2004 BMW X3 2.5I SAV service

Things to remember when driving
76
Things to remember when driving
Break-in procedures
To ensure that your vehicle provides maxi-
mum economy throughout a long service
life, we request that you observe the fol-
lowing instructions:
Engine and differential
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
During this initial period you should attempt
to avoid constant, steady-state operation
and vary both vehicle and engine speeds
as often as possible. Until the break-in
period has been completed you should
also refrain from exceeding the following:
>4,500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h.
Always obey all official speed limits.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid
pressing the accelerator beyond the kick-
down point.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles/
2,000 km, the engine and vehicle speeds
can be gradually increased.
You should also comply with these break-in
procedures should the engine or one of the
differentials be replaced later in the course
of the vehicle's service life.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve their
full traction potential until after an initial
break-in period. For this reason, drive with
extra care during the initial 200 miles/
300 km.
Obey your local and state maximum speed
limits.
When the vehicle is operated on wet
or slushy roads, a wedge of water
may form between the tire and the road
surface. This phenomenon is referred to as
hydroplaning and can lead to partial or
complete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness. Reduce your
speed on wet roads.<
Brake system
Approx. 300 miles/500 km must elapse
before the brake pads and rotors achieve
the optimal pad-surface and wear patterns
required for trouble-free operation and
long service life later on.
To break in the separate handbrake drums,
apply the handbrake lightly when coasting
to a standstill Ð at a traffic signal, for
instance; use caution to avoid posing a
danger to other road users.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this procedure
from time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on when the
handbrake is set.
Vacuum for the brake system servo
unit on your BMW is available only
when the engine is running. When you
move the vehicle with the engine off Ð e.g.
by towing Ð substantially higher levels of
pedal force will be required to brake the
vehicle.<
Clutch
The function of the clutch is also only at its
optimized level after a distance driven of
approx. 300 miles/500 km. During this
break-in period, engage the clutch gently.
General driving notes
High temperatures
Extreme temperatures occur at the
catalytic converter on this and every
catalyst-equipped vehicle. Do not remove
the heat shields installed adjacent to vari-
ous sections of the exhaust system, and
never apply undercoating to them. When
driving, standing at idle and while parking
take care to avoid possible contact
between the hot exhaust system and any
highly flammable materials such as hay,
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead

Mobility
This section helps you maintain your
mobility by supplying important information
on vital topics including fuels and
lubricants, wheels and tires, service,
maintenance and how to deal with any
problems that may occur.

Refueling
84
Refueling
Fuel filler door
To open and close: press the rear edge of
the fuel filler door.
Manual release
In the event of an electrical defect in the
system, you can release the fuel filler door
manually:
1.Open the cover flap in the luggage
compartment on the right-hand side
panel, refer to page 72
2.Pull the green button.
When handling fuels always observe
any safety guidelines posted at the
service station.<
Simple and environmentally friendly
Put the filler cap in the bracket attached to
the fuel filler door.
When handling fuels, comply with all
of the applicable safety precautions
posted at the service station.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Lifting the filler
nozzle during refueling
>results in premature pump shutoff
>can lead to reduced efficiency in the
fuel-vapor recovery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle
clicks off the first time.
To close the fuel filler cap
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you
clearly hear a click Ð bayonet fitting.
Close the filler cap carefully after refu-
eling, until a click is heard. While clos-
ing, be sure not to squeeze the strap which
is fastened to the cap. A loose or missing
cap will activate the Check Gas Cap
lamp.<
Check Gas Cap
This indicator lamp comes on when
the fuel filler cap is loose or missing.
Close the fuel filler cap tightly as described
above.
Fuel tank capacity
>approx. 17.7 gallons/67 liters, of which
>approx. 2 gallons/8 liters are reserve.

Wheels and tires
86
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and Ð to a great extent
Ð 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,
including compact wheel: at least every
two weeks and before beginning a longer
trip. If you fail to observe this precaution
you may be driving on tires with incorrect
tire pressures, a condition that cannot only
compromise your vehicle's driving stability,
but also lead to tire damage and the risk of
an accident.
Do not drive with a depressurized, i.e. flat
tire. A flat tire will seriously impair your
vehicle's handling and braking response.
Attempts to drive on a flat tire can lead to
loss of control over the vehicle.<
Checking the pressure
Only check tire inflation pressure when the
tires are cold. That 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 pressure(s),
always reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor,
refer to page 53.
Checking inflation pressure
The inflation pressures for your standard
tires can be seen on the door pillar when
you open the driver's door.
After correcting the inflation pres-
sure(s), always reinitialize the Flat Tire
Monitor, refer to page 53.<
Inflation pressure for other tire sizes
The table below provides 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.<

Wheels and tires
88
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of
the tire makes it easier to identify and
choose the right tires.
Tire size
Speed code letter
T = up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H = up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V = up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W = up to 167 mph/270 km/h
Y = up to 186 mph/300 km/h
Tire Identification Number
Tires with DOT codes meet the guidelines
of the U.S. Department of Transport.
DOT code:
Tire age
The tire's date of manufacture is indicated
on the sidewall:
DOT ... 3603 indicates that a tire was man-
ufactured in week 36 of the year 2003.
BMW recommends that you replace all
tires after 6 years at the latest, indepen-
dently of the fact that tires can reach an age
of 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where appli-
cable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width.
For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.<
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half (1 g) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The 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 specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead brak-
ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.<
Temperature
The temperature grades are A Ð the
highest Ð B, and C, representing the tire's e.g.
Nominal width
in mm
Aspect ratio in X
Radial type
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating
(not on ZR tires)
Speed rating
(before R on ZR tires)
205/60 R1591W
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 3603

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
89
resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory 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.<
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than
summer tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for treadwear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread pat-
tern depth.
Tire tread
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 0.16 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 tire
sidewall with TWI Ð Tread Wear Indicator.
At a tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm these
indicators, signal that the tires have
reached the legally permissible wear limit.
Tire damage
Unusual vibrations encountered dur-
ing normal vehicle operation can indi-
cate tire failure or some other vehicle
defect. This can, for example, be caused by
driving over curbs. These kinds of prob-
lems may also be signaled by other
changes in vehicle response, such as a
strong tendency to pull to the left or right.
Should this occur, respond by immediately
reducing your speed. Proceed carefully to
the nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center or professional tire center, or have
the vehicle towed in to have it, its wheels
and tires inspected.
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.<
Replacing wheels/tires
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled pro-
fessionals only. All BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Centers will be happy to help you

Under the engine hood
92
Under the engine hood
Never attempt to perform any service
or repair operations on your vehicle
without the required professional technical
training. If you are unaware of the regula-
tions that need to be observed, BMW rec-
ommends that you have this work per-
formed at a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center, as otherwise unqualified handling
of parts and materials can lead to safety
risk for vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
Hood
Unlocking
Pull the lever located under the left side of
the instrument cluster.
Opening
Press the release handle and open the
engine hood.
Closing
Let the engine hood fall from approx. 1 ft/
30 cm so that it can be heard to engage.
Observe the same precautions that
apply to all closing operations by
ensuring that the hood's travel range is
clear and unobstructed before allowing the
hood to fall into position.
If you see any signs that the hood is not
completely closed while driving your vehi-
cle, you should stop at once and close it
securely.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
95
Do not fill beyond the upper mark on the
dipstick. Excess oil can damage the
engine.
Adding engine oil
While you should wait until the level has
dropped to just above the lower mark
before adding oil, you should never allow
the oil level to fall below this mark.
BMW engines are designed to oper-
ate without additives, and their use
could even lead to damage in some cases.
This also applies to the manual transmis-
sion, automatic transmission, the differen-
tial and the power steering system.<
Recommendation: have the oil change
conducted by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.
Continuous exposure to used oil has
caused cancer in laboratory testing.
For this reason, any skin areas that come
into contact with oil should be thoroughly
washed with soap and water.
Always store oils, grease and similar mate-
rials so that they are inaccessible to chil-
dren. Comply with warning labels and
information on containers.<
Always observe all applicable rules
and regulations for environmental
protection when disposing of used oil.<
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has
critical significance for the operation and
service life of an engine. Based on exten-
sive testing, BMW has approved only cer-
tain engine oils.
Use only approved BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil.If you are unable to obtain BMW High Per-
formance Synthetic Oil, you can add small
amounts of another synthetic oil between
oil changes. Use only oils with the API SH
specification or higher.
Ask your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center for details concerning the spe-
cific BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil
or synthetic oils which have been
approved.<
You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit this website:
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this informa-
tion.
Viscosity ratings
Viscosity is the oil flow rating as defined in
SAE classes.
The selection of the correct SAE class
depends on the climate conditions in the
area where you typically drive your BMW.
Approved oils are in SAE classes
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
>These oils may be used for driving in all
ambient temperatures.
Coolant
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up:
Coolant level is too low; top up at
the earliest opportunity.
Do not add coolant to the cooling sys-
tem when the engine is hot. Escaping
coolant can cause burns.
Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are
hazardous to health. You should always
store them in their original containers and
in a location which is inaccessible to chil-
dren. Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents
are flammable. Therefore, do not pour over
hot engine parts, as otherwise they could
catch fire and cause burns. Always observe
the instructions for use provided on the
containers.<