2008 BMW 128I COUPE maintenance

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
roadside assistance.
Mobility

Mobility
201Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
catalytic converter.
Do not fill the tank with E85, i.e. fuel containing
85 % ethanol, nor with FlexFuel. Otherwise the
engine and fuel supply system will be dam-
aged.<
Required fuel
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
>128i: 87
>135i: 89
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds
when starting at high outside temperatures.
This has no effect on the engine life.
Do not use any gasoline below the speci-
fied minimum fuel grade. Otherwise the
engine could be damaged.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition,
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight,
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void
the applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in
driveability, starting and stalling problems
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and
high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability problems
which you suspect could be related to the fuel
you are using, we recommend that you respond
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier
Detergent Gasoline.
Failure to comply with these recommendations
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.<

Wheels and tires
202
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressures
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tires' service life, but also
driving comfort and, to a great extent, driving
safety that depend on the condition of the tires
and the maintenance of the specified tire pres-
sure.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
and correct it, if necessary: at least twice a
month and before starting long trips. If you fail
to observe this precaution you may be driving
on tires with incorrect tire pressures, a condi-
tion that can not only compromise your vehi-
cle's driving stability, but also lead to tire dam-
age 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 seriously 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
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 is higher.
After correcting the tire inflation pressure,
reinitialize the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page85, or the Flat Tire Monitor, refer
to page83.<
Inflation 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 approved and tire brands recom-
mended by BMW; a list of these is available
from your BMW center.<
For correct identification of the right tire infla-
tion pressures, observe the following:>Tire sizes for your vehicle
>Load conditions
>Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for driving up to
100 mph or 160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
and to achieve optimum driving comfort, adjust
pressures to the respective tire inflation pres-
sures listed on the following pages in the col-
umns for traveling speeds up to a maximum of
100mph or 160km/h.
These tire inflation pressures can also be found
on the driver's-side door post when the driver's
door is open.
The maximum permissible speed for
these tire pressures is 100 mph or
160 km/h. Do not exceed this speed, otherwise
tire damage and accidents could occur.<
Tire inflation pressures for driving
above 100 mph or 160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds in
excess of 100 mph or 160 km/h, adjust
pressures to the respective tire inflation pres-
sures listed on the following pages in the col-
umns for traveling speeds including those
exceeding 100 mph or 160 km/h. Otherwise tire
damage and accidents could occur.<
Observe all national and local maximum speed
limits, otherwise violations of the laws could
occur.

Maintenance
214
Maintenance
BMW Maintenance System
The BMW Maintenance System supports the
preservation of the traffic and operating safety
of your BMW. The objective is to optimize
efforts with respect to minimal vehicle mainte-
nance costs.
If and when you come to sell your BMW, a com-
prehensive record of servicing will prove a sig-
nificant benefit.
Condition Based Service CBS
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into
account. Condition Based Service uses this to
determine the current and future service
requirements. By letting you define a service
and maintenance regimen that reflects your
own individual requirements, the system builds
the basis for trouble-free driving.
On the Control Display, you can have the
remaining times or distances for selected main-
tenance tasks and any legally prescribed dates
displayed, refer to page71:
>Engine oil
>Brake pads: separately for front and rear
>Brake fluid
>Vehicle check
>Legally mandated inspections depending
on local regulations
Service data in the remote control
Your vehicle continuously stores service-
requirement information in the remote control
while you are driving. Your BMW Service Advi-
sor can read out this data from the remote con-
trol unit, and propose an optimized mainte-
nance approach. Whenever you take your car in
for servicing you should therefore hand your
BMW Service Advisor the remote control unit
that you last used.
Make sure that the date is always set cor-
rectly, refer to page75; otherwise the
effectiveness of Condition Based Service CBS
is not assured.<
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.<

Replacing components
216
Replacing components
Onboard tool kit
The onboard tool kit is stored beneath the floor
panel in the cargo bay.
Wiper blades
1.Fold out the wiper arm and hold it.
2.Press together the locking spring, arrow1,
and fold out the wiper blade, arrow2.
3.Take the wiper blade out of the catch mech-
anism, pulling the blade toward the front.
To avoid damage, make sure that the
wiper arms are against the windshield
before you open the engine compartment.<
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.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a
clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or hold
the bulb by its base.<
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs
at your BMW center.When working on electrical systems,
always begin by switching off the con-
sumer in question, otherwise short-circuits
could result. To avoid possible injury or equip-
ment damage when replacing bulbs, observe
any instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<
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 LED
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu-
cent lenses serve as the light source for many of
the controls and displays in your vehicle. These
light-emitting diodes, which operate using a
concept similar to that applied in conventional
lasers, are officially designated as Class 1 light-
emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers or expose the
eyes directly to the unfiltered light source
for several hours, otherwise this could cause
irritation to the retina.<
Xenon lamps*
These bulbs have a very long service life and are
highly unlikely to fail. If a xenon lamp fails never-
theless, switch on the fog lamps and continue
the journey with great care, provided that local
legislation does not prohibit this.
Have any work on the xenon lamp system,
including bulb replacements, performed
o nl y b y a BM W c e n t er o r a w o r k s h o p t h a t w o rk s
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. Otherwise, if
such work is carried out improperly, the high
voltage in the system presents the danger of
fatal injuries.<

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.<

Reference 241
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic60
– interlock61
– selector lever lock61
– shiftlock61
– towing224
– tow-starting224
"Automatic ventilation" for
parked car ventilation100
AUTO program for automatic
climate control98
"Auto Request"193
"Autostore"
– on the radio156
"AUX"150,169,171
– AUX-In port169
– USB-audio interface170
AUX-In port169
Average fuel consumption68
– setting the units70
Average speed68
"Avoid ferries" in
navigation134
"Avoid highways" in
navigation134
Avoid highways in
navigation134
Avoiding unintentional
alarms35
"Avoid tollroads" in
navigation134
Axle loads, refer to
Weights233
"A - Z"183,184
B
Backrests, refer to Seats46
Backrest width adjustment47
Back seats, refer to Rear seats
– adjusting head restraints48
Backup lamp, replacing
bulb219
Bag for skis, refer to Ski
bag109
Balance, tone control151
Band-aids, refer to First-aid
pouch223Bar, refer to Tow-starting,
towing away225
Bass, tone control151
Bass sounds, refer to Treble
and bass151
Battery220
– charging220
– disposal37,220
– jump starting223
– temporary power failure220
Battery renewal
– remote control for vehicle37
Being towed224
Belts, refer to Safety belts51
Belt tensioner, refer to Safety
belts51
Beverage holders, refer to
Cup holders106
Blower, refer to Air flow
rate98
"BMW Assist"192,193,194
BMW Assist
– activating196
– Concierge service194
– contacting BMW Customer
Relations194
– Roadside Assistance192
– services offered191
– TeleService193
"BMW Contact"186
"BMW Contact
Numbers"186
BMW Maintenance
System214
"BMW Service settings"197
Bottle holders, refer to Cup
holders106
Brake assist, refer to Dynamic
Brake Control81
Brake fluid
– service requirements71
Brake Force Display87
Brake lamps
– Brake Force Display87
– replacing bulb219
Brake pads, breaking in114
Brake rotors116
– brakes114
– breaking in114Brakes
– ABS81
– BMW Maintenance
System214
– braking safely116
– breaking in114
– parking brake59
– service requirements71
Brake system114
– BMW Maintenance
System214
– breaking in114
– disc brakes116
Breakdown services, refer to
Roadside Assistance222
Breaking in the clutch114
Break-in period114
"Brightness"79
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps
and bulbs216
Bulbs, changing216
Button for starting the
engine58
Buttons on the steering
wheel11
C
California Proposition 65
warning6
"Call"184,195
Call
– accepting182
– displaying accepted184
– ending183
– missed184
– starting183
Calling
– from phone book183
– from Top 8 list184
– redialing184
Can holders, refer to Cup
holders106
Capacities234
Capacity of the cargo bay233
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery220
Car care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure

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