after you installed a hardtop as they don't come as standard
So maybe your car had a hardtop once, does it you have the hardtop fixings fitted

 

[zedthreeplease]

Aha that makes sense. So soft tops don't have a demister obviously - would melt the back screen I suppose. Gets quite misty but could be my morning breath.

Another question - down by my handbrake I've got a small red button that sort of looks like it doubles up as a light? Is it even a button? I've been too scared to press it

 

[zedthreeplease]

Oh the fixings? I've no idea? What do they look like?

 

[GazHyde]

Another question - down by my handbrake I've got a small red button that sort of looks like it doubles up as a light? Is it even a button? I've been too scared to press it

Ejector seat

Not sure on that one, perhaps a photo would help if you have one?!

 

[zedthreeplease]

OK let me take one

 

[zedthreeplease]

 

[badman gee]

Alarm led

 

[zedthreeplease]

Oh I see. So it flashes like an immobiliser light?

 

[zedthreeplease]

Oh I've only just seen your welcome....

 

[badman gee]

Think you can press it. It might disable the proximity sensors when the roof is down?

 

[zedthreeplease]

OK thanks. Nice car btw

 

[Boysie]

Think you can press it. It might disable the proximity sensors when the roof is down?

"Yes Mark you are correct"
Press it and it disables the alarm when the roof is off, Press it before setting alarm
Even the stealers don't even know this

 

[badman gee]

OK thanks. Nice car btw

Thanks

 

[Shelly]

We used to press ours down so that it flashed when we got out of the Z ( when we had the roof down ) as it was the alarm for the car, Think we used to do it when we parked the Z at night too Be careful not to knock it as our came off once , and we had to have it replaced luckily Alan brought one off the internet and fixed it himself

 

[Boysie]

We used to press ours down so that it flashed when we got out of the Z ( when we had the roof down ) as it was the alarm for the car, Think we used to do it when we parked the Z at night too Be careful not to knock it as our came off once , and we had to have it replaced luckily Alan brought one off the internet and fixed it himself

You say to alarm the car, this actually disables the alarm sensors for when the roof is down
As the early alarms sensors were not suitable when the roof was down
I believe the new alarm censors are a microwave type

 

[Aceman]

Boysie is correct the alarm sensors at the top of the A pullers can be triggered with the wind when the top is down. That alarm LED in you car has been moved from its usual position in a blanking plate on the bank of switches located in the centre console under the heater controls. Have you got some extra switches in there for some reason?

Welcome to the forum by the way, looks like you have started on the steep learning curve that Zeds send you on. With regard to the hardtop fixings they are located just next to the seatbelt fixing turret and should have a little plastic cover that swivels revealing a hole for the hardtop fixing pin to drop into. The passenger side one should have some contacts too which are for the rear screen heater on the hardtop.

 

[TR4man]

Nice to see another tan with wood trim Zed - was beginning to think mine was the only one!

Regards

Peter

 

[motco]

The movement sensors in my 52 plate car are still active with the roof down and do not require any action to disable them. I guess they must be short range microwave instead of ultrasonic.

I also have a family estate car (X-Type) with u/s sensors and I've long since Sellotaped them over to stop false alarms caused by insects. The Z never has this problem.... <touches wood hurriedly>