2004 BMW 325XI SEDAN steering wheel

125
Do not drive on a flat tire unless
your vehicle is equipped with Run
Flat tires. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle. Avoid overloading the vehi-
cle so that the permitted load on the
tires is not exceeded. Overloading can
lead to overheating and internal tire
damage.
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. This type of problem can be
caused by contact with curbs, etc. This
is also true for abnormalities in the vehi-
cle's handling characteristics, such as a
pronounced tendency to pull to the left
or right. Should this occur, respond by
immediately reducing your speed. Pro-
ceed carefully to the nearest BMW cen-
ter or professional tire center, or have
the vehicle towed in to have it, its
wheels or its tires inspected.
Tire damage up to and including sud-
den and complete air loss can endan-
ger the lives of both the vehicle occu-
pants and other road users.<
Tire replacementTo maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures — and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assembly balanced
every time you change a tire or wheel.DOT quality gradesTread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades. rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half – 1
1/2 – times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.TractionThe traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics. highest – B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Tire condition
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

127
Wheel and tire combinationsThe right choice
BMW recommends using only
wheels and tires that have been
approved by BMW for use on your par-
ticular model. Although other wheels
and tires may theoretically have the
same dimensions, variations in factors
such as manufacturing tolerances can
result in contact between tire and body-
work, ultimately leading to serious acci-
dents. BMW cannot evaluate all tires
and wheels on the market, and is thus
unable to guarantee that the vehicle will
continue to perform safely if unap-
proved tires and/or wheels are
mounted.<
For each tire size, BMW has assessed
the safe performance of specific tire
brands and approved them for use.
Consult any BMW center for details.
Comply with any local/national regula-
tions, for example by recording the tire
type in the vehicle documents.
The correct wheel and tire combi-
nation affects various systems
that would otherwise be impaired, for
example ABS, DSC and ADB-X/DBC.
For this reason, use only tires of the
same manufacture and tread configura-
tion. In the event of a flat tire, for exam-
ple, remount the approved wheel and
tire combination as soon as possible.<
StorageAlways store tires in a cool, dry place.
Store them away from light whenever
possible. Protect the tires against con-
tact with oil, grease and fuel.
Do not exceed the maximum tire infla-
tion pressures specified on the tire
sidewall.
Winter tiresChoosing the right tireBMW recommends the use of winter
tires for operation under winter road
conditions. While all-season tires – with
M+S designation – provide better winter
traction than the corresponding sum-
mer tires, 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 and
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. your BMW is eqipped with Run Flat
tires. These are indicated by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

147
License plate lamps5 watt bulb
1. Place a screwdriver in the slot and
press toward the left to release the
lens
2. Replace the bulb.
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, flat, sur-
face. 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,
or if you have an automatic transmis-
sion position the selector lever in Park,
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 safety guidelines and regula-
tions.
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 sur-
face.
Do not place wooden blocks or similar
objects under the jack. They could pre-
vent 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. There is otherwise a 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 vehi-
cle's mobility in an emergency.
To remove the spare tire, lift the
floor panel in the luggage com-
partment completely out, refer to
page 40.<
Lamps and bulbs
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

150
Do not attempt to install the full
wheel cover 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 other type of load.
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: 88.5 lb ft/120 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.
Driving with the space-saver
spare tireDrive cautiously. Do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h.
Be aware that vehicle handling may be
altered. Anticipate, e.g., reduced track-
ing during braking, longer braking dis-
tances, and changed steering charac-
teristics when approaching limit
conditions. These handling characteris-
tics will be even more pronounced if
winter tires are mounted.
Only one space-saver spare tire
may be mounted at one time.
Mount a wheel and tire of the original
size at the earliest possible opportu-
nity. For certain wheel/tire combina-
tions, the size of the spare tire will
differ from that of the remaining tires.
The spare tire is fully functional at all
loads and speeds. However, the spare
tire should be replaced at the earliest
possible opportunity in order to achieve
the original operating conditions.<
Run Flat tires*Run Flat tires are labeled on the side-
wall with a circular symbol containing
the letters RSC. Run Flat tires consist of
self-supporting tires and special rims.
The tire reinforcement ensures that
driving remains possible to a restricted
degree in the event of pressure drop or
even if the tire is deflated.
When mounting or replacing sum-
mer tires with winter tires, or vice
versa, use Run Flat tires since no spare
wheel is available in the event of a flat.
In this event, BMW recommends con-
sulting your BMW center. Your BMW
center has the information needed for
working with Run Flat tires and is
equipped with the necessary special
tools.<
Changing a wheel

Everything from A to Z
167
Belts, refer to Safety
belts 51
Beverage holders 108, 109
Blower
air conditioning 100
automatic climate
control 104
BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oils 133
BMW Maintenance
System 136
BMW sports seat 49
Bore, refer to Engine
data 160
Bottle holders, see Bever-
age holders 108, 109
Brake fluid 134
indicator lamp 18, 134
level 134
Brake force display 93
Brake hydraulic system 122
Brake lamps
bulb replacement 145
indicator lamp, defective
lamp 82
Brake lights
brake force display 93
Brake pads
brake fluid level
18, 122, 134
breaking in 120
disc brakes 122Brake rotors
brake system 122
breaking in 120
Brake system
brake pads, indicator
lamp 19
Brake wear warning
indicator lamp 19
Brakes
ABS 121
brake fluid 134
breaking in 120
indicator/warning lamp
18, 19
parking brake 67
Break-in procedures 120
Bulb replacement, refer to
Lamps and bulbs 143
Bulb, replacing 143
Buttons in steering wheel 22
C
California Proposition 65
warning 138
Can holders, see Beverage
holders 108, 109
Capacities 163
Car battery 151
Car care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Car keys, refer to Keys 32Car radio, refer to Owner's
Manual for Radio/Onboard
Computer
Car telephone
preparation 110
Car telephone, refer to the
separate Owner's Manual
Car vacuum cleaner, con-
necting 110
Car wash, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Carpet care, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Cassette operation, refer to
the Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard Computer
CBC Cornering Brake Con-
trol 121
warning lamp 18
CD changer, refer to the
Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard Computer
CD operation, refer to the
Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard Computer
Cellular phone 110
Center high-mount brake
lamp
bulb replacement 146Central locking system 32
button 37
passenger
compartment 37
Changing a wheel 147
Charge indicator lamp 18
Check Control 82
Check Gas Cap
indicator lamp 19
Child safety locks 63
Child seats 60
Child-restraint systems 60
Chock 148
Cigarette lighter 110
Cigarette lighter socket 110
Cleaning chrome parts, refer
to the Caring for your vehi-
cle brochure
Cleaning light alloy wheels,
refer to the Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Cleaning the vehicle, refer to
the Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Cleaning windshield 78
Clock 83
12-/24-hour mode 83
setting, refer also to the
Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard Computer
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Everything from A to ZFuel
display 81
quality 25
volume 163
Fuel consumption
display 80, 85
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge 81
Fuel economy, refer to
Energy control 80
Fuel filler door 24
release following an elec-
trical malfunction 24
Fuel level indicator, refer to
Fuel gauge 81
Fuel mixture preparation 160
Fuel reserve indicator, refer
to Fuel gauge 81
Fuel tank capacity 163
Fuses 151
G
Gasoline consumption, refer
to Average fuel consump-
tion 85
Gasoline, refer to Fuel spec-
ifications 25
Gear indicator 71, 75Gear lever
automatic transmission
with Steptronic 73
sequential manual gear-
box SMG 69
Gearbox
manual transmission 68
Gearshift lever
manual transmission 68
General driving notes 121
Glass sunroof
closing following an elec-
trical malfunction 46
convenience operation
34, 36
remote control 33, 34
Glass sunroof, electric 44
Glove compartment 107
Grills, refer to Ventilation
98, 102
Gross weight, refer to
Weights 162
H
Handbrake, refer to Parking
brake 67
Hands-free system 110
Harman Kardon premium
sound system 107
Hazard warning flashers 14
Hazard warning triangle 23
HDC Hill Descent Control 91Head airbags 57
Head restraints 51
Headlamp cleaning system
cleaning headlamps 78
washer fluid 132, 163
Headlamp control, auto-
matic 94
Headlamp flasher 95
indicator lamp 21
Headlamps
bulb replacement 143
care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Heated mirrors 55
Heated rear window
air conditioning 100
automatic climate
control 105
Heated seats 54
Heating
exterior mirrors 55
rear window 100, 105
seats 54
Heating and ventilation
98, 102
Heavy loads, refer to Cargo
loading 115
Height adjustment
seats 48, 50
steering wheel 55
Height, refer to
Dimensions 161High beams 76, 95
bulb replacement 143
headlamp flasher 95
indicator lamp 21
Hill Descent Control
(HDC) 91
Holder for
beverages 108, 109
litter bag 109
Hood release 129
Horn 14
Hub cap 148
Hydraulic brake assistant,
refer to DBC 121
Hydraulic system
brakes 122
Hydroplaning 121
I
Ice warning 84
Ignition 65
Ignition key 32
positions 65
Ignition lock 65
Imprint 4
Indicator lamps 18

Everything from A to Z
171
Indicator/warning lamp
airbags 18
alarm system 42
brakes 18, 19
Check Gas Cap 19
coolant 19, 81
DSC 19
Flat Tire Monitor
18, 19, 93
fog lamps 20
Please fasten safety
belts 18
reserve 81
Service Engine Soon 19
Individual air distribution 104
Individual settings, refer to
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory 64
Inflation pressure 124
Inflation pressure monitor-
ing, refer to Flat Tire Moni-
tor 92
Inflation pressure, tires 25
INSPECTION 82
Instrument cluster 16
Instrument lighting 95
Instrument panel, refer to
Cockpit 14
Interface socket for onboard
diagnostics (OBD) 138
Interior lamps 96
remote control 34Interior motion sensor 41
switching off 42
Interior rearview mirror 56
automatic dimming
feature 56
Interior temperature
adjusting 100, 104
Interlock, refer to Steering
wheel lock 65
Intermittent
mode, wipers 77
Interval
display, service 82
J
Jack 147
Jacking points 148
Jump-starting 153
K
Key Memory 64
Keys 32
with remote control 32
Kickdown 70, 74
L
Lamp defect 143
Lamps and bulbs 143
Lashing down loads, refer to
Cargo loading 114
Lashing eyelets, refer to
Securing cargo 116Lashing fittings, refer to
Securing cargo 116
LATCH child-restraint
mounting system 62
Leather care, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
LEDs light-emitting
diodes 96
Length, refer to
Dimensions 161
License plate lamp
bulb replacement 147
Light switch 94
Light-emitting diodes
LEDs 96
Lighter 110
LIGHTS ON warning 94
Lights, refer to Parking
lamps/Low beams 94
Litter bag holders 109
Load, refer to Cargo
loading 114
Loading
vehicle 114
Load-securing devices 116
Lock buttons on doors, refer
to Locking 37
Lock, steering wheel 65
Locking
from inside 37
from outside 33, 36Locking and unlocking
doors
from inside 37
from outside 33, 36
Low beams 94
automatic 94
bulb replacement 143
indicator lamp, defective
lamp 82
Lug bolts 148
key 148
torque 148
Luggage compartment
capacity 162
emergency operation,
refer to Manual
operation 38
floor mat 41
floor panel 40
lid 38
lighting 38
opening from outside 38
opening, remote
control 34
opening/closing, refer to
Luggage compartment
lid 38
remote control 34
volume 162
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Everything from A to ZLuggage compartment lid 38
emergency operation 38
emergency release 40
indicator lamp 82
opening from inside the
vehicle 38, 39
opening from outside 38
remote control 34
securing separately 38
unlocking manually 38
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack 117
Lumbar support 50
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires 127
Maintenance 82, 136
Maintenance system 136
Making telephone calls,
refer to the telephone
Owner's Manual
Malfunction
door lock 36
fuel filler door 24
Malfunction displays 82Manual operation
door lock 36
driver's door 36
fuel filler door 24
glass sunroof 46
luggage compartment
lid 38
Manual transmission 68
Master keys
with remote control 32
MC operation, refer to the
Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard Computer
MD operation, refer to the
Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard Computer
Mechanical seats 48
Memory, refer to Seat and
mirror memory 53
Memory, refer to Vehicle
Memory, Key Memory 64
Microfilter
air conditioning 101
automatic climate
control 106
Microphone, refer to Cellular
phone 110
Mini disc operation, refer to
the Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard ComputerMirrors 55
automatic curb monitor 54
heated 55
memory, refer to Seat and
mirror memory 53
Mobile Service 152
Modifications, technical,
refer to For your own
safety 5
Multifunction steering
wheel 22
Multifunction switch
turn signal indicator/head-
lamp flasher 76
washer/wiper system 77
N
Navigation system, refer to
the Owner's Manual for
Radio/Onboard Computer
Neck restraints, refer to
Head restraints 51
Nets 108
Nozzles, refer to Ventilation
98, 102
O
OBD interface socket 138
Odometer 80Oil
additives, refer to Adding
engine oil 133
capacity 163
dipstick 132
quality 133
viscosity 133
Oil change interval, refer
to Service interval
display 136
Oil change intervals, refer to
the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models/Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Oil consumption 132
Oil dipstick 132
Oil filter change 163
Oil level
checking 132
indicator lamp 18
Oil pressure
indicator lamp 18
OIL SERVICE 82
Oil types 133
Old batteries, refer to Dis-
posal 151
Onboard computer 84
Onboard computer, refer to
the Owner's Manual for
Onboard Computer