
Mobility
This section helps you maintain your car's
mobility by supplying important information
on vital topics including fuels and lubricants,
wheels and tires, service, maintenance and
breakdown assistance.
Mobility 

Refueling
82
Refueling
Always switch off the engine before refu-
eling. Otherwise the tank cannot be 
refilled. The Service Engine Soon warning lamp 
will come on.<
Take all precautionary measures and 
observe all applicable regulations when 
handling fuel. Do not carry any spare fuel con-
tainers in your vehicle. They can develop a leak 
and cause an explosion or cause a fire in the 
event of an accident.<
Gas cap
Opening
1.Open the fuel filler door, arrow 1.
2.Turn the gas cap counterclockwise.
3.Place the gas cap in the bracket attached to 
the fuel filler door, arrow 2.
Closing
Fit the gas cap and turn it clockwise until you 
clearly hear a click.
Do not jam the gas cap strap as this will 
allow fuel vapors to escape.<
The warning lamp
* lights up briefly if 
the gas cap is loose or missing. Close 
the gas cap properly.
Manually releasing the fuel filler door
In the event of a malfunction you can unlock the 
fuel filler door manually.1.Remove the cover for the right-hand rear 
lamps in the cargo bay by turning the lock, 
see arrow.
2.Pull the cargo bay trim panel slightly toward 
the interior. The green button with the fuel 
pump symbol becomes visible.
3.Undo the adhesive strip and pull off.
4.Pull the button. The fuel filler door is 
released.
Pull on the button slowly and care-
fully; otherwise it could be torn off.<
Observe the following when refueling
When handling fuels, comply with all of 
the applicable safety precautions posted 
at the service station.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Avoid lifting the filler 
nozzle while filling the tank, as it could other-
wise lead to:
>Premature pump shutoff
>A reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor 
recovery system. 

Wheels and tires
84
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure 
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tire's service life, but also 
driving safety and driving comfort that largely 
depend on the condition of the tires and the 
maintenance of the specified tire pressure.
Check tire inflation pressures regularly 
and correct them if necessary: at least 
every two weeks and before every extended 
journey. If you fail to observe this precaution 
you may be driving on tires with incorrect tire 
pressures, a condition that can not only com-
promise your vehicle's driving stability, but also 
lead to tire damage and the risk of an accident. 
Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat tires, except 
when using Run-Flat Tires. A flat tire will seri-
ously impair your vehicle's handling and braking 
response. Attempts to drive on a flat tire can 
lead to loss of control over the vehicle.<
Checking pressure
Check the tire inflation pressures only 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. Warm tires 
have higher inflation pressures.
Inflation pressure specifications
The specified inflation pressures for your stan-
dard tires are provided on the placard on the 
B-pillar and are visible when the driver's door is 
open.After the tire inflation pressure is cor-
rected, initialize the Flat Tire Monitor
*, 
refer to page53, or reset the Tire Pressure 
Monitor
*, refer to page54.<
The following tire inflation pressure tables show 
the inflation pressures for the specified tire 
sizes at ambient temperature.
The inflation pressures in the table apply 
to BMW-approved tire sizes and recom-
mended tire brands. Your BMW center will be 
glad to supply this information.<
To determine the correct tire inflation pressure 
for your tires, refer to the following tables.
Tire size
The inflation pressures in the table apply to 
BMW-approved tire sizes and recommended 
tire brands. Your BMW center will be glad to 
supply this information. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 87
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, 1 γ, times as well on the govern-
ment 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 varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and dif-
ferences 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 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.<
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 
Run-Flat tires are labeled on the sidewall with a 
circular symbol containing the letters RSC. 
Refer to page88.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter performance proper-
ties than summer 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 1/8 in/
3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of 
1/16 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 1/8 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 1/6 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less 
suitable for winter conditions. In the interest of 
safety, new tires should be installed.
Wear indicators in the base of the tread groove 
are distributed around the tire's circumference;  

Wheels and tires
88 the letters TWI, for Tread Wear Indicator, on the 
tire's sidewalls identify tires that incorporate 
these wear indicators. Once the tire tread has 
worn down to the wear indicators, the tire has 
worn to a depth of 1/16 in/1.6 mm.
Wheel/tire damage
Due to low-profile tires, please note that 
wheels, tires and suspension parts are 
more susceptible to road hazards and conse-
quential damages.<
Unusual vibrations encountered during normal 
vehicle operation can indicate tire failure or 
some other vehicle malfunction. This can, for 
example, be caused by driving over curbs. The 
same applies to any other abnormal road 
behavior, such as pulling severely to the right or 
left.
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.<
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 date on which the tire was manufactured is 
indicated by the code on the sidewall:
DOT … 5005 indicates that the tire was manu-
factured in week 50 of the year 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.
To continue driving with a damaged tire:
>If the vehicle is equipped with the Flat Tire 
Monitor, refer to Flat tire warning on 
page53.
>If the vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pres-
sure Monitor, refer to Warning of low tire 
inflation pressure on page54.
Wheel and tire replacement
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. Work 
that is improperly carried out could result in 
consequential damage and pose safety haz-
ards. Make sure that the new wheels are bal-
anced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW advises against using retreaded 
tires, since driving safety may be 
impaired. The causes for this include potentially 
different tire casing structures and often wide 
variations in tire age, which can result in a lim-
ited service life.< 

Maintenance
96
Maintenance
BMW Maintenance System
The BMW Maintenance System helps maintain 
the road safety and operating reliability of your 
BMW.
Regular maintenance is not only necessary for 
the safety of your vehicle, but also plays a sig-
nificant role in maintaining the resale value of 
your vehicle.
Service interval display
The BMW Maintenance System takes the vehi-
cle's operating conditions into account for the 
service intervals:
From a maintenance point of view, 
62,100 miles/100,000 km accumulated in 
short-distance urban driving are not the same 
as 62,100 miles/100,000 km accumulated at 
moderate cruising speeds in long-distance 
highway travel.
The BMW Maintenance System includes the 
Engine Oil Service and Inspections I and II.
Determining the maintenance intervals based 
on the actual loads on the vehicle covers every 
kind of operating situation. Minimal use drivers, 
who drive fewer than about 6,210 miles/
10,000 km per year, should nevertheless have 
the oil changed at least every 2 years since 
engine oil deteriorates over time, regardless of 
use.
Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models and Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet for 
Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models 
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service 
and repair operations performed at your 
BMW center.
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle’s Service and Warranty Information Booklet 
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries 
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.<
Socket for On-Board 
Diagnosis OBD
Vehicle components that are relevant to the 
composition of exhaust emissions can be 
checked with a device via the OBD socket.
This socket is located on the driver's side to the 
left, on the bottom of the instrument panel 
underneath a cover. 

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
 97
Exhaust emission values
The warning lamp lights up: the 
exhaust emission values have wors-
ened. Have the car checked as soon as 
possible.
The lamps flash under certain conditions. This 
indicates excessive misfiring of the engine. If 
this happens, you should reduce your speed 
and visit your nearest BMW center as soon as 
possible. Severe engine misfiring can quickly 
lead to serious damage of emissions-related 
components, especially the catalytic converter.
Canadian models display this warning 
lamp.
The warning lamp lights up if the gas 
cap is not properly tightened and the 
OBD system can assume that fuel 
vapor is escaping. If the gas cap is then tight-
ened, the warning lamp should go out within a 
few days.
Event Data Recorders 
Your vehicle may be equipped with one or sev-
eral measuring or diagnostic modules or a 
device for recording or sending certain vehicle 
data or information. In addition, if you have 
signed a subscription contract for BMW Assist, 
certain vehicle data may be transmitted or 
recorded in order to facilitate the corresponding 
services.
Care
Important information on the care and mainte-
nance of your BMW is contained in the Caring 
for your vehicle brochure. 

Replacing components
98
Replacing components
Onboard tool kit
The onboard tool kit is stored in a tool pouch. It 
is located in the cargo bay beneath the floor 
panel.
Windshield wiper blades
1.Fold up the wiper arm.
2.Place the wiper blade in a position at right 
angles to the wiper arm.
3.Press the locking spring.
4.Fold in the wiper blade and unhook it in the 
direction of the windshield.
5.Pull the wiper blade past the wiper arm 
toward the top.
6.Insert the new wiper blade and press it on 
until it audibly engages.
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribu-
tion to vehicle safety. They should, therefore, be handled carefully. BMW recommends hav-
ing your BMW center perform any work that you 
do not feel competent to perform yourself or 
that is not described here.
Do not touch the glass portion of a new 
bulb with your bare hands since even 
small amounts of impurities burn into the sur-
face and reduce the service life of the bulb. Use 
a clean cloth, paper napkin or a similar material, 
or hold the bulb by its metallic base.<
A replacement bulb set is available from your 
BMW center.
When working on electrical systems, 
always begin by switching off the corre-
sponding consumers, otherwise short-circuits 
could result. To avoid possible injury or equip-
ment damage when replacing bulbs, be sure to 
observe any instructions provided by the bulb 
manufacturer.<
For care and maintenance of the headlamps, 
please follow the instructions in the separate 
Caring for your vehicle brochure.
If the routine for changing a particular 
bulb is not described here, please contact 
your BMW center or a workshop that works 
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.<
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Control elements, display units and other inte-
rior equipment in your vehicle use a light-emit-
ting diode behind a cover as a light source. 
These light-emitting diodes, which operate 
using a concept similar to that applied in con-
ventional lasers, are officially designated as 
Class 1 light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers, and do not 
look directly at the unfiltered light for sev-
eral hours. Otherwise, your eyes could suffer 
irritation of the retina.<