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>in dense fog, heavy rain or snowfall
>when displaying very hot objects such as 
transformers, car exhausts etc.
>when the image briefly freezes during nor-
mal system adjustment.
BMW Night Vision's potential benefits 
can be limited by the driving style of the 
driver, the size and relative temperature of the 
detected objects, dirt or contamination on the 
camera lens, adverse weather like snow, rain or 
fog, and other factors not mentioned here. It will 
always be the driver's responsibility to drive at a 
speed and in a manner that recognizes potential 
hazards and adjust accordingly. 
BMW Night Vision is not a substitute or replace-
ment for driver responsibility or for accommo-
dating the visibility conditions and the traffic sit-
uation. The forward view illuminated by the 
headlamps must always be the basis for making 
safe driving decisions, otherwise a safety risk 
will result.<
Activating BMW Night Vision
1.Turn the light switch to position2 or3, refer 
to page101.
2.With low beams switched on:
>Press the   button. Depending on the 
vehicle's equipment, the location of the 
button may differ somewhat.
>Press one of the programmable buttons 
on the steering wheel, refer to page53.
The image will be displayed on the Control Dis-
play after a few seconds. Depending on the last 
mode selected, either the normal or full screen 
image will be displayed.Due to the system's need to adjust periodically, 
a still image is displayed at certain intervals for 
fractions of a second. This is normal and not an 
indication of a problem.
To prevent driving without headlamps, at a 
speed of more than approx. 3 mph/5 km/h and 
when dark, the thermal image on the Control 
Display is only shown when the low beams are 
on.
Deactivating BMW Night Vision
>Press the   button.
>Press the button on the steering wheel.
>Press the   button.
>Via iDrive", refer to Selecting settings.
Selecting settings
iDrive, for explanation of principle, refer to 
page16.
1.Activate BMW Night Vision.
2.Press the controller to display the menu 
items. 

Wheels and tires
196
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
The condition of the tires and the maintenance 
of the specified tire pressure are crucial not only 
to the tire's service life, but also to driving com-
fort and most importantly, driving safety.
Checking pressure
Only check tire inflation pressure when the tires 
are cold. This means after a maximum of 
1.25 miles/2 km driving or when the vehicle has 
been parked for at least 2 hours. When tires are 
warm, the tire inflation pressure increases.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly 
and correct it as needed, even on the 
compact tire
*: at least twice a month and before 
starting long trips. Otherwise driving instability 
or tire damage, and therefore accidents, can 
result from incorrect tire inflation pressures. 
Do not drive with depressurized, i.e. flat tires, 
except run-flat tires. A flat tire will seriously 
impair your vehicle's handling and braking 
response. Attempts to drive on a flat tire can 
lead to a loss of control over the vehicle.<
After correcting the tire inflation pressure, 
reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to 
page90, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, 
refer to page92.<
Pressure specifications
The tables below provide all the correct inflation 
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient 
temperature.
The inflation pressures apply to the tire 
sizes and tire brands respectively 
approved and recommended by BMW; a list of 
these is available from your BMW center.
ing:
>Tire sizes of your vehicle
>Load conditions
>Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for speeds 
up to 100 mph/160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph/160 km/h, 
adjust pressures to the respective tire inflation 
pressures listed on the following pages in the 
column Traveling speeds up to max. 100 mph/
160 km/h to achieve optimum driving comfort.
These pressure specifications can be found on 
the door post when you open the driver's door.
The permissible top speed for these tire 
inflation pressures is 100 mph/160 km/h. 
Do not exceed this speed, otherwise tire dam-
age and accidents may result.<
Tire inflation pressures for speeds 
above 100 mph/160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds in 
excess of 100 mph/160 km/h, please 
observe, and, if necessary, adjust tire pressures 
for speeds exceeding 100 mph/160 km/h from 
the relevant table on the following pages. Oth-
erwise tire damage and accidents could 
occur.<
Observe all national and local maximum speed 
limits, otherwise violations of the law could 
occur. 

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525i/530i
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
Compact wheel
*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M61/420
Traveling speeds
up to max. of
100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds 
including those exceeding 
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
245/45 R 17 95 W 
225/55 R 16 95 H M+S
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL29/200 33/230 29/200 33/230 35/240 42/290
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/40 R 18 93 W
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S29/200 36/250 29/200 35/240 36/250 44/300
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 W
Rear: 275/35R1895W29/200 33/230 29/200 33/230 36/250 42/290
Front: 245/35 R 19 93 Y XL
Rear: 275/30R1996YXL30/210 38/260 29/200 33/230 35/240 42/290
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page229. 

Wheels and tires
198
525xi/530xi
530xi Sports Wagon
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
Compact wheel
*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M61/420
Traveling speeds
up to max. of
100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds 
including those exceeding 
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL29/200 35/240 29/200 33/230 35/240 42/290
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S30/210 36/250 30/210 36/250 38/260 45/310
245/40 R 18 93 W 30/210 38/260 30/210 36/250 38/260 45/310
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 W
Rear: 275/35 R 18 95 W30/210 35/240 30/210 33/230 38/260 42/290
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page229.
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
Compact wheel
*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M61/420
Traveling speeds
up to max. of
100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds 
including those exceeding 
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
225/50 R 17 94 W M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
245/45 R 17 95 W
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL30/210 38/260 32/220 39/270 38/260 45/310
245/40 R 18 93 Y 32/220 39/270 29/200 36/250 35/240 42/290
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page229. 

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550i
Tire identification marks
Knowledge of the labeling on the side of the tire 
makes it easier to identify and choose the right 
tires.
Tire sizeSpeed 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 Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
Compact wheel
*:
T 135/80 R 17 102 M61/420
Traveling speeds
up to max. of
100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds 
including those exceeding 
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
245/40 R 18 93 Y 30/210 38/260 29/200 35/240 33/230 41/280
245/45 R 17 95 W
245/45 R 17 99 V M+S XL29/200 35/240 32/220 38/260 36/250 44/300
225/50 R 17 94 V M+S
225/50 R 17 94 W
225/50 R 17 94 H M+S29/200 36/250 33/230 39/270 38/260 45/310
Front: 245/40 R 18 93 Y
Rear: 275/35R1895Y30/210 35/240 29/200 32/220 33/230 38/260
Front: 245/35 R 19 93 Y XL
Rear: 275/30R1996YXL35/240 39/270 33/230 38/260 38/260 44/300
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page229.
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)225/50 R1794 W
e.g.
Manufacturer code 
for tire make 
Tire size and tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 0806 

Wheels and tires
202
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend that you use 
retreaded tires, as driving safety may be 
impaired. The causes for this include the possi-
bly 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 
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 wheel/tire combination also affects 
various systems whose function would other-
wise be impaired, e.g. ABS, DSC or xDrive.
To maintain good handling and vehicle 
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. Following 
tire damage, have the original wheel and tire 
combination remounted on the vehicle as soon 
as possible.
Wheels with electronics for 
TPM Tire Pressure Monitor
When mounting new tires or converting from 
summer to winter tires or vice versa, only use 
wheels with TPM electronics, as otherwise the 
Tire Pressure Monitor cannot detect a flat tire, 
refer to page91. Your BMW center will be 
happy to advise you on this subject.
Recommended tire brands
Certain tire makes are recommended by BMW 
depending on the tire size. You can recognize 
these from the clearly visible BMW marking on 
the tire sidewall.
When used properly, these tires comply with 
the most demanding standards for safety and 
vehicle response.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires, or changing from 
summer to winter tires or vice versa, use run-flat 
tires for your own safety. In addition, no spare 
tire is available in case of a flat tire. 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
Always observe the maximum permissi-
ble speed for the winter tires, otherwise 
t i re  d a m a g e  m a y o c cu r ,  w h ic h  c a n  re s u l t  i n  a c c i-
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,  

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face of the jack base rests on the ground 
perpendicularly beneath 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 cranking 
up, refer to illustration detail.
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. Also clean the lug bolts.
3.Position the new wheel or compact wheel. 
Secure the wheel by screwing at least two 
lug bolts into opposite bolt holes.
When you mount wheels other than Genu-
ine BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug 
bolts may also be required.
4.Screw in the remaining lug bolts. Tighten all 
the bolts securely in a diagonal pattern.
5.Lower the vehicle and remove the jack from 
beneath the vehicle.
After mounting
1.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
To ensure safety, always have the 
lug bolts checked with a calibrated 
torque wrench as soon as possible to 
ensure that they are tightened to the specified torque. The tightening torque is 
88.5 lb ft/120 Nm.<
2.When stowing the wheel and tools in the 
vehicle, execute these steps in the reverse 
order.
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.Initialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to 
page90, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, 
refer to page92.
5.Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire 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 page220. 

Everything from A to Z
252 Tire replacement, new wheels 
and tires201
Tires
– age200
– air loss90,92
– breaking-in124
– changing201
– condition201
– damage201
– flat tire, refer to Changing 
wheels215
– inflation pressure196
– new wheels and tires201
– pressure monitoring89
– pressure monitoring, refer to 
TPM Tire Pressure 
Monitor91
– replacing215
– retreaded tires202
– run-flat tires201
– size199
– tread201
– wear indicators201
– wheel/tire combination201
– winter tires202
"Tone"153
Tone dialing method182
Tone in audio mode
– adjusting153
– middle setting155
Tone on locking/unlocking31
Tools, refer to Onboard 
toolkit211
"Top 8" for mobile phone180
Torque
– engine226
– lug bolts, refer to After 
mounting217
Touch tone dialing, refer to 
Tone dialing method182
Tow fitting221
Towing221
– tow fitting221
"Town / City" for destination 
entry134
Tow-starting221,223
"TPM"92TPM Tire Pressure 
Monitor91
– resetting system92
– system limits91
– warning light92
Tracks
– random play sequence168
– sample scan167
Track width, refer to 
Dimensions227
Traction-assist feature, refer 
to DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control86
Traction control, refer to DSC 
Dynamic Stability 
Control86
Traffic congestion, refer to 
Bypassing route 
sections148
Transmission
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic63
– deactivating selector lever 
interlock on automatic 
transmission with 
Steptronic64
– manual transmission60
– SMG Sequential Manual 
Transmission61
– starting assistant125
Transporting children 
safely54
Transport securing device, 
refer to Securing cargo128
Tread depth, refer to Minimum 
tire tread201
Treble, refer to Tone 
control153
"Treble", tone control154
"Trip computer"77
Trip computer76
Trip-distance counter, refer to 
Trip odometer74
"Triple turn signal 
activation"65
Trip odometer74
Turning circle, refer to 
Dimensions227Turn signals64
– indicator lamp12
– replacing bulbs213
U
Underbody protection, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Uniform Tire Quality Grading/
UTQR200
"Units"84
Units
– average fuel 
consumption84
– temperature84
Universal garage-door 
opener, refer to Integrated 
universal remote 
control111
Universal remote control111
"Unlock button"30
Unlocking
– from inside33
– from outside30
– without key, refer to Comfort 
access38
Unlocking without key, refer to 
Comfort access38
"Update services"190
"Use current location as 
address"140,142
Used batteries
– refer to Disposal218
– refer to Replacing battery40