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Information for your safetyThe factory-approved radial tires are
matched to the vehicle and have been
selected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort.
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 tire inflation pressure is
a frequent cause of tire damage.
Tire pressure also has a major effect on
your BMW's handling response. Be
sure to check the tire inflation pressure,
including the space-saver spare tire or
the spare tire, on a regular basis, at
least twice a month and before every
extended journey, refer to page 24.
Otherwise, incorrect tire pressure can
lead to poor handling, to tire damage
and accidents.<
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
0.063 in (1.6 mm). Tread wear indicators
(arrow) are embedded in the base of the
tire's tread. Their locations are indicated
by the legend TWI Ð Tread Wear Indicator
Ð at various points on the tire's shoulder.
When the tread reaches a depth of
0.063 in (1.6 mm), these indicators
appear to signal that the tires have worn
to the minimum legal level. 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.
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 leads to over-
heating and causes damage inside the
tires. The ultimate result can assume
the form of a sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate a
flat tire or some other vehicle malfunc-
tion. The type of problem can be
caused by contact with curbs, etc. 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, its
wheels and tires inspected.
Tire inflation pressures
Tire condition
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Tire replacementunder the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance
on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.< Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Tread wear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
Do not use retreaded tires, since
driving safety may be impaired.
This is due to the possible variations in
casing structures and, in some cases,
to their extreme age, which can lead to
a decrease in their durability.<
Tire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT ... 4101 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in week 41 of the year
2001.
Although tires may have a theoretical
service life of up to 10 years, BMW
strongly recommends that you replace
all tires after an absolute maximum of
6 years.
Safety tires
*
Safety tires consists of self-contained
tires and special rims. The tire rein-
forcement ensures that the tire retains
some residual safety in the event of
pressure drop and driving remains
possible to a restricted degree. The
vehicle is equipped with Tire Pressure
Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor,
which indicate a flat tire.
For additional information on Tire Pres-
sure Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor
refer to pages 78 or 80.
Safety tires are only possible in
conjunction with Tire Pressure
Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor.<
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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.StorageStore tires in a cool, dry place,
protecting them against light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against
contact with oil, grease and fuel.
Snow chains
*
BMW narrow-link snow chains are
intended for mounting on summer or
winter tires in pairs at the rear wheels
only.
BMW 325xi, 330xi: in an extreme emer-
gency Ð for instance, with the vehicle
stuck on one side, or when obstruc-
tions 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
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Changing a wheel8. Remove accumulations of mud or
dirt from the mounting surfaces of
the wheel and hub. Clean the lug
bolts
9. 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
and screw in all the bolts in a diag-
onal pattern
11. Lower the jack and remove it from
beneath the vehicle
12. Tighten the lug bolts securely in a
diagonal pattern
13. Wheels with full wheel covers
*:
Place the wheel cover with the
valve opening (arrow) over the
valve. Use both hands to press the
cover securely onto the rim
14. Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure at the earliest opportunity.
Vehicles with Tire Pressure Monitor
(RDC)/Flat Tire Monitor:
After mounting the spare tire or
correcting the tire inflation pres-
sure, reactivate the system, refer to
pages 78, 81.
Protect valve stems and valves from dirt
using screw-on valve stem caps. Dirty
valve stems frequently lead to slow
pressure loss.
Only use original BMW full wheel
covers, otherwise, the trim piece
may not fit securely. The full wheel
cover may not be installed on the
space-saver spare tire, since this could
damage the cover.<
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.
To ensure continued safety, have the
tightness of the torque bolts checked
with a calibrated lug wrench [torque
specification: 72 lb ft (100 Nm)] at the
earliest opportunity.<
When storing a wheel in the spare tire
recess take care to avoid bending the
threaded rod.
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 soon as
possible and have the new wheel/tire
balanced.
132n
Changing a wheelDriving with the space-saver
spare tireDrive cautiously. Do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
You can anticipate changes in vehicle
handling such as delayed braking
response, longer braking distances and
sacrifices in roadholding.
The changes in handling characteristics
will be even more pronounced if winter
tires are mounted.
Only one space-saver spare tire
may be mounted at one time.
Reinstall wheels and tires of the same
size and specification as soon as
possible. Maintain correct tire pres-
sures, refer to page 25.<
Safety tires
*
Safety tires consist of self-supporting
tires and special rims. The tire rein-
forcement ensures that the tire retains
some residual safety in the event of
pressure drop and driving remains
possible to a restricted degree. The
vehicle is equipped with Tire Pressure
Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor,
which indicate a flat tire.Flat tireIf there is a tire failure, the red warning
lamp symbol lights up. A supplemen-
tary gong is also heard.
For additional information on Tire Pres-
sure Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor
refer to pages 78 or 80.
Reduce vehicle speed carefully to
under 50 mph (80 km/h), avoiding hard
brake applications and steering maneu-
vers.
With the safety tires, you can drive
another approx. 155 miles (250 km) to
reach a safe parking location, a service
station or the nearest BMW center.
With a low vehicle load, this can also be
considerably more than 155 miles
(250 km).Safety tires are only possible in
conjunction with Tire Pressure
Monitor (RDC) or Flat Tire Monitor.<
If the defective wheel can not be seen
as such immediately from the outside,
check the tire inflation pressure at all
four wheels.
Have the tires changed by your
BMW center. For safety reasons,
do not have a safety tire repaired. Your
BMW center has the information
needed for working with safety tires
and is equipped with the necessary
special tools.<
If appropriate, please consult your
BMW center to reequip your
vehicle from summer to winter tires Ð or
vice versa.<
Everything from A to Z
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I
Ice warning69
Icy roads69
Ignition key28
Ignition lock56
Imprint4
Indicator lamps17
Inflation pressures,
tires24, 107
Inside rearview mirror
automatic dimming
feature49
INSPECTION67
Instrument cluster15
Instrument lighting83
Instruments15
Interface socket for onboard
diagnostics (OBD)121
Interior lamps30, 84
remote control30
Interior motion sensor37
avoiding unintentional
alarms37
deactivate by remote
control30
Interior rearview mirror48
Interlock56
J
Jack129
Jump-starting134 K
Key Memory55
Keys28
with remote control28 L
Lamps and bulbs,
replacement124
Lashing eyes99
LATCH child-restraint
mounting system52
Length141
License plate lamp
bulb replacement128
LIGHTS ON warning82
Litter bag holder93
Load-securing devices99
Lock buttons32
Louvers85
Low beams82
bulb replacement125
Lug wrench129 Luggage compartment35
bulb replacement127
capacity142
floor mat35
floor panel35
Luggage compartment
lid33
bulb replacement127
disconnect from central
locking system33
electrical malfunction33
manual operation33
operate via remote
control30
secure separately33
Luggage compartment
lighting33
Luggage compartment's
interior, emergency
release35
Luggage rack100
Lumbar support43
M
M+S tires111
Maintenance67, 119
Malfunction displays68
Manual operation
doors31
fuel filler door22
luggage compartment
lid33
sliding/tilt sunroof40
Manual seat adjustment42
Manual transmission58
Manually controlled recircu-
lated-air90
MFL (Multifunction steering
wheel)21
Microfilter87, 91
Microphone94
Mirror defrosting48
Mirror memory46
Mirrors48
Modifications,
technical10, 120
Motion sensor, refer to
interior motion sensor
Multifunction steering wheel
(MFL)21
Everything from A to Z
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Sliding/tilt sunroof39
electrical malfunction40
manual operation40
Socket95
Sound system91
Space-saver spare
tire25, 132
Spare tire129
Speedometer15
Sports seat
electrical adjustment43
manual adjustment42
Standing lamps83
Starting the engine56
Steering wheel47
Steering wheel lock56
Stopping the vehicle57
Storage compartments92
Storing heavy loads99
Stroke140
Sun blind cover91
Switching off the engine57
Symbols used in this
manual8
Synthetic oils116
T
Tachometer66
Tail lamps
bulb replacement127
Tank capacity143
Technical data140
Technical
modifications10, 120
Telephone preparation94
Temperature display
outside temperature69
Temperature gauge
engine coolant67
Temperature
layering87, 90
Temperature settings
air conditioning86
automatic climate
control89
Thigh support
adjustment42
Third brake light128
Through-loading system96
Tilt alarm sensor30
avoiding unintentional
alarms37
deactivate by remote
control30 Tilt function, passenger-side
mirror47
Tire change129
Tire condition107
Tire inflation
pressures24, 107
monitoring78
table25
Tire Pressure Monitor
(RDC)78, 109, 132
warning lamp17
Tire Quality Grading109
Tire replacement108
Tire tread107
Tool kit124
Torque140
Tow fittings135
Towing the vehicle135
Track141
Transmission58
Transmitter keys28
Transporting children
safely52
Tread depth, tires107
Tread wear, tires107
Trip odometer66
Trunk lid, refer to luggage
compartment lid33 Trunk, refer to luggage
compartment35
Turn signal
indicators20, 61
bulb replacement126
Turning radius141
U
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading109 V
Vehicle Memory55
Vehicle weight142
Vehicle, starting56
Ventilation85, 88
draft-free87, 90 W
Warning lamp "Fasten safety
belts"18
Warning lamps17
Warning messages68
Warning triangle22
Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet (Canadian
models)119
To ensure that you always have conve-
nient access to all essential information
when you stop for fuel, we recommend
that you take the time to fill out the
adjoining chart by entering the data that
apply to your vehicle.
Consult the index for individual specifi-
cations.
Fuel Please enter your preferred fuel here. Engine oil The oil volume between the
two marks on the dipstick
corresponds to 1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Designation
QualityTire inflation pressures
Summer tires Winter tires
Front Rear Front Rear
Up to 4 persons
5 persons or 4 plus luggage
Refueling