168nCoolant Brake fluid
Adding coolant
Wait until the engine cools before
removing the cap from the expansion
tank. The needle of the coolant temper-
ature gauge in the instrument cluster
must be located in the blue zone; other-
wise, there is a danger of scalding.
1 Start by turning the cap counter-
clockwise. Pause to allow any
accumulated pressure to escape,
then open.
2 If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant until the correct level is
reached – do not overfill.
The coolant is a mixture of water and
extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor. Always maintain the pre-
scribed all-season 50:50 mixture ratio
for year-round protection against inter-
nal corrosion. No other additives are re-
quired.
Replace the coolant every four years.
If the indicator lamp for the
brake hydraulic system comes
on or if the "CHECK BRAKE
FLUID" warning appears in the
Check Control
*: the brake fluid
level is too low in the reservoir.
The brake fluid reservoir is located
under the microfilter housing on the
driver's side of the car. Should you de-
termine that the brake fluid is low, refer
the problem to your BMW center, who
can trace and rectify any sources of
leakage when refilling the reservoir.
Your BMW center is familiar with the
specifications for approved brake
fluids (DOT 4).
Brake fluid loss results in extended
pedal travel. For this situation, refer to
the notes on page 146.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the safety and
reliability of the brake system, have
the brake fluid changed every two years
by an BMW center. Refer also to the
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet (US models) or to the Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet (Canadian
models).
Brake fluid is toxic and damages the
vehicle's paint. You should always store
it in its original container and in a loca-
tion which is out of reach of children.
Do not spill the fluid and do not fill the
brake fluid reservoir beyond the "MAX"
mark. The brake fluid could ignite upon
contact with hot engine parts and
cause serious burns. <
Comply with the applicable
environmental laws regulating the
disposal of brake fluid. <
Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
173nCaring for your car
Caring for the vehicle finish
Regular washing is a preventive mea-
sure against long-term effects from
substances that are harmful to the vehi-
cle's finish, especially if you drive your
vehicle in areas with high levels of air
pollution or aggressive natural sub-
stances (tree resins, pollen).
Nevertheless, you should immediately
remove especially aggressive sub-
stances. Failure to do so can lead to
changes in the paint's chemical struc-
ture or to discoloration. Gasoline spilled
during refueling, oil, grease and brake
fluid should always be cleaned away
immediately, as should bird droppings
(finish damage).
Any contamination remaining on the
surface of the vehicle will be especially
conspicuous after washing. Use clean-
ing 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 cleaning and car-care
products that you can obtain
at your BMW center. <
Waxing your car
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 sur-
face.
You can use a glass cleaner to remove
any wax or silicone that may have been
left on the windows during waxing.
Use cleaning and car-care
products that you can obtain
at your BMW center. <
Paint damage
You can touch up small areas of dam-
age with BMW spray paint or a BMW
touch-up 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.
Damage caused by flying stones,
scratches, etc., must be touched up
without delay to prevent rust from form-
ing.
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. After a few days, polish
and protect the touched-in areas.
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.
Everything from A to Z
A
ABS (Antilock Brake
System)23, 143
Accessories6
Activated-charcoal
filter119
Active seat55, 210
Adaptive Transmission
Control (ATC)72, 207
Add
antifreeze168
t
brake fluid168
t
engine coolant168
t
engine oil165
t
washer fluids164
t
Adjust washer
nozzles164
t
Adjusting
backrest angle53
backrest, forward/
backward52
seats52
steering wheel56
temperature110, 116
thigh support55
Air conditioner108
Air distribution110, 116
Air outlets108, 114
Air pressure29
t
, 150
t
Air supply110, 117
Air vent108, 114Airbags23, 62, 176, 206
Alarm system47
Antennas149
Antifreeze167
t
radiator146
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)23, 143
Anti-theft alarm system47
Anti-theft protection39
Approved axle weight221
Approved gross vehicle
weight221
Approved roof load
capacity221
Aquaplaning141, 150
Arrival time97
ASC+T/DSC (Automatic
Stability Control plus
Traction/Dynamic Stability
Control)24, 102, 208
Ashtray126
ATC (Adaptive Transmission
Control)72, 207
Attach vacuum cleaner127
AUC (Automatic
recirculated-air
control)117
Automatic car washes171
Automatic climate
control114
remove condensation from
windows117Automatic cruise control81
Automatic curb monitor59
Automatic dimming
interior rearview mirror57
Automatic rear window
cleaning80
Automatic recirculated-air
control (AUC)117
Automatic Stability Control
plus Traction/Dynamic
Stability Control (ASC+T/
DSC)24, 102, 208
Automatic transmission72
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic75
Average fuel
consumption89
Average speed89, 98
Avoid false alarms48
t
Axle loads221
B
Backrest, adjusting52, 55
Backup lamps71
bulb replacement186
t
Battery193
t
, 224
capacity224
charge condition194
t
charging194
discharged200
t
removing and
installing195
t
Belts61
Beverage holder125
Blower110, 117
BMW active seat55, 210
BMW comfort seat54
BMW sports seat55
BMW Universal
Transmitter121
Body-cavity protectant172
Brake faults146
t
Brake hydraulic
system22, 146
Brake lamps, bulb
replacement186
t
Brake system140
brake faults146
brake fluid168
brake lamps, bulb
replacement186
brake pads23
disc brakes144
parking brake23, 70
Brake-in procedure140
Break-resistant security
glass174
care174
t
Bulb replacement183
t
C
California Proposition
65 Warning177
Capacity223
