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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cargo area 7. When the rear backrests are folded
down, you can unhook the partition
net from the retaining straps, com-
pletely unroll it, insert it in the front
retainers on the roof and attach the
three hooks into the eyes on the
backrests.
The illustration shows securing at the
bottom right as an example.530de352
Side covers Pull the handle to open the side covers.530de290
Floor cover To access the spare wheel.
To open: press the recess in the han-
dle, refer to arrow, and raise the cover
with the handle. 530de291
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cargo areaWhen it is extended, you can load the
cargo floor:
>With up to 990 Ibs./450 kg, distrib-
uted evenly across the entire surface
>With up to 330 Ibs./150 kg on the
rear edge.
Do not overload the cargo floor
when it is extended. If you do so, it
could cause damage.
When you slide the cargo floor back in,
do not grasp it on the bottom. If you do
so, there is a risk of personal injury.<
Raising cargo floor For access to the spare wheel or other
stored items:
Swing the cargo floor up and secure it
with the rod, refer to illustration.
If your vehicle has a partition net:
Take the bag with the partition net
out of the retainer, refer to page 125,
before you raise the cargo floor panel.
Otherwise, the bag could slide down-
ward.<530de240
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140n
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 condition of the tires and the main-
tenance of the specified tire pressure.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly, including on the spare
wheel: at least every two weeks and
before beginning a longer trip. If this is
not done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire dam-
age, ultimately resulting in an accident.
Do not drive with a depressurized, i.e.
flat, tire. A flat tire greatly impairs steer-
ing and braking response, and can lead
to complete loss of control over the
vehicle.<
Checking inflation pressureOnly check tire inflation pressure when
the tires are cold. i.e. after driving a
maximum of 1.25 miles/2 km or when
the vehicle has been parked for at least
2 hours. When tires are warm, the tire
inflation pressure increases.
Inflation pressure for original
equipment tiresYou will find tire inflation pressures on
the inside door pillar.Inflation pressure for other tire
sizesThe table on the next page provides the
correct inflation pressures for tires at
ambient temperature, in psi/kilopascal.
After correcting the inflation pres-
sure(s), always reinitialize the Flat
Tire Monitor, refer to page 100.< 530de225
Tire inflation pressure
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142n
Tire identification marksKnowledge of the labeling on the side
of the tire makes it easier to identify and
choose the right tires.Tire sizeSpeed code letter:
Q=up to 105 mph/160 km/h
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/hTire Identification Number Tires with DOT codes meet the guide-
lines of the U.S. Department of Trans-
port. e.g.
Nominal width
in mm
Cross-sectional
relationship in X
Belted construction radial
Rim diameter in inches
Load index,
not with ZR tires
Speed code letter,
with ZR tires before the R
235/65 R
17104H
DOT code:Tire age The manufacturer of your BMW recom-
mends that all tires, i.e. including the
spare wheel, be replaced regardless of
the actual wear after 6 years at the lat-
est.
The tire's date of manufacture is indi-
cated on the sidewall:
DOT ... 3603 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in week 36 of 2003. Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example: e.g.
Manufacturer's code
for tire brand
Tire size and tire model
Tire age
DOT xxxx xxx 3603
DOT quality grades Tread 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.< Tread wear The tread wear grade is a comparative
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, 1g, 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.
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164n
Changing a tire What you will need In 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 through
using them.
>Two wedges – wheel chocks
Open the liftgate and tailgate.
Raise floor panel flap or pull-out
cargo-area floor panel extension,
refer to pages 127, 128, 129.
Remove the chocks, refer to arrow,
next to the spare tire 530us117
>Lug wrench
Located beside the spare wheel 530us120
>Handle for the jack
Remove from its holder530de405
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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Changing a wheel >Jack
Unhook the rubber band, refer to
arrow, and take out the jack.
When you have completed work,
screw the jack all the way back
down, remove the handle and insert it
into its holder. 530de404
Spare wheel 1. Loosen the wing nut 1
2. Remove the plate 2 to the side
3. Unscrew the threaded rod 3 com-
pletely. 530us118
Removal aid for spare wheel By using this device, you do not have to
lift the spare wheel out of the recess by
hand.
Its task is to help you to move the wheel
onto the tailgate, from where you can
easily lift it off.
1. Close the tailgate again
2. Grasp the handle of the removal aid
behind the spare wheel with both
hands and pull upward over the tail-
gate, refer to arrow 530de310
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166n
Changing a wheel 3. Hook both buckles into the latch of
the tailgate, refer to arrow; the tail-
gate is released 530de311
4. Remove the support rod from the
bracket 530de312
5. Press the tailgate down and hold it
there. The spare wheel is now pulled
by means of the removal aid onto the
tailgate
Hold the tailgate in the opened
position and do not allow it to
retract sharply upward. If you do so,
there is a risk of personal injury and
vehicle damage.<530de313
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Changing a wheel 6. Insert the support rod in the tailgate
lock and press down until it engages,
refer to arrow 1; then lock hook of
rod in striker, refer to arrow 2
Be sure that the support rod is
locked firmly in place. If you fail to
do so, the tailgate could move upward
quickly and cause personal injury and
vehicle damage.<
7. You can now release the locked tail-
gate and take the spare wheel down
from the tailgate. It is recommended
that you leave the tailgate locked into
place until you have completed the
wheel change and placed the wheel
with the defective tire into the
removal aid. 530de314
Procedure1. Read carefully and comply with the
safety precautions on page 163
2. Secure the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling:
Place the wedges – chocks – behind
the wheels on the side opposite the
side you are lifting. If the vehicle is
parked on a downward slope, place
the wedges securely in front of the
wheels. If the wheel must be
changed on a surface with a more
severe slope, take additional precau-
tions to secure the vehicle from roll-
ing
3. Loosen the lug bolts 1/2-turn
4. Insert the jack handle into the jack,
refer to the illustration in the next col-
umn5. Position the jack at the jacking point
closest to the flat tire so that the jack
base is 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 illustration detail, 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
8. Remove accumulations of mud or
dirt from the mounting surfaces of
the wheel and hub. Clean the lug
bolts
9. Position the spare wheel. Secure the
wheel by turning at least two lug
bolts into opposite bolt holes
530de236