
143n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Caring for your vehicleCaring for the vehicle's finish Regular washing is a preventive
measure against long-term effects from
substances that are harmful to the
vehicle's finish, especially if you drive
your vehicle in areas with high levels of
air pollution or aggressive natural
substances (tree resins, pollen).
Nevertheless, you should immediately
remove especially aggressive
substances. Failure to do so can
lead to changes in the paint's chemical
structure or to discoloration. Gasoline
spilled during refueling, oil, grease and
brake fluid should always be cleaned
away immediately, as should bird drop-
pings.
Any contamination remaining on the
surface of the vehicle will be especially
conspicuous after washing. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a clean
cloth or cotton pad to remove. Remove
tar spots with tar remover. After
cleaning, the affected areas should be
waxed to ensure continued protection.
Use the cleaning and car-care
products available at your BMW
center.<
Waxing your vehicle Protect the finish using carnauba or
synthetic-based waxes only.
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
Warranty Information Booklet (US
models) or Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet (Canadian 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
applying 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.

165n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
BatteryCharging the battery Charge the battery in the vehicle only
when the engine is not running.
Before doing any work on the
electrical system, be sure to
unclamp the cable from the battery's
negative terminal. Failure to do so can
result in short circuits, a fire or personal
injury.<
If you plan to park the vehicle for longer
than 4 weeks, disconnect the battery
from the vehicle electrical system by
disconnecting the cable at the negative
terminal. Have the battery recharged
with an appropriate battery charger.
If the vehicle is parked for more than
12 weeks, remove the battery, recharge
it and store it in a cool yet frost- and
dust-free area. During storage, have the
battery recharged every 3 months.
Also, recharge the battery before it is
reinstalled. If this is not done, the
battery will not be serviceable. Every
time the battery is discharged, espe-
cially over extended periods, its service
life is reduced.
Return used batteries to a recy-
cling center or your BMW center.
Maintain the battery in an upright posi-
tion for transport and storage. Secure
the battery to prevent it from tilting
during transport.<
Storage periods during which the
battery is disconnected are not
taken into consideration by the Service
Interval Display for changing the brake
fluid.
For this reason, be sure that the brake
fluid is changed every two years,
regardless of the information displayed.
Please read the pertinent information
on page 138.<

Everything from A to ZA
ABS (Antilock Brake
System)22,115
ABS, fault116
Accessories6
Activated-charcoal
filter100,166
Adaptive Transmission
Control (ATC)67,174
Adding
engine oil135
washer fluid134,187
Adjusting
backrest48
head restraints48
lumbar support49
steering wheel52
temperature92,98
Air conditioner90
Air distribution92,98
Air nozzles90,96
Air outlets90,96
ventilation90,96
Air pressure122
Air supply92,99
Airbags21,57,146,175
sitting properly58
Alarm system42
Antenna121
Diversity176
Antifreeze137
radiator119 Antilock Brake System
(ABS)22,115
Anti-theft alarm system42
Approved weight and load
capacities186
Approved wheel and tire
specifications127
Aquaplaning113,122
Armrest102
ASC+T (Automatic Stability
Control plus
Traction)22,82,175
Ashtray
front104
rear105
ATC (Adaptive Transmission
Control)67,174
Attach vacuum cleaner105
AUC (Automatic
recirculated-air
control)99
Automatic car washes141
Automatic climate
control96
remove window
condensation99
Automatic cruise control73
Automatic dimming, interior
rearview mirror53
Automatic recirculated-air
control (AUC)99 Automatic Stability Control
plus Traction
(ASC+T)22,82,175
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic21,67
Automatic windshield
washer71
Average consumption79
Average speed80
Avoiding unwanted
alarm43
Axle loads186
B
Backrest, releasing49
Backup lamps66
bulb replacement155
Battery163,188
capacity188
charge current20
charging165
discharged168
removal and
installation164
Battery safety terminal164
Battery terminal164
Belts55
Blower92,99
BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil136
BMW Maintenance
System140 BMW sports seat49
Bore184
Brake fluid138
Brake hydraulic system20
Brake lamps, bulb
replacement155
Brake pads22
Brake system118
Brakes117
malfunctions118
Break-in procedures112
Bulb replacement152
Bulbs152
C
California Proposition
65 Warning148
Capacities187
Car Memory54
Car radio121
refer also to the separate
Owner's Manual
Car radio
reception121,176
Car vacuum cleaner105
Car wash141
Care
exterior142
interior144
Care of upholstery145
Care of wool velour145

Everything from A to Z
197n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Switching off the engine64
Symbols4,164
Synthetic oils136 T
Tachometer75
Tail lamp assembly, bulb
replacement155
Tail lamps155
Tank capacity187
Technical data184
Technical
modifications6,148
Telephone hookup104
Telephone, refer also to the
separate Owner's Manual
Temperature display
outside temperature78
Temperature gauge
engine coolant76
Temperature
layering93,100
Temperature,
adjusting92,98
Thigh support
adjustment49
Third brake lamp157
Three-point-safety belt in the
rear106
Through-loading
system106 Tilt sensor alarm
system36,43
remote control36
Tire
codes125,127
condition122
damage122
inflation
pressure27,122
replacement123
rotation124
tread122
Tire pressure
checking27
monitoring85,179
Tire Pressure Control
(RDC)85,179
Tire Quality Grading123
Tools152
Torque184
Towing eyelets169
Towing the vehicle169
Track185
Traction Control System,
refer to DSC82
Transmission66
Transmitter key32
Transporting children
safely60
Tread depth, tires122
Tread wear indicator122 Trip odometer75
Trunk lid, refer to luggage
compartment lid
Turn signal indicator23,70
bulb replacement154
Turning radius185
Two-way radios121
U
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading123
Used batteries165 V
Vacuum cleaner105
Vanity mirror, bulb
replacement158
V-belts188
Vehicle battery163,188
Vehicle care
exterior142
interior144
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)139
Vehicle immobilizer33
Vehicle painting142
Vehicle starting63
Vehicle storage147
Vehicle vacuum cleaner,
attaching105
Vehicle weight186 Ventilation90,93,96
draft-free93,100
Vinyl upholstery, care144
Voice recognition24
W
Warning flashers25
Warning lamp "Please fasten
safety belts"21
Warning lamps20
Warning messages77
Warning triangle25
Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet140
Washer fluids134,187
Washer nozzles,
adjusting134
Washer reservoir, filling134
Washer system70
Washing your vehicle141
Water on roadways113
Waxing, paintwork143
Wear indicator in the
tires122
Weights186
Wheel lug wrench159
Wheel rims125,127
Wheel, changing159
Wheelbase185
Wheels and tires125,127
Width185

Owner service procedures
199n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
A
Adding brake fluid138
Adding engine coolant138
Adding engine oil135
Avoiding unintentional
alarm43 B
Backup lamps, bulb
replacement155
Battery
add distilled water163
charging165
Brake fluid, adding138
Brake lamps, bulb
replacement155
Brakes, brake faults118 C
Changing the
microfilter12,151,166
Changing tires159
Checking air pressure27
Checking engine oil
level135 D
Defrost setting94
Defrosting the
windows94,99 Difficult steering121
Doors, emergency
actuation34
E
Electrical accessories,
failure166
Electrical failure
fuel filler door167
sliding/tilt sunroof167
Emergency closing
sliding/tilt sunroof167
Emergency release
doors34
fuel filler door167
luggage compartment
lid39
Engine coolant, adding138
Engine oil
add135
level135
quality136
specifications136
viscosity136
Eyelets, towing169 F
First-aid kit25
Fittings, towing and tow
starting169
Flat tire159 Footwell lamps, bulb
replacement158
Front fog lamps, bulb
replacement155
Fuel filler door, manual
release after electrical
fault167
Fuses, replacing166
G
Glove compartment lamp,
bulb replacement158 H
Hazard warning flashers25
Hazard warning triangle25
Headlamp cover, care153
High beam headlamps, bulb
replacement153
Hood release130 I
Indicator lamps20
Inflation pressures27,122
Interior lamps, bulb
replacement157
J
Jack159 L
LATCH attachment of the
child seat60
License plate lamp, bulb
replacement157
Low beam headlamps, bulb
replacement153
Luggage compartment
lamps, bulb
replacement158
Luggage compartment lid
emergency release39 M
Maintenance140
Microfilter,
changing12,151,166 O
Oil
level135
quality136
specifications136
viscosity136
Onboard tool kit152