Wheels and tires
218
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 US Department of Transportation.
DOT code:
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT ... 0307 indicates that the
tire was manufactured in week 3 of 2007.
BMW recommends that you replace all tires
after 6 years at most, even if some tires may last
for 10 years.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades.<
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment 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, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteris-
tics 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 government test sur-
faces 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 braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-
nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.< 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)
255/55 R18109 H
e.g.
Manufacturer code
for tire make
Tire size and tire design
Tire ageDOT xxxx xxx 0806
Mobility
219Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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 controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory 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 Vehi-
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent 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 loading, either sep-
arately 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 page220.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Indicates specially reinforced tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged
in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Minimum tread depth
The tread depth should not drop below 0.12 in/
3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 0.12 in/
3 mm there is an increased risk of high-speed
hydroplaning, even when only small amounts of
water are present on the road surface.
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth
of 0.16 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter conditions. For the sake of
safety, new tires should be installed.
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 tire tread
has been driven down to the wear indicators, a
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 hazards and consequential dam-
ages.
Unusual vibrations encountered during normal
vehicle operation can indicate tire failure or
some other vehicle defect. This can, for exam-
ple, 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 Sports Activity Vehicle Center or
tire shop that works according to BMW repair
procedures with correspondingly trained per-
sonnel. If necessary, have the vehicle towed
there. Tire damage can be extremely dangerous
for occupants and other road users.<
Wheels and tires
220
Run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by the circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire.
Run-flat tires consist of partially self-contained
tires and special rims. The sidewall reinforce-
ment ensures that the tire retains some residual
safety in the event of pressure drop and driving
remains possible to a restricted degree.
To continue driving with a damaged tire:
>With Flat Tire Monitor, refer to Indication of
a flat tire page88
>With Tire Pressure Monitor, refer to Mes-
sage with low tire inflation pressure page90
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires installed only
by your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center or a tire shop that works according to
BMW repair procedures with correspondingly
trained personnel. If this work is not carried out
properly, there is a danger of subsequent dam-
age and related safety hazards. Make sure that
the new wheels are balanced.<
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.<
When changing to larger wheels and tires,
it may be necessary to make changes to
the wheel-well trim piece, as otherwise road
users could be endangered or the vehicle could
be damaged. Only have this work carried out by
a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or a
workshop that works in accordance with BMW
guidelines and uses appropriately trained per-
sonnel.<
You can ask your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center for the correct wheel/tire combination.
The correct wheel/tire combination also affects
various systems whose function would other-
wise be impaired, e.g. ABS, DSC, xDrive or Flat
Tire Monitor
*.
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 changing from
summer to winter tires or vice versa, only use
wheels with TPM electronics, otherwise the
Tire Pressure Monitor cannot detect a flat tire,
refer to page89. Your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center will be happy to advise you on
this subject.
Mobility
221Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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
Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be happy 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
tire damage may occur, which can result in acci-
dents.<
Storage
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.
Rotating wheels between axles
BMW does not recommend moving the front
wheels to the rear or vice versa, as otherwise
the handling characteristics may be impaired.
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain fine-link snow chains,
classifies them as road-safe and recommends
them. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center
can provide you with this information.
Use is only permissible in pairs 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 mounting snow chains, do not ini-
tialize the Flat Tire Monitor
*, as otherwise
incorrect displays can occur.
When you are driving with snow chains, it can
be beneficial to activate DTC briefly, refer to
page85.<
Replacing components
232
Changing wheels
Your BMW is equipped with run-flat tires as
standard. As a result, it is not necessary to
change the wheel immediately in the case of air
loss in the event of a breakdown.
To continue driving with a damaged tire:
>With Flat Tire Monitor, refer to Indication of
a flat tire page88
>With Tire Pressure Monitor, refer to Mes-
sage with low tire inflation pressure page90
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire, refer to Run-flat tires, page220.
When mounting new tires, or changing from
summer to winter tires or vice versa, use run-flat
tires for your own safety. No spare tire is avail-
able in case of a flat tire. Your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center will be happy to advise
you. Also refer to New wheels and tires,
page220.
Suitable tools for changing tires are avail-
able as accessories at your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center.<
Jacking points for vehicle jack
The jacking points for the vehicle jack are
located in the positions shown.
Compact wheel*
Safety precautions in the event of a flat
tire or wheel change: park the vehicle as
far as possible from passing traffic and on solid
ground. Switch on the hazard warning flashers.
Set the parking brake and engage transmission
position P.
Have all vehicle occupants get out of the vehicle and ensure that they remain outside the imme-
diate 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 vehi-
cle. Comply with all safety guidelines and regu-
lations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm surface
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 surface 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 later on, note the posi-
tions of the tools before removing them, then
return them to their initial positions after com-
pleting work.
The tools are located in the mount under the
floor panel flap.
1Lug wrench
*
2Vehicle jack crank*
3Vehicle jack*
Replacing components
234 3.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems with valve screw
caps against dirt and contamination.
Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source of
gradual air loss.<
4.Initialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page87, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page89.
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 Sports Activity Vehicle 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 page237.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of following
replacement at your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center or bring them to a collection
point. 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:
>Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory
The positions must be stored again, refer to
page42.
>Time and Date
The values must be updated, refer to
pages77, 78.
>Radio
Stations must be stored again if necessary,
refer to page160.
>Navigation system
Wait until the system starts, refer to
page151.
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.<
Open the right-hand side panel in the cargo
bay.
Everything from A to Z
250
Everything from A to Z
Index
"..." Identifies Control Display
texts used to select
individual functions, and
indicates where to find them
in the text.
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System84
Accessories6
Access to 3rd row seats45
Acoustic signal, refer to Check
Control74
Activated-charcoal filter106
"Activation time" for parked
car ventilation109
Active seat48
Active seat ventilation47
Active steering91
– warning lamp91
Adapter for spare key28
Adaptive brake lamps, refer to
Brake force display92
Adaptive Drive86
Adaptive fixing system117
Adaptive Head Light98
"Add digits" for mobile
phone195
"Address book" for
navigation139
Address for navigation
– deleting140
– entering131,134,139
– selecting139
– storing139
– storing current position139
"Add to destination
list"134,136
Adjusting confirmation signals
for locking and unlocking31Adjusting temperature, with
automatic climate control
with expanded scope103
Adjusting the tone during
audio operation, refer to
Tone control155
Adjusting thigh support41
"After door opened"43
"After unlocking"43
Airbags92
– sitting safely40
– warning lamp94
Air distribution
– automatic102,107
– manual103
Airing, refer to Ventilation105
Air recirculation105
– AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control105
– recirculated-air mode105
"Air recirculation on / off"50
Air vents
101
– refer to Ventilation105
Air vents of automatic climate
control101
Air volume103,108
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications213
Alarm system34
– avoiding unintentional
alarms35
– interior motion sensor35
– switching off alarm34
– switching off tilt alarm
sensor and interior motion
sensor35
– tilt alarm sensor35
"All channels" with satellite
radio163
"All doors"30
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires221"All stations" display with
radio158
All-wheel drive, refer to
xDrive85
Alterations, technical, refer to
For your own safety5
Alternate route, refer to
Bypassing traffic
congestion149
"AM", reception
range155,158
"Angle of view" for DVD
system in rear177
Antenna for mobile phone188
Antifreeze
– coolant225
– washer fluid64
Antilock Brake System
ABS84
Anti-theft system
– refer to Alarm system34
– refer to Central locking
system29
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights244
Approved engine oils224
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights244
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest113
Around the center console14
Around the steering wheel10
Arrival time
– refer to Computer69
– refer to Starting destination
guidance143
"Arrow display" for
navigation144
Arrow view for navigation
system144
Reference 253
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Categories" with satellite
radio163
CBC Cornering Brake
Control84
CBS Condition Based
Service226
"CD"155,165
CD, refer to Playing audio
tracks, DVD system in
rear178
CD/DVD player, DVD system
in rear173
CD changer165
– compressed audio files165
– controls154
– fast forward/reverse169
– random sequence168
– repeating a track168
– sampling tracks167
– selecting a CD166
– selecting a track166
– switching on/off154
– tone control155
– volume155
"CD" for DVD system in
rear174
CD player165
– compressed audio files165
– controls154
– fast forward/reverse169
– random sequence168
– repeating a track168
– sampling tracks167
– selecting a track166
– switching on/off154
– tone control155
– volume155
Cell phone, refer to Mobile
phone
Center armrest113
Center brake lamp231
Center console14
"Central locking"30
Central locking system29
– comfort access35
– from inside vehicle32Changes, technical
– refer to For your own
safety5
– refer to Parts and
accessories6
Changing language on
Control Display79
Changing tires220
Changing units of measure on
Control Display79
Changing wheels
232
CHECK button75
Check Control74
"Check Control
messages"75
Checking the air pressure,
refer to Tire inflation
pressure214
Children, transporting52
Child restraint fixing system
LATCH54
Child restraint systems52
Child-safety locks55
Child seats52
Chime, refer to Check
Control74
Chrome parts, care, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Cigarette lighter115
Cleaning, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
"Climate"47
Clock67
– 12h/24h mode78
– setting time77
Closing
– from inside32
– from outside30
Closing fuel filler cap212
Clothes hooks114
Cockpit10
Cold start, refer to Starting
engine56
"Color" for DVD system in
rear176Comfort access35
– observe in car wash36
– replacing battery37
Comfort area, refer to Around
the center console14
Comfort operation
– panorama glass
sunroof30,32
– panorama glass sunroof with
comfort access36
– windows30,32
– windows with comfort
access36
– with comfort access36
Comfort seat41
Comfort start, refer to Starting
engine56
"Communi-
cation"193,203,205
Compact Disc
– refer to CD changer165
– refer to CD player165
Compact wheel
– inflation pressure216
– wheel change232
Compartment for remote
control, refer to Ignition
lock56
Compartments, refer to
Storage compartments113
Compass, digital111
Computer69
– displays in instrument
cluster69
– displays on Control
Display69
– trip computer70
"Concierge"205
Condition Based Service
CBS226
"Confirmation"31
Connecting car vacuum
cleaner, refer to Connecting
electrical devices115
Connecting headphones173