111n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Winter tiresChoosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for operation under
inclement winter driving conditions.
While all-season tires (M+S designa-
tion) provide better winter traction than
summer tires with the load ratings H, V,
W, Y and ZR, they generally do not
achieve the performance of winter tires.
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.Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by trained
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<
Tire condition, tire pressureOnce the tire wears to below 0.16 in
(4 mm), winter tires display a percep-
tible decrease in their ability to cope
with winter driving conditions, and
should be replaced in the interest of
safety.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures Ñ and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced
every time you change the tires.
StorageAlways 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
*
Use BMW narrow-link snow chains on
summer or winter tires in pairs only and
only on the rear wheels.
BMW 325xi: in an extreme emergency Ð
for instance, with the vehicle stuck on
one side, or when obstructions make it
impossible to reach one tire Ð a chain
may also be mounted on just one tire
for the limited period needed to resolve
the problem.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety
precautions when mounting the chains.
You cannot mount snow chains on the
following tires:
225/50 R 16 92
225/45 R 17 91
245/40 ZR 17
115n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Engine oilChecking oil level1. Park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Switch the engine off after it has
reached normal operating tempera-
ture
3. After approx. 5 minutes, pull the
dipstick out and wipe it off with a
clean lint-free cloth, paper towel, or
similar material
4. Carefully push the dipstick all the
way into the guide tube and pull it
out again
5. The oil level should be between the
two marks on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption
is directly influenced by your driving
style and vehicle operating conditions.
The oil volume between the two marks
on the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Do not fill beyond
the upper mark on the dipstick. Excess
oil will damage the engine.
Adding engine oilWait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower mark before adding oil.
However, you should never let the oil
drop below the lower mark.
BMW engines are designed to
operate without oil additives; the
use of additives could lead to damage
in some cases. This is also true for the
manual transmission, the automatic
transmission, the differential, and the
power steering system.<
Recommendation: have the oil changed
by your BMW center.
116n
Engine oil
Continuous exposure to used oil
has caused cancer in laboratory
testing. For this reason, any skin areas
that come into contact with oil should
be thoroughly washed with soap and
water.
Always store oil, grease, etc., out of
reach of children. Comply with all
warning labels and information on
containers.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the
disposal of used oil.<
Specified engine oilsThe quality of the engine oil is
extremely important for the function
and service life of an engine. Based on
extensive testing, BMW has approved
only certain grades of engine oil.
Use only approved "BMW High
Performance Synthetic Oil".
If you are unable to obtain an approved
"BMW High Performance Synthetic
Oil", you may use small volumes of
other synthetic oils for topping up
between oil changes. Use only oils with
the specification API SH or higher.
Ask your BMW center for details
concerning the specific "BMW
High Performance Synthetic Oil" or
synthetic oils that have been
approved.<
You can also call BMW of North
America at 1-800-831-1117 or visit this
website: www.bmwusa.com to obtain
this information.
Viscosity ratings Viscosity is the oilflow rating as estab-
lished in SAE classes.
The selection of the correct SAE class
depends on the climatic conditions in
the area you drive your BMW.
Approved oils are in SAE classes
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
These kinds of oil may be used for
driving in all ambient temperatures.
119n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
The BMW Maintenance System has
been designed as a reliable means of
providing maximum driving and oper-
ating safety Ð and as cost-effectively as
possible for you.
Please keep in mind that regular main-
tenance is not only necessary for the
safety of your vehicle, but also plays a
significant role in maintaining the resale
value of the vehicle.
Service Interval DisplayWhile conventional systems rely on
distance traveled alone to determine
when service is due, the BMW Mainte-
nance System has for years considered
the actual conditions under which the
vehicle operates, because miles can be
traveled in many different ways:
From a maintenance point of view,
62,000 miles (100,000 km) of short-
distance urban driving cannot be
compared with 62,000 miles
(100,000km) of long-distance highway
travel.
The BMW Maintenance System
includes the Engine Oil Service and
Inspections I and II.
Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual use of the
vehicle covers every kind of operating
situation. However, drivers who cover
only extremely short distances Ð
substantially less than 6,200 miles
(10,000 km) annually Ð should still have
the engine oil changed at least every
2 years, as it continues to age regard-
less of whether the vehicle is used on a
regular basis.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet (US models)/Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet (Cana-
dian models)For additional information on required
maintenance intervals and procedures,
please refer to the Service and
Warranty Information Booklet (US
models), or the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet (Canadian models).
As a precaution against corrosion, it is
advisable to have the body checked for
damage from rocks or gravel at the
same time, depending upon operating
conditions.
We recommend that you refer all
maintenance and repair opera-
tions to your BMW center.
Be sure that all maintenance work is
confirmed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US models), or in
the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet (Canadian models). These
entries confirm that your vehicle has
benefitted from regular maintenance,
and are also required for warranty
claims.<
The BMW Maintenance System
143n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Capacities
Notes
Fuel tank
Reserve gal. (liters)
gal. (liters)approx. 16.6 (approx. 63)
approx. 2.1 (approx. 8)Fuel specification, refer to
page 23
Windshield /
Headlamp washer reservoir (front) quarts (liters) approx. 5.6 (approx. 5.3)Specifications, refer to page 114
Cooling system including heating circuit quarts (liters) approx. 8.9 (approx. 8.4) Specifications, refer to page 117
Engine oil and filter change
quarts (liters)
quarts (liters)325i:
approx. 6.9 (approx. 6.5)
325xi:
approx. 7.9 (approx. 7.5)BMW High Performance
synthetic oil
Oil specifications, refer to
page 115
Manual and automatic transmission, transfer box
and differentialÐ Lifetime lubricant, no oil change
required
Everything from A to Z
149n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
I
Ice warning68
Icy roads68
Ignition keys28
Ignition lock55
Imprint4
Indicator lamps17
Inflation pressures24, 107
INSPECTION66
Instrument cluster15
Instrument lighting83
Instrument panel15
Interface socket
for onboard diagnostics
(OBD)121
Interior lamps30, 84
remote control30
Interior motion sensor35
operation via remote
control30
switching off36
Interior rearview mirror47
automatic dimming
feature48
Interlock55
J
Jack129
Jump-starting134 K
Key Memory54
Key set28
Keys28 L
Lamps and bulbs,
replacement125
Lashing eyes100
License plate lamps, bulb
replacement128, 129
LIGHTS ON warning82
Litter bag holder93
Loading and driving
notes100
Load-securing devices100
Lock buttons32
Low beams82
bulb replacement125
Lug wrench129
Luggage cover, refer to
cargo area cover
Luggage rack100
M
M+S tires111
Maintenance66, 119
Malfunction displays67
Manual operation
doors31
fuel filler door22
sliding/tilt sunroof39
tailgate33
Manual seat adjustment41
Manual transmission57
Manually controlled recircu-
lated-air90
Master keys28
Memory settings45
MFL (Multifunction steering
wheel)21
Microfilter87, 91
Mirror defrosting47
Mirror memory45
Mirrors47
Mobile phone94
Modifications,
technical10, 120
Motion sensor, refer to
interior motion sensor35
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)21
O
OBD interface socket121
Odometer65
Oil
additives115
capacity143
consumption115
quality116
specifications116
viscosity116
Oil change intervals, see the
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet
Oil dipstick115
Oil filter change143
OILSERVICE66
Onboard computer68
refer also to the "Owner's
Manual Onboard
Computer"
Onboard tool kit124
Opening and closing
from the inside32
via the door lock31
via the remote control29
Outside temperature
display68
Everything from A to Z
151n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Steering wheel lock55
Stopping the vehicle56
Storage compartments92
Stroke140
Switching off the engine56
Symbols8
Synthetic oils116 T
Tail lamps
bulb replacement127
Tailgate33
electrical malfunction33
manual operation33
remote control
operation30
Tank capacity143
Technical data140
Technical
modifications10, 120
Telephone preparation94
Temperature display
outside temperature68
Temperature gauge
engine coolant66 Temperature
layering87, 90
Temperature
settings86, 89
The Automatic Differential
Brake (ADB-X)75
Thigh support41
Third brake light128
Tilt alarm sensor36
operation via remote
control30
switching off36
Tire change129
Tire inflation
pressures24, 107
Tire inflation pressures,
table25
Tire Pressure Monitor
(RDC)78, 109, 132
Tire pressure, indicator78
Tire pressure,
monitoring78
Tire Quality Grading109
Tire replacement108
Tire tread107
wear indicators (TWI)107 Tools124
Torque140
Tow fittings135
Towing the vehicle135
Trailer weights142
Transmission57
Transmitter keys28
Transporting children
safely51
Tread depth, tires107
Tread wear indicators107
Trip odometer65
Turn signal
indicators20, 60
Turn signals
bulb replacement126
U
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading109
Use antifreeze, radiator117
V
Vehicle keys28
Vehicle Memory54
Vehicle weight142
Vehicle, starting55
Ventilation85, 88
draft-free87, 90 W
Warning lamps17
Warning messages67
Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet (Canadian
models)119
Washer fluid, adding114
Washer reservoir, filling114
Washing your vehicle, refer
to the "Caring for your
vehicle" manual
Water on roadways105
Weights142
Wheel and tire
combinations110
Wheels and tires107
Windshield washer system
capacity143
filling114