2001 BMW 325i SEDAN tire pressure

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Information for your safetyThe 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 that 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
regularly Ð include the space-
saver spare tire or spare tire Ð at least
twice a month and before beginning a
longer trip (refer to page 29). If this is
not done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire
damage, ultimately resulting in an acci-
dent.<
Tire tread Ð Tire damageInspect 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
moderate 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
exceeded. Overloading can lead to
overheating and increases the rate at
which damage develops inside the
tires. You could have a blowout as a
result.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect.
This is also true for irregularities in the
vehicle's handling characteristics, such
as a pronounced tendency to pull to the
left or right. Should this occur, respond
by immediately reducing your speed.
Proceed carefully to the nearest BMW
center or professional tire center, or
have 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

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Tire replacement Tire rotationTire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT ... 4100 means that the tire was
manufactured in week 41 of 2000.
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 indi-
vidual driving conditions. In the inter-
ests of safety and maintaining optimal
handling characteristics, tire rotation is
not recommended.
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 must 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 130), the wheels may not be
rotated from one axle to the other.<

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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview

Winter tires

Choosing the right tire

BMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for driving in adverse winter
road conditions. Although all-season
M+S tires provide better winter traction
than standard summer tires with H, V,
W, Y and ZR speed ratings, they gener-
ally fail to provide the same levels of
performance as standard snow tires in
winter driving.
In the interest of safe tracking and
steering response, install winter tires
made by the same manufacturer having
the same tread configuration on all four
wheels.
Mount only winter tires approved by
BMW. Any BMW center will be glad to
provide you with information on the
best winter tires for your particular
driving conditions.

Do not exceed specified
maximum speeds

Never exceed the maximum speed
for which the tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.

<

Tire condition, tire pressure

Winter tires display a perceptible loss in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions once the tread wears to
below 0.16 inches (4 mm), and should
thus be replaced.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures Ð and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced
every time you change the tires.

Storage

Always store tires in a cool, dry place.
Store them away from light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against
contact with oil, grease and fuel.

Snow chains

*
The use of narrow-link BMW snow
chains on winter tires is approved only
in pairs and only on the rear wheels.
BMW 325xi, 330xi: in a worst-case
scenario, if your vehicle is stuck on one
side or you cannot access one tire, then
a chain may be attached to one rear
wheel for a short period of time.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety
precautions when mounting the chains.

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Washing your vehicle You can have your BMW washed in
an automatic car wash, even when it
is new. Car wash systems that do not
employ brushes are preferable.
Wipe away tough dirt and loosen and
remove dead insects before washing
the vehicle.
In order to avoid spots, do not wash the
vehicle when the hood is warm, or
during or immediately after 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 automatic car washes or insects
can cause malfunctions in the function
of the rain sensor.
Deactivate the rain sensor
(refer to page 70) when passing
through an automatic car wash. Failure
to do so could result in damage caused
by unintended wiper activation.<
Parts of the vehicle that are
inaccessible to the automatic washer Ð
such as door sills, door and hood
edges, etc. Ð should be cleaned by
hand.
In the winter months, it is especially
important to be sure that the vehicle is
washed on a regular basis. Large quan-
tities of dirt and road salt are difficult to
remove, and they also cause damage
to the vehicle.
If spray wands or high-pressure
washers are used, be sure to
maintain an adequate distance between
the spray source and the vehicle's
surface. Inadequate distance and
excessive pressure can damage or
weaken the finish, making it more
susceptible to subsequent attack. In
addition, moisture could penetrate to
vehicle components, leading to long-
term damage.<
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following:
Do not clean by wiping with a dry cloth
(this causes scratches). Never use
abrasives or strong solvents. 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 Ð never use
a scraper.<
After washing the vehicle, 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 vehicle

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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
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 vehicle
12 Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal
pattern462de267
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
mounting the spare wheel or
correcting the inflation pressure.
Refer to page 86.
Use original BMW full wheel
covers only. 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.<
460de125
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not
attempt 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
balanced.

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Changing a wheel Battery Driving with the space-saver
spare tireDrive 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
conjunction 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.
Maintain correct tire pressures. Refer
to page 29.<
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 f-turn. Loosen the third fastener
in the upper-center side trim panel.
Remove the fasteners. In order to
remove the storage tray, slide the side
trim panel slightly upward.
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds. Wash hands after
handling.<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.<
460de252

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
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IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC)178
Airbags179
Automatic Stability Control plus
Traction (ASC+T)/Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)180
Radio reception181
Four-wheel drive182
Safety belt tensioner183
Interior rearview mirror
with automatic dimming
feature184
Rain sensor185
Tire Pressure Control (RDC)186
Self-diagnostics187
Xenon lamps188
Technol-

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Tire Pressure Control (RDC)
*
This system regularly checks tire pres-
sure and monitors all four tires even
while driving, so you don't have to.
Behind the valve stem in every wheel,
there is an electronic chip that is
designed for severe-duty applications
and long service life. It contains a pres-
sure sensor, a transmitter and a battery.
The pressure is measured in extremely
short time intervals and then transmitted
by a radio signal. If an irregularity is
detected, the transmission rate is
increased. 460de169
Near every wheel is an antenna in the
body that receives the signal from the
wheel. A central electronics system
evaluates the quadruple signals and
forwards any changes.
The RDC provides an important contri-
bution to driving safety.