2008 BMW 535XI SPORTS WAGON winter tires

Wheels and tires
228
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding: DOT ... 1008 indicates that the
tire was manufactured in week 10 of 2008.
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 page229.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Indicates specially reinforced tires.

Mobility
229Reference
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, page95
>With Tire Pressure Monitor, refer to Mes-
sage with low tire inflation pressure,
page97
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
230
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 page96. 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.
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.<
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.

Mobility
251Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
3.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
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
page94, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page96.
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 page254.
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
Following a temporary power failure, e.g. due to
a discharged battery, the use of some equip-
ment will be restricted, requiring its reinitializa-
tion. In the same way, individual settings are lost
and must be updated again:
>Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory
The positions must be stored again, refer to
page48.
>Time and date
Must be updated again, refer to page86.
>Radio
Radio stations must be stored again, refer
to page174.
>Navigation system
You must wait until the system becomes
functional again, refer to page142.
>Glass roof, electric
It may only be possible to raise the glass
roof. The system must be initialized, refer to
page42.
>Panorama glass roof
It may only be possible to raise the glass
roof. The system must be reinitialized, refer
to page44.
>Active steering
The system is deactivated and must be
reinitialized, refer to page98. Until then,
larger steering wheel movements are
required.
>Power windows
The pinch prevention system for the power
windows must be reinitialized, refer to
page40.
Talk to your BMW center before placing
the stored vehicle back in service.

Everything from A to Z
270
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
System90
– indicator lamp93
ACC, refer to Active cruise
control71
Accepted calls202
Accessories6
Accident, refer to Emergency
request253
Acoustic signal, refer to Check
Control83
Activated-charcoal filter for
automatic climate
control117
"Activation time" for parked
car ventilation118
Active cruise control71
– indicator lamp74
– radar sensors75
– selecting distance73
– warning lamps74
Active front head restraints49
Active seat52
Active seat ventilation52
Active steering98
– warning lamp99
Adapter for spare key28
Adaptive brake assistant91
Adaptive brake lamps, refer to
Brake force display99
Adaptive Head Light109
"Add digits" in mobile phone
mode202Additives
– coolant235
– engine oil, refer to Approved
engine oils235
"Address book" in
navigation151
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
temperature114
Adjusting the tone during
audio operation, refer to
Tone control169
Adjusting thigh support46
"After door opened"48
"After unlocking"48
Airbags99
– indicator/warning lamp101
– indicator lamp for front
passenger airbags100
– sitting safely45
Air distribution
– automatic114
– manual115
Airing, refer to Ventilation117
Air recirculation
– AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control116
– recirculated-air mode116
"Air recirculation on / off"55
Air supply, automatic climate
control113
Air volume115AKI, refer to Fuel quality221
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"179
"All doors"30
Alloy wheels240
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires230
"All stations" requesting in
radio mode172
All-wheel drive, refer to
xDrive92
Alterations, technical, refer to
For your own safety5
Altering stretch of road160
"AM", reception
range168,172
Antenna for mobile phone194
Antifreeze
– coolant235
– washer fluid69
Antilock Brake System
ABS90
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system37
Anti-theft system, refer to
Central locking system29
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights263
Approved engine oils235
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights263
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest, rear126
Around the center console14

Everything from A to Z
280 Luggage compartment lid/
tailgate, comfort access39
Luggage net, refer to Partition
net128
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack139
Lumbar support47
LW, waveband172
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires230
Maintenance237
– refer to Service and
Warranty Information
Booklet for US models237
– refer to Service
requirements81
– refer to Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models237
Maintenance system237
Malfunction warnings, refer to
Check Control83
Manual air distribution115
"Manual" in radio mode173
Manual operation
– door lock32
– driver's door32
– fuel filler door220
– 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 cooling116Maximum speed
– with compact wheel251
– with winter tires230
Measurements, refer to
Dimensions261
Memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory47
MENU, button refer to Start
menu17
Menus, refer to iDrive16
Message list for traffic
information161
Microfilter117
Microphone
– for mobile phone14
– for voice command
system14
Mirror dimming feature54
Mirrors53
– automatic curb monitor53
– folding in and out53
– heating53
– memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory
47
"Missed calls"202
Missed calls203
Mobile phone
– accepted calls203
– adjusting volume200
– calling201
– ending call201
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest122
– 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 Monitor94"Monitor on / off"55
Most recent mobile phone
numbers203
MP3
– compressed audio files181
– USB audio interface188
Multi-function steering wheel,
refer to Buttons on steering
wheel11
Multifunction switch
– refer to Turn signals/
headlamp flasher67
– refer to Wiper system68
Music tracks
– finding183
– random play sequence184
– sampling, scan183
"Mute on / off"55
MW, waveband172
"My Info"214
My Info, refer to BMW Assist
My Info213
N
"Navigation"80,144
Navigation destination
– entering manually144
– home address153
– selecting via map148
Navigation drive, installation
location142
Navigation DVD142
Navigation instructions, refer
to Switching voice
instructions on/off159

Reference 283
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Redial" in mobile phone
mode202
Reflectors, refer to Tail
lamps246
Refueling220
Releasing, hood232
Releasing the locks, refer to
Unlocking39
"Relock door if not
opened"33
Remaining distance, refer to
Cruising range79
Remaining distance to
destination, refer to
Computer80
Remote control28
– comfort access38
– garage door opener120
– luggage compartment lid31
– malfunction31,40
– replacing battery40
– tailgate31
Removing condensation on
the windows115
"Repeat directory" in audio
mode184
"Repeat" in audio mode184
"Repeat track" in audio
mode184
Replacement fuses252
Replacement of tires, refer to
Changing wheels248
Replacement remote control,
refer to New remote
controls28
Replacing bulbs, refer to
Lamps and bulbs244
Replacing tires230
Replacing wheels/tires, refer
to New wheels and tires229
Reporting safety defects7
Reserve warning, refer to Fuel
gauge79
"Reset"95,97
– stopwatch86
– tone settings171
Reset, refer to Resetting tone
settings171
"resetting FTM …"95Residual heat116
Restraint systems
– for children56
– refer to Safety belts50
Retaining straps, refer to
Storage area package,
Sports Wagon129
Retreaded tires230
Reverse, fast
– CD changer185
– CD player185
Reverse gear
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic64
– manual transmission63
Road map158
"Roadside
Assistance"204,210
Roadside Assistance254
Roadside assistance210
Roadside parking lamps109
– replacing bulbs245
Roller blind, refer to Sun
blinds121
Roll-up cover, Sports
Wagon127
Roof load capacity263
Roof-mounted luggage
rack139
Rope, refer to Tow-starting
and towing255
Rotary/pushbutton, refer to
iDrive16
Route154
– bypassing sections160
– changing160
– changing criteria154
– displaying157
– displaying arrow display157
– displaying map view158
– displaying streets or towns/
cities159
– selecting154
Route information, refer to
Destination guidance with
voice instructions159
Route map, refer to Displaying
map view158"Route preference"
changing154
Route selection154
RSC Runflat System
Component, refer to Run-
flat tires229
Run-flat tires229
– continuing driving with a
damaged tire95,97
– flat tire95,97
– Flat Tire Monitor94
– new wheels and tires229
– tire inflation
pressure95,97,222
– Tire Pressure Monitor96
– tire replacement229,230
– winter tires
230
S
Safety5
Safety belts50
– damage51
– sitting safely45
– warning lamp50
Safety belt tensioners
– refer to Airbags99
– refer to Safety belts50
Safety systems
– ABS Antilock Brake
System90
– airbags99
– driving stability control
systems90
– safety belts50
Safety tires, refer to Run-flat
tires229
Satellite radio178
– enabling channel178
– selecting channel179
– storing channel179
"SAT" in radio mode168,178
"Save current
destination"153
"Scan"
– music tracks on CD183
– stations in radio mode173

Reference 285
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Socket for remote control,
refer to Ignition lock61
Sockets, refer to Connecting
electrical devices125
Soft closure aid, refer to
Automatic soft closing33
Song search on CD, refer to
Sampling tracks183
SOS, refer to Initiating an
emergency request253
Sound distribution in audio
mode
– front/rear fader170
– right/left balance170
Spare
– adapter for spare key28
– fuses252
– key28
– wheel, refer to Compact
wheel250
Spare wheel, refer to
Changing wheels248
Special oils, refer to Approved
engine oils235
Specified oil grades, refer to
Approved engine oils235
Speed
– limit85
– with compact wheel251
Speed-dependent
volume170
Speed limit warning, refer to
Speed limit85
Speedometer12
"Speed volume", tone
control170
Speed with winter tires230
Sport automatic
transmission66
– Dynamic Driving Control66
– kick-down64
– towing256
– with comfort access39
Sport program, Automatic
transmission with
Steptronic64Sports Wagon
– automatic roll-up cover127
– automatic tailgate
operation36
– compartments in cargo
bay128
– expanding cargo bay127
– opening rear window34
– opening tailgate35
– panorama glass sunroof42
– partition net128
– rear window wiper69
– rear window wiper, changing
wiper blade243
– releasing fuel filler door in
event of electrical
malfunction220
– roll-up cover127
– roll-up cover for cargo
bay127
– self-leveling suspension94
– socket in cargo bay125
– storage area package129
– tail lamps, replacing
bulbs247
Stability control, refer to
Driving stability control
systems90
"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 starting254
Starting assistant93
Starting difficulties, refer to
Jump starting254
Starting off on slopes, refer to
Starting assistant93
Start menu, iDrive17
"Start route guidance"149
"Start service"210
– with BMW Assist213"State / Province" in
destination entry145
"State inspection"82
Station, refer to Radio172
"Status"82
Status information on Control
Display20
Status of this Owner's Manual
at time of printing5
Steam cleaners239,240
Steering wheel
– adjustment54
– automatic adjustment, refer
to Steering wheel
memory47
– buttons on steering
wheel11
– easy entry/exit54
– heating54
– lock, refer to Ignition lock61
– memory47
– programmable buttons54
– shift paddles66
Steering with variable ratio,
refer to Active steering98
Steptronic
– refer to Automatic
transmission with
Steptronic
63
– refer to Sport automatic
transmission66
– refer to Sport program and
manual mode64
"Stop" in stopwatch mode86
"Stopwatch"86
Stopwatch85
Storage area package, Sports
Wagon129
Storage compartments123
"Store in address book" in
navigation152
"Store" in radio
mode174,180
Storing242
Storing current position152
Storing radio stations174
Storing sitting position, refer
to Seat, mirror and steering
wheel memory47