Wheels and tires
172
545i
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 letter
Q = up to 100 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 Transport.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT … 3604 means that the
tire was produced in the 36th week of 2004.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last
for 10 years.
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/40 R 18 93 Y
225/50 R 17 94 Q,T,H M+S32/220 38/260 38/260 45/310
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 95 Q,T,H,V M+S29/200 35/240 35/240 42/290
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 Y 32/220 - 38/260 -
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 Y - 35/240 - 42/290
Front: 245/35 R 19 89 Y 32/220 - 38/260 -
Rear: 275/30 R 19 92 Y - 35/240 - 42/290
Compact wheel:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M61/420
More details on the permitted load and weights can be found on page198.
e.g.
Nominal width in mm
Aspect ratio in Ξ
Belted construction – radial
Rim diameter in inches
Carrying capacity ID-code
(not in ZR tires)
Speed code letter
(in ZR tires before the R)205/60 R1591 W
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 3604
Wheels and tires
174 Wear indicators at the tread-groove base, refer
to arrow, are distributed over the tire's circum-
ference and are marked on the side of the tire
with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. If the indica-
tors are at the level of the tread, the legally per-
missible tread depth of 0.063 in/1,6 mm has
been reached.
Wheel/tire damage
Please note that low-profile tires cause wheels,
tires and suspension parts to be more suscep-
tible to road hazard and consequential dam-
ages. 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, reduce speed immedi-
ately and have wheels and tires thor-
oughly checked. To do so, drive carefully to the
nearest BMW center or tire shop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. If necessary,
have the vehicle towed there. Tire damage can
be extremely dangerous for vehicle occupants
and other road users.<
Servicing tires
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents. Have this work performed by skilled pro-
fessionals only. The technicians at your BMW
center will be glad to assist you with the
required professional knowledge and special-
ized equipment.<
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 pos-
sible to a restricted degree.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires installed only
by your BMW center or tire shop that
works according to BMW repair procedures
with correspondingly trained personnel. If this
work is not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related safety
hazards.<
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend that you use
retreaded tires, since driving safety may
be impaired. The causes for this include the
possibly different tire casing structures and the
often wide variations in their age, which can
result in a limited service life.<
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 manufac-
turing tolerances mean that even wheels and
tires with identical official size ratings could
actually have different dimensions than the
Mobility
175Reference
At a glance
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Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
approved units – these differences could lead to
body contact, and with it the risk of severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is
another vital factor in ensuring reliable opera-
tion of various vehicle systems such as ABS
and DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. After a flat
tire, have the original wheel and tire combina-
tion remounted on the vehicle as soon as possi-
ble.
Recommended tire brands
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire size,
classifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation.
Observe any country-specific regulations, e.g.
on making a corresponding entry in the vehicle
documents.
The factory-mounted tires have been specially
selected to provide optimized performance
when installed on yo ur vehicle; if pro perly cared
for, they will provide a combination of safety and
excellent ride comfort.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires or changing from
summer tires to winter tires or vice versa, use
run-flat tires because there is no spare tire in
case of a flat. Your BMW center will be glad to
advise you.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
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.
Pay attention to speed
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for the winter tires, otherwise tire
damage may occur, which can result in acci-
dents.<
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as possible.
Always protect tires against all contact 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 fine-link snow chains,
classifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation. BMW recommends using these
approved, fine-link snow chains.
Use is only permitted in pairs, with winter tires
on the rear wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed
of 30 mph/50 km/h with the chains mounted.
After snow chains are mounted, do not
initialize the Flat Tire Monitor.
When driving with snow chains, it can be useful
to activate the DTC temporarily, refer to
page78.<
Mobility
187Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communication
Navigation
Entertainment
3.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems and valve stem
seal caps against dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
4.Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page80.
5.Replace the damaged tire with a new one as
soon as possible and have the new wheel
balanced.
Driving with compact wheel
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a speed of
50 mph/80 km/h.
The driving characteristics change, for example
reduced track stability on braking, extended
braking distance, and altered self-steering
characteristics in the limit range. In conjunction
with winter tires, these characteristics are more
pronounced.
Only one compact wheel may be
mounted. You should re-equip with
wheels and tires of the original size as quickly as
possible.<
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, i.e., the
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate . 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 off. Connections, refer to Jump starting
on page190.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of by your
BMW center or hand them in to a recy-
cling 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 failure
After a temporary power loss, the functioning of
some equipment may be limited and require
reinitialization. Individual settings are also lost
and must be updated again:
>Active steering
The system is deactivated and must be ini-
tialized, refer to page81. Until then, the
steering will react differently than usual.
>Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory
The positions must be stored again, refer to
page40.
>Time and Date
The settings must be updated, refer to
page74.
>Radio
Stations must be stored again, refer to
page140.
>Navigation system
You must wait until it becomes operational
again, refer to page128.
Fuses
Never attempt to repair a blown fuse and
do not replace a defective fuse with a sub-
stitute of another color or amperage rating, as
this could lead to a circuit overload, ultimately
resulting in a fire in the vehicle.<
Spare fuses, plastic tweezers and fuse alloca-
tion diagram are located in the compartment for
the onboard tool kit, refer to page182.
Reference 205
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communica-
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Check Control
messages"69
Check Gas Cap168
Checking the air pressure,
refer to Tire inflation
pressure170
Child-restraint fixing system
LATCH49
Child restraints47
Child restraint systems47
Child-safety lock50
Child seats47
Chime, refer to Check
Control67
Chock185
Chrome parts, care, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Cigarette lighter99
Cleaning, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Cleaning the windshield, refer
to Wiper system57
"Climate"44
Clock65
– 12h/24h mode74
– time setting74
Closing
– from inside31
– from outside29
Clothes hooks99
Cockpit10
Cold start, refer to Starting
engine51
"Comfort", active backrest
width adjustment40
Comfort area, refer to All
about the center console14
Comfort seat39
"Communication"154
"Communication
settings"161
Compact Disc
– refer to CD changer145
– refer to CD player145
Compact wheel
– changing wheels186
– inflation pressure171Computer69
– clock, 12h/24h mode74
– displays on Control
Display70
– hour signal74
"Concert hall"135
Condition Based Service
CBS180
"Confirmation"30
Confirmation signals for
locking and unlocking30
Consumption, refer to
Average consumption70
Consumption indicator
– Energy Control66
"Continue guidance to
destination?"125
Control Center16
– adjusting brightness73
– assistance window20
– automatic climate control92
– changing settings19,73
– changing the menu page19
– confirming selection or
entry19
– controller16
– displays, menus16
– language selection74
– lists19
– menu item selection19
– menu navigation17
– operating elements16
– selecting units of
measurement and display
format73
– setting time and date74
– start menu17
– status information20
– symbols17
Control Display, refer to
Control Center16
Controller, refer to Control
Center16
Controls, refer to Cockpit10
Convenience operation
– glass sunroof30
– windows30
Convenience start, refer to
Starting engine51Coolant178
– level178
Cooling, maximum91
Cornering Brake Control
CBC77
Country of destination for
navigation116
Courtesy lamps89
Cradle for telephone or
portable phone98
Cruise control58,59
– active cruise control59
Cruising range70
Cup holders99
Curb weight, refer to
Weights198
Current fuel consumption66
"Current position"125
Current position
– displaying125
– entering120
– storing120
"Customer Relations"164
Cylinders, refer to Engine
data196
D
Dashboard, refer to
Cockpit10
Data196
– capacities198
– dimensions197
– engine196
– technical data196
– weights198
"Date"74
Date65
– display format75
– retrieval65
– setting74
"Date format"75
Daytime driving lamps87
DBC Dynamic Brake
Control77
– warning lamp79
"Deactivated"41
Deactivating front passenger
airbags47,83
Reference 209
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communica-
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator/warning lamps13
– ABS Antilock Brake
System79
– active steering81
– airbags84
– brake fluid179
– brake pads179
– brake system13,79
– DSC Dynamic Stability
Control13,78
– DTC Dynamic Traction
Control13,78
– Flat Tire Monitor80
– front fog lamps13
– overview13
– safety belt warning42
Individual air distribution92
Individually assignable
buttons on the steering
wheel46
Individual settings, refer to
Key Memory28
Inflation pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure170
Inflation pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor79
Information
– on another location118
– on current position118
– on destination location118
"Information" for
navigation119
"Information on
destination"119
Initializing, refer to Power
loss187
"Input map"118
Installation location
– CD changer147
– portable phone98
Instructions for navigation
system, refer to Voice
instructions125
Instrument cluster12
Instrument illumination, refer
to Instrument lighting89
Instrument lighting89Instrument panel
– refer to Cockpit10
– refer to Instrument
cluster12
Integrated universal remote
control96
"Interim time"73
Interior lamps89
– remote control30
Interior motion sensor34
– switching off34
Interior rearview mirror45
– automatic dimming
feature107
Interlock on automatic
transmission51
Intermittent mode of the
wipers57
J
Jacking points186
Joystick, refer to Control
Center16
Jumpering, refer to Jump
starting190
Jump starting190
K
Key Memory28
"Keypad"157
Keys28
Kick-down
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic56
– SMG Sequential manual
transmission54
Knock control169
L
Lamps, refer to Parking lamps/
low beams87
Lamps and bulbs182
"Languages"74
– for navigation126
Lashing down cargo, refer to
Securing cargo109
Lashing eyes, refer to
Securing cargo109
Last destinations, refer to
Destination list119
"Last seat pos."41
LATCH child-restraint fixing
system49
LEDs light-emitting
diodes185
Length, refer to
Dimensions197
Letter symbol with portable
phone157
License plate lamp, replacing
bulbs184
"Light"56,87
Light-emitting diodes
LEDs185
Lighter99
Lighter socket100
Lighting
– instruments89
– of the vehicle, refer to
Lamps87
Lights on warning87
Light switch87
"Limit"72
Loading
– securing cargo109
– stowing cargo109
– vehicle108
Location, navigation drive114
"Lock after driving off"32
Lock buttons in the doors,
refer to Locking32
Locking
– from inside32
– from outside30
– setting confirmation
signals30
Everything from A to Z
212 Portable phone
– accepted calls156
– adjusting volume153
– calling154
– ending call155
– hands-free system153
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest98
– missed calls156
– operation using Control
Center153
– phone book155
– redialing156
– refer to separate Owner's
Manual
– SMS157
– Top 8156
– touch tone dialing157
Portable phone battery152
Portable phone in the
vehicle107
Portable phones, use in the
interior, refer to Mobile
communications
systems107
Position
– displaying125
– storing120
Power failure187
Power windows, refer to
Windows34
Preselecting activation times
of the Independent
ventilation94
"Presets" on the
radio138,143
Pressure, tires170
Pressure monitoring of tires,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor79
Programmable buttons on the
steering wheel46
Protective function, refer to
Anti-trapping mechanism
– glass sunroof, electric36
– windows35
R
Radio
– autostore139
– controls132
– sampling stations139
– satellite radio141
– selecting the frequency
manually139
– selecting the
waveband133,138
– station search139
– station selection138
– station with the best
reception139
– storing stations140
– switching on/off132
– tone control133
– volume133
– Weather Band141
Radio-control key, refer to
Master key with remote
control28
Rain sensor57
"Random", random play
sequence147
Reading lamps89
Rear armrest, refer to Rear
center armrest100
Rear lamp, refer to Tail
lamps184
– replacing bulbs184
"Rear not enabled"137
Rear seat back, folding101
"Rear seat entertainment via
headphones"136
"Rear seat entertainment via
speakers"136
Rear seats
– folding backrests101
– head restraint adjustment42
– heating44
Rear ventilation93
Rearview mirror45
Rear window blind, refer to
Roller sun blinds97
Rear window defroster90
Rear window safety switch35"Received calls"156
Receiving level of portable
phone, refer to Status
information20
Reception
– quality141
– radio stations141
– regional station139
Recirculated-air mode
– air recirculation91
– AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control91
Reclining seat, refer to
Backrest39
Recording times, refer to
Stopwatch72
"Redial" for portable
phone156
Refueling168
Releasing hood176
"Relock door if not
opened"32
Remaining distance
– refer to Computer70
– refer to Cruising range70
Remote control28
– entertainment136
– garage door opener96
– luggage compartment lid30
– malfunction30
Removing condensation on
the windows91
"Repeat" in audio mode146
Replacement fuses187
Replacement key, refer to
New key28
Replacement of tires, refer to
Changing wheels185
Replacing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs182
Replacing tires174
Reporting an accident, refer
Initiating an emergency
call189
Reporting safety defects7
Reserve warning, refer to Fuel
gage66
Reservoir for washer
systems58
Reference 213
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communica-
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Reset" stopwatch73
Residual heat mode92
Restraint system for
children47
Restraint systems, refer to
Safety belts42
Retreaded tires174
Reverse, fast
– CD changer147
– CD player147
Reverse gear
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic56
– manual transmission53
– SMG Sequential manual
transmission54
Road map126
"Roadside Assistance"163
Roadside Assistance190
Roadside parking lamps88
– replacing bulbs183
Roller sun blind, refer to Sun
blinds97
Roof-mounted luggage
rack110
Rope, refer to Towing and
tow-starting191
Rotary pushbutton, refer to
Control Center16
Route122
– bypassing sections127
– changing122
– displaying126
– displaying arrow view126
– displaying map126
– displaying town127
– list127
– selecting122
– selecting criteria122
"Route list" for navigation127
Route map126
"Route preference"122
Route selection122
RSC, refer to Run-flat
tires174
Run-flat System Components
RSC, refer to Run-flat
tires174Run-flat tires174
– continuing driving with a
damaged tire80
– flat tire80
– new wheels and tires174
– tire inflation
pressure80,170
– tire replacement174,175
S
Safety6
Safety belts42
– damage43
– sitting safely38
– warning lamp43
Safety belt tensioners
– refer to Airbags83
– refer to Safety belts42
Safety systems
– ABS Antilock Brake
System77
– airbags83
– DSC Dynamic Stability
Control78
– safety belts42
Satellite radio141
– enabling142
– selecting channel142
– storing channel142
"SAT" for radio133,142
"Save current
destination"122
Scan
– CD changer147
– CD player147
– radio139
"Scan", playing stations139
"Scan", playing tracks147
Screen, refer to Control
Center16
Screw thread for tow
fitting191
"Seat heater distribution"44Seats38
– active backrest width
adjustment40
– adjusting the seats38
– comfort seat39
– easy entry/exit40
– heating43
– lumbar support39
– memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory40
– sitting safely38
– Sports seat39
– storing the setting40
– thigh support39
– ventilation, refer to Active
seat ventilation44
"Select as destination"119
"Select current speed"72
Selecting audio sources, refer
to Operation using Control
Center133
Selecting distance for active
cruise control62
Selecting new scale for
navigation127
Selecting route122
Selecting the frequency
manually139
Selection options with
navigation system122
Selector lever
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic55
– SMG Sequential manual
transmission53
Selector lever interlock, refer
to Shiftlock
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic55
– SMG Sequential manual
transmission54
Selector lever positions
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic55
– manual transmission53
– SMG Sequential manual
transmission53