2008 BMW 1 Series Owner's Manual - Page 120

Things to remember when driving Convertible weight or either of the approved axle loads, refer to page 233, as excessive loads can pose a safety hazard, and may also place you in violation of traffic safety laws. Heavy or hard objects should not be carried loose inside the car, since they could be thrown around, for example as a result of heavy braking, sudden swerves, etc., and endanger the occupants.< > Position heavy objects as low and as far forward as possible, ideally directly behind the respective seat backrests. > Cover sharp edges and corners. > For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is not occupied, secure each safety belt in the opposite buckle. Coupe: roof-mounted luggage rack* A special rack system is available as an option for your BMW. Comply with the directions given in the installation instructions. Mounting points Securing cargo Fold open the cover. > Secure smaller and lighter items using retaining straps, a cargo bay net* or draw straps*. > Heavy-duty cargo straps* for securing larger and heavier objects are available at your BMW center. To attach the cargo straps, there are two lashing eyes, arrows 1, on the inside wall of the cargo bay. Depending on your vehicle's equipment, there may be two additional lashing eyes, arrows 2, on the cargo bay sidewalls. Follow the information included with the cargo straps. Always position and secure the cargo as described above, so that it cannot endanger the car's occupants, for example if sudden braking or swerving is necessary. Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle 118 Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 0 014 691 - © 11/07 BMW AG Loading roof-mounted luggage rack Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on vehicle handling and steering response. You should therefore always remember not to exceed the approved roof load capacity, the approved gross vehicle weight or the axle loads when loading the rack. You can find the applicable data under Weights on page 233. The roof load must be distributed uniformly and should not be too large in area. Heavy items should always be placed at the bottom. Be sure that adequate clearance is maintained for raising the glass roof, and that objects do not project into the opening path of the luggage compartment lid.