30n
Fuel specifications Tire inflation pressure The engine uses lead-free gasoline
only. However, you can refuel with dif-
ferent fuel qualities since the engine is
equipped with knock sensors.
In order to achieve rated values for
engine performance and fuel consump-
tion:
>Super lead-free premium gasoline
(91 AKI).
AKI = Anti Knock Index
The minimum fuel quality is:
>Regular lead-free gasoline (87 AKI).
Because of the engineÕs design, you
should refuel with this gasoline only
as an exception.
Do not use leaded fuels. The use
of leaded fuels will cause perma-
nent damage to the system's oxygen
sensor and the catalytic converter.<
You will find tire inflation pressures on
the inside door pillar. Check tire pressures All pressure specifications are indicated
in psi (kilopascal) for tires at ambient
temperature (refer also to the next
page). 530us009
Check tire inflation pressures reg-
ularly Ñ at least every two weeks
and before beginning a longer trip. In-
correct tire pressure can otherwise lead
to tire damage and accidents.
Check the tire inflation pressure of the
spare wheel. Inflate the spare tire to the
highest inflation of any tire on your vehi-
cle.<
Comply with tire approval
specifications The inflation pressures in the table ap-
ply to tires from BMW-approved manu-
facturers. Your BMW center is familiar
with these pressures. Higher pressures
may be specified for tires from other
manufacturers. You will find a list of
approved tires beginning on page 132.
Your vehicle is equipped with tires that
not only meet US standards, but also
European standards. We recommend
the exclusive use of BMW approved
tires.
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
111n
Cargo area Pull-out cargo floor
*
To release, pull the handle recess
upward. Then pull the floor out.
Do not drive when the cargo floor
is pulled out.
Do not release the cargo floor on steep
grades. If you do, it could extend auto-
matically and cause personal injuries.
A load which is not properly secured
could begin to slide if the floor extends
automatically and then drop to the
ground as a result of the rapid braking
of the cargo floor at the limit stop.< 530us087
When it is extended, you can load the
cargo floor:
>With up to 990 Ibs (450 kg), distrib-
uted evenly across the entire surface.
>With up to 330 Ibs (150 kg) on the
rear edge.
Do not overload the cargo floor
when it is extended. If you do so,
it could cause damage.
When you slide the cargo floor back in,
do not grasp it on the bottom. If you do
so, there is a risk of personal injury.<
Raise the cargo floor For access to the spare wheel or other
stored items:
Swing the cargo floor up and secure it
with the rod (see detail). 530us088
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
127n
Information for your safety The factory-approved radial tires are
matched to the vehicle and have been
selected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort on your vehicle.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and Ð above all else
Ð driving safety which depend on the
condition of the tires and the mainte-
nance of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a frequent
cause of tire damage. It also signifi-
cantly influences the roadholding ability
of your BMW.
Check tire inflation pressures Ð
including the spare wheel Ð regu-
larly, at least every two weeks and
before beginning a longer trip. If this is
not done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire
damage, ultimately resulting in an
accident.<
Tire tread Ð Tire damage Inspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 0.12 in (3 mm), even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is only 0.063 in (1.6 mm). At a
tread depth of 0.063 in (1.6 mm), tread
depth indicators (arrow) in the tread-
groove base indicate that the legally-
permissible wear limit has been
reached. Below 0.12 in (3 mm) tread
depth, there is an increased risk of
aquaplaning, even at relatively moder-
ate speeds and with only small amounts
of water on the road. 390de331
Do not drive on a deflated (flat)
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not ex-
ceeded. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which
damage develops inside the tires. The
ultimate result can assume the form of a
sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect,
as can variations in normal vehicle re-
sponse, such as a pronounced ten-
dency to pull to the left or right. Should
this occur, respond by immediately re-
ducing your speed and carefully pro-
ceeding to the nearest BMW center or
professional tire center, or having the
vehicle towed in to have it and its tires
inspected.
Tire damage (up to and including blow-
outs) can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
Tire inflation pressure Tire condition
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
129n
Tire replacement Tire rotation Tire age The date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT ... 419 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in Week 41 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. Such a
tire should be replaced by a new tire
immediately, and should not be
mounted together with new tires.
Between the axles The tread wear patterns at the front end
differ from those at the rear Ñ 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.
When considering the potential eco-
nomic benefits of interaxle tire rotation,
you must decide whether the expense
of having the tires rotated is likely to be
amortized during the anticipated exten-
sion in tire life. In principle, interaxle tire
rotation should be performed at short
intervals, with a maximum of
3,000 miles (5,000 km). Consult your
authorized BMW center for more infor-
mation.
Should you decide to rotate the tires, it
is essential that you comply with the
following:
Rotate tires on the same side only,
since braking characteristics and road
grip could otherwise be adversely af-
fected.
Following tire rotation, correct the tire
inflation pressure. If different tire sizes are mounted
on the front and rear axles (refer to
page 132), the wheels may not be ro-
tated from one axle to the other.<
130n
Wheel and tire combinations The right choice Use only tires approved by BMW. Refer
to page 132.
Due to the high speeds this vehicle can
reach, the use of specific brands, spec-
ifications and sizes is mandatory. Con-
sult any BMW center for details.
Comply with all local/national regula-
tions.
The correct wheel-tire combina-
tion affects different systems such
as ABS, ATC and DSC. The function of
these systems is impaired if improper
wheel-tire combinations are used.
For this reason, use only tires of the
same brand and tread pattern. If you
have mounted winter tires and must use
the spare wheel following a flat tire, for
example, remount the approved wheel-
tire combination as soon as possible.<
Codes on the tires and wheels The tire codes will aid you in selecting
the correct tire.
Codes on radial tires:
The speed rating indicates the ap-
proved maximum speed for the tire.
Summer tires:
S = up to 112 mph (180 km/h)
T = up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H = up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V = up to 150 mph (240 km/h)
W = up to 167 mph (270 km/h)
Y = up to 186 mph (300 km/h)
ZR= over 150 mph (240 km/h) Example:
Nominal width
in mm
Aspect ratio in X
Belt rating code for
radial tires
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating
Speed rating
235/65 R 17 104 H
All-Season, All-Terrain and Winter tires:
Q M+S = up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
T M+S = up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H M+S = up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
Codes stamped on light-alloy wheels:
Protect valve stems from dirt by using
screw-on valve stem caps. Dirt in the
valves frequently leads to slow leaks. Rim width
in inches
Code letter for
flange type
Symbol for full-drop
center rim
Rim diameter in inches
Special Extended Hump
on the 2 rim shoulders
7.5 x 17 SEH 2
J
160n
Changing a wheel
Safety measures in the event of a
ßat tire or wheel change:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from
passing trafÞc. Park on a Þrm, ßat, sur-
face. Switch on the hazard ßashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position, remove the key and en-
gage the steering lock. Select ÒParkÒ po-
sition and engage the parking brake. All
passengers should be outside the vehi-
cle and 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 safety guidelines and
regulations. Change the wheel only on a
level, Þrm surface which is not slippery.
Avoid jacking the vehicle up on a soft or
slippery surface (snow, ice, very smooth
surfaces, etc.), since it could slide side-
ways. Position the jack on a Þrm support
surface. Do not place wooden blocks or
similar objects under the jack. If this is
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. Failure
to comply with this creates a risk of fatal
injury.<
What you will need 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.
>Two wedges (wheel chocks)
Open the liftgate and tailgate.
In the cargo area, fold up the floor
cover or pull-out cargo floor (refer to
page 110 or 111).
Take out the wedges (arrow) next to
the spare wheel. 530us117
>Lug wrench
Is located next to the spare wheel.
>Vehicle jack
Refer to page 162.530us120
162n
Changing a wheel 4 Remove support rod from bracket. 530us080
5 Press the tailgate down and hold it
there. The spare wheel is now pulled
by means of the removal aid onto the
tailgate.
Hold the tailgate in the opened
position and do not allow it to re-
tract sharply upward. If you do so, there
is a risk of personal injury and vehicle
damage.< 530us158
6 Insert support rod in tailgate lock and
press down until it engages (arrow 1);
then lock hook of rod in striker
(arrow 2).
Be sure that the support rod is
locked firmly in place. If you fail to
do so, it could retract sharply upward
and cause personal injury and vehicle
damage.<
7 You can now release the locked tail-
gate and take the spare wheel down
from the tailgate. It is recommended
that you leave the tailgate locked into
place until you have completed the
wheel change and placed the wheel
with the defective tire into the re-
moval aid. 530us082
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
163n
Changing a wheel >Vehicle jack
Unscrew the wing screw (arrow) and
remove the jack.
When you have completed work,
screw the jack all the way back
down. Fold the handle back and in-
sert it into its holder. 530us116
Procedure 1 Read carefully and comply with the
safety precautions on page 160.
2 Secure the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling:
Place the wedges (chocks) behind
the wheels on the side opposite the
side you are lifting. If the vehicle is
parked on a downward slope, place
the wedges securely in front of the
wheels. If the wheel must be
changed on a surface with a more
severe slope, take additional pre-
cautions to secure the vehicle from
rolling.
3 Loosen the lug bolts 1/2-turn. 4 Position the jack at the jacking point
closest to the flat tire 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.
5 Jack the vehicle up until the wheel
you are changing is raised from the
ground.
6 Unscrew the lug bolts and remove
the wheel.
7 Remove accumulations of mud or
dirt from the mounting surfaces of
the wheel and hub. Clean the lug
bolts.
8 Position the spare wheel. Secure
the wheel by turning at least two lug
bolts into opposite bolt holes.
530us119