2005 BMW 745i wheel

Wheels and tires
190
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 rating
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 Transport.
DOT code:
Tire age
The tire's date of manufacture is indicated
on the sidewall:
DOT ... 0904 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in the 9th week of 2004.
BMW recommends that you replace all
tires – including the spare – after a maxi-mum of 6 years, even though the tires may
have a theoretical service life of up to 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:
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.<
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, 1γ, 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.< e.g.
Nominal width
in mm
Cross-sectional
relationship in Ξ
Radial tire code
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating,
not for ZR tires
Speed rating,
before R on ZR tires
245/45 R19104H
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire makes
Tire size and tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 0904

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Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest,
B and C, representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under con-
trolled conditions on a specified indoor lab-
oratory 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.<
RSC: run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire, refer to page192.
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 depth.
Tire tread
The tread depth should not drop below
εin/3 mm, although, for example, Euro-
pean legislation only specifies a minimum
tread depth of κ/ΦΚin/1.6 mm. At tread
depths below εin/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 κ/Κin/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 side
of the tire with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator.
These indicators signal at a tread depth of
κ/ΦΚin/1.6 mm that the legally permitted
wear limit has been reached.
Wheel/tire damage
Due to low-profile tires, please note
that wheels, tires and suspension
parts are more susceptible to road hazard
and consequential damages.
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 immediately.
Drive carefully to the next BMW center or
tire dealer, or have the vehicle towed to one
of these locations if necessary.
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.<

Wheels and tires
192
Run-flat tires*
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire.
The run-flat tires consist of self-supporting
tires and special rims. The tire reinforce-
ment ensures that the tire retains some
residual safety in the event of pressure
drop and driving remains possible to a
restricted degree.
Continuing driving with a damaged
tire
Driving on run-flat tires can continue,
depending on the vehicle load and the
severity of the tire damage, at a maximum
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.
In the case of complete inflation pressure
loss, 0 psi/kPa, or obvious tire damage,
you can estimate the possible distance for
continued driving on the basis of the fol-
lowing guide values:
>With low load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
Approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full, or
4 persons without luggage:
Approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With full load:
More than 4 persons, luggage compart-
ment full:
Approx. 30 miles/50 km.
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. With infla-
tion pressure loss, the driving characteris-
tics change, for example reduced track
stability on braking, extended braking dis-tance, and altered self-steering character-
istics.
For safety reasons BMW recommends that
you do not have damaged run-flat tires
repaired, and that you go to a BMW center
in this case.<
New wheels and tires
Only have new wheels and tires
mounted by a specialist. If this work is
not carried out properly, there is a danger
of subsequent damage and related safety
hazards.<
You can ask your BMW center for the right
wheel and tire combination. Have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced every
time either a wheel or a tire is replaced.
The correct wheel and tire combination
affects various systems whose function
would otherwise be impaired, e.g. ABS
or DSC.
BMW does not recommend the use of
retread tires, as otherwise driving
safety may be reduced. Possible variations
in the design and the age – which could be
substantial – of the carcasses can lead to
unusually rapid wear.<
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 manufacturing tolerances mean that
even wheels and tires with identical official
size ratings could actually have different
dimensions than the approved units – these
differences could lead to body contact, and
with it the risk of severe accidents. If non-
approved wheels and tires are used, BMW
cannot evaluate their suitability, and there-
fore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread
configuration from a single manufacturer.
After a flat tire, always remember to have
the original wheel and tire combination

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remounted on the vehicle as soon as pos-
sible.
Recommended tire sizes and brands
BMW tests certain tire brands for each tire
size, classifies them as road-safe and
approves them. You can find out about
these at specialized dealers or at your
BMW center. Observe any country-specific
regulations, e.g. on making a correspond-
ing entry in the vehicle documents.
The factory-mounted tires have been spe-
cially selected to provide optimized perfor-
mance when installed on your vehicle; if
properly cared for, they will provide a com-
bination of safety and excellent ride com-
fort.
Run-flat tires
If your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires,
refer to Run-flat tires, only use these tires,
as in the event of a breakdown there is no
spare tire available.
Special characteristics of winter
tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in
cold winter driving conditions. Although so-
called 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.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires or switching from
summer to winter tires, or vice versa, use
run-flat tires, as in the event of a break-
down there is no spare wheel available.
Your BMW center will be glad to advise
you.
Observing speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed
for which the winter tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to ser-
vice tires can lead to damage and acci-
dents. Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. The technicians at your
BMW center will be glad to assist you with the required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment.<
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry
pl ace w it h as l itt le exp osu r e t o li gh t a s po s-
sible. Always protect tires against all con-
tact 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 snow chains, clas-
sifies them as road-safe and approves
them. Consult your BMW center for more
information. BMW recommends only using
these approved, narrow-link snow chains.
Use on summer or winter tires is only per-
missible in pairs on the rear wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions
when installing snow chains.
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of 30 mph/
50 km/h with the chains mounted.
After mounting snow chains, do not
activate the Flat Tire Monitor.
When you are driving with snow chains, it
can be beneficial to switch off DSC briefly,
refer to page94.<

Replacing components
204
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind
translucent lenses serve as the light source
for many of the controls and displays in
your vehicle. These light-emitting diodes,
which operate using a concept similar to
that applied in conventional lasers, are offi-
cially designated as Class 1 light-emitting
diodes.
Do not remove the covers, and never
stare into the unfiltered light for sev-
eral hours, as irritation of the iris could
result.<
Changing wheels
Safety precautions to observe in the
event of a flat and during all tire
changes:
Park the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat, surface.
Switch on the hazard warning flashers.
Engage the parking brake and move the
transmission's selector lever to P.
Have all vehicle occupants get out of the
vehicle and ensure that they remain outside
the immediate area in a safe place, such as
behind a guardrail.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is required, set it up on the
roadside at an appropriate distance from
the rear of the vehicle. Comply with all
safety guidelines and regulations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm sur-
face which is not slippery. The vehicle or
the jack could slip to the side if you attempt
to raise the vehicle on a soft or slippery sur-
face such as snow, ice, tiles, etc.
Position the jack on a firm support surface.
Do not use a wooden block or similar
object as a support base for the jack, as
this would prevent it from extending to its
full support height and reduce its load-
carrying capacity.
To avoid serious or fatal injury: never lie
under the vehicle, and never start the
engine while it is supported by the jack.<
What you will need
To avoid rattling noises, note the positions
of the tools before removing them, then
return them to their initial positions after
completing work.
>Lug wrench
Located beside the spare tire
>Wheel chock
The chock is located next to the spare
tire, or behind the trim panel on the left
side of the luggage compartment on
vehicles equipped with a trailer cou-
pling.
Remove the floor mat and the cover
above the spare tire.
Unscrew the wingnut and remove the
wheel chock
>Vehicle jack
Located in the luggage compartment
behind the right-hand side panel.

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Grasp the handle in the upper panel and
fold it down.
Undo the wingnut and remove the jack.
After use, screw the jack all the way
back down and snap the handle back
into place.
Spare tire
1.Unscrew the wing nut 1
2.Remove the disc 2 to the side
3.Completely unscrew the threaded rod 3
4.Remove the spare tire.
Preparing wheel change
1.Read carefully and comply with the
safety precautions on page204
2.Secure the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling:
Place the wheel chock against the rear
surface of the front tire on the side
opposite the side being raised. If the
vehicle is parked on a downward slope,
place the wheel chock securely in front
of the tire. On a steep grade, also
secure the vehicle against rolling
3.Loosen the lug bolts 1/2 a turn.
Lifting vehicle
1.Position the jack at the jacking point
closes to the wheel so that the entire
jack base makes contact vertically
under the jacking point
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not
attempt to raise another vehicle model
with it or to raise any load of any kind.
To do so could cause accidents and
personal injury.<2.Guide the jack head into the rectangular
recess of the jacking point when crank-
ing up the jack, refer to section of illus-
tration
3.Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you
are changing is raised from the ground.
Mounting a wheel
1.Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel
2.Remove accumulations of mud or dirt
from the mounting surfaces of the
wheel and hub. Clean the lug bolts
3.Position the wheel or spare tire on the
hub and screw in at least two bolts
diagonally.
When you mount wheels other than
Genuine BMW light-alloy wheels, differ-
ent lug bolts may also be required
4.Screw in the remaining lug bolts.
Tighten all the bolts securely in a diag-
onal pattern
5.Lower the vehicle and remove the jack
from beneath the vehicle.
Following installation
1.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pat-
tern
To ensure safety, always have the
lug bolts checked with a cali-
brated torque wrench as soon as possi-
ble to ensure that they are tightened to
the specified torque. The tightening
torque is 140 Nm.<
2.Reverse the removal sequence when
storing the wheel and tools in the vehi-
cle

Replacing components
206 3.Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure at the earliest opportunity
Protect valve stems and valve
stem seal caps against dirt and
contamination. Dirt in valve stems is a
frequent source of gradual air loss.<
4.Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer
to page 96
5.Replace the damaged tire with a new
one as soon as possible and have the
new wheel balanced.
Driving with spare tire
On certain wheel-tire combinations,
the size of the spare tire deviates from
that of the rest of the tires. The spare tire is
fully capable of running in all load and
speed ranges. However, to recreate the
original conditions, the tire should be
replaced as soon as possible.<
Run-flat tires*
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire. They consist of self-con-
tained tires and special rims. The tire rein-
forcement ensures that the tire retains
some residual safety in the event of pres-
sure drop and driving remains possible to a
restricted degree. The vehicle is equipped
with a Flat Tire Monitor which indicates
punctures.
The reinforcement on the flanks of the
tires means that it is usually not pos-
sible to detect an air loss from outside.<
Flat tire
If you have a flat tire, the indicator lamp
symbol in the Check Control will light up in
red, and a message will appear. In addition,
a gong sounds.
You can find more detailed information on
the Flat Tire Monitor on page96.
Reduce vehicle speed carefully to under
50 mph/80 km/h, avoiding hard brake
applications and steering maneuvers.
If the defective wheel is not recognizable as
such immediately, check the inflation pres-
sure in all four tires.
For reasons of safety, do not arrange
for run-flat tires to be repaired. Your
BMW center has the information needed
for working with these tires and is equipped
with the necessary special tools.<
Continuing driving with a damaged
tire
Driving on run-flat tires can continue
depending on the vehicle load and the
severity of the tire damage, at a maximum
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. You can deter-
mine the possible mileage for continued
driving on the basis of the following general
indications:
>Tire inflation pressure 0 psi/kPa:
With empty vehicle approx. 90 miles/
150 km
With full payload approx. 30 miles/
50 km
>Tire inflation pressure 7 psi/50 kPa to
15 psi/100 kPa:
Approx. 300 miles/500 km
>Tire inflation pressure greater than
15 psi/100 kPa:
Approx. 600 miles/1,000 km.
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. In the case
of air loss, you can expect changes in vehi-
cle handling such as reduce lane stability,
longer braking distances, and changes in
self-steering properties.<

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Battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, i.e.,
the electrolyte will last for the life of the bat-
tery when the vehicle is operated in a tem-
perate climate. Your BMW center will be
happy to advise you on all questions con-
cerning 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 page210.
Battery switch
Before storing the vehicle for an extended
period of several weeks or more, slide the
battery switch located behind the trim
panel on the right side of the luggage com-
partment to OFF. This reduces the current
flow from the battery for the period during
which the vehicle remains parked. A mes-
sage appears in the Check Control. Please
take note of the supplementary information
provided on the Control Display.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of follow-
ing replacement at your BMW center
or bring them to a collection point. Maintain
the battery in an upright position for trans-
port and storage. Always secure the battery
to prevent it from tipping over during trans-
port.<
Power failure
Following a temporary power failure, e.g. in
the case of a flat battery, some equipment
is subject to restricted use and must be
reinitialized. Individual settings are also lost
and must be updated again:
>Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory
The positions must be stored again,
refer to page55
>Time and date
Must be updated again, refer to
page90
>Radio
Stations must be stored again, refer to
page 154
>Navigation system
The operability must be waited for, refer
to page130.
Fuses
Never attempt to repair a blown fuse,
and do not replace a defective fuse
with a substitute of another color or amper-
age rating, as this could lead to a circuit
overload, ultimately resulting in a fire in the
vehicle.<
Spare fuses are located on the fuse strip in
the glove compartment; plastic tweezers
can be found at the fuse holder in the lug-
gage compartment.
In glove compartment
Press the tab on the cover to the front, then
fold up the cover.