2003 BMW M5 SEDAN tire pressure

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Driving notes Antilock Brake System
Brakes:
Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. Even light but con-
sistent pedal pressure can lead to high
temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.
Hydroplaning:
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not,
a wedge of water may form between
the tires and the road surface. This phe-
nomenon is referred to as aquaplaning,
or hydroplaning, and can lead to partial
or complete loss of traction, vehicle
control and braking effectiveness.
Driving through water:
When there is water on the roads, do
not drive in it if it is deeper than 1 ft
(30 cm). If the water is at that depth,
drive only at walking speed, otherwise
the vehicle can sustain damage to the
engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission.
Rear parcel tray:
Do not place heavy or hard objects on
the rear parcel tray. If you do so, they
could pose a danger to vehicle occu-
pants during a braking or evasive
maneuver.
Clothes hooks:
When suspending clothing from the
hooks, ensure that they will not obstruct
the driver's vision. Do not hang any
heavy objects on the hooks, otherwise,
passengers could be injured e.g. during
any hard braking or evasive maneuvers,
or during an accident.<
The conceptThe Antilock Brake System (ABS) keeps
the wheels from locking during braking,
thereby enhancing active driving safety.
With ABS, the shortest possible braking
distances are achieved under most
conditions (on straight-aways and in
curves, on asphalt, ice, wet road sur-
faces, etc.).Braking with ABSIf you are in a situation that requires
full braking, you will exploit the full ben-
efits of the ABS system if you apply
maximum pedal pressure ("panic stop").
Pulsation at the brake pedal combined
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its
active mode.

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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 on your vehicle.
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 main-
tenance of the specified tire inflation
pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressures are
a frequent cause of tire problems
and flat tires. Tire pressure also has a
major effect on your BMW's handling
response. Check tire inflation pressures
on a regular basis (refer to page 22), at
least every two weeks and before every
long trip. If you fail to observe these
precautions, 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.
The tread depth should not drop
below 0.12 in (3 mm), even though, for
example the legally specified minimum
tread depth in Europe is only 0.063 in
(1.6 mm). Below a tread depth of
0.12 in (3 mm) there is an increased risk
of hydroplaning, even at relatively mod-
erate speeds and with only small
amounts of water on the road.
Tread wear indicators, refer to arrow,
are embedded around the tire circum-
ference in the base of the tire tread.
Their locations are indicated on the tire
sidewall with TWI Ð Tread Wear Indi-
cator. At a tread depth of 0.063 in 390de331
(1.6 mm) these indicators, signal that
the tires have reached the legally per-
missible wear limit.
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 pro-
nounced tendency to pull to the left or
right. Should this occur, respond by
immediately reducing your speed. Pro-
ceed 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 damage (up to and including blow-
outs) can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
Tire inflation pressure Tire condition

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Special characteristics of winter tires Snow chains
*
Choosing the right tireBMW recommends winter tires (M+S
radial tires) for driving in adverse winter
road conditions. While "all-season"
tires (M+S designation) provide better
winter traction than summer tires with
the load ratings H, V, W, Y and ZR, they
generally do not achieve the perfor-
mance of winter tires.

In the interests of safe tracking and
steering response, install radial tires
made by the same manufacturer and
with the same tread configuration on all
four wheels if you elect to mount winter
tires.
Never exceed the maximum speed
approved for your speciÞc winter
tires.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. Any BMW center
has the required technical knowledge
and the proper equipment and will be
happy to assist you.<
Tire condition, tire inflation
pressureWhen the tread wears to a depth of less
than 0.16 in (4 mm) there is a substan-
tial reduction in the tire's ability to pro-
vide adequate traction under winter
driving conditions. To ensure continued
safety, tires with this amount of tread
wear should always be replaced.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures Ð and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced
every time you change the wheels/tires.The use of BMW narrow-link snow
chains on winter tires is approved only
in pairs and only on the rear wheels.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety
precautions when mounting the chains.
Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph
(50 km/h) while driving with mounted
snow chains.
It is not possible to mount snow
chains with 18-inch wheels and
tires.<

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Repairing a flat tire
Precautions in case of a flat tire:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible
from passing traffic. 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 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 necessary, set up your warning tri-
angle or portable hazard warning lamp
on the roadside at an appropriate dis-
tance from the rear of the vehicle.
Comply with all safety guidelines and
regulations.<
M Mobility systemFor repairing a flat tire, you will find an
M Mobility system in the BMW M5. 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 the trans-
port of a spare wheel superfluous and
minimizes the curb weight.
The M Mobility system is located in the
luggage compartment under the floor
mat:
1. Lift up the floor mat and then raise
the front cover panel
2. Loosen the M Mobility system from
its storage location.
Please note that the system's
sealant container must be
replaced every three years by your
BMW center if the device is not used.<39mde132
This is part of the M Mobility
system1 On/Off switch
2 Connection hose with pressure
gauge for connecting the compressor
with the sealant container or to con-
nect the compressor to the wheel
3 Pressure gauge for indicating the tire
pressure
4 Connector hose from the sealant
container to the wheel
5 Warning sticker for maximum speed
6 Plug and cable for the cigarette
lighter socket
7 Protective gloves (not illustrated)39mde106

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Repairing a flat tireUse the M Mobility system
If possible, leave the foreign
object in the tire.<
Do not exceed the maximum
speeds indicated below, as an
accident could result.
Before you use the M Mobility system,
read the warnings and danger notices
on the device carefully.<
1. Remove the warning sticker 5 for
maximum speed that is located on
top of the device and affix it to the
steering wheel
2. Take off the round cover and extract
hose 4. Unscrew the valve stem cap
from the defective tire, then screw
the hose onto the valve stem. Avoid
losing the valve stem cap39mde142
3. Flip open the cover and pull out the
enclosed protective gloves. Take out
hose 2 with the pressure gauge and
screw it to the connection on the
sealant container, as shown in the
illustration
4. Make sure that the system has been
switched off (position 0). Take out
plug 6 and plug it into the cigarette
lighter socket in the passenger com-
partment (refer to page 98)39mde143

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Repairing a flat tire5. Make sure that the screw on the rear
of the pressure gauge 3 is tightened
down. Turn on the M Mobility system
(position I, refer to illustration) and
allow 3 minutes to elapse, to let the
sealant flow in. At this point, it is
insignificant what the tire pressure is
6. Turn the device off.
Disconnect the connector hose from
the sealant container and the wheel
valve. Stow the M Mobility system in
the luggage compartment39mde144
7. Right afterward, drive at least
1.2 miles (2 km), so that the liquid
sealant distributes evenly throughout
the inside of the tire. If possible drive
at no less than 15 mph (20 km/h), but
not more than 40 mph (60 km/h).
Stop in a suitable spot
8. Take out the hose with the pressure
gauge and screw it onto the valve.
Take out the plug and plug it into
the cigarette lighter socket in the
passenger compartment
9. Reset the tire pressure to 29 psi
(200 kilopascal), and:
>Increase the tire pressure: turn on
the M Mobility system (position I).
To check the new tire pressure
briefly turn off the device
>Reducing tire pressure: turn the
screw on the back of the pressure
gauge, a valve located there will
open
39mde145

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Repairing a flat tire Battery
If the inflation pressure does not
hold, complete step 10 and then
repeat steps 7 through 10.
The use of the M Mobility system may
be ineffective if the damaged area in
the tire is larger than approx. 0.15 in
(4 mm). If it should prove impossible to
restore the tire to operational status
using the M Mobility system, please
contact the nearest BMW center or
BMW Roadside Assistance at
1-800-332-4269.<
10. Unscrew the hose from the valve
and stow the M Mobility system in
the luggage compartment. Screw
the cap back onto the valve stem.
When you start driving again, do not
exceed the permissible maximum
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
You will find corresponding instructions
for using the M Mobility system on the
device.
Replace the defective tire as soon as
possible and have the wheel and tire
balanced. Reactivate the Flat Tire Mon-
itor, for additional information refer to
page 82. Have the M Mobility system
recharged. Contact your BMW center
for this.
Protect valve stems and valves from dirt
using screw-on valve stem caps. Dirty
valve stems frequently lead to slow
pressure loss.Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds. Wash hands after
handling.<
Battery careThe battery is completely maintenance-
free. That means that the original elec-
trolyte will normally last for the service
life of the battery under moderate cli-
matic conditions.
Please consult the staff at your
BMW center whenever you have
any questions concerning the battery.
The battery is completely maintenance-
free; the following section is provided
for your information only.<
Never disconnect the battery
when the engine is running; the
ensuing voltage surge would seriously
damage the vehicle's onboard elec-
tronic systems.<

Everything from A to ZA
ABS (Antilock Brake
System)17, 107
Activated-charcoal filter91
Active seat43
Adding
brake fluid118t
engine coolant118t
engine oil116t
washer fluid115t
Adjusting
backrest41
head restraints43
mirrors48
seats40
steering wheel47
temperature89
Air conditioning90
Air distribution89
Air pressure, tires22, 109
Air supply89
Airbags17, 49
Alarm system35
Anchorage points
child-restraint system with
tether strap52
Antifreeze118
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)17, 107
Aquaplaning107, 109 Ashtray
front97
rear98
Attach vacuum cleaner98
AUC (Automatic recircu-
lated-air control)90
Automatic climate
control87
removing condensation
from the windows89
Automatic cruise control61
Automatic curb monitor46
Automatic dimming
exterior mirror48
interior rearview mirror48
Automatic recirculated-air
control (AUC)90
Automatic steering wheel
adjustment47
Automatic windshield
washer60
Average fuel
consumption75
Average speed76
Avoiding unintentional
alarms36
Axle loads142
B
Backrest, adjusting41
Backup lamps59
bulb replacement126t
Battery131
care131
charging131
discharged133t
Belts44
Beverage holder97
Blower89
BMW active seat43
BMW comfort seat42
BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil117
BMW M sport seat41
BMW Maintenance
System119
BMW Universal
Transmitter93
Bottle holder, refer to
Beverage holder97
Brake fluid118
disposal118
Brake hydraulic system,
brake pads16
Brake system108
brake fluid level108
brake linings108
malfunctions108t
Break-in procedures106 Bulbs and lamps124
C
California Proposition
65 Warning120
Capacities143
Car telephone97
Cargo loading102
Cellular phone97
refer also to the separate
Owner's Manual97
Center (high mount) brake
lamp127
Central locking system26
key31
Charging the battery132t
CHECK button66
Check Control66
Check engine oil
level115t
Check tire inflation
pressure22t, 109
Child seats51
Child-restraint
installation53
Child-restraint system with
tether strap52
Cigarette lighter98
Clock70
refer also to the "Owner's
Manual for Onboard
Computer"