2008 BMW 128I COUPE flat tire

Wheels and tires
204
Convertible: tire inflation pressures for the 128i
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa
Traveling speeds
up to a max. of
100mph / 160km/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
without Sports package
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S 32/220 35/240 32/220 35/240 32/220 39/270
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S 32/220 38/260 32/220 35/240 35/240 42/290
Front: 205/50 R 17 89 V 32/220 - 32/220 - 35/240 -
Rear: 225/45 R 17 91 V - 35/240 - 35/240 - 39/270
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y 35/240 - 32/220 - 35/240 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y - 39/270 - 35/240 - 39/270
with Sports package
205/55 R 16 91 H M+S 32/220 35/240 32/220 35/240 32/220 39/270
205/50 R 17 89 H M+S 32/220 38/260 33/230 36/250 36/250 44/300
Front: 205/50 R 17 89 V 32/220 - 33/230 - 36/250 -
Rear: 225/45 R 17 91 V - 35/240 - 36/250 - 44/300
Front: 215/40 R 18 85 Y 35/240 - 33/230 - 36/250 -
Rear: 245/35 R 18 88 Y - 39/270 - 36/250 - 44/300
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page233.

Wheels and tires
206 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 page207.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Designation for 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 tire tread depth should not be below 1/8 in/
3 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. The tread depth
should not drop below 1/8 in/3 mm, although,
for example, European legislation 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;
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
Please note that low-profile tires cause wheels,
tires and suspension parts to be more suscep-
tible to road hazard 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. 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.
Otherwise, tire damage can pose a lethal hazard
to vehicle occupants and other road users.<

Mobility
207Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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 ... 0707 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 7 of 2007.
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 on page84.
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
hazards. Make sure that the new wheels are bal-
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, no spare wheel is available. Your
BMW center will be glad to advise you.
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, DSC or
FTM.
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 page86. Your BMW center
will be glad to advise you.

Wheels and tires
208
Recommended tire brands
Certain makes of tire are recommended by
BMW for each tire size. They are marked with a
clearly visible BMW designation on the sidewall
of the tire.
When properly used, these tires meet the high-
est standards in terms of safety and handling
characteristics.
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 comply with the speed limit for the
winter tires mounted on your car; failure
to do so could result in tire damage and acci-
dents.<
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the
maximum permitted speed for the mounted
tires must be displayed in your field of view.
Specialist tire dealers and your BMW center
can supply these labels.
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 pres-
sure indicated on the sidewall of the tire.
Swapping wheels between axles
BMW advises against swapping wheels
between the front and rear axles, even if all tires
have the same size, as this could impair driving
characteristics. If the tires are of mixed sizes,
swapping wheels between the axles is not per-
missible.
Snow chains*
Only certain fine-link snow chains have been
tested by BMW, classified as safe for use and
recommended. Consult your BMW center for
more information. Snow chains must be
mounted in pairs and on the rear wheels only.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed
of 30 mph/50 km/h with chains.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if
snow chains are mounted, otherwise the
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.
When driving with snow chains, you may find it
helpful to activate DTC temporarily, refer to
page82.<

Mobility
219Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
3Lateral reflector
4Roadside parking lamp and tail lamp LED
5Reflector
6Turn signal
7Backup lamp
8Brake Force Display lamp
Replacing tail lamps
Outer brake lamp
The outer brake lamp can be accessed through
a single socket.
The figure shows the right side of the vehicle.
1.Remove the cover from the panel of the
cargo bay.
2.Turn the bulb holder to the left, see arrow,
and remove it.
3.Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while
turning it to the left for removal and replace-
ment.
4.Attach the bulb holder and turn it all the way
in the opposite direction.
5.Reattach the cover.
Inner brake lamp, turn signal, backup
lamp and Brake Force Display lamp
The bulbs are integrated in a single bulb holder.
1.Remove the cover from the panel of the
cargo bay.
2.Detach the bulb holder by pressing
together the clips, see arrow, and remove it.
3.Brake lamps and turn signal: apply gentle
pressure to the bulb while turning it to the
left for removal and replacement.
4.Backup lamp: pull the bulb out of the socket
and replace it.
5.Attach the bulb holder and let it snap into
place.
6.Reattach the cover.
The roadside parking lamp/tail lamp uses
LED design. After replacing the bulb,
ensure that the bulb holder is properly seated,
otherwise the roadside parking lamp/tail lamp
may not work.<
License plate lamps and center brake
lamp
These lamps use LED technology for operation.
In the event of a malfunction, please contact
your BMW center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel.
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.

Replacing components
220 For information on continuing to drive with a
damaged tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire on
page84.
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall, refer to
Run-Flat Tires, page207.
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, page207.
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-
ma te. Your BM W 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 page223.
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
page74.
>Radio
In some cases, stations may have to be
stored again, refer to page156.
>Navigation system
Wait for the system to start, refer to
page146.
>Glass roof
It may happen that the roof can only be
raised. The system must be initialized.
Please contact your BMW center.
>Seat and mirror memory
*
The positions must be stored again, refer to
page49.
>Inside rearview mirror with digital compass
The system must be calibrated, refer to
page105.
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.<

Everything from A - Z
240
Everything from A - Z
Index
"..." Identifies Control Display
texts used to select
individual functions and
refers you to the page where
these texts can be found.
A
Accessories, refer to The
individual vehicle5
Accident, reporting, refer to
Emergency Request222
Activated-charcoal filter100
"Activation time" for parked
car ventilation100
Active steering87
Adaptive Head Light93
"Add digits" on the mobile
phone184
Additives
– coolant213
– engine oil212
"Address book" in
navigation131
Address for navigation
– deleting133
– entering123,131
– selecting132
– storing131
– storing current position132
"Add to destination list"126
Airbags88
– sitting safely45
– warning lamp89
Air conditioner96
Air distribution
– automatic98
Air flow rate98
Airing, refer to Ventilation99
Air outlets, refer to Air
vents96Air pressure, checking, refer
to Tire inflation
pressure202
Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air mode98
"Air recirculation on / off"53
Air vents96
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications200
Alarm system34
– avoiding unintentional
alarms35
– interior motion sensor35
– switching off an alarm35
– tilt alarm sensor35
"All channels" for satellite
radio161
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires208
"All stations", displaying with
the radio154
"AM", waveband150,154
Ambient air, refer to
Recirculated-air mode98
Antenna for mobile phone176
Antifreeze
– coolant213
– washer fluid64
Antilock Brake System
ABS81
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system34
Anti-theft system29
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights233
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights233
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest106
Arrival time
– computer68
Arrival time, refer to Starting
destination guidance136Arrow display for
navigation137
"Arrow display" in
navigation137
Ashtray107
Assistance systems, refer to
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC81
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control98
"Audio"153,157
Audio150
– controls150
– switching on/off150
– tone control151
– volume151
"Audio", refer to Tone
control151
Automatic
– air distribution98
– air flow rate98
– cruise control64
– headlamp control91
– service notification193
– storing of stations155
Automatic car wash, refer to
Car wash116
Automatic climate control96
– automatic air distribution98
– settings via iDrive97
Automatic curb monitor52
Automatic lamps
– refer to Welcome lamps91
"Automatic programs" with
automatic climate control98
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC98
Automatic station search155

Reference 245
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Emergency Request222
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside Assistance222
"Enabled services"196
"Enable services"197
"End call"183
Energy, saving
– saving fuel114
Engine
– breaking in114
– data230
– speed230
– starting59
– starting, convenient
access36
– switching off59
Engine compartment210
Engine coolant, refer to
Coolant213
Engine oil
– adding212
– additives212
– BMW Maintenance
System214
– checking level210
– intervals between changes,
refer to Service
requirements71
– specified engine oils212
"Engine oil level"211
Engine output, refer to Engine
data230
Engine speed, refer to Engine
data230
Engine starting, refer to
Starting the engine59
"Enter address"124
Entering a destination124
Entering a destination
country124
Entering a house number or
intersection126
Entering an intersection125
Entering a street125
"Entertainment"150
"Equalizer", refer to Tone
control152
Equalizer, refer to Tone
control152"ESN"160
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to Dynamic
Stability Control DSC81
Event data recorders215
Exhaust system, refer to Hot
exhaust system115
Exterior mirrors51
– adjusting51
– automatic dimming
feature53
– automatic heating52
– folding in and out52
External audio device, refer to
AUX-In port169
Eyes
– for tow-starting and towing
away224
– for tying down loads118
F
Fader, tone control151
Failure messages, refer to
Check Control76
Failure of an electrical
consumer220
False alarm, refer to Avoiding
unintentional alarms35
Fastening safety belts, refer to
Safety belts51
Fastest route for
navigation134
Fast forward
– CD changer167
– CD player167
"Fast route" in navigation134
Filter of automatic climate
control, refer to Microfilter/
activated charcoal filter100
First aid pouch223
Fixture for remote control,
refer to Ignition lock58
Flash when locking/
unlocking31
Flat tire
– Run-Flat Tires207
– Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM84Flat Tire Monitor FTM83
– indicating a flat tire84
– initializing the system83
– malfunction84
– system limits83
Flat tires, refer to Tire
condition206
"FM", waveband150,154
FM, waveband154
Fog lamps94
– indicator lamp13,94
Footbrake, refer to Braking
safely116
Footwell lamps94
For your own safety5
Frequency, selecting
manually155
Front airbags88
Front seat setting45
Frost, removing from
windows, refer to Defrosting
windows99
FTM, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor83
Fuel200
– gauge67
– high-quality brands200
– quality200
– specifications200
– tank contents, refer to
Capacities234
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel
gauge67
Fuel consumption display,
refer to Average fuel
consumption68
Fuel consumption statistics,
refer to Average fuel
consumption68
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge67
Fuel filler door200
– releasing in the event of
electrical malfunction200
Fuses220