Page 79 of 120

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
77
Tire coding
Understanding the lettering on the tire
sidewall makes it easier to identify and
choose the correct tires.
Tire size
e.g. 225/50 R 16 92 V
Nominal width in mm
Cross-sectional
ratio in %
Radial belt construction
Rim diameter in inches
Load index,
not on ZR tires
Speed code letter,
in front of the R on ZR tires
Speed code letters
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/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 Transportation.
DOT code:
e.g. DOT xxxx xxx 3603
Manufacturer's code
for tire brand
Tire size and
tire version
Tire age
Tire age
The date on which the tire was manufac-
tured is indicated by the code on the side-
wall:
DOT … 3603 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in week 36 of the year 2003.BMW recommends the replacement of all
tires every 6 years at the latest, even if a tire
usage of 10 years is possible.
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:
Treadwear 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.<
Tread wear
The tread wear 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 1/2, 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.<
Page 114 of 120

Everything from A to Z
112 Tire inflation pressure
– checking 75
– restoring 75
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 54
Tires
– age 77
– break-in procedures 68
– changing 79
– condition 78
– damage 78
– DOT quality grades 77
– inflation pressure 75
– replacement 79
– Run Flat tires 80
– size 75
– storage 79
– temperature 78
– traction 77
– tread 78
– tread depth indicator,
refer to Tire tread, Tire
damage 78
– tread wear 77
– Uniform Tire Quality
Grading 77
Tool kit, refer to Onboard
tool kit 88
Torque, refer to Engine
data 100
To unlock
– from inside 18
– from outside 17
Towing 96
– eyelet 96
Towing the vehicle 96
– with the front axle
raised 96
Tow sockets for towing
eyelet 96
Track width, refer to
Dimensions 102
Transmission
– automatic transmission
with Steptronic 39
– manual transmission 38
Transmission interlock,
refer to Changing selector
lever positions 39Transmission
malfunction 40
Transporting children
safely 33
Tread depth, refer to Tire
tread 78
Tread wear indicators in the
tires, refer to
Tire tread, Tire
damage 78
Trip distance recorder,
refer to Trip odometer 48
Trip meter, refer to Trip
odometer 48
Trip odometer 48
Trunk, refer to Luggage
compartment 20
Trunk lid
– opening via remote
control 17
Trunk lid, refer to Luggage
compartment lid 19
Trunk volume, refer to
Luggage compartment
capacity 101
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions 102
Turn signal indicators 43
– indicator lamp 13
TV function, refer to
Owner's Manual
for Onboard Computer
U
Undercoating, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Unintentional alarm 26
Units
– average
consumption 50
– average
speed 50
– temperature 50
Used batteries, refer to
Battery disposal 92
V
Vehicle
– battery 91
– break-in procedures 68
– care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
– cargo loading 70
– measurements, refer to
Dimensions 102
– storage, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
– switching off the
engine 69
– washing, refer to the
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
– weight 101
Vehicle Memory 31
Vehicle vacuum cleaner,
refer to Cigarette lighter
socket 65
Ventilation 59, 63
– air conditioning 59
– automatic climate
control 63
Vents, refer to
Ventilation 59, 63
Volume
– fuel tank, refer to
Capacities 103
W
Warning and indicator
lamps 12
Warning triangle 94
Warranty, see Service and
Warranty Information
Booklet for US models,
Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for
Canadian models 86
Warranty and service 6
Washer/wiper system 43
Washer fluid reservoir, refer
to Capacities 103
Page 115 of 120

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
113
Washer fluid reservoir, refer
to Headlamp washer
system and Windshield
washer system 83
Washer jets, refer to
Windshield washer
nozzles 44
Washing fluids 83
Washing systems 83
Waste tray, refer to
Ashtray 65
Water on roads,
flooding 69
Weights 101
Wheelbase, refer to
Dimensions 102
Wheel change set
– Run Flat tires 91
Wheels and tires 75
Wheelslip control
– Dynamic Stability Control
DSC 52
Width, refer to
Dimensions 102
Wind deflector 24
Windows
– convenience operation 18
Windshield wash
– reservoir 83
Windshield washer
nozzles 44
Windshield washer
reservoir 83
– content, refer to
Capacities 103
Windshield washer system
– washer/wiper system 43
– washing fluids 83
Windshield wiper blades
– care, refer to the Caring
for your vehicle brochure
– changing 88
Windshield wipers
– changing 88
Windshield wipers, refer to
Washer/wiper system 43
Winter tires
– changing 91
– storage 79Wood decoration, refer to
the Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Work in the engine
compartment 81
Wrench, refer to Onboard
tool kit 88
X
Xenon lamps
– bulb replacement 89