2004 BMW 645CI COUPE&CONVERTIBLE flat tire

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have dropped below the minimum, possi-
bly owing to a leak in the hydraulic system.
Do not continue driving. Contact your BMW
center.<
Flat Tire Monitor
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the
inflation pressures in the four tires as you
drive. The system provides an alert when-
ever the inflation pressure drops signifi-
cantly in relation to the pressure in another
tire.
The check of the tire inflation pressure is
based on monitoring the relative speeds
of the wheels. A flat tire is detected and
reported on the basis of a deviation in cer-
tain speed ratios.
Functional requirement
To ensure reliable operation, the system
should have been initialized with the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure.
System limits
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot indicate
sudden severe tire damage caused
by outside factors and does not detect a
natural, even pressure drop in all four
tires.<
In the following situations, the system
could be delayed or malfunction:
>When you are driving on snow-covered
or slippery road surfaces
>In the case of performance-oriented
driving: slip on the drive wheels, high
lateral acceleration
>False alarms and undetected loss of
pressure may occur when you are driv-
ing with snow chains fitted
>If the Flat Tire Monitor was not initial-
ized after the last inflation pressure cor-
rection, false alarms indicating a flat tire
that is not present are possible or pres-
sure loss might not be detected.
Initializing system
Perform the initialization immediately
after correcting the inflation pressure,
after changing a tire or changing a wheel or
all wheels. A drive is necessary for this pur-
pose.<
Control Center, for principle details, refer to
page 16:
1.Start the engine, but do not drive off
2.Open the menu
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller
4.Select "FTM" and press the controller
5.Select "Set tire pressure" and press the
controller
6.Select "Yes" and press the controller
7.Drive off.
The message "Initializing" is displayed.
It takes a few minutes before the Flat Tire
Monitor can detect and report a flat tire and
"Status: Active" is displayed.
If a flat tire is detected during initialization,
a message appears on the Control Display.
When driving with snow chains, do
not initialize the system.<

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
80
Report of a flat tire
The warning lamp lights up in red
and a message appears on the
Control Display. In addition, an
acoustic signal sounds. There is a flat tire
or extensive inflation pressure loss.
1.Cautiously reduce the vehicle speed to
below 50 mph/80 km/h. Avoid sudden
braking and steering maneuvers. Do
not exceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph/
80 km/h
Due to the reinforcement on the
side walls of the run-flat tires,
inflation pressure loss can not usually
be recognized from the outside, refer to
Run-flat tires on page 168.<
2.To continue driving, comply with the
instructions for driving with damaged
tires on page 168.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up yellow
and a message appears on the
Control Display. The Flat Tire Moni-
tor has a malfunction or has failed. Have
the system checked as soon as possible.
Active steering*
The concept
The active steering is a system that actively
varies the steering angle of the front wheels
in relation to the steering wheel move-
ments.
When you are driving in the low road speed
range, e.g. in a town or when parking, the
steering angle of the wheels is reinforced,
i.e. the steering becomes very direct.
In the higher speed range, on the other
hand, the steering angle of the wheels is
reduced more and more. This improves the
handling capability of your BMW over the
entire speed range.
In critical situations, the system can make
targeted changes to the steering angle pro-
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the
vehicle before the driver intervenes.
Malfunction
The fixed warning lamp lights up.
The active steering is no longer
operational. In the low speed range,
greater steering wheel movement is neces-
sary. Have the system checked.
If the warning lamp lights up during the first
engine starting following a power supply
interruption, the system must be activated
with initialization.
Initializing system
1.Start the engine
2.With the vehicle stationary, turn the
steering wheel from the straight-ahead
position to the left as far as it will go and
then back to the straight-ahead position
3.Switch off the engine.
When you start the engine again, all the
functions of the active steering are avail-
able once again.
Brake Force Display
The two-stage brake lamps light up in two
stages depending on how strongly you
brake.
>Normal braking:
The brake lamps and the third brake
lamp go on
>Heavy braking and braking with ABS:
In addition, the light area of the rear
brake lamps is enlarged, refer to illus-
tration.

Wheels and tires
164
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – to a great extent
– driving safety that depend on the condi-
tion of the tires and the maintenance of the
specified tire pressure.
Check the tire inflation pressure regu-
larly and correct it if necessary: at
least every two weeks and before begin-
ning a longer trip. If you fail to observe this
precaution, you may be driving on tires with
incorrect tire pressures, a condition that
can not only compromise your vehicle's
stability, but also lead to tire damage and
the risk of an accident.<
Checking tire inflation pressure
Only check tire inflation pressure when the
tires are cold. This means after a maximum
of 1.25 miles/2 km driving or when the
vehicle has been parked for at least
2 hours. When tires are warm, the tire infla-
tion pressure increases.
After correcting the inflation pres-
sure(s), always reinitialize the Flat Tire
Monitor, refer to page 79.<
Inflation pressures for original tires
The tires must be at ambient temperature.
The inflation pressures, provided on a label
affixed to the B-pillar, are visible when the
driver's door is open.
Inflation pressure for other tire sizes
The tables below provide all the correct
inflation pressures for the specified tire
sizes at ambient temperature.
For correct identification of the right
tire inflation pressure for your tires,
observe the specifications for the corre-
sponding tire size.<
Observe tire size
The specified pressures apply to tire sizes
approved by BMW and recommended tire
makes; your BMW center will be glad to
provide information.

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Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest,
B, and C, representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under con-
trolled conditions on a specified indoor lab-
oratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent 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 load-
ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.<
RSC – run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire, refer to page 168.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than
summer tires.
Tire condition
Before driving off, inspect your tires for
tread wear, signs of damage and foreign
objects lodged in the tread, and check the
tread depth.
Minimum tread depth
The tread depth should not drop below
0.12 in/3 mm, although, for example, Euro-
pean legislation only specifies a minimum
tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread
depths below 0.12 in/3 mm there is an increased risk of high-speed hydroplaning,
even when only small amounts of water are
present on the road surface.
As winter tires display a noticeable loss in
their ability to cope with cold-weather driv-
ing conditions once the tread wears to
below 0.157 in/4 mm, to ensure continued
safety you should always have such tires
replaced.
Wear indicators at the tread-groove base,
refer to arrow, are distributed over the tire's
circumference and are marked on the side
of the tire with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator.
These indicators signal at a tread depth of
0.063 in/1.6 mm that the legal wear limit
has been reached. The tread is then no
longer visible at these points.
Tire damage
Due to low-profile tires, please note
that wheels, tires and suspension
parts are more susceptible to road hazard
and consequential damages.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate tire
failure or some other vehicle defect. This
can, for example, be caused by driving over
curbs. These kinds of problems may also
be signaled by other changes in vehicle
response, such as a strong tendency to pull
to the left or right.
In these cases, immediately reduce speed.
Drive cautiously to the nearest BMW center
or tire dealer or, if necessary, have the
vehicle towed there.
Tire damage, extending to sudden and
complete loss of pressure in extreme
cases, can pose a potentially lethal safety
hazard for the vehicle's occupants and
other road users alike.<

Wheels and tires
168
Run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire.
Run-flat tires consist of self-contained tires
and special rims. The tire reinforcement
ensures that the tire retains some residual
safety in the event of pressure drop and
driving remains possible to a restricted
degree.
Continuing driving with a damaged
tire
Driving on run-flat tires with tire damage
can continue, depending on the vehicle
load and the severity of the tire damage, at
a maximum speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.
You can estimate the possible mileage for
continued driving on the basis of the fol-
lowing general indications:
>With low load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
Approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full, or
4 persons without luggage:
Approx. 94 miles/150 km
>With full load:
4 persons, luggage compartment full:
Approx. 30 miles/50 km.
Drive reservedly and do not exceed
a speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. In the
event of pressure loss, vehicle handling
changes. This includes reduced track sta-
bility in braking, extended braking distance
and altered natural steering characteristics.
If unusual vibrations occur while the vehicle
is being driven, this can indicate final failure of the damaged tire. Reduce speed and
stop as soon as possible. Do not continue
driving. Contact your BMW center.<
New wheels and tires
You can find out the right wheel-tire combi-
nation from your BMW center. It is another
vital factor in ensuring reliable operation of
various vehicle systems such as ABS and
DSC. Have the wheel and tire assemblies
balanced every time either a wheel or a tire
is replaced.
Only have new wheels and tires
mounted by a specialist. If this work is
performed inexpertly, there is a danger of
damage and associated safety risks.<
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend the use of
retread tires, as otherwise driving
safety may be reduced. Possible variations
in the design and the age – which could be
substantial – of the carcasses can lead to
unusually rapid wear.<
The right wheels and tires
BMW recommends that you use only
wheel and tire combinations that
BMW has tested and approved for your
particular vehicle. Variations in factors such
as manufacturing tolerances mean that
even wheels and tires with identical official
size ratings could actually have different
dimensions than the approved units – these
differences could lead to body contact, and
with it the risk of severe accidents. If non-
approved wheels and tires are used, BMW
cannot evaluate their suitability, and there-
fore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread
configuration from a single manufacturer.
After a flat tire, always remember to have
the specified wheel and tire combination
remounted on the vehicle as soon as pos-
sible.

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Recommended tire sizes and makes
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire
size, classifies them as road-safe and
approves them. You can find out about
these at specialized dealers or at your
BMW center. Observe any country-specific
regulations, e.g. on making a correspond-
ing entry in the vehicle documents.
The factory-mounted tires have been spe-
cially selected to provide optimized perfor-
mance when installed on your vehicle; if
properly cared for, they will provide a com-
bination of safety and excellent ride com-
fort.
Run-flat tires
In the event of replacement, use run-flat
tires, refer to page 168, as there is no spare
wheel available for flats.
For safety reasons, BMW recom-
mends that you do not have damaged
run-flat tires repaired; they should be
replaced.<
Special characteristics of winter
tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in
cold winter driving conditions. Although all-
season M+S tires provide better winter
traction than summer tires, they generally
fail to provide the same levels of cold-
weather performance as winter tires.
Run-flat tires
If you switch from summer to winter tires,
or vice versa, use run-flat tires, refer to
page 168, as in the event of a flat tire there
is no spare tire available. Your BMW center
will be glad to advise you.
Observing speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed for
which the winter tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to ser-
vice tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents. Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. The technicians at your
BMW center will be glad to assist you with the required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment.<
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as pos-
sible. Always protect tires against all con-
tact with oil, grease and fuels. Do not
exceed the maximum tire inflation pressure
indicated on the side wall of the tire.
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain snow chains, clas-
sifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more
information. BMW recommends using
these approved, narrow-link snow chains.
These snow chains are approved exclu-
sively for use in pairs on the rear wheels
with the tire size 245/45 R 18.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions
when mounting snow chains.
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of 30 mph/
50 km/h with the chains mounted.
Do not initialize the Runflat Indicator
after mounting snow chains.
When you are driving with snow chains, it
can be beneficial to switch off DSC briefly,
refer to page 77.<

Mobility
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1.Push a screwdriver from the left under
the lamp and lever up the lamp to the
right
2.Turn the bulb holder 905 to the left and
remove
3.Remove and replace the bulb.
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind
translucent lenses serve as the light source
for many of the controls and displays in
your vehicle. These light-emitting diodes,
which operate using a concept similar to
that applied in conventional lasers, are offi-
cially designated as Class 1 light-emitting
diodes.
Do not remove the covers, and never
stare into the unfiltered light several
hours, as irritation of the retina could
result.<
Changing a wheel
Your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires as
standard. An immediate wheel change in
the event of a flat tire is therefore no longer
required.
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire, refer to Run-flat tires on
page 167.
If you switch from summer to winter tires,
or vice versa, use only run-flat tires, as in
the event of a flat there is no spare tire
available. Your BMW center will be glad to
advise you.
Also refer to New wheels and tires,
page 168.
Car jacking points
The jacking points for the car jack are
located in the positions shown.
You can obtain a suitable car jack as
an accessory at your BMW center.<
Battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, i.e.,
the electrolyte will last for the life of the bat-
tery when the vehicle is operated in a tem-
perate climate.
Your BMW center will be glad to advise in
all matters concerning the battery.
Charging battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via
the terminals in the engine compartment
with the engine switched off. For the con-
nections, refer to Jump-starting on
page 184.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of by
your BMW center or hand them in to a
recycling center. Maintain the battery in an
upright position for transport and storage.
Always restrain the battery to prevent it
from tipping over during transport.<
Power cut
After a temporary power cut, e.g. with a
discharged battery, the features of some
equipment are limited and it has to be rein-
itialized. Individual settings are also lost
and have to be updated:

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C
California laws
– Event Data
Recorders 176
– Proposition 65
Warning 176
"Call" 148
Call
– accepting 147
– display accepted 149
– ending 148
– in absence 149
– starting 147
Calling
– from phone book 148
– from the Top 8 list 149
– redialing 149
– refer to telephone
Owner's Manual 96
"Call sender" 151
Can holder, refer to
Cup holders 97
Capacities 193
Car battery, refer to
Battery 181
Car care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to
the Caring for your
vehicle brochure
"Car data" 69
Care 175
Cargo, securing 105
Caring for artificial leather,
refer to the Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Caring for leather, refer to
the Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Caring for light-alloy
wheels, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure'
Caring for plastic, refer to
the Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Caring for the carpet, refer
to the Caring for your
vehicle brochureCaring for the vehicle finish,
refer to the Caring for
your vehicle brochure'
Car jacking points 181
Car keys, refer to
Key set 26
Car phone 145
– location, refer to
Center armrest 96
– refer to
Portable phone 144
– refer to separate
Owner's Manual
Car radio, refer to
Radio 130
Car wash 102
– also refer to the Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Catalytic converter, refer to
Exhaust system 102
"Categories" 135
CBC Cornering Brake
Control 76
CBS Condition Based
Service 174
"CD" 127, 137
CD changer 137
– adjusting the tone 127
– controls 126
– fast forward/reverse 140
– installation location 140
– playing a track 139
– random play
sequence 140
– repeating a track 139
– selecting a CD 137
– selecting a track 138
– switching on/off 126
– volume 127
CD player 137
– adjusting the tone 127
– controls 126
– fast forward/reverse 140
– playing a track 139
– random play
sequence 140
– repeating a track 139
– selecting a track 138
– switching on/off 126
– volume 127Center armrest
– adjusting the height 96
– front 96
Center console 14
"Central locking" 27
Central locking system 26
– from inside vehicle 29
Changes, technical, refer to
For your own safety 6
Changing a wheel 181
Changing the language on
Control Display 73
Changing the
measurement units on the
Control Display 72
Changing wheels 181
CHECK button 68
Check Control 66
"Check Control
messages" 68
Check Gas Cap 162
Checking the air pressure,
refer to Tire inflation
pressure 164
Child's seats, refer to
Child-restraint
systems 52
Child-restraint system 51
Chrome parts, care, refer
to the Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Cigarette lighter 97
Cleaning, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Cleaning windshield, refer
to Wiper system 61
"Climate" 90
"Climate control" 91
Clock 64
– 12/24 hour mode 73
– setting time and date 73
Closing
– from inside 29
– from outside 27
Clothes hooks, Coupe 96
Cockpit 10
Cold start, refer to
Starting the engine 54
"Communication" 146