
130n
Washing your car Right from the start, you can wash your 
new BMW in an automatic car wash. 
Car wash systems that do not employ 
brushes are preferable.
Wipe away tough dirt and loosen and 
remove dead insects before washing 
the car.
To prevent spots, avoid washing when 
the hood is still warm, or immediately 
after and during exposure to strong 
sunlight.
When using an automatic car wash, be 
sure that:
>The car wash system is suited for the 
dimensions of your vehicle
>No damage will occur on vehicles 
with attached body accessories (such 
as spoilers or antennas). Consult the 
car wash operator if necessary
>The wheels and tires of your vehicle 
cannot be damaged by the convey-
ance devices of the car wash system
>The vehicle is cleaned with minimum 
brush pressure, and that ample water 
is available for washing and rinsing.Vehicles with rain sensor:
Clean the windshield regularly. Wax 
from car washes or the presence of 
dead insects can cause rain sensor 
malfunctions.
Switch the rain sensor off when 
the vehicle passes through the car 
wash (refer to page 70). Damage could 
occur by an undesired actuation of the 
wipers if the system is not deacti-
vated.<
Parts of the car that are inaccessible 
to the automatic washer – such as door 
sills, door and hood edges, etc. – 
should be cleaned by hand.
In the winter months, it is especially im-
portant to ensure that the car is washed 
on a regular basis. Large quantities of 
dirt and road salt are difficult to remove, 
and they also cause damage to the ve-
hicle.
If spray wands or high-pressure 
washers are used, be sure to 
maintain an adequate distance between 
the spray source and the vehicle's sur-
face. Inadequate distance and exces-
sive pressure can damage or weaken 
the finish, making it more susceptible to 
subsequent attack. In addition, mois-
ture could penetrate to vehicle compo-
nents, leading to long-term damage.<
When cleaning the headlamps, 
please observe the following: 
>Do not rub dry. Never use abrasives 
or strong cleaning agents to clean the 
covers
>Remove dirt and contamination 
(such as insects) by soaking with 
BMW Car Shampoo and then rinsing 
with plenty of water
>Always use a deicer spray to remove 
accumulated ice and snow – never 
use a scraper.<
After washing the car, apply the 
brakes briefly to dry them. Braking 
efficiency might otherwise be reduced 
by the moisture and the brake rotors 
could also be corroded.<
Caring for your car  

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
139n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit140
Windshield wiper blades140
Lamps and bulbs140
Remote control147
Changing tires148
Battery151
Fuses153
Microfilter154
In case of electrical 
malfunction:
Fuel filler door155
Sliding/tilt sunroof155
Assistance, giving and 
receiving:
Jump-starting156
Towing the vehicle157 

148n
Changing tires 
Take these precautionary mea-
sures if you have either a flat tire 
or are changing the tire:
Park the vehicle as far from the flow of 
traffic as possible and on firm ground. 
Switch on the hazard flashers. Turn the 
steering wheel to the straight-ahead 
position, remove the key and engage 
the steering lock. Shift into 1st or re-
verse (selector lever in "Park" with auto-
matic) and engage the parking brake.
All passengers should be outside the 
car and well away from your immediate 
working area (behind the 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 regula-
tions.
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.
Ensure that the jack is positioned on a 
solid support surface.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar 
objects  under the jack. If this done, 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 – risk of fatal injury.< 
Your BMW has either a spare
* or 
space-saver tire
* for temporary use and 
to ensure your mobility. 
Take the luggage compartment 
floor panel completely out to 
remove the spare tire
* (refer to 
page 41).<
You will the need the followingIn 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.
>A 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 work, 
screw the jack all the way back down. 
Fold the handle back and insert 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 it460de058 

149n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Changing tires>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 – is in the onboard tool 
kit on the underside of the luggage 
compartment lid (refer to page 140).460de059
Procedure1 Please observe the safety precaus-
tions stated on the previous page
2 Secure the vehicle against 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 Wheels with full wheel covers: 
Reach into the ventilation openings 
and pull the cover off462de251
4 Loosen the lug bolts 1/2 turn 
5 Place the jack under the jacking 
point nearest the wheel you are 
changing (refer to the illustration at 
the left) in such a way that the base 
of the jack is positioned vertically 
under the jacking point relative to 
the entire surface, and that the jack 
head fits securely into the square 
recess of the jacking point (refer to 
illustration detail) when the jack is 
cranked
6 Crank the car up until the wheel in 
question 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 
bolts462de252 

150n
Changing tires9 Position the new wheel or the 
space-saver spare tire
* on the hub 
and screw at least two lug bolts 
finger-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, alternating 
between bolts positioned opposite 
one another
462de266
13 If your wheels are equipped 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 Inflate tire to the proper pressure as 
soon as possible.
For vehicles with RDC Tire Pressure 
Control
*:
Reactivate the system after mount-
ing either the spare tire or after in-
flating tire to proper pressure. 
(Refer to page 82).
Only use original BMW full wheel 
covers, otherwise, the trim piece 
may not fit securely. The full wheel 
cover may not be installed on the 
space-saver spare tire
*, since this 
could damage the cover.<
462de279
The vehicle jack is designed for 
changing tires only. Never use it to 
raise another vehicle model or any load 
of any kind, as this could lead to acci-
dents 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, take care to 
ensure that you do not damage the re-
taining 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.
For black-painted aluminum wheels
*, 
use only those balancing weights ap-
proved by BMW for use with light alloy 
wheels. Never attempt to balance these 
wheels using standard balance weights. 

151n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Changing tires 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. Mount a wheel 
and tire with the same size and specifi-
cations as the others at the earliest 
possible opportunity. Maintain correct 
tire pressures. Refer to page 28.<
Battery location The battery is located at the right-rear 
of the luggage compartment. Raise the 
luggage compartment floor panel (refer 
to page 41), and give a screwdriver or a 
coin a 1/4-turn counterclockwise to 
release the two fasteners plus an addi-
tional fastener in the upper-center side 
trim panel. In order to remove the stor-
age tray, slide the side trim panel 
slightly upward.460de176
SymbolsYou will find the following symbols on 
your car battery. To avoid injury, please 
comply with the corresponding precau-
tions whenever you work with or near 
the battery.
Before handling the battery, 
please read the following infor-
mation.
Wear eye protection. Do not al-
low particles containing battery 
acid or lead to come into con-
tact with your eyes, your skin, or your 
clothing.
Battery acid is extremely corro-
sive. Wear eye protection and 
protective gloves. Do not tip the 
battery. Battery acid can leak from the 
ventilation openings.
Ensure that children keep well 
away from batteries and battery 
acid.
Fire, sparks, an open flame and/
or smoking are not allowed in 
the vicinity of the battery. Avoid 
sparks from electrical cables or electri-
cal equipment. Turn the key to position 
0 in the steering lock when the battery 
is disconnected or connected. Never 
short-circuit the battery terminal, other-
wise you could be injured by electrical 
sparks. 

164n
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)
*
This system regularly checks tire pres-
sures and monitors all four tires even 
while driving, so you don't have to. 
Behind the valve stem in every wheel, 
there is an extended-life electronic chip 
that has a pressure sensor, a transmit-
ter and a battery. The pressure is mea-
sured in extremely short time intervals 
and then transmitted by a radio signal. 
If an irregularity is detected, the trans-
mission rate is increased. 462de257
Near every wheel there is an antenna in 
the body that receives the signals from 
all four wheels. A central electronics 
system evaluates the quadruple signals 
and forwards any changes. The RDC 
plays an important part in driving safety. 

Everything from A to ZAABS (Antilock Brake 
System) 22, 106
Accessories 6
Activated charcoal 
filter 93, 154
Adaptive Transmission 
Control (ATC) 66, 160
Adding engine oil 123
Adding washer fluid 173
Adjust the backrest 47
Adjust the temperature 90
Adjust the thigh support 
area 49
Adjusting steering wheel 51
Air distribution 90
Air outlets 88
Air pressure 113
Air supply 91
Airbags 21, 57, 135, 161
Alarm system 42
Antenna 112
Antenna, Diversity 162
Antifreeze 126
Antifreeze, radiator 110
Antilock Brake System 
(ABS) 22, 106
Anti-theft alarm system 42
Aquaplaning 104, 113
Armrest 95
Ashtray 96
Assisted rear entry 49AUC (Automatic 
recirculated-air 
control) 91
Automatic car washes 130
Automatic climate 
control 88
remove window 
condensation 91
Automatic recirculated-air 
control (AUC) 91
Automatic speed control 72
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic 22, 66
Average consumption 78
Average speed 79
Avoiding unwanted 
alarm 43
Axle loads 172
BBackrest
release 49
Backup lamps 65
bulb replacement 143
Battery 151, 174
capacity 174
charge 153
discharged 156
removal and 
installation 152
Battery charge current 20
Belts 55Blower 91
BMW High Performance 
Synthetic Oil 124
BMW Sports Seat 49
Bore 170
Brake fluid 127
Brake hydraulic system 20
Brake lamps
bulb replacement 143
Brake pads 22
Brake-in procedure 104
Brakes 108
Brakes, brake faults 109
Breaking in the vehicle 104
Bulb replacement 140
CCar Memory 54
Car phone, please refer to 
the manufacturer's 
operating instructions
Car radio 112
reception 112, 162
refer also to the car radio 
operating instructions
Car vacuum cleaner, 
connecting 96
Car wash 130
Care
exterior 131
interior 132
Care of upholstery 133Care of wool velour 133
Cargo loading 100
Caring for the vehicle 
finish 131
Cassette operation, refer to 
the radio operating 
instructions
Catalytic converter 105
CBC (Cornering Brake 
Control) 21, 107
CD mode, refer to the radio 
operating instructions
Cellular phones 95, 112
Center (high-mount) brake 
lamp 145
Center armrest 95
Central locking system 34
key 38
Changing tires 148
Check air pressure 27
Check Control 77
Child restraint 
systems 56, 60
Child seat 56, 60
Cigarette lighter 96
Clock 77
refer also to the onboard 
computer operating 
instructions
Clothes hooks 97
Cockpit 16