2008 BMW 528I winter tires

Wheels and tires
226
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT ... 3307 indicates that the
tire was manufactured in week 33 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.
These grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement, as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified government test
surfaces 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
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire, refer to page227.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Indicates specially reinforced tires.

Mobility
227Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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 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 be extremely dangerous to vehicle
occupants and other road users.<
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, page96
>With Tire Pressure Monitor, refer to Mes-
sage with low tire inflation pressure,
page98
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.<

Wheels and tires
228
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.<
You can inquire about the right wheel/tire com-
bination at your BMW center.
The correct wheel/tire combination also affects
various systems whose function would other-
wise be impaired, e.g. ABS, DSC or xDrive.
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 converting 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 page97. Your BMW center will be
happy to advise you on this subject.
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
center will be glad to advise you.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
that you do not have damaged run-flat
tires repaired; they should be replaced. Other-
wise it is not possible to rule out occurrences of
consequential damage.<
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.
Paying attention to speed
Always observe the maximum permissi-
ble speed for the winter tires, otherwise
t i re d a m a g e m a y o c cu r , w h ic h c a n re s u l t i n a c c i-
dents.<

Mobility
245Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Protect valve stems with valve stem
seal caps against dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
4.Initialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page95, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page97.
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. Restore the wheels and tires to
their original size as quickly as possible. Failure
to do so is a safety risk.<
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 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 switched off. Connections, refer to
Jump starting on page248.
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
restrain the battery to prevent it from tipping
over during transport.<
Power failure
After a temporary power supply interruption,
some settings are lost. Take the following
steps:
>Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory
Store the positions again, refer to page48.
>Time and date
Reset, refer to text starting on page86.
>Radio
Store stations again, refer to page174.
>Navigation system
Wait until the system starts, refer to
page142.
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.<
Sedan
Spare fuses, plastic tweezers and fuse alloca-
tion diagram are located in the compartment for
the onboard tool kit, refer to page237.
Sports Wagon
Spare fuses and a pair of plastic tweezers are
contained in the onboard tool kit, refer to
page237. A fuse allocation diagram is located
in the cargo bay behind the right-hand side
panel.

Everything from A to Z
264
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
System91
– indicator lamp94
ACC, refer to Active cruise
control70
Accepted calls202
Accessories6
Accident, refer to Emergency
request247
Acoustic signal, refer to Check
Control83
Activated-charcoal filter for
automatic climate
control118
"Activation time" for parked-
car ventilation119
Active cruise control70
– indicator lamp74
– radar sensors74
– selecting distance72
– warning lamps74
Active front head restraints49
Active seat52
Active seat ventilation52
Active steering99
– warning lamp100
Adapter for spare key28
Adaptive brake assistant92
Adaptive brake lamps, refer to
Brake force display100
Adaptive Head Light110
"Add digits" for mobile
phone202Additives
– coolant233
– engine oil, refer to Approved
engine oils233
"Address book" for navigation
system151
Address for navigation
– deleting153
– entering144,147
– selecting152
– storing151
– storing current position152
"Add to address book"151
"Add to destination
list"147,148
Adjusting active backrest
width47
Adjusting interior
temperature115
Adjusting the tone during
audio operation, refer to
Tone control169
Adjusting thigh support46
"After door opened"48
"After unlocking"48
Airbags100
– indicator/warning lamp102
– indicator lamp for front
passenger airbags101
– sitting safely45
Air distribution
– automatic115
– manual116
Airing, refer to Ventilation118
Air recirculation
– AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control117
– recirculated-air mode117
"Air recirculation on / off"55
Air supply, automatic climate
control114
Air volume116AKI, refer to Fuel quality219
Alarm system37
– avoiding unintentional
alarms38
– interior motion sensor38
– switching off alarm37
– switching off tilt alarm
sensor and interior motion
sensor38
– tilt alarm sensor38
"All channels"180
"All doors"30
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires228
"All stations", calling up with
radio172,176
All-wheel drive, refer to
xDrive93
Alterations, technical, refer to
For your own safety5
Altering stretch of road160
"AM", reception
range169,172
Antenna, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Antenna for mobile phone194
Antifreeze
– coolant233
– washer fluid69
Antilock Brake System
ABS91
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system37
Anti-theft system, refer to
Central locking system29
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights257
Approved engine oils233
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights257
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest, rear127

Everything from A to Z
274 Locking and unlocking doors
– confirmation signals31
– from inside32
– from outside30
Low beams108
– automatic108
– replacing bulbs239
Lower back support, refer to
Lumbar support47
Lug bolts244
– tightening torque, refer to
After mounting244
– wrench243
Luggage compartment, refer
to Cargo bay
Luggage compartment lid33
– emergency operation, refer
to Manual operation34
– emergency release34
– locking separately34
– opening from inside33
– opening from outside33
– unlocking and locking from
inside32
– unlocking manually34
Luggage compartment lid/
tailgate, comfort access39
Luggage net, refer to Partition
net129
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack139
Lumbar support47
LW, waveband172
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires228
Maintenance235
– refer to Service and
Warranty Information
Booklet for US models235
– refer to Service
requirements81
– refer to Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models235Maintenance system235
Malfunction warnings, refer to
Check Control83
Manual air distribution116
"Manual" on the radio173
Manual operation
– door lock32
– driver's door32
– fuel filler door218
– glass sunroof42
– luggage compartment lid34
– panorama glass sunroof44
– transmission lock, automatic
transmission65
Manual transmission63
"Map direction of travel"158
Map display158
"Map facing north"158
Map for navigation
– changing scale158
– destination entry148
Map view facing north158
Master key, refer to Keys/
remote control28
Maximum cooling117
Maximum speed
– with compact wheel245
– with winter tires228
Measurements, refer to
Dimensions255
Memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory47
MENU, button refer to Start
menu17
Menus, refer to iDrive16
Message list for traffic
information161
Microfilter118
Microphone
– for mobile phone14
– for voice command
system14
Mirror dimming feature54Mirrors53
– automatic curb monitor53
– folding in and out53
– heating53
– memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory47
"Missed calls"
202
Missed calls203
Mobile phone
– accepted calls203
– adjusting volume200
– calling201
– ending call201
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest123
– missed calls203
– operation by voice205
– operation via iDrive200
– redialing203
– refer to separate operating
instructions
– Top 8203
– touch tone dialing, refer to
Tone dialing method204
Mobile phone battery208
Monitor, refer to iDrive16
Monitoring pressure of tires,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor95
"Monitor on / off"55
Most recent mobile phone
numbers203
MP3
– compressed audio files182
– USB/audio interface189
Multi-function steering wheel,
refer to Buttons on steering
wheel11
Multifunction switch
– refer to Turn signals/
headlamp flasher67
– refer to Wiper system68
Music tracks
– finding184
– random play sequence185
– sampling, scan184
"Mute on / off"55
"M View"103
MW, waveband172

Everything from A to Z
278 Run-flat tires227
– continuing driving with a
damaged tire96,98
– flat tire96,98
– Flat Tire Monitor95
– new wheels and tires227
– tire inflation
pressure96,98,220
– Tire Pressure Monitor97
– tire replacement227,228
– winter tires228
S
Safety5
Safety belts50
– damage51
– refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– sitting safely45
– warning lamp50
Safety belt tensioners
– refer to Airbags100
– refer to Safety belts50
Safety systems
– ABS Antilock Brake
System91
– airbags100
– driving stability control
systems91
– safety belts50
Safety tires, refer to Run-flat
tires227
Satellite radio179
– enabling channel179
– selecting channel180
– storing channel180
"SAT" with radio169,179
"Save current
destination"153
"Scan"
– music tracks on CD184
– stations with radio173
Scan
– CD changer184
– CD player184
– radio173"Scan all" in audio mode184
"Scan directory" in audio
mode184
Screen, refer to iDrive16
Screw thread for tow
fitting250
SDARS, refer to Satellite
radio179
"Seat heater distribution"51
Seats46
– active backrest width
adjustment47
– adjusting the seats46
– comfort seat46
– easy entry/exit47
– heating51
– lumbar support47
– memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory47
– shoulder support46
– sitting safely45
– storing the setting47
– thigh support46
– ventilation, refer to Active
seat ventilation52
Securing load
– refer to Securing cargo138
– with ski bag, refer to
Securing cargo131
"Select as
destination"150,213
"Select current speed"85
Selecting audio sources, refer
to Operation via iDrive168
Selecting distance with active
cruise control72
Selecting frequency
manually173
Selecting menu items19
Selecting route154
Selection options with
navigation system154
Selector lever, automatic
transmission with
Steptronic64Selector lever lock, refer to
Selecting transmission
positions64
Self-leveling suspension95
Service, refer to Roadside
Assistance248
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for
US models235
"Service Info"81,211,232
Service Interval Display
– refer to CBS Condition
Based Service235
– refer to Service
requirements81
"Service Request"204,211
"Service
requirements"82,211,232
Service requirements81
– refer to CBS Condition
Based Service235
"Set"
– in audio mode169
– on trip computer81
"Set date"87
"Set service date"82
"Set time"87
Setting button, refer to
Controls, controller16
"Settings"215
– for BMW Assist213
– for unlocking30
Settings
– BMW Night Vision105
– changing on Control
Display86
– clock, 12h/24h mode87
– configuring, refer to
Personal Profile29
– date87
– language88
– units of measure88
Settings menu, refer to
imenu17
Setting time, refer to
Preselecting activation
times119

Reference 279
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Shifting gears, Automatic
transmission with
Steptronic64
Shift paddles on steering
wheel66
Short commands of voice
command system259
"Short route" for
navigation154
Short route in navigation, refer
to Selecting route154
Shoulder support46
"Show current position"149
"Show destination
position"149
Shuffled, refer to Random
– CD changer185
– CD player185
Side airbags100
Side marker lamps, replacing
bulbs240
Side-mounted turn signals,
replacing bulbs240
Side window blinds, refer to
Sun blinds122
Signal horn, refer to Horn10
Sitting safely45
– with airbags45
– with head restraint45
– with safety belts45
Ski bag131
Sliding/tilt sunroof
– refer to Glass sunroof,
electric41
– refer to Panorama glass
sunroof43
Slope assistant, refer to
Starting assistant94
Snap-in adapter
– mounting/removing207
– using194
Snow chains229
Socket for Onboard
Diagnostics interface236
Socket for remote control,
refer to Ignition lock61Sockets, refer to Connecting
electrical devices126
Soft closure aid, refer to
Automatic soft closing33
Song search on CD, refer to
Sampling tracks184
SOS, refer to Initiating an
emergency request247
Sound distribution in audio
mode
– front/rear fader170
– right/left balance170
Spare
– adapter for spare key28
– fuses245
– key28
Spare wheel
– refer to Changing
wheels242
– refer to Compact wheel
244
Special oils, refer to Approved
engine oils233
Specified oil grades, refer to
Approved engine oils233
Speed
– limit85
– with compact wheel245
Speed-dependent
volume170
Speed limit warning, refer to
Speed limit85
Speedometer12
"Speed volume", tone
control170
Speed with winter tires228
Sport automatic
transmission66
– Dynamic Driving Control66
– kick-down64
– towing250
– with comfort access39
Sport program, Automatic
transmission with
Steptronic64Sports Wagon
– automatic roll-up cover128
– automatic tailgate
operation36
– compartments in cargo
bay129
– expanding cargo bay128
– opening rear window34
– opening tailgate35
– panorama glass sunroof43
– partition net129
– rear window wiper69
– rear window wiper, changing
wiper blade237
– releasing fuel filler door in
event of electrical
malfunction218
– roll-up cover128
– roll-up cover for cargo
bay128
– self-leveling suspension95
– socket in cargo bay126
– storage area package130
– tail lamps, replacing
bulbs241
Stability control, refer to
Driving stability control
systems91
"Star button"55
Star button54
Start/Stop button61
– starting the engine62
– switching off the engine62
"Start" for stopwatch86
"Start guidance"147,
156
Starting, refer to Starting
engine62
Starting assistance, refer to
Jump starting248
Starting assistant94
Starting difficulties, refer to
Jump starting248
Starting off on slopes, refer to
Starting assistant94
Start menu, iDrive17
"Start route guidance"149
"Start service"211