Wheels and tires
200
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
The condition of the tires and the maintenance
of the specified tire pressure are crucial not only
to the tire's service life, but also to driving com-
fort and most importantly, driving safety.
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 increases.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
and correct it as needed, including the
spare wheel: at least twice a month and before
starting long trips. If you fail to take this precau-
tion, you may be driving on tires with incorrect
tire pressures, a condition that can not only
compromise your vehicle's driving stability, but
also lead to tire damage and the risk of an acci-
dent. Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat tires,
except 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.<
After correcting the tire inflation pressure,
reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page90, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page92.<
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 and tire brands respectively
approved and recommended by BMW; a list of
these is available from your BMW center.<
For correct identification of the right inflation
pressure for your tires, pay attention to the fol-
lowing:>Tire sizes for your vehicle
>Load conditions
>Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for driving
up to 100 mph/160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph/160 km/h
adjust pressures to the respective tire inflation
pressures listed on the following pages in the
column for traveling speeds up to a max. of
100 mph/160 km/h to achieve optimum driving
comfort.
These pressure specifications can be found on
the door post when you open the driver's door.
The permissible top speed for these tire
inflation pressures is 100 mph/160 km/h.
Do not exceed this speed; otherwise, tire dam-
age and accidents may result.<
Tire inflation pressures for driving
above 100 mph/160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds in
excess of 100 mph/160 km/h, please
consult the relevant table on the following
pages and adjust tire pressures as necessary to
the specified pressures for speeds exceeding
100 mph/150 km/h. Otherwise, tire damage
and accidents could occur.<
Observe all national and local maximum speed
limits; otherwise, violations of the law could
occur.
Wheels and tires
204
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, B, and C, A
being highest, and represent the tire's resis-
tance 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 page205.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Indicates specially reinforced tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread depth,
signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged
in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Minimum tread depth
The tread depth should not fall 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.
Winter tires display a noticeable loss in their
ability to cope with cold-weather driving condi-
tions once the tread wears to below 0.16 in/
4 mm. To ensure continued safety, you should
always have such tires replaced.
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 make wheels,
tires, and suspension parts more susceptible to
road hazards and consequential damages.
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. Drive carefully to the nearest
BMW center or tire shop that works according
to BMW repair procedures with correspond-
Wheels and tires
206
Recommended tire sizes and brands
BMW recommends particular tire brands for
each tire size. You will recognize them by the
clearly visible BMW identification on the tire
sidewall.
With proper use, these tires meet the highest
standards for safety and handling characteris-
tics.
Run-flat tires
When installing new tires or when changing
from summer tires to winter tires or vice versa,
for your own safety, use run-flat tires. No spare
wheel is provided in the event of a flat. Your
BMW center will be glad to advise you.
For safety reasons, BMW recommends
that you not have damaged run-flat tires
repaired; they should be replaced.<
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends winter tires for use in cold
winter driving conditions. Although so-called
all-season M+S tires provide better winter trac-
tion than summer tires, they generally fail to
provide the same levels of cold-weather perfor-
mance as winter tires.
Observing speed ratings
Never exceed the maximum speed for
which the winter tires are rated.<
Storage
Always store wheels or 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 side wall of the tire.
Wheel changing between axles
BMW does not recommend changing the front
wheels to the rear or vice versa as this can dam-
age handling characteristics.
Snow chains*
Only certain fine-link snow chains are tested,
classified as road-safe, and recommended by
BMW. Consult your BMW center for more infor-
mation. Use on winter tires is only permissible in
pairs on the rear wheels. Follow the manufac-
turer's instructions when installing snow
chains. Do not exceed 30 mph/50 km/h with the
chains mounted.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor after
mounting snow chains. When you are
driving with snow chains, it can be beneficial to
activate DTC briefly, refer to page88.<
Mobility
209Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Possible displays
>"Update of engine oil level in process".
>"Engine oil level O.K.".
>"Oil level at minimum! Add 1 quart engine
oil": add a maximum of 1 quart/1 liter of
engine oil at the earliest opportunity, refer
to Adding engine oil.
>"Oil level under min.! Add 1 quart engine
oil": add a maximum of 1 quart/1 liter of
engine oil at the earliest opportunity, refer
to Adding engine oil.
>"Engine oil level too high".
Have vehicle checked immediately;
otherwise, overfilled oil can lead to
engine damage.<
>"No measurement possible at this time".
Adding engine oil
Do not add oil until a Check Control message
appears.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km;
otherwise, the engine could be dam-
aged.<
Keep oil, grease, etc. out of reach of chil-
dren and heed warnings on the contain-
ers to avoid health risks.<
Oil changing
Only have an oil change carried out by a BMW
center or a repair shop that works in accordance
with BMW guidelines and uses appropriately
trained personnel.
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical
significance for the operation and service life of
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific engine oils after confirming their suitability
for use in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Use only approved BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil.
If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is
unavailable, you can add small quantities of
other synthetic oils between oil changes. Use
only oils of the specification API SH or higher.
Your BMW center will be happy to answer
detailed questions on BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil or approved synthetic
oils.<
You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit the website at
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.
Never use oil additives as they can dam-
age your engine under some circum-
stances.<
Viscosity grades
The viscosity is a measure of the thickness of
the oil and is specified in SAE grades.
The choice of the right SAE grade is based on
the climatic conditions in the region in which
you normally drive your BMW.
Approved oils belong to the SAE grades
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
These oils can be used for driving at all outside
temperatures.
Mobility
211Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Maintenance
BMW Maintenance System
The BMW Maintenance System serves to
retain the operating and road safety of your
BMW. The service schedule also includes oper-
ations related to the vehicle's comfort and con-
venience features, such as replacement of the
filters for the inside air. The aim is to optimize
maintenance procedures with a view to reduc-
ing the cost of running the vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to sell
your BMW, you will find that a complete dealer
service history is an asset of inestimable value.
CBS Condition Based Service
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into
account. As a result, Condition Based Service
determines the current and future maintenance
requirements. By letting you define a service
and maintenance regimen that reflects your
own individual requirements, the system forms
the basis for trouble-free driving.
On the Control Display, you can have the
remaining times and distances for selected
maintenance procedures and any legally man-
dated deadlines displayed, refer to page78:
>Engine oil
>Brakes, separate for front and rear
>Microfilter
>Brake fluid
>Spark plugs>Vehicle check
>Legally prescribed inspections depending
on national regulations
Service data in the remote control
Your vehicle continuously stores service-
requirement information in the remote control
while you are driving. After accessing the data
stored in the vehicle key, your BMW Service
Advisor can suggest precisely the right array of
service procedures for your own individual vehi-
cle. This is why it is important when you take
your vehicle in for service to give the BMW Ser-
vice Advisor the last remote control you used
for driving.
Storage periods with the battery discon-
nected are not taken into account by the
CBS maintenance system. If this occurs, have a
BMW center update the time-dependent main-
tenance procedures, such as checking brake
fluid and if necessary engine oil and the micro/
activated charcoal filter.<
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.<
Mobility
217Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
2.Guide the jack head into the rectangular
recess of the jacking point when cranking
up the jack, refer to section of illustration.
3.Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you are
changing is raised from the ground.
Mounting a wheel
1.Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel.
2.Remove accumulations of mud or dirt from
the mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub. Clean the lug bolts.
3.Position the new wheel or spare tire on the
hub and screw in at least two bolts diago-
nally.
When you mount wheels other than Genu-
ine BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug
bolts may also be required.
4.Screw in the remaining lug bolts. Tighten all
the bolts securely in a diagonal pattern.
5.Lower the vehicle and remove the jack from
beneath the vehicle.
After mounting
1.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
To ensure safety, always have the
lug bolts checked with a calibrated
torque wrench as soon as possible to
ensure that they are tightened to the speci-
fied torque. The tightening torque is
100lbft/140Nm.<
2.Reverse the removal sequence when stor-
ing the wheel and tools in the vehicle.3.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
Use valve stem seal caps to protect
valve stems from dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
4.Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page90, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page92.
5.Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire balanced.
Driving with spare tire
On certain wheel-tire combinations, the
size of the spare tire differs from that of
the rest of the tires. The spare tire is fully capa-
ble of running in all load and speed ranges.
However, to recreate the original conditions,
the tire should be replaced as soon as possi-
ble.<
Vehicle battery
Maintenance
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 happy to advise
you on all questions concerning the battery.
Charging battery
Charge the battery in the vehicle only via the
terminals in the engine compartment and with
the engine off. Connections, refer to Jump
starting on page220.
Mobility
219Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Giving and receiving assistance
Emergency call*
Conditions for an emergency call:
>Full preparation package mobile phone.
This equipment package makes it possible
to initiate an emergency call even if no
mobile phone is paired with the vehicle.
>BMW Assist is activated. BMW Assist acti-
vation, refer to page193.
>Radio ready state or ignition must be
switched on.
>The BMW Assist system is logged on to a
mobile phone network.
>The emergency call system is operable.
Once your service contract for BMW Assist
expires, the BMW Assist system can be deacti-
vated by a BMW center without you having to
visit a workshop. Once the BMW Assist system
has been deactivated, emergency calls are not
possible. The BMW Assist system can be reac-
tivated by a BMW center after a new contract
has been signed.
Initiating an emergency call
1.To open the protective cover:
Briefly press the protective cover.
2.Press the emergency call button for at least
2seconds.
The LED in the button lights up. As soon as the
voice connection to the BMW Assist response
center has been established, the LED flashes.Once the BMW Assist Response Center has
received your emergency call, the BMW Assist
Response Center contacts you and takes fur-
ther steps to help you.
If circumstances permit, remain in the vehicle
until the voice connection has been estab-
lished. You will then be able to provide a
detailed description of the situation.
If the current location of your vehicle can be
determined, it will be transmitted to the
BMW Assist Response Center.
If the LED is flashing but you cannot hear the
BMW Assist Response Center over the hands-
free system, then the hands-free system may
be malfunctioning. You may, however, still be
audible to the BMW Assist Response Center.
Under certain conditions, an emergency call is
initiated automatically immediately after a
severe accident. An automatic emergency call
is not affected by the emergency call button
being pressed.
For technical reasons, the emergency call
cannot be guaranteed under unfavorable
conditions.<
In order to transmit the vehicle location, a
navigation CD/DVD must be inserted and
the system must be currently receiving a GPS
signal.
If the navigation system is inoperative, the cur-
rent position of the vehicle is not transmitted.<
Roadside Assistance*
The BMW Group's Roadside Assistance ser-
vice is there to assist you around the clock in
the event of a breakdown, including on week-
ends and public holidays.
The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-
tance Center in your home country can be
found in the Contact brochure.
Everything from A to Z
232
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
"ABC...", navigation131
ABS Antilock Brake
System87
ACC, refer to Active cruise
control69
"ACCEPT",
navigation140,148
Accessories, refer to Your
individual vehicle5
Accident, refer to
– Initiating an emergency
call219
– Roadside
Assistance190,219
Activated-charcoal filter107
Activating
– BMW Assist193
– High Definition Radio162
Active cruise control69
– indicator lamp71
– malfunction72
– radar sensor72
– sensor, refer to
Malfunction72
Active head restraints,
front47
Active seat50
Active seat ventilation50
Adapter for spare key31
Adaptive brake lamp, refer to
Brake force display94
Adaptive Drive
– refer to Dynamic Drive89
– refer to EDC Electronic
Damper Control89
Adaptive Head Light100
Address
– deleting140
– displaying141
– storing139
– storing current position147"Address book",
navigation139
Adjusting cooling action of
rear climate control108
Adjusting interior
temperature105
Adjusting tone in audio mode,
refer to Tone control153
Adjusting volume153
– ring tone of telephone179
– voice command system25
– voice instructions146
Airbags95
– safe sitting position43
Air conditioning103
– in rear108
– in the rear108
– while parked109
Air distribution
– automatic104
– manual106
Airing, refer to Ventilation107
Air jets, refer to
Ventilation107
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure200
Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air mode105
Air vents, refer to
Ventilation107
Air volume
– automatic climate
control106
– rear climate control108
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications199
Alarm system37
– avoiding unintentional
alarms38
All around the steering
wheel10
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires206Altering route, refer to
Changing route146
Alternate route, refer to
Changing route146
"AM", radio156
AM, refer to Radio156
"ANGLE", DVD changer173
Antifreeze
– coolant210
– washer fluid66
Antilock Brake System
ABS87
Anti-theft system
– refer to Alarm system37
– refer to Central locking
system32
Approved engine oils209
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest
– front113
– rear114
"Arrow display",
navigation145
"AS ADDRESS",
navigation139,147
Ashtray
– front115
– rear116
Assist, refer to
BMW Assist189
Assistance getting in and
out52
– backrest width44
Assistance systems, refer to
Driving stability control
systems87
Assistance window20
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control
105