2002 BMW 325xi TOURING spare tire

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Tire inflation pressures The specified inflation pressures are
provided on a sticker attached to the
B-pillar and visible with the driver's
door open.Checking tire pressuresAll pressures are specified in the stan-
dard units of pressure for your country,
psi or kilopascal, and apply to cold tires
(tires at ambient temperature, refer to
tire pressure table on the following
page).
Vehicles with Tire Pressure Monitor
(RDC)/Flat Tire Monitor:
After correcting the inflation pressures,
reactivate the system, refer to
pages 78, 80.
Another instruction plate regarding
inflation pressures on the door pillar
indicates which system is equipped on
your vehicle.
Check the tire pressures on a
regular basis Ð at least twice a
month Ð and before every extended
journey. Otherwise, incorrect tire pres-
sure can lead to driving instability, tire
damage and accidents.
Remember to check the inflation pres-
sure in the space-saver or standard
spare tire.

Inflate the spare tire to the highest infla-
tion pressure of any tire on your
vehicle.<
Comply with tire approval
specificationsThe inflation pressures in the table
apply to BMW approved tire sizes and
tire manufacturers. Your BMW center is
familiar with these pressures. Higher
pressures may be specified for tires
made by other manufacturers.
Your vehicle is equipped with tires that
not only meet US standards, but also
European standards. We recommend
the exclusive use of BMW approved
tires.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Tire inflation pressuresBMW Tires
All pressure specifications in the table are
indicated in psi (kilopascal) with cold tires
(cold = ambient temperature)
325i
325xi205/55 R 16 91 H M+S
205/55 R 16 91 H
225/50 R 16 92 W (not 325xi)
225/45 R 17 91 W32 (220) 38 (260) 38 (260) 45 (310)
225/45 ZR 17
245/40 ZR 1732 (220)
ÐÐ
38 (260)38 (260)
ÐÐ
45 (310)
205/50 R 17 93 V M+S extra load
205/50 R 17 93 W extra load
205/55 R 16 91 Q M+S
225/50 R 16 92 Q M+S (not 325xi)
205/50 R 17 93 Q M+S extra load
225/45 R 17 91 Q M+S35 (240) 41 (280) 41 (280) 48 (330)
Space-saver spare tire in cargo area 61 (420)

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)
*
In the event of a flat tireIf there is a tire failure with loss of pres-
sure, the indicator lamp comes on with
a red lamp. In addition, an acoustic
signal is sounded.
If this occurs, reduce vehicle speed
immediately and stop the vehicle in a
safe location. Avoid hard brake applica-
tions. Do not oversteer. Replace the
wheel and flat tire.
The space-saver spare tire is
provided for temporary use only in
the case of a tire failure. It does not
have RDC electronics and is not moni-
tored. The spare tire
that has the same
dimensions as the tires already
mounted on the vehicle is equipped
with the necessary RDC electronics
and will be also monitored once the
tires have been mounted and the
system activated.<
RDC cannot alert you to severe
and sudden tire damage caused
by external factors.<
Have the tires changed by your
BMW center.
Your BMW center has the information
needed for working with RDC and is
equipped with the necessary special
tools.<
System interferenceLocal devices using the same radio
frequency can interfere with RDC.
The yellow indicator lamp will come on
during the malfunction.
The indicator lamp also comes on
>in the event of a system fault
>if a wheel is mounted without the
appropriate electronics
>if, in addition to the spare tire, addi-
tional wheels with RDC electronics
are on board.
Please contact your BMW center for
additional information.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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 inflation
pressure.
Incorrect tire inflation pressure is
a frequent cause of tire damage. It
also significantly influences the road-
holding ability of your BMW. 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. If
this is not done, incorrect tire pressures
can cause driving instability and tire
damage, ultimately resulting in an
accident.<
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 pressure

Tire condition

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Lamps and bulbs Changing a wheelTailgate lamp5 watt bulb
1. Pull out the bulb holder (arrow)
2. Replace the bulb.
Safety measures in the event of a
flat tire or wheel change:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat,
surface. Switch on the hazard warning
flashers. Turn the steering wheel to the
straight-ahead position and engage the
steering lock. Shift into 1st or reverse
(selector lever in Park with automatic
transmission) and engage the parking
brake.
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 local safety guidelines and
regulations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm
surface which is not slippery. Avoid
jacking the vehicle on a soft or slippery
support surface (snow, ice, loose
gravel, etc.), as either the vehicle or the
jack could slip sideways.
Position the jack on a firm support
surface.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar
objects under the jack. They could
prevent the jack from extending to its
full height and reduce its support
capacity.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the
engine when the vehicle is supported
by the jack Ð risk of fatal injury.<
Your BMW is equipped with a spare tire
or a space-saver spare tire designed for
temporary use in maintaining the
vehicle's mobility in an emergency.
To remove the spare tire, lift the
floor panel in the cargo area
completely out, refer to page 99.<

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Changing a wheelWhat you will needIn order to avoid rattling noises later,
note the position of the tools when you
remove them and return them to their
original position when you are done
using them.
>Jack 1
Fold up the floor panel, lift away the
spare tire cover, and screw off the
red wingnut (arrow).
When you have completed work,
screw the jack all the way back
down. Fold the handle back and
insert it in its holder
>Chock 2
Behind the vehicle jack. Loosen the
wingnut to remove it
>Lug wrench 3
>Spare tire
or space-saver spare tire
Located next to the jack.
Loosen the wingnut (arrow) by hand,
remove the storage shelf and take the
wheel out.
Procedure1. Read and comply with the safety
precautions provided on the previous
page
2. Secure the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling:
Place the chock against the rear
surface of the front tire on the side
opposite the side being raised. If the
vehicle is parked on a downward
slope, place the chock securely in
front of the tire. If the wheel must be
changed on a surface with a more
severe slope, take additional precau-
tions to secure the vehicle from
rolling
3. Wheels with full wheel covers
*:
Reach into the ventilation openings
and pull the cover off

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Changing a wheel4. Loosen the lug bolts by rotating half
a turn
5. Position the jack at the jacking point
(arrows) closest to the flat tire so that
the jack base is vertically below the
jacking point and the entire surface
of the head of the jack will move into
the square recess of the jacking
point (refer to the detail in the next
illustration) when the jack is cranked
6. Jack the vehicle up until the wheel
you are changing is raised from the
ground
7. Unscrew the lug bolts and remove
the wheel
8. 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.
Screw in all the bolts in a diagonal
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):
After mounting the spare tire or
correcting the inflation pressure,
reactivate the system, refer to
page 78 or 80.
Protect valve stems and valves from dirt
using screw-on valve stem caps. Dirty
valve stems frequently lead to slow
pressure loss.

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Changing a wheel
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 lug bolts checked with
a calibrated torque 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 the original BMW light-alloy wheels
have been replaced with other light-
alloy wheels, different lug bolts may be
required.
Replace the defective tire as soon as
possible and have the new wheel/tire
balanced.
Driving 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 a time. Rein-
stall wheels and tires of the same size
and specification as soon as possible.
Maintain correct tire pressures, refer to
page 24.<
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 page 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).