
Controls
 91Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamps come on in yellow 
and red. A message appears on the 
Control Display. In addition, an 
acoustic signal sounds. There is a flat 
tire or substantial loss of tire pressure.
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph 
or 80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and 
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed 
of 50 mph or 80 km/h.
If the car is not equipped with Run-
Flat Tires, refer to page212, the stan-
dard equipment by design, do not continue 
driving. Otherwise a severe accident could 
result after a tire puncture if you continue 
driving.<
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If all four tires are inflated to the cor-
rect pressures, the Flat Tire Monitor 
might not have been initialized. The system 
must then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible 
distance for continued driving on the basis 
of the following guidelines:
>With a light load: 
1 to 2 persons without luggage: 
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load: 
2 persons, cargo bay full, or 4 persons 
without luggage: 
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load or when towing a trailer: 
4 or more persons, cargo bay full: 
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a 
speed of 50 mph or 80 km/h. In the event 
of pressure loss, vehicle handling changes. This 
includes reduced tracking stability in braking, 
extended braking distance and altered natural 
steering characteristics. 
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during 
the journey, this may be an indication that the 
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce your 
speed and pull over as soon as possible at a suitable location. Otherwise parts of the tire 
could come loose, resulting in an accident. Do 
not continue driving. Instead, contact your 
BMW center.<
Malfunction
The warning lamps come on in yel-
low. A message appears on the Con-
trol Display. The Flat Tire Monitor has 
a malfunction or has failed. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible.
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM*
The concept
TPM checks the inflation pressures of the four 
mounted tires. The system notifies you if there 
is a significant loss of pressure in one or more 
tires.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat 
tire, the system must be reset while all tire infla-
tion pressures are correct.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics. Oth-
erwise, the system may malfunction.
Each time a tire inflation pressure has 
been corrected or a wheel or tire has been 
changed, reset the system.<
System limitations
TPM cannot warn you in advance of sud-
den severe tire damage caused by out-
side influences.<
The system does not work correctly if it has not 
been reset; for example, a flat tire may be indi-
cated even though the tire inflation pressures 
are correct.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat 
tire if a wheel without TPM electronics, such as 
a compact spare wheel, has been mounted, or if 
TPM is temporarily malfunctioning due to other 
systems or devices using the same radio fre-
quency.
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Wheels and tires
212
Tire age
For various reasons, such as the development 
of brittleness, BMW recommends tire replace-
ment after no more than 6 years, regardless of 
the actual wear of the tires.
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in 
the tire coding: 
DOT ... 0705 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 07 of 2005.
Run-Flat Tires
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires is a circle 
with the letters RSC on the sidewall. 
Run-Flat Tires comprise a conditionally self-
supporting tire and a special rim. The reinforce-
ment in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can 
continue to be used subject to certain restric-
tions, even if depressurized.
For information on continuing to drive with a flat 
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page91.
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 
h a z a r d s .  M a k e s u re  t h a t  t h e  n e w  w h ee l s  a r e  b a l-
anced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW recommends that you do not use 
retreaded tires, since driving safety may be impaired. The causes for this include poten-
tially different tire casing structures and often 
wide variations in tire age, which can result in a 
limited service life.<
Correct wheels and tires
When mounting new tires or changing over 
from summer to winter tires and vice versa, 
mount Run-Flat Tires for your own safety. In the 
event of a flat, moreover, no spare wheel is 
available. Your BMW center will be glad to 
advise you.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends 
that damaged Run-Flat Tires be replaced 
rather than repaired.<
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, which could 
lead to body contact and thus to severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are 
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability, 
and therefore cannot guarantee their driving 
safety.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is 
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of 
various vehicle systems such as ABS and DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle 
response, use only tires of a single brand and 
tread configuration. After a tire has been dam-
aged, mount the previous wheel and tire combi-
nation again as soon as possible.
Wheels with Tire Pressure Monitor 
TPM electronics
When mounting new tires or changing over 
from summer to winter tires, or vice versa, only 
use wheels with TPM electronics; otherwise the 
Tire Pressure Monitor may not be able to detect 
a puncture, refer to page91. Your BMW center 
will be glad to advise you.
ProCarManuals.com 

Mobility
 227Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Changing wheels
Your BMW is equipped with Run-Flat Tires as 
standard. This removes the need to change a 
wheel immediately in the event of a puncture.
For information on continuing to drive with a 
damaged tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire on 
page91.
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires is a circle 
with the letters RSC on the sidewall, refer to 
Run-Flat Tires, page212.
When mounting new tires or changing over 
from summer to winter tires and vice versa, 
mount Run-Flat Tires for your own safety. In the 
event of a flat, no spare wheel is available. Your 
BMW center will be glad to advise you. Refer 
also to New wheels and tires, page212.
The tools for changing wheels are avail-
able as optional accessories from your 
BMW center.<
Jack mounting points
The jacking points are at the positions shown in 
the illustration.
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, 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 the 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 page230.
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 
secure the battery against tipping over during 
transport.<
Power failure
After a temporary power loss, the functioning of 
some equipment may be limited and require 
reinitialization. Individual settings may likewise 
have been lost and will have to be programmed:
>Time and date 
These values must be updated, refer to 
page80.
>Radio 
In some cases, stations may have to be 
stored again, refer to page162.
>Navigation system 
Operability must be waited for, refer to 
page130.
>Panorama glass roof
It may only be possible to raise the sunroof, 
if applicable. The system must be initialized. 
Please contact your BMW center.
>Seat and mirror memory
The positions must be stored again, refer to 
page48.
>Inside rearview mirror with digital compass
The system must be calibrated, refer to 
page109.
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, oth-
erwise this could lead to a circuit overload, ulti-
mately resulting in a fire in the vehicle.<
ProCarManuals.com 

Everything from A - Z
260 Signal horn, refer to 
Horn10,11
Sitting safely44
– with airbags44
– with head restraint44
– with safety belts44
Ski bag117
Sliding/tilt sunroof
– refer to Panorama glass 
roof41
Sliding/tilt sunroof, refer to 
Glass sunroof, electric39
Slot for remote control57
Smokers' package, refer to 
Ashtray112
Snap-in adapter, refer to 
Center armrest storage 
compartment110
Socket, On-Board Diagnosis 
OBD220
Socket, refer to Connecting 
electrical appliances112
Song search, refer to Playing a 
track168
SOS, refer to Initiating an 
Emergency Request 
call229
Sound output for 
entertainment on/off156
Spare fuses227
Spare fuses, refer to 
Fuses227
Spark plugs, refer to Service 
requirements77
Speaking, refer to Voice 
instructions for navigation 
system146
Speed
– Run-Flat Tires91
– with winter tires213
Speed-dependent volume 
control157
Speed limit84
Speed limit warning, refer to 
Speed limit84
Speedometer12
"Speed volume", refer to Tone 
control158Split rear seat backrest, refer 
to Expanding the cargo 
bay115
Spray nozzles, refer to 
Cleaning windshield and 
headlamps63
Stability control, refer to 
Driving stability control 
systems87
Start/stop button57
– starting the engine58
– switching off the engine58
"Start guidance"134,138,
140,143
Starting, refer to Starting the 
engine58
Starting assistance, refer to 
Jump starting230
Starting difficulties
– jump starting230
– temperature58
Starting the engine
– start/stop button57
Start menu17
"Start service"191
"State / Province" in 
destination entry132
Station
– refer to Radio160
"Status"78
Status of this Owner's Manual 
at time of printing5
Steering wheel51
– adjustment51
– arrested, refer to Electric 
steering wheel lock51
– buttons on steering 
wheel11
– freely programmable 
buttons51
– lock57
– lock, refer to Electric 
steering wheel lock51
– locking with convenient 
access37
– programmable buttons51
"Steering wheel buttons"52
Steering with variable ratio, 
refer to Active steering94Steptronic, refer to Automatic 
transmission with 
Steptronic59
"Stopwatch"85
Stopwatch84
Storage compartments111
Storage nets116
"Store" for satellite radio165
"Store in address book" in 
navigation139
"Store" on the radio162
Storing current position139
Storing radio stations162
Storing seat positions, refer to 
Seat and mirror memory48
Storing tires213
Stowage, refer to Storage 
compartments111
"Street" in destination 
entry133
Summer tires, refer to Wheels 
and tires202
Sun blinds110
Surface ice, refer to Outside 
temperature warning72
"Surround Settings", refer to 
Tone control158
Switches, refer to Cockpit10
Switching off
– engine58
Switching off the engine
– start/stop button57
Switching on
– audio156
– CD changer156
– CD player156
– radio156
Switching on the hour 
signal81
Switching the cooling function 
on and off104
Symbols4
– status information20
– traffic info for navigation 
system147
T
Tachometer72
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