117n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Tire replacement Tire rotation
Do not use retreaded tires. Driving
safety may be impaired by their
use. The reason for this are possible
variations in tire casing structures and,
in part, because they are already quite
old, which can lead to a deterioration in
their durability.<
Tire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT ... 1101 means that the tire was
produced in the 11th week of the year
2001.
BMW recommends replacing all tires
after 6 years at the latest, 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.
Re-initialize the Tire Pressure Warning
(RDW) after rotating the tires. Refer to
page 81 for further information.Summer tires
Due to different tire sizes on the
front and rear axles (refer to
page 120), the tires may not be rotated
from one axle to the other.<
Winter tiresThe wheels are designed specifically
for use at the front or rear only.
Because the front and rear wheels
feature different rim depths (refer to
page 120), you should never attempt to
switch wheels from the front to rear or
vice versa.
153n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Repairing a flat tire
Precautions in case of a flat tire:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible
from passing traffic; turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position and engage the steering
lock. Engage the parking brake and
shift into 1st or reverse.
All passengers should be outside the
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area (behind a 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.<
M Mobility systemAn M Mobility system for fixing flat tires
is included with your BMW M3 convert-
ible. With the aid of this system, you
can apply a liquid sealant to the inside
of the tire, thereby sealing off the
damaged area, and then continue
driving.
The M Mobility system makes trans-
porting a spare wheel superfluous,
thereby reducing the amount of weight
you have to carry around.
The M Mobility system is located in the
luggage compartment under the floor
panel:
1 Raise the floor panel (refer to
page 41).
2 Loosen the M Mobility system from
its storage location.
Note that the fluid bottle in the
system's sealant container has to
be replaced every three years by your
BMW center, if the system is not
used.<
