125
General driving notesHot exhaust system
High temperatures occur with
every vehicle equipped with a cat-
alytic converter. Heat shields are
installed adjacent to some sections of
the exhaust system. Never remove
these shields; do not apply undercoat-
ing to their surfaces. When driving,
standing at idle and parking the vehicle,
take care to avoid contact between the
hot exhaust system and flammable
materials, e.g. hay, leaves, grass, etc.
Such contact could lead to a fire,
resulting in serious personal injury and
property damage.<
Parking the vehicleCondensation forms in the air condi-
tioner system during operation, which
then exits under the vehicle. It is thus
not unusual for a small puddle to form
under the car while the system is run-
ning.Before driving through a car washFold in the exterior mirrors manually
because they could otherwise be dam-
aged due to the width of the vehicle.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy
roads, reduce vehicle speed. If
you do not, a wedge of water may form
between tire and road surface. This
phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or com-
plete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as
the tread depth of the tires decreases,
refer also to Tire tread on page 135.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the
road if it is deeper than 1 ft/30 cm,
and then only at walking speed. Other-
wise, the vehicle's engine, the electrical
systems and the transmission may be
damaged.<
Braking safelyYour BMW is equipped with ABS as a
standard feature. If you are in a situa-
tion which requires full braking, it is
best to brake using maximum brake
pressure: panic stop. Since the vehicle
maintains steering responsiveness, you
can avoid possible obstacles with a
minimum of steering effort, despite the
full brake application.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combined
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its
active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Otherwise,
even light but consistent pedal pres-
sure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake
failure.<
Wet roads:
if the roads are wet or if there is heavy
rain, it is advisable to gently press the
brakes for a brief moment every few
miles/kilometers. Monitor traffic condi-
tions to ensure that this maneuver does
not endanger other road users. The
heat generated in this process helps
dry the pads and rotors. Immediate
braking force is then available if neces-
sary.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
133
Tire codeKnowing the tire code on the tire side-
wall makes it easier to correctly choose
and identify your tires.Tire sizeE.g. 205/60 R 15 91 W
205 = Nominal width in mm
60 = Cross-sectional ratio in %
R = Radial belt construction
15 = Rim diameter in inches
91 = Load index, not on ZR tires
W = Speed rating, in front of the R on
ZR tiresSpeed ratingQ = up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
T = up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H = up to 130 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 NumberTires with DOT codes comply with the
guidelines of the U.S. Department of
Transportation.DOT code:
E.g. DOT xxxx xxx 1004
xxxx = Manufacturer's code for tire
brand
xxx = Tire size and tire version
1004 = Tire age
Tire ageThe date on which the tire was manu-
factured is indicated by the code on the
sidewall:
DOT … 1004 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in week 10 of the year
2004.
BMW recommends the replacement of
all tires when they are no more than
6 years old, even if a tire life of 10 years
is possible.Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Trea dwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature ADOT quality gradesTread wearTraction 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 wearThe 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 – 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.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Everything from A to Z
185
Tail lamps
bulb replacement 155
Tail lamps, refer to Rear
lamps 155
Tank capacity, refer to Fuel
tank capacity 173
Tank indicator, refer to Fuel
gauge 85
Technical data 170
Technical modifications 5
Technical modifications,
refer to For your own
safety 5
Telephone hookup 113
Telephone, refer to the sep-
arate Owner's Manual
Television, refer to the
Owner's Manual for
Onboard Computer
Temperature
air conditioning 102
automatic climate
control 106
Temperature adjustment
102, 106
Temperature display
engine coolant 85
ice warning 88
outside temperature 88
setting units 88
Temperature layering
103, 107Tempomat, refer to Cruise
control 82
Thigh support area, adjust-
ing 51
Third brake lamp, refer to
Center high-mount brake
lamp 156
Threaded socket for towing
eyelet 165
Three-point safety belt 54
Tilt alarm sensor 37
switching off 37
Tilting passenger-side exte-
rior mirror 56
Time 87
Tire inflation pressure 130
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 92
Tire replacement 157Tires
age 133
breaking in 124
changing 157
condition 134
damage 134
flat 157
inflation pressure 130
storing 137
tread 134, 135
tread wear indicators,
refer to Tire tread 135
winter tires 136
Tools, refer to Onboard tool
kit 152
Torque
engine 170
lug bolts 158
Tow bar 165
Tow rope 165
Towing 165
Towing eyelet 165
Towing the vehicle 165
Track width, refer to Dimen-
sions 171
Transmission
automatic transmission
with Steptronic 77
sequential manual gear-
box SMG 73
Transmission lock, refer to P
Park 77Transmission malfunction
automatic transmission
with Steptronic 79
sequential manual gear-
box SMG 75
Transport securing devices,
refer to Securing
cargo 119
Transporting children
safely 62
Trap protection
electric power windows 38
Tread depth, refer to Tire
tread 135
Tread depth, tires 135
Tread wear indicators in the
tires, refer to Tire
tread 135
Trip distance recorder, refer
to Trip odometer 84
Trip meter, refer to Trip
odometer 84
Trip odometer 84
Trunk lid, refer to Luggage
compartment lid 33
Trunk lighting, refer to Lug-
gage compartment light-
ing 33
Turn signal indicator 80, 81
bulb replacement 155
indicator lamp 20
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Everything from A to ZTurn signal indicator, side
bulb replacement 155
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions 171
TV function, refer to the
Owner's Manual for
Onboard Computer
U
Underbody protection, refer
to the Caring for your vehi-
cle brochure
Units
average fuel
consumption 89
temperature 88
Universal garage door con-
trol, refer to Integrated
universal remote
control 110
Universal remote
control 110
Unlocking
from inside 32
from outside 29, 31
V
Valve
screw caps 158Vehicle
battery 161
break-in procedures 124
dimensions 171
leaving the vehicle 71
loading 117
starting 69
washing, refer to the Car-
ing for your vehicle bro-
chure 81
weight 172
Vehicle Memory 68
Vehicle weight 172
Ventilation 100, 104
draft-free 103, 107
Voice Input System 21, 113
Voice recognition, refer to
separate Owner's Manual
Volume
luggage compartment 172
W
Warning and indicator
lamps 18
Warning lamp 'Fasten safety
belts' 18
Warning messages 86
Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet 146
Warranty, refer also to sepa-
rate booklet 6Washer fluid
adding 142, 173
Washer fluid reservoir 142
volume 142
Washer jets, refer to Wind-
shield washer jets 82
Washer/wiper system 82
washer fluid 142
Waste tray, refer to
Ashtray 113
Weights 172
Wheelbase, refer to Dimen-
sions 171
Wheels and tires 130
Wheelslip control DSC 91
Width, refer to
Dimensions 171
Wind deflector 48
Window condensation
removing 103, 106
Windows
convenience operation
30, 31
power 38
remote control 29, 30
Windshield washer
nozzles 82
Windshield washer reservoir
volume, see
Capacities 173
Winter tires 136
storing 137Wiper blades, replacing 152
Work in the engine compart-
ment 138
Wrench, refer to Onboard
tool kit 152
X
Xenon lamps
bulb replacement 154