
74n
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.<
The 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 the 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. 

101n
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 pres-
sure, 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 acci-
dents.<
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 can lead to 
overheating and increases the rate at 
which damage develops 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 

123n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Changing a wheel
Safety precautions in the event of 
a flat tire or wheel change:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from 
passing traffic. Park on a firm support 
surface. Switch on the hazard warning 
flashers. Turn the steering wheel to the 
straight-ahead position, remove the key 
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 example).
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 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 luggage 
compartment completely out, refer to 
page 35.<
What 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
Lift the floor panel within the luggage 
compartment, refer to page 35 and 
undo 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
Located behind the jack on the wall 
in the luggage compartment. Loosen 
the wing nut to remove it 

124n
Changing a wheel>Spare tire
 or space-saver spare tire
Located next to the jack.
Loosen the wing nut (arrow) by hand, 
remove the storage shelf and take the 
wheel out
>Lug wrench Ð in the onboard tool kit 
on the underside of the luggage 
compartment lid, refer to page 118.
Procedure1. Read and comply with the safety 
precautions provided on the previous 
page
2. Secure the vehicle from rolling:
Place the wedge 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 wedge 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 off4. Loosen the lug bolts by rotating half 
a turn
5. Position the jack at the jacking point 
closest to the flat tire (arrows) with 
the jack base 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 

125n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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. 
Screw in all the bolts in 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)/Flat Tire Monitor:
After mounting the spare tire or 
correcting the tire inflation pres-
sure, reactivate the system, refer to 
pages 73, 75.
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 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. 

126n
Changing a wheelAlways use BMW-approved balance 
weights on black-finished aluminum-
alloy wheels. Never allow anyone to 
attempt to balance these wheels using 
conventional rim-clip balance weights.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 25.<
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.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 73 bzw. 75.
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
143n
OverviewControlsMaintenancRepairsDataIndex
Selector lever, automatic 
transmission57 
Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet (US 
models)113 
Service Interval 
Display65, 113 
Setting temperature81 
Shiftlock57 
Side airbags48 
Side Impact Head Protection 
System48 
Ski bag92 
Sliding/tilt sunroof38 
electrical malfunction39 
manual operation39 
Snow chains105 
Socket89 
Sound system86 
Space-saver spare 
tire25, 123 
Spare key28 
Spare tire123 
Speedometer15 
Sport steering wheel21 
Sports seat 
manual adjustment41 
power adjustment42 Standing lamps78 
Starting the engine54 
Steering wheel46 
Steering wheel lock54 
Stopping the vehicle55 
Storage compartments87 
Stowing cargo93 
Stroke132 
Sun blind cover86 
Switching off the engine55 
Switching off the interior 
motion sensor37 
Switching off the tilt alarm 
sensor37 
Symbols8 
Synthetic oils110 
T 
Tachometer64 
Tail lamps 
bulb replacement121 
Tank capacity135 
Technical data132 
Technical 
modifications10, 114 
Telephone preparation89 
Temperature display 
outside temperature67 Temperature gauge 
engine coolant65 
Temperature 
layering82, 85 
Thigh support 
adjustment41 
Third brake light122 
Through-loading system91 
Tilt alarm sensor30, 37 
remote control30 
switching off37 
Tire change123 
Tire condition101 
Tire damage101 
Tire inflation 
pressures24, 101 
monitoring73 
table25 
Tire Pressure Monitor 
(RDC)73, 103, 126 
Tire pressure warning73 
Tire Quality Grading103 
Tire replacement102 
Tire tread101 
Tires and wheels101 
Tool kit118 
Torque132 
Towing fittings129 Towing the vehicle129 
Track133 
Transmission56 
Transmitter keys28 
Transporting children 
safely51 
Tread depth, tires101 
Tread Wear Indicator101 
Trip odometer64 
Trunk lid, refer to luggage 
compartment lid33 
Trunk, refer to luggage 
compartment35 
Turn signal 
indicator20, 59, 120 
bulb replacement120 
Turning radius133 
U 
Uniform Tire Quality 
Grading103