2000 BMW 323i SEDAN spare wheel

81n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)
*
Flat tireIf there is a tire failure with loss of pres-
sure, the indicator lamp comes on with
a red lamp. In addition, an acoustic sig-
nal is sounded.
If this occurs, reduce vehicle speed im-
mediately and stop the vehicle in a safe
location. Avoid hard brake applications.
Do not oversteer. Replace the wheel
and flat tire.
The space-saver spare tire
* is
provided for temporary use only in
the event of a tire failure. It does not
have RDC electronics and is not moni-
tored. A full-size spare tire
* that has the
same dimensions as the tires already
mounted on the vehicle is equipped
with the necessary RDC electronics,
and will be also be monitored once the
tires have been mounted and the sys-
tem activated.<
RDC cannot alert you to severe
and sudden tire damage caused
by external factors.<
Have the tires changed by your
BMW center.
Your BMW center has been trained to
work with the RDC system and is
equipped with the necessary special
tools.<
System interferenceThe RDC system may be interrupted
temporarily by other systems or devices
that use the same radio frequency.
The yellow indicator lamp will come on
during the malfunction.
The indicator lamp also comes on
>in the event of a system fault
>if a wheel is mounted without the
appropriate electronics
>if, in addition to the spare tire
*, addi-
tional wheels with RDC electronics
are on board.
Please contact your BMW center for
additional information.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Tire replacement Tire rotation
Do not use retreaded tires. Driving
safety may be impaired by their
use. This is due to the possible varia-
tions in casing structures and, in some
cases, to their extreme age, factors that
can lead to a decrease in their durabil-
ity.<
Tire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT ... 329 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in Week 32 of 1999.
BMW recommends the replacement of
all tires when the tires are no more than
6 years old, even if a tire life of 10 years
is possible.
Spare tires over 6 years old should be
used only in case of emergency. A tire
in this condition should be replaced by
a new tire immediately, and should not
be mounted together with new tires.
Between the axlesThe tread wear patterns at the front end
differ from those at the rear Ð the actual
patterns will vary according to individ-
ual driving conditions. In the interests of
safety and maintaining optimal handling
characteristics, tire rotation is not rec-
ommended.
If a proposed interaxle rotation of tires
is based on economic considerations,
one should consider whether the costs
for the rotation are likely to be recap-
tured by any increase in the service life
of the tires that might be realized. In
principle, interaxle rotation should be
performed in short intervals, with a
maximum of 3,000 miles (5,000 km).
Consult your BMW center for more
information.
Should you decide to rotate the tires, it
is essential to comply with the following:
Rotate tires on the same side only, since
braking characteristics and road grip
could otherwise be adversely affected.
Following rotation, the tire inflation
pressure should always be corrected.If different tire sizes are mounted
on the front and rear axles (refer to
page 118), the wheels may not be ro-
tated from one axle to the other.<

118n
Approved wheel and tire specifications Tire specifications Steel rim (wheel rim) Light-alloy wheel
BMW 323i
All-Season
195/65 R 15 91 H Ð 6.5Jx15
Summer tires
195/65 R 15 91 H Ð 6.5Jx15
205/60 R 15 91 H Ð 6.5Jx15
7Jx15
205/55 R 16 91 H
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/50 ZR 16Ð 7Jx16
225/45 R 17 91 W Ð 8Jx17
Front: 225/45 ZR 17 Ð 7.5Jx17
Rear: 245/40 ZR 17 Ð 8.5Jx17
Winter tires
195/65 R 15 91 Q M+S 6.5Jx15 6.5Jx15
205/60 R 15 91 Q M+S 6.5Jx15 6.5Jx15
7Jx15
205/55 R 16 91 Q M + S
225/50 R 16 92 Q M + S7Jx16 7Jx16
225/45 R 17 91 Q M + S Ð 8Jx17
Space-saver spare tire
T 125/90 R 15 96 M 3.5Bx15 Ð
T 125/90 R 16 98 M 3.5Bx16 Ð
Comply with the specifications for tires and wheels in the vehicle's manuals.
If you install tire sizes not approved by the manufacturer, an entry in the vehicle
documents may be necessary.
Snow chains
*
You cannot mount snow chains with the
following tires:
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/50 ZR 16
225/45 ZR 17
245/40 ZR 17
225/45 R 17 91 W
225/50 R 16 92 Q/T/H
225/45 R 17 91 Q/T/HMixed tiresFor details concerning tire manufactur-
ers for mixed tires, refer to the original-
equipment specifications.

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Approved wheel and tire specifications Tire specifications Steel rim (wheel rim) Light-alloy wheel
BMW 328i
All-Season
205/55 R 16 91 H Ð 7Jx16
Summer tires
205/55 R 16 91 H
225/50 R 16 92 H
225/50 ZR 16Ð 7Jx16
225/45 R 17 91 H Ð 8Jx17
Front: 225/45 ZR 17 Ð 7.5Jx17
Rear: 245/40 ZR 17 Ð 8.5Jx17
Winter tires
205/55 R 16 91 Q M + S
225/50 R 16 92 Q M + S7Jx16 7Jx16
225/45 R 17 91 Q M + S Ð 8Jx17
Space-saver spare tire
T 125/90 R 16 98 M 3.5Bx16 Ð
Comply with the specifications for tires and wheels in the vehicle's manuals.
If you install tire sizes not approved by the manufacturer, an entry in the vehicle
documents may be necessary.
Snow chains
*
You cannot mount snow chains with the
following tires:
225/50 R 16 92 W
225/50 ZR 16
225/45 ZR 17
245/40 ZR 17
225/45 R 17 91 W
225/50 R 16 92 Q/T/H
225/45 R 17 91 Q/T/HMixed tiresFor details concerning tire manufactur-
ers for mixed tires, refer to the original-
equipment specifications.

149n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Changing a wheel
Take these precautionary mea-
sures if you have either a flat tire
or are changing the tire.
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat sur-
face. Switch on the hazard flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position, remove the key and en-
gage the steering lock. Shift into 1st or
reverse (selector lever in "Park" with
automatic) and engage the parking
brake.
Have all passengers leave the car and
remain well away from your immediate
working area (behind a guardrail, for in-
stance).
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is available, set it up on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle. Comply
with all applicable safety guidelines and
regulations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm
surface that is not slippery. Avoid jack-
ing the car on a soft or slippery support
surface (snow, ice, loose gravel, etc.),
as it could slide sideways.
Position the jack on a firm support sur-
face.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar
objects under the jack. If you do so, the
jack might not be able to reach its full
support capacity because of the limited
height.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the
engine when the vehicle is supported
by the jack. Failure to comply with this
creates a risk of fatal injury.<
Your BMW has either a spare wheel
* or
a space-saver spare tire
* for temporary
use and to ensure your mobility.
To remove the spare wheel
*,
lift the floor panel in the luggage
compartment completely out (refer to
page 41).<
You will the need the following:In order to avoid rattling noises later,
note the position of the tools when you
remove them and return them to their
original position when you are through
using them.
>Jack (1)
Raise the floor panel in the luggage
compartment (refer to page 41) and
loosen the red wing nut (arrow).
When you have completed work,
screw the jack all the way back
down. Fold the handle back and in-
sert it in its holder.
>Wedge (2)
The wedge, or wheel chock, is lo-
cated behind the jack on the luggage
compartment's rear wall. Loosen the
wing nut to remove it.460de058

150n
Changing a wheel>Spare tire
* or space-saver spare tire
*
Located next to the jack.
Loosen the wing nut (arrow) by hand,
remove the storage tray and take out
the spare wheel.
>Lug wrench Ð is in the onboard tool
kit on the underside of the luggage
compartment lid (refer to page 142).460de059
Procedure1 Read and comply with the safety
precautions provided on the previ-
ous page.
2 Secure the vehicle from rolling:
Place the wedge against the rear
surface of the front tire on the side
opposite the side being raised. If
the vehicle is parked on a down-
ward slope, place the wedge se-
curely in front of the tire. If the
wheel must be changed on a sur-
face with a more severe slope, take
additional precautions to secure the
vehicle from rolling.
3 If your wheels are equipped with full
wheel covers
*: Reach into the ven-
tilation openings and pull the cover
off.
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4 Loosen the lug bolts 1/2 turn.
5 Position the jack at the jacking point
closest to the flat tire (refer to the
center illustration) so that the jack
base is vertically below the jacking
point and the entire surface of the
head of the jack will move into the
square recess of the jacking point
(refer to the illustration detail) when
the jack is cranked.
6 Jack the car up until the wheel you
are changing is raised from the
ground.
7 Unscrew the lug bolts and remove
the wheel.
8 Remove accumulations of mud or
dirt from the mounting surfaces of
the wheel and hub; clean the lug
bolts.460de190

151n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Changing a wheel9 Position the new wheel or the
space-saver spare tire
* on the hub
and screw at least two lug bolts fin-
ger-tight into opposite bolt holes.
10 Screw in the remaining lug bolts.
Tighten all the bolts securely.
11 Lower the jack and remove it from
beneath the car.
12 Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal
pattern.
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13 Wheels with full wheel covers:
Position the wheel cover with the
valve opening over the valve (arrow)
and press it onto the wheel with
both hands.
14 Check and correct the tire's inflation
pressure at the earliest possibility.
For vehicles with RDC (Tire Pres-
sure Control)
*:
Reactivate the system after mount-
ing either the spare tire or after in-
flating tire(s) to proper pressure.
Refer to page 80.
Use only the full wheel cover in-
stalled by the factory. Other wheel
covers may not fit securely. The full
wheel cover may not be installed on the
space-saver spare tire
* since this could
damage the cover.<
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The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not at-
tempt to raise another vehicle model
with it or to raise any load of any kind.
To do so could cause accidents and
personal injury.
Have the lug bolts checked for proper
tightness with a calibrated torque
wrench at the earliest possibility [torque
specification: 72 lb.ft. (100 Nm)].<
When storing the wheel, be sure that
you do not damage the retaining pin in
the spare tire recess.
If light-alloy wheels other than Original
BMW light-alloy wheels have been
mounted, it may be necessary to use
different lug bolts for those wheels.
Replace the defective tire as quickly as
possible and have the new wheel bal-
anced.

152n
Changing a wheel Battery Driving with the space-saver
spare tire
*
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a
speed of 45 mph (80 km/h).
Be aware that vehicle handling will be
altered. Slower brake response time,
longer braking distances and changed
steering characteristics may be antici-
pated when approaching limit condi-
tions.
The changes in handling characteristics
will be even more pronounced in con-
junction with winter tires.
Only one space-saver spare tire
may be mounted at one time.
Mount a wheel and tire with the same
size and specifications as the others at
the earliest possible opportunity. Main-
tain correct tire pressures. Refer to
page 28.<
Battery locationThe battery is located at the right-rear
of the luggage compartment. Raise the
luggage compartment floor panel (refer
to page 41). Use a screwdriver or a coin
to loosen the two fasteners in the illus-
tration 1/4-turn. Loosen the third fas-
tener in the upper-center side trim
panel. Remove the fasteners. In order
to remove the storage tray, slide the
side trim panel slightly upward.460de176
Charge conditionThe "Magic Eye
*" is a hydrometer that
allows you to read the charge condition
of the battery:
>Green: adequate charge.
>Black: not adequately charged. The
battery must be recharged. Please
contact your BMW center for addi-
tional information.
>Yellow: Replace the battery.
The service life specified for the
battery can be achieved only if it is
always kept adequately charged. If the
vehicle is primarily used for stop-and-
go traffic, be sure to check the charge
state often.<
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