118n
Winter operationWinter is often accompanied by rapid
changes in weather, requiring not only
a different driving style, but also certain
preparations to the vehicle itself to en-
sure that your vehicle operates safely
and trouble free throughout the winter
months.CoolantBe sure that the coolant mixture con-
tains the year-round ratio of 50:50
water and antifreeze/corrosion protec-
tion. This mixture provides protection
against freezing down to approx. –34 7
(–37 6). Replace the coolant every four
years.LocksBMW door lock deicer can be used to
free them if frozen. This deicer also
contains lubricant.
After its use, treatment with BMW lock
barrel grease is recommended.
Rubber seals and components To prevent the weather stripping from
freezing, apply a spray-on rubber treat-
ment or silicone spray to the door, hood
and luggage compartment lid seals.
A full range of car care products is
available from your BMW center.
them in pairs on the rear wheels only
and comply with the manufacturer's
safety precautions. Do not exceed a
maximum speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
In this type of exceptional situation
where the snow chains are mounted,
deactivate the DSC. Refer to page 88.
Starting offWhen starting off from a full stop in
deep snow or when "rocking" the vehi-
cle to free it, it may be effective to
deactivate the DSC system for a short
period. Refer to page 88.Driving on low-traction road
surfacesUse smooth, gentle pressure to control
the accelerator pedal. Avoid excessive
engine speeds and shift to the next
higher gear at an early point. On down-
hill grades or slopes, shift down to the
next lower gear at an early point. Main-
tain an adequate distance between
yourself and the vehicle ahead.
119n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Winter operationBrakesWinter road conditions substantially
reduce the amount of traction available
between the tires and the road surface.
Keep this in mind, because the braking
distance increases substantially.
ABS is intended to prevent the wheels
from locking during brake applications,
thus helping to maintain vehicle stability
and steering response.
If the ABS does not respond in a critical
braking situation and the wheels lock,
reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
until the wheels just start to roll again
while still maintaining enough force to
continue braking. Then increase the
pressure, reduce the pressure when the
wheels lock, reapply pressure, etc.
This staggered braking procedure will
reduce stopping distances while help-
ing you maintain steering control.
You can then attempt to steer around
hazards after you have reduced pres-
sure on the brake pedal.Do not shift down on slick road
surfaces. Doing so could cause
the rear wheels to lose traction and
skid, which could result in the loss of
vehicle control.<
Depress the clutch during hard
braking on road surfaces that pro-
vide only poor or uneven traction.<
Skid control Depress the clutch and release the ac-
celerator pedal, or place the selector
lever of the automatic transmission into
the "Neutral" position. Countersteer
carefully and attempt to regain control
of the vehicle.
ParkingEngage first or reverse gear. If your
vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transmission, place the selector lever in
Park. On vehicles with manual trans-
mission, also apply the parking brake
when parking on inclined surfaces. In
order to prevent the parking brake pads
from locking due to frost or corrosion,
dry them by gently applying the parking
brake as the vehicle is coming to a
stop. Make sure that following traffic
is not endangered.
The brake lamps do not come
on when the parking brake
is applied.<
141n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Caring for your vehicleWaxing your vehicle Protect the finish using only carnauba
or synthetic-based waxes.
The best way to determine when the
finish needs to be waxed is by noting
when water stops beading on the
surface.
You can use a glass cleaner to remove
any wax or silicone that may have been
left on the windows during waxing.
Use the cleaning and car-care
products available at your BMW
center.<
Paint damageYou can touch up small areas of paint
damage with a BMW spray paint or a
BMW touchup stick.
The paint color code for your vehicle is
provided on a sticker located on the
right hand side under the hood and on
the first page of your Service and War-
ranty Information Booklet (US models)
or Warranty and Service Guide (Cana-
dian models).
Damage caused by flying stones,
scratches, etc., must be touched up
without delay to prevent rust from
forming.
If corrosion has started to form in an
area with paint damage, remove all rust
and clean the area. Then prime the area
with a BMW Primer Stick. Finally, apply
the finish coat. Wait a few days, then
polish the repaired area. Finish by ap-
plying a wax preservative.
More extensive paint damage should
be repaired professionally in accor-
dance with the manufacturer's instruc-
tions. Your BMW center uses original
BMW finish materials in accordance
with approved repair procedures.
Caring for other vehicle
components and materials Light-alloy wheels should be treated
with alloy wheel cleaner, especially dur-
ing the winter months. However, do not
use aggressive products containing ac-
ids, strong alkalis or abrasives. Do not
use steam cleaners operating at tem-
peratures above 140 7 (+60 6). Fol-
low the manufacturer's instructions.
If your vehicle has chrome parts
*, such
as the window frames and door han-
dles, clean these parts carefully with
ample clean water and a shampoo sup-
plement if desired, especially if they
have an accumulation of road salt.
Use a chrome polish for an additional
treatment.
You can use window and glass cleaner
to clean inside window surfaces and
mirrors without smearing and streaking.
Never use polishing pastes or abrasive
(quartz) cleansers on mirror lenses.
159n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Changing a wheel
Safety measures in the event of a
flat tire or wheel change:
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 au-
tomatic transmission) and engage the
parking brake.
Have all passengers leave the vehicle
and remain well away from your immedi-
ate working area (behind a guardrail, for
instance).
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 safety guidelines and regulations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm
surface that is not slippery. Avoid jack-
ing the vehicle on a soft or slippery sup-
port 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, otherwise, 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 cre-
ates a risk of fatal injury.<
Your BMW has a space-saver spare
tire for temporary use to ensure your
mobility.
To remove the space-saver spare
tire, lift the floor panel in the lug-
gage compartment completely out
(refer to page 41).<
What you will needIn 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
unscrew the red wing nut (arrow).
When you have completed your work,
screw the jack all the way back down.
Fold the handle back and insert it into
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 it46cde038
Everything from A to ZService and Warranty
Information Booklet (US
models)138
Service Interval
Display83, 138
Shiftlock74
Side airbags63
Side lamps91
bulb replacement154
Sitting properly53
using airbags64
Ski bag105
Skid control119
Slippery roads118
Snow chains118, 128
Socket104
Space-saver spare tire159
Spare key32
Spare tire159
Spark plugs186
Speaker103
Speedometer18
Starting70
Starting problems113, 168
Steel wheels128
Steering120
Steering wheel lock70
Steptronic74
Stopping the vehicle71
Storage compartments102
Storing your vehicle147
Stroke182
Summer tires126Switching off the engine71
Symbols4, 163
Synthetic oils134
TTachometer82
Tail lamps155
bulb replacement155
Tank capacity185
Tank cover
unlock in case of electrical
fault165
Technical data182
Technical
modifications6, 148
Telephone
refer to the separate
Owner's Manual
Telephone hookup103
Temperature display
outside temperature85
Temperature gauge
engine coolant83
Temperature layering98
Tether anchorage for child
retsraint66
Third brake lamp157
Tilt alarm37
remote control37
Tilt sensor alarm system43
Tire codes126
Tire damages123Tire inflation
pressure27, 123
Tire Pressure Control
(RDC)89, 177
Tire pressure
monitoring89, 177
Tire pressure, checking27
Tire replacement124, 125
Tire specifications128
Tire tread123
Tools152
Torque182
Tow fittings169
Towing169
Track183
Traction Control System
refer to DSC88
Transmission73
Tread depth, tires123
Trip odometer82
Trunk39
locking separately39
Trunk lid, refer to luggage
compartment lid39
Turn signal indicator23, 77
Turn signals
bulb replacement154
Turning radius183
Two-way radios120
UUniform Tire Quality
Grading124Universal Transmitter100
Used batteries164
VVehicle
battery162, 186
identification137
immobilizer33
painting140
starting70
storage147
weight184
Vehicle care
exterior140
interior141
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)137
Ventilation94
draft-free98
Vinyl upholstery, care142
Visors59WWarning lamp "Please fasten
safety belts"21
Warning lamps20
Warning messages84
Warranty and Service Guide
(Canadian models)138
Washer reservoir, filling132
Washing your car139
Water on roadways
deep water113